2022–23 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team

The 2022–23 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represented the University of Tennessee during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by eighth-year head coach Rick Barnes, and played their home games at Thompson–Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 22–9, 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, closing their season with an overall record of 25–11.

2022–23 Tennessee Volunteers basketball
NCAA tournament, Sweet Sixteen
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 16
APNo. 20
Record25–11 (11–7 SEC)
Head coach
Associate head coachJustin Gainey
Assistant coaches
  • Rod Clark
  • Gregg Polinsky
Home arenaThompson–Boling Arena
Seasons
2022–23 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 1 Alabama 16 2   .889 31 6   .838
No. 17 Texas A&M 15 3   .833 25 10   .714
Kentucky 12 6   .667 22 12   .647
No. 23 Missouri 11 7   .611 25 10   .714
No. 20 Tennessee 11 7   .611 25 11   .694
Vanderbilt 11 7   .611 22 15   .595
Auburn 10 8   .556 21 13   .618
Florida 9 9   .500 16 17   .485
Mississippi State 8 10   .444 21 13   .618
Arkansas 8 10   .444 22 14   .611
Georgia 6 12   .333 16 16   .500
South Carolina 4 14   .222 11 21   .344
Ole Miss 3 15   .167 12 21   .364
LSU 2 16   .111 14 19   .424
2023 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

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The Volunteers finished the 2021–22 season 27–8, 14–4 in SEC play to finish in a tie for second place. As the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament, they defeated Mississippi State, Kentucky and Texas A&M to win their first SEC Tournament title since 1979. They received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 3 seed in the South Region, where they defeated Longwood in the first round before being upset by Michigan in the second round.

Offseason

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Departures

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Kennedy Chandler 1 G 6'0" 171 Freshman Memphis, TN Declared for 2022 NBA draft
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield 2 F 6'10" 246 Freshman Clarksville, TN Transferred to Louisville
Quetin Diboundje 3 G 6'5" 217 Freshman Montpellier, France Transferred to East Carolina
John Fulkerson 10 F 6'9" 219 GS Senior Kingsport, TN Graduated
Victor Bailey Jr. 12 G 6'4" 182 RS Senior Austin, TX Graduate transferred to George Mason
Justin Powell 24 G 6'6" 197 Sophomore Prospect, KY Transferred to Washington State
Handje Tamba 32 F 6'11" 229 Freshman Knoxville, TN Transferred to Weber State
Cole Morris 34 F 6'9" 211 Sophomore Marietta, GA Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Brock Janeck 35 F 6'8" 228 Senior Knoxville, TN Walk-on; graduate transferred to East Tennessee State

Incoming Transfers

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Tyreke Key 4 G 6'3" 205 GS Senior Celina, TN Indiana State
Colin Coyne 35 F 6'10" 225 Senior Fredericksburg, VA Mary Washington

2022 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Julian Phillips
#8 SF
Blythewood, SC Link Academy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (100 kg) May 12, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 92
B.J. Edwards
#33 PG
Knoxville, TN Knoxville Catholic High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jun 30, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 82
D.J. Jefferson
#25 PG
Saint Paul, MN Minnesota Prep 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) May 24, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 81
Tobe Awaka
PF
Bronx, NY Cardinal Hayes 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) May 17, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPNN/A   ESPN grade: NR
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 2022 Tennessee Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com.
  • "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

2023 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for 2023 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Freddie Dilione
#8 SG
Fayetteville, NC Word of God Christian Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Aug 16, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 88
J.P. Estrella
#10 C
Portland, ME Brewster Academy 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 2, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 86
Cade Phillips
#41 C
Jacksonville, AL Link Academy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 185 lb (84 kg) May 26, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    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:

Roster

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2022–23 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) 234 lb (106 kg) So Liberty Heights Athletic Institute Durham, NC
G 1 B.J. Edwards 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 192 lb (87 kg) Fr Knoxville Catholic HS Knoxville, TN
F 2 Julian Phillips 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Link Academy (MO) Blythewood, SC
G 3 Evan Shiflet (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 191 lb (87 kg) Fr Christ Presbyterian Academy Nashville, TN
G 4 Tyreke Key 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 207 lb (94 kg) RS Sr Indiana State Celina, TN
G 5 Zakai Zeigler 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 167 lb (76 kg) So Our Savior Lutheran Long Island, NY
F 11 Tobe Awaka 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 242 lb (110 kg) Fr Cardinal Hayes HS Hyde Park, NY
F 13 Olivier Nkamhoua 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 232 lb (105 kg) Sr Bishop Walsh School Helsinki, Finland
G 15 Jahmai Mashack 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 196 lb (89 kg) So Etiwanda HS Fontana, CA
G 21 Kent Gilbert (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Conley HS Greenville, NC
G 25 Santiago Véscovi 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 191 lb (87 kg) Sr NBA Global Academy Montevideo, Uruguay
G 30 Josiah-Jordan James 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 214 lb (97 kg) Sr Porter-Gaud School Charleston, SC
G 31 Isaiah Sulack (W) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 186 lb (84 kg) RS Sr Bossier Parish Community College Knoxville, TN
G 32 Kidd Brizek (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 194 lb (88 kg) Fr Powdersville HS Powdersville, SC
F 33 Uroš Plavšić 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 251 lb (114 kg) RS Sr Arizona State Ivanjica, Serbia
F 35 Colin Coyne Jr. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 247 lb (112 kg) Sr Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA
G 44 D.J. Jefferson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 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

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 28, 2022*
9:00 p.m., PPV.com
No. 11 vs. No. 2 Gonzaga
Legends of Basketball Charity Classic
W 99–80 
 26  Key   14  Nkamhoua   8  Zeigler  Comerica Center (2,738)
Frisco, TX
Regular season
November 7, 2022*
7:00 p.m., SECN+
No. 11 Tennessee Tech W 75–43  1–0
 17  Key   8  Vescovi   5  Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (17,957)
Knoxville, TN
November 13, 2022*
2:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 11 vs. Colorado L 66–78  1–1
 15  Tied   10  Nkamhoua   4  Zeigler  Bridgestone Arena (12,482)
Nashville, TN
November 16, 2022*
7:00 p.m., SECN+
No. 22 Florida Gulf Coast W 81–50  2–1
 18  Tied   6  Tied   3  Vescovi  Thompson–Boling Arena (16,524)
Knoxville, TN
November 23, 2022*
7:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 22 vs. Butler
Battle 4 Atlantis Quarterfinals
W 71–45  3–1
 13  Vescovi   6  Tied   5  Zeigler  Imperial Arena (465)
Nassau, BAH
November 24, 2022*
1:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 22 vs. USC
Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals
W 73–66  4–1
 25  Phillips   9  Aidoo   5  Vescovi  Imperial Arena (432)
Nassau, BAH
November 25, 2022*
7:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 22 vs. No. 3 Kansas
Battle 4 Atlantis championship
W 64–50  5–1
 20  Vescovi   9  Aidoo   3  Zeigler  Imperial Arena (2,018)
Nassau, BAH
November 30, 2022*
7:15 p.m., SECN
No. 13 McNeese State W 76–40  6–1
 16  Vescovi   6  Tied   4  Phillips  Thompson–Boling Arena (15,927)
Knoxville, TN
December 4, 2022*
4:00 p.m., SECN
No. 13 Alcorn State W 94–40  7–1
 20  Nkamhoua   7  Mashack   6  Nkamhoua  Thompson–Boling Arena (16,481)
Knoxville, TN
December 7, 2022*
7:00 p.m., SECN
No. 7 Eastern Kentucky W 84–49  8–1
 17  Key   10  Phillips   5  Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (15,746)
Knoxville, TN
December 11, 2022*
4:30 p.m., FS1
No. 7 vs. No. 13 Maryland
Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational
W 56–53  9–1
 12  Zeigler   10  Phillips   3  Tied  Barclays Center (8,028)
Brooklyn, NY
December 17, 2022*
10:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 6 at No. 9 Arizona L 70–75  9–2
 21  Zeigler   6  Tied   5  Tied  McKale Center (14,688)
Tucson, AZ
December 21, 2022*
6:00 p.m., SECN+
No. 8 Austin Peay W 86–44  10–2
 20  Nkamhoua   11  Awaka   5  Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (18,120)
Knoxville, TN
December 28, 2022
5:00 p.m., SECN
No. 7 at Ole Miss W 63–59  11–2
(1–0)
 22  Vescovi   13  Aidoo   3  Tied  SJB Pavilion (7,013)
Oxford, MS
January 3, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPNU
No. 8 Mississippi State W 87–53  12–2
(2–0)
 14  Vescovi   7  Phillips   10  Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (16,697)
Knoxville, TN
January 7, 2023
3:30 p.m., SECN
No. 8 at South Carolina W 85–42  13–2
(3–0)
 21  Nkamhoua   10  Nkamhoua   8  Zeigler  Colonial Life Arena (10,704)
Columbia, SC
January 10, 2023
9:00 p.m., SECN
No. 5 Vanderbilt
Rivalry
W 77–68  14–2
(4–0)
 15  Tied   6  Tied   9  Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (16,255)
Knoxville, TN
January 14, 2023
12:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 5 Kentucky
Rivalry
L 56–63  14–3
(4–1)
 19  Plavsic   5  James   7  Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,678)
Knoxville, TN
January 17, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 9 at Mississippi State W 70–59  15–3
(5–1)
 24  Zeigler   11  Phillips   4  Zeigler  Humphrey Coliseum (8,797)
Starkville, MS
January 21, 2023
4:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 9 at LSU W 77–56  16–3
(6–1)
 22  James   7  Tied   10  Zeigler  Pete Maravich Assembly Center (10,462)
Baton Rouge, LA
January 25, 2023
7:00 p.m., SECN
No. 4 Georgia W 70–41  17–3
(7–1)
 11  Zeigler   7  James   7  Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (19,802)
Knoxville, TN
January 28, 2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 4 No. 10 Texas
Big 12/SEC Challenge
College GameDay
W 82–71  18–3
 27  Nkamhoua   8  Nkamhoua   10  Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,678)
Knoxville, TN
February 1, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 2 at Florida L 54–67  18–4
(7–2)
 15  Ziegler   9  Nkamhoua   3  Zeigler  O'Connell Center (10,160)
Gainesville, FL
February 4, 2023
2:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 2 No. 25 Auburn W 46–43  19–4
(8–2)
 15  James   14  James   6  Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,678)
Knoxville, TN
February 8, 2023
7:00 p.m., SECN
No. 6 at Vanderbilt
Rivalry
L 65–66  19–5
(8–3)
 14  Tied   9  Awaka   7  Zeigler  Memorial Gymnasium (10,483)
Nashville, TN
February 11, 2023
6:00 p.m., SECN
No. 6 Missouri L 85–86  19–6
(8–4)
 23  Key   7  Awaka   10  Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,678)
Knoxville, TN
February 15, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 10 No. 1 Alabama W 68–59  20–6
(9–4)
 15  Tied   11  Aidoo   8  Zeigler  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,678)
Knoxville, TN
February 18, 2023
1:00 p.m., CBS
No. 10 at Kentucky
Rivalry
L 54–66  20–7
(9–5)
 17  Vescovi   8  Mashack   3  Tied  Rupp Arena (20,323)
Lexington, KY
February 21, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 11 at No. 25 Texas A&M L 63–68  20–8
(9–6)
 14  Tied   10  Vescovi   7  Vescovi  Reed Arena (12,989)
College Station, TX
February 25, 2023
6:00 p.m., SECN
No. 11 South Carolina W 85–45  21–8
(10–6)
 18  James   8  Nkamhoua   11  Ziegler  Thompson–Boling Arena (20,273)
Knoxville, TN
February 28, 2023
9:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 12 Arkansas W 75–57  22–8
(11–6)
 16  Nkamhoua   8  Awaka   5  Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (18,324)
Knoxville, TN
March 4, 2023
2:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 12 at Auburn L 70–79  22–9
(11–7)
 21  Vescovi   10  Awaka   4  Vescovi  Neville Arena (9,121)
Auburn, AL
SEC tournament
March 9, 2023
3:00 p.m., SECN
(5) No. 17 vs. (13) Ole Miss
Second round
W 70–55  23–9
 20  James   7  James   4  Nkamhoua  Bridgestone Arena (13,165)
Nashville, TN
March 10, 2023
3:00 p.m., ESPN
(5) No. 17 vs. (4) No. 25 Missouri
Quarterfinals
L 71–79  23–10
 17  Vescovi   10  Nkamhoua   4  Mashack  Bridgestone Arena (16,107)
Nashville, TN
NCAA Tournament
March 16, 2023*
9:40 pm, CBS
(4 E) No. 20 vs. (13 E) Louisiana
First Round
W 58–55  24–10
 12  Key   5  Nkamhoua   4  Vescovi  Amway Center (18,018)
Orlando, FL
March 18, 2023*
2:40 pm, CBS
(4 E) No. 20 vs. (5 E) No. 12 Duke
Second Round
W 65–52  25–10
 27  Nkamhoua   5  Tied   5  Vescovi  Amway Center (18,567)
Orlando, FL
March 23, 2023*
9:00 p.m., TBS
(4 E) No. 20 vs. (9 E) No. 25 Florida Atlantic
Sweet Sixteen
L 55–62  25–11
 10  Tied   7  Tied   4  Tied  Madison Square Garden (19,624)
New York, NY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
E=East.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Source[1]

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
AP1122221376 (1)878594261011121720Not released
Coaches11172113771110959425 (2)111314192116

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2022-23 Men's Basketball Schedule". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved September 19, 2022.