ESPN Ranks Tennessee Behind Kentucky, Virginia in Best Tournament Teams Remaining

Vols emphatically handled business in Round of 64, but ranked 21st by ESPN

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:38pm

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ESPN's Myron Medcalf ranked the 32 remaining teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with Tennessee coming in at 21st despite the Vols' dominant win over Miami (OH) in the Round of 64. The Vols are set to face off against 3-seed Virginia in the Round of 32, with the winner potentially meeting 7-seed Kentucky in the Sweet 16.

Why it matters

Tennessee has been one of the most consistent teams in the country over the past six weeks, but a late-season slump has some questioning their tournament credentials. This ranking by ESPN provides an outside perspective on where the Vols stand among the remaining contenders, adding intrigue to their upcoming matchup with Virginia.

The details

Despite Nate Ament's limited production due to injury, Tennessee cruised past Miami (OH) in the Round of 64 behind strong performances from Ja'Kobi Gillespie and JP Estrella. ESPN's Myron Medcalf ranked the Vols 21st among the 32 remaining teams, citing their elite offensive rebounding and defensive improvement in recent weeks. Tennessee will now face a tough test against 3-seed Virginia, who Medcalf has ranked 15th overall after the Cavaliers' win over Wright State.

  • Tennessee defeated Miami (OH) on Friday, March 21, 2026 in the Round of 64.
  • ESPN's rankings were released on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • Tennessee will face Virginia on Sunday, March 23, 2026 in the Round of 32.

The players

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

Tennessee's starting point guard who scored 29 points in the Vols' Round of 64 win.

JP Estrella

Tennessee forward who added 14 points and 10 rebounds in the Vols' victory.

Nate Ament

Tennessee's 6-10 projected lottery pick freshman who was limited to 0-for-3 shooting due to an injury.

Myron Medcalf

ESPN college basketball analyst who ranked the remaining 32 teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Ryan Odom

Virginia's head coach, who has led the Cavaliers to a more up-tempo, 3-point heavy style of play compared to previous Tony Bennett-led teams.

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What they’re saying

“The Vols stopped Miami (Ohio) on Friday even though Nate Ament, the 6-10 projected lottery pick, finished 0-for-3. Ja'Kobi Gillespie instead continued to be the catalyst with 29 points. The Vols are the top offensive rebounding team in the country and, for the past six weeks, have also been top-10 defensively. They did have a letdown of a 2-4 stretch before the NCAA tournament despite wins over Vanderbilt, Alabama and Tennessee. If they keep playing to their strengths, they can reach the second weekend.”

— Myron Medcalf, ESPN College Basketball Analyst

“This Virginia team doesn't look like the groups that were more methodical under Tony Bennett. In the Ryan Odom era, nearly half of the Cavaliers' field goal attempts are 3-pointers, which might have seemed sacrilegious under the old guard. Yet, it works: Virginia took down Wright State on Friday after making 13 shots from beyond the arc. The Cavs also play a defense that's allowed just one team (Miami) to exceed a 42% clip inside the arc over their past four games.”

— Myron Medcalf, ESPN College Basketball Analyst

What’s next

If Kentucky knocks off 2-seed Iowa State and Tennessee takes down 3-seed Virginia on Sunday, the two SEC border rivals will meet in the Sweet 16 next weekend in Chicago.

The takeaway

Tennessee's late-season slump has raised some doubts, but the Vols have proven to be one of the most well-rounded teams in the country over the past six weeks. Their matchup with Virginia will be a true test of their tournament credentials, with a potential Sweet 16 showdown against Kentucky looming on the horizon.