Tennessee Basketball: Are the Vols Getting Closer To NCAA Bubble Status?

So much for heading into the conference tournament on a big, momentum seizing, win-streak.

After beating Georgia and South Carolina it seemed, at least temporarily, as though the Vols were beginning to right the Big Orange ship.

Not so after getting pummeled at Florida.

Well, getting pummeled at Florida wasn't the problem so much as getting pummeled by USC, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Florida on the road.

These Vols clearly have issues shooting the ball, and playing disciplined, physical basketball.

How many times do you have to foul an opponent while he's attempting a three-point shot before you learn that's not such a good thing?

Coach Bruce Pearl has tried everything from shaking up the lineup to sitting potential stars to playing multiple walk-on's. Something—anything—to provide that spark that the Vols so desperately need.

Now, at 20-7, the Vols are getting dangerously close to that infamous NCAA Tournament bubble.

With remaining games against No. 2 Kentucky, SEC West front-runner Arkansas, and on the road against another SEC West front-runner, Mississippi State, the possibility is there for an 0-fer instead of a winning streak.

Many thought that this team was a virtual lock for the NCAA tourney as recently as yesterday. But that was before the Vols lost to the Gators for only the second time in Bruce Pearl's tenure and the first time in three years.

The Vols have one extremely impressive win on their resume—the win over No. 1 Kansas. The rest of the wins have been short of mind-blowing, but are still solid nonetheless.

Can the Vols afford to lose out? Is 20 wins, including a win over the No. 1 team, enough?

To be quite honest, I simply do not know at this point. But I don't think the NCAA tournament committee can be optimistic about a Vols team coming off of four straight regular season losses.

The Vols can put an end to this speculation by defeating Kentucky on Saturday. But if the same team that showed up in Gainesville Tuesday, shows up in Knoxville Saturday, the Vols could be NIT bound.