My God I've never seen a 5 star player not rise to the occasion as much as JJJ. What a non leader!

This team has given it all with a 20+ wins this season. We lost our point guard and scorer which has really disrupted our offense. Yes, we have been hot and cold all year but they have never given up. We made it to the big dance. We one our first game, and I expect us to compete with an outstanding Duke team. Our coach has played with the lineup trying to come up with the best combination. One problem is that when one key player goes cold, it seems like the hold team goes cold. I for one gets as frustrated as everyone else when we go cold and can't even make foul shots. Some of our key loses were last second shots that went in. I am surprised on how Texas A&M got dominated by Penn State, but Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee won their first round games. Kentucky plays today. Virginia loses to Furman. Arizona loses their game. In the NCAA Tournament any team can get hot or go cold at anytime. That's why they call it March madness.

For those that bash the coach and players. Coach Barnes is a small number of coaches that have taken three different teams to the final 16. This is the team that played lights out against top competition all year. Like any other team when they are not making shots, you can get beat which we have already seen in the NCAA tournament. Congratulations for a gutsy performance. We had several players play their best game. Congratulations to you.

And Refs. Announcers can not stand it.

The Vols are heading to New York City.

4-seed Tennessee (24-10) and 5-seed Duke (28-7) meet in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament inside Amway Center in Orlando at 2:40 p.m. ET on CBS.

Winner goes to the Sweet 16.

For updates, follow along in this thread and on Twitter @TennesseeRivals and @ByNoahTaylor.

The Press is wanting Duke to win and so are the refs. Going to be hard to win.

The 4-seed Lady Vols (23-11) are preparing to kick off their NCAA Tournament run with a match against 13-seed Saint Louis (17-17) in Knoxville.

Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET on ABC.

For in-arena updates and discussion all night long, follow here in The Rocky Top Forum and on Twitter @TennesseeRivals and @RyanTSylvia.

Some early morning reading for you for those still awake:

Tennessee-Duke preview:

Vols basketball vs. Duke: Information, notes, lineups, preview

On Jahmai Mashack’s role and his performance in the first round on Thursday:

As Vols look for advantage, Jahmai Mashack providing consistency

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes and select players will meet with the media shortly to preview the 4-seed Vols second round match up with 5-seed Duke on Saturday.

For updates, follow along in this thread and on Twitter @TennesseeRivals and @ByNoahTaylor

From @Ryan Sylvia

From @Ryan Sylvia

Tennessee player grades: Balanced effort leads Vols out of First Round

Takeaways from Tennessee's 58-55 first round win over Louisiana on Thursday:

SECN only covers Bama

Can Anybody Hit A Free Throw

Tennessee (23-10) opens the First Round of the NCAA Tournament against Louisiana (26-7) inside the Amway Center in Orlando at 9:40 p.m. ET tonight on CBS.

For updates and discussion all night long, follow here in The Rocky Top Forum and on Twitter @TennesseeRivals and @ByNoahTaylor.

Quick recap: Tennessee holds off Louisiana, moves on in NCAA Tournament

As long as Rick Barnes is the coach then will expect his teams to always underachieve. This is why there was hardly any excitement from the fan base this year when the team was hyped up. We knew better.

Maybe it's just confidence it will go in is a weapon; but, WHY does the team taking the shot head back down the floor when the shot is mid-air?? Why don't they crash for rebound if shot is missed?
I realize sometimes offensive rebounds happen. Majority seems to be abandonment of opportunity.

@Ryan Sylvia examines how the Vols have performed in star guard Zakai Zeigler's absence:

From @Tyler Bannerman: