KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 11/12 Tennessee will play its lone exhibition game of 2018-19 on Monday, facing off vs. NCAA Division II school Carson-Newman at 7:02 p.m. Eastern at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. This contest begins the seventh season of the Holly Warlick era, and will mark the sixth-straight year UT embarks on a campaign with one exhibition game on its schedule. Following Monday night’s encounter with C-N, Tennessee will host the season-opener on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m., as Presbyterian comes to town.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
- Michael Wottreng (play-by-play), Madison Blevins (analyst) and Maddy Glab (sideline) will describe the action for the UT-Carson-Newman online broadcast on SECN+.
- Mickey Dearstone is handling the call for IMG College/Lady Vol Network radio/online broadcasts for the 20th season. A link to the live audio stream can be found on each game’s Hoops Central page or the Lady Vol schedule on UTSports.com.
- Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
PROMOS
- SPARK THE SUMMITT: The UT men’s basketball team used the successful campaign, #FeedTheFloor, a year ago, and this year the Lady Vols will try to reinforce the importance of active, vocal fans with a #SparkTheSummitt initiative. Fans can ignite the home team’s players on their appropriately-named court (The Summitt) with relentless enthusiasm. Fans can give their all for Tennessee, just like the Lady Vols.
- ALL TICKETS ARE $5: That’s right, all tickets to the UT/C-N game are just $5! Go to AllVols.com or call (865) 656-1200 for details.
- FREE PARKING/SHUTTLE: On Monday night, there will be free parking and shuttle service available to Thompson-Boling Arena from UT’s Ag Campus. Shuttles begin two hours prior to tip-off.
TENNESSEE IN EXHIBITION GAMES
- UT is 47-4 all-time in preseason exhibition games, with the only losses coming to the Soviet National Team (1979), Athletes in Action (1992) and the USA National Team (1995, 2007).
- Tennessee is 7-0 in preseason exhibition games during the Holly Warlick era, with the Big Orange defeating C-N six times (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) and Coker (2012) on one occasion.
- Including a 14-7 record on international tours, Tennessee is 61-11 overall in exhibition games.
FOR OPENERS
- YEAR SEVEN FOR HOLLY: The Lady Vols hit the court for the first time, as the seventh season of the Holly Warlick era gets under way. She is 153-54 in six seasons at Tennessee and leads all SEC coaches in winning percentage in league games at .740 (71-25).
- YOUTH IS SERVED: Among UT’s active roster of 10 players, there will be seven women who are in their first or second year of college basketball.
- TALL ACROSS THE BOARD: UT doesn’t have a 6-foot-6 player anymore with the graduation of Mercedes Russell, but the Lady Vols are a long team across the board, with only one player measuring below 6-feet tall.
- PLAY FAST: With its athleticism, especially at the guard and wing positions, Tennessee looks to be an even more up-tempo team offensively and an extremely active one on defense this season.
WHAT TO WATCH
- THREE STARTERS RETURN: The Lady Vols return three starters in senior guard Meme Jackson and sophomores Rennia Davis (G/F) and Evina Westbrook (PG). That trio should set the tone for UT.
- PRESEASON PUB: Davis and Westbrook are preseason All-SEC picks and are on the preseason watch lists for the Cheryl Miller Award and Nancy Lieberman Award, respectively. Both made SEC All-Freshman in 2017-18.
- NO. 4 RECRUITING CLASS: The fourth-ranked signing class in 2018 will make its Rocky Top debut. That group of freshmen includes guard/forward Rae Burrell, forward Mimi Collins, guard Zaay Green and point guard Jazmine Massengill.
- NEW FACES IN THE PAINT: With Mercedes Russell gone to the WNBA, Cheridene Green, Kasiyahna Kushkituah, Mimi Collins and Kamera Harris will try to provide UT a new inside presence.
A LOOK AT CARSON-NEWMAN
- Carson-Newman is coached by Mike Mincey, who has a 137-71 record entering his eighth season.
- The Lady Eagles return four starters and 10 total letterwinners, and they welcome five newcomers.
- C-N posted a 32-3 overall record and 18-2 mark in South Atlantic Conference play to sweep the regular season and tournament crowns.
- The Lady Eagles advanced to the NCAA DII Elite Eight before falling to #14 Union, 73-70.
- Haris Price was a WBCA First-Team All-American and SAC Co-Player of the Year, while Mika Wester was a WBCA H.M. All-American, All-SAC First-Team and SAC Tourney MVP. Kayla Marosites was All-SAC Second Team. Mike Mincey was WBCA Region 3 and SEC Coach of the Year.
C-N HAS ALREADY PLAYED
- North Carolina scored 24 points off of turnovers in the first half to open up a 59-30 lead and went on to defeat Carson-Newman, 115-74, in exhibition play Thursday evening at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C.
- It was the most points that C-N has ever scored against the Tar Heels in 10 meetings, while Carolina’s total was the second-most behind a 121-52 win on Nov. 10, 2009.
- UNC hit 58 percent fom the field and got 48 points in the paint as a trio of players reached double figures, led by Stephanie Watts with 28.
- Haris Price paced C-N with 18 points on eight-of-16 shooting in 28 minutes. Mika Wester added 11 points and four blocks in 20 minutes of duty.
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