Rodney Terry says Tennessee has 'all the ingredients' of being a Final Four team

Tennessee has been knocking on the door of a Final Four appearance ever since Rick Barnes’ arrival in Knoxville. They’ve made four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, and are well on their way to their fifth, but only have one appearance in the second weekend to show for it. However, after Texas lost their Top-10 matchup with the Volunteers this weekend, Rodney Terry believes this edition could go all the way.

Terry listed off everything that makes Tennessee a contender after the Longhorn’s 82-71 defeat in Thompson-Boling Arena. From experience to physicality to guard play, he says Barnes has everything he needs to take the Vols to a Final Four.

“(Tennessee’s) got a lot of experience, they’re older. He’s got guys that can play inside, a number of different guys that can play physical. We always had physical guys that could rebound and defend,” said Terry. “We also always had guys that could shoot the ball…He has a point guard that’s playing really well.”

“They have all of the ingredients of being a Final Four team,” Terry said.

Let’s run down the list. Experience? Check. Of their Top-10 contributors in minutes, four of them are seniors who have been there and done that at Tennessee while one is a graduate student.

Physicality and defense? Check again as that’s Barnes’ calling card. The Volunteers are No. 1 in the nation in points allowed, defensive rating, and adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom. They’re also Top-25 in total rebounds and Top-5 in rebound margin on the glass.

Finally, guard play? One last check. The backcourt combination of Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler gives them stability on both ends. Add in Tyreke Key, Julian Phillips, and Josiah-Jordan James and Barnes has every kind of combination he could want with his guards and how they can play.

An argument can be made that Barnes has had more talented teams in Knoxville. Still, with this year’s team currently sitting in the Top-5 at 18-3, they have a chance to be his best. Whether or not they can be, though, will all come down to what they do over the month of February and, from there, what they accomplish in the postseason.