The Tennessee basketball team is moving on. Saturday night, the UCLA Bruins were able to keep things pretty close in the first half, but then Chaz Lanier kept on making buckets and the Vols were able to pull away, posting a 67-58 victory.
It was a fantastic win for several reasons. To start, it booked UT its third consecutive trip to the Sweet Sixteen, which is nothing to sneeze at. On top of that, it was easy to see all of the orange that made its way from Knoxville to Lexington.
This was something that understandably made head man Rick Barnes pretty happy. When asked about the fantastic crowd to watch Tennessee take down UCLA in the second round, Barnes delivered a quote that is sure to make you smile.
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes: A lot of people say they have the best fan base in the country. We really do have it. We know we do. They were great up here. They always are.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) March 23, 2025
Rick Barnes continues to say Tennessee has the best fans in the country
If you were at Rupp Arena, don't think for a second that you didn't make a big impact on this game. Matter of fact, if you're a Vols fan, know that Barnes appreciates your passion and it serves as a driving force for the guys inside of the locker room.
Thus far, the Vols are 2-0 in the NCAA Tournament, taking down both Wofford and UCLA with ease. In the Sweet Sixteen, however, things are going to get a bit tougher. The Vols are set to take on Kentucky, and it's fair to say that UK knows how to give Barnes some problems.
We don't have to remind people that Kentucky took down Tennessee both in Knoxville and in Lexington this campaign. The Wildcats have had the Vols' number, which has been a bit disappointing to see.
Because of that, however, plenty of people are fired up that a third dance between the two sides will be on the way. Tennessee will have revenge on its mind with a trip to the Elite Eight on the way. Barnes, Lanier, Zakai Zeigler and others will be focused on the task at hand, but they all know that Vol Nation will be ready to back this program no matter what.