It seems that the NCAA has had multiple chances to put them in the same bracket as UCONN has been a 1 seed for the past umpteen years and each time Tennessee was a 2 seed they coulda been in UCONN's bracket. Instead the NCAA usually put them on completely opposite sides so they could only meet in the finals, or at the very least, final 4. It seems the NCAA has no interest in a game between the 2 teams prior to that. All good points- but I thought the reason they have not been in the same bracket is that they try and usually keep most teams close to their home turf to help with attendance and revenue. I didn't think they have been separated for reasons more than that. Heck, I don't think the NCAA was happy to see this game end. And this year if they met at the final four in semis or finals, with Geno going to break Pat's record, in Tenn, attendance and TV ratings and$$$ would be off the charts!!!
Now I can't speak for the regions, or the sites hosting so it's possible that geography prevented them from playing any earlier, but I suspect the NCAA could have worked thru it if they really wanted to. I guess they just weren't interested in seeing a smack-down of ginormous proportions...