Can Tennessee basketball reach Final Four in March Madness bracket? Our prediction
Tennessee basketball is chasing the program's first Final Four again.
The Vols are in the NCAA tournament as a No. 2 seed for the second straight season after reaching the Elite Eight last season. Tennessee (27-7) faces No. 15 Wofford (19-15) on Thursday (6:50 p.m. ET, TNT) in Lexington, Kentucky, as part of the Midwest Region.
The Vols have been a top-five seed in all seven appearances in March Madness under coach Rick Barnes.
Why Tennessee basketball will reach the Final Four
The Vols have experience at guard
Tennessee has four senior guards who know how to win in Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack, Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey. That group gives the Vols a shot in any matchup.
Zeigler is elite on both ends of the court and the value of a senior point guard in March is unmatched. Mashack takes the best opposing offensive player out of games with regularity. Lanier scores as well as any guard in the country, while Gainey has shown he can take over a game like he did against Florida on Sunday.
Experienced guards a winning recipe in March and Tennessee is oozing with them.
Tennessee can hang its hat on defense again
The Vols have their familiar calling card working again as one of the best defensive teams in the country. They are especially exceptional because of Zeigler and Mashack on the perimeter and the work of Felix Okpara in the paint.
It is a team effort, though, and Tennessee is tenacious all over the court. The Vols have the No. 1 3-point defense in the nation.
Buy Tennessee NCAA tournament tickets
Why Tennessee basketball won't reach the Final Four
Tennessee's post depth still is a concern
Tennessee didn't have a lot of depth to enter the season. It has worked with even less all season, especially in the post after losing sophomore forward J.P. Estrella to season-ending foot surgery in November.
Okpara has been solid in his first season as Tennessee. He is a force defensively. Cade Phillips is a tough competitor. Both score mostly on lobs and at the time. Igor Milicic Jr. is the X-factor and wild card. He has struggled in March and was inconsistent in SEC play, including in the SEC tournament. Tennessee needs his rebounding.
PREDICTION: Tennessee basketball vs Wofford prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament first round
The second weekend matchups are problematic
Tennessee has a friendly draw in the first weekend with Wofford, No. 7 seed UCLA and No. 10 seed Utah State. Its potential matchups after that are less kind.
In the Sweet 16, the Vols could face No. 3 Kentucky, which beat the Vols in both regular-season matchups and hit 50% on 3-pointers in both games. No. 6 Illinois also is a possibility. UT beat Illinois 66-64 in December in Champaign. The Fighting Illini are more talented than their seed. They had a slump in Big Ten play while dealing with illness sweeping the roster and have a misleading record.
The potential Elite Eight matchups include No. 1 Houston, No. 8 Gonzaga and No. 4 Purdue. Houston is a tough matchup as is Gonzaga. Purdue is not as good as it has been in past season.
2025 March Madness prediction for Tennessee
Tennessee gets to the Elite Eight for the second straight season but falls to Houston in Indianapolis to miss the Final Four.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee NCAA bracket predictions: Vols hunting Final Four again
Topics
-
Why Louisville can make a deep run in our 2025 March Madness bracket predictions
Can Louisville basketball reach the Final Four? Our 2025 March Madness bracket predictions show how the Cards can make a run in the NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 8h -
Can Vanderbilt basketball reach Sweet 16 in March Madness bracket? Our prediction
Can Vanderbilt basketball reach NCAA bracket’s Sweet 16? Our 2025 March Madness predictions show how Commodores can make run in tournament.Yahoo Sports - 10h -
Can Vanderbilt reach Sweet 16 in Women’s March Madness? Predictions for why and why not
Can the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team reach the Sweet 16? Our 2025 March Madness bracket predictions show how it can make an NCAA Tournament run.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Can Notre Dame women reach Final Four in March Madness? Our prediction
Let's assess whether the Irish can make it to the final weekend of the NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 1h -
Where Tennessee basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions
Where Tennessee Vols basketball March Madness bracketology and predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealedYahoo Sports - 1d -
Tennessee women's basketball March Madness predictions: Where Lady Vols could land in NCAA bracket
Where Kim Caldwell and Lady Vols basketball’s March Madness predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Here's why South Carolina women’s basketball can, or can't, repeat as national champions
It’s South Carolina vs Tennessee Tech in the March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction, pick for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 8h -
Why Michigan basketball can make March Madness run to the Final Four
Michigan basketball has an unstoppable frontcourt, a backcourt that's peaking and a coach who has been to the Final Four in March Madness.Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Women’s March Madness Final Four predictions 2025: Who will win NCAA Tournament
Who will win 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament? Our best March Madness Final Four predictions and picks are in.Yahoo Sports - 2h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins reportedly both agree to contract extensions with Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have reached contract extensions with both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, according to multiple reports.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Steelers agree to sign DL Daniel Ekuale
The Steelers are kicking off the week by making an addition to their defensive line.Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Son of former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will play international soccer. But not for England
The son of former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has been called up for international duty — by Malta. James Carragher, a defender for Wigan in English soccer’s third tier, ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Between the Columns for Monday, March 17
Today will mostly be NCAA Tournament thoughts since we finally know where the Tigers are headed. The Tigers are headed to Wichita for a matchup with the Drake Bulldogs on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. My ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva leading contenders if Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou
Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva will be among the leading candidates to succeed Ange Postecoglou if Tottenham Hotspur feel forced into changing the club’s head coach.Yahoo Sports - 22m
More in Sports
-
WNBA trade grades: Did the defending champion Liberty get even better in trade for Cloud?
Natasha Cloud gives New York another skilled distributor and a stronger defense, while Connecticut gains two first-round picks to help its rebuild.ESPN - 15m -
Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins reportedly both agree to contract extensions with Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have reached contract extensions with both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, according to multiple reports.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Steelers agree to sign DL Daniel Ekuale
The Steelers are kicking off the week by making an addition to their defensive line.Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Son of former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will play international soccer. But not for England
The son of former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has been called up for international duty — by Malta. James Carragher, a defender for Wigan in English soccer’s third tier, ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Between the Columns for Monday, March 17
Today will mostly be NCAA Tournament thoughts since we finally know where the Tigers are headed. The Tigers are headed to Wichita for a matchup with the Drake Bulldogs on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. My ...Yahoo Sports - 20m