Tennessee basketball: Vols top 10 modern-era teams with under 20 wins

10. 1987-1988

16-13 (9-9)

NIT First Round

It was a bit of a rebound for Don DeVoe. After inheriting a Tennessee basketball program that Ray Mears built, DeVoe’s early years continued that success, largely thanks to four years of Dale Ellis. In each of his first five years, he made the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. He also made one Sweet 16, secured an SEC Tournament Title and won an SEC Title.

However, after Ellis left, Tony White came on board, and White’s era, despite his success, was met with a downward slide due to talent dwindling. UT made the NIT each of his first two years, and then they had losing records his final two years. So over years removed from a winning season and three removed from an NCAA Tournament is how DeVoe began this season.

Adding to the drama, White was now gone, and this was to be the Vols’ first season in Thompson-Boling Arena, the largest arena at the time that was built specifically for basketball. Thanks to the leadership of Dyron Nix, the program got off to a red-hot 9-1 start. They stumbled down the stretch to a 16-11 regular season record, but it was their first winning season in three years.

After losing in the first round of the SEC Tournament to the Florida Gators, they at least got back to the NIT. However, that didn’t last long, as they lost to MTSU in the first round. Still, 16 wins and an NIT elimination was an improvement over the previous few years.