Skip to main content
Tennessee

Updated ESPN Bracketology has Tennessee as going to Cleveland as the No. 2 in the Midwest

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey03/07/25GrantRamey
Felix Okpara, Tennessee Basketball | Wesley Hale-Imagn Images
(Wesley Hale-Imagn Images) Mar 5, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Felix Okra (34) dunks the ball against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss.

ESPN’s latest NCAA Tournament projection for Tennessee Basketball is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, playing the first weekend of the tournament in Cleveland. ESPN Bracketology on Friday had the Vols facing No. 15 Central Connecticut, opposite of No. 7 Illinois and No. 10 Baylor.

Tennessee beat Illinois 66-64 at Illinois on December 14 and beat Baylor 77-62 in The Baha Mar Championship game in The Bahamas on November 22.

Joe Lunardi on Thursday dropped Tennessee back down to a No. 2 seed following the 78-76 loss at Ole Miss Wednesday night. On Sunday he moved the Vols up to a No. 1 seed after the 79-76 win over Alabama on Saturday.

Florida won at Alabama Wednesday night to move back up to the fourth and final No. 1 seed. The Gators host Ole Miss on Saturday.

“A Florida loss (would open) the door for Tennessee and Alabama,” Lunardi wrote on Friday.

On Tuesday ESPN’s updated bracket had Tennessee as the No. 1 seed in the West Region (San Francisco) and playing the first weekend at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

Tennessee remains No. 5 overall seed in ESPN Bracketology

Lunardi now has Tennessee as his No. 5 overall seed as the No. 2 in the Midwest (Indianapolis) with Houston as the No. 1 seed. Texas A&M is the No. 3 and Purdue is No. 4.

Lunardi said earlier this week that Auburn, Duke and Houston have locked up the first three No. 1 seeds, with Florida, Tennessee and Alabama battling for the final spot as a No. 1.

Florida won 99-94 at Alabama on Wednesday and the Gators jumped back up to grab the fourth and final No. 1 seed on Thursday, while Tennessee fell to the top spot among the No. 2 seeds, as Lunardi’s No. 5 overall seed.

“Florida moves to the top line,” Lunardi wrote on Thursday, “followed directly by Tennessee and Alabama as 2-seeds.”

Lunardi’s other No. 2 seeds are Michigan State and Texas Tech. His No. 3 seeds are Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Iowa State and St. John’s. His No. 4 seeds are Kentucky, Purdue, Arizona and Maryland.

Up Next: No. 4 Tennessee vs. South Carolina

Tennessee (24-6, 11-6 SEC) hosts South Carolina (12-18, 2-15) for Senior Day in the regular-season finale on Saturday (2 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network) at Food City Center in Knoxville.

With a win the Vols would clinch a top-four finish in the SEC and get a double-bye in next week’s SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Tennessee is ranked No. 5 in the NET with a 9-6 record in Quad 1 after losing a Quad 1 game at Ole Miss. They’re a combined 15-0 in Quad 2, Quad 3 and Quad 4.

KenPom.com has Tennessee at No. 5 overall, with the Vols moving up to No. 21 in adjusted offensive efficiency and staying at No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency.

You may also like