One day after learning that their quest to reach the NCAA tournament had fallen short, the disappointment on the Tennessee basketball team was easy to see. It was also easy to understand.

College basketball places the ultimate importance on the postseason tournament, and it's the goal of every player in the country to participate in March Madness.

On Sunday night, the Vols had to watch as the NCAA selection committee delivered the verdict that their body of work during the 2012-13 season didn't merit inclusion in the field of 68 teams vying for a national title.

Instead, the Vols are a No. 2 seed in the NIT and will face No. 7 Mercer, regular season champs of the Atlantic Sun Conference on Wednesday night.

It was a bitter pill to swallow.

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