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Tennessee basketball: Ranking all nine Vols NCAA Tournament wins in 2010s

By Caleb Calhoun

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts with teammates during the second half against the Colgate Raiders in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts with teammates during the second half against the Colgate Raiders in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images /

8. Wright State Raiders (14-seed)

2018 – Second Round

Final score: Tennessee wins 73-47

One year before their win over the Colgate Raiders, Tennessee basketball entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed, sharing the SEC regular season championship and, again, being runner-ups in the SEC Tournament. But being back in the Big Dance for the first time in four years still left fans excited about the program Rick Barnes built.

UT played a better opponent in 2018 than 2019 and also dominated, making Vol fans happier. That’s why we have this win higher on the list, even if it didn’t provide certain thrills that their win over Colgate did. The fact of the matter is these games aren’t supposed to bring thrills when you’re that high of a seed.

The Vols only shot five-of-18 from three. But they overwhelmed Wright State with their defense and their inside game. Grant Williams had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Admiral Schofield had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The one star guard was Lamonte Turner, who came off the bench to drop 19 points.

Rocky Top dominated everywhere to win 73-47. The one setback was Kyle Alexander getting hurt, which cost them as they lost to Loyola Chicago the next week. However, advancing in the NCAA Tournament after not being in the event for four years was still a big deal, and that made this a win worth celebrating at the time. So it’s slightly above the 2019 second-round win.

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