Tennessee had the worst possible week they could've had after beating rival Vanderbilt on the road nine days ago. Fresh off a big rivalry victory, Tennessee ran into trouble on the road against the Missouri Tigers. Defensive breakdowns and untimely turnovers made sure the Vols didn’t come out on top. The week got even worse, as Tennessee hosted Alabama on Saturday at the Food City Center. Tennessee got off to a strong start, but Nate Ament got hurt at the end of the first half. The Vols dominance on the boards gave them control of the game, but they couldn't take advantage of many of their second-chance opportunities. Tennessee ended up falling 71-69, making it a 0-2 week for Tennessee.
Despite the terrible week of basketball, there is still good news for Tennessee fans. The latest AP Poll is out, and Tennessee remains in the top-25. Last week, Tennessee was No. 22, and they have only dropped one spot to No. 23. Rick Barnes has one more week left before the postseason begins, so he needs to get the train back on track as soon as possible.
What Tennessee basketball has on deck this week
Tennessee has two big games to close out the regular season. Tennessee will travel to Columbia, South Carolina, on Tuesday night to take on the Gamecocks. Head Coach Lamont Paris is fighting for his job right now, and if they finish strong, it could buy him another season. They will be hungry, and it's never easy winning an SEC road matchup.
Then, Tennessee will host rival Vanderbilt on Senior Day in a matchup where the Commodores will certainly be looking to get revenge on the Vols after their last matchup. Vanderbilt is a good team, and with Nate Ament's status still in question, who knows how this week could go.
For Vols fans, the clock is ticking, and Tennessee must start showing signs of progress before the postseason tips off.