Tennessee basketball set a program record Monday.

The Vols are ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the fourth consecutive week — the most time UT has spent in the top three of the poll in a single season in program history.

Tennessee previously spent three weeks in the top three in the 2007-08 season, when it spent a week each at Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Tennessee (11-1) reached the No. 3 ranking after beating then-No. 1 Gonzaga in early December. The Vols haven't lost since, holding the spot throughout the remainder of the month.

UT received 12 first-place votes. The Vols are ranked No. 3 in the USA TODAY coaches poll for the second straight week.

Their lone loss came to No. 5 Kansas on Nov. 23 in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The Vols open SEC play against Georgia on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network).

Duke (11-1) remained the No. 1 team. Michigan (13-0) still is No. 2.

Tennessee opened the season ranked No. 6, then rose to No. 5 after two weeks.

UT opened with blowouts against Lenoir-Rhyne and Louisiana. It then won hard-fought games against Georgia Tech and Louisville before falling to Kansas 87-81 in overtime and dropping to No. 6.

The Vols won two more blowouts after losing to Kansas, but slipped to No. 7 after Michigan rose to No. 5. They jumped to No. 3 after beating former No. 1 Gonzaga and have won seven in a row.

The Vols debuted at No. 6 in the AP poll this season, trumping their previous high preseason ranking of No. 7 entering the 2007-08 season. The Vols received one first-place vote at that time.

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