Tennessee basketball is undefeated and the No. 1 team in the AP Poll entering the Christmas break. The Vols have all but locked up a birth in the NCAA Tournament but where could Tennessee land?
ESPN’s bracketologist Joe Lunardi has Tennessee as a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region in his latest bracketology update.
In his projection, Tennessee would face 16-seed Lamar in Lexington in the opening round of the tournament before facing either eight-seed Dayton or nine-seed San Diego State in the Round of 32. Other top teams in the midwest region include two-seed Marquette, three-seed Kansas, four-seed Mississippi State and five-seed Purdue.
The Midwest Regional is in Indianapolis this year which is a relatively easy drive but also hasn’t been good to Tennessee basketball as of late. The Vols lost to Oregon State in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament and to Michigan in the Round of 32 of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Tennessee is one of a remarkable 13 SEC teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament with conference play nearing. Auburn is Lunardi’s No. 1 overall seed with two-seed Kentucky, two-seed Florida, two-seed Alabama, four-seed Texas A&M, four-seed Mississippi State, five-seed Oklahoma, six-seed Ole Miss, eight-seed Georgia, nine-seed Arkansas, 10-seed Texas and 11-seed Missouri.
Vanderbilt is one of the first four teams out while LSU is listed as the next four out. Of the next 16 teams in the SEC, only South Carolina is really unlikely to make tournament.
Tennessee has never been a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They have been a No. 2 seed twice under head coach Rick Barnes (2019 and 2024) as well as twice under head coach Bruce Pearl (2006 and 2008).
The Vols return to action on New Years Eve when they face Norfolk State in their final non conference game. Things get ratcheted up to another level on Jan. 4 when Tennessee opens up SEC play against Arkansas.
