Tennessee Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Volunteers

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images /

Overview for Tennessee this upcoming season

The Tennessee Volunteers have a nice rotation prepared for the 2018-19 season and it could mean a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Their starting five from last season is intact and their reserve unit has something to prove. First, they’ll need to prove last season wasn’t a fluke when they finished 13-5 in SEC play.

They beat the Kentucky Wildcats twice during the regular season last year and have an opportunity to do it again in 2018-19. This time though, the Volunteers will need to seal the deal and win the SEC Conference Tournament championship game. They lost last season to Kentucky, 77-72, in the final.

There’s no reason not to expect this team to be ranked in the Top 25 when preseason polls are released. They return a majority of their production from 2017-18 which won 26 games last season. The Volunteers should hit the ground running with this year’s non-conference schedule and nothing other than winning the SEC is on their mind. Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield will be a burden for their opponents as will their stifling defense.

Next. Preseason SEC Rankings for 2018-19. dark

Look for the Tennessee Volunteers as a favorite in this year’s NCAA Tournament field by season’s end. Rick Barnes is picking up where he left off while head coach at Texas and it’s beginning to show entering his fourth season.

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