SEC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

2019-20 SEC Record: 9-9

If you had a chance to view my latest article, then you have a pretty good idea of why I am putting the Volunteers in this spot. To tell you the truth, when Admiral Schofield, Kyle Alexander, Jordan Bone, and Grant Williams departed when the 2018-19 season concluded (because of graduation, and the NBA) I thought that the Volunteers would finish with a subpar conference record last season for sure.  (Even with Lamonte Turner, and Jordan Bowden returning).

And when Turner went down with a left shoulder injury 11 games into last season, I was almost positive that the Volunteers would struggle to avoid falling to 11th or 12th in the conference. To my astonishment, Tennessee was able to finish 8th, with a 9-9 conference record, and if they had found a way to win a few more games (and get some help of course), they could have finished in the top 5 realistically.

Why was I so wrong about the Volunteers? Well, I did not expect John Fulkerson, and Yves Pons to take the large strides they did last season. And with so many other players that also have the ability to play at a high level (particularly, 5-star freshmen, Keon Johnson, and Jaden Springer, 4-star freshman, Corey Walker Jr., Oregon transfer, Victor Bailey Jr, and Sacred Heart transfer, EJ Anosike, and returning starters, Josiah Jordan-James, and Santiago Vescovi), I expect nothing less than continued success for them this season.

I think that because Rick Barnes (Tennessee head coach) can play multiple guys at different positions, and quickly sub players in (if Tennessee is in foul trouble), without having to worry mightily about seeing a major decrease in production, he will have the depth he needs to help the Volunteers have an outstanding season.

And since Tennessee has two guys (Fulkerson and Pons), with previous success and are senior veteran starters as well. If everyone can gel together, I can see the Volunteers capturing the top spot in the SEC this season.