AL LESAR
Tennessee guard Victor Bailey Jr. (12) looks to pass the ball against Kentucky's Devin Askew (2) during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Randy Sartin/Pool Photo via AP)
Jackson, Kentucky win 3rd in row, top No. 19 Tennessee 70-55

By Al Lesar Feb. 20, 2021 04:17 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — It's taken a long time, but Kentucky is getting better.

South Carolina's Keyshawn Bryant (24) defends against Tennessee's Victor Bailey Jr. (12) during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Bailey leads No. 19 Tennessee over South Carolina, 93-73

By Al Lesar Feb. 18, 2021 12:16 AM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Every time South Carolina made a move, Tennessee

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes points to the bench during the team's NCAA college basketball game against Georgia on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Randy Sartin/Pool Photo via AP)
No. 16 Tennessee holds on to beat Georgia

Al Lesar Feb. 10, 2021 10:26 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — As the game gets faster, the results get better for

Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua dunks during the team's NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Pons leads No. 18 Tennessee past Mississippi State

By Al Lesar Jan. 26, 2021 10:33 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Even on a miserable shooting night, Tennessee coach

Missouri players react after defeating Tennessee in an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Calvin Mattheis/Knoxville New-Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Pinson leads No. 19 Missouri to 73-64 win at No. 6 Tennessee

By Al Lesar Jan. 23, 2021 10:55 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Mired in a slump the past couple of games, Xavier

Tennessee's Josiah-Jordan James (5) and John Fulkerson (10) double team Vanderbilt guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (2) during an NCAA college basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. (Calvin Mattheis/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
No. 10 Tennessee rides balanced scoring, beats Vanderbilt

By Al Lesar Jan. 16, 2021 08:18 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nearly an hour after Saturday's game had ended,

Tennessee's Josiah-Jordan James (5) attempts to score against Arkansas during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Saul Young/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
No. 9 Tennessee pulls out 79-74 thriller over Arkansas

By Al Lesar Jan. 06, 2021 09:39 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Josiah-Jordan James and Victor Bailey scored 17 points

Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) moves the ball against Alabama's Jaden Shackelford (5) during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Randy Sartin, Pool)
Alabama stuns No. 7 Tennessee 71-63 in physical battle

By Al Lesar Jan. 02, 2021 08:28 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — It took Nate Oats a season and 10 games to finally get

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes talks to his players during an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina-Upstate on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Randy Sartin/Pool Photo via AP)
No. 8 Tennessee tops USC Upstate 80-60

Al Lesar Dec. 23, 2020 07:04 PM EST
KNOXVILLE. Tenn. (AP) — Ready or not, here it comes. A

Bailey leads No. 8 Tennessee over winless Saint Joseph's

By Al Lesar Dec. 21, 2020 08:53 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Five games into his Tennessee career, Victor Bailey is

Tennessee's Keon Johnson (45) slides on the court during an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee Tech Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Caitie McMekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
No. 10 Tennessee overwhelms Tennessee Tech 103-49

By Al Lesar Dec. 18, 2020 09:01 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jaden Springer, Tennessee's 6-foot-4 freshman, is

Tennessee forward Uros Plavsic (33) looks for the basket during an NCAA college basketball game against Appalachian State in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
No. 10 Tennessee clamps down on Appalachian State, 79-38

By Al Lesar Dec. 15, 2020 09:19 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Appalachian State shot just 28% and it still hurt

Fulkerson 15 points, 12 boards as No. 12 Vols top Cincinnati

By Al Lesar Dec. 12, 2020 03:07 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — When the offense struggled, No. 12 Tennessee turned to

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes speaks to a referee during the team's NCAA college basketball game against Colorado on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Caitie McMekin/Knoxville New-Sentinel via AP, Pool)
No. 12 Tennessee gets past Colorado in long-delayed opener

By Al Lesar Dec. 08, 2020 08:19 PM EST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After five pandemic-related postponements, No. 12