NCAA Basketball: UConn, Purdue rise on top 25 power ranking after Feast Week

13. Tennessee (5-1)

Two weeks ago, Tennessee had a dreadful performance against Colorado in a double-digit loss. That loss was a really rough early hit for a Volunteers team with high expectations in a talented SEC, but that was nowhere near a death knell for this program. They did plenty to bounce back this past week and proved they belong in that conversation among the SEC’s (and nation’s) best teams.

The Volunteers were in the Bahamas at the Battle 4 Atlantis and took care of business, starting with a 71-45 win against Butler on Wednesday in a balanced effort. In the semifinals, Tennessee held on for a 73-66 overtime win over USC on Thanksgiving, getting 25 points from Julian Phillips. Friday was where everything came together for the Volunteers, winning the Battle 4 Atlantis with a 64-50 victory over #3 Kansas. Santiago Vescovi had 20 points and hit five 3-pointers while this Tennessee squad had their best defensive effort of the early season.

Tennessee’s success in the Bahamas reinvigorates their seasons. They’ve now won four straight games since that rough outing against Colorado and have clearly put that in the rearview mirror. The Volunteers have an elite defense and certainly have enough playmakers on both sides of the ball, especially if they can limit Kansas to just 50 points. Next week is much simpler, coming back home to face off with McNeese State and Alcorn State, with a 7-1 start very much expected.