Tennessee among five sleeper conference title candidates

[golfballs]

Tennessee among five sleeper conference title candidates - CBB - ESPN

Now that we've turned the page on a new year, I've decided to unilaterally banish all tentative and diffident "it's early" talk. It's not "early" anymore! We've seen enough basketball to come to some firm conclusions on which teams will be serious contenders in their respective conference races.

You probably don't need me to tell you that Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State all look strong in the Big Ten, or that Arizona looks like the team to beat in the Pac-12. But here are some dark horses that clearly are not getting enough attention. Remember these five sleepers:

Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee is 8-4, with road losses to Xavier and Wichita State, a neutral-floor defeat at the hands of UTEP and even a loss at home to a non-threatening North Carolina State team. With a track record like that, it's no surprise that the Volunteers received zero votes in the latest AP poll. How in the world is a team with such a profile going to compete with the likes of Florida and Kentucky in this season's SEC?

I'll admit it would be a surprise, but, naturally, that's what makes the Vols a sleeper. And with coach Cuonzo Martin's team coming off a 87-52 thrashing of Virginia, I do have to wonder whether Tennessee has finally figured things out. Jordan McRae is having a senior season that, if it came from a precocious freshman, would be the talk of the college hoops world, and Jarnell Stokes and Jeronne Maymon give Martin one of the best one-two offensive rebounding punches to be found anywhere in Division I.

To be sure, the schedule-makers did Martin no favors, with the Vols' only game against UK happening in Lexington on Jan. 18. The odds may favor the Wildcats or the Gators, but make no mistake: Tennessee is much better than its record would indicate.

[the rest:]
Creighton Blue Jays
Iowa State Cyclones
Saint Louis Billikens
New Mexico Lobos

 

[DERELICK_MY_VOLS]

Interesting indeed.

 

[SCowlsVOL]

Didn't see that coming.

 

[volKano]

"Tennessee is much better than its record would indicate."

That is what I have thought all along. I'm still not a Martin fan at this point but hope we have turned the corner.

 

[volbeast33]

Tennessee among five sleeper conference title candidates - CBB - ESPN

So we do have talent? I'm confused lol

 

[whocaresgobobcats]

how is the #9 team in the country a sleeper

 

[Fijivol72]

Ha,ha,ha now that is funny. Better chance we get hit by a comet from above tonight.

 

[whocaresgobobcats]

Ha,ha,ha now that is funny. Better chance we get hit by a comet from above tonight.

better than a 1/14 chance we get hit by a comet?


brb, getting in my bunker

 

[ranradVOL]

Ha,ha,ha now that is funny. Better chance we get hit by a comet from above tonight.

Stay away from Vegas.

 

[ToptheTerrible]

You are what your records says you are...........

Quote from that one dude.

 

[SJAVol32]

how is the #9 team in the country a sleeper

I'm guessing because Kansas has a rep of winning the Big 12 and Baylor is pretty pretty good right now.

 

[YankeeVol]

This team would have a better record if it weren't for CCM