LEXINGTON, Ky. — Tennessee will begin its NCAA Tournament run on Thursday in a familiar setting.

The Vols, who were tabbed a 2-seed for the second-straight year and the third time under Rick Barnes, are set to face 15-seed Wofford, winners of the Southern Conference Tournament, in the First Round at Rupp Arena in Lexington (6:50 p.m. ET, TNT).

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Tennessee (27-7) lost to Florida in the SEC Tournament Championship Game in its last outing, losing the on the boards and in the paint and two of its best players in Chaz Lanier and Jahmai Mashack to foul trouble down the stretch.

That loss had no bearing on where the Vols ended up in the final bracket. Tennessee beating Auburn in the semifinals and Alabama getting trounced by the Gators all but insured that it would get a favorable draw in the Midwest Region.

On paper, the Vols have a manageable path to at last its second consecutive Elite Eight. Tennessee could potentially face 7-seed UCLA or 10-seed Utah State in the Second Round and 3-seed Kentucky or 6-seed Illinois in the Sweet 16.

Analyzing that path makes for good fodder today, but it will matter little on Thursday. The Vols first have to past the Terriers (19-15) and avoid being on the wrong side of another Cinderella story.

Wofford wasn't even in the tournament picture before the SoCon Tournament last week, but made a run that included wins over ETSU, VMI and Furman in three days to punch its ticket to the Big Dance for just the seventh time ever.

Tennessee is also hoping to reverse its fortunes inside Rupp Arena, where it lost to Kentucky during the regular season.

Here is everything you need to know about the Vols, the Terriers and their NCAA Tournament clash.

Who: 2-seed Tennessee (27-7) vs. 15-seed Wofford (19-15)

When: Thursday, March 20 | 6:50 p.m. ET

Where: Rupp Arena | Lexington, Kentucky

TV: TNT (Brian Anderson, play-by-play; Jim Jackson, analyst; Allie LaForce, reporter)

Radio: Vol Network (Bob Kesling, play-by-play; Bert Bertelkamp, analyst)

Series: Ninth meeting all-time (Tennessee leads, 8-0)

KenPom Projection: Tennessee 76, Wofford 59

POINTS PER GAME

Wofford 75.3

Tennessee 74.7

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

Tennessee 45.5%

Wofford 45.3%

THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE

Wofford 34.1%

Tennessee 34.0%

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Everything Rick Barnes, Tennessee players said to preview March Madness run

ASSISTS

Tennessee 15.5

Wofford 15.0

REBOUNDS

Wofford 38.4

Tennessee 36.6

BLOCKS

Tennessee 5.0

Wofford 2.6

-- Wofford is the highest ranked 15-seed in the NCAA Tournament, according to the NET rankings. The Terriers are No. 120 in the rankings, which accounts for strength of schedule and net offensive and defensive efficiency, among other factors.

-- Wofford is ranks No. 67 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 231 in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Terriers average 75.3 points per game, but are giving up nearly 70 points. Guard Corey Tripp leads the team in scoring and assists with 14.3 points and 3.2 assists per game.

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-- Tennessee will make its seventh-straight NCAA Tournament appearance on Thursday, a program record and the fourth-longest active streak in Division I college basketball. All seven tournament appearances have come under 10th-year head coach Rick Barnes. The Vols are the No. 5 overall team in the 64-team field for the second consecutive year.

-- Tennessee is playing Wofford for the ninth time ever. The two teams played three times between 1952-54, but have only played five times the last 70 years. The Vols, who hold an 8-0 edge in the series, won the last meeting, 82-61 at Food City Center on Nov. 14, 2023.

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