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'I think Tennessee makes a deep run': ESPN analyst picks Vols to win the NCAA Tournament

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey11/09/23GrantRamey
Rick Barnes
(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports) Mar 13, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes cuts down the net after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies at Amalie Arena.

Three weeks ago ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg spent a day with Tennessee basketball inside Pratt Pavilion, going through a film session with the Vols before watching Rick Barnes put his team through a preseason practice.

He said at the time that he came away “really impressed … for a number of reasons.” He took the hype to the next level this week during an in-studio ESPN segment between games. 

When asked to pick his national champion this season, Greenberg went with Tennessee and explained why:

“I’m gonna go outside the box. We know about Duke, we know about Kansas. But I think a team that has struggled in the NCAA Tournament but I think has a chance is Tennessee.

“Why Tennessee? Dalton Knecht obviously improves them offensively. Jordan Gainey, another guy on the perimeter that can knock down jump shots. They’ve got a really deep, tough, physical, mature backcourt. Santiago Vescovi, obviously can get in the lane, make plays, knock down jumpers. Zakai Zeigler. (Jahmai) Mashack can really defend on the perimeter. 

“They’ve got great depth. They’re playing a much greater flow and in transition. They have more shot-makers. You know they’re going to defend. I think Tennessee makes a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.”

Greenberg certainly isn’t alone at ESPN with the thought that this Tennessee basketball team could advance further than those in the past.

Three of four analysts on Monday picked the Vols as a Final Four team and Rick Barnes twice was the pick for national coach of the year.

ESPN’s John Gasaway, Joe Lunardi, Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf made their picks and projections Monday morning, on the first day of the new college basketball season. Borzello, Gasaway and Lunardi had the Vols in their Final Four and Borzello and Lunardi picked Barnes as their projected Coach of the Year winner.

Up Next: No. 9 Tennessee at Wisconsin, Friday, 9 p.m. ET, Peacock

Borzello’s Final Four picks were Tennessee, Kanas, Michigan State and Baylor while Lunardi had Tennessee. Duke, Purdue and Kansas. Gasaway’s four were Kansas, Purdue, Tennessee and Creighton.

Kansas was the national champion pick for all three. Medcalf’s Final Four was Houston, Kansas, Purdue and Michigan State, with Houston as his national title team.

Lunardi also picked Tennessee in the group’s “most interesting teams” category.

“Tennessee belongs in the best-golfer-never-to-win-a-major category,” Lunardi wrote. “The Vols might be the biggest athletic department never to reach a Final Four. In men’s basketball that is. 

“Rick Barnes has been consistently excellent since arriving in Knoxville, but unable to get past the Sweet 16, despite multiple top-10 teams on KenPom. This could (should?) be the year that changes.”

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