2023–24 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team

2023–24 Tennessee Volunteers basketball
SEC regular season champions
NCAA tournament, Elite Eight
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 5
APNo. 5
Record27–9 (14–4 SEC)
Head coach
Associate head coachJustin Gainey
Assistant coaches
  • Rod Clark
  • Gregg Polinsky
Home arenaThompson–Boling Arena
Seasons
2023–24 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 5 Tennessee 14 – 4   .778 27 – 9   .750
No. 20 Kentucky 13 – 5   .722 23 – 10   .697
No. 3т Alabama 13 – 5   .722 25 – 12   .676
No. 18 Auburn † 13 – 5   .722 27 – 8   .771
No. 24 South Carolina 13 – 5   .722 26 – 8   .765
Florida 11 – 7   .611 24 – 12   .667
Texas A&M 9 – 9   .500 21 – 15   .583
LSU 9 – 9   .500 17 – 16   .515
Mississippi State 8 – 10   .444 21 – 14   .600
Ole Miss 7 – 11   .389 20 – 12   .625
Georgia 6 – 12   .333 20 – 17   .541
Arkansas 6 – 12   .333 16 – 17   .485
Vanderbilt 4 – 14   .222 9 – 23   .281
Missouri 0 – 18   .000 8 – 24   .250
† 2024 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2023–24 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represented the University of Tennessee during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team, led by ninth-year head coach Rick Barnes, played their home games at Thompson–Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee as a member of the Southeastern Conference. The Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team drew an average home attendance of 19,664 in 16 games in 2023-24.[1]

Previous season

The Volunteers finished the 2022–23 season 25–11, 11–7 in SEC play to finish in a tie for fourth place. As the No. 5 seed in the SEC tournament, they defeated Ole Miss before losing to Missouri in the quarterfinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 4 seed in the East Region, where they defeated Louisiana in the First Round and Duke in the Second Round to reach the Sweet Sixteen. There, they were upset by Florida Atlantic.

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
B.J. Edwards 1 G 6'3" 192 Freshman Knoxville, TN Transferred to SMU
Julian Phillips 2 F 6'8" 190 Freshman Blythewood, SC Declare for 2023 NBA draft; selected 35th overall by Boston Celtics
Evan Shiflet 3 G 6'2" 191 Freshman Nashville, TN Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Tyreke Key 4 G 6'3" 207 RS Senior Celina, TN Graduated
Oliver Nkamhoua 13 F 6'8" 232 Senior Helsinki, Finland Graduate transferred to Michigan
Kent Gilbert 21 G 6'1" 175 Junior Greenville, NC Walk-on; transferred
Isaiah Sulack 31 G 6'5" 186 RS Senior Knoxville, TN Walk-on; graduate transferred to Marist
Kidd Brizek 32 G 6'6" 194 Freshman Powdersville, SC Walk-on; mid season transferred to Manhattan
Uroš Plavšić 33 F 7'0" 251 RS Senior Ivanjica, Serbia Graduated/signed to play professionally in Serbia with Mega MIS

Incoming transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Jordan Gainey 2 G 6'4" 175 Junior Tucson, AZ USC Upstate
Dalton Knecht 3 G 6'6" 200 GS Senior Thornton, CO Northern Colorado
Grant Hurst 23 G 6'2" 180 RS Sophomore Cleveland, TN Walk-on; UT Martin
Kaylan Makan 24 G 6'2" 170 Sophomore Little Rock, AR Walk-on; The Citadel

Recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Freddie Dilione
#11 SG 		Fayetteville, NC Word of God Christian Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Aug 16, 2022 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 88
J.P. Estrella
#15 C 		Portland, ME Brewster Academy 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 2, 2022 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 86
Cameron Carr
#18 SG 		Manhattan, KS Link Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Nov 8, 2022 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 83
Cade Phillips
#35 C 		Jacksonville, AL Link Academy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 185 lb (84 kg) May 26, 2022 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 82
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Rivals.com 2023 Tennessee Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com.
  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Roster

2023–24 Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Jonas Aidoo 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 241 lb (109 kg) Jr Liberty Heights Athletic Institute Durham, NC
G 1 Freddie Dilione V 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Word of God Christian Academy Fayetteville, NC
G 2 Jordan Gainey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 176 lb (80 kg) Jr USC Upstate Tucson, AZ
G 3 Dalton Knecht 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 204 lb (93 kg) GS Northern Colorado Thornton, Colorado
G 5 Zakai Zeigler 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 171 lb (78 kg) Jr Our Savior Lutheran Long Island, NY
F 11 Tobe Awaka 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) So Cardinal Hayes HS Hyde Park, NY
F 12 Cade Phillips 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 197 lb (89 kg) Fr Link Academy (MO) Jacksonville, AL
F 13 J.P. Estrella 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 233 lb (106 kg) Fr Brewster Academy Scarborough, ME
G 15 Jahmai Mashack 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 201 lb (91 kg) Jr Etiwanda HS Fontana, CA
G 23 Grant Hurst (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS So UT Martin Cleveland, TN
G 24 Kaylan Makan (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 166 lb (75 kg) So The Citadel Little Rock, AR
G 25 Santiago Véscovi 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 192 lb (87 kg) GS NBA Global Academy Montevideo, Uruguay
G 30 Josiah-Jordan James 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 224 lb (102 kg) GS Porter-Gaud School Charleston, SC
F 35 Colin Coyne Jr. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 239 lb (108 kg) RS Sr Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA
G 43 Cameron Carr 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 173 lb (78 kg) Fr Link Academy (MO) Eden Prairie, MN
G 44 D.J. Jefferson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) RS Fr Minnesota Preparatory Academy Richardson, TX
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 29, 2023*
3:30 p.m., BTN 		No. 9 at No. 4 Michigan State
Charity Exhibition 		W 89–88  –
  28 – Knecht   8 – Aidoo   6 – Gainey  Breslin Center (14,797)
East Lansing, MI
October 31, 2023*
6:30 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		No. 9 Lenoir–Rhyne W 90–48  –
  14 – Aidoo   7 – Tied   4 – Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (16,203)
Knoxville, TN
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
6:30 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		No. 9 Tennessee Tech W 80–42  1–0
  17 – Knecht   8 – Aidoo   5 – Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (17,046)
Knoxville, TN
November 10, 2023*
9:00 p.m., Peacock 		No. 9 at Wisconsin W 80–70  2–0
  24 – Knecht   7 – Aidoo   3 – Zeigler  Kohl Center (17,287)
Madison, WI
November 14, 2023*
6:30 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		No. 7 Wofford W 82–61  3–0
  18 – Knecht   7 – Tied   2 – Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (16,859)
Knoxville, TN
November 20, 2023*
2:30 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 7 vs. Syracuse
Maui Invitational quarterfinals 		W 73–56  4–0
  17 – Knecht   11 – Aidoo   5 – Vescovi  Stan Sheriff Center (4,838)
Honolulu, HI
November 21, 2023*
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 7 vs. No. 2 Purdue
Maui Invitational Semifinals 		L 67–71  4–1
  16 – Knecht   7 – Knecht   3 – Zeigler  Stan Sheriff Center 
Honolulu, HI
November 22, 2023*
2:30 p.m., ESPN 		No. 7 vs. No. 1 Kansas
Maui Invitational 3rd Place Game 		L 60–69  4–2
  21 – Vescovi   11 – Aidoo   3 – Tied  Stan Sheriff Center 
Honolulu, HI
November 29, 2023*
7:15 p.m., ESPN 		No. 10 at No. 17 North Carolina
ACC–SEC Challenge 		L 92–100  4–3
  37 – Knecht   6 – Knecht   7 – Zeigler  Dean Smith Center (20,756)
Chapel Hill, NC
December 5, 2023*
6:30 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		No. 17 George Mason W 87–66  5–3
  17 – Aidoo   8 – Aidoo   6 – Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (16,513)
Knoxville, TN
December 9, 2023*
12:00 p.m., CBS 		No. 17 No. 20 Illinois W 86–79  6–3
  21 – Knecht   9 – Vescovi   7 – James  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,678)
Knoxville, TN
December 12, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 12 Georgia Southern W 74–56  7–3
  29 – Aidoo   11 – Aidoo   7 – Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (16,013)
Knoxville, TN
December 16, 2023*
10:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 12 vs. NC State
Basketball Hall of Fame San Antonio 		W 79–70  8–3
  23 – James   12 – Awaka   8 – Zeigler  Frost Bank Center (2,481)
San Antonio, TX
December 21, 2023*
6:30 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		No. 8 Tarleton State W 65–46  9–3
  13 – Zeigler   10 – James   5 – Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (17,609)
Knoxville, TN
January 2, 2024*
7:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 5 Norfolk State W 87–50  10–3
  17 – Zeigler   11 – Awaka   5 – James  Thompson–Boling Arena (16,858)
Knoxville, TN
SEC regular season
January 6, 2024
6:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 5 No. 22 Ole Miss W 90–64  11–3
(1–0) 		 24 – Aidoo   10 – Aidoo   10 – Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,932)
Knoxville, TN
January 10, 2024
7:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 5 at Mississippi State L 72–77  11–4
(1–1) 		 28 – Knecht   6 – Tied   7 – Zeigler  Humphrey Coliseum (8,160)
Starkville, MS
January 13, 2024
12:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 5 at Georgia W 85–79  12–4
(2–1) 		 36 – Knecht   15 – Aidoo   5 – Zeigler  Stegeman Coliseum (10,523)
Athens, GA
January 16, 2024
5:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 6 Florida W 85–66  13–4
(3–1) 		 39 – Knecht   9 – Aidoo   4 – Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (17,332)
Knoxville, TN
January 20, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 6 Alabama W 91–71  14–4
(4–1) 		 25 – Knecht   5 – Gainey   6 – Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,678)
Knoxville, TN
January 27, 2024
6:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 5 at Vanderbilt
Rivalry 		W 75–62  15–4
(5–1) 		 32 – Knecht   10 – Aidoo   6 – Zeigler  Memorial Gymnasium (13,852)
Nashville, TN
January 30, 2024
6:30 p.m., SECN 		No. 5 South Carolina L 59–63  15–5
(5–2) 		 31 – Knecht   8 – Awaka   3 – Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (20,667)
Knoxville, TN
February 3, 2024
8:30 p.m., ESPN 		No. 5 at No. 10 Kentucky
Rivalry 		W 103–92  16–5
(6–2) 		 26 – Tied   11 – Aidoo   13 – Zeigler  Rupp Arena (20,265)
Lexington, KY
February 7, 2024
7:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 6 LSU W 88–68  17–5
(7–2) 		 27 – Knecht   7 – Knecht   9 – Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,678)
Knoxville, TN
February 10, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 6 at Texas A&M L 69–85  17–6
(7–3) 		 22 – Knecht   7 – Knecht   6 – Zeigler  Reed Arena (12,995)
College Station, TX
February 14, 2024
9:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 8 at Arkansas W 92–63  18–6
(8–3) 		 23 – Aidoo   12 – Aidoo   6 – Zeigler  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
February 17, 2024
6:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 8 Vanderbilt
Rivalry 		W 88–53  19–6
(9–3) 		 14 – Tied   8 – Aidoo   5 – Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,678)
Knoxville, TN
February 20, 2024
7:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 5 at Missouri W 72–67  20–6
(10–3) 		 18 – Awaka   10 – Tied   3 – Zeigler  Mizzou Arena (10,089)
Columbia, MO
February 24, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 5 Texas A&M W 86–51  21–6
(11–3) 		 24 – Knecht   14 – Aidoo   14 – Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (22,322)
Knoxville, TN
February 28, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 4 No. 11 Auburn W 92–84  22–6
(12–3) 		 39 – Knecht   7 – Aidoo   9 – Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (22,547)
Knoxville, TN
March 2, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 4 at No. 14 Alabama
College GameDay 		W 81–74  23–6
(13–3) 		 18 – Zeigler   13 – James   4 – Tied  Coleman Coliseum (13,474)
Tuscaloosa, AL
March 6, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 4 at No. 17 South Carolina W 66–59  24–6
(14–3) 		 26 – Knecht   9 – Aidoo   7 – Zeigler  Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Columbia, SC
March 9, 2024
4:00 p.m., CBS 		No. 4 No. 15 Kentucky
Rivalry 		L 81–85  24–7
(14–4) 		 40 – Knecht   10 – James   9 – Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (22,206)
Knoxville, TN
SEC tournament
March 15, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN 		(1) No. 5 vs. (9) Mississippi State
Quarterfinals 		L 56–73  24–8
  20 – Zeigler   10 – Aidoo   4 – Tied  Bridgestone Arena (17,137)
Nashville, TN
NCAA tournament
March 21, 2024*
9:20 p.m., TNT 		(2 MW) No. 6 vs. (15 MW) Saint Peter's
First Round 		W 83–49  25–8
  23 – Knecht   8 – Knecht   3 – James  Spectrum Center (18,037)
Charlotte, NC
March 23, 2024*
8:00 p.m., CBS 		(2 MW) No. 6 vs. (7 MW) Texas
Second Round 		W 62–58  26–8
  18 – Knecht   9 – Tied   7 – Zeigler  Spectrum Center (18,382)
Charlotte, NC
March 29, 2024*
10:00 p.m., TBS/TruTV 		(2 MW) No. 6 vs. (3 MW) No. 11 Creighton
Sweet Sixteen 		W 82–75  27–8
  24 – Knecht   8 – Mashack   6 – Zeigler  Little Caesars Arena (18,574)
Detroit, MI
March 31, 2024*
2:20 p.m., CBS 		(2 MW) No. 6 vs. (1 MW) No. 3 Purdue
Elite Eight 		L 66–72  27–9
  37 – Knecht   4 – Tied   8 – Zeigler  Little Caesars Arena (18,577)
Detroit, MI
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
MW=Midwest.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Source[2]

Rankings

See also: 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP977101712865565568544565
Coaches10881113т10775575569544565

See also

References

  1. ^ http://fs.ncaa.org.s3.amazonaws.com/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Attend.pdf
  2. ^ "2023–24 Men's Basketball Schedule". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved September 18, 2023.