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NCAA Tournament: Ranking all 5 games Tennessee Vols played as a 2-seed

By Caleb Calhoun

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 27: Chris Lofton #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers walks off the court after losing to the Louisville Cardinals during the 2008 NCAA Men's East Regional Semifinal at Bobcats Arena on March 27, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Cardinals defeated the Volunteers 77-60. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 27: Chris Lofton #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers walks off the court after losing to the Louisville Cardinals during the 2008 NCAA Men's East Regional Semifinal at Bobcats Arena on March 27, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Cardinals defeated the Volunteers 77-60. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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1. 2006 Round of 64

(2) Tennessee beats (15) Winthrop

Final Score: 63-61

One of the most thrilling NCAA Tournament games in the Vols’ history came in Bruce Pearl’s first year. It was right before their heartbreaking loss to the Wichita State Shockers. We’ve already given you the context of this year.

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By this point in the season, the lack of depth was killing the Vols. They were exhausted, and it was everything they had just to stay afloat. Even with the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, they got a rough draw in the first round.

The Winthrop Eagles that year had returned all five starters from a team that nearly beat the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament. So they were a really rough opponent, and combining that with the way the Vols were slumping, this was destined to be a very exciting game.

It was just that, going back and forth all the way until the end. With the game tied at the two-minute mark in the second half, neither team could buy a bucket. But all that did was set things up for a thrilling finish.

Tied at 61 all with  less than five seconds left, Bruce Pearl drew up an inbounds play for Chris Lofton. UT’s red-hot shooter all year had been in a major slump with the team, but he had one great shot left in him. Lofton hit a baseline shot near the three-point line while fading away with a second left to give the Vols a two-point lead.

Winthrop didn’t have enough time to get a game-tying shot off, so the Vols won. It was an instant thriller, and given everything that happened, it was also the most exciting win this team ever had as a No. 2 seed.

Next. A look at Vols' road to the Final Four. dark

Sure, Tennessee basketball should’ve won by more, but that’s what the NCAA Tournament is all about. It’s March Madness. And in this madness-filled game, the Vols created a very memorable moment. Considering that this was the program’s first game in the Big Dance in five years, it was worth celebrating anyway, and that’s exactly what they did.

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