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Tennessee

Where Tennessee is ranked in ESPN's College Basketball Power Rankings

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey12/28/24GrantRamey
Igor Milicic
USA TODAY IMAGES/Angela Alcantar

Tennessee stayed at No. 2 in this week’s ESPN college basketball power rankings. The Vols came in behind No. 1 Auburn and was one of five SEC teams ranked No. 8 or higher.

Alabama was ranked No. 5, Florida came in at No. 6 and Kentucky was No. 8.

Tennessee (12-0) has been ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and Coaches Poll the last three weeks. 

The Vols are back home to host Norfolk State (8-6) on Tuesday (3 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network+) at Food City Center. It’s the final non-conference game of the season, with SEC play starting at home against Arkansas on January 4.

Tennessee ranked No. 2 in NET, No. 3 in KenPom ratings

The NET has Tennessee at No. 2, also behind Auburn. The Vols are 3-0 in Quad 1 games and a combined 9-0 in Quad 3 and Quad 4 games. Auburn is 6-1 in Quad 1 games and 5-0 in Quad 3 and Quad 4.

Tennessee is No. 3 in the KenPom.com ratings, ranked No. 2 in adjusted defensive efficiency and No. 14 in adjusted offensive efficiency. 

In the ESPN power rankings, Jeff Borzello listed one thing each team needs moving forward. For Tennessee, it was for Igor Milicic to find his shot again.

Milicic, the stretch forward and Charlotte transfer, is 0-for-10 from the 3-point line over the last three games.

“Much of the appeal for the 6-foot-10 Croatian big man when he entered the portal centered around his ability to make shots from the perimeter despite his size,” Borzello wrote. “And while he has been far more productive than expected around the rim, Milicic returning to form from 3 would be a boost for the Vols. 

“He’s shooting just 25% from behind the arc — including an 0-for-8 effort against Illinois — after making better than 38% last season.”

‘(Rick) Barnes might have the most balanced team of his tenure at Tennessee’

Milcic’s versatility has shined through despite the recent shooting struggle. He’s averaging 11.2 points in 25.2 minutes per game. He’s Tennessee’s leading rebounder at 8.1 per game and is second in steals and blocks. 

“Milicic plays like a guard in Rick Barnes’ offense,” ESPN’s Myron Medcalf wrote earlier this month, “even though he’s technically a forward or a center when he has to be. Though the Vols use him in a lot of pick-and-roll action, he’s also comfortable as a player who can create his own shot. 

“(Rick) Barnes might have the most balanced team of his tenure at Tennessee … and Milicic’s arrival is a key factor in that surge.”

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