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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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LYNCHBURG, VA – FEBRUARY 22: Head coach Ritchie McKay of the Liberty Flames looks on 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: Head coach Ritchie McKay of the Liberty Flames looks on 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) /

1. Liberty Flames over Oklahoma State Cowboys

Friday at 6:25 p.m. ET; TBS

More important than who Tennessee basketball faces in the Sweet 16 or the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament is their ability just to get to those rounds. To do that, they have to get out of the first weekend, and that could be tough.

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Obviously, beating the Oregon State Beavers is most important. However, winning that next game is more important than the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight as well. If they get to the next game, they’ll end up facing the winner between the No. 4 seed Oklahoma State Cowboys and the No. 13 seed Liberty Flames.

Although Liberty could be a dangerous mid-major team, winning the Atlantic Sun regular season and conference championships for the third straight season under Ritchie McKay and coming in with a 23-5 record, they are obviously an easier out than Oklahoma State. Liberty should not have the size or athleticism to compete with UT.

Oklahoma State, meanwhile, has the best player in college in Cade Cunningham, and they have a great inside game that could neutralize what the Vols like to do. Even though they aren’t very deep, at 20-8 and ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll and No. 12 in the Coaches Poll, fourth-year head coach Mike Boynton’s team made the Big 12 Tournament title game for a reason.

Next. Vol basketball's road to the Final Four. dark

This isn’t to say Liberty’s an easy win. They are one of the best shooting teams in the country, and if they get red-hot from three, it’s over. However, the Vols would rather take their chances with that than Oklahoma State if they reach the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.

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