Tennessee guard Quinton Chievous (31) celebrates a 3-pointer while Missouri forward Tony Criswell (3) looks on during their NCAA basketball game Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.As ESPN college basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes left Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena early last Saturday evening after the Volunteers’ emotional win over Missouri, he was asked which Southeastern Conference teams should be expected to join Florida in the NCAA tournament.
“I think Tennessee’s in and Kentucky’s in,” Dykes said.
Asked about Mizzou, which was 2-7 on the road in league games, the former Kentucky assistant coach said, “I think Missouri’s been in for some time.”
If you check out Jerry Palm’s projected NCAA bracket on CBS’s website, you’ll find those exact four SEC teams reaching the Big Dance, with Tennessee and Kentucky headed for Dayton, Ohio, early next week for the “First Four” contests.
But ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi provides a less satisfying bracket for the SEC. According to Joey Brackets, Tennessee is currently among the first four out.