Vol Hoops Rises to Top Five in Two Rankings
Credit: University of Tennessee Athletics
By Tucker Harlin
Tennessee received praise for its Feast Week heroics in two different systems of ranking Monday afternoon.
First, the AP awarded the Vols the third spot in its updated Top 25.
POLL ALERT: Kansas holds off Auburn for No. 1 in AP Top 25 as SEC grabs 3 of top 4 spots; 2-time defending champion UConn nearly out of poll.
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) December 2, 2024
Full poll: https://t.co/ZJG5mgWrsa pic.twitter.com/rENB6Z8P7s
The Vols are in the middle of an SEC sandwich in the second, third, and fourth ranks. Maui Invitational winner Auburn rose to second overall behind Kansas while the resurgent Kentucky Wildcats rose to fourth.
Additionally, the NCAA tournament selection committee released its first NET rankings of the 2024-25 season. Tennessee topped out the first edition of the NET.
🚨 FIRST NET RANKINGS OF 2024-25 🚨
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) December 2, 2024
1. Tennessee
2. Auburn
3. Gonzaga
4. Duke
5. Pittsburgh
6. Florida
7. Marquette
8. Kentucky
9. Kansas
10. Illinois
The NET Rankings are used by the Selection Committee and updated daily 👉 https://t.co/WcAiGNRwth pic.twitter.com/TEwcJXn8cG
Four of the current top ten teams in the NET appear on the Vols’ schedule. Two of these teams are the aforementioned Tigers and Wildcats, coming in at the second and eighth spots respectively.
Tennessee travels to Champaign for a test against Illinois on December 14, who currently sits at tenth in the NET. The fourth SEC team in the NET is Florida, ranking sixth in the NET.
