Tennessee basketball got back in the win column on Tuesday night, rolling South Carolina 78-59 in its final road game of the season. But that was just where the good news started for Tennessee basketball.
The Vols entered the week slotted as the sixth-seed in next week’s SEC Tournament but have moved into the four-seed spot after Tuesday night. Not only did Tennessee win, but Kentucky lost at Texas A&M and Missouri lost at Oklahoma.
Now sitting at 11-6, Tennessee is in fourth place outright ahead of the Wildcats and Tigers at 10-7. Both Kentucky and Missouri hold the tiebreaker over Tennessee so the Vols need to stay ahead of them in the standings to earn a top-four seed and the always important double-bye in the SEC Tournament.
The Vols control their own destiny to earn a double-bye in the conference tournament. If Tennessee defeats Vanderbilt at home Saturday, they won’t play until Friday in Nashville. Tennessee would most likely be the four-seed but could rise as high as the three seed if Arkansas loses at home against Texas on Wednesday night and loses at Missouri on Saturday.
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There’s no scenario where Tennessee loses on Saturday and still earns a double-bye. The Vols would be tied with Vanderbilt but the Commodores would hold the tiebreaker due to their better record against two-seed Alabama than Tennessee.
Tennessee started 2-3 in SEC play but has won nine of its last 11 since. The Vols two losses since saw Tennessee blow a double-digit lead at Kentucky and again at home against Alabama. Tennessee has lost just two home games all season, falling to the Wildcats and the Crimson Tide.
Rick Barnes’ 11th Tennessee team is looking to avoid a third home rivalry loss this season when they Vanderbilt this Saturday.
The Vols won the first meeting against Vanderbilt earlier this season, knocking off the Commodores 69-65 in Nashville. Tipoff between Tennessee and Vanderbilt is at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon. ESPN is broadcasting the rivalry matchup.
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