‘We're all bummed out'

Photo by Saul Young

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.

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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