WOWED ON WEEKEND ONE
• Tennessee made history on the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament. The Volunteers became the first team ever to play—and defeat—an opponent with 30-plus victories in both the Round of 64 and the Round of 32. Previously, only one team, Farleigh Dickinson in 2023, had even played foes that had 29- plus wins in both rounds.
• UT opened play in Philadelphia with a 78-56 victory against a No. 11-seeded Miami (OH) team that was 32-1 on the year. The Vols then posted a 79-72 triumph over a No. 3-seeded Virginia team that was 30-5 in 2025-26.
• Across the two contests, Ja'Kobi Gillespie amassed 50 points and 15 assists. He became the third player ever to hit those marks in the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament in the 64/68-team era (since 1985), per CBS Sports. The others are Kemba Walker in 2011 and Billy Donovan in 1987.
• Gillespie opened play with 29 points, nine assists and three steals in the triumph over the RedHawks. He became just the ninth player ever to amass that line in the NCAA Tournament, including the second in the last 30 seasons (1996-2026) and the first from the SEC. The others are Markquis Nowell (3/5/23), Stephon Marbury (3/17/96), Anderson Hunt (3/25/90), Tim Hardaway (3/17/89), Billy Donovan (3/12/87), Magic Johnson (3/24/79), Rickey Green (3/13/77) and Sam McCants (3/14/74).
• In the win over Virginia, Bishop Boswell registered a co-career-high 13 points and a career-best nine assists, while committing zero turnovers. He became just the 11th player in NCAA Tournament history to log at least 13 points and nine assists without a turnover, including the second from the SEC and the first in 14 years. The others are Draymond Green (3/16/12), Earl Calloway (3/18/06), Earl Watson (3/18/00), Pepe Sanchez (3/12/99), Brevin Knight (3/14/97), Andre Woolridge (3/13/97), Stephon Marbury (3/17/96), Lee Mayberry Jr. (3/19/92), Drafton Davis (3/13/87) and Isiah Thomas (3/14/81).
• With the victories over Miami (OH) and Virginia, Tennessee clinched a fourth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. That doubles the previous program record of two set in 2007 and 2008.
• According to CBS, this stretch by Tennessee is one of just six all-time streaks of four-plus Sweet 16 trips by an SEC program since the round started in 1975, including just the fifth in the 64/68-team era (since 1985) and the third in the last 30 years (1996-2026).
• The other teams, per CBS, to achieve the feat are Kentucky from 1983-86, Arkansas from 1993-96, Kentucky
SENIOR'S SPECIAL SEASON
• Ja'Kobi Gillespie is on paced to become the second player in Tennessee history to average at least 14.0 points and 5.0 assists per game. The only other Volunteer to achieve the feat is Jimmy England, who did so in 1970-71.
• Only six other Tennessee players—10 occurrences— have even put up 10.0 points and 5.0 assists per game in a season: Zakai Zeigler (thrice), Lamonte' Turner (2019-10), Jordan Bone (2018-19), C.J. Watson (twice), Fred Jenkins (1986-87) and Johnny Darden (1977-78).
• Additionally, Gillespie is on pace to become the fourth player—fifth instance—in SEC history (min. 15 GP) to average at least 18.0 points and 5.5 assists per game in a season. The others are Darius Acuff Jr. (2025-26), Eddie Johnson Jr. (twice) and Pete Maravich (1969-70).
• Gillespie is also just the 14th Vol—18th occurrence— with 400 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in a single campaign. The others to do so are Zakai Zeigler (twice), Santiago Vescovi (twice), Kennedy Chandler (2021-22), Jordan Bone (2018-19), Grant Williams (2018-19), Armani Moore (2015-16), Josh Richardson (2014-15), Trae Golden (2011-12), Tyler Smith (twice), Allan Houston (twice), Lang Wiseman (1990-91), Terry Crosby (1978-79) and Jimmy England (1970-71).
