Tennessee Basketball is back in the top-ten

Tennessee Basketball expectations continue to rise as 247Sports has now ranked the Vols in the top-ten in its way too early rankings.

Tennessee basketball struggled to find any consistency throughout the 2019 season. Making shots from the three-point line, free-throw line, or just winning games that they should win were all struggles that shouldn’t have been.

If the Vols struggle to do those same things throughout the 2020 season, then it will be a big let down with expectations continuing to rise.

Tennessee has been seen as a top-ten team and a top team in the SEC after a down year. Not only are they seen as a top-ten team, but 247Sports has released its way too early 2020 rankings, and they have the Vols starting the season in the top-ten.

The Vols aren’t up at the top or competing with the blue bloods for No. 1, but Tennessee did make it inside the top-ten of 247Sports’ rankings as the Vols fell at No. 10.

"“Yves Pons and John Fulkerson emerged as stars a year ago, and should Pons return, he’ll have plenty of help,” Kevin Flaherty wrote. “Santiago Vescovi and Josiah Jordan-James are returning starters as well, and the fourth-ranked class in the 247Sports Composite yielded two five-star players in Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson. Add in rebounding machine E.J. Anosike, who transferred in from Sacred Heart and Oregon transfer Victor Bailey, a high-quality shooter who sat out last year, and the Volunteers have plenty of returning talent and overall experience.”"

Tennessee is returning some key starters, and they’re adding some great talent to their roster. This might be the best all-around team that we’ve seen since Rick Barnes was named the Tennessee basketball head coach.

Unfortunately, that means the Vols have high expectations, and Barnes will once again be expected to make a deep March Madness run, which is something that he has struggled to do in recent years.