Sweet 16 Showdown: Tennessee Vols vs. Iowa State Cyclones Preview
Tennessee basketball has secured a spot in the Sweet 16, with the No. 6 seed Vols set to face off against the No. 2 seed Iowa State at the United Center in Chicago. The game time and TV details are yet to be announced. The Vols advanced to the Sweet 16 by defeating the No. 3 seed Virginia 79-72, marking their fourth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. Tennessee has a historical 2-1 record against Iowa State, with their last meeting resulting in a 68-45 victory for the Vols in January 2018 under coach Rick Barnes.
Iowa State, the No. 2 seed, secured their spot in the Sweet 16 by defeating No. 7 seed Kentucky 83-62. Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic led the charge with a combined 46 points, including seven 3-pointers against the Wildcats. The Cyclones also dominated their opening game against No. 15 seed Tennessee State with a 108-74 victory.
Tennessee has a strong tournament history under coach Rick Barnes, with Elite Eight appearances in 2024 and 2025, as well as Sweet 16 appearances in 2019 and 2023. The Vols have consistently earned top-5 seeds in their tournament appearances, including No. 2 seeds in 2019, 2024, and 2025. Despite their success, they faced early exits in the second round as a No. 3 seed in 2018 and 2022. In 2023, as a No. 4 seed, they reached the Sweet 16 but were defeated by Florida Atlantic. The Vols were upset as a No. 5 seed in 2021 by Oregon State in the first round.
With 28 NCAA Tournament appearances in program history, Tennessee has reached three Elite Eights but has yet to make it to a Final Four. The Vols will look to continue their tournament success as they face off against Iowa State in the Sweet 16, aiming to advance further in the competition.