Where ESPN ranks Tennessee Basketball in the Sweet 16

Tennessee Basketball is the fifth-best team left in the NCAA Tournament entering the Sweet 16 this week, according to ESPN. The Vols on Monday were ranked behind Duke, Florida, Houston and Auburn, respectively. 

“The NCAA Tournament is defined by its stars,” ESPN’s Myron Medcalf wrote, “and (Chaz) Lanier has been that for the Vols, who also can shut down opponents with their top-tier defense. Lanier could make the difference in taking Barnes to the Final Four for the just the second time in his career.”

Tennessee (29-7), the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, plays No. 3 Kentucky (24-11) on Friday (7:39 p.m. Eastern Time, TBS/TruTV) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The winner moves on to the Elite Eight against either No. 1-seed Houston or No. 4 Purdue. 

ESPN ranks Kentucky No. 8 in Sweet 16 field

ESPN ranked Houston No. 3 among the remaining Sweet 16 teams. Kentucky was No. 8 and Purdue was No. 15.

Tennessee is in the Sweet 16 for a third straight year after beating No. 15 Wofford and No. 7 UCLA to advance to the third round. Kentucky, in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019, beat No. 14 Troy and No. 6 Illinois during the first weekend of the tournament.

“(Kentucky’s) defensive growth dictated Sunday’s performance,” Medcalf wrote of Kentucky’s win over Illinois, “including forcing six turnovers from Illini projected lottery pick Kasparas Jakucionis. 

“It also could determine how far the Wildcats go in the NCAA tournament, now that they’ve reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.”

Houston has won 15 straight, 28-1 over last 29

Houston (32-4) goes to Indianapolis having won 15 straight games and 28 of the last 29. The Cougars have lost just once in regulation this season. 

“The Cougars already had the nation’s best defense,” Medcalf wrote, “and now they lead the nation in 3-point shooting (39.8%), as well. (LJ) Cryer indeed stepped up to become a leader of a group that includes Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp and J’Wan Roberts — and could finally win Houston its first national championship.”

Purdue beat No. 13 High Point and No. 12 McNeese to get to the Sweet 16 and what amounts to a home game against Purdue, playing in the Sweet 16 just 65 miles from its campus. 

“Purdue’s path to the Sweet 16,” Medcalf wrote, “seemed easier than most — both opponents were double-digit seeds and were dispatched handily — but in the tournament so far, Matt Painter’s squad has demonstrated some of the defensive chops that led to early-season wins over fellow Sweet 16 teams Alabama and Maryland.”