Tennessee basketball

Tennessee basketball senior Josiah-Jordan James is one of those players. So in a somber and quiet locker room, multiple sets of eyes were locked in on him when ...

They’ve accomplished a lot and won a lot of games. Not due to a lack of effort. This was a lack of confidence. Playing a winnable Sweet 16 game in the world’s most famous arena against a mid-major team that -- while undeniably feisty -- was smaller and less talented and trailed by nine in the first half. [Forever good and never great](https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2023/03/24/tennessee-basketball-rick-barnes-march-madness-sweet-16-ncaa-tournament-history/70022326007/) is a special brand of torture for a sports fan. None of the four seniors scored more than James’ 10 points. “Even to make it this far is a blessing. I also know that of the four teams that played in the East Regional in New York on Thursday night, three played as if they belonged. Maximum effort was all that Tennessee had left, really, having been stripped down to this version by injuries and a late-season slide. “Sometimes you don't seek it out, but things get back to you. They were sad, of course. Things get sent to you.”

Tennessee basketball couldn't get it done against the FAU Owls and failed to make it past the Sweet Sixteen for the 8th time in 9 appearances.

It’s a shame that the Volunteers lost, but if we look back on the season, it was one hell of a run. And then along with that, offensive rebounds where we let them get downhill, a couple situations where those — we did a better job in the second half staying down on shot fakes. I don’t understand how the best defense in the nation lets a pretty average FAU team do that and score 40 points in the second half of the game. A common theme from both Vescovi and Barnes is the crucial factor of letting them get second chance opportunities. They had a five-point lead at halftime, and it seemed like the game was theirs. It felt like this game was in the Vols’ hands, and they just gave it to FAU.

Duke fans naturally took an interest in Tennessee's game vs. Florida Atlantic Thursday after the Vols pushed Duke around last weekend. We had FAU to advance ...

Even so, it’s just really surprising to see a mature, older team roll over like this, and to admit it. Some of that has to do with that answer not just on the offensive end but it’s the defensive end, too. He did make the Elite Eight the following season, 2007-08, but since then he’s made the Sweet Sixteen just twice, this year obviously and in 2018-19. You’d expect them to be, but it’s a big stage.” No knock on the school, but it’s not a top-tier university. You’re not going to get McDonald’s All-American’s at a school like FAU.