'You Gotta Be Sh-tting Me': Tennessee Fans In Meltdown Mode At SEC Tournament; Nothing A Few Beers Won't Fix

The arena was filled with fans clad in Big Orange, but those fans who either took time out of their lunch break or made the trip to Nashville were looking for a way to offload a bunch of tickets following Tennessee's early exit from the SEC Tournament. 

From the minute the ball was tipped inside Bridgestone Arena, it was all Mississippi State against the No. 1 seed Vols. For what fans thought could be a joyous weekend in the Music City turned out to be a nightmare, and a prerequisite for what could come in the NCAA Tournament. 

"I don't know what the hell I just watched, but I'm trying to sell my remaining tickets to Kentucky fans and all they are doing is laughing at me," one Tennessee fan said postgame outside the arena. I'm going over to the bar to get smashed and waste some more of my money."

Well, at least there are numerous different options for Tennessee fans to go pound a few beers after the humiliating loss to the Bulldogs. That's the risk you take when you purchase hotels for the entire weekend with the hopes that your team makes it to the championship round. 

Let's be honest, we've all been there before, if you are a fan of college basketball. Every team in this tournament has felt the sting of an early loss that cuts into the excitement of the weekend. Heck, fans of Tennessee could be back in Knoxville for dinner if they hit the interstate in the second half. 

Kentucky Fans seemed to be enjoying themselves outside Bridgestone Arena At The SEC Tournament following Tennessee's loss.

This is exactly why fans are hesitant to follow their favorite team to the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, knowing a loss could ruin the whole experience. But, that isn't a problem for the folks outside Bridgestone Arena, who were peddling down Broadway on Pedal Taverns, blaring Billy Joel or Katy Perry. Yes, it's all over the place. 

‘You Gotta Be Sh-tting Me’ Is The Perfect Way To Sum Up The Trip

Whether it was the alcohol talking or the pure frustration from watching his team lose in the first game of the third day, there were enough fans worried about next week's NCAA Tournament after the abysmal performance from the 5th-ranked Vols on Friday. 

"I know it's my fault for spending all of this money hoping that we would see a different Rick Barnes team in the postseason, but you gotta be shi**ing me," another Tennessee fan standing on a street corner noted. "Every damn year in the postseason we have to worry about this nonsense. We can't just be hopeful, so it's whatever man. It's 3 o'clock on a Friday and the hotel won't let me cancel my booking. Guess I'll just hang out down here and hopefully Kentucky loses tonight."

Tennessee students gather before the game on Friday

If we're being honest, hopping on one of those party buses that I've seen every five minutes in the downtown area might be the best way to go. Plenty of entertainment, alcohol, people screaming at each other, and you don't have to worry about packing into a bar like sardines. 

But in the spirit of conference tournament season, this is why you come to Nashville. Just walk outside the arena, take a right and head towards the nearest honky-tonk that is playing a variety of different tunes that will take the sting away, along with a shot of something special off the wall. 

Prepare yourself now, because the upcoming NCAA Tournament is likely to bring out the heavy drinkers and over-spenders. That's why we call it ‘March Madness’.