Tennessee’s near-miss in Chapel Hill was the latest and loudest example of what Rick Barnes’ squad could be, this season and beyond. The Vols are 4-4 with competitive losses to Chattanooga, Wisconsin, Oregon in overtime and North Carolina on the final possession. Those four teams are a combined 34-7 this year and were a combined 115-33 last year; 13 of their 20 starters are seniors. Wisconsin, Oregon, and Carolina are all in the Top 25 in Ken Pomeroy’s ratings.
The Vols currently find themselves at #77 in KenPom. It may not sound like much, but it’s better than Tennessee finished the last two years (90th and 103rd).