Many teams would be scared to face No. 2 seed Duke in the NCAA tournament. Rick Byrd, coach of 15th-seeded Belmont, is honored.
“It’s a strong academic institution who seems to care a lot about the character of their players, and certainly you’re talking about the premier coach over the last 25 years in the country,” he said.
Belmont was one of five teams from the state of Tennessee in the NCAA tournament brackets announced Sunday. Second-ranked Memphis is a No. 1 seed with Austin Peay a No. 15 seed in the same South Region, while fourth-ranked Tennessee grabbed a No. 2 seed in the East Region.
Tennessee’s five teams going to the Big Dance rank second only to California, which is sending six teams.
The Volunteer State’s performance equals 1989 for the most men’s teams ever for a single season, according to sports historian Johnny “Ballpark” Franks in Nashville.
The Bruins (25-8) have played their way into the NCAA tournament three straight years by winning the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament, losing to Georgetown last season and UCLA the year before. Now it’s another traditional power in Duke whom the Bruins will face Thursday in Washington.
“We’ve played two historic programs already so far so I think that will give us a little experience and give our coaching staff help in preparing to play that game,” Belmont senior guard Justin Hare said.
Vanderbilt earned a No. 4 seed, and the Commodores (26-7) will face No. 13 Sienna on Friday in Tampa after a season that featured a win over Tennessee a day after the Vols grabbed their first No. 1 ranking.
Coach Kevin Stallings said he expected something close to a No. 4 seed for his team.
“I thought our resume clearly spoke for itself,” he said. “There’s just not a lot on there not to like.”
Austin Peay (24-1) grabbed it’s first NCAA berth since 2003 and sixth overall by winning the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. The Governors, who have a little upset history after beating Illinois in 1987, will face No. 2 seed Texas in Little Rock on Friday.
“We knew we would play one of the outstanding basketball teams in the country, and Texas is certainly one of those,” Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said.
Memphis (33-1) is making its second appearance as a No. 1 seed in three seasons, losing in the regional final in each of the past two tournaments. The Tigers play No. 16 seed Texas-Arlington on Friday in Little Rock.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for now,” Memphis junior Chris Douglas-Roberts said. “It’s one and done. We just wanted to see who we play.”
Memphis’ lone loss this season was to Tennessee on Feb. 23, and the instate rivals would not meet again this season unless both advance to the Final Four. The Tigers haven’t made it past the regional finals since 1985.
Both Memphis and Tennessee were eliminated last season by eventual national runner-up Ohio State.
The Vols (29-4) have never made it past the regional semifinals. With the top RPI, the strongest strength of schedule and the Southeastern Conference regular season title on its resume, Tennessee hoped to grab its first top seed in history.
But the Vols lost in the semifinals of the SEC tournament Saturday and had to settle for their second No. 2 seed. They will face American in Birmingham on Friday.
“We’re disappointed about being on the two line, considering the body of work, but it’s not a different road to get to the Final Four. It’s the same road,” coach Bruce Pearl said.
