LEXINGTON, Ky. — When Jahmai Mashack signed his National Letter of Intent with Tennessee basketball, he knew this was possible.

Now, he's preparing to play in his third-straight Sweet 16 with back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight on the line.

Mashack's vision of post-season success stems from the work he personally puts in. He's won his entire life behind this work ethic, including his senior year of high school.

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In 2021, he led Etiwanda to the 2021 CIF Southern California Regional Open Division title while earning 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, four steals and two blocks in the championship game triumph over top-seeded San Diego Torrey Pines.

With this winning pedigree, he knew he could help make postseason history at Tennessee. That's what he's done as the Vols head to a third-straight Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.

"Honestly, as soon as I signed with Tennessee I knew that was something I wanted to do," Mashack said. "I've been winning all my career. It's not something that is new to me. I'm not saying that to be cocky, I'm saying that because I put in the work. I had to scrap for everything I'd get. Just knowing the Sweet 16 was a possibility that I wanted to get to, I wanted to do it and I knew this team was going to be able to do it."

Mashack helps make up a group of older players that have helped lead the charge this year. UCLA coach Mick Cronin listed off the long list of veterans after falling to the Vols in the Round of 32 when explaining what led to the loss.

That's who Rick Barnes credits for this stretch of early-tournament success. His seniors have helped set the standard on both ends of the floor which have been too much for opponents to handle.

In 2025, it was defensive efforts that swallowed up UCLA and Wofford. A year ago, it was a similar story to move past Texas and Saint Peter's.

In 2023, Mashack helped the Vols gut through Duke and Louisiana despite Zakai Zeigler missing the tournament due to injury.

"It goes back to leadership with our players," Barnes said. "They deserve all the credit. They want to be coached, they know what we as a coaching staff expect from them every day and they know we're going to try to be as consistent as we can doing our jobs and we want them to do that. It's just a great testament to these guys that they really do like each other. They care and they love our fan base."

Now, Mashack is looking to help the Vols reach a second-straight Elite Eight berth. Tennessee has made just two appearances in this round, falling short both times.

The Vols will face the winner between 3-seed Kentucky and 6-seed Illinois. The game will tip-off in Indianapolis on Friday. Tip time and TV designations are yet to be announced.

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