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Tennessee basketball’s top 10 regular season wins of 2010s

By Caleb Calhoun

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images /

4. No. 7 Villanova Wildcats

Nov. 26, 2010

Tennessee Volunteers win 78-68

NIT Season Tip-Off Finals (Madison Square Garden; Manhattan, New York City, N.Y.)

Just two weeks before they reached their peak with a win over the No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers, Tennessee basketball’s final team under head coach Bruce Pearl scored the first win that gave everybody false hope in the early part of the season. And they made history in the process, which is why this win is ranked so high.

We already talked about the Vols adding Tobias Harris and returning Scotty Hopson, but the news surrounding Pearl’s NCAA issues along with an exhibition loss had them start the season unranked. Still, they managed to reach the final of the NIT Season Tip-Off, beating the VCU Rams, who would eventually make the Final Four in the process.

Pearl’s up-tempo team would face the Villanova Wildcats in the championship game, and in a fast-pace matchup, it’s his team’s defense and interior presence that prevailed. UT built a 10-point lead int he first half, but Villanova came back and led by three at different times in the second half. However, the Vols then took control in the final 10 minutes and pulled away to win by 10.

Harris showed his skills with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Brian Williams added 12 points and seven rebounds. That inside game made the difference, but Cameron Tatum had 17 points as well, and Hopson led the way with 18 points. This team captured a regular season tournament championship with the win as well, which is why it’s ranked so high.

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