The tipoff time and broadcast details are set for Tennessee basketball’s NCAA Tournament opener against Wofford Tipoff between the Vols and Terriers is at 6:50 p.m. ET on Thursday. TNT is broadcasting the game.
It’s the third game of the day at Rupp Arena with Louisville-Creighton and Auburn-Saint Francis/Alabama State happening before and Utah State-UCLA
Tennessee is back in the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight time and have earned a two-seed in three of those seven tournaments. In those previous two seasons, Tennessee has made it to a Sweet 16 and an Elite Eight respectively.
Rick Barnes’ 10th Tennessee team enters the NCAA Tournament 27-7 (12-6 SEC) having lost in the SEC Tournament Championship game. The Vols knocked off Texas in the quarterfinals and Auburn in the semifinals before falling to Florida in the championship game.
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It’s the third time that Tennessee has earned a two-seed under Rick Barnes. The Vols lost in the Sweet 16 as a two-seed in 2019 and in the Elite Eight as a two-seed last season. Both of the losses came against Purdue, who is the four-seed in the Midwest Region.
Wofford is in the NCAA Tournament after posting 19-15 (10-8 SoCon) record this season. The Terriers were the six-seed in the SoCon Tournament before defeating ETSU, VMI and Furman to win the conference tournament. Wofford played just one power five opponent this season and it was a tough one, falling to Duke 86-35 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Terries enter the NCAA Tournament ranked 120th in KenPom with an offense that ranks 67th nationally and a defense that ranks 231st. Their best win of the season came on Dec. 18 when they won at Saint Louis.
Tennessee is 19-point favorites against Wofford according to the FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 132.5. KenPom predicts the Vols to earn a 76-59 victory.
The Vols are undefeated against out of conference opponents this season after going 13-0 in the pre conference slate. Tennessee didn’t face a single SoCon opponent during the regular season.
