Getting back in the win column with two victories last week, including an impressive performance against the Kansas Jayhawks, has Tennessee basketball rising in early projections again. The Vols with Jaden Springer in the lineup are clearly earning lots of respect.
After moving into the top 10 of the Coaches Poll and the NCAA NET Rankings Monday, which we reported here, Rocky Top appears to be a lock at least for now to be a top four seed in March Madness. Obviously, that depends on what they do the rest of the way.
In most projections, Tennessee basketball is even higher. Given their 12-3 record and undefeated record with Springer, that makes sense, although they still have to deal with an embarrassing loss at the Florida Gators and two home losses, to the Alabama Crimson Tide and Missouri Tigers.
Joe Lunardi of ESPN had the Vols as a No. 3 seed in his projections early Tuesday morning. UT would face the No. 14 seed Grand Canyon Antelopes in the first round and be in a first-weekend bracket bracket with the No. 6 seed Virginia Tech Hokies and No. 11 seed Indiana Hoosiers. The Ohio State Buckeyes and Baylor Bears would be the No. 2 and No. 1 seeds respectively.
Joining Lunardi, Jerry Palm of CBS also had Rocky Top as a No. 3 seed. In his bracket, the Vols would face the No. 14 seed Colgate Raiders in the first round and be in a first-weekend bracket with the No. 6 seed Purdue Boilermakers and No. 11 seed Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The Texas Longhorns and Villanova Wildcats would be the No. 2 and No. 1 seeds respectively there.
College Sports Madness, meanwhile, has UT as a No. 4 seed facing the No. 13 seed Furman Paladins in the first round and in a weekend-opening bracket with the No. 5 seed UCLA Bruins and No. 12 seed Vermont Catamounts. The Virginia Cavaliers would be a No. 3 seed, the Iowa Hawkeyes would be a No. 2 seed and the Baylor Bears would be a No. 1 seed in that bracket.
Just like Tennessee basketball, Alabama was a No. 3 seed in Palm’s bracket and a No. 4 seed in College Sports Madness. However, they were a No. 2 seed in Lunardi’s bracket. As a result, Rick Barnes’ team will likely be fighting that team to have the highest NCAA Tournament seed in the SEC, meaning they have a tough road ahead.