March Madness Has Begun and Area Teams Start Play! Last Run for Legendary Coach.

By David Oglesby

Photo / Vanderbilt Athletics

Four Tennessee programs will showcase the state’s college-basketball depth during the 2026 March Madness stretch, with three men’s teams and one women’s squad punching tickets to the NCAA Division I tournaments — while the WNIT also includes a Volunteer State representative.

Men’s NCAA field: Vols, Vandy and Tennessee State

Tennessee’s men’s presence is highlighted by the Tennessee Volunteers, Vanderbilt Commodores and Tennessee State Tigers. The Volunteers (22–11), a No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region, extended an impressive streak with their eighth consecutive NCAA bid. Rick’s squad opens against No. 11 Miami (Ohio) in Philadelphia on Friday, March 20, carrying tournament experience and the expectation that their second-half conference play will translate to postseason poise.

Vanderbilt arrives in the South Region as a No. 5 seed, buoyed by stalwart guard Tyler Tanner and a balanced attack that helped the Commodores secure a favorable draw. Their first-round matchup against No. 12 McNeese State comes Thursday, March 19 (going on as this posts), in Oklahoma City — a classic 5-versus-12 pairing that could turn on hot shooting or late-game execution. Vandy’s seeding reflects a season of consistency in the SEC and gives them a realistic path to a second weekend if they can impose their tempo and defend at a high level.

The feel-good story belongs to the Tennessee State Tigers, who clinched the Ohio Valley Conference tournament and a long-awaited NCAA return. The Tigers (23–9) earned a No. 15 seed in the Midwest and draw a daunting first-round assignment: No. 2 Iowa State in St. Louis on Friday, March 20. It’s Tennessee State’s first NCAA appearance in 32 years, and while the matchup is a heavy underdog task, tournament history shows March is no place for predictions — upsets bloom when underdog confidence meets favorable matchups and hot shooting.

Women’s NCAA and WNIT representation

On the women’s side, the Tennessee Lady Vols will represent the state in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 10 seed in the Fort Worth Regional. Under second-year coach Kim Caldwell, the Lady Vols (16–13) travel to Ann Arbor to face No. 7 NC State on Friday, March 20, at 8:00 p.m. ET. The pairing is a chance for Caldwell’s program to further her rebuild and demonstrate resilience against a higher-seeded, battle-tested Wolfpack team. A strong showing could accelerate recruiting momentum and reaffirm Tennessee’s historical reputation as a women’s basketball power.

A special chapter for Middle Tennessee and Coach Insell

Middle Tennessee’s WNIT berth takes on extra meaning as the final postseason run for Rick Insell, the winningest coach in Blue Raider history, who announced he will retire at the end of the 2025–26 season. Insell’s 21 seasons brought 505 victories at his alma mater, 21 consecutive postseason appearances and a long list of conference titles and All-Americans. The WNIT gives Insell one last stage to coach the program he built before handing the reins to associate head coach Matt Insell; a formal introductory press conference for Matt will follow on March 24. For players, fans and the Murfreesboro community, the tournament is an opportunity to celebrate Insell’s legacy and the sustained excellence he established while the team competes for postseason hardware.

What to watch:

Tennessee fans will want to monitor interior defense and perimeter shooting — areas that often determine tight March games. Vanderbilt’s veteran backcourt and Tennessee’s tournament savvy are advantages, while Tennessee State’s Cinderella potential depends on its ability to control tempo and limit turnovers. For the women, Kim Caldwell’s strategic adjustments and the Lady Vols’ depth will be critical against NC State’s size and athleticism, while Middle Tennessee’s WNIT run will be watched closely as a farewell tour for a Hall of Fame coach.

Collectively, these appearances underscore a healthy breadth of Tennessee basketball: established programs carrying tradition, mid-majors seizing breakthrough moments, and women’s teams rebuilding toward national relevance. March will tell which narratives endure and which teams seize the momentum that only the NCAA postseason can provide.