Tennessee basketball: Vols lose but stay put in latest bracketology

Despite the loss to Kentucky, the Tennessee basketball team holds on to a number one seed in the latest bracketology from Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm.

We all knew a loss was coming, it was just a matter of when and to who.

Kentucky answered that question for everyone with a 17 point butt-whipping. It was close for most of the first half and even a six-point game at halftime. However, the Wildcats opened the second half with a 14-0 run that the Vols could never recover from.

But, it’s only Tennessee’s basketball second loss of the season, and all their goals are still attainable. For now, they still sit on the one line in the NCAA Tournament.

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 18, 2019. You can find the entire bracket projection here.

Joe Lunardi

No new teams on the top line for Lunardi, he still has Duke, Virginia, Gonzaga, and Tennessee. But, the Vols will have to travel a little further if they make the Sweet Sixteen thanks to the loss.

Instead of playing in Louisville, Tennessee’s destination would be Kansas City. In the end, it’s just a longer flight and maybe a tougher Final Four matchup.

What if the Vols make it to the Elite Eight and Final Four?

It’s called March Madness for a reason, upsets happen all the time but for this game let’s pretend lower seeds advance. Tennessee would find themselves playing Michigan State (2), Kansas (3), or Maryland (6) in the Elite Eight.

The Final Four could display the following potential matchups from the South region; Virginia (1), Kentucky (2), Purdue (3), and Iowa State (4).

Lunardi has the SEC getting eight teams in the big dance only one spot behind the ACC with nine. Florida and Alabama get the nod, but both are playing in the ‘play-in games’ as twelve seeds.

Here is a look at the entire Midwest bracket.

1. Tennessee vs. 16. Sam Houston State

8. Syracuse vs. 9. Texas

5. Lousiville vs. 12. Arizona State/Alabama

4. Nevada vs. 13. Vermont

6. Maryland vs. 11. Clemson

3. Kansas vs. 14. South Dakota State

7. Washington vs. 10. Seton Hall

2. Michigan State vs. 15. Montana

CBS Sport’s Jerry Palm’s latest update was February 18, 2019. You can find the entire bracket projection here.

Jerry Palm

Palm has the same top four in the same regions as Lunardi. Tennessee again gets punished for losing unlike any other team in the country.

The Midwest region has many potential rematches for the Vols. Let’s play the what if game again.

Possible Elite Eight matchups include Kansas (3), Louisville (6), Ole Miss (7), and Alabama (11). If the Vols made it to the Final Four, we could see a Final Four matchup against the Duke Blue Devils.

Here is a closer look at Palm’s Midwest bracket.

1. Tennessee vs. 16. Sam Houston State

8. TCU vs. 9. Seton Hall

5. Wisconsin vs. 12. UCF/Arizona State

4. Nevada vs. 13. Yale

6. Louisville vs. 11. Alabama

3. Kansas vs. 14. Radford

7. Ole Miss vs. 10. Wofford

2. Michigan vs. 15. Northern Kentucky

Tennessee is just one loss away from being a two seed. Yes, at the end of the day that is nothing to worry about, but you hate to see if after a record-breaking season.