With so few upsets during the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, this week’s Sweet 16 promises to be an incredible treat packed with blue blood programs, all-American players and the Hall of Fame-worthy coaches.
There is only one problem with this.
Since so many of these teams have similar records and CVs, it makes it extra difficult to discern which teams are legitimate and which can just end.
But just as some point guards are blessed with incredible vision, we are blessed with the ability to see through some individuals and teams.
For example, when NCAA throws its annual basketball base in March, you can be sure that Rick Barnes will be there.
You can also be pretty much sure that Barnes will leave the party early – or at least make sure not to exceed his welcome.
Here is what we mean: During the last 30 NCAA tournaments, the 70-year-old Barnes has served as head coach in 26 of them. It covers his last season at Providence, three of his four seasons on Clemson, all six of his years at Texas and the last seven of his nine seasons at Tennessee. During the era before zero, he needed two years to rebuild the program, and he has done pretty well.
Barnes has been so good for so long, he is ranked 11th place on the Division I list over all the time with 835. He has also been nominated for Basketball Hall of Fame, which will reveal his class 2025 Honorees on April 5-cake Final Four Saturday.
Will Barnes and his Tennessee Vols be in San Antonio that day in work ability? You are the judge.
Of the 26 NCAA performances over the past 30 years, guess how many times children’s team has exceeded their seed? (Tip: Don’t waste too much time on this.)
Answer: Once.
It happened in 2002, when Hans Texas Longhorns got a seed no.
Now guess how many times children’s team has underperformed their seed. Would you believe 13 times in 26 tournaments?
So when you stare at Sweet 16 Matchups and wonder which coaches (and programs) may feel some extra heat, bubbles Tennessee to the top quickly.
Barnes has not only a number of Mars on his resume, Tennessee has never reached a final Four.
To put Rocky Top even more on Edge, Tennessee goes into a tough situation Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Yes, Vols is No. 2 seed compared to Kentuckys No. 3 seeds. Yes, online sports books have generally installed Vols as a four -point favorite.
But Kentucky both won regular seasonal meetings with Tennessee-78-73 and 75-64 and Big Blue Nation is notorious to acquire more than its share of tickets for any NCAA tournament. With Lexington, Kentucky, just a three-hour drive from Indianapolis, Wildcats fans will safely surpass Vols fans on Tribunen.
As determined above, if Tennessee does not beat Kentucky, it would simply repeat the pattern for Barnes and Vols.
But what happens if Tennessee somehow won the Midwest region? It would delete all previous years’ shortcomings and then some.
Heck, Barnes can get a statue in Knoxville – not so far from the one who celebrates the late pat Summitt and her eight national championships.
We also assume that Barnes can say something similar to what he offered well after midnight Saturday after Tennessee’s second round victory over UCLA.
“We have the best fan base in the country, and we believe it,” Barnes said. “Everyone says it. We really believe in it. … I obviously have the best coaching staff in the country, but (credit) goes to the players. It is they that grind it every day.”
