Tennessee basketball fans react to NCAA Tournament win vs. Longwood: 'Here to stay'
The Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team cruised to an 88-56 victory over the Longwood Lancers in the opening round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Indianapolis.
Judging by their reactions on social media, Vols fans couldn't be happier with the way the team kicked off March Madness less than a week after winning the school's first Southeastern Conference Tournament title since 1979.
Led by Santiago Vescovi's game-high 18 points, Tennessee shot 60% from the field and 58% from 3-point range. The Vols held the Lancers to just 38% shooting and scored 22 points off of 16 forced turnovers.
Up next for Rick Barnes and company: a second-round matchup against No. 11-seeded Michigan on Saturday. The Wolverines downed No. 6-seeded Iowa 75-63 on Thursday afternoon. But first, let's take a look at how Vols fans reveled in their team's dominant performance against Longwood on Twitter.
Tennessee 88, Longwood 56: Santiago Vescovi, Vols crush Longwood in NCAA Tournament opener
Estes: Tennessee basketball a juggernaut in March Madness opener. But now it gets tougher
Santiago Vescovi: Vols junior joins Chris Lofton as only UT basketball players with 100 3s in a season
Top plays: Tennessee Vols basketball vs. Longwood in 2022 NCAA Tournament video highlights
Adams: Tennessee Vols can change their tournament history - against Michigan, everybody else
The Tennessee Vols have come to play and they’re here to stay!!! 🍊🔥 #Vols #MarchMadness
— Josh ⚔️ (@joshua_shoop) March 17, 2022
#vols pic.twitter.com/SCUVwsyqxu
— Trey (@PickwickVol) March 17, 2022
Tennessee could have scored 100 in their basketball game. 5 guys in double digits! Wow! pic.twitter.com/LGlIei2qhE
— Chase Surrell (@chaseSquirrel) March 17, 2022
Yeahhh baby!! Go Vols!!#V4L #tennesseebasketball #VolTwitter pic.twitter.com/lKWoEuV4U4
— ☆Half 🐻 other half 🐈⬛️ 🐈 ☆ (@SweetSonya7399) March 17, 2022
Great day for @Vol_Hoops and @TennesseeCheer !! Round 2 please! #Vols pic.twitter.com/95cXnRlmKN
— Coach Russell (@AllenRussell2) March 17, 2022
#Vols pic.twitter.com/2mOXzFfY5P
— Outside Clutter (@OutsideClutter) March 17, 2022
#Tennessee #Vols pic.twitter.com/oh5LU59TOc
— Casey Beaman (@BeamanDJ) March 17, 2022
Easy W for the gang #Vols pic.twitter.com/VSMCZWSpsW
— Mike (@Mikedeco17) March 17, 2022
A couple of fans on Twitter theorized that Tennessee came out swinging against Longwood because the Vols were "pissed" about getting a No. 3 seed despite winning the SEC Tournament title while teams that didn't make the championship, Kentucky and Auburn, received higher seedings in the 68-team tournament.
A 32-point victory to get March Madness going isn't a bad way to send a "message" to the rest of the college basketball world.
Hey so maybe Tennessee is pissed about not being a 1 or 2. #Vols #MarchMadness
— Jacob Collins (@jacob_collins42) March 17, 2022
Tennessee basketball today. @Vol_Hoops pic.twitter.com/oW5SqIn68N
— John Thornton (@John_MT18) March 17, 2022
One fan, meanwhile, embraced being overlooked by the tournament selection committee: "Keep doubting us."
Keep doubting us
— TENNESSEE SPORTS FAN!!! SEC BASKETBALL CHAMPS🍊 (@TENNESSEESPORT8) March 17, 2022
Here's more Tennessee Vols basketball news
Tennessee basketball: What are the Vols' betting odds to win the NCAA Tournament in 2022
Longwood basketball: What the Lancers said about Tennessee basketball before first NCAA Tournament appearance
'It is a weapon': How Kennedy Chandler, only 6 feet tall, became Tennessee basketball's menacing defender
Estes: Tennessee basketball's 'vibe' is no longer a problem. It's a sign of a red-hot team
John Adams: What Tennessee basketball fans think about NCAA Tournament, Rick Barnes, selection committee
Tennessee improved to 27-7 overall with the victory over Longwood, which fell to 26-7 with the season-ending loss.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball fans react to win vs. Longwood in NCAA Tournament
