Vols Fall, Lady Vols Rise in Latest AP Poll
Vols- No. 18 ( ⬇️ 5)
The Tennessee Vols men's basketball team went 1-1 in week five of college basketball play, beating UNC Greensboro by 40 points after falling to Texas Tech in a disappointing overtime loss last Tuesday.
Last Monday, Tennessee was ranked No. 13 for the second week in a row, but after the loss to the Red Raiders, the Vols have a new ranking of 18th overall in the latest AP Top 25 Poll.
Tennessee entered the game in Madison Square Garden against Texas Tech on a four-game winning streak, but a poor shooting percentage (27%) led to a 57-52 loss in overtime. The Vols rebounded upon return to Knoxville, though, demolishing UNC Greensboro 76-36 led by a balanced effort that saw Josiah-Jordan James net four threes.
While shooting woes have been scattered across Tennessee's season, the Vols' defense has been lights out. Led by John Fulkerson and Josiah-Jordan James, the Vols held UNC Greensboro to the fewest points an opponent has ever scored in Thompson-Boling Arena history (36).
Five-star freshman point guard Kennedy Chandler leads the Vols with 14.6 points per game, and fellow guard Santiago Vescovi is second with 13.9.
John Fulkerson has been the most effective presence for Tennessee's frontcourt, as 'Fulky' is averaging a co-team-leading 6.3 rebounds per game. The Kingsport native also leads the Big Orange with nearly two blocks per game after a performance in which he had three against UNCG.
Lady Vols- No. 7 (tie) ( ⬆️ 2)
As for the women, Kellie Harper's best start on Rocky Top continued with a dominant win over Georgia State on Sunday, and the Big Orange Women have a new and improved ranking in the AP Top 25 Poll as a result.
Tennessee is tied for 7th in the poll with Big East powerhouse UConn, and they remain second in the SEC behind No. 1 South Carolina.
No. 7 overall is the best ranking the Lady Vols have had under Kellie Harper, and it is the best ranking since Tennessee was No. 6 in January of 2018 in the 2017-2018 season under former head coach Holly Warlick.
Tamari Key has been a machine for the orange and white this season, and the North Carolina native recorded her sixth double-double of the season against the Panthers. Key currently ranks second on the team in points after scoring a season-high 16 points against Georgia State. TK is averaging over 11 points per game, 11 rebounds per game and nearly five blocks per game in the last month for the Lady Vols. The junior center is having a career year and has allowed the Lady Vols to remain in games in which their offense struggled this season, and the junior is showing no signs of slowing down.
Jordan Horston still leads the Lady Vols with 125 total points but has slowed down recently. The junior forward averaged 19.4 points per game through her first five games of the season, and since her return from Las Vegas to start December, No. 25 has averaged 9.33 points per game.
However, the Lady Vols have not missed a beat with Tamari Key's dominance and big games from Tess Darby against Tennessee Tech and Sara Puckett against Virginia Tech and Georgia State (15 and 12 points).
Saturday presents the most formidable challenge yet for Kellie Harper and co. The Big Orange Women will go toe-to-toe with the reigning national champions in No. 3 Stanford.
On Tuesday, Rick Barnes and the men will look to win two consecutive games when USC Upstate comes to Knoxville. A marquee matchup with in-state rival Memphis is right around the corner when the two squads face-off Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Saturday.
Did you know Volunteer Country on SI does Podcasts? Check out the staff's latest breakdowns here.
Volunteer Country on SI is also on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Check out any of the links to ensure you do not miss any of the coverage of your favorite Tennessee teams!
You can follow the staff, Matt, Jake, Dale and Jack on Twitter by clicking any of their names.
Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Vols targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects
Sports Illustrated also offers insight, information and up to the minute details for gamblers. Check it out here.
