Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

Happy KenPom day to all college basketball fans who celebrate. The analytics based college basketball website, run by Ken Pomery since 1997, released its preseason rankings 1-365 Sunday— a sign that the season is truly right around the corner.

Where does KenPom have Tennessee ranked to begin the season? The Vols come in at No. 9 in the initial rankings. KenPom predicts Tennessee to have the nation’s 28th most efficient offense and the nation’s No. 3 most efficient defense.

The Vols are the third highest ranked team in the SEC, coming in behind No. 2 Florida and No. 4 Kentucky. Vanderbilt (19), Alabama (23), Ole Miss (24) and Mississippi State (25) also land in the top 25. Tennessee faced No. 1 Houston, No. 6 Illinois and No. 14 Louisville in non conference games.

Another cool feature of KenPom is its game prediction tool that essentially proves as a look at what betting lines would be if the games were played today. Tennessee is favored in 22 of its 30 games. Of the eight games Tennessee is predicted to lose by one point in five of the eight games they’re currently not favored in.

More From RTI: Stats And Notes From Tennessee Basketball’s Open Scrimmage On Oct. 11

In total, KenPom predicts 11 of Tennessee’s 30 regular season games to be decided by five or less points. KenPom predicts Tennessee to post a 21-9 (11-7 SEC) record this season.

What do other analytical sites think about Tennessee? BartTorvik ranks Tennessee No. 13 preseason with the nation’s No. 37 offense and No. 3 defense. EvanMiya ranks Tennessee No. 15 preseason with the nation’s No. 22 offense and No. 4 defense.

Expectations are again high for Tennessee entering the season despite losing four of five starters and five of its top seven players from last season’s Elite Eight team. Ament and Gillespie are the headliners but Tennessee’s front court as the potential to be on the SEC’s best. Shooting guard and overall floor spacing remain the biggest questions for Tennessee entering the season.

The Vols open up the season on Nov. 3 against Mercer at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. But before then, Tennessee will face Ohio State in a closed door scrimmage in Knoxville on Oct. 18 and face Duke in an exhibition game in Knoxville on Oct. 26.