Tennessee defeats Iowa State to make it to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year

CHICAGO — Tennessee’s Annual Elite Eight Journey Continues

Tennessee seems to be making a habit of reaching the Elite Eight—this year, they’re aiming to push further.

In their recent game, Nate Ament contributed 18 points and Jacobi Gillespie added another 16, leading Tennessee to a 76-62 victory over Iowa State. This win marks the Volunteers’ third consecutive trip to the regional final.

The team showcased a strong rebounding effort and a powerful second half to secure the win against Iowa State (29-8), continuing their success under coach Rick Barnes, who has been with the program for 11 seasons. The Volunteers faced setbacks in previous Elite Eights, losing to Houston last year and Purdue in 2024. The last time they reached this stage was in 2010 under coach Bruce Pearl.

“We have high standards across the board, not just in basketball,” Barnes mentioned. “We take our program seriously. We communicate this during the recruiting process. It’s challenging, but we want players who are ready to embrace it and pursue their dreams of winning a national championship.”

While Barnes led Texas to the Final Four in 2003, he hasn’t yet achieved that feat at Tennessee.

This sixth-seeded team (25-11) now faces a significant challenge: on Sunday, they will meet top-seeded Michigan in the Midwest Regional final. The Wolverines secured their place by defeating Alabama 90-77, with Jaksel Lendeborg playing a crucial role in that win.

Ament hit three 3-pointers in the game, while Felix Okpara recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jalen Carey added 11 points and 10 boards, helping the Volunteers outscore the Cyclones 43-22.

“I’m just enjoying this journey with these guys,” Okpara noted. “We’ve worked hard all summer, and it’s rewarding to see how that effort is paying off.”

On the other side, Iowa State’s Nate Hise and Tamin Lipsey each scored 18 points, but it was clear that the Cyclones missed their injured star, Joshua Jefferson.

Jefferson, an All-American forward, got injured just minutes into their first March Madness game against Tennessee State and didn’t play in their win over Kentucky State either. He had been averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists before the injury.

“It’s been a really tough situation for us,” said coach TJ Otzelberger. “We wanted Joshua to feel supported, and we did everything we could to prepare him. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough. He’s a fierce competitor and deserved better treatment during this process.”