Tennessee basketball’s recent struggles came to a head with a tough 73-69 loss to Missouri, marking their fourth consecutive defeat. Despite this rough patch, the Vols’ prospects for the upcoming NCAA Tournament remain relatively stable.
Before the Missouri game, Tennessee was slotted as a top five-seed in ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s projections, and they maintain that position heading into their Saturday showdown with Alabama. Lunardi envisions the Vols competing in the South Region, where they would face 12-seed Liberty in Portland. Should they advance, a matchup against either four-seed Texas Tech or 13-seed North Dakota State would await in the Round of 32.
The South Region is shaping up to be fiercely competitive, featuring powerhouses like one-seed UConn, two-seed Florida, and three-seed Houston, with the semifinals and finals taking place in Houston.
Meanwhile, CBS Sports’ latest bracketology places Tennessee as a five-seed in the Midwest Regional. Here, they’re projected to clash with 12-seed South Florida initially, with potential battles against four-seed Nebraska or 13-seed Liberty in the next round. This region also boasts top contenders such as one-seed Michigan, two-seed Florida, and three-seed Kansas, with the regional finals set for Chicago.
Tennessee heads into the Alabama matchup with a solid 20-8 record, including a 10-5 mark in SEC play. Their performance in Quad 1 games stands at 5-7, with a notable 4-5 in Quad 1-A matchups. They’ve excelled in Quad 2 games, boasting a 6-1 record, and remain unbeaten in Quad 3 and Quad 4 encounters.
As the regular season winds down, the Vols have three games left, including key Quad 1 opportunities against Alabama and Vanderbilt at home, and a Quad 2 game on the road against South Carolina. A strong finish and a solid SEC Tournament showing in Nashville could elevate Tennessee to a four-seed, though a five-seed seems more probable.
The SEC’s competitive nature is evident, with Alabama, Arkansas, and Vanderbilt also hovering around the four-five seed range. NCAA rules prevent conference foes from meeting in the tournament’s opening weekend, suggesting Tennessee might face teams like Virginia, Nebraska, or Gonzaga in the Round of 32.
For now, all eyes are on the Alabama clash. The Vols and the Crimson Tide tip off at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, with Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes calling the action for ESPN.