Tennessee Faces Wofford in NCAA Tournament Opener Tonight

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Tennessee Volunteers, seeded No. 2 in the Midwest Region, will begin their NCAA Tournament run tonight against the Wofford Terriers, the No. 15 seed, at 6:50 p.m. ET at Rupp Arena. Tennessee enters the tournament with a record of 27-7, following a strong season that included a trip to the SEC Championship game.

Wofford, sporting a record of 19-15, earned its spot in the tournament by winning the Southern Conference Championship. The team will look to make an impact despite their challenging matchup against the higher-seeded Vols, who have historically dominated this series with an 8-0 record against the Terriers.

During the SEC Tournament, Tennessee demonstrated its strength, narrowly missing out on the title after falling to Florida in the championship game. “We’re eager to showcase our talent and continue our momentum,” said Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes. “Every game is crucial in the tournament, and we’re ready to compete at our best.”

The Terriers, under head coach Jay McAuley, will rely on their notable 3-point shooting, averaging over nine made three-pointers per game this season, although they have struggled with an overall shooting percentage of 34%. McAuley emphasized the importance of maintaining composure tonight. “We know we’ll be the underdogs, but our players have shown they can perform under pressure,” he said.

Fans can watch the game on TNT, featuring play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson, analyst Jim Jackson, and sideline reporter Allie LaForce. Streaming options include the NCAA March Madness Live app, which provides live coverage of all tournament games.

As an added layer of excitement, former President Barack Obama has declared his NCAA Tournament bracket, predicting Tennessee will make a deep run, potentially reaching the Final Four, which would mark the program’s first appearance at this stage in history.

The winner of tonight’s matchup will face the winner of the UCLA vs. Utah State game in the second round on Saturday. Tennessee is looking to advance beyond the first round for the fourth consecutive year, bolstered by their previous tournament experience under Barnes.