DETROIT — Tennessee Men’s Basketball has only made it to one Elite 8 in program history.
That came in the 2009-2010 season, where UT eventually fell to Michigan State, falling a game short of a Final Four appearance.
The Vols have a chance to make it two appearances and be one of the final eight teams this year if they can beat Creighton in the Sweet 16 on Friday. They are healthy, they are confident and one game away from an Elite 8 for just the second time in program history.
Wayne Chism, a first-team All-SEC selection that season, wants the Vols to find that success again and more. He said this is long overdue. It’s been 14 years since his Elite 8 appearance.
“We want these guys to succeed, we need them to," the former Vols forward said. "Tennessee Basketball has grown so much from Coach Pearl to Mr. Rick Barnes.”
Chism said this Tennessee team is complete. He likes that they have an elite scorer in Dalton Knecht, a defensive stopper in Zakai Zeigler, veterans like Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi, a solid big man in Jonas Aidoo and good role players.
“They have everything in the bag to go do it," he said. "Now is not the time to put it up. Keep playing the way you were playing, but now it’s in the last 16. Now you have to take more out the bag. Go ahead. There’s nothing left to do but leave it out on the floor.”
Chism said they have the intangibles like grit and toughness that showed in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 against Texas, which the Vols won 62-58.
“Tell me that wasn’t a tough one," Chism said. "They figured it out. Rick Barnes, I don’t think he had to say too much. He said it’s a win-or-go-home situation. Now let’s see who the dog is.”
Chism is excited for this Vols team and hopes they can do what his team did and more.
“Tennessee is always criticized — they have good teams during the season but when it gets to tournament play we disappear," he said. "I don’t think that’s happening this year.”
Tennessee will play Creighton for a chance at the Elite 8 on Friday at approximately 10:09 p.m. That game will be televised on TBS.