Tennessee Vols basketball fans are undoubtedly frustrated right now.

At the beginning of February, the Vols were 18-3 and they were ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Since then, Tennessee has lost five of seven games — including last-second losses to Vanderbilt and Missouri.

The Vols' latest loss, a 68-63 road loss to the Texas A&M Aggies, could drop Tennessee out of the top 15 for the first time since late November.

Each loss over the last three weeks on its own hasn't been terrible. If you look at each loss individually, they just appear to be "those types of games" that happen in college basketball.

A couple of tough road losses and freak last-second shots are no reason to hit the panic button. But when you string the losses together, there's understandably cause for concern.

Tennessee fans, however, can take solace in some words from Aggies head coach Buzz Williams.

After his Texas A&M squad beat the Vols on Tuesday night, Williams pointed out to reporters that Tennessee isn't the same team without Josiah-Jordan James and Jordan Phillips, both of whom have been out recently due to injury.

"I do think, and I told Coach (Barnes) this before the game, they are playing without (James) and (Phillips) — that changes their team," said Williams. "(James) has been in their program for four years. (Phillips) is an early-entry pro that will be drafted before his college eligibility is up. I think that changes the complexion of their team. And still, it takes all that you have to have a chance to beat them."

Williams is right — Tennessee isn't the same team without JJJ and Phillips. And they're still giving teams fits. If you add those two back into the mix — and James could return on Saturday against South Carolina — then the Vols will once again be one of the tougher teams to beat in the nation.

Maybe JJJ comes back and this team gets back in the groove just in time for March.

College basketball — especially in March — is unpredictable, so I wouldn't rule it out.

Featured image via Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports