Prestige Rankings: The Best SEC Men’s Basketball Programs

Mar 12, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Derek Reese (23) drives to the basket during the second half of the second round against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Tennessee won 67-61. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

7. Tennessee Volunteers

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 20

Sweet Sixteens: 5

Elite Eights: 1

Final Fours: None

National Championship Appearances: None

National Championships: None

SEC Tournament Championships: 1

The biggest jump in overall prestige and program history occurs at the break between the top and bottom half of the SEC, and the Tennessee Volunteers start off the upper half of the conference.

The Vols would be much further down this list if not for the success of the late 2000’s in the NCAA Tournament. Since 1985, The Vols have made 12 tournament appearances, but they failed to win more than a single game until 2000 when they made a push for the Sweet Sixteen.

Then from 2006-11, the Vols made 6 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, making it to the Sweet Sixteen 2 times and their lone Elite Eight in 2010. The Vols again made it back to the Sweet Sixteen in 2014 before losing to Michigan.

While the 2000’s have been kind to the Vols, their history before that was rather lackluster. And an unsuccessful SEC Tournament history doesn’t help their cause in the rankings.

The Vols won the 1st reinstated SEC Tournament in 1979, but they’ve failed to win it since. Tennessee has made 2 championship games appearances since then in 1991 and 2009, but that’s the extent of their success.

Although Tennessee has had several successful NCAA Tournament runs in the last decade, the rest of their NCAA Tournament history isn’t as bright. And with only 1 SEC Tournament championship to their name, the Vols sit squarely at the bottom of the top half of the SEC.