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March Madness 2022: Five reasons Tennessee Vols could lose to Longwood Lancers in NCAA Tournament

By Caleb Calhoun

Mar 11, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) looks to pass the ball in the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Amelie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) looks to pass the ball in the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Amelie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /
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Longwood head coach Griff Aldrich reacts during a NCAA non-conference men’s basketball game against Iowa, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.211109 Longwood Iowa Mbb 021 Jpg
Longwood head coach Griff Aldrich reacts during a NCAA non-conference men’s basketball game against Iowa, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.211109 Longwood Iowa Mbb 021 Jpg /

3. Longwood’s extended rest

In a way, the Vols winning the SEC Tournament actually disproves the previous slide. After all, if depth is an issue for them, how could they win three games in three days? Well, these things creep up over time, and usually March Madness is just the time to do it.

That’s especially the case if you’ve recently played three games in three days. UT did that with its final game on Sunday, and now it has to play its first NCAA Tournament game on Thursday instead of Friday. Already, that could make the Vols a bit tired, the same way Texas A&M was tired after playing its fourth game in four days on Sunday against Rocky Top.

Longwood, on the other hand, won the Big South Championship the week before. As a result, while the Vols will come into this game on a four-day rest, the Lancers do it on an 11-game rest. Now, that could mess with their rhythm, but it could also have them much more ready to go.

If they are much more ready to go, this is an extension of the depth factor brought up on the previous slide. They will be much better rested and ready to rotate in more fresh legs, and that could prove disastrous for Rick Barnes’ team.

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