KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The University of Tennessee men's basketball team will open the new year as a AP top-20 team for the sixth consecutive season, the longest streak in program history.

The Associated Press released its preseason Top 25 on Monday with the Vols coming at No. 18 on the list. The six-year streak in the preseason rankings breaks the previous program record set from the 2006-2007 season to the 2010-2011 season.

Tennessee is one of six SEC schools in the top 25 with five more receiving votes in the balloting. Local and nation media members picked the Vols to finish third in conference behind Florida and Kentucky.

Only the University of Houston has a longer active streak of consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25 at 107. Tennessee's 81-week run dates back to the 2021-2022 pre

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