University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Men's Basketball History
2024-25Â Season
Record: 30-8
SEC Finish: 12-6 (4th SEC)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Coach: Rick Barnes (10th season)
Tennessee, for the second straight year, had perhaps its best season ever. As they did in 2023-24, the Volunteers finished fifth in the AP Poll, Coaches Poll and KenPom after reaching the Elite Eight. Rick Barnes, who became the winningest active DI coach in the country, led the team to 30 victories, its third-most ever, to mark the first time Tennessee hit that mark and made the Regional Final in the same year. The Volunteers spent the entire season in the AP top 12, including placing top-eight for the final 18 weeks, with 11 top-five positions and five in a row—matching their prior all-time total—at the No. 1 spot nationally. Tennessee was the country’s final unbeaten team—the only other prior such occurrence came in 1915-16—after beginning the year 14-0 to match the best start in program history. The Volunteers, who reached the SEC Tournament title game, tallied 10 AP top-25 wins to shatter their prior record of seven. Their seven AP top-15 triumphs also set a program record, while their four AP top-10 decisions—all over top-seven teams, half away from home—tied the school’s top mark. Barnes, who became the fourth coach with at least 29 DI NCAA Tournament berths—the others are Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim and Roy Williams—led his team to two buzzer-beating victories (at Illinois and against sixth-ranked Alabama). Tennessee was the only team with two All-Americans in 2024-25. Zakai Zeigler was a third-team honoree from all four major outlets, while Chaz Lanier earned the distinction from two of them. Zeigler, the third repeat SEC Defensive Player of the Year and fourth three-time SEC assists leader, and Jahmai Mashack were two of the four Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalists. Zeigler set the SEC single-season assists record (275), plus the Tennessee career assists (747) and steals (251) record. Lanier, who won the Jerry West Award, logged the most made 3-pointers (123) in a season in program history.
2023-24Â Season
Record: 27-9
SEC Finish: 14-4 (1st SEC)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Coach: Rick Barnes (9th season)
Its sixth-ever outright SEC regular season title (11th total), second Elite Eight appearance and best finish in the AP and Coaches Polls (fifth) highlighted arguably the finest season in program history for Tennessee in 2023-24. The 27 victories tied for the fourth-most ever by the Volunteers, as did the 14 league triumphs, while the team’s seven AP top-25 wins tied a program record. For the third straight year, Tennessee spent the entire season ranked in the AP top 25, extending the program record to 59 straight weeks, good for the third-longest active streak in the country. The Volunteers were in the top 10 in 19 of the 21 releases, including the top five nine times with a peak position of fourth nationally. Tennessee joined Arizona, Kansas and Purdue as the only schools to earn a top-five spot in each of the last three campaigns. Head coach Rick Barnes became the 15th coach in DI history to eclipse 800 career wins, as well as surpassed 200 victories at Tennessee and 100 in SEC play. He also earned a spot on the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ballot as a first-time nominee, one of just two active DI coaches on the ballot for their coaching career. A finalist for Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year, Barnes also earned his 28th NCAA Tournament trip, tying Bob Knight for fourth-most all-time at the DI level. In his lone season at Tennessee, Dalton Knecht turned in one of the finest campaigns in program history. Knecht was the runner-up for AP National Player of the Year, a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award, a consensus First Team All-American, the Julius Erving Award honoree and the SEC Player of the Year, among many other accomplishments. He won the SEC scoring title at 21.7 points per game, eighth-best in the country, and amassed 780 total points to rank fifth nationally and second in program history. Knecht set a school single-season record and led all DI players with six 35-point games.
2022-23Â Season
Record: 25-11
SEC Finish: 11-7 (T-4th SEC)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
Coach: Rick Barnes (8th season)
Despite multiple starters battling injuries all season—with four key contributors combining to miss 16 games—Tennessee spent the entire season ranked in the AP Top 25, ascending to a high of No. 2, and won at least 25 games for the fourth time under head coach Rick Barnes. The Vols built momentum early in the season by defeating Butler, USC and No. 3 Kansas to win the Battle 4 Atlantis championship. Tennessee went on to log memorable victories over No. 10 Texas, No. 1 Alabama and No. 12 Duke. The triumph over the Blue Devils propelled the Vols to the Sweet Sixteen for the ninth time in program history. The Big Orange owned the nation’s top-rated defense for 15 straight weeks and held opponents to an average of just 57.9 ppg. Senior guard Santiago Vescovi repeated as a first-team All-SEC selection, while sophomore guard Zakai Zeigler made a repeat appearance on the SEC All-Defensive Team in addition to earning second-team All-SEC acclaim. And wing Julian Phillips gave Tennessee its fifth SEC All-Freshman Team selection in three years.
2021-22Â Season
Record: 27-8
SEC Finish: 14-4 (T-2nd SEC)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament Second Round
Coach: Rick Barnes (7th season)
After 43 years, Tennessee ended its SEC Tournament championship drought, winning three games in three days as the No. 2 seed to capture the program’s fifth SEC Tournament crown. And for the second time under head coach Rick Barnes, the Volunteers spent the entire season ranked in the AP Top 25—ascending to a season-high of No. 5 in the final poll. Santiago Vescovi and Kennedy Chandler earned All-SEC first- and second-team honors, respectively, and Chandler also earned SEC Tournament MVP acclaim. Super senior John Fulkerson concluded his six-year career with an SEC record 165 games played. Tennessee logged four top-10 wins on the season, was a perfect 16-0 at Thompson-Boling Arena and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in the program’s fourth straight appearance.
2020-21Â Season
Record: 18-9
SEC Finish: 10-7 (4th SEC)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament First Round
Coach: Rick Barnes (6th season)
In a season unlike any other, the Volunteers adapted to challenging protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic to make a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Capacity at Thompson-Boling Arena was limited to 4,191 due to health and safety guidelines. Senior swingman Yves Pons earned SEC All-Defensive Team honors for the second consecutive year, but fellow senior John Fulkerson suffered a heartbreaking, season-ending injury in the SEC Tournament. Tennessee was led offensively by the SEC All-Freshman Team duo of Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson, who ranked first and second on the team in scoring, respectively. Prior to the NCAA Tournament, the Vols were a perfect 7-0 in non-conference play, with highlight wins over Colorado and Kansas. Tennessee managed to play 17 regular-season SEC games, finishing fourth in the standings with a 10-7 mark in league action.
2019-20 Season
Record: 17-14
SEC Finish: 9-9 (8th SEC)
Postseason: All postseason play was canceled due to COVID-19
Coach: Rick Barnes (5th season)
Tennessee’s 2019-20 season was marked by unexpected change from start to finish. Senior preseason All-SEC guard Lamonté Turner opted to end his collegiate career after 11 games due to thoracic outlet syndrome, the Vols added midyear enrollee point guard Santiago Vescovi days before the start of SEC play, 7-foot freshman Uroš Plavšić was granted NCAA eligibility relief after being inactive for the first 15 games of the year, and the entire college basketball postseason was canceled in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Tennessee logged three wins over ranked opponents, highlighted by a come-from-behind victory over sixth-ranked Kentucky at Rupp Arena. After logging at least one block in all 31 regular-season games, UT junior Yves Pons became the program’s first-ever SEC Defensive Player of the Year honoree, while leading scorer and rebounder John Fulkerson earned second-team All-SEC acclaim from the league’s coaches.
2018-19 Season
Record: 31-6
SEC Finish: 15-3 (2nd SEC)
Postseason: NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Coach: Rick Barnes (4th season)
One of the most beloved teams in program history authored one of the greatest seasons in program history as the Volunteers tied the school record for wins, finishing 31-6 (15-3 SEC). National Coach of the Year Rick Barnes guided Tennessee to a school-record 19-game win streak, a perfect 18-0 record at Thompson-Boling Arena and a program-record-tying three wins over teams with a top-five ranking. The Vols also spent the entire season—wire-to-wire—ranked in the top 10, including four weeks atop both major polls. Leading scorer Grant Williams earned consensus first-team All-America acclaim and was the first SEC player since 1996 to be named SEC Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Senior wing Admiral Schofield was a first-team All-SEC performer, and junior point guard Jordan Bone was a second-team honoree. The Vols earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet Sixteen, where they suffered an overtime loss to Purdue.
2017-18 Season
Record: 26-9
SEC Finish: 13-5 (SEC Champions)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament Second Round
Coach: Rick Barnes (3rd season)
In just his third season with the Volunteers, head coach Rick Barnes guided Tennessee to the fourth-most wins in program history, as the team finished 26-9. Picked in the preseason to finish 13th in the 14-team Southeastern Conference, the Vols shocked all outsiders by winning the regular-season SEC Championship, advancing to the SEC Tournament Championship Game and earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee spent 14 consecutive weeks ranked in the AP top 25, climbing as high as No. 13. Barnes was named SEC Coach of the Year, sophomore forward Grant Williams was the SEC Player of the Year, junior wing Admiral Schofield was a second-team All-SEC selection and also made the SEC All-Tournament Team, and sophomore guard Lamonte Turner earned SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year honors.
2016-17 Season
Record: 16-16
SEC Finish: 8-10 (9th SEC)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Rick Barnes (2nd season)
Seniors Lew Evans and Robert Hubbs III provided steady leadership, and the highest-scoring freshman class in school history (1,140 points) accounted for close to half of the team's statistical production as the Volunteers navigated a schedule that was rated among the most difficult in the nation. For the second straight season, Tennessee defeated rival Kentucky in Knoxville. The Vols also picked up SEC road wins at Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Auburn. Hubbs, the team's leading scorer, capped his four-year UT career by surpassing the 1,000-point mark, and freshman forward Grant Williams burst onto the scene to earn SEC All-Freshman Team honors after leading the Vols in rebounding and blocks. Williams' 61 total blocks were the second-most in a season in program history.
2015-16 Season
Record: 15-19
SEC Finish: 6-12 (12th SEC)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Rick Barnes (1st season)
First-year head coach Rick Barnes took an undersized and unyielding group of Volunteers whose average height was 6-4 and guided it to thrilling victories over rivals Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt en route to a 15-win season. With the versatile Armani Moore stuffing the stat sheet and converted shooting guard Kevin Punter Jr. handling duties at the point, Tennessee thrived at home but struggled to find success on the road-until a thrilling march to the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament in Nashville helped UT end its season on a high note and establish momentum for the future.
2014-15 Season
Record: 16-16
SEC Finish: 7-11 (10th SEC)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Donnie Tyndall (1st season)
This group of overachieving Volunteers - which was picked in the preseason to finish 13th in the SEC - scrapped its way to a 10th-place finish in the final league standings. One of the youngest and least experienced teams in the nation, the Vols defeated a pair of ranked opponents in Butler and Arkansas while also winning five SEC road games. Senior guard Josh Richardson earned first-team All-SEC acclaim and became UT's first two-time selection for the SEC All-Defensive Team.
2013-14 Season
Record: 24-13
SEC Finish: 11-7 (4th SEC)
Postseason: NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Coach: Cuonzo Martin (3rd season)
Tennessee won eight of its final 10 games - with the losses coming against SEC champion Florida and Big Ten champion Michigan - and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in eight seasons. Senior guard Jordan McRae and junior forward Jarnell Stokes earned first-team All-SEC honors, and junior guard Josh Richardson was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team. Stokes tied Bernard King's school record for double-doubles in a season, with 22.
2012-13 Season
Record: 20-13
SEC Finish: 11-7 (2nd SEC)
Postseason: NIT First Round
Coach: Cuonzo Martin (2nd season)
After starting the season 11-10, the Vols rallied to win eight of their last nine regular-season games - including victories over Kentucky, Missouri and No. 8 Florida - to finish fifth in the SEC. Junior guard Jordan McRae earned first-team All-SEC honors, while sophomore forward Jarnell Stokes led the SEC in rebounding and landed on the All-SEC second team.
2011-12 Season
Record: 19-15
SEC Finish: 10-6 (2nd SEC)
Postseason: NIT Second Round
Coach: Cuonzo Martin (1st season)
Tennessee's first season under head coach Cuonzo Martin exceeded expectations. Picked to finish 11th in the conference, UT earned the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament and won 8 of 9 SEC games to end the regular season. Jarnell Stokes earned SEC All-Freshman honors, and junior Jeronne Maymom was second-team All-SEC.
2010-11 Season
Record: 19-15
SEC Finish: 8-8 (5th East)
Postseason: NCAA First Round
Coach: Bruce Pearl (6th season)
Tennessee got off to a running start, opening the season 7-0 and upsetting then No. 7 Villanova in the championship of the NIT Tip-Off Classic. However, the rest of the season proved tumultuous as the Vols suffered several narrow losses to finish 19-15 on the year.
2009-10 Season
Record: 28-9
SEC Finish: 11-5 (3rd East)
Postseason: NCAA Elite Eight
Coach: Bruce Pearl (5th season)
This group of Vols became the first Tennessee men's basketball team to advance to the Elite Eight, coming from behind to defeat Ohio State 76-73 in the Sweet Sixteen. They fell just short of the Final Four, losing to Michigan State by a single point at 70-69. Overall, UT was 28-9 on the season, 11-5 in the SEC, and lost only one game at home.
2008-09 Season
Record: 21-13
SEC Finish: 10-6 (1st East)
Postseason: NCAA First Round
Coach: Bruce Pearl (4th season)
The Vols celebrated their 100th season of varsity basketball, fourth-year head coach Bruce Pearl recorded his 400th career victory, Tyler Smith recorded the first triple-double in school history, the Big Orange logged the 22nd 20-win season in school history, UT played its way to the SEC Eastern Division Championship, and the Vols advanced to the SEC Tournament Championship Game for the first time since 1991.
2007-08 Season
Record: 31-5
SEC Finish: 14-2 (1st East)
Postseason: NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Coach: Bruce Pearl (3rd season)
UT set a school record for wins with a 31-5 record while winning its ninth SEC title with a 14-2 conference mark. The Vols earned the first No. 1 ranking in school history and then advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. Chris Lofton was named second-team All- America and was joined on the first-team All-SEC squad by Tyler Smith. Bruce Pearl was named SEC coach of the year and earned Adolph Rupp National Coach of the Year honors.
2006-07 Season
Record: 24-11
SEC Finish: 10-6
Postseason: NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Coach: Bruce Pearl (2nd season)
The Vols advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament while posting the second-most wins (24) in school history. Chris Lofton was named a consensus second-team All-America and earned Associated Press SEC Player of the Year honors. UT posted a 16-0 record at Thompson-Boling Arena.
2005-06 Season
Record: 22-8
SEC Finish: 12-4
Postseason: NCAA Second Round
Coach: Bruce Pearl (1st season)
First-year head coach Bruce Pearl was named The Sporting News' National Coach of the Year in leading the Vols to a 22-8 record and the SEC Eastern Division championship. UT received a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest seed in school history. Chris Lofton earned second-team All-America honors after breaking almost all of UT's 3-point records.
2004-05 Season
Record: 14-17
SEC Finish: 6-10
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Buzz Peterson (4th season)
Chris Lofton made 93 3-pointers, the most-ever by a freshman in the Southeastern Conference. C.J. Watson led the SEC in assists against league teams for the second time in three years. UT won its 200th game in Thompson-Boling Arena with a 78-68 victory over Georgia on March 5.
2003-04 Season
Record: 15-14
SEC Finish: 7-9
Postseason: NIT First Round
Coach: Buzz Peterson (3rd season)
Scooter McFadgon broke a 35-year-old school record with his 91.2-percent free-throw shooting while ranking fifth in the nation. The Vols made their second NIT appearance in a row.
2002-03 Season
Record: 17-12
SEC Finish: 9-7
Postseason: NIT First Round
Coach: Buzz Peterson (2nd Season)
Tennessee returned to the postseason with an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. Ron Slay led the SEC in scoring with 21.2 points and was named the SEC Player of the Year while earning third-team All-America honors.
2001-02 Season
Record: 15-16
SEC Finish: 8-9
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Buzz Peterson (1st Season)
Buzz Peterson was named the 16th head coach in Tennessee history on April 4, 2001. Vincent Yarbrough finished a close second in the SEC scoring race with 18.1 points per game. Marcus Haislip was the 13th overall pick in the NBA Draft.
