Tennessee Tops Virginia in NCAA Tournament Thriller

Vols advance to Sweet 16 for fourth straight season with 79-72 win over Cavaliers

Mar. 23, 2026 at 1:41am

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Tennessee basketball defeated Virginia 79-72 in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive season. Head coach Rick Barnes praised his team's hard work and resilience in the victory, overcoming a late comeback attempt by the Cavaliers.

Why it matters

Tennessee's win over Virginia marks another deep tournament run for the Vols, who have become a consistent contender under Barnes' leadership. The game showcased the team's balance and ability to withstand challenges, qualities that will be crucial as they continue their pursuit of a national championship.

The details

Tennessee jumped out to an early lead, but Virginia fought back to make it a close game down the stretch. The Vols were able to hold on, thanks in part to strong performances from players like Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Bishop Boswell, who hit a career-high four 3-pointers. Barnes praised his team's toughness and competitiveness, noting that they had to work hard to overcome Virginia's defensive schemes.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 22, 2026 in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Rick Barnes

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team, who has led the program to four consecutive Sweet 16 appearances.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

A key player for Tennessee, who has stepped up to replace the production of former star Zakai Zeigler.

Bishop Boswell

A Tennessee player who hit a career-high four 3-pointers in the win over Virginia.

Ryan Odom

The head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers, who has built the program back into a national contender in a short time.

Nate

A Tennessee player who fought through an injury to contribute to the team's victory.

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What they’re saying

“Just really excited and proud of our guys. They worked hard, they had to, to play a team like Virginia. I got the most respect for Ryan Odom and what he's done in a short time there at Virginia, but really proud of our guys. Both teams played extremely hard throughout. Every possession matters. A great win for us, but I was really proud of these guys. They fought through a lot of things that maybe we didn't have to, but they found a way to fight through it.”

— Rick Barnes, Head Coach, Tennessee Volunteers

“We normally have really high-level practices and we believe that it helps us and so, again, all the credit goes to those guys.”

— Rick Barnes, Head Coach, Tennessee Volunteers

What’s next

The Volunteers will face the winner of the matchup between Alabama and Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Tennessee's victory over Virginia showcases the team's resilience and ability to overcome challenges, traits that will serve them well as they continue their pursuit of a national championship. The Vols' balanced scoring attack and strong defensive effort were key factors in the win.