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Bruce Pearl stopped short of a Rodney Dangerfield parody, but it was obvious the Tennessee men’s basketball coach felt somewhat slighted by the NCAA tournament selection committee Sunday night.
The Vols (25-8) were granted a No. 6 seed and will open the tournament in a Midwest Region game in Providence, R.I., on Thursday against Mountain West Conference tournament champion San Diego State (25-8). UT will play the late game, 30 minutes following the first game that starts at 7:25 p.m.
“We’ll get questions about why we didn’t get a No. 4 seed or a No. 5 seed,’’ Pearl said. “If you look at our RPI, we finished 19th. The No. 6 seed says you’re one of the top 24.
“Our first two seasons we had seeds we were excited about (No. 2 and No. 5), the last few years (No. 2, No. 9, No. 6) we haven’t been as excited.’’
Pearl said the seeding process is a “moving target,’’ and his best guess is that the Vols’ 2-5 record against teams in the top 50 of the RPI was a reason for the lower-than-expected seeding.
“But now it’s a two-game tournament in Providence, Rhode Island,’’ Pearl said. “We’ve determined who we’ll play, and when we’ll practice.’’
The Vols, who have matched the school record with a fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance, had been projected as a No. 4 seed over the past two weeks in ESPN’s bracketology.
The consensus among the UT players was bewilderment, and many of the Vols are likely still reeling from the embarrassing 74-45 loss to Kentucky in the semifinals of the SEC tournament in Nashville on Saturday.
“A six seed? A six seed?’’ UT sophomore Scotty Hopson said when the bracket was released. “That’s definitely motivation, knowing we deserve more.’’
Senior J.P. Prince concurred.
“How can we go from being the 13th-ranked team (USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll) to being a No. 6 seed?’’ Prince said. “That’s a joke.’’
With a win over the Aztecs, the Vols would play the winner of the first-round game between No. 3-seeded Big East tournament runner-up Georgetown (23-10) and 14th-seeded Mid-American Conference tournament champion Ohio (21-14) on Saturday.
The winner out of the Providence bracket advances to St. Louis where it could meet No. 2 seed Ohio State (27-7) with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.
“I don’t know about the seed, but I like our situation,’’ UT senior Bobby Maze said. “I like the teams we’ll have an opportunity to play against.’’
The Vols, winners of five of their past six games, have met San Diego State twice in school history, defeating the Aztecs 96-77 in 1979 and again by a 77-75 count in 1988.
“I don’t know anything about San Diego State,’’ UT senior Wayne Chism said. “Not even the first thing.’’
The Vols know plenty about the team they’d likely play in the second round with a win over the Aztecs; UT beat Georgetown 90-78 in last season’s Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla.
“That was the best Tennessee basketball had looked that season,’’ junior Brian Williams said. “We’ll have to look that good again just to play them, because you don’t look past a team like San Diego State. I’ve heard they are an athletic team that’s physical on the boards.’’
The Aztecs led the Mountain West Conference in scoring defense (62.3) and rebounding margin (plus-6.7) this season.
Steve Fisher is in his 11th season at San Diego State and has put together five consecutive 20-win seasons.
Fisher is best known for coaching Michigan to the 1989 national championship and as the architect of the Wolverines’ so-called “Fab-Five.”
“You know his teams are going to be athletic,’’ UT assistant coach Steve Forbes said, “and you know they are going to be well-coached.’’
The Aztecs, winners of five straight and nine of their past 10 games entering the NCAA Tournament, have four players averaging double-digit points.
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Comments » 357
Razor784 writes:
They stuck it to us again, did you see the team when it showed them, they were in shock, pitiful seeding
tree_em_smokey writes:
We have to play a whole lot better than we did saturday. GBO!!!!!
cphil writes:
This is not good. San Diego State is a bad matchup for the Vols.
dmcintosh writes:
Pitiful offensive display in the SEC Tourney = Disrespect by the NCAA Selection Committee
One of the guys on CBS has already predicted an upset by SDSU over UT.
volfreak#210492 writes:
Vandy's in our bracket, too! And Florida is a 10 seed. Dang! One of the announcers said that he's picking this as the first upset of the NCAAs with SDSU beating us...
dwa7#337691 writes:
G'Town is awaiting the VOLS....
BAD NEWS....
vol94 writes:
Wow, Seth Davis (I think that is his last name) said his first upset would be San Diego St defeating the Vols.
Just shows you that losing that losing to Ky by 29 really made a negative impression on the committee. We may get by San diego State, but I am afraid the Hoyas are too athletic and big.
texasvol73 writes:
Shocked. We go 25-8. Beat Kansas, Kentucky, 3rd best team in the SEC. They basically judged TN on one game. Our RPI is 11th in the country and we get a 6 seed? Seriously?! Then the boys on CBS right off the bat pick SDSU to beat TN. WOW - this should motivate the boys big time! GO VOLS!
volfreak#210492 writes:
Oops, missed on the Vandy... They're in the West. But still only a 6 for us... That hurts...
Volnomad writes:
No respect whatsoever for SEC basketball.
mdvol writes:
Both Vandy and UT get a notch lower than deserved. However, Florida gets in at a 10 based on brand name only.
ucancallmeray writes:
Pennington was right on. Vols got exactly what they deserved. No consistency or shooters. Yesterday's pathetic display against the Cats sealed their fate. Could be one and done.
lbrjohn3 writes:
vandy isnt in our bracket but im surpised that they actually got that good of a seed
the58vol writes:
The big blue beatdown continues...dumped to a 6 seed.. Plus 'ol punk CBS Seth picks us as a first round loser...
BigOrangeScrew writes:
Okay, okay, we get it NCAA selection committee. We got seeded way too high when we got that #5 seed FIVE YEARS AGO!!! There really is no need to keep screwing us over and over again to prove a point. We get it. What terrible seeding. That whole region is a buzzsaw. Kansas also got screwed.
HOSSFLY writes:
skroooooooooooooooooood....bad ! how did we go from a high 4th to the lowest 6th ???? well, this team is a pouter and does not play well when pouting ........if we don't step up, it's one and done again !
dmcintosh writes:
No, the Vols didn't show up yesterday, but I think some of this can be blamed on the idiotic system of seeding for the SEC Tournament. Tennessee should have never had to play on Thursday. They were worn out by Saturday.
osbymartin#581730 writes:
Vandy's on the other side of the bracket. Only way to see them is in the national title game lol!
Fryinpansvols writes:
Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Shut up troll! GBO!
agohn writes:
I loved the looks on our guys faces. The look of: "We could care less because we got embarrassed by a bunch of 1 and done Freshman." No way we get out of the second round or much less the first. It's the region of death!
eduardo writes:
you are the looooooooooosssssrrr punk!!!
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
Well we can do one of two things. Hang our heads and take our ball and go home or stick around and give it our best shot. I'll take the latter.
Go Vols!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SeanJean writes:
Total embarrassment. I am in shock. 2 best wins of any team in America and a strong RPI and we are a 6 seed. What a joke. Screw the NCAA.
eduardo writes:
6th seed????? new mexico 3 seed, wisconsin a 4 seed??? What the heck!!
stkdog writes:
it doesnt matter where you re seeded..you have to win them all to accomplish your goal anyway...i suspect this team will be lucky to win the first round
eduardo writes:
Of course stick dukie in the south...pathetic!!!
osbymartin#581730 writes:
Yeah Kansas is the overall #1 seed they are supposed to have the easiest region as a reward. So much for that! UT got a #2 5 years ago. Potential of KU/MSU sweet 16 then GTown/OSU in the region finals... not very easy for KU
Fryinpansvols writes:
Just looking at the brackets, how do we not get at least a #4 Seed? We got the screws put to us again. Vanderbilt got a #4, Wisconsin too! How does Kansas State get a #2 Seed? They're record 26-7 is only one better than ours 25-8. I don't think Miss. State will get on based on what I have seen so far. I hope our guys show up and prove everyone wrong for giving us a bad #6 Seed. GBO and beat SDSU.
eduardo writes:
Get outtttttaaaa here you lame brain!!!
eduardo writes:
texas A&M a 5 seed??
sampears writes:
well, we just got bent over and had it shoved right up our.....on a side note I think we can get the job done...these guys will play mad....GO VOLS!
eduardo writes:
come get u some!!!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
the whinnin and crying never stops around here----everyone forgets 2 years ago Georgia won 4 games in 3 days and 2 on Sunday----------stop with the excuses already and acknowlege the obvious that Kentucky has much more talent and are much better-----admit it, it will only hurt for a minute-----if everyone wants to think the country hates us its because we give them good reason with the constant whinnin --noone complained about how the SEC seeding were set up in previous years when it didnt affect us
VolNWA writes:
Some thoughts on the situation. Seeding.... ahhh. I don't know much about San Diego St., but hopefully we can vent some frustration on them. As far as Georgetown though I am confused. Yesterday we were ranked 13th, them 22nd. I think we can play with them and get to the Sweet Sixteen. If we do, possible revenge factor against OSU (either one acutally) Nevertheless, you have to beat good teams at sompe point. Go VOLS!
osbymartin#581730 writes:
Sorry my mistake Final 4
Bogytrain writes:
It's time to eliminate biased selections. Let the RPI set the brackets. The anti-Pearl selection committee is blatently sticking it to us....
HOSSFLY writes:
i agree , this is a pouting bunch (except for chism)...we'll pull a "hopson", and come home shamed !!
eduardo writes:
All of the teams with a higher seed have not beaten the #1 and #2 teams in the nation...And most have as many loses. Why the heck did louisville make it?? What the heck did they do??
VolNWA writes:
One other thing. We will be playing in Providence. SD State will be travelling over 3 time zones, we will not.
mdvol writes:
Sucks to be Mississippi State. Florida over MSU???
KingsportsGoat (Inactive) writes:
grvol= pee drinking monkey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Fj37O...
huntined#565710 writes:
FL is in and I thought we would have 5 but at least we have 4 in..MISS STATE should have also been in..
Fryinpansvols writes:
No because he has a legitimate gripe. I bet he will get his guys ready to play in the tournament. GBO and beat SDSU!
VolJunkie writes:
How does Florida get in as a #10 and MSU get left out? UT got screwed, MSU got raped.
Go Vols!
brokebackvol writes:
Okay, so the team gotta a crummy seed - they remember what you did last, and the Vols really did badly - no faking that outcome. So, we still back the team as always, but they gotta restart the clock and seize the opportunity to play deep, instead of pouting into a one-and-done.
That would be an even bigger disappointment.
GBO!!
osbymartin#581730 writes:
no kidding.. Minnesota was on the bubble and get demolished by 29 just like the Vols did Sat. and they get in and MSU takes the #2 team in america to OT and lose by 1!! And they are left out???
texasvol73 writes:
No respect for the SEC - NONE. Zero. The 5 seeds are Butler, Temple, Texas AM, and Michigan St. Tennessee would beat all of those but MSU on a neutral court. And Baylor at number 3?! I guess RPI means nothing anymore. If I were Pearl, I would quit making these tough schedules playing Kansas, Purdue, etc. Let's play lower class teams and get a 28-3 record and forget this! Im rooting for all SEC teams now. GO VOLS!
tenuscvol writes:
I think the lack-luster play of the tournement cost the Vols..they played well at the end of the season and maybe knowing they were in the tourney played into it. I think we played well against UK but our shots just didn't fall and I mean a lot of shots...it's not like we handed it to UK (until it was over of course)...UT controls their destiny and can overcome their seeding if they keep winning...UT needs to dish on the fast break and play more "we" ball than "I"...definitely a tough bracket but my hearts gotta take the Vols through at least one game...I'm still thinkin on the rest..???
GBO!
HOSSFLY writes:
bid deal...........sds is happy to be there. this vol team will pout until july !!
texasvol73 writes:
I hear what you are saying, but thats not true. If that were true West VA would be the number one seed and not Syracuse. The constapated committee would tell you that Syracuse got the nod because of their "body of work" over the tournament for WVA - so, I disagree. I just think they have bias.
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