KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team is No. 12 in the country in the preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll, as announced Wednesday afternoon.

The Volunteers previously earned the same opening position in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, as revealed Oct. 14. The No. 12 ranking is the program’s eighth-highest preseason mark ever in the Coaches Poll, which dates back to 1991-92.

This is the seventh consecutive year, dating back to 2018-19, Tennessee is in the Coaches Poll to begin the year, extending the program record. Rick Barnes‘ team placed No. 10 in 2023-24, No. 11 in 2022-23, No. 17 in 2021-22, No. 14 in 2020-21, No. 25 in 2019-20 and sixth in 2018-19.

Previously, the longest preseason Coaches Poll ranking stream in Tennessee history was five consecutive campaigns, from 2006-07 to 2010-11.

Tennessee amassed 437 points in the voting, good for 47 more than Purdue, which finished at No. 13 in the polling.

Like the AP Poll, Tennessee is one of nine SEC institutions in the top 25 and one of six in the top 20. The Volunteers are featured alongside second-ranked Alabama, No. 11 Auburn, No. 15 Texas A&M, No. 16 Arkansas, No. 19 Texas, No. 21 Florida, No. 23 Kentucky and No. 25 Ole Miss. Each of those schools matched their AP spots except Texas A&M (No. 13 in AP Poll) and Ole Miss (No. 24 in AP Poll).

To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.