Tennessee Vols remain one of one this century after top seeded Vanderbilt Commodores bow out of NCAA Tournament

As it turns out, things didn't go to well in that state this weekend.  The Commodores fell to Wright State 5-4 in an elimination game in Nashville, ending the NCAA Tournament top overall seeded Commodores' season. 

The Commodores' failures highlighted two things that have come with earning the tournament's top overall seed.  First, it's very, very hard to win it all as the top dog after Selection Monday, as the Commodores continued a very common trend of top overall seeds failing to win it all. 

Vanderbilt actually took their 2025 tournament futility one step further on Sunday.  They became the first ever top overall seed to fail to reach their regional final under the current format, which goes back to 1999.  Vanderbilt fell in game two to Louisville on Saturday 3-2 to push the latter into the regional final and fall into an elimination game.

What it also highlights is just how special the Tennessee Vols' 2024 run was, as UT remains the only team in the 21st century to win the national championship as the top overall seed (the only other team to do it in the current format were the Miami Hurricanes in 1999).  They also remain the only SEC team to win 60 games in a season and one of four SEC teams to win the SEC regular season and tournament and NCAA tournament in the same season.  

Of course, the top seed is something every team will want regardless of history, as it should provide the easiest path to Omaha.  Even if history says otherwise.  

Well, except for 2024.