CHICAGO — As Michigan continued extending its lead and it became clear that there would be no comeback, the pain set in again for a Tennessee program living on the doorstep. Another year, another Final Four without Tennessee.
No program has won more games in the 87-years history of the NCAA Tournament without reaching a Final Four than Tennessee. It’s an agonizing reality that SEC rival fans will remind Tennessee of every chance they get for the next 365 days.
Veteran head coach Rick Barnes, who made the 2003 Final Four at Texas, expressed a longing to get Tennessee to the final weekend of the tournament following the game that he hasn’t often done.
“We want more,” Barnes said postgame. “There’s no doubt we want more. We want to break through this thing.”
There are lessons to learn from a second straight blowout loss in the Elite Eight. There’s debates to have about what Tennessee needs to do differently to get over the hump. Shotmaking has eluded Tennessee each of the last two seasons in the Elite Eight.
Tennessee running into the Michigan buzzsaw is another lesson on taking advantage when the bracket opens up for you. Over the last three seasons, Tennessee has played the highest possible seed in all 12 of its NCAA Tournament games. When the bracket broke wide open in 2023 and 2018, Tennessee didn’t capitalize.
The Vols are one of three teams to make the Sweet 16 four straight seasons. Duke is the only other program to make the Elite Eight three straight years.
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That success, in some ways, makes the losses hurt all the more. But the longing for four straight wins in March should not cloud the accomplishments.
This Tennessee team, who lost 10 games in the regular season and was the lowest seeded team of Barnes’ tenure, making it to the Elite Eight should be celebrated. A month ago, the Vols looked like they may reach the Sweet 16 but seemed more likely bound for an early exit.
It’s a testament to Barnes, his staff and Tennessee’s players for continuing to improve and find a way to play its best basketball at the right time of the year. But even on their very best day, these Vols would have struggled with this Michigan team.
Tennessee will get its break through one day. I don’t know when. I don’t know if Barnes will be the coach when they do. But if you keep taking hacks at the piñata, it will eventually break.
Don’t let the longing for that day keep you from enjoying the ride. Sports are fun. Winning is fun. And Tennessee basketball is winning at a clip few teams are nationally. That includes the NCAA Tournament, somewhere critics claimed Barnes was incapable of winning at all a few short years ago.
There’s a lot to enjoy about this current iteration of Vol hoops. While I believe they will continue to be successful after Barnes hangs it up, there’s no guarantee of that. Failing to enjoy good things out of a desperate desire for great things is a path to misery.
Tennessee basketball is really good. Don’t miss out on the ride while longing for the break through.
