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Tennessee basketball No. 12 in 2020-2021 Preseason AP 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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The Associated Press top 25 is high on the Tennessee basketball Volunteers.

It’s not quite the top 10, but Tennessee basketball is clearly entering the 2020-2021 season with high expectations. For just the second time in Rick Barnes’ tenure and since the firing of Bruce Pearl, the Vols are ranked in the preseason AP Poll.

UT came in at No. 12 in the rankings, which were released on Monday. That was second among SEC teams, as the Kentucky Wildcats came in two spots ahead of them at No. 10. No other team from the conference made the top 25.

This is the first time in two years Tennessee basketball opened the season ranked in the AP Poll. The Vols started the 2018-2019 season at No. 6, their highest preseason ranking in history and their first preseason top 10 ranking since 2009-2010.

Outside of facing Kentucky twice, the only other preseason top 25 team officially on the Vols’ schedule so far this year are the Kansas Jayhawks, who come in at No. 6. UT will host them on Jan. 30 in this year’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

However, basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported last week that the Jimmy V Classic is still on and set to be played on Dec. 2 in Indianapolis this year. If so, then the Gonzaga Bulldogs are also on UT’s slate, and they are ranked No. 1.

There are plenty of SEC teams on the Vols’ schedule receiving votes in the rankings as well. They include the LSU Tigers, who were one spot out of the top 25, the Florida Gators, who were three spots out of the top 25, the Alabama Crimson Tide, who were four spots out of the top 25 and the Auburn Tigers, who were 11 spots out of the top 25.

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Simply put, Tennessee basketball appears to have a pretty intriguing slate for this year. As a result, the Vols will have plenty of chances to move up these rankings if they perform to their level of expectations. With all but one player back from a 17-14 team, a top five recruiting class joining the program and two new transfers being able to play, there is reason to believe they can do that.

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