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NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Butler surges, North Carolina drops

By Lukas Harkins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 16: Kamar Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs dribbles the ball around Terence Davis #3 of the Mississippi Rebels at Hinkle Fieldhouse on November 16, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 16: Kamar Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs dribbles the ball around Terence Davis #3 of the Mississippi Rebels at Hinkle Fieldhouse on November 16, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Bowden of the Volunteers dunks. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Bowden of the Volunteers dunks. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

player. 534. . . . Tennessee Volunteers. 24

I bought into Tennessee early with its 5-0 start including an impressive neutral-site win over Washington. Since then, the Volunteers have continued to look worthy of being a fringe top-25 team. They sit at 7-1 on the year with a pair of solid wins over the aforementioned Huskies as well as VCU. Additionally, their lone loss came to a fellow top-25 team in Florida State (more on them in a bit).

The big key for the Volunteers so far this season has been their interior defense. Tennessee is consistently running teams off the 3-point line and forcing them to finish inside the arc. Once there, the team is swatting away 15.3% of shots (16th nationally) and surrendering just 38.9% 2P shooting. As a result of these defensive abilities inside, Tennessee ranks sixth nationally in eFG% given up.

Head coach Rick Barnes has really done a nice job with this roster so far. After the Volunteers were an offensive juggernaut last season, they have returned to their defensive-minded ways this time around and it is paying off. Coach Barnes is excelling at understanding his personnel and molding his scheme to fit them best.

With regard to future contests, Tennessee has a pair of tough games coming up as they will take on Memphis (H) and Cincinnati (A) next.

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