Tennessee Volunteers Headed For NCAA Tournament, NIT or CBI?

With just a week and a half left in the regular season, the Tennessee Volunteers sit precariously at 14-12 (6-8). At one point thought to be in the NCAA tournament, the Vols are losers of seven of their last nine games and all of their last three. Compared to last season, this year serves as the opposite in both how the season started and now how it is ending.

Last year, an ultra talented front line composed of Jarnell Stokes and Jeronne Maymon came together with Jordan McRae and current star Josh Richardson to make a bid at a First Four spot in Dayton that would eventually amount to a trip to the Sweet 16. This year, the lone star Richardson inspired hope that year one of the Donnie Tyndall era would begin with a NCAA tourney appearance. Expectations have since came back down to earth, with an NIT or CBI invitation now much more likely.

Still, with early season expectations ranging so low (Picked 13th in the SEC and around .500 overall) the season barring a complete collapse will still be a positive one for Tyndall’s Vols who have battled through major attrition in an already weak front line as well as an ongoing NCAA investigation. Before predicting where Tennessee heads in March, let’s take a look at their current resume and the remaining schedule:

RPI — 79
BPI — 82
Key Wins — Butler, Arkansas
Key Losses — Marquette, Mississippi State

Based on the above information, Tennessee is best fit for a mid to lower level seed in the NIT (likely 5-8 range). The season isn’t over yet, and anything is possible with four games remaining. Here are the final four games along with the opposing teams RPI and BPI.

Vanderbilt 114 RPI, 85 BPI
@ Florida 91 RPI, 37 BPI
@ LSU 50 RPI, 35 BPI
South Carolina 104 RPI, 78 BPI

Here is what will land Tennessee in each tournament (or lack thereof):

NCAA at-large — 4-0 in final games plus one win in SEC Tourney
NIT- 2-2 or 3-1
CBI- 1-3
No postseason — 0-4 plus first round loss in SEC Tourney

Final Prediction: Although the last four games are far from a sure thing, it is safest to say that Tennessee will not see 0-4 or 4-0 down the final stretch. LSU handed Tennessee its most lopsided loss so far, while Florida is a push, and Vanderbilt and South Carolina games should see Tennessee slightly favored. Therefore 2-2 is the prediction which likely garners a 8-9 seed in the SEC Tournament and given either one win or a loss will likely see Tennessee head to the NIT.