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March Madness 2022: NCAA Tournament Round of 64 rooting guide for Tennessee Vols fans

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 8, 2022; Washington, D.C., USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens head coach Martin Ingelsby holds the conference trophy and celebrates with the team after the Colonial Conference Championship game against the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks at Entertainment and Sports Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2022; Washington, D.C., USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens head coach Martin Ingelsby holds the conference trophy and celebrates with the team after the Colonial Conference Championship game against the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks at Entertainment and Sports Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens (15-seed) over Villanova Wildcats (2-seed)

Friday, March 18 at 2:45 p.m. ET; PPG Paints Arena; Pittsburgh, Pa.; CBS

Related Story. NCAA Tourney: Vols' five toughest matchups in South Region. light

By far the biggest rooting interest for the Vols in the March Madness Round of 64 South Region would be the matchup between the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens and the Villanova Wildcats. Villanova is the toughest team for the Vols to face in this region if they want to make the Final Four, so eliminating them early is the top goal.

If ‘Nova isn’t eliminated by Delaware, Loyola-Chicago or Ohio State, then the Vols will have to beat them if they reach the Sweet 16. That’s not a position they want to be in. Delaware winning this game could take that issue out in a hurry.

These two have already played, and unlike the Arizona game, it was on a neutral court, it wasn’t close, and it didn’t end well for Rocky Top. Jay Wright’s team won 71-53. They have the lowest KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency of any team to beat the Vols at No. 29, but they still beat them pretty significantly.

Next. Five reasons Vols will make the Final Four. dark

Even scarier, Villanova may be is hot as the Vols right now. They won the Big East Tournament Championship, are on a five-game winning streak and have won 10 of 11. Taking all that into account, they’d once again be a brutal matchup for Rick Barnes and co., so the sooner they are gone, the better for UT.

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