Tennessee Vols Drop in Both Polls on Monday
The Tennessee Vols basketball team took a hit in the latest polls, dropping in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll on Monday. This comes after a mixed bag of results last week, with the Vols underwhelming in a 75-64 loss to Kentucky in Lexington, before bouncing back with a win ¹.
In the AP Poll, the Vols fell seven spots to No. 17, while in the Coaches Poll, they dropped one spot to No. 7 ² ³. This marks the second consecutive week that Tennessee has dropped in the polls.
The Vols’ loss to Kentucky was a season sweep for the Wildcats, and it marked the second time this season that Tennessee has lost to their rival to the north. Despite the loss, the Vols were able to bounce back with a win, showing resilience and determination.
Tennessee’s drop in the polls is not entirely unexpected, given the competitive nature of the SEC. The Vols are still ranked highly, and they have a chance to move back up the rankings with a strong performance in their upcoming games.
The Vols are set to host Mississippi State on Tuesday, in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN2. They will then hit the road to face Auburn on Saturday, in a massive showdown that will be broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2 ².
Tennessee’s drop in the polls is a setback, but it’s not a devastating blow. The Vols are still a talented team, and they have the potential to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
As ESPN’s Jeff Borzello noted, Tennessee’s loss to Kentucky was a disappointment, but it’s not a reason to panic. “Tennessee will have to hope Tuesday was a blip,” Borzello wrote. “The Vols’ loss to Kentucky will go down in the record books, but it’s not a reason to write them off just yet” ³.
The Vols will look to bounce back from their drop in the polls with a strong performance against Mississippi State on Tuesday. With a win, they can move back up the rankings and stay in contention for the SEC title.
As Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes noted, the Vols are still a work in progress. “We’re not where we need to be yet,” Barnes said. “But we’re getting closer. We just need to keep working and stay focused on our goals” ³.
The Vols’ drop in the polls is a setback, but it’s not a reason to give up on the team. Tennessee is still a talented and resilient team, and they have the potential to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
As the Vols look to bounce back from their drop in the polls, they’ll need to stay focused and keep working towards their goals. With a strong performance against Mississippi State on Tuesday, they can move back up the rankings and stay in contention for the SEC title.
*Upcoming Games:*
– _Tuesday:_ Tennessee vs. Mississippi State (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
– _Saturday:_ Tennessee at Auburn (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN or ESPN2) ²
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