Amanda Knapp
Tennessee basketball has had its fair share of successes, but has the team ever won the SEC Tournament? The Vols have won the SEC Tournament championship five times in their history (1936, 1941, 1943, 1979, and 2022). In 2022, Tennessee's victory over Texas A&M marked their first SEC Tournament championship since 1979. However, in 2025, Florida topped Tennessee, winning the SEC tournament and preventing the Vols from claiming their second consecutive title. While Tennessee has had multiple SEC regular-season championship wins, their overall performance in the SEC Tournament has been mixed, with the team yet to consistently reach the later stages of the competition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of SEC tournament championships won | 5 |
| Year of the first championship win | 1936 |
| Year of the most recent championship win | 2022 |
| Number of SEC regular-season championship wins | 6 |
| Year of the first SEC regular-season championship win | 1967 |
| Year of the most recent SEC regular-season championship win | 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Tennessee Vols won the SEC tournament in 2022
The Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team, or the Vols, won the SEC tournament in 2022. This was their first conference tournament title since 1979.
The Vols have five SEC championships in total. They also won the SEC Tournament in 2021, and their core team in 2022 included 2021 first-team All-SEC selection Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, Olivier Nkamhoua, and Uros Plavsic. In 2022, the Vols played in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, facing Texas in a home matchup.
The 2022 SEC Tournament took place in Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. The Vols were the No. 4 seed in the tournament and earned a double-bye, allowing them to skip the first two rounds and advance directly to the quarterfinals. In their quarterfinal game, they faced either the No. 5, 12, or 13 seed, with a potential matchup against No. 1 seed Auburn in the semifinals if they won.
The Tennessee Vols' victory in the 2022 SEC Tournament demonstrated their strong performance and marked a significant achievement for the team.
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Tennessee's SEC tournament wins in 1936, 1941, 1943, and 1979
Tennessee has won the SEC Tournament title five times, in 1936, 1941, 1943, 1979 and 2022.
1936
The 1936 SEC Tournament was hosted by Tennessee on their home floor at Alumni Gymnasium. Tennessee had already made history by winning the league's regular-season title with an 8-4 conference record, including wins over Georgia, Sewanee, Georgia Tech, Alabama and Vanderbilt. In the tournament, they swept aside Auburn and Kentucky with double-digit triumphs, setting up a championship game against Alabama. Tennessee had lost to Alabama twice during the regular season, but they clinched their first-ever tournament final, winning 39-29.
1941
Tennessee beat Mississippi State in the opener and outlasted Georgia for a two-point win. They then thumped Florida 47-26 in a four-day span. The championship game was against Kentucky, the third time the two teams had met that season. Tennessee controlled the game from the start, taking a 19-9 advantage into the break. However, Kentucky mounted a comeback in the second half, and Tennessee only just held on, winning 36-33 for their second SEC Tournament title.
1943
Tennessee won its third SEC title, beating Kentucky in the championship game for the second time in three years. The game was close, with Tennessee scoring the game-tying bucket moments after Kentucky took the lead. Tennessee then pulled off the deciding play to win 33-30.
1979
Tennessee won the SEC Tournament after a three-game sweep of Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama. Over 3,000 fans packed into the Alumni Gym for the final, where they saw Tennessee come back from a shaky start to beat Alabama 29-25.
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Tennessee's 2024 SEC regular-season championship
The key to Tennessee's success in the 2023-24 season was their ability to win big games on the road. They finished with a remarkable 7-2 record in away games, including notable wins in Lexington, Tuscaloosa, and Columbia, South Carolina. This impressive run of results saw them claim the SEC regular-season crown and set their sights on even greater achievements.
The 2024 SEC regular-season championship was also a testament to the outstanding individual performances within the team. SEC Player of the Year favorite and national player of the year contender, Dalton Knecht, consistently delivered exceptional performances. In the game against South Carolina, Knecht showcased his talent with a game-high 26 points, including triples, mid-range swishes, and a thunderous inbounds dunk. Knecht's contributions were instrumental in securing the championship for Tennessee.
With the 2024 SEC regular-season championship in hand, Tennessee now had a strong foundation to build upon for the remainder of the season. The Vols set their sights on earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, which would enhance their prospects of finally reaching the elusive Final Four. The team's head coach, Rick Barnes, played a pivotal role in this historic season, leading the Vols to their third SEC Championship under his guidance.
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Tennessee's 2008 SEC championship
Tennessee's men's basketball team has won the SEC tournament championship multiple times, including in 2008. Led by All-American guard Chris Lofton, the 2007-08 Vols team finished the regular season with a record of 28-3, with a 14-2 mark in SEC play. This included a highlight victory over a No. 6-ranked team in late February. The team was known for its high-scoring offense, averaging 81.8 points per game, the sixth-best in Division I.
The 2008 SEC tournament championship was particularly notable as it was Tennessee's first outright SEC regular-season title since 1967. It was also the program's second consecutive trip to the Sweet 16, marking the first time they had achieved this feat in back-to-back years. The team finished the season with a program-record 31 wins and a ranking of No. 7 in the Coaches Poll, the highest end-of-season ranking in their history.
However, their dreams of reaching the Final Four were dashed by a loss to Louisville in the Sweet 16. Despite this setback, the 2007-08 Tennessee basketball team is considered one of the best in the program's history.
In addition to their outright SEC regular-season championships, Tennessee has also shared the regular-season title nine times with at least one other team, for a total of 12 SEC regular-season championships. They have also appeared in the SEC tournament final four times since 2018, winning the title in 2022.
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Tennessee's 1967 SEC championship
Tennessee has a rich history in basketball, with several SEC championship wins. In 1967, Ray Mears led the Volunteers to the top of the SEC, securing their first NCAA Tournament appearance. This marked a significant milestone as Tennessee emerged as the first basketball program to consistently challenge Kentucky's dominance in the early years of SEC basketball. Mears' success continued, as he went on to capture two more SEC regular-season titles before his retirement in 1977.
The 1967 victory was one of Tennessee's early achievements in a long history of basketball excellence. The Volunteers have since added to their accolades, claiming more SEC regular-season titles, SEC Tournament titles, and even reaching the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll on multiple occasions. Their success has been characterised by deep runs in March Madness and the production of All-American players.
The 1967 championship was also significant in the context of Tennessee's basketball history. It served as a foundation for the program's future success and established a culture of winning. This triumph paved the way for the Volunteers to become a consistent contender in the SEC and a force to be reckoned with on a national scale.
While Tennessee's 1967 SEC championship was a pivotal moment, the team has continued to build on that success. They have repeatedly demonstrated their prowess in the highly competitive SEC, earning shared and outright regular-season championships. In addition to their 1967 victory, Tennessee secured SEC regular-season titles in 1936, 1941, 1943, 1972, 1977, 1982, 2000, 2008, 2018, and 2024.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Tennessee has won the SEC tournament five times in its history: in 1936, 1941, 1943, 1979, and 2022.
Tennessee has won the SEC regular-season championship six times, including shared titles. The Vols' outright SEC regular-season championship wins were in 1967, 2008, and 2024. They also earned shared titles in 1972, 1977, 1982, 2000, and 2018.
Tennessee has made it to the NCAA Tournament 25 times, including 5 of the last 6 years. They have won 17 and lost 7 times in the first round. In the second round, they have won 8 and lost 9 times. Tennessee has made it to the Sweet 16 five times, winning once and losing four times. They have appeared in the Elite 8 once but have never made it to the Final Four.
Florida has beaten Tennessee in the SEC Tournament five times, with their most recent win in 2025. Tennessee is yet to beat Florida in the tournament.
