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Rick Barnes recaps Tennessee's win over UCLA basketball in NCAA Tournament second round

Rick Barnes recaps Tennessee's win over UCLA basketball in NCAA Tournament second round

USA Today23-03-2025

Rick Barnes recaps Tennessee's win over UCLA basketball in NCAA Tournament second round
No. 2 seed Tennessee (29-7) will compete in its third consecutive Sweet 16. The Vols advanced to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 after defeating No. 7 seed UCLA (23-11), 67-58, Saturday in the second round at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
Following Tennessee's victory against the Bruins, head coach Rick Barnes recapped the Vols' performance.
'Just the utmost respect for Mick Cronin and his UCLA team,' Barnes said. 'We knew coming in how hard they play and they take on his personality. We kept talking about that all day yesterday and today. Exactly the way the game started out, that's what we expected, both teams playing their hearts out, going after it.
'Really proud of our guys. I thought we stayed in there, did a better job rebounding tonight than we have in the last couple of weeks. It's something that we needed and proud of our guys for getting that done."
Tennessee will face either No. 3 seed Kentucky or No. 6 seed Illinois in the Sweet 16.

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