All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee basketball’s 2022 SEC Tournament rooting guide

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 9, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey entertains the crowd during the second half against the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey entertains the crowd during the second half against the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Cuonzo Martin reacts during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Cuonzo Martin reacts during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Missouri (12-seed) over Ole Miss (13-seed)

Wednesday, March 9 at 6 p.m ET

There’s a double reason to root for Missouri in this one. For starters, Tennessee basketball has struggled severely with the Ole Miss Rebels ever since Kermit Davis took the job. Despite Ole Miss’ issues, Rick Barnes’ offenses are prone to droughts, and against Davis’ matchup zone combined with an aggressive press, it gets even worse.

Although Barnes is 3-1 against Davis since they have taken over their respective jobs, he only beat Ole Miss 73-71 in 2019, when the Vols were No. 1, and he only beat them by six this year. Last year, they lost to the Rebels 52-50 in an embarrassing display of offense.

Simply put, UT should want Ole Miss out for its own sake. However, Ole Miss is on the other side of the bracket, so if the two did face off, it wouldn’t be until the SEC Tournament Championship before that. As a result, the main desire for Vol fans here should be who has the better chance of knocking off a higher seed.

That’s a mix. The winner advances to face the LSU Tigers, a team Ole Miss beat but Mizzou lost to by 20. Looking at likelihoods, that gives Ole Miss the strongest case here for Vol fans. However, Mizzou is not only easier for UT. They are tougher for the Auburn Tigers, whoo would face the winner between LSU and this game’s winner.

Auburn only lost to them Mizzou one but beat Ole Miss twice by nine and 13. Vol fans want tem gone too. Even though facing Auburn or Tennessee basketball is less likely with Ole Miss winning given LSU standing in the way, the combination still means Vol fans should root for Ole Miss.

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