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Women’s NCAA Tournament 2021: Tennessee Lady Vols in most brutal region as No. 3 seed

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee guard Jordan Horston (25) reacts to a play during a basketball game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and the Ole Miss Rebels at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Thursday, January 28, 2021.Kns Ladyvols Ole Miss Hoops Cj
Tennessee guard Jordan Horston (25) reacts to a play during a basketball game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and the Ole Miss Rebels at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Thursday, January 28, 2021.Kns Ladyvols Ole Miss Hoops Cj /
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For the first time since 2018, the Tennessee Lady Vols are the favorites in their first-weekend bracket of the NCAA Tournament. After finishing 16-7 on the year, Kellie Harper’s team earned a No. 3 seed in the River Walk Region of the event.

Here’s the catch: UT is in by far the toughest region. Ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll and No. 15 in the Coaches Poll entering the Big Dance, Rocky Top will face the No. 14 seed Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in the first round. But that’s not where things get incredibly difficult for them.

If the Lady Vols beat MTSU, their next opponent will be the winner between the No. 6 seed Michigan Wolverines and the No. 11 seed Florida Gulf Coast Eagles. Michigan is ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll and ahead of UT in the Coaches Poll and No. 14. FGCU, meanwhile, is a top 25 team as a No. 11 seed mid-major, at No. 24 in the AP Poll and No. 21 in the Coaches Poll.

Now, to be fair, Michigan is No. 22 in the NCAA NET Rankings, and FGCU is No 41. However, if you go by the eye test, both media and coaches find them to be much better, giving the Lady Vols an opponent in either case much better than its seeding.

That’s juts to get out of the first weekend. Want to know who’s No. 1 in this bracket? The UConn Huskies earned that title, and they just happen to be No. 1 in both polls entering the NCAA Tournament as well.

It’s not any easier with the No. 2 seed, the Baylor Bears, who are No. 5 in both polls and No. 3 in the NET Rankings, easily the highest overall-ranked team not a No. 1 seed. Baylor, Michigan and FGCU all may have gotten robbed in their seedings, and they are all in this region. Here’s a look at region the Lady Vols are in and then the full bracket.

This is an impressive bracket for UT given the fact that every team they lost to this past season is a No. 4 seed or higher. Meanwhile, they have four wins against such teams and five wins against teams to reach March Madness overall.

Next. Vol basketball's road to the Final Four. dark

The first game for the Lady Vols will be Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on ABC. While the entire men’s NCAA Tournament is being held in Indianapolis, the entire women’s NCAA Tournament is being held in San Antonio.