Tennessee almost pulled off an improbable comeback before losing in heart-wrenching fashion in overtime to Purdue in the Sweet 16.
No lead is safe when Tennessee is on the court. After blowing a 25-point first-half lead in the Round of 32 before beating Iowa, Tennessee overcame an 18-point second-half deficit vs. Purdue. Unfortunately for the Vols, the result wasn’t the same, as the Boilermakers won 99-94 in overtime to advance to the Elite 8.
The loss keeps Tennessee from matching their program-best result in the NCAA Tournament when the 2010 men’s team advanced to the Elite 8.
Conversely, this is the first Elite 8 for Purdue since 2000.
Tennessee had a magical season that looked for a long time that they could be the team to cut the nets down as national champions. Rick Barnes had them atop the Top 25 for several weeks as the Vols ran off win after win behind Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield.
It’s a season that didn’t end how they liked, but it was a season that served as the boost the Tennessee program sorely needed. This team is headed in the right direction, although they will greatly miss their senior leaders.
But the season reinvigorated the fanbase that had been burned in the past by Bruce Pearl and Shaka Smart, but with Barnes, they can rest better tonight knowing bright days are ahead.
Sure, it’s going to be a tough night, especially considering the fashion in which they lost. In the closing seconds, Tennessee was called for a questionable fall on Carsen Edwards who was in the act of shooting a 3. Edwards clanked the first but nailed the next two to force overtime.
If not for that questionable foul call, the Vols are advancing to the Elite 8 after one of the bigger second-half comebacks in NCAA Tournament history.
While it’s easy to blame the refs after a loss, Tennessee missed half their free throws, (14-28) and if you can’t make your free throws, you’re not going to win most games.
That’ll sting all offseason, but the team will use that as motivation during offseason workouts, and it’ll help them when they get back on this stage this time next year.