All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee basketball: 5 reasons Vols are a lock for the Final Four

By Billy Williford

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates 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: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 15: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates in the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the Quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 15, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 15: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates in the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the Quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 15, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

No.5 – Vols are battle tested

The Vols competed in one of the best conferences in the country. A conference that received seven bids in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Three of those bids went to Tennessee (2), Kentucky (2), and LSU (3) which is impressive.

Playing in the SEC brings us to our first reason why the Vols are a lock for a Final Four; they are battle tested. Tennessee played 14 games against NCAA Tournament teams.

No.1 Gonzaga – No.2 Kentucky (3) – No.3 LSU

No.4 Kansas – No.5 Auburn (2) – No.5 Mississippi State (2)

No.7 Louisville – No.8 Ole Miss – No.10 Florida (2)

You’re probably thinking that isn’t that impressive considering the Vols played 34 games.  But, comparing the number with other No.1 and No.2 seeds, Tennessee is right there with the “big boys.”

Duke – 18

Michigan State – 17

Michigan and Kentucky – 16

North Carolina and Tennessee – 14

Virginia – 12

Gonzaga – 7

I hate to say it, but with Zion back, Duke seems like they are on another level that other teams haven’t reached. However, if the argument is Tennessee hasn’t played anyone, that just isn’t true.

Maybe they went on their 19-game win streak with 16 of those wins by double digits because they are a good team. They’ve played the talent; now its time to put everything together.

Home/Vols Basketball