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Tennessee basketball: Vols’ road to Final Four in the 2022 NCAA Tournament

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James is greeted by a cheering crowd after the UT basketball team returns to Knoxville after winning the SEC tournament on Sunday, March 13, 2022.Kns Ut Hoops Return RANK 1
Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James is greeted by a cheering crowd after the UT basketball team returns to Knoxville after winning the SEC tournament on Sunday, March 13, 2022.Kns Ut Hoops Return RANK 1 /
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Mar 10, 2022; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas Christian Horned Frogs center Souleymane Doumbia (25) and Texas Christian Horned Frogs guard Damion Baugh (10) celebrate after defeating the Texas Longhorns at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2022; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas Christian Horned Frogs center Souleymane Doumbia (25) and Texas Christian Horned Frogs guard Damion Baugh (10) celebrate after defeating the Texas Longhorns at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports /

Potential Elite Eight matchups Part II

No. 9 seed TCU Horned Frogs (20-12)

Honestly, the TCU Horned Frogs are a more likely matchup for Tennessee basketball than the Seton Hall Pirates if UT makes the Elite Eight. Jamie Dixon’s team did lose three of four, but they could become dangerous, so they could be an upset team as much as anybody.

No. 12 seed UAB Blazers (27-7)

Back to the 12-5 curse, the UAB Blazers are led by former Ole Miss Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy and won the Conference USA Tournament this year. If they could cash in on that curse and upset Houston, well, they get Illinois in the second round. What if somebody upsets Arizona by the time they reach the Sweet 16? Then the Vols really could have a shot at them.

No. 13 seed Chattanooga Mocs (27-7)

Lamont Paris led the Chattanooga Mocs to the Southern Conference regular season and tournament title. On a five-game winning streak, they could have Illinois on upset alert, which would then give them the same path as UAB to potentially face UT in the Elite Eight. Imagine a Cinderella story that pits an all-Tennessee Elite Eight face-off in San Antonio.

No. 16 seed Wright State Raiders (21-13)

Once again, this is a team Tennessee basketball faced in the 2018 NCAA Tournament and beat in the first round. Sixth-year head coach Scott Nagy’s team is back in the Big Dance after winning the Horizon League tournament, but they have a play-in game to then face Arizona.

No. 16 seed Bryant Bulldogs (22-9)

Facing Wright State in the play-in game are the No. 16 seed Bryant Bulldogs, who made their first NCAA Tournament after winning the Northeast Conference regular season and tournament title under fourth-year head coach Jared Grasso. Again, they have to face Arizona if they win that game.

Next. Five things SEC Tournament told us about Vols. dark

No 16-seed has gotten past the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and only one has gotten out of the first round, so it’s highly unlikely Tennessee basketball faces either of these teams if it reaches the Elite Eight. Villanova, Arizona, Illinois and Houston should remain their focus outside of their next opponent.

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