Tennessee cracks top 25 of initial Coaches Poll

Tennessee was shut out of the first AP Poll of the 2019-20 season. But today, they cracked the top 25 of the first Coaches Poll of the year.

The Volunteers were the final team ranked in the poll, coming in at No. 25 to start the season.

Auburn and LSU narrowly topped Tennessee, coming in at No. 23 and No. 24 in the poll. Kentucky came in at No. 2, while Florida checked in at No. 6. In-state rival Memphis will start the season at No. 15.

Purdue, who knocked Tennessee out of the NCAA Tournament last year and who will participate in the Emerald Coast Classic with Tennessee, was ranked 22nd to start the year. Other participants of that tournament — Florida State and VCU — narrowly missed being ranked, but received votes in the poll.

Washington, one of Tennessee’s early non-conference tests, also received votes in the poll but did not crack the top 25.

Rick Barnes will feature senior guards Jordan Bowden and Lamonte Turner this year after losing Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, Kyle Alexander and Jordan Bone. Those two veterans, along with five-star guard Josiah James, will help bridge the gap to a special class in 2020. But Barnes has a chance to win this year with this group, which will play a different style than what we’re accustomed to seeing. It should be fun watching them adapt — and firing away from long range.

Full Coaches Poll

1. Michigan State
2. Kentucky
3. Kansas
4. Duke
5. Louisville
6. Florida
7. Gonzaga
8. Maryland
9. Virginia
10. Villanova
11. North Carolina
12. Texas Tech
13. Seton Hall
14. Oregon
15. Memphis
16. Ohio State
17. Arizona
18. Baylor
19. Utah State
20. Saint Mary’s
21. Xavier
22. Purdue
23. Auburn
24. LSU
25. Tennessee