"We've done our job to be an NCAA Tournament team. I feel good about it" That's been Tennessee Head Coach Cuonzo Martin's attitude all week leading up to Selection Sunday.
Unfortunately for Big Orange, the NCAA Selection committee did not feel the same way.
Tennessee left out in the cold in the field of 68. NCAA Committee Chairman Mike Bobinski said the Vols "did not beat a lot of powerful teams" down the stretch, despite winning 9 of their last 11, all against Top 100 teams.
Bobinski also cited a lack of quality road wins in the decision. Both points coach Cuonzo Martin took serious issue with.
""I thought he (Bobinski) said down the stretch we didn't beat anybody. If I'm not mistaken, Mizzou, Florida, Kentucky, LSU are all top 100 teams, so I'd like to think he did his homework, but you never know."
The Vols get shuffled off to the NIT instead.
Tennessee will host Mercer at Thompson Boling Arena on Wednesday. Tip time is at 8pm. With a victory the Vols would face the winner of BYU and Washington.
