Lady Vols ‘Shouldn’t be in Any Jeopardy’ of Missing NCAA Tournament Despite Rough Stretch

Is this the year that Lady Vols basketball misses the NCAA Tournament? The answer is very likely, no. Tennessee should be in a position to earn an at-large bid despite the rough stretch to end the year.

According to most bracketologies, the Lady Vols are slotted as an 8-seed. This means there’s even a bit of a buffer between Tennessee and the bubble.

The seven-game losing skid that the Lady Vols are in the midst of has raised some questions, though. While ESPN’s Charlie Creme agrees it’s discouraging, he gave his thoughts on how it affects Tennessee’s resume.

“The Lady Vols, the only team to play in every women’s NCAA tournament since its inception in 1982, have not played well since the start of February and are only 16-13,” Creme wrote. “And while a NET of 23 and five Quad 1 wins mean they shouldn’t be in any jeopardy of missing the tournament for the first time, there is little evidence to suggest a long stay. The SEC tournament represented a chance to right the ship, but the Lady Vols were one-and-done, losing to Alabama.”

More From RTI: Where Lady Vols Basketball Sit in Bracketology After Conclusion of Major Conference Tournaments

If Tennessee does earn an 8-seed, it’d be the second-worst mark the program has ever earned. The Lady Vols were an 11-seed in Holly Warlick’s final season before losing in the first round.

Here’s a year-by-year list of how every Lady Vols season since the inception of the Women’s Basketball NCAA Tournament has ended:

• Pat Summitt
  • 1982: 2-seed, Final Four
  • 1983: 1-seed, Elite Eight
  • 1984: 3-seed, Title Game
  • 1985: 3-seed, Sweet 16
  • 1986: 4-seed, Final Four
  • 1987: 2-seed, National Championship
  • 1988: 1-seed, Final Four
  • 1989: 1-seed, National Championship
  • 1990: 1-seed, Elite Eight
  • 1991: 1-seed, National Championship
  • 1992: 1-seed, Sweet 16
  • 1993: 1-seed, Elite Eight
  • 1994: 1-seed, Sweet 16
  • 1995: 1-seed, Title Game
  • 1996: 1-seed, National Championship
  • 1997: 3-seed, National Championship
  • 1998: 1-seed, National Championship
  • 1999: 1-seed, Elite Eight
  • 2000: 1-seed, Title Game
  • 2001: 1-seed, Sweet 16
  • 2002: 2-seed, Final Four
  • 2003: 1-seed, Title Game
  • 2004: 1-seed, Title Game
  • 2005: 1-seed, Final Four
  • 2006: 2-seed, Elite Eight
  • 2007: 1-seed, National Championship
  • 2008: 1-seed, National Championship
  • 2009: 5-seed, First Round
  • 2010: 1-seed, Sweet 16
  • 2011: 1-seed, Elite Eight
  • 2012: 2-seed, Elite Eight
• Holly Warlick
  • 2013: 2-seed, Elite Eight
  • 2014: 1-seed, Sweet 16
  • 2015: 2-seed, Elite Eight
  • 2016: 7-seed, Elite Eight
  • 2017: 5-seed, Second Round
  • 2018: 3-seed, Second Round
  • 2019: 11-seed, First Round
• Kellie Harper
  • 2020: Tournament canceled
  • 2021: 3-seed, Second Round
  • 2022: 4-seed, Sweet 16
  • 2023: 4-seed, Sweet 16
  • 2024: 6-seed, Second Round
• Kim Caldwell
  • 2025: 5-seed, Sweet 16

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