C.J. Watson carried the torch for Tennessee Basketball by himself for a long time. In eight years in the NBA, Watson made the playoffs four consecutive seasons from 2011-14. He had a significant opportunity when Derrick Rose got hurt against the Sixers in 2012, getting five starts. It was the first time a former Vol had started a playoff game since Allan Houston, who made six consecutive trips to the postseason and one Finals appearance from 1996-2001.
Houston is long since retired and Watson is laboring away in Orlando, far from postseason contention. But the fruit of Tennessee's basketball success in the last decade is about to manifest itself in the playoffs.