The persistent narrative that RIck Barnes underperforms in the NCAA tournament continues to take on more and more water.
In fact, Barnes may at last have sunk it for good Friday when he led Tennessee to consecutive Elite Eights for the first time in program history.
Tennessee delivered a big-stage performance that had Peyton Manning clapping and cheering from his courtside seat, The second-seeded Vols overwhelmed rival Kentucky, 78-65, to avenge a pair of regular-season losses to the Wildcats.
The 13-point final margin only hints at the vice grip Tennessee had on this Sweet 16 matchup almost from start to finish.