On the heels of a two-week rest after being upset by the Kentucky Wildcats in the SEC Tournament semifinals, the Tennessee Lady Vols are set to begin March Madness. It’s their 40th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, and they are hosting the first weekend for a second straight year.
Kellie Harper’s team, ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll and No. 17 in the Coaches Poll, is a No. 4 seed in the Big Dance and welcomes the No. 13 seed Buffalo Bulls to Rocky Top for their Round of 64 matchup. They come in having lost four of six.
Buffalo, led by 10th-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack, comes in on a nine-game winning streak after winning its third MAC Tournament Championship in seven years and second in four years. Here is all the information you need for the Lady Vols’ March Madness matchup.
Broadcast information
- TV: ABC
- Live stream: WatchESPN;
- Radio: Lady Vol Network; The Bet (WWKB 1520 AM Buffalo)
- Listen online: UTSports; Audacy.com
Rocky Top and Buffalo have a connection in this game. Legette-Jack was hired by Danny White when he was the school’s athletic director and is arguably the best example among many examples of White’s hiring success over the years.
This is Buffalo’s fourth NCAA Tournament under Legette-Jack, and they have made a Sweet 16 appearance under her already. Every MAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance by the Bulls in history was under Legette-Jack.
Given how red-hot and well-coached this team is, it’s clearly dangerous. The Lady Vols, meanwhile, are limping into the tournament. They are still without Jordan Horston and have been struggling ever since losing Keyen Green to a season-ending injury.
However, UT has still been tough to beat at home during that time, so they shouldn’t lose this matchup to Buffalo. They’ll be looking to get back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016 in Knoxville over the next three days.
After this game, the winner will face the winner between the No. 5 seed Oregon Ducks and the No. 12 seed Belmont Bruins to advance to the second weekend of March Madness. That game will take place on Monday.