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NCAA Basketball: Virginia, Michigan lead top one-loss teams in 2018-19

By Drew Dinnhaupt

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - DECEMBER 09: Kyle Guy #5 and Ty Jerome #11 hug beside Braxton Key #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers at the end of a game against the VCU Rams at John Paul Jones Arena on December 9, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - DECEMBER 09: Kyle Guy #5 and Ty Jerome #11 hug beside Braxton Key #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers at the end of a game against the VCU Rams at John Paul Jones Arena on December 9, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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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) /

2. Tennessee (16-1)

This might be an unpopular opinion.

Come Monday, the Volunteers might be the No. 1 team in the country. But that’s because Tennessee, currently the No. 3 team, won twice while No. 1 Duke and No. 2 Michigan lost, both to unranked opponents. In terms of a power ranking, I’ll take the Volunteers at No. 2.

Tennessee’s resume is highlighted by a 76-73 win over then-No. 1 Gonzaga o December 9 in Phoenix. While the win is obviously outstanding, it’s the Vols’ only ranked win to date.

Former No. 2 Kansas is the only team to take down the Volunteers in a game that required an additional period to determine a winner. Since then, however, Tennessee has won 12 consecutive contests, ten of which were double-digit victories. The Vols have wins over Gonzaga, Memphis, and five conference opponents during that stretch, too.

Rick Barnes’ team has performed exceptionally well on the offensive end. The Vols are second in KenPom’s offensive efficiency measure and post 86.1 points per game, the fifth-best in the country. They also shoot 50.7 percent from the floor, the second-best figure in the nation.

Tennessee’s rather easy stretch of conference games will continue for the coming weeks, as the Volunteers won’t face another ranked team until February 16 when they face No. 12 Kentucky in Lexington. Expect Tennessee’s winning streak to extend to at least 15 and beyond.

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