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Tennessee Basketball Opens Ranked: Lady Vols No. 8, Vols No. 18 in AP Preseason Polls

AP preseason rankings set high markers for Tennessee with early TV dates providing immediate tests.

Overview

  • The Lady Vols debut at No. 8, their highest preseason position since starting fifth in 2022–23.
  • Under Kim Caldwell, Tennessee returns key production and adds a No. 1–rated transfer class and elite recruits after a 24–10 season that included a Sweet 16 run and a win over eventual champion UConn.
  • Tennessee’s women have 11 games against AP-ranked teams, opening Nov. 4 at No. 9 NC State on ESPN2 with UCLA, Louisville and UConn also on the schedule.
  • The Tennessee men start at No. 18, extending a program-record streak to six straight seasons in the AP preseason Top 25.
  • The Vols host No. 6 Duke in a sold-out exhibition before opening Nov. 3 against Mercer, as six SEC teams appear in the men’s preseason poll.