3/6/2024 basketball Edit

Tennessee basketball secures first outright SEC title under Rick Barnes

Volunteers guard Josiah-Jordan James (30), forward Jonas Aidoo (0), guard Jordan Gainey (2) and guard Santiago Vescovi (25) celebrate following their win against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena. (Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports)

Ryan Sylvia • VolReport

Assistant Managing Editor

Born in Knoxville, Tenn. and a graduate of the University of Tennesee, Knoxville. Covering football, basketball, baseball and recruiting for VolReport.

Tennessee basketball is officially the sole winner of the 2023-24 SEC regular season title.

With the win over South Carolina, the Vols will sit alone atop the conference standings no matter the result against Kentucky on Saturday.

This is the first SEC regular season championship for the program since 2018 and the first outright title since 2008.

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM

While Rick Barnes has claimed SEC titles previously in his tenure as Tennessee's coach, this is the first time he has led the Vols to sole possession of the crown.

This is the 12th conference regular season title in program history dating back to 1936.

Tennessee now sits at 14-3 in SEC play after the win over the Gamecocks. The victory came behind 26 points by Dalton Knecht and a strong effort on the defensive end.

The win came as revenge after the Vols dropped the first meeting 63-59 in Knoxville.

This marks seven-straight wins with the most recent loss coming to Texas A&M on the road on Feb. 10, 2024.

SEC TOURNAMENT IMPLICATIONS

Tennessee has now secured the No. 1 overall seed in the SEC Tournament. They will begin their run on Friday, March 15, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET in Nashville. The match will be against the winner of the No. 8 and 9 seed on Thursday.

The Vols' most recent SEC Tournament title came in 2022. Zakai Zeigler, Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, Jonas Aidoo and Jahmai Mashack were all members of that squad. Freshman Kennedy Chandler took home tournament MVP.

Tennessee has claimed five conference tournament championships dating back to 1936.

UP NEXT

The Vols will return home for Senior Day against Kentucky on Saturday. Vescovi, James, Knecht and Collin Coyne will be going through festivities.

Tennessee previously beat the Wildcats in Lexington 103-92. Zeigler led the way with 26 points in that matchup.

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