Tennessee basketball updated March Madness bracket predictions Yahoo Sports

Tennessee basketball is on track for another NCAA Tournament appearance under coach Rick Barnes. Here's where the Vols stand.

Tennessee basketball is currently on track for another NCAA Tournament appearance with coach Rick Barnes at the helm. According to ESPN's Joe Lunardi, the Vols are projected as the No. 2 seed in the South Regional, with a potential matchup against No. 15-seeded Colgate. In a similar vein, CBS Sports' Jerry Palm also places Tennessee as a No. 2 seed in the South Regional, with a potential matchup against No. 15 Vermont.

The Vols have secured impressive victories throughout the season, including a road win against Wisconsin, a 20-point victory over Alabama, and a win against Illinois. Additionally, they have notched wins against Syracuse and N.C. State in neutral-site matchups. Despite four losses, the Vols have faced tough competition, falling to teams like Kansas, Purdue, North Carolina, and Mississippi State.

Under Barnes' leadership, Tennessee has made five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, a streak that began in the 2017-18 season. This marks a significant turnaround for the program, which had not made a tournament appearance since 2014 prior to Barnes taking over. The Vols have reached the Sweet 16 in 2019 and 2023, and have consistently earned top-5 seeds in their tournament appearances.

Overall, Tennessee has appeared in the NCAA Tournament 25 times in program history, with one Elite Eight appearance and no Final Four appearances. As the team continues to make strides under Barnes' leadership, the future looks bright for Tennessee basketball. For more in-depth coverage of University of Tennessee athletics, you can reach out to Mike Wilson at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike's coverage, consider a digital subscription to access all of his content.