SEC Preview Examines Barnes and the Volunteers for the New Season

An SEC basketball preview has turned its attention to Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Volunteers, examining the Vols as part of a look around the conference heading into the season. The preview treats Tennessee as one of the league's central stories.

That status is familiar territory for Barnes' program. Tennessee enters seasons now with expectations of contending in the SEC, and outside previews tend to measure the Vols against that standard rather than wondering whether they belong in the conversation.

For Tennessee, the preview is another data point on how the league views this roster before a game is played. The original piece lays out its full assessment of Barnes and the Volunteers, and the Vols' job is to match that billing once conference play begins.