Tennessee now ranked #9 in Sagarin, #8 in Massey

[DiderotsGhost]

Two of the best computer polls now have UT in the top 10: Sagarin has us at #9 and Massey at #8.

Here's Sagarin's breakdown of the SEC teams still competing for the NCAA tournament (Massey in parenthesis):

5. Kentucky (4)
9. Tennessee (8)
10. Auburn (6)
19. Arkansas (21)
20. LSU (20)
21. Bama (22)
40. Florida (44)
41. Miss State (47)

Both major polls seem to mostly be in agreement. We are also ranked #4 in Sagarin's "recent" rating and our SOS is #6. However, Arkansas is #1 on the "recent" rating measure.

Sagarin's top 25 is pasted below (click to enlarge).




Here's Massey's top 15:



If it were up to Sagarin and Massey, we would be competing for a 2 seed over the next 2 weeks, depending on whether we can beat Arkansas at home and how we do in the SEC tourney.

 

[cwbytruckers]

I think we have a legitimate shot at the SEC tourny for the first time in a while because of our back court and the emergence of our young front court.

 

[WiseOlVol]

We're always overrated. But we have played #6 schedule, toughest in Top 10.

 

[rdk4121]

Yet CBS had us as a 4th seed.

 

[DiderotsGhost]

Yet CBS had us as a 4th seed.

Mostly because they focus too much on the human polls, which are terrible. They just mindlessly shift teams up and down based on wins and losses for the most part.

Even on the NET ratings that the NCAA uses (which aren't as good as Sagarin or Massey IMO), Tennessee is #8. And just last week, the NCAA had us as a 3 seed. No way we're a 4 seed right now.

 

[TennEddie]

Yet CBS had us as a 4th seed.

This early “ Bracketology “ is such a waste of time. It starts almost 2 months before the actual
March Madness begins, and changes every week. Yesterday the top 6 teams in the polls
lost;that’ll scramble a lot of bracket predictions.

 

[CAVPUT]

I think we have a legitimate shot at the SEC tourny for the first time in a while because of our back court and the emergence of our young front court.

Agreed but I don't really care about the SECT unless it impacts our seeding. Just get out of it with no injuries and gear up for the dance.

 

[golfballs]

Yet CBS had us as a 4th seed.

I’m pretty sure we were a 6 seed in their bracket prior to the committee releasing their top 16.

 

[SouthKnoxVol70]

As much as I wanna say Tn has a great chance In the SEC tourney, they just scare me away from home . At home, they can beat anyone, but they can also lose to anyone when they play away .

 

[cwbytruckers]

Agreed but I don't really care about the SECT unless it impacts our seeding. Just get out of it with no injuries and gear up for the dance.

Could potentially boost to a high 2 seed or it could be the last 1 seed

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Wait... am I reading it right on the Massey poll that UK moved up three spots after losing?

 

[Voltime123]

As much as I wanna say Tn has a great chance In the SEC tourney, they just scare me away from home . At home, they can beat anyone, but they can also lose to anyone when they play away .

Honestly what teams have good wins away from home this year aside from neutral courts? Kentucky does but who else?

 

[BallerVolFan]

Could potentially boost to a high 2 seed or it could be the last 1 seed

Basically a 0% chance we land a 1 seed. I would give us a 50/50 chance at a 2 seed. Beat UGA and Arky, then make the SEC tournament final and I think we should definitely be a 2 seed.

 

[SouthKnoxVOL]

Basically a 0% chance we land a 1 seed. I would give us a 50/50 chance at a 2 seed. Beat UGA and Arky, then make the SEC tournament final and I think we should definitely be a 2 seed.

Idk why people keeo thinking we need to make the SEC tourney final to get a 2 seed. We win out and win a game or two in the tourney then we are a lock for a 2 seed.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I think we have a legitimate shot at the SEC tourny for the first time in a while because of our back court and the emergence of our young front court.

The front court is going to have to keep getting better. I’m still concerned about our tendency to go through long scoring droughts and an improved front court might be the remedy.

 

[AllThingsTN]

As much as I wanna say Tn has a great chance In the SEC tourney, they just scare me away from home . At home, they can beat anyone, but they can also lose to anyone when they play away .

I mean playing on the road and playing at a neutral site are two different things though. Neither team is going to have the home court advantage.

 

[walkenvol]

Idk why people keeo thinking we need to make the SEC tourney final to get a 2 seed. We win out and win a game or two in the tourney then we are a lock for a 2 seed.

If we win 2 games in the SEC tourney then we’re in the finals right?

 

[SouthKnoxVol70]

I mean playing on the road and playing at a neutral site are two different things though. Neither team is going to have the home court advantage.

Agree 100%

 

[The Dog]

If we win 2 games in the SEC tourney then we’re in the finals right?

Yeah, double bye, 3 wins it, for top 4 seeds

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Idk why people keeo thinking we need to make the SEC tourney final to get a 2 seed. We win out and win a game or two in the tourney then we are a lock for a 2 seed.

Well winning 2 would mean we are in the SECT final, so…

 

[Cartervol]

They look like a 3 seed right now. Win your last two conference games and pick up a game or two in the SEC tourney and i can't see how they're not at least a 3.. Win the SEC tourney and they're either the highest 3 or the last 2 seed. Either is damn good.

 

[BallerVolFan]

Idk why people keeo thinking we need to make the SEC tourney final to get a 2 seed. We win out and win a game or two in the tourney then we are a lock for a 2 seed.

I didn’t say it was the minimum for us to get a 2 seed. I think we would be pretty much a lock to be a 2 seed if that happened but winning 2 games would mean we’re in the tourney final.