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Tennessee basketball: Ranking Vols finish to every season in 2010s decade

By Caleb Calhoun

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images /

8. 2016-2017

16-16 (8-10)

*No postseason

Yes, the three-year period from 2014 through 2017, the middle of the decade, was the worst period for Tennessee basketball by far in the 2010s. All three seasons were the three worst, and it all stemmed back to when Cuonzo Martin left and then the Donnie Tyndall distraction.

But of those three years, this was the best because of the fact that it signified dramatic improvement on the horizon. On the heels of a losing season, Rick Barnes secured the foundation for his resurgence on Rocky Top this year with commitments from three three-stars: Grant Williams, Jordan Bone and Jordan Bowden.

Meanwhile, Admiral Schofield and Kyle Alexander were a year older, and Lamonte Turner was finally eligible to play. However, this whole team was extremely young, and the only veteran was Robert Hubbs III after Detrick Mostella was dismissed. With Hubbs leading that young talent, though, UT scored some big wins.

The Vols fought the No. 12 ranked Oregon Ducks to overtime, they blew out the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and they only lost by two to the No. 7 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels on the road. In SEC play, they scored quality wins at the Texas A&M Aggies and Vanderbilt Commodores and at home against he Mississippi State Bulldogs and No. 5 ranked Kentucky Wildcats.

After beating the Kansas State Wildcats and Auburn Tigers to close out January, they were 13-9 with the No. 2 ranked strength of schedule and an NCAA bubble team. But youth, lack of depth, and Hubbs getting banged up set the team back in February. So they only won three more regular season games and lost the first game in the SEC Tournament to finish .500.

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