Where does ranked Tennessee basketball land in March Madness bracketology? – Knoxville News Sentinel

Did newly-ranked Tennessee basketball improve in March Madness predictions?
The No. 22 Vols (20-7, 10-4) joined the USA Today Coaches Poll and AP poll for the first time since January following its 69-65, Quad 1 win at No. 21 Vanderbilt on Feb. 21. The victory was Tennessee’s fourth in a row and ninth win in the past 11 games.
Tennessee has four games left in the regular season to improve both its NCAA Tournament seeding and its standing the SEC. The Vols are tied for second place in the conference with No. 17 Arkansas and No. 18 Alabama. Tennessee has another matchup against the Tide at home on Feb. 28, and it closes out the regular season in Knoxville against No. 21 Vanderbilt on March 7.
A deep run in the SEC Tournament could catapult the Vols into a top March Madness seed. Last year, Tennessee finished the regular season with a 25-6 record, but its trip to the SEC Tournament championship game helped it jump up to a No. 2 seed.
Here’s a look at where the Vols stand in March Madness projections as of Feb. 24.
Despite the national ranking and win over No. 21 Vanderbilt, USA TODAY’s Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Paul Myerberg once again slotted Tennessee as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In this scenario, the Vols would play No. 12 South Florida in Greenville, South Carolina, in the West Region. The winner would play the victor of No. 4 Virginia and No. 13 High Point in the Round of 32.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi pushed Tennessee up to a No. 5 seed in the West Region. Like the USA TODAY prediction, Lunardi has the Vols squaring off against No. 12 South Florida, but they would play in Philadelphia. No. 4 Michigan State and No. 13 High Point sit on the other side of the bracket.
CBS Sports also has the Vols as a No. 5 seed playing against No. 12 South Florida, but in the South Region. The winner would play either No. 4 Michigan State or No. 13 Stephen F. Austin.
NET ranking: No. 14
KenPom ranking: No. 19
Quad 1 record: 5-6
Quad 2 record: 6-1
Quad 3 record: 2-0
Quad 4 record: 7-0
Tennessee basketball is in its best stretch in program history under Barnes, now in his 11th season with the Vols. Entering the 2025-26 season, the Vols were coming off consecutive Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. They’ve made the tournament seven times and have qualified for the past five years with Barnes.
Before Barnes, Tennessee only made it to the Elite 8 once under former coach Bruce Pearl in the 2009-10 season. Overall, the Vols have 27 NCAA Tournament berths with three Elite Eight appearances but have never made it to the Final Four.
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: [email protected]
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