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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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Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (5) and Tennessee guard Keon Johnson (45) react to the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Appalachian State Mountaineers on the sidelines during a basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.Kns Vols App State Hoops Bp
Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (5) and Tennessee guard Keon Johnson (45) react to the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Appalachian State Mountaineers on the sidelines during a basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.Kns Vols App State Hoops Bp /

3. Deceptive depth

Before we dive into this one, there’s a major caveat. It depends on the health of John Fulkerson. If he is not good to go, the Vols won’t be able to utilize the advantage we’re about to break down in the NCAA Tournament.

If Fulkerson can play, though, then UT is deeper than a lot of people realize. On paper, they aren’t deep. They only go seven-deep. However, not one of those players is averaging 30 minutes a game. Rick Barnes has done a great job of subbing all year, and while they only go seven-deep, all seven players can contribute equally at different times.

The San Diego State Aztecs and the Clemson Tigers are the only two other teams in the Midwest Region who don’t have any players averaging over 30 minutes a game. Clemson actually goes 10-deep and 11-deep, while San Diego State goes about 10-deep. Both, in general, are deeper than the Vols in every way.

However, there are other players who can provide value for UT at different times on the court, even if their minutes have been limited, in Olivier Nkamhoua and Davonte Gaines. Provided everybody is healthy, this team is deep enough to make a deep run.

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