3 Straight Elite 8s

#76
#76
Narrowed down to post expansion:

Duke: 1988–92
Florida: 2011–14
Kansas: 2002–04, 2016–18
Kentucky: 1995–99, 2010–12
Michigan: 1992–94
Michigan State: 1999–2001
North Carolina: 2007–09
UCLA: 2006–08
UNLV: 1989–91
Tennessee: 2024–26
3 straight elite 8, last accomplished in 2018, is an amazing achievement!
I expect this team to fire on all cylinders from here on out. I believe Coach has everyone bought in and playing as a team should. Orange all the way!!!
 
#78
#78
Not to mention that Bama plays matador defense. As in none. Michigan will see some defense tomorrow.
You're right about that. Bama was 60th in defensive efficiency on KenPom. We are 11th. Michigan lost this year to Wisonsin (54th, but shot the lights out from three), Purdue (36th, but #1 on offense), and Duke (6th in offense, 2nd in defense). I have no worries about our defense, but we are going to have to make shots for 40 minutes to have a chance.
 
#79
#79
yeah but Michigan's "average game" this season is 87.5 ppg and 51% shooting. that's 8th in the country in points and 4th in %.

Tennessee by comparison is more than 8 points lower and 94th in the country.

Michigan would not just have to play an average game, they would have to play significantly below their average for an average Tennessee performance to beat them.

but an average Michigan team could get beat by an exceptional Tennessee team.

there's a reason that the Tennessee/Michigan game has the largest spread in Vegas of all the elite 8 games.
Obviously this is just my opinion, but I’m viewing what I think Michigan’s average game would be against a Tennessee defense not their average against their whole season opponents. It’s all conjecture until they lace em up and play ball. Go VOLS!
 
#80
#80
Just heard a wild stat from a caller on Basilio's postgame. In these 3 straight E8s, we have faced chalk in every single round. We have not benefitted one time from upsets in our bracket, always facing the highest seed possible. That is wild to see that in 3 straight NCAATs spanning 12 games.
Flipside is when things do open up, we've wet the bed and given rise to Cinderella's.
 
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#82
#82
Who thinks like that?
When one program is overachieving, it puts a little internal pressure on the others. Same as a well run department in a business bringing more value than another department. Everyone is in competition, even the players with each other yet still on the same team. People either improve their performance, maintain or fall off in competition. The basketball team has overperformed this year in my mind (preseason #18 but will finish top 10 vs football (preseason #24 I think and ended unranked).

So I guess that’s why I think this way. Maybe you don’t and that’s okay too.
 
#83
#83
What’s also interesting is that the same broadcast crew of Catalon, Lappas, and Washburn have called our regional games all three years. Hopefully, third time’s a charm and we get it done this year.
 
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#84
#84
When one program is overachieving, it puts a little internal pressure on the others. Same as a well run department in a business bringing more value than another department. Everyone is in competition, even the players with each other yet still on the same team. People either improve their performance, maintain or fall off in competition. The basketball team has overperformed this year in my mind (preseason #18 but will finish top 10 vs football (preseason #24 I think and ended unranked).

So I guess that’s why I think this way. Maybe you don’t and that’s okay too.
We just won the all sports trophy.
 
#85
#85
Is there anybody left that thinks TN is just a football school that was lucky to get a hall of fame coach and DW will have to beg an unproven coach to take this job when RB retires?
In my lifetime of 62 years, UT has had more years of national relevance in basketball than they have in football. We will certainly be an attractive job when Barnes finally hangs it up. Still going to be a hot young guy. No one is coming from a "blue blood". It will even be difficult to lure someone like May to UT
 
#88
#88
I will say this: if we win tomorrow it will be more surprising to me than had we beaten Purdue two years ago or Houston last year. Both games I went into with excitement that we were a juggernaut who could go toe-to-toe with them. I think Michigan, Arizona, and Duke have been in a class by themselves all season. Then again, I didn’t feel confident going into last night, so what do I know?

What I do know is this team keeps proving everyone wrong and hopefully they can do it again, tomorrow. What an incredible story that would be. GBO!
As for the Purdue game, Edy got every call and advantage all night long. If it was called appropriately, good chance we would have come out the winner. Hate for things like this to keep Barnes and team out of the final 4.
 
#89
#89
As for the Purdue game, Edy got every call and advantage all night long. If it was called appropriately, good chance we would have come out the winner. Hate for things like this to keep Barnes and team out of the final 4.
Agree here. We had that game under a decent ref crew. Purdue was the media darling as well.
 
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#91
#91
Will Wade was my son’s basketball team manager back at FRA (Nashville) . He never played a lick of basketball, but even back then was a basketball genius. Aside from the “stuff” at LSU and the move now, he is a very good coach.
He’s an ass and knows it. He plays it up. Going from Barnes to Wade is night and day, and our administration won’t be doing that.
 
#93
#93
In my lifetime of 62 years, UT has had more years of national relevance in basketball than they have in football. We will certainly be an attractive job when Barnes finally hangs it up. Still going to be a hot young guy. No one is coming from a "blue blood". It will even be difficult to lure someone like May to UT
There are lots of good PROVEN young-ish coaches out there that aren’t coaching a blue blood. We may have defeated a couple examples in the tourney already. Kansas State just hired one from near me that I expect will have them very respectable very soon. (Casey Alexander) is not a household name but he’s coached a long time and won a lot of games and even followed a legend at Belmont and kept it going. My point is DW doesn’t have to just go with a Kim Caldwell or Josh Elander. Which seems to be his MO. How’s that working out for him.
 
#94
#94
It will happen every now and then. Get over it
Damn, you sound just like my airbnb partner who also went to UT (I did as well). Is this Matt? If so, yes we are spreading pine needles tomorrow.

Still unacceptable to lose to Vandy and finish outside the top 25 in football in the same year or any year.

I guess I just prefer a higher standard.
 
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#95
#95
Damn, you sound just like my airbnb partner who also went to UT (I did as well). Is this Matt? If so, yes we are spreading pine needles tomorrow.

Still unacceptable to lose to Vandy and finish outside the top 25 in football in the same year or any year.

I guess I just prefer a higher standard.
You shouldn't guess. Worrying about 1 year during this new age of college athletics is crazy. It bothers me that we lost to Vandy but I am not going to overreact to it. If they start doing it on a regular basis then it's a problem.
 
#96
#96
There are lots of good PROVEN young-ish coaches out there that aren’t coaching a blue blood. We may have defeated a couple examples in the tourney already. Kansas State just hired one from near me that I expect will have them very respectable very soon. (Casey Alexander) is not a household name but he’s coached a long time and won a lot of games and even followed a legend at Belmont and kept it going. My point is DW doesn’t have to just go with a Kim Caldwell or Josh Elander. Which seems to be his MO. How’s that working out for him.
When the time comes, the tea leaves say it will be Josh Schertz.
 
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#97
#97
There are lots of good PROVEN young-ish coaches out there that aren’t coaching a blue blood. We may have defeated a couple examples in the tourney already. Kansas State just hired one from near me that I expect will have them very respectable very soon. (Casey Alexander) is not a household name but he’s coached a long time and won a lot of games and even followed a legend at Belmont and kept it going. My point is DW doesn’t have to just go with a Kim Caldwell or Josh Elander. Which seems to be his MO. How’s that working out for him.
I get it. Making the right choice is critical. I think it's a but premature to judge Elander at this point, and also Caldwell. Next year will be critical for her
 
#98
#98
Will Wade would be the last coach I’d want in Knoxville.
Not only is he a huge scumbag, but he’s N overrated one at that.

People treat him like he’s a young Roy Williams, but he’s only been to one sweet sixteen in his entire career thus far. I have never seen the appeal in him.
 

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