2007 vs. Virginia
Tennessee hadn’t made it to the Sweet Sixteen since 2000 before the 2007 tournament. But that all changed thanks to a scrappy and young Vol squad.
The Vols were in between great seasons in the 2006-07 season. Tennessee had vaulted onto the scene in 2005-06 in Pearl’s first year, and the 2007-08 group would be the No. 1 team in the country briefly and still holds the record for most wins in a single season in school history.
Tennessee’s 2006-07 team had more expectations on them in Pearl’s second season, and they largely stayed afloat during the season, going 22-10 before the tournament. The Vols were looking to get back to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in over half a decade when they took on Virginia in the second round, and they had to fight and claw their way to a win.
Chris Lofton was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the closing seconds of the game, and Tennessee pulled out a 77-74 win over the Cavaliers, advancing to their first Sweet Sixteen since 2000 in the process.
“When you reach the Sweet Sixteen at the University of Tennessee with the way we’ve had to rebuild, you’ve made a special place in history for yourself,” veteran guard Dane Bradshaw said after the victory.
