Tennessee basketball: Vols Top 10 memorable games this century

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 17: Members of the Tennessee Volunteers team huddle before the game against the Loyola Ramblers during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the American Airlines Center on March 17, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 17: Members of the Tennessee Volunteers team huddle before the game against the Loyola Ramblers during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the American Airlines Center on March 17, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – MARCH 17: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers attempts a free throw in the second half against the Loyola Ramblers during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the American Airlines Center on March 17, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

8. 2017-18 NCAA Second-Round vs. Loyola-Chicago

Seriously, don’t hate me, I promise the good memories and memorable games are coming. Number eight on our list is the second-round round loss to the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers that happened this past March.

We all know that the expectations for the Tennessee basketball team wasn’t a three seed in the NCAA Tournament. In fact, the so-called “experts” projected the Vols to finished at the bottom of the SEC Standings.

Little did the experts know, Rick Barnes and the Vols would have one of the best seasons in recent years. And, despite the loss to the Ramblers, they still had a good season.

Another game and another heartbreaking loss. With 20 seconds remaining in the game, Tennessee took their first lead of the second half thanks to a three-point play for SEC Player of the Year, Grant Williams.

With only 3.6 seconds left in the game, Clayton Custer took a free-throw extended jumper that got the friendliness of bounces to put the Vols away. For a second it looked like Tennessee basketball was headed to the Sweet Sixteen once again.

However, the spell Sister Jean had on the tournament was too strong for Rick Barnes and company to overcome. Even though this game is fresh in the memory banks, the heartbreak is what deserves number right on our list.

Final score: Tennessee 62, Loyola-Chicago 63