The 1978-1979 Tennessee basketball team was led by new head coach Don DeVoe, who inherited a strong roster featuring All-American center Reggie Johnson. Despite a losing record the previous season, DeVoe guided the Volunteers to a 21-12 record, including two victories over Kentucky and a second-place finish in the SEC. The team also won their first SEC Tournament championship since 1943, defeating Kentucky in the finals. This victory earned the Volunteers an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, where they won their first NCAA Tournament game in program history with a victory over Eastern Kentucky. However, the team was eliminated in the second round with a loss to Notre Dame.