The team was led by sixth-year head coach Rick Barnes, and played their home games at Thompson–Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee as a member of the Southeastern Conference.

They defeated Florida in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament before losing in the semifinals to Alabama.

They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they were upset in the first round by Oregon State.

However, the remainder of the SEC Tournament was canceled amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

[3] On November 23, it was announced that head coach Rick Barnes had tested positive for COVID-19 and that the school had paused all basketball activities while further tests were conducted within the program.