What a Sweet 16 berth would mean to Tennessee basketball seniors
Mike WilsonORLANDO, Fla. — Josiah-Jordan James lived the dichotomy of the NCAA Tournament last March, getting a dose of the thrill and the cruelty.
The Tennessee basketball guard wants more of the former — the feeling the Vols got last year beating Longwood, but taking it further this time.
“We want to do something that we have never done,” James said. “That is something that we have never done.”
That something is reaching the second weekend and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. James and Tennessee’s seniors haven’t achieved that during their three appearances.
They have a chance to do so when the No. 4 Vols (24-10) face No. 5 Duke (27-8) on Saturday (2:40 p.m. ET, CBS) at the Amway Center.
QUOTES:What Duke players said about Tennessee basketball, matchup in NCAA Tournament
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Tennessee’s seniors looking to check another box on a legacy
Tennessee’s senior class has won 86 games in the past four seasons, including two shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Only two were in the NCAA Tournament, including Thursday’s 58-55 opening-round win against No. 13 Louisiana.
“We are hungry,” senior forward Olivier Nkamhoua said. “We are a group of guys that have put a lot of effort into the program and into getting here and being in the tournament. …
“But being here means only so much. It is only so satisfying really and truly. We want to make something happen — make something special happen."
UT’s core senior group of James, Nkamhoua, Uros Plavsic, and Santiago Vescovi has been part of high-level successes at Tennessee. The Vols won the SEC Tournament last season for the first time since 1979 prior to the second-round loss to Michigan after an opening-round win against Longwood.
They also orchestrated UT’s 18-3 start to this season and consistent top-10 rankings in the past two seasons.
But there is a missing piece to their legacy. This group, which also includes transfer Tyreke Key and walk-on Kent Gilbert, hasn’t pushed past the opening weekend in March.
“We were able to accomplish the first game and get the first game done,” James said. “It is not over. We know the feeling we had last year after losing to Michigan. We don’t want to have that feeling again.”
Tennessee is pushing for a second Sweet 16 berth under Rick Barnes
Tennessee was eliminated by Oregon State as a No. 5 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, the first taste the senior class had of the postseason.
UT has made the NCAA Tournament five times under Barnes, a run that includes two second-round losses and one Sweet 16 appearance in 2019.
“This is what we live for,” Plavsic said. “This is the most important part of the year for us."
Tennessee has a 5-4 record in the NCAA Tournament under Barnes, including the 2-2 mark since this senior class arrived. A win against Duke would send the Vols to New York City for the East Regional and guarantee the seniors won’t leave Tennessee with a losing record in the NCAA Tournament.
The senior Vols know what's at stake. They also know what it will take.
“We know we have to lock in and play even better than we played (Thursday),” Vescovi said. “That is what March is about. Keep building on momentum, one at a time and get better every single game.”
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.