Tennessee is the 13th best program in college basketball dating back to the 1996-97 season, according to KenPom.com’s program ratings. The Vols have a KenPom rating of +26.52 during that span, a median ranking of 31 and six finishes in the top 10.

Duke is ranked No. 1 in the KenPom program ratings, ahead of No. 2 Kentucky, No. 3 Kansas, No. 4 North Carolina, No. 5 Arizona, No. 6 Florida, No. 7 Michigan State, No. 8 UCLA, No. 9 Texas, No. 10 UConn, No. 11 Villanova and No. 12 Gonzaga. 

Behind the Vols were No. 14 Baylor, No. 15 Ohio State, No. 16 Louisville, No. 17 Indiana, No. 18 Alabama, No. 19 Maryland and No. 20 Michigan. Rounding out the top 25 were No. 21 Illinois, No. 22 Wisconsin, No. 23 Purdue, No. 24 Syracuse and No. 25 Oregon. 

Vols have been to nine Sweet Sixteens, three Elite Eights in KenPom era

Last season, after going on a second straight run to the Elite Eight, Tennessee finished No. 5 in the final KenPom ratings, matching the highest final ranking in program history. The lowest finish was No. 158 in 1996-97 when the Vols went 11-16.

Tennessee is 617-338 since 1997, with an average record of 21.2-11.6. The Vols have 10 finishes in the KenPom top 25 and 17 in the top 50. 

During the KenPom era, Tennessee has played in the NCAA Tournament 18 times, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen nine times and the Elite Eight three times. 

Tennessee coming off back-to-back No. 5 KenPom finishes

The Rick Barnes era has helped Tennessee move up the rankings. The Vols also finished at No. 5 in the KenPom ratings in 2023-24, after getting back to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2010.

Tennessee finished at No. 6 overall in 2022-23 after a Sweet Sixteen appearance  and was No. 9 in 2021-22. The Vols finished at No. 10 in 2018-19 after a 31-win, Sweet Sixteen season. 

The final KenPom rating last season was +30.93. Tennessee was +26.61 in 2023-24, +23.80 in 2022-23, +25.10 in 2021-22 and +26.24 in 2018-19.

Barnes is responsible for six of Tennessee’s best 10 seasons in program history, with the Vols going 31-6 in 2018-19, 30-8 last season, 27-8 in 2021-22, 27-9 in 27-9, 26-9 in 2017-18 and 25-11 in 2022-23. 

Bruce Pearl led Tennessee to a 31-5 record in 2007-08, a 28-9 record during the Elite Eight run in 2009-10 and Jerry Green’s 1999-2000 team went 26-7.