All for Tennessee
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 10
Next
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Jim Rogash/Getty Images /

7. San Diego State Aztecs (11-seed)

2010 – Second Round (First Round in 2010)

Final score: Tennessee wins 62-59

The first NCAA Tournament game of the decade for Tennessee basketball was in what would be considered the second round now. However, before the field expanded to 68 teams, this was considered the first round. We’re just calling it the second round for the sake of consistency. Anyway, it was a game that Bruce Pearl’s team had to survive.

Heading into the game, Vol fans felt their team was robbed with a No. 6 seed. After all, they were 25-8 and in the top 15 in both polls along with the No. 19 ranked strength of schedule. Without four key players, they beat the No. 1 overall seed, the Kansas Jayhawks. But they still got the six-seed, and the San Diego State Aztecs were a trendy upset pick.

It almost happened. The Vols were down 14-10 over eight minutes into the game, and San Diego State wouldn’t go away. UT did pull away and make it 37-28 at one point in the second half, but then they were behind 45-44 with less than 10 minutes to go. In a back and forth game, the Vols held on after that to pull away for a 62-59 win.

Up by one with less than a minute left, Melvin Goins hit a clutch three-pointer, Wayne Chism hit two free throws and Kawhi Leonard missed a game-tying three. That’s how the Vols held on. Goins and J.P. Prince had 15 points, and Bobby Maze and Chism added 11 each. So it was a team effort, but the Vols held on to make the second round. And they beat a quality team.

Home/Vols Basketball