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Media picks Tennessee basketball to win SEC title for 2020-2021

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 2: Cheerleaders of the Tennessee Volunteers pregame against the Kentucky Wildcats in a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 2, 2016 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Patrick Murphy-Racey/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 2: Cheerleaders of the Tennessee Volunteers pregame against the Kentucky Wildcats in a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 2, 2016 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Patrick Murphy-Racey/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee basketball Volunteers are Southeastern Conference championship favorites.

All offseason, the debate has been raging over whether or not the men’s Tennessee basketball program or the Kentucky Wildcats would be this year’s SEC Champion. Different outlets and experts gave different opinions on the matter.

Well, those who cover the league have officially made their pick, and it favors Rick Barnes’ program. UT has been tabbed as this year’s preseason favorite to win the conference with Kentucky coming in at No. 2.

This is the first time since the 2008-2009 season that Tennessee basketball was tabbed the SEC Championship favorites. They won a share of the regular season title in 2018-2019 and outright in 2007-2008 but haven’t won the SEC Tournament Championship since the 1978-1979 season.

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In addition to being the preseason favorites, the Vols had two senior forwards make All-SEC. Returning leading scorer John Fulkerson was named First Team All-SEC, and returning SEC Defensive Player of the Year Yves Pons was named Second Team All-SEC.

Only Kentucky and the LSU Tigers were the other teams to join the Vols with multiple All-SEC players, and both had one First Team and one Second Team player. Keyontae Johnson of the Florida Gators was predicted to be the SEC Player of the Year. There’s a reason LSU and Florida were picked at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively behind the Vols and Wildcats.

Considering the fact that the Vols have a top five recruiting class with two five-stars plus Fulkerson and Pons, it makes sense for them to be the favorites. Barnes is loaded with raw talent, depth and experience.

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Add in the fact that they return everybody but Jordan Bowden, will now see Oregon Ducks transfer Victor Bailey Jr. be eligible this year and also brought in a graduate transfer in E.J. Anosike who averaged a double-double last year with the Sacred Heart Pioneers, and it’s clear why they have a lot of hype. Simply put, there’s a reason people are betting on Tennessee basketball.

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