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NCAA Tournament 2021: Tennessee basketball’s road to the Final Four

By Caleb Calhoun

Mar 13, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes talks in a huddle during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes talks in a huddle during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 13, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Oregon State Beavers cheer as head coach Wayne Tinkle presents the Pac-12 Tournament trophy after the Beavers defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 70-68 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Oregon State Beavers cheer as head coach Wayne Tinkle presents the Pac-12 Tournament trophy after the Beavers defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 70-68 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Rick Barnes got Tennessee basketball into the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years and the third straight tourney when you consider that last year’s wasn’t played, although UT likely wouldn’t have made it then anyway. Still, that’s an impressive accomplishment given what he inherited when he took over.

Rocky Top enters the Big Dance as a No. 5 seed at 18-8. With a preseason top 15 ranking and flirting with a top five ranking earlier in the year, this is somewhat of a disappointment for the Vols, who failed to win the SEC regular season or tournament championship. They also enter the tournament with the health of their best offensive big man, John Fulkerson, in serious question.

Still, there is a path for the Vols to go deep in the NCAA Tournament after losing a close one to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament semifinals. As we get set to look at the Midwest Bracket, we’ll break down every team in the order of likelihood that they play Tennessee basketball. These are all the scheduled and potential foes for UT if it is to reach its first Final Four.

Round of 64 matchup

No. 12 seed Oregon State Beavers  (17-12)

On Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET, the Vols will face one of the hottest teams in basketball. Seventh-year head coach Wayne Tinkle is entering his second NCAA Tournament with the Oregon State Beavers and first since the 2015-2016 season thanks to an unlikely run in the Pac-12 Tournament.

Oregon State was a No. 5 seed and upset the UCLA Bruins, the Oregon Ducks and the Colorado Buffaloes to win the tournament title. They have now won six of seven dating back to the end of February and one of the most dangerous teams to face.

Tinkle’s team relies on the backcourt play of Ethan Thompson and Jarod Lucas. Although UT is more versatile overall, if those two get red-hot from outside, Oregon State could be extremely tough to beat. Similar to the Vols, it could come down to who is shooting better from the outside.

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