No. 1 Tennessee basketball ended a successful calendar year in 2024 and rung in the new year by winning both of its games last week to become the only undefeated team remaining in college basketball.

The Volunteers beat Norfolk State on New Year’s Eve, 67-52, to become the 12th SEC team to go undefeated in non-conference play while playing 13-plus games before league play. This season marks the fifth time that UT went undefeated during its regular season non-conference slate since joining the SEC in 1932-33. It previously went 6-0 in 2020-21, 11-0 in 1997-98, 8-0 in 1980-81 and 8-0 in 1956-57.

The Vols began conference play with a bang on Saturday over previously-ranked No. 23 Arkansas, 76-52, behind a season-high 29 points from Chaz Lanier. Tennessee extended its winning streak to 14 games for the fourth time in program history with the victory and also matched its best start in program history that was set 102 years ago in 1922-23.

Writers from all 16 of 247Sports’ SEC sites rank the basketball teams in the conference each week in the network’s inaugural SEC Men’s Basketball poll. In addition to the beat writers, some of 247’s national reporters also participate.

This week, Tennessee remained at No. 2 in the poll despite being ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and Coaches Poll for the fifth consecutive week. UT did gain three first-place votes on Auburn, however. The Tigers beat Monmouth last week, 87-58, as well as Missouri, 84-68, to begin SEC play.

Here’s the 247Sports SEC Basketball Poll for Week 2:

1. Auburn (11) —
2. Tennessee (6) —
3. Alabama — +1
4. Kentucky — +1
5. Florida — -2
6. Texas A&M —
7. Mississippi State —
8. Ole Miss — +1
9. Oklahoma — -1
10. Arkansas — +1
11. Georgia — -1
12. Vanderbilt — +2
13. Texas — -1
14. Missouri — -1
15. LSU —
16. South Carolina —

Alabama and Kentucky each climbed one spot from last week’s poll. The Crimson Tide beat down Oklahoma in a 107-79 victory on Saturday, while the Wildcats beat Brown 88-54 on Tuesday then held off Florida in a 106-100 thriller on Saturday.

Vanderbilt was the only team to climb multiple spots this week, as the Commodores gained two spots after blowing out New Orleans 100-56 on Monday then getting an 80-72 road win over LSU on Saturday. Ole Miss and Arkansas also gained one spot from last week.

Florida was the only team to drop multiple spots from last week. Four teams fell one spot: Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas, and Missouri.

Up Next

Tennessee will be back in action on Tuesday night when it plays at No. 8 Florida (13-1, 0-1 SEC). Tipoff in Gainesville is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

UT’s trip to The Swamp will be the first of two games on the road this week. It’ll travel to Texas on Saturday to face the Longhorns (11-3, 0-1 SEC) at 6 p.m. on ESPN. The game will be Barnes’ second trip back to Austin since he was fired as Texas’ head coach after 17 seasons.