Tennessee basketball: Vols No.1 seed in the South region in the latest bracketology

The Tennessee basketball team still on the top seed lines in the latest bracketology from Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm.

The Tennessee basketball keeps rolling with another 2-0 week in the books.

The Vols took care of Missouri and Florida, both by double digits, giving them a season sweep over both teams. As unimpressive as Tennessee looked at times, they still survived, and that’s all that matters. A win is a win, right?

As always we want to keep you up to date with all the latest bracketology, and we begin with ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s projections which were updated February 12, 2019. You can find the entire bracket projection here.

Joe Lunardi

The same four teams, Duke, Tennessee, Virginia, and Gonzaga, receive Lunardi’s approval for the top line this week. However, there is a difference in what region the Vols end up. After weeks of Jerry Palm giving Tennessee the nod in the South region, Lunardi jumps on board.

Here is a closer look at the South bracket.

1. Tennessee – 16. Norfolk State/Robert Morris

8. Baylor – 9. NC State

5. Virginia Tech – 12. Arizona State/Oklahoma

4. Nevada – 13. Yale

6. Kansas State – 11. Lipscomb

3. Purdue – 14. Northern Kentucky

7. Auburn – 10. Wofford

2. North Carolina – 15. Texas State

Assuming the Vols win their first game they would draw the winner of Baylor (16-8, 7-4 Big 12) / NC State (17-7, 5-6 ACC). Neither team should pose much of a challenge for the Vols. However, NC State was able to beat the Auburn Tigers earlier in the season. Tennessee and Auburn will meet in the last game of the regular season.

North Carolina draws the number two seed in the South bracket. The Tar Heels are coming off a loss to Virginia However, Carolina could be a scary team ranking in the top-25 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency according to KenPom.

CBS Sport’s Jerry Palm’s latest update was February 11, 2019. You can find the entire bracket projection here.

Jerry Palm

Palm has the same four top seeds as Joe Lunardi. Tennessee finds themselves in the South region once again.

Here is a closer look at the South bracket.

1. Tennessee – 16. Sam Houston

8. Baylor – 9. Minnesota

5. Wisconsin – 12. Play-in game

4. Texas Tech – 13. Vermont

6. Villanova – 11. Arizona State

3. Purdue – 14. Texas State

7. Ohio State – 10. Wofford

2. North Carolina – 15. Northern Kentucky

Again, Tennessee would draw Baylor (16-8, 7-4 Big 12) if both teams won in the first round. Minnesota (16-8, 6-7 Big Ten) would be another opponent the Vols could play with a first-round win.

Interesting enough, both Lundari and Palm have Purdue as the three seed in the South bracket. The Boilermakers are a bunch that can score the basketball ranking fourth on KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency. However, the defense could end up hindering a deep run in March.