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NCAA Tournament 2021: Five reasons Tennessee basketball can make Final Four

By Caleb Calhoun

Jan 16, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Victor Bailey Jr. (12) and guard Jaden Springer (11) and guard Santiago Vescovi (25) and guard Josiah-Jordan James (5) and guard Yves Pons (35) after a timeout against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Victor Bailey Jr. (12) and guard Jaden Springer (11) and guard Santiago Vescovi (25) and guard Josiah-Jordan James (5) and guard Yves Pons (35) after a timeout against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 23, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes speaks with Tennessee Volunteers guard Yves Pons (35) and forward John Fulkerson (10) during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes speaks with Tennessee Volunteers guard Yves Pons (35) and forward John Fulkerson (10) during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s been hard to get a read on this Tennessee basketball team all year. After starting in the top 25 and getting as high as No. 6, the Vols have been fading for about two months now, and they appear to be limping into the NCAA Tournament. Things look even worse with the status of John Fulkerson, their best offensive post player, in question.

However, this team still earned a No. 5 seed with an 18-8 overall record, and they have quality wins over the Arkansas Razorbacks, Colorado Buffaloes and Kansas Jayhawks. Beating the Florida Gators twice along with the Missouri Tigers makes Rick Barnes’ kids look even better.

This team still has a great combination of experience and raw talent. It also has solid coaching, and while it has been plagued by inconsistency, it’s more than capable of going on a run in the Big Dance. Let’s take a look at why that’s the case here. These are the five reasons UT can make the Final Four in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

5. Interior defense

Yves Pons is the sole reason for this factor, but he’s a key reason. Pons’ return for his senior season has worked out well, as he once again made the SEC All-Defensive team. Although he didn’t repeat as SEC Defensive Player of the Year, probably due to a mid-season injury that held him back, he has still been dominant under the basket.

At 6’6″ 215 pounds, Pons is averaging just under two blocks a game. He has help this year, though, from an unlikely source in Josiah-Jordan James. The 6’6″ 207-pound sophomore defensive specialist is averaging a block a game himself.

As a team, the Vols are No. 16 in the nation in blocks, averaging just under five a game. This is a huge advantage for them in the NCAA Tournament, particularly when it comes to transition defense given Pons’ athleticism, and it should help them make a run even against the elite teams.

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