Tennessee Basketball Moves Back Up in NCAA Tournament Projections

Vols return to No. 5 seed in latest ESPN Bracketology update after loss to Vanderbilt

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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After falling to a No. 6 seed in the previous ESPN Bracketology projection, the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team has moved back up to a No. 5 seed in the latest update from Joe Lunardi. This comes following North Carolina's loss at Duke on Saturday night. Tennessee is now listed as the final No. 5 seed, behind Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and St. John's.

Why it matters

Tennessee's seeding in the NCAA Tournament projections is an important indicator of the team's performance and standing heading into postseason play. A No. 5 seed would give the Vols a favorable path to the Sweet 16, though the loss to Vanderbilt raised some questions about their consistency and ability to secure a top-4 seed.

The details

In Lunardi's updated bracket, Tennessee is projected to face No. 12 seed Liberty in the first round, with a potential matchup against No. 4 seed Virginia in the second round. The Vols are the No. 5 seed in next week's SEC Tournament and will play either No. 12 Auburn or No. 13 Mississippi State in the opening round.

  • Tennessee dropped to a No. 6 seed in the previous ESPN Bracketology update on Saturday night.
  • The Vols' loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday resulted in them falling behind several other teams on the No. 5 seed line.
  • Lunardi moved Tennessee back up to the final No. 5 seed in his Sunday morning bracket projection.

The players

Joe Lunardi

ESPN's bracketologist who produces regular NCAA Tournament projections.

Rick Barnes

Tennessee's head basketball coach, who has led the Vols to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances as a No. 2 seed.

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What’s next

Tennessee will look to secure a top-4 seed in the SEC Tournament next week, which could help solidify their position as a No. 5 seed or better in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Tennessee's ability to bounce back from a tough loss and regain a projected No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament field shows the team's resilience and potential to make a deep postseason run, though they'll need to continue proving their consistency in the coming weeks.