Ever since March Madness ended, Tennessee has become one of the most exciting programs in college basketball, thanks to all the talent Rick Barnes has brought to Knoxville. Tennessee went from looking like a team that might not make the tournament after several departures to a legitimate national title contender with the additions of Juke Harris, Terrence Hill Jr., Jalan Haralson, Dai Dai Ames, and others.
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However, given this, the Vols haven't always gotten the respect this roster deserves. Many have ranked the Vols in the middle of the SEC and near the bottom of their top 25 rankings, but college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein got it right with his latest power rankings.
Tennessee comes in at No. 10 in the Rothstein Power 45, which I think is completely fair. Tennessee has one of the best rosters in the country on paper, but it might take a while for everything to click. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a few non-conference losses they should've won, based on some miscues and such, which shouldn't cause panic. With a roster this new, that's to be expected early on.
On the other hand, this ranking shows that Tennessee is right up there with the contenders. The Vols have legit national title aspirations.
ROTHSTEIN 45.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 15, 2026
TOP 10:
1. Florida
2. Duke
3. Illinois
4. UConn
5. Michigan State
6. Arizona
7. Michigan
8. Virginia
9. Texas
10. Tennessee
CC: @FDSportsbook,@FanDuelResearch.https://t.co/ser9xaVXrU
No. 10 is the perfect ranking for Tennessee going into the year
This validates what Barens has done all offseason. He built a title contender through the portal by stockpiling players who can score off the dribble and get a bucket at will, something last year’s Elite Eight team lacked. Nevertheless, Barnes is sacrificing some defense for a much more lethal offense.
Yes, the defense might have some issues, but Barnes has proven that he is one of the best defensive schemers in the nation. Additionally, the additions of Miles Rubin, Braedan Lue, and Christian Fermin reinforce what Barnes values most: protecting the rim and rebounding. All three, along with DeWayne Brown II, excel in these areas tremendously. Tennessee will still be one of the most physically dominant teams in the country, along with being relentless on the glass. They may be weak on the perimeter, but that's okay; they have more than enough offensive power to make up for it.
Tennessee does have one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country, but that will help prepare them for March, where Barnes has placed all of his chips in the center. He wants to make the Final Four in Detroit badly, and this roster construction proves that.
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