All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee basketball reaches top 10 in NCAA analyst’s Power 36

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Tennessee basketball Volunteers are rising in Andy Katz’s rankings.

With the entire post game back, much more experience at point guard and a top five recruiting class, analysts are finally starting to realize the potential for Tennessee basketball entering the 2020-2021 season. UT is rising in rankings as a result.

NCAA analyst Andy Katz had the Vols at No. 10 in his Power 36 Tuesday, which was six spots higher than where he had them back in April, the last time he released this ranking. That’s definitely a significant jump.

Despite this rise, the Kentucky Wildcats were still ahead of Tennessee basketball, but they only came in at No. 9, making things a heck of a lot more interesting. Here’s what Katz wrote about the Vols during his rankings.

"The Vols are loaded with returnees John Fulkerson and Yves Pons and a stud recruiting class led by Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson. This program will push Kentucky for the top spot in the SEC."

Obviously, numerous players from other schools leaving early for the NBA Draft and the return of Yves Pons for Rocky Top would all have a major factor in the Vols jumping six spots. The Gonzaga Bulldogs, who remained No. 1, are still on the schedule for Rick Barnes’ team as well.

light. Related Story. Ranking Vols likeliest to leave early for NBA Draft in 2021

What’s ironic for UT is that the initial hype behind the team was the arrival of five-stars Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson. However, Katz mentioned how loaded they were in the front court first, and he did so with good reason.

John Fulkerson was the team’s leading scorer last season, and he’s back at center. Pons was SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and he’s back. E.J. Anosike, a graduate transfer from the Sacred Heart Pioneers, averaged a double-double last year.

Next. Vol basketball's 2010s all-decade team. dark

There’s a chance that Barnes runs all three on the court and just uses one of his elite guards at the two while Santiago Vescovi and Victor Bailey Jr., the latter of whom is an Oregon Ducks transfer who redshirted last year, run the point. Simply put, thought, Tennessee basketball could be elite this year, and as Katz noted, they should compete for the SEC Championship.

Home/Vols Basketball