Tennessee (9-3) basketball last played on Dec. 21. The Vols defeated Gardner-Webb (2-13), 94-52, at Food City Center.
Tennessee has recorded wins over Mercer, Northern Kentucky, North Florida, Rice, Tennessee State, Rutgers, Houston, Louisville and Gardner-Webb since tipping off its 2025-26 regular season on Nov. 3. The Vols have suffered losses to Kansas, Syracuse and Illinois.
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Tennessee will next play again on Tuesday. The Vols will host South Carolina State at Food City Center. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. EST and the matchup will be televised by SEC Network.
The Vols will open Southeastern Conference play against Arkansas on Jan. 3, 2026. Tipoff between Tennessee and the Razorbacks is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas (ESPN2).
Tennessee’s home opener in SEC play will take place against Texas on Jan. 6, 2026. The league matchup is slated for 9 p.m. EST and will be televised ESPN2.
The latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was released on Monday. Tennessee remains ranked No. 20.
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USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll
|
Rank |
Team |
Record |
PTS |
1st |
Prev |
Chg |
Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
11-0 |
764 |
20 |
1 |
– |
1/7 |
|
|
2 |
12-0 |
753 |
11 |
2 |
– |
2/13 |
|
|
3 |
12-0 |
700 |
0 |
3 |
– |
3/18 |
|
|
4 |
12-1 |
670 |
0 |
4 |
– |
3/7 |
|
|
5 |
11-1 |
611 |
0 |
6 |
+1 |
3/6 |
|
|
6 |
11-1 |
605 |
0 |
5 |
-1 |
1/6 |
|
|
7 |
13-1 |
584 |
0 |
7 |
– |
7/20 |
|
|
8 |
11-1 |
570 |
0 |
8 |
– |
2/8 |
|
|
9 |
11-1 |
527 |
0 |
9 |
– |
8/21 |
|
|
10 |
12-1 |
521 |
0 |
10 |
– |
7/11 |
|
|
11 |
12-0 |
423 |
0 |
11 |
– |
11/NR |
|
|
12 |
12-1 |
401 |
0 |
12 |
– |
12/25 |
|
|
13 |
12-0 |
357 |
0 |
13 |
– |
13/NR |
|
|
13 |
10-2 |
357 |
0 |
14 |
+1 |
5/14 |
|
|
15 |
9-3 |
315 |
0 |
15 |
– |
9/16 |
|
|
16 |
10-3 |
305 |
0 |
16 |
– |
11/20 |
|
|
17 |
10-3 |
281 |
0 |
17 |
– |
17/NR |
|
|
18 |
9-3 |
240 |
0 |
18 |
– |
14/23 |
|
|
19 |
9-3 |
237 |
0 |
19 |
– |
8/19 |
|
|
20 |
9-3 |
219 |
0 |
20 |
– |
13/23 |
|
|
21 |
11-1 |
175 |
0 |
21 |
– |
21/NR |
|
|
22 |
8-4 |
143 |
0 |
22 |
– |
3/22 |
|
|
23 |
10-2 |
91 |
0 |
23 |
– |
23/NR |
|
|
24 |
11-1 |
65 |
0 |
24 |
– |
24/NR |
|
|
25 |
8-4 |
38 |
0 |
NR |
+1 |
6/NR |
Schools dropped out
No. 25 USC
Others receiving votes
Kentucky 35; USC 25; Utah State 14; Auburn 7; Saint Louis 6; Clemson 6; Seton Hall 5; Oklahoma State 5; Yale 4; UCLA 4; Saint Mary’s 4; LSU 3; California 2; Villanova 1; Miami (OH) 1; Indiana 1
List of voters
The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The board for the 2025-26 season: Adrian Autry, Syracuse; John Becker, Vermont; Randy Bennett, Saint Mary’s; Jeff Boals, Ohio; Alvin Brooks, Lamar; Pat Chambers, Florida Gulf Coast; Scott Drew, Baylor; Dan Earl, Chattanooga; Jonas Hayes, Georgia State; Donte’ Jackson, Alabama A&M; Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa; James Jones, Yale; Greg Kampe, Oakland; Eric Konkol, Tulsa; Brad Korn, Southeast Missouri State; Anthony Latina, Sacred Heart; Jim Les, UC Davis; Greg McDermott, Creighton; Nick McDevitt, Middle Tennessee; Mike McGarvey, Lafayette; Dan Monson, Eastern Washington; Chris Mooney, Richmond; Mike Morrell, UNC Asheville; Nate Oats, Alabama; Eric Olen, New Mexico; Matt Painter, Purdue; Paul Sather, North Dakota; Patrick Sellers, Central Connecticut State; Zach Spiker, Drexel; Brett Tanner, Abilene Christian; Stan Waterman, Delaware State.
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Vols remain ranked top 20 in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
