And just like that, the last remaining undefeated team in college basketball has fallen.
The Tennessee Volunteers were the final college hoops team without a blemish on their résumé heading into Tuesday’s SEC rivalry tilt against the Florida Gators, but they’ll limp out of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in disappointment.
The Vols were handed a humbling 30-point defeat by their in-conference foes, losing in blowout fashion, 73–43. Tennessee shot a ghastly 21.4% from the field (12-for-56) and an even worse 13.8% (4-for-29) from three-point range. They had just six assists throughout the entire game.
After getting off to a 14–0 start, the Volunteers quickly dropped to 1–1 in conference play. They took care of John Calipari’s Arkansas convincingly on Jan. 4, winning that showdown by 24. A few days later, the script was flipped as they were handed one of the biggest defeats in program history. Tennessee’s loss makes them the first AP No. 1 team to lose by 25 or more points since 1968.
Naturally, college basketball fans had plenty to say in the aftermath of the historic defeat.
final pic.twitter.com/XBERndVicT
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) January 8, 2025
The last unbeaten in college basketball went down … uh … convincingly.
Shocking performance by Tennessee. Shockingly bad.
Only one game. But shockingly bad.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) January 8, 2025
Florida by TKO.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 8, 2025
FINAL: No. 8 Florida 73, No. 1 Tennessee 43
Zero unbeatens remain.
Statement performance by the Gators.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) January 8, 2025
Todd Golden.
Sunshine, shooting guards, and Synergy.
— Florida Basketball Hour (@FloridaBBHour) January 8, 2025
That was a certified butt-whooping as Florida takes down #1 Tennessee 73-43!
— David Waters – Gators Breakdown (@GatorDave_SEC) January 8, 2025
Every AP voter who thought Tennessee was better than Auburn pic.twitter.com/qQzGsFT8OP
— Auburn Memes (@AuburnMemes) January 8, 2025
