16. Tennessee (2-0)
With the changes in personnel in Knoxville, the vibe is slightly different for the Volunteers, though we can still expect a lot out of Rick Barnes and this team. Tennessee has always been known for their shutdown defense and even while leaning on some new faces still has the talent to be a top contender in a strong and deep SEC.
The season started solidly with a 76-61 win over Mercer. Nate Ament’s college debut was a success with 18 points and 9 rebounds paired with good work on the defensive end. What we saw out of the Volunteers on Saturday was even more impressive, handling Northern Kentucky in a 95-56 knockout. Ament’s 23 points and 8 rebounds led the charge again though new point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie had his first brilliant showing with a 20-point effort.
College basketball is all about adjustments and this team is still adjusting to new pieces in this lineup. With that being said, they took care of business in the opening week and will have plenty of chances to prove themselves later in the season. Expect Tennessee to remain a feisty defense, especially with an easy matchup against North Florida coming in just a few days.