College Basketball Fans React to Tennessee Getting a No. 3 Seed

Fans and media alike were shocked by Duke earning a No. 2 seed over Tennessee.

After the NCAA tournament bracket was revealed, some were surprised that Texas A&M didn’t make the field after a strong week in the SEC tournament, but much of the buzz surrounded the team that beat the Aggies in the conference title game—Tennessee.

The Volunteers were expected by many to end up as a No. 2 seed in Sunday’s bracket reveal, but instead ended up as a No. 3 seed. What complicated matters even more for fans and media alike was the fact that Duke, who lost to Virginia Tech in the ACC championship on Saturday night, was slotted as a No. 2 seed ahead of Tennessee.

The ACC has been widely regarded as a mediocre conference in 2022. The conference had five bids this season to the Big Dance, which is the fewest number of tournament picks since the ACC expanded to 15 in July 2014.

The fact that Duke didn’t win the conference in its weakest season in nearly a decade is telling. Meanwhile, Tennessee won the SEC on Sunday afternoon, which has been widely regarded as the toughest conference in college basketball in 2022.

Here’s some of the best reaction on social media to Tennessee’s seeding snub.

My single biggest complaint so far is Tennessee not getting a No. 2 seed in favor of Duke. It’s pretty hard to justify… I thought the Vols should have been ahead of Duke BEFORE they won the SEC tournament and Duke lost. https://t.co/e4yoZdvSKY

— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) March 13, 2022

Tennessee is a No. 3 seed.

There are NOT eight better resumes than the Vols’ resume. That’s a mistake.

— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) March 13, 2022

So not only did Tennessee not get a No. 2 seed, it gets a three-seed and would potentially have to beat Arizona again to get to the Final Four. Bad job by the committee.

— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) March 13, 2022

Come on how in the world is @Vol_Hoops a 3 seed? they deserve & earned a spot on the 2nd line having won 12 of 13 in the toughest conf. @SEC

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 13, 2022

The full 2022 men’s NCAA tournament bracket can be found here.