The Lady Vols are navigating a challenging period in their season, with Kim Caldwell's squad dropping four straight games and seven of their last nine. Despite this rough patch, there's still optimism about their NCAA Tournament prospects.
Currently, Tennessee is projected as a 6-seed according to ESPN's bracketology, which hasn't been updated since their close loss to Oklahoma. This seeding places them well above the cut-off for at-large bids, typically around the 12-seed mark.
Even if the Lady Vols stumble in their final two games against formidable opponents like No. 6 LSU and No.
5 Vanderbilt, they should still secure a spot in the tournament, albeit with a potentially tougher first-round matchup.
If Tennessee finishes the regular season at 16-12 (8-8 SEC), it would mark a slight decline from last year's 21-8 (8-8 SEC) record when they earned a 5-seed. The key difference this season has been their rigorous non-conference schedule, where they've struggled against top-tier teams, unlike last year when they dominated their out-of-conference opponents.
While the NCAA Tournament selection committee's exact view of the Lady Vols remains uncertain, the consensus is that they should continue their unbroken streak of tournament appearances. This resilience underscores Tennessee's storied tradition in women's college basketball.