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Tennessee basketball: Vols 5 best seasons without hanging any banners

By Caleb Calhoun

PROVIDENCE, RI - MARCH 18: The bench of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts in the closing minutes in a 62-59 win over the San Diego State Aztecs during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Dunkin' Donuts Center on March 18, 2010 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
PROVIDENCE, RI - MARCH 18: The bench of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts in the closing minutes in a 62-59 win over the San Diego State Aztecs during the first round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Dunkin' Donuts Center on March 18, 2010 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images /

4. 2006-2007

Record: 24-11 (10-6)

NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 (Lost to Ohio State Buckeyes 85-84)

This was Bruce Pearl’s second team as head coach of Tennessee basketball. His first had won the SEC East and shocked the world by making the NCAA Tournament. But with the departure of three seniors and a new crop of freshmen, he warned that his tenure would have two first years.

Vols fans still believed in Chris Lofton, and so did the media, which is why they opened the year in the Top 25. Early season losses to the Butler Bulldogs and North Carolina Tar Heels didn’t phase anybody, especially after they blew out the Memphis Tigers and came back to beat the Texas Longhorns because of amazing play by Lofton.

But then SEC play began, and this team struggled to win on the road. In fact, they were awful, despite a non-conference game against the Ohio State Buckeyes that was a close loss. Combine that with an injury that forced Lofton to miss three games, and this team was 6-6 deep into SEC play and 0-6 on the road. They closed out strong, winning their final two road games and going  undefeated at home despite losing their opener in the SEC Tournament to the LSU Tigers.

In the NCAA Tournament, they beat Long Beach State in the first round in a record-setting offensive clinic. Then they held off the Virginia Cavaliers in the second round to make their first Sweet 16 appearance in seven years.

In the Sweet 16, they had a 20-point lead over the Ohio State Buckeyes. However, Mike Conley and Greg Oden led OSU back in the second half. A late Conley free throw gave Ohio State a one-point lead, and Ramar Smith had the would-be game-winning shot blocked. As a result, the Vols were eliminated.

That loss was devastating, but it was still a great season overall for Rocky Top. With no championships, making the Sweet 16 was an accomplishment, and they were a very young team, so they were worthy of celebration.

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