Lady Vols will get a shot at immediate revenge with tournament draw, but the path gets rocky right after that
Tennessee will get a chance to avenge an early season loss, but the chances of advancing further are slim.
The Tennessee Lady Vols are indeed in the big dance — although perhaps in a slimmer fashion than some had expected.
After being projected as an 8 seed by ESPN bracketology approaching Selection Sunday, the Lady Vols ended up getting seeded No. 10 in Region 3 – Fort Worth. Their opponent in the first round will be 10 seed NC State.
And for one of those two teams, their season will end as it started — playing against each other.
10 seed Tennessee draws 7 seed NC State, who beat the Lady Vols in season opener 80-77
The Lady Vols opened up their season back on November 4 against the Wolfpack in Greensboro, North Carolina. The game was a back and forth one, with Tennessee leading at half, but NC State taking the lead and holding it for most of the third and fourth quarters. Tennessee took a 77-76 lead inside the final minute, but the Wolfpack took the lead back, setting the Lady Vols up for one chance to win. Qadence Samuels’ three pointer missed in the final seconds, and Tennessee fell 80-77.
Now, both teams come in going in very different directions. NC State comes in winners of seven of their last 11 games, whereas the Lady Vols are stuck in a seven-game losing streak and have dropped 10 of their last 12.
Even if Tennessee gets some revenge, things will get exponentially more difficult two days later, as 2 seed Michigan would almost certainly be up next, and on their home court.
The Lady Vols have a shot to prove some doubters wrong in a tough spot, but they’re going to have to look nothing like the team they’ve shown to be on the floor over the last month and a half to do so.
