Tennessee drew a recent Cinderella team for its Midwest Region First Round game on Thursday. No. 2 seed UT faces 15-seed Saint Peter’s in Charlotte.

The Vols have had some run-ins with those types of teams in the past. In the 2018-2019 season, Rick Barnes and company faced Sister Jean and Loyola-Chicago in the Second Round. Hearts were broken across the Volunteer State as the 11th-seeded Ramblers hit a go-ahead basket with 5 seconds left to beat Tennessee.

Tennessee had its season ended last year by FAU, who made the Final Four as an 8-seed. The Owls lost to San Diego State, who played UConn for the national championship.

Here are some things to know about Tennessee’s opening draw in the NCAA Tournament:

Different faces at Saint Peter’s

Fans might remember the run that the Peacocks had under former coach Shaheen Holloway in the 2021-2022 season. Holloway led the team to the Elite 8 as a 15-seed.

Holloway and fan favorite player Doug Edert are both no longer at Saint Peter’s. Holloway decided to go coach at his alma mater Seton Hall following that season. Seton Hall didn’t make the NCAA Tournament this year after losing in the quarterfinal round of the Big East tourney.

Edert transferred to Bryant after Holloway left Saint Peter’s for Seton Hall. Bryant didn’t make the NCAA Tournament after making it to the semifinal of their conference tournament this year.

Bashir Mason is in his second season as Saint Peter’s head coach. The Peacocks are now led by Corey Washington (16.5 points per game) and Latrell Reid in scoring (11.5 ppg). Saint Peter’s earned an automatic bid after beating Fairfield in the MAAC Tournament final.

Peacocks solid defensively

Much like Tennessee, Saint Peter’s knows how to play strong defense.

The Peacocks come into Thursday’s March Madness outing boasting the 2nd-fewest points allowed in their conference at 63.4 ppg. The Volunteers are 2nd-fewest points allowed in their conference at 67.9 ppg.

It could be a very entertaining matchup watching these 2 defense-oriented teams go at it.

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Not a lot of NCAA Tournament experience

Outside of the magical run that Saint Peter’s had in the 2021-2022 season, making the NCAA Tournament has not been the standard for the program.

This year will be the 3rd time in the 21st century that Saint Peter’s has made March Madness. The program as a whole has made the NCAA Tournament 5 times counting this most recent bid.

The Volunteers shouldn’t take Saint Peter’s lightly after what happened to the likes of Kentucky, Murray State, and Purdue the last time the Peacocks made the tournament.