It was a busy week for the Tennessee men's basketball team, as the Vols took down then No. 14 Mississippi State to kick things off, which set up a huge showdown with No. 1 Auburn. By now, you all know that the Vols fell just short, losing a heartbreaker.
On Monday afternoon, the latest edition of the AP Top 25 poll came out and the Vols have dropped two spots, moving from No. 6 to No. 8. With the loss to Auburn being so close, the hope was that UT wouldn't be punished too much for the defeat, especially with questionable calls late. Is No. 8 fair or not fair for Rick Barnes and his players?
BREAKING: College Basketball AP Poll🚨https://t.co/9qxMORNaU8 pic.twitter.com/6Wfk9IWbHI
— On3 (@On3sports) January 27, 2025
Tennessee checks in at No. 8 in the latest AP Top 25 poll
With the loss to Bruce Pearl and the Tigers, Tennessee is 17-3 on the season and 4-3 in conference play. The Vols are a perfect 11-0 at home in front of the Knoxville faithful, but the 3-3 record on the road is something Barnes is going to want to clean up ASAP.
Overall, Tennessee being in the Top 10 despite holding three losses has some fans upset, but it seems pretty fair for the program. With that said, this upcoming week is going to be MASSIVE for Tennessee to send a statement.
On Tuesday night, there's a fun rivalry game on the way, with No. 12 Kentucky making its way to town. Then after that, a dance with No. 5 Florida is on the calendar for Saturday at noon. You already know the Vols and Barnes will have revenge on their minds.
The last time these two teams faced off, Tennessee was the No. 1 team in the nation, but the Gators embarrassed them with a 30-point win. It was a brutal showing for the Vols, one which still haunts members of the fanbase. Should Tennessee go 2-0 this week, it should climb up potentially into the Top 5. With a loss or two, however, the team will continue to dip.