No matter what lofty heights Tennessee attained this season -- and being ranked No. 1 for a month is as high as it gets -- it was always going to be judged on what it did in the NCAA Tournament.

So it's go time for the No. 6 Volunteers, who start their quest for a national championship Friday in Columbus, Ohio as the No. 2 seed in the South Region. Their first opponent is Patriot League Tournament champion Colgate, the 15th seed.

Tennessee (29-5) missed on a chance to earn a No. 1 seed by losing 84-64 Sunday to Auburn in the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game in Nashville. Nevertheless, the Volunteers are ready for the six games it will take to get them the one title they really desire.