Today On Rocky Top: Cuonzo Martin Bandwagon Filling Up Quick

Mar 20, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Cuonzo Martin speaks during a press conference during practice before the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

From WBIR

"After a big weekend of men’s college basketball, big orange country is bursting with excitement as the University of Tennessee prepares for a trip to Indianapolis and the “Sweet 16” in the NCAA Tournament.The Vols’ performance in the tournament was by far the biggest trending topic on Twitter in Knoxville on Monday. The excitement online now includes a petition calling for a pay raise and extension of head coach Cuonzo Martin’s contract.The current UT universe seems light years removed from the environment in Knoxville just five weeks ago. As the Volunteers struggled during the regular season, more than 36,000 UT fans signed an online petition asking the university to bring back fired head coach Bruce Pearl.“Fans want Bruce Pearl back” and “they don’t want Cuonzo” were the common themes on local sports talk radio programs.Eight wins later, Cuonzo Martin’s squad is just one win away from going as far as in the NCAA Tournament as any team in UT men’s basketball history. The Volunteers have never advanced to the Final Four."

From ABC News

"Tennessee has followed a similar formula in each of its first two NCAA tournament victories.The Lady Vols keep their opponents in the game just long enough for them to start dreaming about the possibility of an upset. Then they spend the last 17 minutes or so putting those thoughts to rest.Cierra Burdick had 21 points and 11 rebounds as Tennessee pulled away from St. John’s for a 67-51 victory in the second round of the NCAA tournament Monday night. The game was tied early in the second half before Tennessee’s smothering defense took over the game.In its opening-round game, Tennessee and Northwestern State also were tied in the first few minutes of the second half before the Lady Vols rolled to a 70-46 triumph.“It’s always a dogfight for us, and I really don’t know why,” Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said. “It could be so much easier.”Tennessee, the top seed in the Louisville Regional, advanced to a regional semifinal Sunday against the winner of Tuesday’s game between No. 4 seed Maryland and No. 5 seed Texas."

From MLive.com

"While watching game film of Sweet 16 opponent Tennessee on Monday, Michigan coach John Beilein plucked out a 4-year old boxscore.It was dated March 18, 2011 — the last meeting between the Vols and the Wolverines.Listed among the Tennessee’s reserves were Jeronne Maymon and Jordan McRae. McRae played the final two minutes of the game. Maymon played the final minute.Michigan beat Tennessee that day, 75-45, in the second round of the NCAA tournament West Regional.All these years later, Maymon and McRae are still on the UT roster, as are Michigan’s Jordan Morgan and Jon Horford. Morgan started, scoring 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while Horford played sparingly as a reserve.Read more at MLive.com"