Santiago Vescovi
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

LSU head coach Will Wade congratulates guard Ja'Vonte Smart (1) during a substitution in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LSU pulls away late, wins easy over No. 16 Tennessee 78-65

By Bryan Lazare Feb. 13, 2021 04:39 PM 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

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

Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) makes a 3-point basket over Texas A&M forward Jonathan Aku (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Tennessee Volunteers at Texas A&M Aggies 1/9/2021

Jan. 09, 2021 03:04 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...

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

Kentucky's EJ Montgomery, left, passes the ball away from Tennessee's Yves Pons (35) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Fulkerson scores 27, Tennessee stuns No. 6 Kentucky 81-73

By Gary B. Graves Mar. 03, 2020 11:22 PM EST

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl smiles at an official during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett)
Auburn rallies past Vols; fan tossed for derogatory comment

By John Zenor Feb. 22, 2020 03:38 PM EST

Kentucky forward Nate Sestina (1) shoots over LSU forward Emmitt Williams (5) as LSU forward Darius Days (0) watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
No. 10 Kentucky looks to extend SEC lead against Florida

By Gary B. Graves Feb. 21, 2020 03:18 AM EST

Bowden's late free throws clinch Vols' 65-61 win over Vandy

By Steve Megargee Feb. 18, 2020 08:41 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jordan Bowden’s steadiness at the foul line made sure Tennessee avoided a stunning collapse. Bowden calmly sank two...

Kotsar, South Carolina rally to beat Tennessee 63-61

By David Cloninger Feb. 15, 2020 08:55 PM EST
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s Maik Kotsar swished four free throws in the final 21 seconds to deliver an improbable 63-61 win over Tennessee on...

Tennessee guard/forward Yves Pons (35) defends Arkansas guard Jimmy Whitt Jr. (33) during an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 in Knoxville, Tenn. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
Tennessee wins 82-61 as Arkansas suffers 3rd straight loss

By Steve Megargee Feb. 11, 2020 09:19 PM EST

Kentucky head coach John Calipari gives instruction to forward EJ Montgomery (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Knoxville, Tenn. Kentucky won 77-64. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
No. 15 Kentucky finally wins at Tennessee with 77-64 triumph

By Steve Megargee Feb. 08, 2020 03:18 PM EST

Tennessee rallies from 15 down, beats Alabama 69-68

By John Zenor Feb. 04, 2020 09:29 PM EST
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — John Fulkerson wanted to make one thing clear to Alabama's boisterous student section: He is getting a haircut. ...

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes directs players during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Season of change leaves Tennessee struggling for answers

By Steve Megargee Feb. 03, 2020 03:04 PM EST

Perry, Stewart power Mississippi State past Tennessee 86-73

By Paul Jones Feb. 01, 2020 05:31 PM EST
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Reggie Perry had 24 points with 12 rebounds and D.J. Stewart had a career-high 20 points to lead Mississippi State to an 86-73 victory...