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ESPN Bracketology: Tennessee back up to a No. 1 seed after beating Alabama

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•03/02/25•

GrantRamey

Jahmai Mashack, Tennessee Basketball | Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
(Randy Sartin-Imagn Images) Mar 1, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Chaz Lanier (2) celebrates with guard Jahmai Mashack (15) Mashack hit a game winning three pointer against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.

Tennessee Basketball is back up to a No. 1 seed in the latest ESPN Bracketology update. The Vols moved up to the fourth and final spot on the top line on Sunday, following the 79-76 win over Alabama Saturday at Food City Center. 

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi on Sunday had Tennessee as the fourth No. 1 seed while Alabama fell to the No. 5 overall seed at the top of the No. 2-seed line. Auburn, Duke and Houston are the top three No. 1-seeds. 

Lunardi now has Tennessee as the No. 1 seed in the West Region, paired with No. 2 Iowa State, No. 3 Wisconsin and No. 4 Texas A&M. Alabama dropped to the No. 5 seed in the Midwest, with No. 1 Houston, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Kentucky.

Auburn is the No. 1 in the South, with No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 St. John’s and No. 4 Arizona. Duke is the No. 1 in the East, with No. 2 Florida, No. 3 Texas Tech and No. 4 Purdue. 

No. 5 Tennessee (24-5, 11-5 SEC) beat No. 6 Alabama (23-6, 12-4) on Jahmai Mashack’s 35-foot heave as time expired, a perfectly fitting start to the month of March. The Vols erased a 76-72 deficit with 30.3 seconds left, tying the game with a four-point possession before Mashack’s miracle shot at the horn. 

Up Next: No. 5 Tennessee at Ole Miss, Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET

Tennessee actually dropped one spot in the NET rankings after Saturday’s games, moving down to No. 5 while Florida moved back up to No. 4. The Gators beat Texas A&M Saturday in Gainesville. 

The Vols are now 10-5 in Quad 1 games, 4-0 in Quad 2, 4-0 in Quad 3 and 6-0 in Quad 4. Florida is 6-4 in Quad 1, 9-0 in Quad 2, 4-0 in Quad 3 and 6-0 in Quad 4.

Tennessee’s 10 Quad 1 wins are tied for the second most in the country. Auburn is 16-2 in Quad 1 games and Alabama is now 10-6. No other team has more than nine. 

On Wednesday Tennessee goes to Ole Miss for another Quad 1 opportunity in a 9 p.m. Eastern Time start on SEC Network at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The Vols host South Carolina on Saturday in the regular-season finale on Senior Day in Knoxville.

The Vols stayed at No. 5 in the KenPom.com ratings, staying No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency, giving up 87.1 points per 100 possessions, and dropping three spots to No. 28 in adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 118.4 points per 100 possessions. 

Tennessee chasing first No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament in program history

Tennessee has never been a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but the Vols have been a No. 2 seed three times, including twice under Rick Barnes. 

Last season Tennessee went to the Elite Eight as a No. 2 seed before losing to No. 1 Purdue in the Midwest Regional final in Detroit. The Vols were a No. 2 seed in 2019, but fell in the Sweet 16 in overtime against No. 3 Purdue. 

Bruce Pearl’s team was a No. 2 seed in 2016, but lost to No. 7 Wichita State in the second round. 

The Vols have been a No. 3 seed twice under Barnes, in 2018 and 2022, losing in the second round both times. They were a No. 4 seed when they went to the Sweet 16 in 2023 and were a No. 5 seed when they lost in the first round in 2021. 

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