Tennessee basketball has risen only one spot in the AP poll this week, and now sits at 19th in the nation. The Vols have shown that they are a top team in the country and will eventually receive a low seed in the NCAA tournament, but the voters didn't put much stock in Tennessee's big week.
Rick Barnes' squad now sits at 9-3 on the year, shaking off a three-game losing streak this week. On Tuesday, Tennessee absolutely dismantled Louisville 83-62. The Vols bench outscored Louisville 34-3, showing off the impressive depth of this team.
On Sunday, Tennessee played Gardner-Webb and had no trouble, winning convincingly 94-52. The game was once again defined by the depth of Rick Barnes’ team, as the freshmen produced in expanded roles. Dwayne Brown II had 14 rebounds, and became the fourth Tennessee player to reach the feat in the last 20 years.
A star player has helped Tennessee get back on track
Ja'Kobi Gillespie has been a major factor, too. In the last two contests, he has averaged 19 points, seven assists, and three rebounds a game. Rick Barnes has taken notice of his emergence, saying, "I don't know if the ship was ever not right. I think it was a learning process. I think our guys, mainly I think Ja'Kobi probably more than anybody, learning how to really try to run a team."
Gillespie has not only been a scorer but he's been a leader and the floor general that Tennessee needs. Yes, it's great that he can score at an elite level, but he needs to distribute and run the offense. Over the last week, he has done a much better job of that.
This new AP poll now has Tennessee ranked 4th in the SEC. They are not too far behind Arkansas, Alabama, and Vandy, the three teams they will be competing with to win the conference. Tennessee opens up SEC play versus Arkansas on January 3rd.
The Vols now have a week off for the holiday. When they resume, they will take on South Carolina State on December 30th. That will be their last non-conference game before the brutal SEC schedule begins.