Tennessee basketball is navigating uncharted waters under Rick Barnes, potentially facing its first seeding below a No. 5 in the NCAA Tournament. Despite recent victories over Mississippi State and LSU, ESPN's bracketologist Joe Lunardi projects the Volunteers as a No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region.
Lunardi envisions Tennessee starting the tournament against either No. 11-seed UCLA or No. 11-seed San Diego State in Portland. A victory there could set up a clash with No. 3-seed Gonzaga or No. 14-seed Cal Baptist in the second round. The Vols are among ten SEC teams Lunardi predicts will make the tournament, including powerhouses like Florida, Vanderbilt, and Alabama.
Meanwhile, CBS offers a slightly different take, bumping Tennessee up to a No. 5 seed after their recent wins. They had previously dropped to a No. 7 following a narrow loss to Kentucky. CBS forecasts an opening matchup against No. 12-seed Yale, with a potential second-round game against Virginia or Cal Baptist.
Tennessee is on the brink of its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, a streak that surpasses the previous record set by Bruce Pearl. This run ties them with Houston and Kansas for the fourth-longest active streak nationally, trailing only Michigan State, Gonzaga, and Purdue.
The Vols' recent tournament history is impressive, featuring multiple Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearances. Under Barnes, they've consistently earned top-five seeds, underscoring their status as a formidable force in college basketball.
As the tournament approaches, Tennessee's resilience and strategic prowess will be key in maintaining their impressive streak and making another deep run.