Tennessee seeks first Final Four berth against top-seeded Purdue

2-seed Vols battle 1-seed Boilermakers in only Elite 8 matchup featuring top two seeds
Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college...
Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee won 86-79. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)(George Walker IV | AP)
Published: Mar. 30, 2024 at 7:45 PM CDT
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Tennessee is seeking its first Final Four appearance in program history when it faces Purdue on Sunday in the Elite 8.

The matchup between the Volunteers and Boilermakers is the only Regional Final that pits the top two seeds against each other with a trip to Phoenix on the line.

To begin the day, Santiago Vescovi provided an update on his status after missing Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup with the flu. Vescovi plans on doing everything he can to suit up against the Boilermakers.

Cam Carr stepped up with big minutes off the bench in Vescovi’s absence, including the first NCAA Tournament three-pointer of his career.

The Boilermakers enter with a win over Tennessee already this season. Purdue defeated the Vols 71-67 in the Maui Invitational on Nov. 22.

Point Guard Zakai Zeigler said this Tennessee team is much different than the one that fell to the Midwest Region’s number one seed.

“From November to now, we’re a whole different team,” Zeigler said. “We’re just way more connected on both ends of the floor.”

Tennessee and Purdue will tip off at 2:20 Eastern time from Detroit on Sunday on WVLT.