Tennessee basketball: A look at the Vols road to the Final Four

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates during the 82-78 win over the Kentucky Wildcats during the semifinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 16: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates during the 82-78 win over the Kentucky Wildcats during the semifinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 16: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team during the 82-78 win over the Kentucky Wildcats during the semifinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 16: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team during the 82-78 win over the Kentucky Wildcats during the semifinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Tennessee basketball team opens the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon against Colgate. Here is a look at the Vols road to the Final Four.

After a painful loss in the SEC Championship Game to Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers, the Tennessee basketball team turns their attention to the NCAA Tournament. They begin their journey to a Final Four on Friday afternoon against the Colgate Raiders from the Patriot League.

Depending on who you speak to, the Vols road to a Final Four might not be as hard as other No.2 seeds in the tournament. Look at Michigan State, for example, they won the Big Ten Conference Championship and still got placed in Duke’s bracket.

The Vols also received a favorable draw despite Cincinnati receiving virtually a home game in the Second Round if both teams survive game one.

If Tennessee wants to make a deep run in the tourney, they have to play with the fire they play with against Kentucky. If they show the same energy and passion against other opponents as they do against the Wildcats, there isn’t a team in the country that can beat them.

Before we break down all the potential matchups, the Vols could face on their road to a Final Four, here is what Tennessee looks like.