Fansided

College basketball rankings: 2018-2019 FanSided preseason Top 25

By Cody Williams

DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 19: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils look on during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 19, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 19: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils look on during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 19, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 21: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to the basket against Deaundrae Ballard #24 of the Florida Gators in the second half of a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 62-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 21: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to the basket against Deaundrae Ballard #24 of the Florida Gators in the second half of a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 62-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
  • Last Season: 26-9, Lost in second round of NCAA Tournament
  • Notable Losses: James Daniel III
  • Notable Additions: D.J. Burns

Much like the aforementioned Auburn Tigers, the Tennessee Volunteers were another team that came out of seemingly nowhere a season ago and were a force in the SEC as they played their way to a 26-win season. Though the year ended in disappointment and the Vols getting ousted in just the second round of the NCAA Tournament, they proved to be a team on the rise and they should rise to those new heights in the 2018-19 season.

The Volunteers are really only losing two players from last year’s team, and neither James Daniel III or Chris Darrington played key roles for Rick Barnes’ team last year. Instead, the strength of this team coming into the new year is that they are highly experienced and talented with their veterans.

Grant Williams was the SEC Player of the Year last season and deservedly so as the forward put up 15.2 points and six rebounds per game while leading the Vols. Joining him is Admiral Schofield, the Vols’ other star who averaged 13.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, there is also experienced scoring returning in the backcourt with Jordan Bowden, Lamonte’ Turner and Jordan Bone coming back, a trio that combined to averaged 27.3 points per game last season.

Though there aren’t really any big additions in terms of top-tier recruits for this team, the Volunteers don’t ultimately need it. With their mix of front and backcourt players that can continue to contribute at a high level, they’ve gone from hunter to hunted in the SEC.