SEC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2022-23 season

By Matt Melton | Nov 5, 2022

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - FEBRUARY 26: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats looks to the bench during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 26, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Wildcats 75-73. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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Tennessee Volunteers guard Santiago Vescovi (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

3. Tennessee Volunteers

Speaking of defending conference champions, 2021-22 SEC Tournament champion Tennessee begins the year ranked as the No. 3 team in our 2022-23 SEC Basketball power rankings.

Coming off their best season since the 2018-19 campaign, Tennessee finished with a 27-8 overall record a year ago, as well as a 14-4 mark in SEC play. Reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament, this was the Volunteers highest overall and conference win total since that 2018-19 season, as well as the fourth time Tennessee has gone dancing in the past five years.

As for this season, Tennessee has a notable amount of production set to return from a year ago, headlined by the trio of Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, and Zakai Zeigler. The Volunteers also return two key pieces in the frontcourt in Olivier Nkamhoua and Uros Plavsic, as well as a potential breakout candidate in Jonas Aidoo.

Already an experienced team, the Volunteers also added a notable transfer in guard Tyreke Key, as well as a key freshman addition in Julian Phillips, who should be one of the top freshmen wings in the conference this season.

When looking at the returning names alone, it’s clear as to why Tennessee is considered to be one of the SEC’s best entering 2022-23. Expect the Volunteers to be a legit SEC title contender, and for Tennessee to make a deep run into March.

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