16. Tennessee (8-3)
Nobody can doubt that Rick Barnes has spent the last decade building a prominent program, especially with the Volunteers coming off an Elite Eight run again. The first weeks of this season showed a team capable of repeating that magic even with major changes from last season’s roster, shedding formidable talent. After three straight losses, there were understandable doubts.
Following tough efforts against Kansas, Syracuse, and Illinois, the Volunteers got themselves back into the win column in a major way this week. Tennessee took care of business in an emphatic 83-62 win over a ranked Louisville squad back on Tuesday. Ja’Kobi Gillespie, one of those valuable newcomers, continued his fantastic season with 23 points while Jaylen Carey (12 points, 10 rebounds) added a double-double off the bench.
This team didn’t buckle down or fall apart after those tough losses and instead made a major statement against a very good team this week in their last big nonconference matchup. The Volunteers shook off those losses and are looking like an SEC contender again. Their last two games before conference play are laughable matchups, as they shouldn’t have too much difficulty with Gardner Webb this week or South Carolina State afterwards.