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Wiedmer: UT is SEC’s best hoops team for now, but Auburn could be come March

Tennessee's Yves Pons, left, and Kyle Alexander celebrate the Vols' win over then-No. 1 Gonzaga in Phoenix in early December.
Tennessee's Yves Pons, left, and Kyle Alexander celebrate the Vols' win over then-No. 1 Gonzaga in Phoenix in early December. Tennessee's Yves Pons, left, and Kyle Alexander celebrate the Vols' win over then-No. 1 Gonzaga in Phoenix in early December.

By Mark Wiedmer 5 min read

All throughout the Volunteer State on Monday, the words filled the damp, cold air as often as Salvation Army bells.

“How about those Vols?” came the oft-repeated line.

And for the first time since 2010 – the last time the Tennessee men’s basketball program defeated a No. 1-ranked opponent – the excitement wasn’t over a football win.

Rather it was the Volunteers’ dramatic 76-73 victory over Gonzaga on Sunday, a victory to vault UT to No. 3 in the newest Associated Press poll and drop the Zags from first to fourth.

If anything shows how willing UT coach Rick Barnes is to play the best in order to become the best, new No. 1 Kansas was fortunate to edge the Vols in overtime last month in the Preseason NIT title game.