Are we now out of the 8 vs 9 game?

[VolinArizona]

The latest ESPN bracketology has the Vols as the #7 in the East playing against Maryland.

Kentucky (18-7, 7-4) dropped to a #5. Can somebody tell me why Kentucky is getting so much more love than Tennessee (18-8, 6-5)? I looked at their schedule, they've lost UNC (just like UT) and Memphis (UT destroyed UM) and unlike Tennessee, they've not beaten a ranked opponent this season. Most writeups have Kentucky as a lock for the tournament while the Vols are still being called a bubble team..... even after the win last night.

Kentucky's SOS is better than UT's, thus making Kentucky's RPI better. That's why they are "bracketologied" higher than us. However, I don't understand why UT is a bubble team RIGHT NOW. 18-8, 5th SOS, 11th RPI, 6-6 vs. top 50, 10-7 vs. top 100. However, we're not great in the Pomeroy stats, because we aren't terribly efficient, especially on defense.

 

[tidwell]

The committe will also factor in that we do not have a true road win either. That is hurting our seeding as much as anything right now.

C'mon now, don't shortchange the Vols that win at UL-Lafayette.

 

[allvol]

Kentucky's SOS is better than UT's, thus making Kentucky's RPI better. That's why they are "bracketologied" higher than us. However, I don't understand why UT is a bubble team RIGHT NOW. 18-8, 5th SOS, 11th RPI, 6-6 vs. top 50, 10-7 vs. top 100. However, we're not great in the Pomeroy stats, because we aren't terribly efficient, especially on defense.

Yes, but both Kentucky and Tennessee are so close, it does not make sense for the prognosticators to list Kentucky as a lock and Tennessee as a bubble team. According to realtimerpi.com, Kentucky is 7th in RPI and has a SOS of 2. Tennessee is 12th in RPI and has a SOS of 4. Both teams have 18 wins, and the Vols just beat Kentucky. I'm not saying Kentucky should be downgraded, I'm just saying that I would consider the Vols a "lock" as well.