(2) Tennessee knocked (7) Texas out of the NCAA Tournament with a 62-58 win that was anything but pretty on Saturday night in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tennessee didn’t need it to be pretty, though.
On a day when Tennessee’s offense shot 33.8 percent from the floor and 12 percent from three-point land, the Vols’ defense was the difference-maker in surviving and advancing to a second straight Sweet 16.
Tennessee will now head to Detroit to take on (3) Creighton in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Detroit, Michigan.
Tennessee’s poor shooting, Texas’ late-game comeback, and the Vols’ Sweet 16 berth combined for the perfect ingredients for a big night on social media.
More from RTI: Tennessee Basketball Survives Slugfest Against Texas
Here’s a look at some of the top reactions from the social media world following Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament win over Texas on Saturday night:
FINAL in CHARLOTTE #MarchMadness
(2) Tennessee: 62
(7) Texas: 58Tennessee survives and advances to the Sweet 16 for a second consecutive year.
It wasn't pretty, but Tennessee found a way to get it done and stay alive at the end.
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) March 24, 2024
Rick Barnes on Zakai Zeigler playing all 40 minutes: He's an iron man.
Josiah-Jordan James on Zeigler's 40 minutes: He's a superhero.
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) March 24, 2024
NCAA Tournament wins since Texas fired Rick Barnes.
Texas: 5
Rick Barnes: 8https://t.co/DcozWPKZ5O— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) March 24, 2024
This is an absolutely insane stat.
The Vols shot 12% from three against Texas tonight and won. Tennessee is now 5-2 in games where they shoot 15% or worse from three since 2020.
— Nathanael Rutherford (@Mr_Rutherford) March 24, 2024
Rick Barnes has Tennessee two wins away from its first Final Four EVER.
Vols are in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year following a dramatic win over Texas.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 24, 2024
Final
Texas 58
Tennessee 62There are a myriad of things that can be said. I’ll say none of them except this: We won, and we move on!!
THAT, is all that matters!! #GBO 🟧⬜️
— Christopher Gabriel (@CGProgram) March 24, 2024
#Tennessee has more NCAA Tournament wins in the last 2 days than #Kentucky does in the last 5 years. #BBN
— Davey Hudson (@Davey_Hudson) March 24, 2024
Tennessee is the first team to ever win an NCAA tournament game while shooting
Less than 15% from 3 (min. 20 3PA)
And
Less than 35% overall from the field
In tourney history, teams that shot this poorly were 0-66 before tonight
They are now 1-66#NCAAMarchMadness https://t.co/agNKnuP9Y9
— Shawn Coleman (@StatsSAC) March 24, 2024
Tennessee keeps dancing 🕺 pic.twitter.com/vWCm9jTILp
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 24, 2024
Tennessee finally won an Ugly game in March..
I can't even start explain how big of a deal that is
— SullenSerf (@SullenSerf) March 24, 2024
Tennessee is the real UT https://t.co/hpJxk2H5m4
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) March 24, 2024
Virginia scored 14 points in the first half against Colorado State.
Colorado State then turned around and scored 11 points in the first half against Texas.
Now, Texas just scored 19 points in the first half against Tennessee.
Virginia may *actually* be contagious.
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) March 24, 2024
Scenes from Knoxville hosting College GameDay in January 2023 – @rockytopinsider pic.twitter.com/myYYEY1VhI
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) March 24, 2024
Since Texas decided to move on from Rick Barnes and Tennessee hired him as their head coach:
Vols: 6 NCAAT appearances, 3 Sweet 16s (including this year)
Texas: 6 NCAAT appearances, 1 Elite 8, 5 first weekend exits
And now the Vols just eliminated Texas in the 2nd Round
— Nathanael Rutherford (@Mr_Rutherford) March 24, 2024
TENNESSEE HANGS ON
HELLO “WE’RE BACK” DEPARTMENT I’D LIKE TO FILE A CLAIM @ConnerHKnapp #3PickPlan pic.twitter.com/ZYgT31L9Br
— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) March 24, 2024
Texas if Tennessee didn’t bail em out. pic.twitter.com/0ns1xcJwZi
— Reed Carringer (@ReedCarringer) March 24, 2024
