Tennessee basketball: Vols 5 best seasons without hanging any banners
2. 2009-2010
Record: 28-9 (11-5)
NCAA Tournament: Elite 8 (Lost to Michigan State Spartans 70-69)
The year before it all went downhill under Bruce Pearl was one of beauty for Tennessee basketball, and it was a shame things had to end so soon. In 2009-2010, things were so rocky for the Vols that this was a story Hollywood couldn’t script.
Remember, right before SEC play began, the Vols had to suspend four players for a legal issue and dismiss their best player, Tyler Smith. That was when they came together. A week later, behind a group of walk-ons, they beat the undefeated and No. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks. Eventually, everybody but Smith got reinstated. They would later beat the No. 2 ranked Kentucky Wildcats.
Veterans like J.P. Prince and Wayne Chism, the latter of whom is the winningest player in UT basketball history, did their part to keep the team together. Scotty Hopson, meanwhile, was the team’s go-to scorer, and guys like Cameron Tatum and Bobby Maze did their part.
But the overall level of distraction caused these guys to suffer through a solid season but one not as great as their talent indicated. The Vols finished the regular season 23-7 and 11-5 in the SEC. Two wins in the SEC Tournament still only warranted them a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament after getting blown out by Kentucky.
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However, they came together again in the tournament. An easy first two games against San Diego State and the Ohio Bobcats got them to the Sweet 16, their third in four years. That alone was an accomplishment for this program.
But then they got to play the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Sweet 16. It was a chance for revenge after blowing a 20-point lead three years earlier. They got that revenge and held on for a three-point victory to make their first and what remains their only Elite 8 appearance in school history.
A one-point loss to the Michigan State Spartans was heartbreaking, but this team reached heights no team in UT history had come close too. And they did it all without any championship banner to show for it.