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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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Mar 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of SEC logo on the court after the announcement the SEC Conference Tournament was cancelled at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of SEC logo on the court after the announcement the SEC Conference Tournament was cancelled at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Missouri/Ole Miss winner over LSU (5-seed)

Thursday, March 10 at 2 p.m. ET

It’s a bit personal for Tennessee basketball when it comes to the LSU Tigers. This is truly a toss-up, though. Despite being erratic all year, LSU has looked good the past three games. They closed out the regular season losing to Arkansas by one on the road and then beating Alabama at home. All of a sudden, they are dangerous.

That danger could be a good thing for UT, as the Vols wouldn’t see them until the SEC Tournament Championship game. If they got there, they would have knocked off the Hogs and Auburn for them, or those two teams would have at least been eliminated.

However, on the other side, if they got that far, that would mean they are back to being elite and red-hot, and their up-tempo style of play would be a terrible matchup for Barnes and co. on a Sunday afternoon. As a result, it’s better for Vol fans if LSU is just eliminated.

Hey, if Mizzou wins that Wednesday game against Ole Miss, don’t count out what they can do. Both teams are designed to slow down up-tempo offenses, though, and that could give them a crazy matchup chance at an upset in any of their games on the way to the tournament championship game. Simply put, wanting LSU gone takes priority.

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