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March Madness 2022: Five reasons Tennessee basketball will make the Final Four

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee forward John Fulkerson (10) walks through the student section after winning the final regular season game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, March 5, 2022. Tennessee defeated Arkansas 78-74.Utark0305 2191
Tennessee forward John Fulkerson (10) walks through the student section after winning the final regular season game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, March 5, 2022. Tennessee defeated Arkansas 78-74.Utark0305 2191 /
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Mar 13, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Uros Plavsic (33) celebrates after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Uros Plavsic (33) celebrates after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s never happened in Tennessee basketball history. However, the Vols have been shedding curses under Rick Barnes ever since he took over, and they overcame one of the biggest barriers this past weekend, ending a 43-year SEC Tournament Championship drought. That opens up March Madness expectations for Rocky Top.

Although they are a No. 3 seed, everything is in place for the Vols to break another major glass ceiling for the program, and that’s reach the Final Four. They have never been able to do that in history despite quite a few successful years and coaches.

Getting there this year would be a huge gift to them since the event is being held in SEC Country, New Orleans to be exact. Simply put, things are lining up for UT to potentially compete for a national championship, but the first goal is coming out of the South Region. Here are five reasons Tennessee basketball reaches the Final Four.

5. Momentum on Vols’ side

It’s always good to enter the postseason on a roll, and that’s exactly what the Vols are doing. Winning the SEC Tournament Title is part of a seven-game winning streak they are on that includes three top 25 wins, two against teams who were in the top five when the Vols faced them. You can’t ask for more than that.

There’s a reason Rick Barnes’ team is now ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll and No. 8 in the Coaches Poll. They are playing their best basketball right now, and that should make them a team nobody wants to play. Given the demon they exorcised in the SEC Tournament, it’s probably even greater.

This success actually goes back to late January. Rocky Top has won 15 of its last 17 outings since an embarrassing blowout loss to the Kentucky Wildcats in January. Their only losses are by one at the Texas Longhorns off a phantom foul call and at the Arkansas Razorbacks, who were unbeatable at home after January, so they’re rolling for March Madness.

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