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Sunday, November 15, 2026Nov 15

Rick Barnes has culture to lead Vols to March Madness

Tennessee senior guard Robert Hubbs III answers a question at the SEC Tipoff media event for men's basketball Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Hubbs, who averaged 10.6 points per game in 2015-16, is confident the Vols can surprise some people after being picked to finish next-to-last in the league this season.
Tennessee senior guard Robert Hubbs III answers a question at the SEC Tipoff media event for men's basketball Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Hubbs, who averaged 10.6 points per game in 2015-16, is confident the Vols can surprise some people after being picked to finish next-to-last in the league this season.

SEC men’s basketball preseason media poll

1. Kentucky2. Florida3. Texas A&M4. Georgia5. Arkansas6. Vanderbilt7. Alabama8. South Carolina9. Ole Miss10. Mississippi State11. Auburn12. LSU13. Tennessee14. Missouri

Preseason All-SEC men’s basketball

First team: Arkansas — Moses Kingsley (Sr., F, 6-10, 230), player of the year; Georgia — J.J. Frazier (Sr., G, 5-10, 155); Kentucky — Edrice “Bam” Adebayo, Kentucky (Fr., F, 6-10, 260), De’Aaron Fox (Fr., G, 6-3, 187); Texas A&M — Tyler Davis (So., C, 6-10, 270).Second team: Florida — KeVaughn Allen (So., 6, 6-2, 183); Georgia — Yante Maten (Jr., F, 6-8, 240); Kentucky — Isaiah Briscoe (So., G, 6-3, 210), Malik Monk (Fr., G, 6-3, 200); LSU — Antonio Blakeney (So., G, 6-4, 190); Mississippi State — Quinndary Weatherspoon (So., G, 6-4, 202); Vanderbilt — Luke Kornet (Sr., F, 7-1, 250).

NASHVILLE – Apparently it’s not only the University of Tennessee football team that can’t avoid a visit to the orthopedic surgeon’s office.

Volunteers men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes arrived at the Southeastern Conference’s Tipoff media event with his left shoulder girded by a sling due to rotator cuff surgery.

“Two to three more weeks,” Barnes said Wednesday morning at Bridgestone Arena. “I’ll be fine.”