March Madness is underway. Caleb Calhoun and Dave Hooker discuss Tennessee Basketball being a No. 2 seed in the tournament and the Vols’ potential opponents in the first weekend. They also look back on the conference tournament games and discuss if teams tanked them, and they take a look at spring practice on Off the Hook Sports’ Monday, March 18 podcast.
Did teams tank their conference tournament games?
Five of the six teams jockeying for No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament failed to win their conference tournament championships over the weekend, and four of them lost to unranked teams. Did the top 10 programs take the weekend off knowing how little the selection committee values these events.
Proof Tennessee Basketball tanked vs. Mississippi State
In a 73-56 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Friday, Tennessee Basketball was immediately eliminated from the SEC Tournament. Did the Vols lose the game on purpose? That’s debatable, but there’s verifiable evidence they didn’t put in the effort they have been putting in all season.
Texas in same bracket as Tennessee Basketball
As a No. 2 seed in March Madness, the Vols could potentially face the No. 7 seed Longhorns in the Round of 32, and both teams are favored to win. Texas faces the winner of a game between two No. 10 seeds, increasing that likelihood. Did the Selection committee make this move on purpose?
Previewing Saint Peter’s
The Saint Peter’s Peacocks, a No. 15 seed, will be the first opponent for Tennessee Basketball in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. How big of a threat is this team to UT? Could the Vols be one of the few high-seeded teams that choke every year in March Madness annually, or should this be an easy win?
Pressure on Rick Barnes?
How big of a deal is this year’s NCAA Tournament for Rick Barnes? Throughout his career, Barnes has been an underachiever in March, and it’s only been worse with Tennessee Basketball. Will this be a major stain on his legacy if he can’t make his second Final Four this year or at least the Elite Eight?
Football Vols begin spring practice
In addition to March Madness, Tennessee Football is set to take the field to kick off spring practice on Monday. What are the biggest storylines surrounding Josh Heupel’s fourth spring with the Vols? Is quarterback even that much of a question given what we know about Nico Iamaleava?
