Vol Hoops Land At No. 17 In Preseason Coaches Poll
Image: Kyndall Williams/Tennessee Athletics
By Aidan Sidoti
Tennessee basketball opens the season ranked No. 17 in the preseason Coaches Poll, coming off an Elite Eight run and reloading with top talent.
The SEC is stacked once again, with six teams featured in the Top 25.
Defending national champion Florida leads the way at No. 3, followed by Kentucky at No. 9, John Calipari and Arkansas at No. 15, Alabama at No. 16, and Auburn at No. 22 under new head coach Steven Pearl.
Five-star forward Nate Ament, the highest-rated recruit in Tennessee history, enters with immediate impact expectations. His seven-foot wingspan and refined scoring touch give the Vols a dynamic presence in the frontcourt.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie arrives from Maryland ready to take over point guard duties following Zakai Zeigler’s departure after posting 14.7 points and 4.8 assists last season.
Gillespie’s off the dribble creativity gives Tennessee stability at point guard, while his scoring and experience will be vital as the Vols transition from the Zakai Zeigler era.
The Vols tip off the 2025–26 season on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. ET against Mercer inside Thompson-Boling Arena.
Here’s the full Top 25:
