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Tennessee basketball: Vols No. 25 in 2019-2020 preseason Coaches Poll

By Caleb Calhoun

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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After a Sweet Sixteen appearance, Tennessee basketball begins 2019-2020 barely in the USA TODAY Men’s Coaches Poll. The Volunteers are No. 25.

They open the season three spots outside of the 2019-2020 AP Poll. But after a 31-6 season in which they spent nearly a month at No. 1 and made the Sweet Sixteen, Tennessee basketball did manage to crack the top 25 in the 2019-2020 preseason Coaches Poll.

The Vols came in right at No. 25, one spot behind the LSU Tigers, two spots behind the Auburn Tigers and three spots behind the Purdue Boilermakers. Just behind them at No. 26 are the VCU Rams. Those rankings are interesting because UT will certainly play LSU once and Auburn twice this year, and they will either play VCU or Purdue in late November.

So Tennessee basketball is right in those rankings with lots of teams on their schedule. They are among five SEC teams in the top 25 with the Florida Gators coming in at No. 6 and the Kentucky Wildcats coming in at No. 2. The Mississippi State Bulldogs were another team to receive votes in the poll, and the Michigan State Spartans are the No. 1 ranked team in both polls.

Meanwhile, the Kansas Jayhawks, who will face the Vols in the SEC-Big 12 challenge in January, came in at No. 3. Other notable UT opponents include a home game in December against the Memphis Tigers, who are No. 15 in this poll, and a neutral site November game in Canada against the Washington Huskies, who are three spots out of the top 25.

light. Related Story. Ranking the toughest Vols to replace for 2019-2020

UT also faces the Florida State Seminoles, who are just behind Washington outside of the top 25, to open the Emerald Coast Classic, where they will face Purdue or VCU the next day. So there are plenty of marquee games for Rocky Top.

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Questions are abound for Rick Barnes this year as he attempts to replace four starters, including his three leading scorers and rebounders and two leading assists men. The addition of a transfer who is expected to get an eligibility waiver and four freshmen, highlighted by five-star combo guard Josiah-Jordan James, will be his attempt to replace that talent.

Because of those questions, Tennessee basketball is flirting with the top 25 in both polls to open the season. It’s why they’re three spots out of one poll and just barely in another. Nobody really knows how they will end up, but Barnes has shown he can recruit and get the maximum out of his players. This season will be a major test for him.

Next. Five preseason storylines for 2019-2020 Vols. dark

What’s clear, though, is Rocky Top has a program under Barnes. The guy has UT at a place where it can lose four starters and still be in the top 25 conversation. What happens this year is a giant question, but Vol fans can take solace in the program that has been built.

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