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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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Nov 28, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Drexel Dragons head coach Zach Spiker (middle) talks to his team in the huddle against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Drexel Dragons head coach Zach Spiker (middle) talks to his team in the huddle against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Drexel Dragons over Illinois Fighting Illini

Friday at 1:15 p.m. ET; TBS

Speaking of the Illinois Fighting Illini, this is the most unlikely outcome of anything we have mentioned. Like the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Loyola-Chicago Ramblers, if the Vols were to face either of these two teams, it would be in the Sweet 16. The nature of it being in the Sweet 16 and not the Elite eight makes the rooting interest in both games more important.

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As for this one, Drexel is another team that lucked its way into the NCAA Tournament. A No. 16 seed led by fifth-year head coach Zach Spiker, they come in with an extremely mediocre 12-7 record. An unlikely red-hot run to win the CAA Tournament Championship is what earned them their automatic berth.

However, this is one of the worst teams, if not the worst team in the tournament. As a result, if they did upset Illinois somehow, they would give tons of teams in the Midwest Region, including the Vols, reason to believe they have a legitimate shot at the Final Four.

NCAA Tourney: Five first-weekend players for Vols to key on. light. Related Story

Of course, if Drexel won this game, they still likely wouldn’t face UT, as they’re highly unlikely to win a second round game. However, the Vols would rather face GT or Loyola-Chicago than Illinois, the No. 1 seed, in the Sweet 16, and if Drexel doesn’t make it there, one of those other teams will. It’s pretty obvious why they should root for them.

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