Tennessee basketball enters conference tournament week clinging on to the final No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
While the Vols are currently projected to land the final one-seed, both North Carolina and Arizona are still in the hunt to pass Tennessee for the final one-seed.
Before we take a look at Tennessee’s rooting guide for conference tournament week, let’s take a quick look at the resume for the three teams vying for the final one-seed.
Tennessee ends the regular season 24-7 (14-4 SEC) with a 7-6 record in Quad 1 games and a 17-1 record in every other game. The Vols have no Quad 3 or 4 losses.
North Carolina boasts a 25-6 (17-3 ACC) record with a 7-4 record against Quad 1 games and an 18-2 record in every other game. The Tar Heels have no Quad 3 or 4 losses.
Arizona boasts a 24-7 (15-5 Pac 12) record with an 8-3 record in Quad 1 games and a 16-4 record in every other game. The Wildcats are the only one of the trio with a Quad 3 loss. The Pac 12 is also worse than the SEC and ACC this season.
So that’s where things in the final stretch before the NCAA Tournament. Let’s take a look at Tennessee basketball’s rooting guide.
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Tennessee
- Let’s start with the obvious— for the Vols to win as many games as possible this week.
- The Vols get the winner of Mississippi State and LSU on Friday. Tennessee wants to face Mississippi State. The Bulldogs would be a Quad 1 win where LSU would be a Quad 2 win.
- Florida currently ranks No. 35 in NET making the Vols’ home win over Florida a Quad 2 win. If the Gators can move into the top 30 in NET than it would become a Quad 1 win. Tennessee fans should root for Florida to make a deep run in Nashville.
North Carolina
- Back to the obvious: A North Carolina before the ACC Tournament Championship against a Quad 1 opponent would be better for Tennessee than the Tar Heels winning a Quad 2 game.
- North Carolina’s neutral site win over Oklahoma is currently a Quad 1 win because the Sooners rank No. 43 in NET. If Oklahoma falls below No. 50 then it would be a Quad 2 win. Tennessee should root for TCU to defeat Oklahoma in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.
- North Carolina’s win at North Carolina State is a Quad 2 win because the Wolfpack rank No. 80 in NET. If North Carolina State moves into the top 75 than it would be a Quad 1 win. Tennessee should cheer for North Carolina State to lose in either its first game of the ACC Tournament against Louisville or its second against Syracuse.
Arizona
- Back to the obvious: An Arizona loss against a Quad 1 opponent would be better for Tennessee than the Wildcats winning a Quad 2 game.
- Arizona’s home win over Colorado is currently a Quad 1 win because the Buffs rank No. 27 in NET. If Colorado falls under the top 30 in NET it will be a Quad 2 win. Tennessee should root for Colorado to lose its first game of the Pac 12 Tournament against either Arizona State or Utah.
- Arizona faces the winner of Washington State and USC in its Pac 12 Tournament opener. A win over the Huskies would be a Quad 1 win while a win over USC would be a Quad 2 win. Tennessee should root for Southern Cal.
