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ESPN: Tennessee Basketball overachieved with 30 wins, another Elite Eight appearance

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•04/01/25•

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Rick Barnes, Tennessee Basketball | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
(Aaron Doster-Imagn Images) Mar 20, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts on the sidelines during the second half against the Wofford Terriers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena.

Winning 30 games and getting back to the Elite Eight for a second straight year meant Tennessee Basketball was an overachiever this season, according to ESPN. 

The Vols (30-8), the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Region, saw their March Madness run end Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in a 69-50 loss to No. 1 Houston.

Tennessee went through No. 15 Wofford and No. 7 UCLA during the first weekend of the tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington, then beat No. 3 Kentucky 78-65 Friday night in the Sweet 16 to get back to the Elite Eight for just the third time in program history.   

“The only thing worse than losing back-to-back Elite Eight games is never getting that far,” ESPN’s Joe Lunardi wrote on Monday. “Before Rick Barnes, that was the case in every Tennessee season but one (2010).”

Tennessee won 30+ games in a season for just the third time in program history

Tennessee started the season 14-0, matching the record for the best start to a season in program history, and spent five weeks ranked No. 1 before losing at Florida on January 7. 

The Vols would finish fourth in the SEC standings and play for the SEC Tournament title before getting a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the third time under Barnes and the fifth time in program history. 

It was only the third time Tennessee has won 30 games in a season. The Vols won 31 games in 2019 and in 2008.

“Like Alabama,” Lunardi continued, “this season’s Vols had the profile of a 1-seed. And also like their SEC rivals, the Vols were taken out by an incredibly strong top seed (in their case Houston). Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the other team.”

‘The Vols aren’t done knocking on the door of the school’s first Final Four’

Tennessee has won 25 or more games for four straight seasons — 27 in 2021-22, 25 in 2022-23, 27 last season and 30 this season — and has won 25 or more games six times under Barnes. 

Last season Tennessee went through No. 15 Saint Peter’s, No. 7 Texas and No. 3 Creighton before losing to No. 1 Purdue in the Elite Eight. 

Lunardi wrote Monday that the Vols aren’t done flirting with an elusive Final Four berth.

“Popular or not, Barnes has been the most successful men’s basketball coach in Tennessee’s history,” he said. “He hasn’t won the most games overall, but he has won the most games that mattered. And the Vols aren’t done knocking on the door of the school’s first Final Four.”

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