Tennessee basketball: 5 teams Vols should root for Sweet Sixteen games

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 21: Bryce Brown #2 celebrates with Chuma Okeke #5 of the Auburn Tigers during the second half against the New Mexico State Aggies in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

No.5 – Auburn Tigers (28-9)

Head coach: Bruce Pearl
Southeastern Conference

The Auburn Tigers are one of the hottest teams in the country. Winners of their past ten games, the Tigers last loss was on February 23 to the Kentucky Wildcats in Rupp Arena.

The Tigers opened the 2019 NCAA Tournament with a 78-77 win over New Mexico State. And, let me tell you it was a close call. With just a second left on the clock, Bryce Brown fouled Terrell Brown as he went up to drain a three-point shot to end the game. Down two points, Terrell only made one free throw, and the Aggies lost by one point.

In the Second-Round game against Kansas, Auburn went off. The Tigers attempted 30 three’s connecting on 13 of them for a percentage of 43.3 percent. In the past two tournament games, Auburn has taken a total of 61 three-point connecting on 25 of them.

Why should you root for Auburn? Because despite their hot shooting, it’s got to stop eventually, right? When Auburn doesn’t shoot well, they typically lose, which of course makes sense. In the 14 games, they shot under 36 percent from deep the Tigers hold an 8-6 record.

Plus, for Tennessee fans, it’s hard to beat a team three times in the same season. Look at Tennessee-Kentucky last year. Vols won the season series, but when it came to the SEC Tournament, the Cats prevailed.

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