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Tennessee Vols morning report: Rick Barnes, John Fulkerson preview Florida

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Tennessee Volunteers fans cheer during the first half of the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Tennessee Volunteers fans cheer during the first half of the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Football season may be over, but the Tennessee Vols still have plenty of news for us to cover. Men’s and women’s basketball programs are riding high, former UT players are still around in the NFL Playoffs, and National Signing Day is next week. Also, baseball is gearing up.

Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with lots of things related to those topics, starting with men’s basketball looking ahead to this week’s slate of games. Also, while signing day is about the 2022 class, we have other coverage related to that class from Monday.

A baseball preseason ranking is also in the news, and we’ll close things out with a huge men’s tennis matchup. Women’s basketball didn’t make any news, but they did move up to No. 4 in the AP Poll Monday. Let’s dive in, though, with men’s basketball.

Rick Barnes, John Fulkerson preview week – Ben McKee, VolQuest

Coming off their win over the LSU Tigers, the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team moved up to No. 18 in the AP Poll and No. 20 in the Coaches Poll Monday. With the Florida Gators set for Wednesday, Rick Barnes and John Fulkerson both spoke to the media Monday. Barnes talked about finding a rotation. Here’s a bit of what he said.

"“If you can get guys where you know from night to night what they’re going to produce and the reliability of what they’re going to be able to do on both ends of the court, it helps you a lot. I think it helps them. The last couple games I do think we have been able to get a little bit more rotation in our mind in terms of what we’re trying to do.”"

Fulkerson talked about having a different mindset coming off the bench rather than starting. This is how he described it.

"“I think I still have the same mindset with just doing whatever I can to help my team. I think our roles as everyone is still the same, just doing what coach asks us to do.”"

Football officially welcomes early enrollees – Patrick Brown, GoVols247

After they spent all weekend arriving on campus as Junior Day was taking place, the Tennessee Vols football early enrollees in the 2022 recruiting class were officially welcomed on Monday. There are 18 total newcomers overall.

"The new additions include 13 players who signed with the Vols during the Early Signing Period and multiple transfers, including some who are coming to Tennessee as preferred walk-ons. With classes starting this week, Tennessee will get its offseason underway with workouts with the team back together for the first time since the 2021 season ended."

Baseball ranked in top 20 of preseason poll – BaseballAmerica.com

The Tennessee Vols baseball team, which reached the College World Series last year, is No. 17 in the 2022 Baseball America preseason top 25. That’s all the way down to eighth in the SEC, though, which is loaded this year.

"Texas, coming off a season that saw it win the Big 12 title and reach the bracket finals of the College World Series, opens the 2022 season ranked No. 1 in the Baseball America Top 25.…Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, who met in last year’s CWS finals, follow Texas at Nos. 2 and 3."

Men’s tennis opens season with top 10 matchup – UTSports

Ranked No. 1 in the nation, the Tennessee Vols men’s tennis team will host the No. 10 ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons Tuesday afternoon. At 3-0, their most recent outing was a victory over the TCU Horned Frogs, then ranked No. 5, on January 16.

"Tuesday marks the 18th all-time meeting between Tennessee (3-0) and Wake Forest (7-0), and the first since 2017. The Vols lead the series with an all-time mark of 12-5."

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