Blue Ribbon also rated Tennessee's frontcourt as the best in the conference, while the UT backcourt was ranked second-best in the league.
The Vols, led by two-time National Coach of the Year Bruce Pearl, are coming off back-to-back NCAA Sweet 16 appearances. Last season, Pearl guided Tennessee to a 31-5 overall record, a 14-2 mark in league play and its ninth all-time SEC championship.
Smith, a native of Pulaski, Tenn., was a first-team All-SEC performer as a sophomore last season. He led the Vols in assists (3.4 apg), rebounding (6.7 rpg) and field-goal percentage (.536) while ranking third on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) behind departed seniors Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith.
Pearl, Smith and the rest of the 2008-09 Volunteers open the 100th season of Tennessee basketball Nov. 3, with a home exhibition game against Indianapolis at Thompson-Boling Arena.