Tennessee basketball has reached the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year after defeating Iowa State 76-62 in Chicago. The sixth-seeded Vols, led by coach Rick Barnes, will face No. 1 seed Michigan on Sunday with a chance to reach their first Final Four. This marks Tennessee's third straight Elite Eight appearance under Barnes.

Barnes entered the season with a roster of 11 newcomers but maintained the program's championship aspirations. Transfer forward Jaylen Carey said Barnes told them on day one they could win it all. The Vols dominated inside, holding massive advantages in rebounds (43-22), offensive boards (16-8), and points in the paint (42-30). Felix Okpara and Carey both recorded double-doubles.

Iowa State struggled without injured All-American forward Joshua Jefferson, who tried to play but ultimately couldn't go. Cyclones coach T.J. Otzelberger said they did everything possible to get Jefferson ready. The Vols' frontcourt exposed Iowa State's interior defense, with Carey gesturing to the crowd after forcing a timeout. Tennessee now has a chance to reach its first Final Four since 2010.