In the 1952-1953 Tennessee basketball season, the team faced its share of ups and downs. Led by head coach Emmett Lowery, the team had a final record of 11-12 with a conference record of 7-7, landing them in sixth place in the SEC. Despite the team's struggles, they managed to put up an average of 71.7 points per game, ranking 61st out of 153 teams. 

However, their opponents were tough, and they allowed an average of 74.7 points per game, ranking 126th out of 150 teams. The team had a difficult Strength of Schedule (SOS) of -1.25, ranked 99th out of 160 teams, but managed to keep their strength relative to their opponents (SRS) at -4.82, landing them at 105th out of 160 teams. Although the season may not have been one for the record books, the team continued to push forward and improve, setting the stage for future success.