Tennessee basketball is heating up at just the right time.
After stringing together a pair of wins last week-including a gritty overtime road victory at Georgia and a statement win over Auburn in Knoxville-the Volunteers have climbed one spot to No. 5 in the latest SEC basketball poll. It’s a well-earned rise for a team that’s now riding a three-game win streak and showing signs of rounding into form as the heart of conference play unfolds.
The Jan. 28 win in Athens didn’t come easy. Tennessee had to grind through 45 minutes of basketball against a tough Georgia squad, eventually pulling out the win in overtime.
But it was the Jan. 31 showdown at home that really turned heads. The Vols knocked off Auburn, 77-69, in a game that carried a little extra edge with Steven Pearl-son of former Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl-returning to Knoxville as Auburn’s acting head coach.
The Vols handled their business, executing down the stretch and showing the kind of poise that could carry them deep into March.
At the top of the SEC poll, Florida continues to flex its muscle. The Gators held onto the No. 1 spot after a dominant week, picking up blowout wins over South Carolina (95-48) and Alabama (100-77). That’s the kind of back-to-back performance that turns heads, and the voters took notice-Florida received 10 first-place votes this week.
Texas A&M is keeping the pressure on, though. The Aggies also earned a first-place vote after their 92-77 win at Georgia.
That victory pushed them to 7-1 in SEC play, giving them a one-game lead over Florida in the standings. It’s shaping up to be a two-team race at the top, but don’t count out the teams just behind them.
Several programs made upward moves this week, including Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Kentucky, Auburn, and Mississippi State-all climbing one spot in the rankings. On the flip side, Arkansas and Alabama each fell two spots after rough outings, while Georgia, South Carolina, and Oklahoma also slid down the board.
Here’s a look at the latest SEC Basketball Poll for February 2:
- Florida (10 first-place votes)
- Vanderbilt ↑1
- Texas A&M (1 first-place vote) ↑1
- Arkansas ↓2
- Tennessee ↑1
- Kentucky ↑1
- Alabama ↓2
- Auburn ↑1
- Georgia ↓1
- Texas
- Missouri
- Ole Miss
- LSU
- Mississippi State ↑1
- South Carolina ↓1
- Oklahoma ↓1
As for how the voters are seeing things, Ben McKee-who covers Tennessee basketball-had the Vols ranked third on his ballot, behind only Florida and Vanderbilt. That’s a strong endorsement of what Tennessee’s been doing lately and a sign that the Vols are gaining respect within the league.
Looking ahead, Tennessee will try to keep the momentum rolling Tuesday night when it hosts Ole Miss at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
ET on ESPN2. Then comes a big one: a trip to Lexington on Saturday to take on Kentucky at Rupp Arena.
The Wildcats edged Tennessee earlier this season in Knoxville, 80-78, on Jan. 17.
No doubt the Vols will be looking for a little payback in one of college basketball’s most iconic venues.
With the SEC race tightening and Tennessee playing some of its best basketball of the season, this next stretch could be pivotal. If the Vols can keep stacking wins, they’ll not only climb the rankings-they’ll put themselves in prime position for a strong postseason run.