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Tennessee basketball: How have Vols previously fared after beating No. 1 teams?

By Caleb Calhoun

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Admiral Schofield #5 and Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrate on the court after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Admiral Schofield #5 and Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrate on the court after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Jim Rogash/Getty Images /

4. 2009-2010: Tennessee defeats No. 1 Kansas 76-68

Date of the game: Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010

Vols record after the win: 12-2

Next game’s result: Tennessee defeats Auburn 81-55

End result of the season: Vols reach Elite Eight

Of all their upsets over No. 1 ranked teams, this one was the most shocking. Tennessee basketball closed out 2009 with a huge road win over the Memphis Tigers. A day later, four of their players were arrested for weapons charges and marijuana possession.

Their top player, Tyler Smith, was the most notable of the arrests, and his charges were also the most serious. Bruce Pearl had to dismiss him. The three other players were all key role players in Melvin Goins, Brian Williams and Cameron Tatum.

They were all on suspension when the No. 1 ranked and undefeated Kansas Jayhawks came to town 10 days later. Using four walk-ons in the rotation, the Vols pulled off a huge upset over Bill Self’s team, winning 76-68.

This upset was part of a seven-game winning streak that included five wins over Power Five teams and two wins over Top 25 teams. The dismissal of Smith, though, depleted the talent enough that the Vols stumbled through the SEC season. Still, the win after the dismissal brought them together. And they did enough to score another huge upset later in the year against the No. 2 ranked Kentucky Wildcats.

By the time the NCAA Tournament started, they had come back together as a team and made their way to the Elite Eight, highlighted by an upset over the No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes. That likely does not happen if this team doesn’t get the morale boost it earned with this win. They used it for good.

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