Tennessee’s dancing shoes are staying on another week.
The 2-seed Vols went 2-0 in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament with wins over 15-seed Wofford and 7-seed UCLA to advance to their third straight Sweet 16 appearance. The Vols will take on Round 3 action in Indianapolis next weekend.
Tennessee defeated UCLA with a 67-58 win on Saturday night in Rupp Arena, led by 48 points from the senior guard trio comprising of Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier, and Jordan Gainey. Add in Jahmai Mashack for his defensive and fix-it prowess, and Tennessee’s guards are playing strong basketball at the right time for Rick Barnes.
More from RTI: Three Quick Takeaways As Tennessee Basketball Coasts Past UCLA To Advance To Sweet 16
Tennessee-UCLA: Chaz Lanier Breaks Tennessee Basketball Single-Season Three-Point Record
Despite Tennessee’s game pushing midnight Eastern Time, social media was still as active as expected for the Vols’ win. Here’s a look at some of the reactions from X after the Vols’ win over UCLA on Saturday night to advance to the Sweet 16 next week in Indianapolis:
TENNESSEE IS MOVIN’ ON
The Vols are headed to their THIRD straight Sweet 16
pic.twitter.com/4S6TtrEoNr
— ESPN (@espn) March 23, 2025
Tennessee has an elite backcourt. UCLA does not. The Bruins’ major weakness all season was exposed tonight. Rick Barnes and the Vols roll to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 23, 2025
This has been a Tennessee Basketball performance to a tee. Vols have worn down UCLA in the second half and Lanier/Zeigler/Gainey have been fantastic.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 23, 2025
Tennessee G Chaz Lanier on breaking Tennessee’s single-season three-point record: It’s a blessing to be in my position. I want to give all the glory to God because without him I wouldn’t be here.
Lanier says he hasn’t spoken with Chris Lofton yet but is looking forward to it.
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) March 23, 2025
Tennessee backcourt drives the bus. And they did their thing against UCLA.
But the Vols’ rebounding and defense from the front court was just absolutely massive.
Three quick takeaways as the Vols keep dancing
https://t.co/qMKJLLws8v
— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) March 23, 2025
How sweet it is to be a Tennessee Volunteer. Great to have one of our biggest fans – Jim Haslam – in the locker room tonight! https://t.co/Ly5omHJTvY
— Donde Plowman (@DondePlowman) March 23, 2025
Tennessee’s going to the Sweet 16 for a third consecutive season — the first time that’s happened in school history.
— Josh Ward (@Josh_Ward) March 23, 2025
Bert Bertelkamp was on the only and last Tennessee team to play UCLA before tonight (Jan. 30, 1977).
Was on the call for the Vols’ triumph of the Bruins in his final postseason with @VolNetwork pic.twitter.com/B01YppnjRy
— Noah Taylor (@ByNoahTaylor) March 23, 2025
Chaz. Lanier. Is. Hooping.
Give him 120 triples on the year. We’re watching Tennessee at their best tonight. Unreal defense and then when their guards start cooking from deep…good luck.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 23, 2025
Tennessee’s all-time assist king and all-time 3-point king in one crowded hallway. pic.twitter.com/OyC4zCWYWe
— @GrantRamey (@GrantRamey) March 23, 2025
Yaaaassssssssss pic.twitter.com/9fBzOUQo4Q
— Meika Mashack
️ (@Meika_Mashack) March 23, 2025
Chaz Lanier breaks the TENNESSEE SCHOOL RECORD for most made threes in a season, passing Chris Lofton’s mark of 118
Historic season in his only year at Tennessee
— Nathanael Rutherford (@Mr_Rutherford) March 23, 2025
Rick Barnes is the best men’s basketball coach in Tennessee history, whether they get to a Final Four or not.
2 SEC titles, 1 SEC Tournament title, 1 Elite 8, four Sweet 16s, 7 NCAA berths… and not done yet.— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagi) March 23, 2025
Live look at every Tennessee fan in the world pic.twitter.com/RUkV04VWbQ
— SullenSerf (@SullenSerf) March 23, 2025
That feeling when you lead your program to back-to-back-to-back Sweet 16’s for the first time in school history
Rick Barnes continues to set a new standard at the University of Tennessee pic.twitter.com/f0YB6s0kRJ
— Shayne Pickering (@shaynep_media) March 23, 2025
“I SAID IT’S GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL” CHANTS HAVE BROKEN OUT OVER THE BROADCAST
— Barstool Rocky Top (@BarstoolTenn) March 23, 2025
no fight. no grit. no energy.
as soon as things get tough this team disappears
— Barstool UCLA (@StoolWestwood) March 23, 2025
Gonna go out on a limb and say if Tennessee shoots ~50% from three they’re not gonna lose in this tournament.
— Reed Carringer (@ReedCarringer) March 23, 2025
Hats off to Rick Barnes. His team DOMINATED the second half and punched its ticket into the Sweet Sixteen. pic.twitter.com/mFfDsiOXpJ
— Kerry Williams (@kerrywilliams_) March 23, 2025
Penny Hardaway is the actual March underachiever some people think Rick Barnes is.
One tournament win in 7 years.
— Sam (@Sam4Vols) March 21, 2025
— No Context NATIONAL CHAMPION Vols (@ZeroContextVols) March 23, 2025
Good a time as ever @KentuckyNet pic.twitter.com/QazV471uLB
— Orange Inferno
(@VolsAboveAll) March 23, 2025
A little baseball, too.
DIXIELAND DELIGHT IS A SONG ABOUT TENNESSEE…
Football:
Basketball:
Baseball:The Vols dominated Alabama this year. pic.twitter.com/1v4EKiDidJ
— Rocky Top Now (@rockytopnow) March 22, 2025
I hope every Tennessee fan breaks a bone and can’t afford surgery, you’re all insufferable and I hate you
—
(@axe_RTR) March 22, 2025
