The hype is building around Tennessee's potential NCAA Tournament run. Based on KenPom data, the Vols are statistically one of eight contenders in March Madness, and ESPN also puts them in the elite category of contenders.
ESPN has labeled six teams with a National Championship ceiling in the NCAA Tournament. Auburn, Duke, Houston, Florida, St. John's, and Tennessee have all been given a National Championship ceiling.
Tennessee and St. John's are the only two seeds with national title potential. Alabama and Michigan State have the potential to reach the Final Four.
The Vols have shown they can compete with the best teams in the country this past week, winning over Auburn and fighting a close, physical battle against Florida. ESPN's Myron Medcalf said that about the Vols' potential in this year's tournament.
"At its worst this season, Tennessee lost by 30 points to Florida," Myron Medcalf wrote. "But at its best, it beat that same Florida team by 20 a month later. The Vols will enter the tournament with an elite defense for a fifth straight year. Ranked first in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom, they've held 12 regular-season opponents to under 60 points.
"The team that lost Dalton Knecht, last season's SEC Player of the Year who led UT to the Elite Eight, found a way to bounce back thanks to Zakai Zeigler's improved performance (13.1 PPG, 7.5 APG, 1.9 SPG) and the addition of transfers Chaz Lanier (17.9 PPG, 41% from beyond the arc) and Igor Milicic Jr. (10.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG).
"There are retirement rumors floating around about coach Rick Barnes. If this is the end for him, he could author a magical finish with this group."
Tennessee's NCAA Tournament run begins on Thursday. In the first round, the Vols will face 15-seed Wofford, followed by a second-round matchup against the winner of UCLA and Utah State. The Vols have a favorable spot in the tournament this year and a clear path to the Elite Eight.