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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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Dec 29, 2021; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) drives to the basket against Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2021; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) drives to the basket against Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Vols are battle-tested

Experience playing top-notch competition is a big deal for when it comes to March Madness, and Tennessee basketball has it. The Vols have played one game against a No. 1 seed, five games against No. 2 seeds, one game against a No. 3 seed and two games against a No. 4 seed. Against top four seeds, they are 5-4 on the year.

Against teams in the NCAA Tournament, they are 7-7, and they are 9-7 against teams who should have been in the Big Dance if you add the Texas A&M Aggies. They have the second-most Quadrant 1 wins of anybody in the nation according to the NCAA NET Rankings with 11, trailing only the Kansas Jayhawks, who have 12, which is why they are No. 7 there.

In lesser analytical rankings, UT has the No. 2 ranked strength of schedule and No. 3 ranked strength of record in the ESPN BPI, which is why they are No. 4 there. They have the No. ranked strength of schedule and nine quality wins, five double-quality wins in the RealTime RPI, which is why they are No. 5 there.

Quality wins include the No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats, No. 2 seed Kentucky twice, the No. 2 seed Auburn Tigers, the No. 4 seed Arkansas Razorbacks and the No. 6 seed LSU Tigers. They are also tested away from home, beating UK on a neutral site. As a result, they should be ready.

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