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Tennessee basketball: Vols playing this NCAA Tournament with house money

By Caleb Calhoun

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee basketball enters March Madness as a No. 3 seed, but given the low expectations to start the year, the Volunteers are playing without pressure.

Related Story: 5 reasons Vols are a Sweet 16 lock

As a No. 3 seed with a very favorable opening reason, Tennessee basketball admittedly has very high expectations in this year’s NCAA Tournament. But given the overall perspective of where everybody expected them to be, they are playing with house money.

Before the year began, the Vols were picked to finish 13th in the SEC. Even analysts and fans who said that was too low, however, had them as a middle of the pack SEC team. The goal was just to get to the Big Dance.

In the trajectory of the program Barnes was building, Tennessee basketball was supposed to enter the tournament this year as a low seed and then take off next year with everybody coming back. But they are a year early.

By defying all expectations, the Vols now look like a powerhouse entering the tournament. However, here’s the crazy part: they enter with little pressure.

They clearly remember not getting any respect. That’s why they posted this ‘don’t pick us’ video on Wednesday for everybody to see.

Even if people do pick them, though, and they flame out, it’s not much to worry about. The Vols have solidified themselves as a program, and Barnes has reinvented his career in Knoxville.

Must Read: Vols road to the Final Four

Say they lose early. Tennessee basketball likely has everybody coming back next year outside of James Daniel III. None of the underclassmen are good enough to leave early for the NBA, and yes, that includes Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield.

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On top of that, they are neck and neck with the Florida Gators for five-star comgo guard Anfernee Simons, who could go to the NBA. But if Simons decides on a year of college and picks the Vols, Tennessee returning everybody and adding a five-star scorer makes them a national title contender for next year.

All of this is why the Vols are playing with little pressure in this year’s tournament. They have an incredible future to think about under Barnes. And here’s the best part.

When you play with little pressure, you usually play at your best in these tournaments if you’re one of the better teams. Tennessee basketball is clearly one of the better teams.

These guys remind me of the 2006-2007 Vols, who only had one senior. They made it to the Sweet Sixteen and were one bad half away from upsetting the No. 1 seed Ohio State Buckeyes to reach the Elite Eight.

Next: 5 NCAA Tournament keys for Vols

Despite being a No. 3 seed, the Vols enter this tournament with a brighter future to think about as well. And the lack of pressure to perform could serve as an amazing factor in their favor. And maybe that’s all they need to make a Final Four run.

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