With respect to No. 7/8 (AP/Coaches) Houston, Tennessee may be the best opponent the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team faces this season.
Despite being pummeled with foul trouble and having its best player limited to a season-low six points, the Bearcats found itself leading the No. 12/16 Volunteers 53-51 with less than 6:00 to play, only to lose 65-56 Saturday in Knoxville, Tennessee.
"Tennessee's a Final Four-caliber team," Cincinnati coach John Brannen said. "Hall of Fame coach, five-star players who play extremely hard, extremely hard. I've seen two what I would call great defensive teams in my career, and it's Texas Tech at the national championship (2019), and the potential of this team.