Can UT be a No. 1 Seed going into the NCAA Tournament?

[jakez4ut]

everything i keep hearing about the tournament is you have to have guard play....we have that. our inside game hasn't really developed in to anything spectacular.

But the concern over whether or not we have an off night shooting or not is valid.

and i think that's the source of most fans' anxiety when it comes to winning the SEC tourney or how many more games we'll win/lose during the regular season.

I can say this with some certainty, if we continue to shoot like we have, cause turnovers like we have, we'll be very difficult to beat.

but we have a cold streak or stop having intensity on the full court (which i don't see happening, BP won't allow it) we could lose to Bama, UK and UF....

I won't be suprised either way...we could win out, or lose 2-3 games. Neither would suprise me too much. but at this point, with as few games left on the schedule, the only game you'd like to think your going to lose, if any, is the UF game.

there's no penalty for losing that game. You string 2-3 games in a row to end the season, and go 1 and done in the SEC tourney, well, they remember what you did yesterday....

I still see us as a solid #3 seed, and really only can go up from there.

 

[Low Country Vol]

I think that ya'll need at least 1-2 wins in the SEC Tourney to get a #1. The Big East is nasty this year, and the ACC gets preferential treatment.

I dont think giving a 1 loss duke team preferential treatment. The ACC will get at most 4-5 teams this year in the NCAA. Since 1982, there have been 8 teams from the ACC that have won the NCAA- Duke 3 times UNC 3 times nc state and maryland 1 each. Were they given preferential treatment to win the NCAA? Perhaps that is the reason the mcdonalds all americans go to the ACC.

 

[jakez4ut]

whoa...dude...relax. I think what was meant by that is historically, the ACC is regarded as a great bball conf. and as such, it is usually top heavy, so finishing 4, 5, 6 in that conference usually isn't that bad of a thing....so those teams that are middle of the road, get a little more of a look because of how good the top half usually is...

the same could be said about the SEC during bowl selections in football....

 

[thunder5]

If we win four out of the next five we'll have to win the tournament to be a 1 seed. If we win out I could see us being a 1 if we only make it to the SEC finals. Either way its a tall task and noboby really knows how the committee is going to vote.

 

[tidwell]

Even if the Vols do win out and do win the SEC tourney, I doubt they'd get a #1 seed. Duke is assured of one, whoever wins the Big East tourney as long as it's UConn or 'Nova, one of those will get a 1, Texas is probably gonna get 1, and Memphis the other. Unless one of those teams bomb out, those are probably the four 1 seeds...

 

[Low Country Vol]

I think the vols by winning out can be a number 1 seed. If the vols win out they will surpass either villanova or conn. Only one of then can win the big east.

Provided UT wins out, here are the number 1 seeds.
DUKE
UCONN or NOVA
MEMPHIS
UT

 

[lawgator1]

Based on comparative scores, Arkansas looks like the only possible sure-win left on the schedule. Even that game could be tough.

Alabama beat LSU in Tuscaloosa, so they have the ability to knock the Vols off. I look for that to be a lowish scoring, hard fought game.

Florida in Gainesville will be tough. Definitely not a guaranteed win.

Kentucky is still Kentucky.

Vanderbilt gave the Vols all they wanted in Knoxville. They may not have anything to play for then other than beating a rival who is having a big year.

I could see us losing two or three games from here on out, but can we win them? Yes. They'll give it their best shot, but you've gotta think they'll stumble at least once... been saying that for quite awhile now in SEC play...

Obviously, I agree with you that Florida is going to be a tough game for UT. I really think the fans and the team are going to pull out all the stops for that one so if you beat us there, well, hat's off to you.

Florida just went in and beat Vandy in a must-win situation for the Commodores. Not saying if you are a little off they can't beat you, but I would think you would be heavily favored to win that game.

Alabama to me is a big unkown. Apparently playing very well right now, though, and they need to beat Florida ir UT to solidify their claim to an NCAA berth so expect them to be tough.

If you win out and win the SEC tourney, you would still need some help to get a #1 seed. I think if you lose anywhere in the last two weeks, forget it. Right now, I think its a real long shot. Then again, I think that at the beginning of the year most on here would have told you that 18-3 would be a million to one.

 

[jakez4ut]

is it unreasonable to think that Nova and Uconn could both get 1 seeds?

they did it last year with Duke and UNC....

who'd get left out? the loser of the TX/MPS game more than likely....

TX, Duke, UConn, Nova.....could happen.

 

[RockyTopEmpire]

No way, i don't see memphis losing another one, and they way the other guys are playing, i think the number ones will be

Duke
Nova
UCONN
Tiger High

No way texas gets a #1

 

[jakez4ut]

i was just thinking really more about the two Big East teams getting #1 seeds each...i could see Mem getting one...but the conf. usa is so down....hard to respect the conf. they came out of....but they did play TX, Duke and TN, and probably should've beaten Duke. and they beat Gonzaga too didn't they?

 

[#10_Ainge_#10]

I say we get a #2 seed....the only way I see us getting a #1 seed is us winning the SEC and then winning the SEC Tourney......If we don't win the tourney, then I see us a 2 or 3

 

[SpPirate06]

I think we will end up with a # 2 seed.

 

[lawgator1]

I think we will end up with a # 2 seed.

To get a #2, I'd say you can afford to lose only one game in the remaining regular season and must reach SEC finals.

 

[SpPirate06]

I think that can happen. I think we can win out pretty much with the toughest game being Florida, we might slip up there. Im not really worried that much about Kentucky at home. I think we can make a run in the tournament. So its possible that we can get a # 2 seed.

 

[RockyTopEmpire]

and they beat Gonzaga too didn't they?

yeah

zags ucla bammer tenn cincy UAB are their decient wins so far. If they lose just one conference game, it's a no go. But if the run the table the will get a #1...well i mean that's what i think, so we all know how much that matters lol :biggrin2:

 

[TennesseeVols317]

I would love to see us as a #1, but I feel that #2 is more reasonable. I'll be happy with a top 4.

 

[lawgator1]

I would love to see us as a #1, but I feel that #2 is more reasonable. I'll be happy with a top 4.

If the bracket were announced today, I'd say you would be a low #2 or a high #3. Florida would probably be a solid #3.

But it ain't announced today. A lot has to do with your last ten regular season game record, plus of course what happens in the SEC tournament and the ACC and Big East tourneys, as well. I don't see Duke doing anything other than winning its tournament, but it is surely possible that someone other than UConn or 'nova wins the Big East and that could mean that only one of them gets a #1 seed. Someone like Pittsburgh could win out from here and take one of the 2 seeds.

Like I say, lots of games to be played.

 

[volinbham]

No way, i don't see memphis losing another one, and they way the other guys are playing, i think the number ones will be

Memphis still has UAB at UAB. UAB played them tough at Memphis. I was at the UAB game when we dismantled a highly ranked and much more talented Cincy team 2 years ago (Huggins was about to blow a gasket). I'll be at the Memphis game on March 2nd :rock:

 

[jakez4ut]

yeah, UAB is tough....it took a last second interception for us to beat them in Knoxville.....

 

[TennFan]

I'm still wondering which region the Vols will play in-Atlanta or the Mid East in DC. :dunno: The Washington Post keeps moving them every week.
I'd prefer to see them here in the DC region so I could get a ticket to see them play. :dance2: :clapping: :thumbsup: Regardless of which region, it'll be tough. I'd expect them to make it as far as the Elite 8. Is that too over confident? Are the Vols that good? I like their chances. Worst case-sweet 16. k:

 

[WA_Vol]

I'm still wondering which region the Vols will play in-Atlanta or the Mid East in DC. :dunno: The Washington Post keeps moving them every week.
I'd prefer to see them here in the DC region so I could get a ticket to see them play. :dance2: :clapping: :thumbsup: Regardless of which region, it'll be tough. I'd expect them to make it as far as the Elite 8. Is that too over confident? Are the Vols that good? I like their chances. Worst case-sweet 16. k:

No UT team has ever been to the elite 8, so thats what i am hoping for as well.

 

[WA_Vol]

If the bracket were announced today, I'd say you would be a low #2 or a high #3. Florida would probably be a solid #3.

But it ain't announced today. A lot has to do with your last ten regular season game record, plus of course what happens in the SEC tournament and the ACC and Big East tourneys, as well. I don't see Duke doing anything other than winning its tournament, but it is surely possible that someone other than UConn or 'nova wins the Big East and that could mean that only one of them gets a #1 seed. Someone like Pittsburgh could win out from here and take one of the 2 seeds.

Like I say, lots of games to be played.

Personally, I think the ncaa comittee weighs the RPI rankings as highly as the poll rankings. They also look at quality wins, strength of schedule, conference, and how well the team is playing late. I think on all of those except conference strength UT will fair very well.

What will decide everything of course, is the conference tournaments, where there are almost always upsets. IMO the only way UT gets the no. 1 seed is to win the SEC tournament. But I think thats possible, I also think several teams ahead of UT now in the polls will lose in their conference touraments at some point.