ESPN Names Tennessee Final Four Contender

Tennessee enters the season with high expectations: ESPN places the Vols among its Tier II Final Four contenders, though Florida, Duke and Illinois are the championship-favorite tier. ESPN also projects Tennessee as a No. 4 seed and credits the program with the nation’s highest transfer value added after a roster overhaul. Joe Lunardi’s preseason bracket has the Vols facing UNC Wilmington in the first round, with a possible second-round matchup against Michigan, a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight. The outlook comes despite concerns about chemistry and readiness after Tennessee’s preseason losses, including a 103-64 exhibition defeat to Duke, and a knee injury to guard Tyler Lundblade. Juke Harris, a transfer from Wake Forest, was Tennessee’s lone player named to the coaches’ All-SEC preseason teams, earning second-team honors after receiving first-team recognition from the media.