Yves Pons
Auburn forward JT Thor (10) puts up a shot as Tennessee guard Yves Pons (35) and Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) try and block during the first half of an NCAA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Flanigan scores 23, leads Auburn past No. 25 Tennessee 77-72

By John Zenor Feb. 27, 2021 03:27 PM EST

Auburn guard Allen Flanigan (22) brings the ball in as Tennessee guard Keon Johnson (45) defends during the first half of an NCAA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Tennessee Volunteers at Auburn Tigers 2/27/2021

Feb. 27, 2021 01:16 PM EST

Vanderbilt's Scotty Pippen Jr., center, greets teammates before an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Pippen did not warm up with the team. Pippen is the SEC's second-leading scorer averaging 20.5 points a game and had started every game this season. This snaps a 32-game start streak. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Bailey scores 21, No. 25 Tennessee beats Vanderbilt 70-58

By Teresa M. Walker Feb. 24, 2021 11:11 PM EST

Tennessee guard Victor Bailey Jr. (12) looks to pass the ball against Kentucky's Devin Askew (2) during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Randy Sartin/Pool Photo via AP)
Jackson, Kentucky win 3rd in row, top No. 19 Tennessee 70-55

By Al Lesar Feb. 20, 2021 04:17 PM EST

South Carolina's Keyshawn Bryant (24) defends against Tennessee's Victor Bailey Jr. (12) during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
South Carolina Gamecocks at Tennessee Volunteers 2/17/2021

Feb. 18, 2021 12:18 AM EST

South Carolina's Keyshawn Bryant (24) defends against Tennessee's Victor Bailey Jr. (12) during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Bailey leads No. 19 Tennessee over South Carolina, 93-73

By Al Lesar Feb. 18, 2021 12:16 AM EST

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes points to the bench during the team's NCAA college basketball game against Georgia on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Randy Sartin/Pool Photo via AP)
No. 16 Tennessee holds on to beat Georgia

Al Lesar Feb. 10, 2021 10:26 PM EST

Mississippi guard Jarkel Joiner (24) attempts a layup while being defended by a Tennessee player during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Oxford, Miss., Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Shuler leads Mississippi rally in 52-50 win over No. 11 Vols

Feb. 02, 2021 09:43 PM EST

Tennessee guard/forward Yves Pons (35) blocks a shot attempt by Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) during an NCAA college basketball game in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (Caitie McMekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Kansas Jayhawks at Tennessee Volunteers 1/30/2021

Jan. 30, 2021 08:22 PM EST

Tennessee guard/forward Yves Pons (35) blocks a shot attempt by Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) during an NCAA college basketball game in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (Caitie McMekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Pons scores 17 as No. 18 Tennessee beats No. 15 Kansas 80-61

By Teresa M. Walker Jan. 30, 2021 08:21 PM EST

Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua dunks during the team's NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Pons leads No. 18 Tennessee past Mississippi State

By Al Lesar Jan. 26, 2021 10:33 PM EST

Missouri players react after defeating Tennessee in an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Calvin Mattheis/Knoxville New-Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Pinson leads No. 19 Missouri to 73-64 win at No. 6 Tennessee

By Al Lesar Jan. 23, 2021 10:55 PM EST

Tennessee forward John Fulkerson (10) blocks a shot by Texas A&M guard Andre Gordon (20) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
No. 9 Tennessee tops Texas A&M 68-54 behind Santiago Vescov

Jan. 09, 2021 04:46 PM EST

Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) moves the ball against Alabama's Jaden Shackelford (5) during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Randy Sartin, Pool)
Alabama stuns No. 7 Tennessee 71-63 in physical battle

By Al Lesar Jan. 02, 2021 08:28 PM EST

Tennessee's Victor Bailey Jr., center, drives past teammate Olivier Nkamhoua, left, and Missouri's Dru Smith, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
No. 7 Tennessee routs No. 12 Missouri 73-53 in SEC opener

By Joe Walljasper Dec. 30, 2020 11:29 PM EST

Bailey leads No. 8 Tennessee over winless Saint Joseph's

By Al Lesar Dec. 21, 2020 08:53 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Five games into his Tennessee career, Victor Bailey is settling into his role as an offensive threat. The transfer...

Tennessee's Keon Johnson (45) slides on the court during an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee Tech Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Caitie McMekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
No. 10 Tennessee overwhelms Tennessee Tech 103-49

By Al Lesar Dec. 18, 2020 09:01 PM EST

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes speaks to a referee during the team's NCAA college basketball game against Colorado on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Caitie McMekin/Knoxville New-Sentinel via AP, Pool)
No. 12 Tennessee gets past Colorado in long-delayed opener

By Al Lesar Dec. 08, 2020 08:19 PM EST

FILE - Kentucky head coach John Calipari screams at players after Florida scored during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., in this Saturday, March 7, 2020, file photo. The No. 10 Wildcats lost five starters among nine departures from last season including Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Immanuel Quickley and All-SEC first teamer Nick Richards. Of course, being Kentucky, expectations of another national championship remain high. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood, File)
Kentucky, Tennessee lead SEC loaded with new talent

By John Zenor Nov. 11, 2020 04:56 PM EST

FILE — In this Jan. 18, 2020, file photo, Tennessee coach Rick Barnes directs players during an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. The combination of experience and talent has raised expectations that Tennessee can win the SEC regular season title for the second time in four seasons and maybe even think of the program's first Final Four. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Barnes restocks Tennessee roster, ready to contend again

By Teresa M. Walker Nov. 11, 2020 01:16 PM EST