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Monday, March 24, 2014

Issue 47, Volume 125

OH ‘ZO SWEET

We’re supposed to be here. (We’ve) got one of the best teams in the nation. ... We’re one of the 16 still standing. - Senior forward Jeronne Maymon

‘Tougher breed’ indeed: Vols rout Mercer, 83-63, advance to 7th ever Sweet 16 Steven Cook Copy Editor

RALEIGH, N.C. — No confetti was falling, but the significance of the moment was unmistakable. Cuonzo Martin bear-hugged by each Tennessee basketball player, one-by-one, at the center of the PNC Arena court. One postgame television interview later, Athletic Director Dave Hart was the next to embrace the oft-criticized Volunteers head coach. A 2013-2014 journey full of more ups and downs than could possibly be put into words will at least end with “Sweet 16” next to its name. The Tennessee Volunteers stomped No. 14-seeded Mercer, 83-63, Sunday evening to claim the seventh Sweet 16 in program history, the fourth in the last eight years and the first of Martin’s coaching career. “It’s sweet,” Josh Richardson said, shortly before chuckling when he noticed the coincidence. “Sweet – that was a good one.” Along with his usual defensive stopper responsibilities,

Richardson scored 26 points in the win, marking both the gamehigh and a career-high for the junior guard. He went 9-of-13 from the field, scoring 16 points in the first half alone and picking up the offense with Jordan McRae going just 4-of-12 with 14 points. “I felt like at halftime that I couldn’t miss,” Richardson said. “It’s nice to have a game like that.” With McRae — Tennessee’s typical offensive juggernaut — struggling to carry the load like he usually does, the Vols’ guards stepped up with Richardson and Antonio Barton (18 points) combining for six 3-pointers. The Vols are 9-0 when Barton hits at least three from deep. He canned four Sunday. “That’s big for us as a team, because now we have an insideoutside presence,” junior forward Jarnell Stokes said. “So it’s hard for teams to double-team (in the post) when we have guys who are hitting shots like that.” As for the inside, it was business as usual for Stokes, who amassed 17 points and 18 rebounds — one less than Mercer’s entire team. At one point, a quick look at

the box score showed Stokes outrebounding Mercer, 16-9. But with the burly Vols’ edge on the boards captivating the national audience, Tennessee’s players didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. “As a team, we’ve been doing that all year,” Stokes said of the rebounding prowess. “I feel like now that it’s in the NCAA tournament, it’s getting a lot more attention. “We always feel like we control the boards.” McRae agreed, giving an indication that things may not be so pretty when the pair of 260-pound big men, Stokes and senior leader Jeronne Maymon, leave Knoxville. “Anytime we have Jeronne and Jarnell wearing the Tennessee orange,” McRae said, “we feel like we always have the advantage.” The Vols didn’t seem to miss a beat from the opening tip, jumping out to an 8-0 lead before fans settled into their seats. But Mercer didn’t go quietly, quickly answering back and tying things up at 10 apiece. See GAME RECAP on Page 2

• Photo Courtesy of Wade Rackley of Tennessee Athletics INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON

@utkDailyBeacon www.utdailybeacon.com

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Column: Martin disdain, Pearl petition helped fuel UT to Sweet 16

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Diamond Vols avoid series sweep with offensive outburst

6

Lady Vols advance to second round of NCAA tourney

Page 2-3 Men’s Basketball Page 4 Spring Break Recap Page 5 Baseball/Softball Page 6 Women’s Basketball


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