Tennessee Vols reach incredible mark for the first time in over 100 years
The Tennessee Volunteers are the nation's top ranked team and have certainly earned that in pre-conference play this season. Tennessee finished off its pre-conference slate on Tuesday afternoon, putting away a pesky Norfolk State squad 67-52 at the Food City Center at Thompson-Boling Arena. The win moved the Vols to a perfect 13-0 this year […]
The Tennessee Volunteers are the nation's top ranked team and have certainly earned that in pre-conference play this season. Tennessee finished off its pre-conference slate on Tuesday afternoon, putting away a pesky Norfolk State squad 67-52 at the Food City Center at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The win moved the Vols to a perfect 13-0 this year to conclude their pre-conference play, their second-best start ever. It also marked the first time in over 100 years that Tennessee has started a season 13-0, according to the broadcast.
The 1922-23 team holds the program record for best start to a season at 14-0 with two wins over Kentucky and one over Georgia during that stretch. However, that team played just 17 games, losing 2 of their last 3, with the last to Georgia in the SIAA tournament to end their season.
If Tennessee is to match or beat that start for the best ever in Tennessee history, they'll have quite the path to do it. The Vols open SEC play on Saturday when they host the #23 Arkansas Razorbacks led by John Calipari and former Vols center Jonas Aidoo. After Arkansas, Tennessee faces perhaps their toughest test of the season: at #6 Florida, who sports a matching 13-0 record.
So, getting to 14-0 or 15-0 won't be an easy task for Rick Barnes' team. However, as the Vols have shown against Illinois and Baylor, this team is up for the challenge away from home, particularly when they're getting contributions off the bench from players like Jordan Gainey and Cade Phillips.
