_Vols Basketball Projected as No. 1 Seed in NCAA Tourney Following Win vs Alabama_
The Tennessee Volunteers basketball team took a huge step towards securing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 68-59 in a thrilling matchup at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The win, which marked the Vols’ 24th of the season, propelled Tennessee to the top of the NCAA Tournament projections, with many bracketologists now pegging the Vols as a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance.
“Tennessee is playing some of the best basketball in the country right now,” said ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, who has the Vols as a No. 1 seed in his latest bracket projection. “Their win over Alabama was incredibly impressive, and they’ve got a strong resume that should earn them a top seed in the tournament.”
The Vols’ win over Alabama was a hard-fought victory that saw Tennessee trail by as many as 10 points in the second half. However, the Vols rallied behind the strong play of guards Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler, who combined for 32 points and 10 assists in the win.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but our guys showed a lot of heart and determination,” said Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes. “We’re proud of the way we battled back and earned the win.”
The Vols’ victory over Alabama marked their 14th win in their last 15 games, and cemented their position as one of the top teams in the country. Tennessee’s strong play has been fueled by a balanced offense that features five players averaging double figures in scoring, as well as a stingy defense that ranks among the best in the nation.
“Tennessee is a complete team that can hurt you in a lot of different ways,” said Alabama head coach Nate Oats. “They’ve got a great mix of size, speed, and shooting ability, and they’re extremely well-coached. They’re definitely one of the top teams in the country right now.”
The Vols’ win over Alabama also marked a significant milestone for Barnes, who earned his 700th career victory as a head coach. Barnes, who is in his seventh season at Tennessee, is one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history.
“It’s a great honor to reach this milestone, but it’s not about me – it’s about the players and the staff who have worked so hard to help us achieve success,” said Barnes. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we’re not satisfied. We’re going to keep working and striving to be the best we can be.”
With their win over Alabama, the Vols have now positioned themselves as one of the top contenders for the NCAA Tournament title. Tennessee’s strong play and impressive resume make them a likely candidate for a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance, and they’ll look to continue their momentum as they head into the final stretch of the regular season.
“We’re excited about where we are right now, but we know we’ve still got a lot of work to do,” said Barnes. “We’re going to keep focusing on one game at a time and try to keep getting better. If we can do that, we’ll be in good shape come tournament time.”
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