Tennessee Basketball: Why there's no reason to worry about the Vols
The Tennessee Vols have had a rough seven days. After starting the season on a 23-1 tear, the Volunteers have lost two of their past three games. And the one game they won this past week, against Vanderbilt, wasn't exactly an encouraging performance. But despite Tennessee's recent struggles, I still think they're a legitimate threat […]
The Tennessee Vols have had a rough seven days.
After starting the season on a 23-1 tear, the Volunteers have lost two of their past three games. And the one game they won this past week, against Vanderbilt, wasn't exactly an encouraging performance.
But despite Tennessee's recent struggles, I still think they're a legitimate threat to win the NCAA Tournament in April.
Look, the Vols didn't suddenly forgot how to play basketball. This is still the same team that dominated the first part of the season.
The Kentucky loss was bad, there's no denying that. And the poor performance against Vanderbilt shouldn't have been a surprise coming off the team's first loss in nearly three months.
As for the loss against LSU on Saturday, well that was just a tough road battle against a very good team. The Vols had chances to win the game and it just didn't happen. One made shot here or there (or maybe some time added to the clock at the end of overtime, like there should have been) and perhaps the result would've been different.
Either way, a couple of losses in February will have little effect on Tennessee's performance in the NCAA Tournament next month. The Vols are going to be one of the higher seeded teams in the tournament (there's still a lot of season left, they can easily still end up as a No. 1 seed). And with Zion Williamson's status for Duke uncertain moving forward, it's truly anyone's tournament.
By the way, if you think mentioning that losses in February don't matter is just lip service to make UT fans feel better, here's a stat that speaks for itself.
Tennessee will right the ship. Rick Barnes is a veteran coach that clearly knows how to get the most out of his team.
I don't know what will happen when the NCAA Tournament gets underway (no one does, it's truly unpredictable), but I fully believe the Vols will be as dangerous as any other team that reaches the dance.
Featured image via Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
