Rick Barnes and the Sweet 16 go hand and hand.

The Vols are back among the NCAA Tournament’s final 16 teams standing in March Madness for the second straight year and the third time during Barnes’ tenure.

But, this round of March Madness remains a familiar pitfall for Tennessee, which has never made a Final Four.

Barnes’ lone Final Four appearance came in 2003 at Texas. He’s in the Sweet 16 for the ninth time.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams handicap the hurdles remaining in Tennessee’s path to the Final Four.

One host says Purdue is the biggest obstacle, while the other two hosts make the case for Creighton. They also debate whether they're more or less confident in Tennessee after two rounds of March Madness.

Tap the link in bio for more details.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

<a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/mens-basketball/2024/03/24/dalton-knecht-stats-tennessee-texas-sweet-16-bracket-ncaa-tournament/73013399007/" aria-label="Link Rick Barnes">Rick Barnes</a> and the <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/gentry-estes/2024/03/23/tennessee-basketball-texas-rick-barnes-march-madness-defense/73013168007/" aria-label="Link Sweet 16">Sweet 16</a> go hand and hand.
The <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/mens-basketball/2024/03/23/tennessee-texas-score-march-madness-bracket-update-ncaa-tournament/73013407007/" aria-label="Link Vols are back among the NCAA Tournament’s final 16 teams">Vols are back among the NCAA Tournament’s final 16 teams</a> standing in March Madness for the second straight year and the third time during Barnes’ tenure.
But, this round of March Madness remains a familiar pitfall for Tennessee, which has never made a Final Four.
Barnes’ lone Final Four appearance came in 2003 at Texas. He’s in the Sweet 16 for the ninth time.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ByMikeWilson" aria-label="Link Mike Wilson">Mike Wilson</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> handicap the hurdles remaining in Tennessee’s path to the Final Four.
One host says Purdue is the biggest obstacle, while the other two hosts make the case for Creighton. They also debate whether they're more or less confident in Tennessee after two rounds of March Madness.
Tap the link in bio for more details.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

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