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Tennessee basketball No. 14 in preseason Coaches Poll for 2020-2021

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 21: Detailed view of the Tennessee Volunteers logo which is seen on a cheerleader megaphone during a game against the Florida Gators at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 62-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 21: Detailed view of the Tennessee Volunteers logo which is seen on a cheerleader megaphone during a game against the Florida Gators at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 62-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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The Tennessee basketball Volunteers made the USA TODAY Amway Coaches Top 25.

While the SEC may be picking Tennessee basketball to win the SEC, the preseason top 25 rankings continue to have them behind the Kentucky Wildcats. In fact, they aren’t in the top 10 of either major ranking.

On Wednesday, the 2020-2021 preseason USA TODAY Amway Coaches Poll had the Vols at No. 14. That is five spots behind Kentucky, who came in at No. 9. The Alabama Crimson Tide were the only other SEC team to crack the rankings, coming in right at No. 25.

This ranking comes two days after Tennessee basketball came in at No. 12 in the preseason AP Poll, just two spots behind Kentucky, who came in at No. 10. They were the only two SEC teams in that ranking.

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As of right now, the Vols are set to play four games against teams in the top 25. That includes Kentucky twice, Alabama at home and the Kansas Jayhawks, who came in at No. 5, in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge in January.

However, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who opened at No. 2 behind the Baylor Bears in the Coaches Poll despite being No. 1 in the AP Poll, are likely another opponent. All reporting suggest the Jimmy V Classic is on between the two schools on Dec. 2 in Indianapolis. As a result, UT right now appears to have five games set against top 25 opponents and four set against top 10 opponents.

Other SEC teams that at least received votes in the rankings were the Florida Gators, whom the Vols will face twice, the LSU Tigers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. No other confirmed or tentative opponent of Rocky Top is receiving any votes.

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What’s clear, though, is that Tennessee basketball will have to earn respect despite returning all but one player, including it’s leading scorer and reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, while adding two transfers and bringing in a top five recruiting class with two five-stars. Rick Barnes’ program is not getting enough love, so it’s up to him to prove people wrong.

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