Vols beat Bama to start March Madness (Photo from UT IG)
Welcome to March, the madness has already started. On Saturday, the No. 5 ranked University of Tennessee basketball team hosted the No. 6 ranked University of Alabama in front of a sold out crowd. This wasn’t just another SEC matchup, a number one seed in the NCAA tournament was on the line.
The Game
With seeding on the line, this game was more than a heated rivalry. This game was a dog fight. The crowd was so loud the announcers had trouble hearing each other. With four minutes left in the game, I had so much nervous energy I had to start walking on my treadmill. I’ll save your resting heart rate with the suspense and fast forward to a tie game with 3.8 seconds left. Tennessee got the ball back due to an Alabama inbounds violation. (Beka, you have five seconds to throw the ball inbounds. The Vols defense was so good that Bama couldn’t find an open player to throw the ball to in time. It became a turnover and UT got the ball.)
Jahmai Mashack dribbles, and shoots from 40 feet right on The” of ‘The Summitt’ logo on the floor and BOOOOM Tennessee wins 79-76! Pro tip; I don’t recommend jumping on a moving treadmill. I called my twin, we were both in shock. WHAT A BLEEPING ENDING!
Mashack said after the game. “We know what we’re built for, we know who we are. This is what we’ve done every single day. Don’t question what it is. I don’t care if we are down 20. I don’t care if we are up 20. You stick to the program.” The win over No. 6 Bama was the Vols eighth consecutive win in Knoxville against a top-10 team. (In case you were wondering, the last four minutes in college basketball is over 18 minutes long and almost a two mile walk on the treadmill.)
Everything School
When Tennessee beats Alabama, you pull out the cigar and light it up. Just ask UT football coach, Josh Heupel, he knows the tradition well.
The Vols have now beat Bama in football, Women’s basketball, and Men’s basketball in the same academic year. Que Dixieland Delight; and sing it loud “On a Tennessee Saturday Night”!
Tournament Time
And why was this game so important? The win over the Crimson Tide puts Tennessee in prime position to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament later this month. Alabama was a No. 1 seed entering the game, according to CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm. But Bama will now fall to a No. 2 seed with the loss, while the Volunteers will take the Tide’s place on the top line, moving from a No. 2 seed to a No. 1 seed. (CBSSports.com) Selection Sunday is March 16th. I still have no idea why this isn’t recognized as a federal holiday, but it is definitely a holy day for the St.Clair family.
Dick Vitale
To make this game even more special, Dick Vitale was welcomed back to Rocky Top! He is one of the most iconic voices in college basketball. Vitale is now 85 years old and has battled four different cancers in the last four years that has forced him to take time away from the sidelines. Saturday’s game was only his fourth game this season. To honor Vitale, the Tennessee players donated ten thousand dollars of their NIL money to the V Foundation, a nonprofit to fight cancer research. An incredible gesture from a great group of guys on and off the court.
March is here baby, let the madness begin. Let’s Go Vols!
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