Tennessee Basketball Still on the Outside Looking In-But Don’t Count the Vols Out Just Yet
Tennessee basketball is still sitting just outside the AP Top 25 for the second straight week, but don’t let that fool you-this team is trending in the right direction, and fast.
Despite knocking off No. 17 Alabama on the road over the weekend, the Vols didn’t crack the rankings.
They did, however, pull in 88 votes in the latest Associated Press poll-more than any other team not in the Top 25. In the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, they picked up 30 votes, signaling that the respect is still there, even if the ranking isn’t.
This is unfamiliar territory for Tennessee. Last week marked the first time since 2021 that they fell out of the AP Poll, a streak that spanned 104 of the last 105 weeks.
They had been a fixture in the top 20 for 66 straight weeks before slipping to No. 21 earlier this month following an SEC-opening loss at Arkansas. And while they’ve now gone three weeks without a Coaches Poll ranking, the buzz around this team-especially after Saturday-is starting to build again.
Ament Shines in Breakout Performance
The win over Alabama wasn’t just big-it was necessary. Tennessee entered the game still searching for its first road win of the season, and things didn’t start off well. The Vols trailed by 10 in the first half before freshman forward Nate Ament took over.
Ament dropped a career-high 29 points, including 18 in the second half, to spark a comeback that saw Tennessee outscore Alabama 43-34 after halftime. He was efficient and aggressive, shooting 10-for-20 from the field, knocking down 2-of-3 from deep, and going 7-of-9 from the line. He also added seven boards and three assists in 38 minutes of action-a near double-double that showed just how far he’s come in his freshman campaign.
“He’s starting to understand how to attack space and not get himself in trouble by going too deep,” head coach Rick Barnes said postgame. “But he was terrific tonight.”
Barnes didn’t hold back in his praise for Ament-not just for the Alabama game, but for his development over the last few weeks.
“I think he’s been really good all year,” Barnes said. “I know that when expectations are high for a player, sometimes people get disappointed, but we are not one bit disappointed with what he’s done for us all year. He’s gonna keep getting better.”
According to Barnes, the turning point came during the Florida game. Since then, Ament has been stringing together strong performances and showing a deeper understanding of how to operate within Tennessee’s system. Saturday night in Tuscaloosa was the culmination of that growth.
SEC Landscape
The SEC continues to be a gauntlet. Arkansas (No.
15), Vanderbilt (No. 18), Florida (No. 19), and Alabama (No. 23) all found spots in this week’s AP Top 25.
Meanwhile, teams like Kentucky, Georgia, Texas A&M, and Auburn are hanging around the fringes, picking up votes and staying in the national conversation.
So while Tennessee isn’t ranked at the moment, they’re still right in the thick of it. And with big games on the horizon, there’s plenty of opportunity to climb back into the polls.
What’s Next
The Vols head to Athens on Wednesday night for a road matchup against Georgia. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
ET on the SEC Network. After that, they return home Saturday night for a marquee showdown against Auburn, led by former Tennessee player Steven Pearl.
That one tips at 8:30 p.m. ET inside Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center and will air on ESPN.
If Tennessee can build on the momentum from the Alabama win, especially with Ament continuing to rise, it won’t be long before they’re back in the Top 25 mix. For now, they’re knocking on the door-and knocking hard.