Tennessee basketball remains steady at No. 20 in the AP Poll released on December 15, despite not taking the court last week. However, the Vols experienced a drop in the USA Today Coaches Poll, falling three spots to No. 23.
The team’s recent losses have weighed heavily on their ranking, particularly the defeat against Syracuse, which became less favorable as the Orangemen faced an upset at home by Hofstra. Meanwhile, Illinois, a team that defeated Tennessee earlier in the season, saw a mixed performance in Big Ten play, securing a win over Ohio State but ultimately losing to Nebraska on a last-second shot.
In the AP Poll, Tennessee finds itself among a competitive group of seven SEC teams, ranking behind No. 13 Vanderbilt, No. 14 Arkansas, and No. 16 Alabama. The Vols are positioned ahead of No. 21 Auburn, No. 23 Florida, and No. 25 Georgia, showcasing the depth of talent in the conference.
Tennessee will look to find their footing when they take on No. 11 Louisville at the Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday night. Following this critical matchup, the Vols are set to face Gardner-Webb on Sunday, marking one of their final non-conference outings for the regular season.
The Vols enter this weekend’s game seeking to end a three-game losing streak, having recently fallen to Kansas in the Players Era Festival, and suffering defeats to Syracuse and Illinois. The upcoming games represent a vital opportunity for Tennessee to regain momentum as they push towards the heart of their season.