Bracketology: Where Tennessee stands on Selection Sunday

Are you disappointed or encouraged by Tennessee’s performance in the SEC Tournament this weekend? The fanbase seems split, thanks to that second-half meltdown against the top-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. The Volunteers had an opportunity to really improve their standing in the big dance, but they let Alabama come back and get them at the end.

Still, that week off before the regular season finale seemed to re-energize Tennessee, as the Vols picked up two straight wins over Florida. Those wins certainly helped heading into Selection Sunday, as Tennessee was sliding down the projected seed list to close the year.

In some places they were as low as a No. 8 seed, with the consensus landing as a No. 7. Following two resume wins over Florida, that projection has improved.

Tennessee 2021 Final Bracketology

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi now has Tennessee as a No. 5 seed, set to face Winthrop. That matchup would obviously be a throwback to the 2006 version, where Chris Lofton sent the Eagles packing with a corner jumper at the buzzer. Baylor is the projected No. 1 seed in Tennessee’s region here.

CBS’s Jerry Palm also has Tennessee as a No. 5 seed, landing in Gonzaga’s region. The Vols would face Georgetown here as the No. 12 seed.

USA Today is lower on Tennessee, projecting them as a No. 6 seed. In this scenario, the Vols would meet the winner of the VCU/Syracuse play-in game. Michigan is the No. 1 seed in this region.

SBNation also has Tennessee as a No. 5 seed and landing in Gonzaga’s region. The Volunteers would meet No. 12 seeded North Texas here.

We’ll know the real thing this evening, as the committee reveals the full field of 68. You can catch the selection show live on CBS at 6 p.m. ET.