Tennessee basketball is starting to turn some heads again-and rightfully so. After a turbulent stretch that saw them stumble against Kentucky and scrape out a comeback win over Texas A&M, the Vols delivered a statement victory on the road at Alabama. That win didn’t just boost morale-it caught the attention of bracketologists, too.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, one of the most trusted names in the business when it comes to NCAA Tournament projections, bumped Tennessee up from a No. 7 seed to a No. 6 in his latest bracket reveal. That’s not just a symbolic move-it’s a sign that Tennessee’s résumé is starting to carry more weight, especially after knocking off an Alabama squad with NBA-caliber talent on the floor.
In Lunardi’s updated bracket, Tennessee is slotted to face the winner of a First Four matchup between New Mexico and Virginia Tech in San Diego. Should they advance, they’d meet either Texas Tech or Portland State in the second round. It’s a manageable path, and perhaps more importantly, it places the Vols in what’s being viewed as the softest region of the bracket.
That region features Duke as the top seed-certainly a respected program, but not the most intimidating No. 1 in the field this year. There’s also a potential rematch with Illinois looming.
Tennessee gave the Fighting Illini all they could handle earlier this season before Illinois caught fire late and pulled away. That game left a mark, and you can bet the Vols wouldn’t mind another crack at them on a neutral floor in March.
But before any of that becomes reality, Tennessee has to keep stacking wins-and that won’t be easy. The SEC doesn’t offer many breathers, and this week is no exception.
The Vols are set to face Georgia and Auburn, both currently projected as mid-tier seeds (an 8 and a 7, respectively). These aren’t just conference games-they’re measuring-stick matchups against teams that Lunardi sees as being in Tennessee’s weight class.
If the Vols can sweep the week and go 2-0, there’s a real shot they could climb even higher in the bracket projections. But even if they hold steady on the 6-line, that wouldn’t be a bad spot to be in, especially considering where things stood just a week ago.
What’s clear is that Tennessee’s win in Tuscaloosa has injected new life into their season. The inconsistencies are still there-this is a team that can look elite one night and out of sync the next-but the potential is undeniable.
Rick Barnes and his squad have shown they can beat tournament-level teams on the road. Now it’s about doing it consistently.
This week will go a long way in determining whether Tennessee is truly turning the corner-or just riding the high of one big win.