Tennessee basketball unranked in preseason Associated Press poll; 35-week streak snapped

For the first time since December 2017, Tennessee basketball is unranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

The Vols were left outside the nation's Top 25 teams entering the 2019-20 season after being ranked for 35 consecutive weeks.

Tennessee received the third-most votes (78) among unranked teams. Washington (164) and Colorado (152) were the lone two unranked teams receiving more votes.

Michigan State is the preseason No. 1 team, ahead of No. 2 Kentucky, No. 3 Kansas, No. 4 Duke and No. 5 Louisville. Florida, Maryland, Gonzaga, North Carolina and Villanova round out the top 10.

Tennessee cracked the AP Poll at No. 24 on Dec. 4, 2017, and stayed in it for the rest of the 2017-18 season.

UT was the No. 6 team entering last season and held a spot in the top 10 for all 20 weeks, finishing at No. 6. The Vols were ranked No. 1 for four weeks in the middle of the season after being No. 1 for only three weeks total in program history prior to last season.

The Vols will face No. 2 Kentucky twice in SEC play, and they’ll play at No. 3 Kansas in January in the Big 12-SEC Challenge – UT's marquee nonconference games.

No. 14 Memphis comes to Knoxville on Dec. 14.

UT also will host No. 6 Florida in February, No. 22 LSU to open SEC play on Jan. 4 and will face No. 24 Auburn twice.

Tennessee opens its season with an exhibition against Eastern New Mexico on Oct. 30 and starts regular-season play against UNC Asheville on Nov. 5.