Tennessee Basketball is making waves in the latest bracketology rankings from ESPN's Joe Lunardi. The Volunteers have climbed to a projected 5-seed in the Midwest Region, setting the stage for an exciting matchup against 12-seed Yale. If they advance, Tennessee could face off against either 4-seed Virginia or 13-seed California Baptist, with these early rounds taking place in Portland.
The Midwest Region is stacked with talent, featuring top-seed Michigan, 2-seed Iowa State, 3-seed Texas Tech, 6-seed Kentucky, and 10-seed Georgia. Interestingly, Tennessee won't face any of its SEC rivals until a potential Elite Eight showdown.
This rise in the rankings comes on the heels of an impressive midweek victory over Oklahoma. Despite a spirited comeback attempt by the Sooners, Tennessee pulled away with a commanding 89-66 win in Knoxville.
Rick Barnes and his team have been hovering around the 5-seed mark in four of Lunardi’s last six updates. A recent setback against Kentucky briefly dropped them to a 6-seed, but their strong performance against Oklahoma has them back on track.
Next up, Tennessee faces an in-state SEC rival, Vanderbilt, in Nashville. The 19th-ranked Commodores will host the Volunteers at 2:00 p.m. ET at Memorial Gymnasium, promising a thrilling afternoon of basketball.
With only five games left in the regular season, Tennessee will also face Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina, and a final matchup against Vanderbilt. This stretch is crucial for the Vols as they look to solidify their tournament resume.
Keep an eye on Rocky Top Insider for comprehensive coverage of the upcoming game in Nashville.