SEC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2023-24 season

By Matt Melton | Apr 4, 2023

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: Mark Sears #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to scoring a three point basket against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first half during the finals of the 2023 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images) /

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Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) /

. . . Volunteers . 2. team. 534

Sitting in the No. 2 spot in our way-too-early power rankings is Tennessee, a team that is coming off their deepest NCAA Tournament run since the 2018-19 season.

Led by head coach Rick Barnes, the Volunteers concluded the 2022-23 campaign at 25-11 overall, which was their second consecutive 20-win season, a record that also included an 11-7 mark in SEC play. As mentioned previously, Tennessee also made their deepest NCAA Tournament run since 2018-19, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since that same season.

Looking ahead to next season, the Volunteers will be tasked with replacing a few seniors, but are also set to return one of the SEC’s top guards in Zakai Zeigler. In addition to Zeigler, the Volunteers will also return a few other names such as Julian Phillips, Jonas Aidoo, and Jahmai Maschack, as well as potentially a few others.

Tennessee will also bring in one of SEC basketball’s top 2023 recruiting classes, a group that is headlined by highly-rated four-star center JP Estrella. The Volunteers also have two others who will be incoming freshmen next season in that class in Cameron Carr and Cade Phillips who could play key roles.

Looking ahead for Tennessee, the potential is there for the Volunteers to be very good once again next season, and a team that could contend for an SEC title.

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