KNOXVILLE — After a 73-47 opening round win over Wright State, No. 3 seed Tennessee (26-8) is one win from its first Sweet 16 berth since 2014.

In the Vols’ way: No. 11 Loyola-Chicago (29-5), which hit a 3 at the buzzer to upset Miami. Here are five keys to ending Loyola’s Cinderella story later Saturday.

Striving for Perfection

Rick Barnes has his team playing at a high level since Jan. 20, winning 14 of their past 17 games after starting SEC-play 3-3.

Yet Barnes knows it’s one loss and done, now.

“I think this time of year you’re looking for perfection,” he said following the win over Wright State.

He already has the perfect motivator.

Jean Dolores-Schmidt, the 98-year-old chaplain for Loyola, got so excited after shocking Miami that she told Tennessee to “watch out” in the second round.

Vol Nation heard the warning and responded, including VFL Jayson Swain.

https://twitter.com/SwainEvent/status/974411084563181569

Emergence of Kyle Alexander

Alexander has been a presence down low for the Vols of late. Since playing Georgia on March 3, clinching a share of the SEC regular-season championship, Alexander has recorded at least one block in the past five games, totaling nine.

Counting on Jordan Bone and Lamonte Turner

As Tennessee goes, so go Jordan Bone and Lamonte Turner. One of the two has been productive lately.

Turner has scored double-digits six times in the past nine games dating to playing at Georgia Feb. 7. In the same span, Bone has recorded at least four points and four assists in five games being a factor in setting up plays while being a scoring option.

Defense

Tennessee has played well on defense all season. Even after holding Wright State to 47 points, Barnes made it clear there is zero room for letting up.

“I thought when we got the lead, even in the first half, I didn’t think we defended well in the last five minutes of the first half,” Barnes said following the first-round win.

“I just felt we let down a little bit defensively. We were a little bit sloppy, just weren’t on edge the way I want us to be and I just think it’s a game of habits. I want them to play every possession like it matters.”

Tennessee has given up 70 or more points only three times in their past 19 games, and UT lost those three games.

Up next against the Ramblers, UT will face a team that has shot 50.6 percent from the field and 39.7 percent for 3-point shooting, but Loyola has not scored 70 points in its past five games. Tennessee’s defense could be the difference.

Barnes also said postgame against Wright State that “we’re better when we’re locked in on the defensive end.”

Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams

The SEC Player of the Year, Grant Williams, is mostly a guarantee to score double-digits in each outing. Williams has scored double-digits in all but six of the 34 games that he has played in this season. Schofield can be counted on too for scoring. Schofield has scored in double-digits in all but four games this season.

Since the Georgia win in clinching the SEC regular season co-championship, Williams has averaged 14.6 points per game while Schofield has averaged 17.8 points per game over the past five games.