Hoops Preview: Lady Vols vs. #22/25 Arkansas

Hoops Preview: Lady Vols vs. #22/25 Arkansas

Posted on February 19, 2020
Kasiyahna Kushkituah – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee (17-8, 7-5 SEC), which is receiving votes in this week’s AP and USA TODAY Coaches Polls, will travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where it will meet the No. 22/25 Arkansas Razorbacks (20-5, 8-4 SEC) on Thursday at 6:02 p.m. CT (7:02 ET) at Bud Walton Arena.

The Lady Vols enter the contest in seventh place in the SEC standings and a game back of UA, which is tied for third place with Kentucky, LSU and Texas A&M. This will mark the 35th meeting in a series that began in 1992. UT has a 30-4 record vs. UA and has won four of the past five.

In addition to conference seeding, Thursday night’s contest offers Tennessee an opportunity against an Arkansas squad that ranks No. 37 in the RPI. As of Feb. 18, the Lady Vols occupy the No. 56 spot in the RPI.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Thursday night’s game will be televised by the SEC Network with Courtney Lyle (PxP) and Carolyn Peck (Analyst) handling the call.
  • The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network radio stations and by audio stream, with Mickey Dearstone calling the action for the 21st season and Bobby Rader serving as the studio host.
  • 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.
  • For a list of Lady Vol Network affiliates, please click on the Fans tab at the top of UTSports.com, select Vol Network and then click on Vol Network Affiliates in the black bar at the top of the page.
  • Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
  • SECN+ games are online broadcasts and are available only on WatchESPN via computers, smartphones and tablets.
  • All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) and the SEC Network will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

A CLOSER LOOK AT TENNESSEE

  • The Lady Vols’ only losses this season are to eight teams that seem destined for NCAA Tournament bids. Six of those teams were ranked, including four that were top-10 ranked teams, when UT played them.
  • While UT beat Notre Dame when the Irish carried a No. 15/14 ranking, the most appealing win on the résumé currently appears to be the home triumph over LSU on Jan. 26. The Tigers are continuing to receive votes in both polls.
  • UT has a two-point loss to Texas A&M, a four-point setback at LSU and a six-point loss to Texas among its “Ls”.
  • In the Feb. 18 edition of Bracketology, Charlie Creme has the Lady Vols listed as a No. 9 seed, playing eighth-seeded Drake in the NCAA First Round in Eugene, Oregon, as part of the Portland Regional. The winner would meet No. 16 UC Davis or No. 1 Oregon in the second round.

THE ROAD LEADING UP TO THIS

  • The Lady Vols will try to snap a four-game losing streak after falling in recent games vs. No. 1 South Carolina, No. 8 Mississippi State, LSU and No. 16 Texas A&M.
  • UT had won six straight SEC contests and stood at 7-1 before dropping those four contests, including two straight on the road.
  • Tennessee’s Rennia Davis is averaging 20.1 points per game in SEC play, shooting 52.8 percent (86-163) from the field and 82.6 (38-46) percent at the charity stripe.
  • Jordan Horston is UT’s only other double-figure scorer in league play, contributing 10.2 per game.
  • Arkansas enters Thursday night’s battle having won two of its last three and five of six after blowing past Kentucky (103-85) and Ole Miss (108-64) in its last two games.
  • Prior to that two-game winning streak, the Razorbacks were drummed in Fayetteville, 86-65, by No. 1 South Carolina on Feb. 6. UT also lost by 21 to the Gamecocks (69-48) the game before UA played them.
  • Arkansas struggled to win at Mizzou on Feb. 2, escaping in overtime, 85-81.
  • UA’s other losses came to Georgia at home (64-55), South Carolina on the road (91-82), Texas A&M at home (84-77) and at Cal (84-80).
  • The Razorbacks are led by the three-headed monster combo of Chelsea Dungee (18.1 ppg.), Alex Tolefree (15.9 ppg.) and Amber Ramirez (14.5 ppg.). They have made a combined 196 (42, 72 and 78) of their team’s 244 three-pointers this season.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

  • After the visit to Fayetteville, Tennessee heads home to play its next two games in the friendly confines of Thompson-Boling Arena.
  • Vanderbilt visits on Sunday (noon) and Ole Miss comes calling on Feb. 27 (7 p.m.).
  • The Vanderbilt game is UT’s Live Pink, Bleed Orange (Play4Kay) game, and the Ole Miss date is Senior Night.
  • Next up for Arkansas will be back-to-back road games at Florida on Sunday and Mississippi State on Feb. 27.

RECAPPING OUR LAST CONTEST

  • No. 25 Tennessee pulled to within two points in the final minute but couldn’t overcome a No. 16/18 Texas A&M team that went 28 of 33 from the free-throw line en route to a 73-71 victory in Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday afternoon.
  • Sophomore Rae Burrell led UT (17-8, 7-5 SEC) with 19 points and seven rebounds in front of a season-best crowd of 12,738. Junior Rennia Davis was also in double figures for the Big Orange, posting 18 points, six assists and five rebounds.
  • Junior Chennedy Carter was the high scorer for Texas A&M (20-5, 8-4 SEC), finishing with 37 points and five rebounds. Carter was 14 of 16 from the charity stripe for the Aggies.

NOTES FROM THE A&M GAME

  • Balanced Attack: Five different Lady Vols contributed to UT’s first 10 points, and on the day six UT players finished with seven or more points.
  • Have A Day, Rae: Sophomore Rae Burrell made the most of her third career start, scoring nine-straight points in the second quarter en route to a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds. The game moves her scoring average to 10.2 ppg., making her the team’s second-highest scorer.
  • Packed House: Sunday’s attendance of 12,738 is the largest Lady Vol crowd since the 2017-18 season. It’s the third audience of 10K or more this season, an increase over the 2018-19 season in which no games had an attendance figure surpassing 10,000.
  • Unselfish Basketball: Tennessee doled out 21 assists against the Aggies, marking the eighth time this season the team has posted 20 or more assists. Rennia Davis helped fuel the effort with a career-high six assists, while Jazmine Massengill and Jordan Horston also finished with six dimes. Massengill moving her season total to 104. If the season ended today her average of 4.2 apg. would be good enough for sixth all-time among Lady Vol sophomores. Horston, meanwhile, now has 122 assists and averages 4.88 per game. The total ranks her fifth all-time among Lady Vol freshmen, and her average is currently the second-best ever by a UT rookie.

UT-ARKANSAS SERIES NOTES

  • Tennessee holds a 30-4 all-time record vs. Arkansas, dating back to Feb. 29, 1992, when UT prevailed, 105-59, in the initial meeting.
  • The Lady Vols are 14-2 in Knoxville, 14-2 in Fayetteville and 2-0 at neutral sites.
  • Tennessee is 1-1 in overtime and 2-0 in the postseason vs. UA, meeting for the first time in SEC Tournament play in 2016. UT prevailed, 68-51, in the second round in Jacksonville, Fla., on March 3 of that year.
  • UT’s only setbacks to the Razorbacks in Knoxville were both one-point losses. UA prevailed 72-71 in overtime on Feb. 23, 2012, and 80-79 last season on Jan. 21, 2019.
  • Despite the series disparity, Tennessee has overcome some significant deficits to claim some recent wins vs. UA.
  • UT bounced back from a nine-point second-half gap in Fayetteville on Jan. 11, 2015, to win, 60-51; an eight-point first-half deficit to win 70-60 in Knoxville on Jan. 30, 2014; and an 11-point second-half gap on Feb. 24, 2013, in Fayetteville to win, 60-54.
  • The last time the two teams faced each other as ranked squads was in 2003 when #4-ranked Tennessee won, 92-79, over #12-ranked Arkansas in Fayetteville.
  • No. 1/1 Tennessee and unranked Arkansas met in an NCAA Final Four semifinal game in Kansas City, Mo., on March 27, 1998, and the Lady Vols cruised past the Razorbacks, 86-58, en route to their perfect 39-0 season.
  • Then the starting point guard for UT, Kellie (Jolly) Harper tallied 11 points, five assists and three rebounds during 30 minutes of duty in that contest.
  • Harper finished her career with a 4-1 record vs. the Razorbacks as a player.
  • As a head coach, Harper is 2-2 all-time vs. Arkansas, all during her time at Missouri State. She has won her last two meetings vs. the Razorbacks, including 69-54 in Fayetteville on Dec. 2, 2015, and 64-62 in Springfield on Dec. 11, 2016.
  • This is the first meeting between Harper and Mike Neighbors as head coaches.
  • First-year Lady Vol assistant coach Lacey Goldwire was on the staff at Arkansas for two seasons prior to joining Kellie Harper at Tennessee in 2019-20.

RECAPPING THE LAST GAME

  • No. 23 Arkansas (20-5, 8-4) won its 20th game of the season on Sunday, beating Ole Miss (7-18, 0-12) 108-64 at the Pavilion.
  • With the win, Arkansas reached eight SEC wins for just the second time since joining the conference.
  • Senior guard Alexis Tolefree continued her statement season with another great outing against Ole Miss, going for a team-high 19 points in the win. Chelsea Dungee and Amber Ramirez tossed in 18 points and 17 points, respectively.

THE LAST TIME WE VISITED UA

  • No. RV/17 Tennessee fell to Arkansas, 80-79, at Thompson-Boling Arena on Jan. 21, 2019, giving UA only its second win all-time in Knoxville.
  • Freshman guard Zaay Green (17 points and six rebounds) and senior forward Cheridene Green (15 points and 12 rebounds) had productive nights for UT. Cheridene Green dominated the glass and recorded her third double-double of the year on 5-of-9 shooting.
  • The Razorbacks had three players with at least 10 points, as senior guard Malica Monk led Arkansas with 23 points. Chelsea Dungee (19 points) and Alexis Tolefree (16 points) were the other Razorbacks with double-digit points. Arkansas logged 12 3-pointers and 20 points off turnovers in the win.

LAST MEETING IN FAYETTEVILLE

  • Rennia Davis recorded a career-high 33 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 11/11 Tennessee to a 90-85 win at Arkansas on Feb. 8, 2018.
  • Davis connected on 13-of-18 shots from the floor, as the Lady Vols (20-4, 8-3 SEC) earned their 20th victory for the 42nd season in a row. Meme Jackson added 21 points with five 3-pointers, while Jaime Nared netted 16 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the win.
  • Devin Cosper scored 29 points for the Razorbacks (6-18, 2-8 SEC), while Malica Monk went 4-for-4 from beyond the 3-point arc and finished with 25 points. UA cut the deficit to two at multiple points in the fourth quarter, but UT held on down the stretch despite no field goals over the last 3:37.

-UT Athletics

Steve Caldwell Returns to Rocky Top as Life Skills & Character Development Mentor

Steve Caldwell Returns to Rocky Top as Life Skills & Character Development Mentor

Posted on February 19, 2020
Steve Caldwell / Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer has added a familiar face to the UTAD leadership team, as longtime assistant football coach Steve Caldwell has returned to Rocky Top as Assistant Director of Life Skills & Character Development.

Caldwell coached defensive ends on Fulmer’s football staff from 1995-2008 and was UT’s special teams coordinator from 2000-05.

Overall, Caldwell boasts more than 40 seasons of collegiate coaching experience. He was a part of 10 conference championship teams, two national championship teams—including Tennessee’s 1998 BCS Championship squad—and he coached in 20 bowl games.

Chief among Caldwell’s duties in his new administrative role is implementing and managing strategic development plans for incoming football student-athletes as they transition to campus life and high-level intercollegiate athletics.

Working in conjunction with VFL Director Dr. Mikki Allen, Caldwell will engage with student-athletes from their signing, through enrollment and will then assist with on-boarding processes. Tennessee’s innovative VFL Way programming thoughtfully guides student-athletes through a comprehensive personal growth development journey.

“Steve played a key role during an era of extraordinary success for Tennessee football,” Fulmer said. “He knows this community, this campus and the history of this program. He understands the behind-the-scenes work that goes into winning at the highest level.

“He’s also a man of great integrity and character who has spent his entire professional career mentoring and developing successful, high-achieving young men. (Head coach Jeremy Pruitt) and I are thrilled to bring Steve on in a role where he can continue to impact and influence young men in our program and help steer them toward excellence.”

Caldwell’s focus centers on providing mentoring and guidance as it relates to academics, athletics, life skills, personal and professional growth and social responsibilities on campus and throughout the community.

“I’m excited about being back home at Tennessee,” Caldwell said. “We left here almost a dozen years ago, and it’s always been a dream to come back. I am truly a Vol For Life.”

“One of the greatest joys I’ve had in my 43 years of coaching college football is mentoring young men off the field. It’s extremely rewarding to shape their lives in ways that transcend football.”

He will serve on Tennessee’s football student-athlete support team while also performing external relations functions such as campus, community, lettermen and donor relations. He’ll also work closely with Allen to cultivate relationships with current and former student-athletes.

In addition to his 15 seasons on staff at Tennessee, Caldwell also coached at Arkansas State (1978-80, 1985-89, 2013), Pacific (1991-93), Nevada (1994), Ole Miss (1994-95), Arkansas (2010-12, 2018-19) and Boise State (2014-17).

Among the many gridiron standouts Caldwell coached directly, a dozen players who developed in his position room were selected in the NFL Draft, including Leonard Little, Shaun Ellis, Will Overstreet and Super Bowl LIV champion Dustin Colquitt.

Caldwell has walked in the shoes of the college football student-athlete, having played four years as a defensive end and linebacker at Arkansas State. A dean’s list academic performer, he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Education from ASU before entering the coaching ranks.

Caldwell and his wife, Leisa, have three children, Lauren, Landon, and Lendl. Lauren and Lendl both attended UT.

-UT Athletics

Bill Martin Joins Vols as Assistant AD for Football Communications

Bill Martin Joins Vols as Assistant AD for Football Communications

Posted on February 19, 2020
Neyland Stadium / Credit: UT Athletics

Bill Martin is set to join Tennessee’s Athletic Media Relations staff as Assistant Athletic Director for Football Communications. A highly respected fixture on the Southeastern Conference gridiron landscape, Martin will work closely with head coach Jeremy Pruitt to implement and execute communications strategies aimed at promoting and publicizing Volunteers football.

For the last six years, he has overseen the entire Athletic Communications operation at Mississippi State as senior associate AD for communications. In Starkville, Martin served as the athletic department’s spokesperson and chief communications contact for Bulldogs football. He also managed a staff that was responsible for publicity of the department’s 16 varsity sports. Under his leadership, MSU was a two-time recipient of the Football Writers Association of America’s Super 11 Award (2015 and 2018). Martin promoted eight All-Americans, including Dak Prescott, who recorded the highest Heisman Trophy voting finish in program history in 2014.

A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Martin owns 19 years of communications experience in the SEC. He has provided media and messaging mentorship for 59 NFL Draft picks, including noteworthy names such as Prescott, Jeffery Simmons, Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu.

“Bill represents a big-time hire at an exciting time,” Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer said. “He’s an SEC lifer with an outstanding reputation who has built strong relationships throughout our region and all of college football. Our program has a lot of positive momentum right now, and Bill is going to play a key role in maximizing that and showcasing all the wonderful things happening around Tennessee football.”

Martin’s tenure on Rocky Top begins Feb. 24.

“I am thrilled to join the Tennessee Athletic Department and work directly with the Vol football program,” Martin said. “Tennessee Athletics is a powerful and tradition-rich brand that I have always had tremendous respect for. I am grateful to Associate Athletic Director Tom Satkowiak, Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer and coach Jeremy Pruitt for this incredible opportunity. I look forward to building many relationships within the entire community and ensuring we aggressively promote and share the successful stories of Tennessee football.”

Prior to Martin’s tenure on the senior staff at MSU, he spent six years as an associate director of communications at his alma mater, LSU, where he was the top communications assistant for football and the primary contact for women’s basketball. He also oversaw the department’s student intern program and assisted in publicity for the baseball team during NCAA Regional, Super Regional and College World Series play. Martin promoted four football national award winners during his tenure in Baton Rouge, including 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist Mathieu.

Prior to returning to his alma mater, Martin served as a post-graduate communications intern at Florida in 2008, working closely with the Gators’ men’s and women’s golf teams and assisting with men’s basketball publicity.

Martin, 37, got his start in the athletic communications field in 2001 as a student intern at LSU. He served as the primary communications contact for the swimming and diving program, the secondary contact for the baseball team, and he was a student communications assistant with the football program, including the 2003 and 2007 national championship seasons.

A member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the National Football Foundation (NFF), Martin graduated from LSU in 2007. His wife, Ali, also is an LSU graduate who boasts professional experience in intercollegiate athletics development at multiple SEC schools.

-UT Athletics

Brad Paisley Announces “2020 World Tour”

Brad Paisley Announces “2020 World Tour”

Posted on February 18, 2020

Brad Paisley announced he will embark on a 2020 World Tour.

Kicking off May 15 in Concord, Calif., the tour will make additional U.S. stops in San Diego, Detroit, Cincinnati, Tampa and more. The tour will also visit Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany and Canada.

Jordan Davis and Gabby Barrett will serve as support. Additional 2020 tour dates will be added soon.

Tickets are on sale now. A portion of all ticket sales will go to The Store, a nonprofit free-referral based grocery store that Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, in partnership with Belmont University, are spearheading in Nashville.

Brad Paisley 2020 World Tour

  • Feb. 21 | San Antonio, TX | San Antonio Rodeo*
  • March 6 | Penticton, BC | South Okanagan Events Centre**
  • March 7 | Abbotsford, BC | Abbotsford Centre**
  • March 9 | Grand Prairie, AB | Revolution Place**
  • March 12 | Moose Jaw, SK | Mosaic Place**
  • March 13 | Medicine Hat, AB | Canalta Centre**
  • March 20 | Thackerville, OK | WinStar World Casino*
  • March 21 | Houston, TX | Houston Rodeo & Livestock*
  • April 2 | Niagara Falls, ON | Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre**
  • April 3 | Uncasville, CT | Mohegan Sun Arena*
  • May 15 | Concord, CA | Concord Pavilion
  • May 16 | Irvine, CA | FivePoint Amphitheatre
  • May 17 | San Diego, CA | North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
  • May 22 | Ridgefield, WA |Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
  • May 23 | George, WA | Gorge Amphitheatre
  • May 28 | Albuquerque, NM | Isleta Amphitheater
  • May 29 | Denver, CO | Pepsi Center
  • May 30 | Salt Lake City, UT | USANA Amphitheatre
  • June 4 | Detroit, MI | DTE Energy Music Theatre
  • June 5 | Chicago, IL | Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
  • June 6 | St. Louis, MO | Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
  • June 12 | Virginia Beach, VA | Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
  • June 13 | Bristow, VA | Jiffy Lube Live
  • June 18 | Cincinnati, OH | Riverbend Music Center
  • June 19 | Alpharetta, GA | Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
  • June 20 | Charlotte, NC | PNC Music Pavilion
  • July 20 | Bergen, Norway | Bergenhus Festning
  • July 22 | Trondheim, Norway | Kristiansten Festning
  • July 24 | Goteborg, Sweden | Liseberg***
  • July 25 | Gavle, Sweden | Furuviiksparken***
  • July 29 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | AFAS Live
  • July 30 | Berlin, Germany | Zitadelle
  • July 31 | Schwetzingen, Germany | Schlossgarten Open Air***
  • Aug. 7 |Syracuse, NY | St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
  • Aug. 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | KeyBank Pavilion
  • Aug. 9 | Bethel, NY | |Bethel Woods Center
  • Aug. 13 | Wantagh, NY | Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
  • Aug. 14 | Montreal, QC | Lasso Festival DeMusique Country***
  • Aug. 15 | Mansfield, MA | Xfinity Center
  • Aug. 22 | Lima, OH | Allen County Fairground***
  • Sept. 3 | West Palm Beach, FL | iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
  • Sept. 4 | St. Augustine, FL | St. Augustine Amphitheatre
  • Sept. 6 | Tampa, FL | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
  • Sept. 26 | Westbrook, ME | Maine Savings Pavilion at Rock Row
  • Sept. 27 | Bloomsburg, PA | Bloomsburg Fair

*Paisley Only
**Paisley and local support
***Festival – includes Paisley and multiple artists

photo by NCD

Darius Rucker to Serve as Official Ambassador for South Carolina Tourism

Darius Rucker to Serve as Official Ambassador for South Carolina Tourism

Posted on February 18, 2020

From titling his 2010 album, Charleston, SC 1966, to his ardent support of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, it’s no secret Darius Rucker is a Palmetto State pundit through and through. Now he has finally found the perfect job.

Darius will partner with the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism to serve as an official ambassador for South Carolina tourism in 2020.

Darius will make appearances at several major tourism events, including the RBC Heritage golf tournament on Hilton Head Island in April. He also will appear on marketing material for the state’s DiSCover campaign and as the cover story for the state’s official vacation guide.

As Darius shared with Nash County Daily a couple of years ago, his love for his hometown of Charleston, S.C., runs deep.

“Charleston is home,” says Darius. “I think it’s the greatest city in the world. The people are so nice. I love the weather. I love the fact I can play golf year round. It’s just one of those towns. I think the restaurants are absolutely incredible. I love to take my kids and just walk downtown. And just people watch and see all the amazing history. I can live wherever I want, but when I think about it, I don’t want to live anywhere but Charleston.”

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Maren Morris’ “The Bones” Tops Country Charts for Second Consecutive Week

Maren Morris’ “The Bones” Tops Country Charts for Second Consecutive Week

Posted on February 18, 2020

Maren Morris’ “The Bones” is No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart for the second consecutive week.

A solo female artist had not accomplished back-to-back weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart since Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” in October/November 2012.

“2 weeks at number 1. If I can be honest, I really thought the only way this could ever happen is if I was the feature artist on a guy’s song,” said Maren via Twitter. “Sitting here seeing my name at the top of a chart at all is rare, but to break this 8 year streak just feels so unbelievable. Thank you.”

Maren co-penned the tune, which is featured on her 2019 album, Girl, with Laura Veltz and Jimmy Robbins.

“The Bones” follows Maren’s previous No. 1 hits, “I Could Use a Love Song” (January 2018) and “Girl” (July 2019), as well as Thomas Rhett’s “Craving You” (July 2017), which featured Maren.

Directed by Alex Ferrari, the video for “The Bones” features footage of Maren vacationing on the beach with husband Ryan Hurd. The lovebirds share plenty of hugs and kisses in the clip as Maren croons the chorus: “When the bones are good, the rest don’t matter / Yeah, the paint could peel, the glass could shatter / Let it break ’cause you and I remain the same / When there ain’t a crack in the foundation / Baby, I know any storm we’re facing / Will blow right over while we stay put / The house don’t fall when the bones are good.”

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Trace Adkins Announces “The Way I Wanna Go Tour”

Trace Adkins Announces “The Way I Wanna Go Tour”

Posted on February 18, 2020

Trace Adkins is hitting the road this spring and summer for his The Way I Wanna Go Tour.

Kicking off on April 15 in Lancaster, Pa., the tour will make additional stops in Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Tampa and more.

“I’ll be on stage singing ‘Every Light in the House Is On,’ and I look down at the crowd and realize that person right there wasn’t even alive when I recorded that song,” says Trace. “To watch their face go, ‘Oh, that’s a cool hook, I like this.’ It’s like, ‘Well, these songs still resonate today and are tried-and-true hits.’ It’s pretty special.”

Pre-sale tickets for select dates are available now.

Trace Adkins’ The Way I Wanna Go Tour 

April 15 | American Music Theatre | Lancaster, PA
April 16 | Packard Music Hall | Warren, OH
April 17 | The Ritz Theatre | Tiffin, OH
April 18 | Midland Theatre | Newark, OH
April 19 | Capitol Music Hall | Wheeling, WV
May 7 | Clay Center | Charleston, WV
May 8 | Del Lago Resort & Casino | Waterloo, NY
May 9 | Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races | Charles Town, WV
May 15 | IP Casino Resort & Spa | Biloxi, MS
May 16 | Delta Downs Racetrack Casino | Vinton, LA
June 27 | Frederick Brown Jr Amphitheater | Peachtree City, GA
July 2 | Fraze Pavilion | Kettering, OH
July 3 | French Lick Resort Casino | French Lick, IN
July 5 | Dauphin’s Countryfest | Dauphin, MB, CAN
July 8 | Northern Wisconsin State Fair | Chippewa Falls, WI
July 9 | Red River Valley Fairgrounds | West Fargo, ND
July 10 | Gathering On The Green | Mequon, WI
July 11 | Hodag Country Fest | Rhinelander, WI
July 17 | Sunset Station Hotel & Casino | Las Vegas, NV
July 18 | Peppermill Concert Hall | West Wendover, NV
July 19 | Cheyenne Frontier Days | Cheyenne, WY
July 29 | Neshoba County Fair | Philadelphia, MS
July 30 | Tailgate N’ Tallboys Festival | Taylorville, IL
Aug. 1 | Jackson County Fair | Maquoketa, IA
Aug. 7 | Manitoulin Country Fest | Little Current, ON
Aug. 13 | Missouri State Fair | Sedalia, MO
Aug. 15 | Chase County Fair | Imperial, NE
Aug. 21 | Antelope Valley Fair | Lancaster, CA
Sept. 25 | Oklahoma State Fair | Oklahoma City, OK
Sept. 9-14 | Country Cruising | Tampa, FL

photo by NCD

Carrie Underwood Announces Tour for Her New Book, “Find Your Path”

Carrie Underwood Announces Tour for Her New Book, “Find Your Path”

Posted on February 18, 2020

Carrie Underwood is hitting the road in March for a four-date tour to promote her new book, Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul and Get Strong With the Fit52 Life.

In the upcoming book, which goes on sale on March 3, Carrie “share secrets for fitting diet and exercise into a packed routine, which is based on her own active lifestyle, diet and workouts.”

“I want to be healthy and fit 52 weeks of the year, but that doesn’t mean I have to be perfect every day,” says Carrie. “This philosophy is a year-round, common-sense approach to health and fitness that involves doing your best most of the time—and by that I don’t mean being naughty for three days and good for four. I mean doing your absolute best most of the time during every week, 52 weeks of the year.”

Tickets for the book tour go on sale on Feb. 18 at 12 p.m. ET, with fan club pre-sale beginning on Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. ET.

Carrie Underwood Book Tour

March 2 | Powerhouse | Brooklyn, NY
March 3 | Chelsea Piers | Stamford, CT
March 5 | Parnassus Books | Nashville, TN
March 17 | Ray Kurtzman Theater | Los Angeles, CA

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Hoops Preview: Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt

Hoops Preview: Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt

Posted on February 17, 2020
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee men’s basketball team hits the hardwood once again on Tuesday night for a clash with SEC foe and in-state rival Vanderbilt. Tipoff inside Thompson-Boling Arena is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and the action can be seen on SEC Network.

Tuesday’s game can be seen on SEC Network, online through WatchESPN and on any mobile device through the ESPN App. Fans can access WatchESPN at espn.com/watch. Tom Hart, Andy Kennedy and Alyssa Lang will have the call.

Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertlekamp describing the action.

Last time out, the Vols dropped a heartbreaker in Columbia, falling 63-61 to South Carolina on Saturday night. UT was led by junior John Fulkerson who poured in a career-high 25 points and reeled in a game-high nine rebounds. Fulkerson’s 25 points came on a career-high-tying eight made field goals.

Junior Yves Pons also had a productive night, scoring 13 points, pulling in seven rebounds and rejecting three shot attempts. His three blocks moved his season total to 65, which is just ten away from breaking Tennessee’s single-season blocks record.

A victory on Tuesday would be the Vols sixth consecutive win over the Commodores and their third consecutive inside Thompson-Boling Arena.

Up next, Tennessee hits the road for a Saturday afternoon matchup at Auburn. Tipoff is set for noon ET on CBS.

THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads the all-time series with Vanderbilt, 123-75, dating to 1922. This is the 199th meeting.
• The Vols own a 72-20 edge when the series is played in Knoxville and have won two straight against Vandy at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Tennessee has won seven of the last eight meetings in this series, including each of the last five.

A WIN WOULD…
• Extend UT’s win streak over Vanderbilt to six games.
• Prevent Tennessee from falling below .500 in SEC play for the first time since the opening week of league games.

STORYLINES
• Just 181 miles separate UT’s Thompson-Boling Arena and Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium.
• Vols freshman Josiah-Jordan James and injured Vanderbilt guard Aaron Nesmith were AAU and high school varsity teammates for four years at Porter-Gaud School in their hometown of Charleston, South Carolina.
• James returned Saturday from a four-game injury absence (groin). In 30 minutes of action in his first collegiate action in his home state of South Carolina, he totaled nine points, five assists and two blocks.
• During SEC play, freshmen account for 40.0 percent of Tennessee’s total minutes played. And in Saturday’s loss at South Carolina, freshmen logged 46.0 percent of Tennessee’s total minutes played.
• With 173 career 3-point makes, senior Jordan Bowden ranks 10th on Tennessee’s all-time list.

LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee ranks fourth nationally in average home attendance, drawing 18,812 fans per game this season.
• During SEC play, Tennessee leads the league in blocks (6.2 bpg, which ranks sixth in Division I) and owns the conference’s best scoring defense (65.2 ppg).
• SEC Defensive Player of the Year candidate Yves Pons has blocked at least one shot in every game this season. He leads the SEC and ranks 18th nationally with 2.6 bpg. His 2.8 bpg during SEC play also leads the league.
• Freshman point guard Santiago Vescovi has made at least one 3-pointer in every game in which he’s appeared (13), averaging 2.2 made threes per game.
• Barring injury or illness, senior guard Jordan Bowden will finish his career in the top five on Tennessee’s list for career games played. Tuesday will be the 127th game in which he’s appeared.
• Tennessee ranks third among Division I teams in assist percentage, having assisted on 64.1 percent of its field goals this season.

ABOUT VANDERBILT
• Vanderbilt arrives in Knoxville off three consecutive losses in SEC play. Those defeats follow the Commodores’ signature win of the year when they took down LSU inside Memorial Gym on Feb. 5. LSU was undefeated in SEC play going into that contest.
• Since losing the SEC’s leading scorer, Aaron Nesmith, in January, the Commodores have continued to see increased production from the backcourt duo of Saben Lee and Scotty Pippen Jr. Lee and Pippen Jr. currently rank first and second on the team in scoring, assists and steals.
• Lee’s team-leading 17.2 ppg also ranks sixth in the SEC, while his 18.8 ppg in conference action ranks fifth in the league. Lee also sits inside the top 10 in the SEC and leads the Commodores in both assists (sixth with 4.4 apg) and steals (seventh with 1.6 spg).
• Pippen Jr. has been a solid backcourt complement to Lee, averaging 11.3 ppg, 3.8 apg and 1.0 spg, all of which rank second on the team.
• First-year head coach Jerry Stackhouse looks to bring Vanderbilt its first victory in Knoxville since the 2016-17 season. A win on Tuesday would also end Tennessee’s five game win-streak over the Dores.
• Vanderbilt’s campus library system contains more than eight million items across 10 different libraries around Vanderbilt’s campus and stands as one of the nation’s top research libraries.

LAST TIME VS. VANDERBILT
•  A dominant defensive effort and a 21-5 run to begin the second half allowed the Tennessee basketball team to push past Vanderbilt, 66-45, on Jan. 18, 2020, inside Memorial Gym.
•  The Vols held Vanderbilt to an 0-25 night from 3-point range. It was the first time since the 3-point shot was introduced in the 1986-87 season (spanning 1,080 games) that the Commodores failed to knock down at least one 3-point attempt.
•  Senior Jordan Bowden led the Tennessee offense, finishing with 21 points while shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 7-of-8 from the foul line.
•  Juniors John Fulkerson and Yves Pons each added 12 points for the Vols.
•  Fulkerson also pulled down eight rebounds, while Pons rejected four shot attempts, marking his fifth consecutive multi-block game.
•  Freshman Josiah-Jordan James also was tough on the boards for the Big Orange, grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. James also dished off a game-high five assists.
•  Both offenses started slow, with the squads shooting a combined 37 percent (7-of-19) from the field in the contest’s opening eight minutes, good for a 9-9 score line.
•  During the game’s final 10 minutes, Tennessee continued to stifle the Vanderbilt offense while maintaining its efficient shooting mark on the other side of the floor, increasing its lead to as many as 22 points.
•  Tennessee’s win gave Bowden—UT’s lone active senior—a perfect 4-0 career record in Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym.

MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST VANDERBILT
• Grant Williams (now with the Boston Celtics) erupted for a record-setting performance as the No. 1-ranked Volunteers held off Vanderbilt, 88-83, in overtime in Nashville on Jan. 23, 2019. Williams finished with a career-high 43 points and also tallied eight rebounds, four blocks, two assists and a steal. The junior forward was 10-of-15 from the field and a program-record 23-of-23 from the free-throw line.
• Josh Richardson (now a starter for the Philadelphia 76ers) helped the Vols rally from two separate double-digit deficits in the second half by scoring 15 of his game-high 22 points in the final stanza to lift Tennessee to a 67-61 comeback win over Vanderbilt in the 2015 SEC Tournament in Nashville on March 12, 2015. In what was the second-to-last game of his career, Richardson also led all players with three steals and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
• Dyron Nix (17 points, 18 rebounds) and Doug Roth (10 points, 10 rebounds) recorded double-doubles and Tennessee beat Vanderbilt 79-69 in overtime in Stokely Athletics Center Feb. 4, 1987, in Knoxville.
• Dick Johnston made six free throws in double overtime to lift UT to a 77-72 win over the Dores in Nashville on Feb. 2, 1970. Jimmy England led the charge with 27 points, and Bobby Croft had an 18-16 double-double.
• Danny Schultz holds UT’s single-game scoring record against Vanderbilt, as he dropped 35 points on the Dores on Feb. 15, 1964, in Nashville.
• Tennessee All-Century Team member Paul “Lefty” Walther (1948-49) never lost to Vanderbilt during his career as a Vol. The Covington, Kentucky, native helped lead Tennessee to a 4-0 record over the Dores, beating Vandy by an average of 9.8 points.

VOL VETS EFFICIENT VS. VANDY
• Tennessee upperclassmen Jordan Bowden (.500), John Fulkerson (.500), Jalen Johnson (.667) and Yves Pons (.500) all shoot at least 50 percent from the field during their career against Vanderbilt.
• Bowden, who is a perfect 4-0 at Vandy’s Memorial Gym, averages 11.5 points in six previous games against the Commodores while shooting .438 from 3-point range and boasting a 2.8 assist/turnover ratio.

SECOND TIME’S A CHARM
• Over the last three seasons, Rick Barnes and his staff guided the Volunteers to a 10-1 record in regular-season rematch games (SEC Tournament games not included).
• The lone loss came Saturday at South Carolina, 63-61.

VOLS SUCCESSFUL ON THE IN-STATE CIRCUIT
• Tennessee has won nine of its last 10 games against in-state opponents and is 16-5 vs. in-state foes under coach Rick Barnes.
• Those 16 wins include triumphs over Chattanooga, ETSU (twice), Lipscomb (twice), Memphis, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech (twice) and Vanderbilt (seven times).

FULKY FEASTING AT THE FOUL LINE
• Over Tennessee’s last three games, junior forward John Fulkerson has taken 41 percent of the Vols’ total free-throw attempts (34 of 82).
• He’s attempted 34 free throws during that span—11.3 per game—and has made 25 of them (.735).

 

UT Athletics

Football Season-Ticket Prices Hold Steady for Highly Anticipated 2020 Campaign

Football Season-Ticket Prices Hold Steady for Highly Anticipated 2020 Campaign

Posted on February 17, 2020
Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee football rides the momentum of a six-game win streak—the second-longest active streak among Power Five programs—into the 2020 campaign. Season tickets are now available, and Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer has announced that pricing has not increased from last year.

Season-ticket options start as low as $300 with the Volunteers set to host 2020 home games against Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Charlotte, Furman and Troy.

“Everyone is energized about the way we finished last season,” Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt said. “When Neyland Stadium is rocking, it’s unlike anyplace else in the country. And it sure seems like our players block a little better and hit and lot harder when Vol Nation is revved up. We’ve got something special taking place here, and we’re putting on more steam every day to make sure the decade of the Vols starts strong. We need our fans to put on more steam, too.”

AllVols.com now features a new, interactive, 3D seat map enabling fans to experience the various ticket options throughout Neyland Stadium. While AllVols.com is accessible 24/7 to purchase tickets, fans also are welcome to call (865) 946-7000 to speak with a helpful ticket representative on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. ET through 5 p.m. ET.

The Vol Pass also is returning for the 2020 football season. A great option for fans interested in experiencing Neyland Stadium from a different vantage point each game, those interested in learning more about the Vol Pass are encouraged to call (865) 946-7000.

“Coach Fulmer is passionate about ensuring that the Neyland Stadium experience remains accessible for all families,” Associate Athletics Director for Fan Experience & Sales Jimmy Delaney said. “So having a $300 season ticket option and continuing to offer the Vol Pass were important to him. Our various ticket options throughout the stadium provide Tennessee fans with a really broad variety of ways to enjoy gameday on Rocky Top.”

As part of Fulmer’s push for affordable options, the 2020 price for “no donation required” seating—located in the stadium’s south upper deck—has decreased from $360 to $300.

Tennessee fans can prime themselves for an exciting fall by attending the Chevrolet Orange & White Game on Saturday, April 18. Admission is free, and kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET. Athletic department staffers will be available that day to provide 1-on-1 service to fans interested in exploring the stadium to review available seating inventory. Fans interested in scheduling an appointment (on April 18 or any other date) can do so HERE.

“It will be a big recruiting weekend,” Pruitt said of Orange & White weekend. “So we need Vol Nation to show our visitors what the Vol Walk and gameday at Neyland Stadium are like in the fall.”

Stay up to date on everything happening with the Tennessee football program by following @Vol_Football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

 

UT Athletics

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