Hey, it's okay to enjoy the tournament without pretending that getting there is a reflection of anything more than the expansion of the tourney field, and Auburn and Arkansas going a combined 1-17 over the final three weekends.
It's still more baseball. While there is life, there's hope.
During Raleigh's tenure we couldn't consistently win midweek games, never made the tourney and had far less talent in the field and in coaches' offices.
There's minimal improvement in conference record but improvement everywhere else. Tough league to get traction.
The same 4-5 teams are at the bottom of the league every season for a reason. Arkansas would be the only surprise this season.
Truth be told, if the Vols were in any other conference, they'd be in the tourney.