ESPN Ranks Tennessee Behind Kentucky, Virginia in Best Tournament Teams Remaining The NCAA Tournament has narrowed to 32 teams after a busy weekend of games, with the field cut in half following Thursday and Friday’s matchups. Now, teams will compete on Saturday and Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16, set for next weekend. Tennessee advanced with a dominant performance on Friday night, defeating 11-seed Miami (OH) in Philadelphia. The Vols’ victory was led by Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who scored 29 points and added nine assists, while forward JP Estrella contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds. Star freshman Nate Ament, however, was limited by an injury sustained late in the regular season. ESPN analyst Myron Medcalf ranked the remaining 32 teams on Saturday morning, placing Tennessee 21st in the field. Medcalf noted that despite Ament’s absence, the Vols’ offense remained strong, with Gillespie continuing to drive the team. He highlighted Tennessee’s status as the top offensive rebounding team in the nation and praised their defensive consistency, which has ranked in the top 10 over the past six weeks. Medcalf also acknowledged a recent 2-4 stretch before the tournament but emphasized that the Vols’ strengths could carry them to the second weekend. Teams ranked above Tennessee in Medcalf’s list all carry higher tournament seeds, with one exception: 7-seed Kentucky. The Wildcats, who needed overtime to defeat 10-seed Santa Clara, were ranked 20th. Both Kentucky and Tennessee are one upset win away from meeting in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. A potential matchup would mark their second straight postseason clash, following their previous Sweet 16 encounter last year, where Tennessee advanced to the Elite Eight. Virginia, the 3-seed team Tennessee will face on Sunday, is also ranked above the Vols.#espn #tennessee #kentucky #virginia #myron_medcalf
