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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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Mar 6, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ron Harper Jr. (24) celebrates with guard Jacob Young (42) after Young drew a foul against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in overtime at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ron Harper Jr. (24) celebrates with guard Jacob Young (42) after Young drew a foul against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in overtime at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights over Clemson Tigers

Friday at 9:20 p.m. ET; TBS

Just like the San Diego State Aztecs and the Syracuse Orange, this is a matchup featuring two teams who wouldn’t face Tennessee basketball until the Elite Eight. Unlike that matchup, though, it’s one that involves two teams who are favorable matchups for the Vols. UT and either of these teams made it that far, Rocky Top would be in great shape.

However, if you have to pick one, you would probably rather play the No. 10 seed Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Rutgers, at 15-11, barely got into the Big Dance and probably doesn’t belong. It’s their first tournament appearance in 30 years.

Fifth-year head coach Steve Pikiell relies solely on elite defense and winning in the paint. He plays an old-school, slow-it-down game that many teams nowadays aren’t used to. That change could honestly give Rutgers a chance to upset higher seeds in the Vols’ way, which is one reason to root for them in the NCAA Tournament.

Another, though, is that Rick Barnes is one coach built to handle such a change-up. The No. 7 seed Clemson Tigers, who are 16-7 under 11th-year head coach Brad Brownell, will turn up the tempo and can randomly get red-hot at times, which makes them a threat. They are more of a threat to UT and less of a threat to pull off upsets over elite teams, so Vol fans should root for them.

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