NCAA Tournament 2019: 5 top seeds that won’t win the national championship

Tennessee Volunteers

The Vols spent over a month as the No. 1 team in the country and likely would’ve gotten a No. 1 seed had they not been upset by Auburn in the SEC Tournament. They finished second in the SEC and made the tournament finals, highlighting what has already been one of the best seasons in school history.

This group would love to solidify their place in program lore by winning a national championship or, at the very least, making the Final Four. Unfortunately for them, they won’t accomplish either of those feats.

There are a few things about the Vols that just aren’t right when it comes to comparing national title contenders.

For starters, they only get average guard play, and guard play is one of those leading indicators. Jordan Bone, Lamonte Turner, and Jordan Bowden are all quality players but are inconsistent. They were vastly outplayed in their last two losses Auburn, as well as in their overtime defeat to LSU.

Their defense is also inconsistent, ranking 34th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. Again, it’s not terrible, but it would be the third-lowest of any national champion since 2002.

Those are the two main factors, along with a few others like their lackluster three-point attack, that have contributed to their questionable play of late. Tennessee is 6-4 in their last 10 games and have beaten both Kentucky and Mississippi State twice, but also lost to Auburn twice and lost to a shorthanded LSU team.

The Vols have proven they can handle lesser opponents and should make the Sweet 16 with relative ease. But, once there, they’re missing the top-end skills and traits we normally see from championship contenders.