Tennessee Basketball Holds Firm in AP Top 20, Extends Historic Ranking Streak
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Volunteers are back in familiar territory - the AP Top 20 - and they’re not just visiting. This week’s No. 20 ranking in the Associated Press Poll marks the 65th straight week the Vols have held a top-20 spot, a streak that stretches all the way back to November 2022. That’s not just consistency - that’s elite-level staying power in a sport where volatility is the norm.
Tennessee also landed at No. 23 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, a slight dip from last week’s position. But even with the drop, the bigger picture tells a much more impressive story.
This is the 87th consecutive week the Vols have appeared in the AP Top 25, a run that began with the 2021-22 preseason poll. To put that in perspective, the previous program record was 37 weeks - a mark that’s now been more than doubled.
Tennessee’s current streak is the second-longest active one in the country, trailing only Houston’s 113-week run. No other team in the nation is even in the 70s.
The closest SEC squad? Auburn, with 41 straight weeks - still 46 behind the Vols.
During this 87-week stretch, Tennessee has appeared in the top 20 a staggering 82 times, including this current 65-week run. That kind of sustained success doesn’t happen by accident.
Head coach Rick Barnes, now in his 11th season on Rocky Top, has built a program that doesn’t just contend - it stays relevant. Since the 2018-19 season, Barnes has guided Tennessee to 141 AP Poll appearances, a reflection of both his recruiting and the team’s consistent performance on the court.
The Vols haven’t played since December 6, currently in the middle of a nine-day break. Despite the layoff, they held steady in AP Poll voting with 286 points, matching last week’s total. In the Coaches Poll, they picked up 129 points.
The SEC is well-represented in the rankings, with six teams appearing in both major polls. Tennessee is joined by No.
13/12 Vanderbilt, No. 14 Arkansas, No.
16 Alabama, No. 21/24 Auburn, and No.
23/21 Florida. Georgia checks in at No. 25 in the AP Poll and leads the “receiving votes” category in the Coaches Poll.
LSU and Kentucky also picked up votes in both polls, while Missouri received Coaches Poll consideration.
Next up for Tennessee: a marquee showdown against No. 11 Louisville on Tuesday night.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Food City Center, with national coverage on ESPN.
After a week off, the Vols will look to make a statement against a top-tier opponent - and keep that ranking streak alive.