'That should be no surprise to anyone who's ever come across a Rick Barnes team' – Wofford's coach gets real about facing Tennessee
The Tennessee Vols' 2025 NCAA Tournament run is set to get underway on Thursday at 6:50 PM ET against the Wofford Terriers. This will be the second time in less than two years that Wofford and Tennessee have faced off. Tennessee beat Wofford 82-61 on November 14, 2023 in Knoxville. The Vols led by just […]
The Tennessee Vols' 2025 NCAA Tournament run is set to get underway on Thursday at 6:50 PM ET against the Wofford Terriers.
This will be the second time in less than two years that Wofford and Tennessee have faced off.
Tennessee beat Wofford 82-61 on November 14, 2023 in Knoxville. The Vols led by just five points at the half before outscoring the Terriers by 16 points in the second half.
Earlier this week, Wofford head coach Dwight Perry, a Durham, NC native who played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats, spoke to Fox Carolina about facing the Volunteers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Perry admitted that he's expecting a very physical game against Rick Barnes' squad based on his experience from coaching against the Vols in 2023.
"It's probably the toughest opponent from a physicality standpoint that you'll face," said Perry. "I mean, that should be no surprise to anyone who's ever come across a Rick Barnes team. They're tough, they're physical, they're hard-nosed. It's going to be a 40 minute battle. And there will never be a possession in which it's not going to be a physical war. But that's what you want when you're playing on this stage."
It's not just Wofford that's expecting a tough game on Thursday evening.
Vols assistant coach Rod Clark made it clear this week that Tennessee isn't treating Wofford like a "cupcake" just because this is a first round matchup between a No. 2 seed and a No. 15 seed.
"Immediately when that name popped up, obviously as coaches you kind of snap and get into that moment where okay, now it’s time to prepare," said Clark earlier this week. "It was not an ‘oh, man, we got a cupcake game.’ No, not at all. We’re taking Wofford extremely serious. We know they’re a good team and obviously they came in here and competed against us with some of the same guys they have on this team”
If Tennessee gets past Wofford on Thursday, they'll face the winner of the first round matchup between Utah State and UCLA.
