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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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images /

6. Iowa Hawkeyes (11-seed)

2014 – First Round

Final score: Tennessee wins 78-65 (OT)

This is a play-in game, which should make it less valuable than a second-round game. But the quality of opponents in play-in games and the thrill of this win put it above the other second-round games we mentioned, and that’s why we have it at No. 6 on the list.

Tennessee basketball should have gotten a higher seed in this tournament and was robbed out of an appearance in the tournament the previous year. But they had to face the Iowa Hawkeyes as two No. 11 seeds in the first round to get things going. Cuonzo Martin, who was all but fired a month ago, needed the tournament to increase his value.

Well, it almost didn’t happen. Iowa jumped out to an 8-0 lead, and UT didn’t score a bucket until the 14-minute mark in the first half. However, they fought back and cut it to 29-26 at halftime. In the second half, Rocky Top gained control and took a late lead.

However, Iowa tied it at 64 late to send the game into overtime. The Vols dominated overtime. Jarnell Stokes scored three thanks to an and-one, then Jordan McRae got a block and hit a three-pointer. After four straight free throws by Antonio Barton, UT was up 74-65 with almost a minute to go.

The Vols used their dominant defense to win in overtime 78-65, and it was their first NCAA Tournament win since 2010. That it came against a Power Five opponent made it more impressive. McRae and Stokes led the way with 20 and 18 points respectively, but Josh Richardson also had 17 points. Stokes also had 13 rebounds.

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