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Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl with his daughter Leah Pearl and Wayne Chism, left, watch as the number one seeds for the NCAA tournament was announced Sunday. Fourth-ranked Tennessee received a No. 2 seed in the East Region of the NCAA men's basketball tournament as the team watched the results in the Ray Mear's Room at Thompson-Boling Arena Sunday.
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The applause was merely polite in the Ray Mears Room at Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday night.
One of the most accomplished Tennessee men’s basketball teams in history got a rude awakening from the NCAA tournament selection committee when the brackets were announced.
The Vols, 29-4 and SEC outright regular-season champions for the first time in 41 years, are the lowest No. 2 seed and will play in an East Region that includes Louisville and No. 1-ranked North Carolina.
“I remember getting a No. 2 seed a couple of years ago, and we jumped out of our chairs,’’ UT coach Bruce Pearl said. “Now, we’re all bummed out. We’re disappointed by being on the second line because of the (season’s) body of work.’’
UT’s opens the NCAA tournament Friday (TV: WVLT, 12:15 p.m.) in Birmingham, Ala., against Patriot League champion American. The Eagles (21-11) are making their first NCAA tournament appearance. With a win, the Vols face the winner of South Alabama (26-6) and Horizon League champion Butler (29-3) on Sunday at 2:30.
American, led by junior guards Garrison Carr (18.1 points per game) and Derrick Mercer (12.4 points per game), has a 67-59 road win over Maryland on its resume.
Tennessee felt its resume was pretty strong, too, and had visions of attaining what would have been the first No. 1 seed in the history of the men’s basketball program.
The Vols had the No. 1 RPI in the nation even after losing Saturday to Arkansas 92-91 in the semifinals of the SEC tournament in Atlanta.
UT boasted the nation’s toughest schedule strength and non-conference RPI in addition to running up a 12-4 record against the NCAA tournament field and a 6-2 mark against top 25 opponents.
The Vols are only the fourth team in the last 15 years to be ranked No. 1 in the RPI and not get a No. 1 seed according to ESPN.com.
Kansas, the Big 12 regular season co-champions and Big 12 tournament champions, got the No. 1 seed in the Midwest despite being No. 5 in the RPI rankings.
The Jayhawks (31-3) were 2-2 against the top 25 and 6-2 against the NCAA tournament field.
“People are not giving us credit for the schedule we played,’’ UT All-American Chris Lofton said. “No doubt, this is a motivator for us.’’
Athletic director Mike Hamilton defended UT’s accomplishments and was clearly put off being the lowest of the No. 2 seeds.
“I thought we had the resume to be a No. 1 seed,’’ Hamilton said. “Maybe we’ll use this as a chip on our shoulder and see what we get done.’’
Hamilton said it appears the selection committee put more weight on the respective conference tournaments than the RPI this season.
“That’s certainly the indication from what I see on the (TV) screen today,’’ Hamilton said, referring to the NCAA tournament selection show. “We had been given every indication that going on the road and playing tough competition is important to the committee.’’
The Vols won at then-No. 1 Memphis, and have wins away from home against NCAA tournament teams Xavier, Gonzaga, Western Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi State and Georgia. For the Vols make it to the Final Four they could have to beat the Tar Heels in Charlotte, N.C.
“It had to be something,’’ Pearl said, asked why the Vols aren’t a No. 1 seed. “Obviously the body of work didn’t weigh as heavily as the conference tournaments.
“To be opposite North Carolina, the announced No. 1 seed, in Charlotte, N.C., it’s formidable, no doubt.’’
UT sophomore Tyler Smith looks at the bracket and sees opportunity.
“(North Carolina) is America’s Team, to take them down would be great,’’ Smith said. “It motivates us, but first we have to make it to North Carolina.’’
Senior Jordan Howell said the Vols’ disappointment is an indication of how far the team has come under Pearl the past three years.
“We’ve come along way; to not be jumping up and down with a No. 2 seed is pretty cool,’’ Howell said. “It’s good we feel we belong at the top.’’
Pearl said the Vols’ path to the Final Four has “road blocks,’’ but if nothing else it challenges his team.
“They know what they’ve got to do,’’ Pearl said. “If we are able to improve on some things, we can beat anyone in the country.’’
Mike Griffith covers Tennessee men’s basketball. He may be reached at 865-342-6289.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 401
99gator writes:
gonna have to beat butler and louisville, just to play carolina in charlotte.
this is why you wait for the bracket.
this is not a favorable draw.
nh680#633995 writes:
phooey, in the same bracket as UNC. shouldn't have missed that dunk Chism
volfaninchattanooga writes:
very disappointing.
VolCane7979 writes:
we got screwed over terribly. that is awful.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
As I said previously...
Preliminary thoughts... 1) the "committee" does not value the team's body of work as much as they say they do, and 2) if someone can wrap up Billy Packer and Richard Vitale and send them to Vanuatu for the rest of their lives, I would be much obliged.
Whoa... in NC's region? Wow. I didn't see that coming... and Butler/S Alabama winner? I could see a loss in that second round game. Yikes. That Arkansas loss turns out to be a biggie.
This matchup makes us the fourth best 2 seed, with the #1 RPI. Shows you how much those ratings really matter, huh.
10eceeVol4ever writes:
Tennessee wasn't even the #1 2 seed in the tournament. How ridiculous is that.
trl_x writes:
I say we play South Alabama...in Birmingham! A home game for S Ala. And then UNC...Not good.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
I agree with most posters thus far... this is the most disappointed I have ever been with a bracket, even more than the royal screw the Lady Vols got a few years back when they were seeded 2 with the Tarheels.
hbdinwid#659767 writes:
Basically seen as the number 8 team. This sucks
AppStVol writes:
Were getting screwed, by getting the 2 seed in the East the selection commitee feels we are the weakest 2 seed. After finishing the year with the RPI ranking we had. This is bullsh*t.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
Not to belabor the point, but seriously... how does a one point loss in a conference semifinal game drop a team FIVE spots in the seeding?
LargeOrange writes:
Nope not a great draw at all. Getting the 2 is not surprising, but to get the bracket opposite the #1 team who basically gets to play at home, that is surprising to me. I think we would rather have swapped with Georgetown or either of the other two 2s. Not whining, we had our shot at a 1 seed and can't blame anyone else for not taking it this weekend.
threehundredbowler writes:
East Region as a 2 seed.North Carolina a 1 seed.We will now find out how good we really are.We play American University in the first game.The going will be tough but not imposible.Look for 2 and done.
brundlefly writes:
Agree with gator - a tough draw. The NCAA rewarded the #1 seeds for winning their respective tournaments. I'm a bit surprised we're seen as the 4th best #2 seed. It's put up or shut up time, guys - ALL THE WAY TO SAN ANTONIO!!
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
Exactly, Large... it's not whining to express outright disappointment when looking at the draw. I just don't get it. Apparently, the conference RPI matters a lot, with the SEC being designated as a weak conference.
daddyaxe writes:
you bounce bubble teams because of the RPI....then what does the RPI do for the top seeds......JUst don't see UT as the number four 2 seed....we are going to have to get on a roll now for sure....now someone tell me that the conference tournament doesn't mean anything
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
kwitcherbellyachin, you are are just assuming we would have been the highest #2 team had we not lost---we dont know that
richvol writes:
To be put in Carolina's region is really a disadvantage. Somebody is really disrespecting Tennessee. That means they believe we are the worst #2 seed. Playing Butler and Louisville to get to Carolina is tough. We better get our minds right. I don't see how this can be justified by the committee.
Titan writes:
What a pathetic joke by the committee! Recipe for next year - schedule cream puffs and save all you've got so you can win the SEC tournament. I'd say BP is already starting to work the "no respect" angle.
BubbaTN writes:
Just another year in UT Basketball, with only a slightly better season record we flop in the SEC Championship (again). I'm not sure why all of the UT Fans are upset with this draw. I'm not sure UT is playing at a top 10 level. Get ready to go home after the Butler game.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
No, I am assuming that we would have been the last #1 had we won the conference tournament. I think that's a reasonable assumption.
VOLstuckINky writes:
closed door "committee" = bullS*&t
hmhawk writes:
Was gonna ask how this looks on us.After reading the posts even I can figure it ain't good.All I ask is that we all get behind the team.They're playing and we aren't.Let's be Big Orange fans and say GO VOLS!!!!We shall overcome.
Retiredvol writes:
I don't understand how UT gets screwed in the hardest region in the country. Wow what a draw, the number 4 2 seed. Absolutely ridiculous and the way we are playing we might get beat by Butler in the final 32. Screwed again!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
Kwitcher--my mistake, agree with u on that
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
Now, let's look at this another way... Pearl's boys seem to play best when they're "slighted", "disrespected", or "against the wall". Well, here's their chance then to prove people wrong.
elmovol#229864 writes:
I guess beating Memphis in Memphis didn't count for squat.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
The only team that was screwed as much as UT was Memphis, who, if the seeds go as planned, will have to play Texas in Houston for a Final Four berth.
utclassof1992 writes:
I hate to be a conspiracy theorist, but CBP is not exactly loved outside of TN. Might have a little to do with it.
hbdinwid#659767 writes:
Can we join the Sun Belt conference next year to get a Number 1 seed?
Retiredvol writes:
Texas #2 seed has the easiest schedule go figure. Kentucky got in what a JOKE.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
Oregon at a 9 seed, at 18-13. Looks like there was plenty of love going around for the PAC-10.
BubbaTN writes:
Everyone posting has a short term memory loss. We barely beat SC and then played zero defense and lost in the Semifinals of the SEC Tournament. Plus, close games at the end of the season hurt too. UT could have easily lost 4-5 additional games.
chrisw2967 writes:
this is why you play 40 minutes and when your able to put a team away then you put them away.
you dont play thinking a team is just going to go away. they went from a #1 seed to the bottom of the #2 seed , sucks but they didnt go to the SEC and play ball. Now we will see what they are made of.
volfaninchattanooga writes:
I would never schedule a Gonzaga or Xavier or Memphis game again. How could our out of conference road schedule not count? I don't understand.
VolJunkie writes:
Even today the talking heads were debating UT being a #1 seed ... very disappointed to see how this turned out. Still have to win 6 to cut down the nets in SA.
Go VOLS!!!
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
Bubba... perhaps you missed all of the close games for the other seeds too (except for Memphis, that is, who played no one toward the end). The point is that if the committee bases their selections on resumes, and quality wins, and road wins, then they screwed up this time. We should have been a 2 seed... just not the LAST 2 seed.
Titan writes:
Just saw Jim Nance say "there are no issues"!!! What rock has he been hiding under? You take the team with the #1 RPI most of the year, an outstanding SOS, much better record against 1-50 RPI teams than Kansas, beat the overall #2 on their home court for their only loss of the season, and you seed them as the #8 team in the tournament. I just wish they could figure out how to shut up Packer, Vitale, and all the other talking heads so that their biases don't affect the seeding. Please have someone on the committee how we dropped from a possible #1 (and a #4 overall) to this.
trl_x writes:
Notice how low the seeding of the SEC teams. The weakness of the conference had to play a role in our lower seeding.
mdvol writes:
Wow. What a terrible seed. You could say we got screwed but you could also say North Carolina got screwed having to play us!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
volfaninchattanooga, how can u say our out of conference didnt count??, had we not had those o-of c wins we obviously would have been seeded lower
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
tlr_x... that is exactly true. The perceived weakness of the SEC had to have been a factor.
UT_Fan writes:
It could be that the committee, let Tenn. play in Birmingham to be close to home. Perhaps being across from NC is not good but we don't play them until the final 8, and in the final 8 all the teams will be good. Go Vols
hmhawk writes:
When I'm reading posts I don't get a continuous stream.I have to go back to home and then return to posts to get the new ones.If you understand what I'm saying do you know what I need to do to keep it going steady.I'm not computer literate-strictly self taught.
VolJunkie writes:
trl_x: agreed, the SEC is definitely not feeling the love today ... except maybe KY, they are lucky to get a bid.
BubbaTN writes:
It's funny we have this same debate every year in Football. All of the UT Fans talk about how the VOLS are finishing the season strong and deserve the best. Well, we didn't do that in Basketball and got what we deserve. Historically the teams that are playing well at the end of the season get the best seeds.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
hmhawk, hit your refresh icon at top---to the left of the house
VolJunkie writes:
When was the last time the SECT champion was a 14 seed in the NCAA? Ever?
Retiredvol writes:
Wish We could have gone WEST!!!
BubbaTN writes:
Kwitcherbellyachin, sure Memphis had some close calls this year. But was it at the end of the season? They, unlike us, took care of business in the Tournament.
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