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Tennessee Basketball: 5 Things the Volunteers need for Christmas in 2018

By Adam Childs

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 23: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers dribbles down the court during the second half of the game against Kansas Jayhawks at the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament at Barclays Center on November 23, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 23: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers dribbles down the court during the second half of the game against Kansas Jayhawks at the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament at Barclays Center on November 23, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

5. No. 1 ranking

We just talked about Tennessee starting off the SEC hot and that they could potentially be 23-1 heading into their matchup at Kentucky. If they get to that record they may also be the top-ranked team in the country.

Tennessee was last ranked number one in the 2007-08 season. That would mark the first time in the program’s history that they reached that mark. They would love to make it a second time this year and stay there longer than the last time.

Currently, the Vols are ranked third in the AP poll behind Duke and Kansas. Duke is about to go through the gauntlet known as the ACC and could very easily lose a game or two sooner than later. Kansas has also looked ripe for the picking recently even though they are still undefeated. Michigan and Virginia are both nipping at the Vols heels also but both of their schedules will get harder as they enter conference play.

The combination of those teams playing tougher teams and the relatively easy start to the SEC schedule the Vols have could vault them into the top spot in the polls. Yes, the polls do not mean anything come conference time, but anyone that tells you they do not care where they are ranked in lying and being number one is something special.

Week 7 Power Rankings. dark. Next

Tennessee could see themselves on that top spot soon and make Rocky Top forgot about their football team for a while.

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