Tennessee basketball is starting to find its rhythm at just the right time. After a rocky 2-3 start in SEC play, the Vols have flipped the script with back-to-back road wins that could prove pivotal come March.
First, they went into Tuscaloosa and took down Alabama - no small feat, especially with a pro-level talent like Charles Bediako on the floor. That 79-73 win wasn’t just a confidence booster; it was a statement.
Then came Wednesday night in Athens, where Tennessee pulled out a gritty 86-85 overtime win against a Georgia team fighting for a tournament berth. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was the kind of game that tests a team’s mettle - and the Vols passed.
Just a week ago, Tennessee’s SEC outlook looked murky. Now?
They’re right back in the thick of it. Heading into Saturday night’s home matchup with Auburn, the Vols sit just a half-game behind Vanderbilt, Auburn, and Kentucky for the all-important fourth spot in the SEC standings.
That spot matters - it comes with a double bye in the SEC Tournament, and Tennessee still controls its own destiny. They’ve got matchups remaining against all three teams, including two against Vanderbilt.
Even more encouraging? Tennessee already holds head-to-head tiebreakers over both Georgia and Alabama - two teams that could be jockeying for similar postseason positioning down the stretch. And they’ll get another shot at Alabama in Knoxville later in February.
On the national front, the Vols are starting to climb the bracketology ladder. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi bumped them up from a 7-seed to a 6 in his latest projections earlier this week.
That projection came before the Georgia win, so there’s a good chance Tennessee’s stock rises even higher in the next update. As it stands, they’re slotted to face the winner of a play-in game and share a region with 3-seed Texas Tech - a tough draw, but one that’s manageable if the Vols keep trending upward.
The real opportunity lies ahead. Auburn comes to town this weekend, followed by a road trip to Kentucky next Saturday. Those are two massive games - not just for SEC seeding, but for building a postseason résumé that can hold up under scrutiny.
And with Nate Ament starting to find his groove, there’s reason to believe February could be a turning point. His emergence gives the Vols another offensive weapon and adds a layer of depth that could be crucial in close games down the stretch.
Bottom line: Tennessee is heating up at the right time. The road wins were clutch, the schedule ahead is filled with opportunity, and the team looks like it’s starting to believe again. If they keep this up, don’t be surprised if they’re not just in the tournament - but in a position to make some real noise once they get there.