Tennessee Basketball Slips in ESPN Power Rankings, Leads SEC

Where Tennessee Basketball Lands in Early 2024–25 Rankings

According to ESPN’s updated projections, the Volunteers sit at No. 11 nationally. The slight downward adjustment follows roster turnover from an Elite Eight run, including the departure of standout guard Dalton Knecht to the NBA. Even with the dip, Tennessee outranks nearly every conference rival in the early national outlook, trailing only a select few SEC programs as the league prepares for an expanded 16-team format following the additions of Texas and Oklahoma.

Barnes enters his tenth season in Knoxville tasked with blending returning rotational pieces with a fresh influx of talent. The roster construction relies on defensive intensity and veteran leadership to replicate the physical identity that defined last year’s 27-9 campaign.

Roster Outlook and Key Additions for the Volunteers

To offset the loss of Knecht’s offensive production, Tennessee secured commitments through the transfer portal and high school ranks. Guard Igor Miličić Jr., a transfer from Charlotte, brings floor-spacing and rebounding value to the frontcourt. Returning guard Zakai Zeigler anchors the backcourt, providing steady point-guard play and elite perimeter defense that earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

• Zakai Zeigler: Returning senior point guard and defensive anchor.
• Igor Miličić Jr.: Charlotte transfer adding frontcourt versatility and outside shooting.
• Chaz Lanier: North Florida transfer expected to bolster perimeter scoring.

Guard Chaz Lanier also joins the program after averaging 19.7 points per game last season at North Florida. According to season preview data published by 247Sports, Lanier’s shooting efficiency ranks him among the nation’s most impactful incoming transfer guards.

SEC Landscape and Comparison With Conference Rivals

The SEC projects as one of the nation’s deepest conferences for the upcoming college basketball season. Alongside Tennessee, programs like Alabama, Auburn, and Arkansas occupy prominent spots in national preseason lists. Alabama enters the campaign near the top of several major polls following a Final Four appearance, setting up a competitive race at the top of the conference standings.

Tennessee opens its 2024–25 schedule in November at Thompson-Boling Arena, where Barnes and his staff look to establish rotation depth ahead of a challenging non-conference slate. Tip-off times and television designations for early-season matchups will be finalized by the athletic department in the coming weeks.