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NCAA Tournament 2021: Tennessee basketball fans’ rooting guide

By Caleb Calhoun

LYNCHBURG, VA - FEBRUARY 22: Darius McGhee #2 of the Liberty Flames dribbles the ball during a college basketball game against the North Alabama Lions at Vines Center on February 22, 2021 in Lynchburg, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
LYNCHBURG, VA - FEBRUARY 22: Darius McGhee #2 of the Liberty Flames dribbles the ball during a college basketball game against the North Alabama Lions at Vines Center on February 22, 2021 in Lynchburg, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Feb 27, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego State Aztecs players celebrate on the court after defeating the Boise State Broncos at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego State Aztecs players celebrate on the court after defeating the Boise State Broncos at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

Playing in the Midwest Region bracket of the 2021 NCAA Tournament gives Tennessee basketball a shot to sneak its way to the Final Four. However, as with any tournament, lots of that will depend on matchups and their draw each week.

As a No. 5 seed, UT opens things up against the No. 12 seed Oregon State Beavers at 4:30 p.m. ET Friday on TNT. Vol fans everywhere know to root for their team, but who else should they root for? In this post, we’re going to rank all other seven games in the first round of this region by what should be the rooting interest for Rocky Top.

Our list will show each team Tennessee basketball fans should root for and rank them by how much that team winning would affect Rick Barnes’ team in their quest to make the Final Four. Let’s go ahead and dive in. This is what should be the rooting interest for Vol fans in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

7. San Diego State Aztecs over Syracuse Orange

Friday at 9:40 p.m. ET; CBS

Honestly, neither team is a good matchup for Tennessee basketball, and if they did meet, they wouldn’t meet the Vols until the Elite Eight anyway. The No. 6 seed San Diego State Aztecs are 23-4 and Mountain West Conference regular season and tournament champions under fourth-year head coach Brian Dutcher. Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse Orange are the No. 11 seed at 16-9.

Ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll and No. 18 in the Coaches Poll, San Diego State is in the top 40 in steals and three-point shooting, two bad matchups for the Vols, so they would still be tough for Barnes and co. to deal with in the NCAA Tournament.

However, Syracuse would just be tougher. Boeheim runs a complex zone defense that puts ‘Cuse in the top 20 in steals and blocks. We know that the young guards on Rocky Top struggle with complex zone defenses. Just look at what Kermit Davis’ Ole Miss Rebels were able to do to them. Given that matchup issue, Vol fans would rather face San Diego State.

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