Just a few days removed from Rick Barnes praising the Tennessee basketball fans for their loyalty and how great they are, we have further reinforcement on this cause with a recent development.
Tennessee was ranked among the top 10 most-watched college basketball teams in a Nielsen study. The Vols came in at No. 10 on the list, ahead of some very big programs like UConn, Arizona, Iowa State, and Wisconsin. Tennessee ranked third in the SEC behind Arkansas and Kentucky.
The Tennessee basketball team has played in a number of high-profile games so far this year. Tennesseee was the first team to take on Alabama after they got a waiver for Charles Bediako to play, a former NBA G-Leaguer. This game was also an instant classic that was fun for all 40 minutes, featuring the Vols picking up a big win.
Tennessee has also played Kentucky, Auburn, and Illinois in primetime on Saturday nights. It probably helps that Kentucky has come back twice on Tennessee in brutal fashion. Plus a tough non-conference schedule playing teams like Houston, Kansas, Syracuse, and Louisville were all must see games.
Tennessee basketball still has some big matchups
Most of Tennessee's big games have already happened, playing a gauntlet off a schedule, but they still have some really good games left.
Tennessee still has a chance to boost its rating even more before the season ends. The Vols have a huge rivalry game versus Vandy this Saturday, and they still play them at home to cap off the year. Vandy is a top team in the nation this year, and both games should prove to be great contests. Not to mention, Tennessee will still play Alabama once again in a rematch of an instant classic a month ago.
If Tennessee can make a run in the SEC Tournament, those games always draw massive audiences, and the further they advance, the bigger and more-watched the matchups become. It remains unclear how the Vols will finish in the final rankings, but one thing is for certain: Vols fans love Tennessee basketball, and they draw a national crowd.