How Sweet It Is!: Tennessee’s Triple Threat: Vanderbilt, Vols and MTSU Advance to Round of 16!

Photo / by Andrew Ferguson - UT Athletics

Nashville is buzzing as three Tennessee-area programs — the Vanderbilt women, the Tennessee men and the Middle Tennessee State (MTSU) women — have all advanced to the last 16 of their respective postseason tournaments. Each program brings a different storyline: Vanderbilt’s return to the NCAA Sweet 16 after a long drought, Tennessee’s sustained national relevance in the men’s bracket, and MTSU’s continued WNIT success and program stability. Together they showcase the depth of basketball across the state and give fans plenty to celebrate.

Vanderbilt Women

The No. 2-seeded Commodores stamped their ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008–09 with a convincing 75–57 win over Illinois. Vanderbilt’s balanced attack — three players in double figures for the 30th time this season — was spearheaded by sophomore Mikayla Blakes, who poured in 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while flirting with a triple-double. Blakes’ remarkable scoring total this season (891) broke the NCAA Division I sophomore scoring mark and underlines her importance to the program.

Senior Justine Pissott’s 18 points and timely threes, plus freshman Aubrey Galvan’s emergence, give head coach Shea Ralph reliable pieces around Blakes. Vanderbilt’s defensive discipline (holding Illinois to under 30 percent shooting) and efficient offense (11 made 3s, 43.8 percent FG) point to a team capable of making a deeper run.

Suggestion: Lean into Blakes’ playmaking — utilizing her to create for teammates off pick-and-rolls and early offense could open more 3-point looks for Pissott and Galvan in the matchup with Notre Dame.

Tennessee Men

The Volunteers continue a run of consistency under Rick Barnes, reaching the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year. Tennessee’s roster combines veteran toughness with efficient, physical rebounding (notably an elite offensive rebounding percentage) and timely guards like Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who exploded for 50 points and 15 assists across the first two rounds.

Tennessee’s march to the second weekend was emphatic: wins over 30-win opponents back-to-back, and a program-wide commitment to winning the glass and controlling tempo. Barnes’ well-established systems and depth keep the Vols among the nation’s most reliable tournament teams.

Suggestion: Against Iowa State’s size and Momcilovic’s scoring, Tennessee should emphasize perimeter discipline on defense to limit second-chance opportunities, while pushing pace selectively to exploit transition mismatches and get Gillespie into playmaking rhythm.

MTSU Women (Middle Tennessee)

At the Murphy Center the Blue Raiders extended their postseason streak to 23 consecutive seasons and advanced to the WNIT Super 16. Under long-time coach Rick Insell (soon retiring), MTSU’s identity — high energy, strong three-point shooting and interior presence — remains intact. Freshman Blair Baugus has been a revelation (20/14 in the recent win), while Savannah Davis’ timely deep shooting snapped a late-season slump and reinvigorated the roster. The Blue Raiders’ balanced scoring, rebounding and staunch fan support (strong attendance numbers) make them a tough WNIT draw.

Suggestion: With a coaching transition incoming, MTSU should emphasize continuity of scheme — keep Baugus as the focal point inside while running sets that free up Davis and Contreras on the perimeter. Defensive communication and limiting turnovers will be key in tight Super 16 matchups.

Collectively, these runs provide momentum for Tennessee basketball. Vanderbilt’s program-building under Shea Ralph, Tennessee men’s sustained excellence under Rick Barnes, and MTSU’s steady culture designed by Rick Insell all point to a vibrant basketball ecosystem in the state.

Short-term: capitalize on current forms — ride Blakes’ scoring, keep Gillespie making others, and keep MTSU’s role players confident. Long-term: invest in development pipelines (recruiting, strength and skill work) to sustain these appearances and turn Sweet 16 trips into deeper runs. The next two weekends will tell if Nashville’s successes are merely sweet — or truly historic.