Led by third-year head coach Don DeVoe, the team played their home games at the Stokely Athletic Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Volunteers finished with a record of 21–8 (12–6 SEC, 2nd) and received an at-large bid to the 1981 NCAA tournament as the 4 seed in the East region.

After an opening round win over VCU, Tennessee was defeated by No.

[2] This was the third of five straight seasons of NCAA Tournament basketball for the Tennessee men's program.

The Volunteers would not reach the Sweet Sixteen again until the 2000 NCAA tournament.