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Where ESPN ranks Tennessee Basketball in the 68-team NCAA Tournament field

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•about 11 hours•

GrantRamey

Tennessee Basketball | Andrew Ferguson, Tennessee Athletics
Head Coach Rick Barnes of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers at Reed Arena in College Station, TX. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee Basketball is the ninth best team in the 68-team NCAA Tournament bracket, according to ESPN. That’s where the Vols, the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region and the No. 5 overall seed in the field, were ranked on Tuesday.

ESPN ranked Tennessee No. 5 according to the eye test and gave the Vols a No. 5 ranking in resume. They’re ranked No. 5 in the NET and in the KenPom.com ratings, too. 

“For a fifth consecutive season,” ESPN’s Joe Lunardi wrote, “Tennessee is fierce and physical and enters the NCAA tournament ranked in the top five in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Vols also lead the nation in effective field goal percentage allowed and 3-point percentage allowed while ranking fifth in block rate. 

“Chaz Lanier is one of the nation’s best shooters, and Zakai Zeigler is a proven floor leader and defensive pest.”

No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Wofford, Thursday, 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

Lanier and Zeigler lead Tennessee (27-7) into the Midwest Region against No. 15 Wofford (19-15) on Thursday (6:50 p.m. Eastern Time, TNT) at Rupp Arena in Lexington. The Vols and Terriers are opposite of No. 7 UCLA and No. 10 Utah State. 

Wofford, ranked No. 58 in the field by ESPN, won three games in three days to win the Southern Conference Tournament championship in Asheville, and earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, despite finishing sixth in the league. 

“Wofford played its best basketball of the season in three thrilling Southern Conference tournament victories,” Lunardi wrote, “but the undersized Terriers’ ride will end with a thud in a first-round loss to Tennessee.”

ESPN picks Tennessee to lose to Illinois in Sweet 16

ESPN picked Tennessee to advance to the Sweet 16 next week in Indianapolis, advancing past Wofford and either UCLA or Utah State, but predicted the run would end in the Sweet 16 at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

“The Vols’ defense and backcourt firepower is enough to reach the Sweet 16,” Lunardi wrote, “but the program’s first Final Four trip will remain out of reach following a loss to Illinois.”

Tennessee enters the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 3 in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency and No. 18 on offense. The Vols finished fourth in the SEC regular-season standings and played for the SEC Tournament championship on Sunday, losing 86-77 to Florida after beating Auburn in the semifinal round. 

ESPN blamed Tennessee’s offense for why the Vols won’t keep advance far in the bracket.

“Rick Barnes rules the regular season, but March has been less kind to the veteran coach,” Lunardi wrote. “Despite being top 10 in KenPom in five of the past seven seasons, the Volunteers have advanced beyond the Sweet 16 only once. 

“Suspect 3-point accuracy (34.3%) and a deliberate pace (346th adjusted tempo) almost ensure rock fights that can go either way in the final minutes.”

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