Tennessee Basketball Drops in Latest Bracketology After Close Win

The Vols fell one spot to a 6-seed in the Midwest Region following their narrow victory over Mississippi State.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Tennessee Basketball is 17-7 overall and 7-4 in SEC play as the Volunteers prepare to host LSU this weekend. Despite a win over Mississippi State, the Vols dropped one spot to a projected 6-seed in Joe Lunardi's latest bracketology report for ESPN.

Why it matters

Tennessee's close call against Mississippi State raised some concerns, as the Vols had a 23-point lead that was nearly erased by an 18-0 run by the Bulldogs late in the second half. This performance contributed to the Vols falling one spot in the bracketology projections, which could impact their seeding and path in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The details

In Lunardi's latest bracket, Tennessee is now projected as a 6-seed in the Midwest Region, facing an 11-seed matchup against Miami OH in the first round. The Vols could potentially face 3-seed Michigan State or 14-seed ETSU in the second round. Other notable teams in the Midwest Region include 1-seed Michigan, 2-seed Iowa State, 4-seed Alabama, and 5-seed Louisville.

  • Tennessee defeated Mississippi State on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • Tennessee will host LSU on Saturday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Nate Ament

A Tennessee player who scored key points to help the Vols close out their win over Mississippi State.

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What’s next

Tennessee will host LSU on Saturday, February 15, 2026 as they look to bounce back from their close call against Mississippi State and solidify their NCAA Tournament positioning.

The takeaway

Tennessee's narrow victory over Mississippi State, despite building a large lead, raised some concerns about the team's ability to maintain control of games. This performance contributed to the Vols dropping one spot in the latest bracketology projections, underscoring the importance of consistent, dominant play as the team prepares for the postseason.