After cancelling 26 shows in 2019 as frontman Randy Owen dealt with vertigo and migraines, Alabama has revealed more than a dozen rescheduled dates on their 50th Anniversary Tour.
The band will get back on the road this summer and fall with announced stops in Nashville, Indianapolis, Detroit and more. A number of special guests will perform at select dates, including The Charlie Daniels Band, The Beach Boys, John Michael Montgomery, Don McLean and Restless Heart. Tickets are on sale now.
Alabama was celebrating a half-century of making music with their 50th Anniversary Tour in 2019, before postponing the trek about halfway through.
Alabama 50th Anniversary Tour
July 10 | Colonial Life Arena | Columbia, SC (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
July 11 | Spectrum Center | Charlotte, NC (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
July 17 | Bridgestone Arena | Nashville, TN (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
July 18 | Bridgestone Arena | Nashville, TN (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
July 31 | Intrust Bank Arena | Wichita, KS (w/ The Beach Boys)
Aug. 1 | WinStar World Casino & Resort | Thackerville, OK
Aug. 8 | Thunder Valley Amphitheater | Bristol, TN (w/ John Michael Montgomery)
Aug. 21 | Martin Luther King Jr. Arena | Savannah, GA (w/ Don McLean)
Aug. 22 | Hertz Arena | Estero, FL (w/ Don McLean)
Sept. 17 | Donald L. Tucker Civic Center | Tallahassee, FL (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
Sept. 18 | Columbus Civic Center | Columbus, GA (w/ John Michael Montgomery)
Oct. 2 | Mohegan Sun Arena | Wilkes-Barre, PA (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
Oct. 3 | Wicomico Civic Center | Salisbury, MD
Oct. 15 | Bankers Life Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, IN (w/ Restless Heart)
Oct. 16 | Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center | Madison, WI (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
Oct. 23 | Fox Theatre | Detroit, MI
Oct. 24 | Van Andel Arena | Grand Rapids, MI (w/ Restless Heart)
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Tennessee men’s basketball team returns to action on Saturday afternoon for a road contest against Mississippi State. Tipoff from Humphrey Coliseum is set for 2 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Saturday’s game can be seen on ESPNU, online through WatchESPN, which can be accessed at espn.com/watch, and on any mobile device through the ESPN App. Drew Fellios and Dalen Cuff will have the call.
Fans can also listen in on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertlekamp describing the action.
Last time out, UT fell to Texas A&M in a defensive battle, 63-58. The Vols were led by junior John Fulkerson, who tallied 15 points and seven boards. Three of Fulkerson’s seven rebounds were offensive bringing his season total to 39 and his season average to 1.9 to lead the team.
A victory on Saturday would give the Vols their 10th consecutive victory over teams from the state of Mississippi and prevent Tennessee’s first three-game losing skid since Feb. 22 through March 1 of the 2016-17 season (Vanderbilt, South Carolina and LSU).
Up next, Tennessee will hit the road for its second of two consecutive road contests, when it travels south to take on Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads its all-time series with Mississippi State, 85-43, dating to 1924.
• The Vols own a narrow, 30-28 advantage when the series is played in Starkville and have won four of their last five games at The Hump.
• Tennessee is 6-1 against MSU under head coach Rick Barnes.
A WIN WOULD…
• Give the Vols 10 consecutive wins over teams from the state of Mississippi.
• Prevent UT’s first three-game losing skid since Feb. 22 through March 1 of the 2016-17 season (Vanderbilt, South Carolina, LSU).
STORYLINES
• This week one year ago, Tennessee was ranked No. 1 in both major polls.
• Six or more international student-athletes are likely to see action in Saturday’s game.
• Vols freshman Uroš Plavšić and Bulldogs redshirt junior Abdul Ado are both graduates of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga.
• In Tennessee’s eight games since the calendar flipped to 2020, junior Yves Pons has totaled 25 blocked shots (3.1 bpg).
• Vols forward John Fulkerson has three double-doubles in UT’s last six games and is averaging 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds during that span.
• In his first five college games, true freshman Santiago Vescovi averaged one turnover every 4.4 minutes played. But in the last three games, he has averaged one turnover every 22.8 minutes (four turnovers in 91 minutes).
LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee leads the SEC in both scoring defense (60.0 ppg, 10th nationally) and field-goal percentage defense (.378, 15th nationally).
• During SEC play, junior forward John Fulkerson leads the team in scoring (11.9 ppg), rebounding (7.0 rpg) and steals (1.1 spg) while shooting .653 from the field and .864 from the free-throw line.
• The Vols are on pace to finish the regular season with 189 blocks. That would be the fifth-highest single-season total in program history.
• Junior forward Yves Pons has blocked at least one shot in every game this season. He leads the SEC and ranks 18th nationally with 2.7 bpg. His 3.1 bpg during SEC play also leads the league.
• Freshmen Josiah-Jordan James (13-28) and Santiago Vescovi (14-36) combine to shoot .422 from 3-point range during SEC play.
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Mississippi State is riding a four-game conference win streak with victories over Missouri, Georgia, Arkansas and Florida. The Bulldogs are 13-7 (4-3 SEC).
• MSU head coach Ben Howland, like Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes, is in his fifth year in Starkville, looking to build off MSU’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in nine years. The Bulldogs finished 2018-19 with a mark of 23-11 and finished sixth in the SEC before ultimately falling to Liberty in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament.
• The Bulldogs have been led this season by the outstanding play of sophomore forward Reggie Perry. Perry leads MSU in scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounding (10.0), averaging a double-double while also showing his versatility as both a playmaker (2.3 apg) and defender (1.0 bpg). His 10.0 boards per game also lead the SEC.
• Perry put together one of his best performances of the season in State’s victory at Florida on Tuesday night, pouring in a career-high 27 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
• Senior guard Tyson Carter has shown great production for the Bulldogs, ranking second in scoring (13.6 ppg) and steals (1.3 spg) and first in assists, dishing off 3.5 assists per contest. His contributions have stayed consistent while coming off the bench in each of the last five games.
• One notable native of Starkville, Mississippi, is Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. Rice was born in Starkville and grew up in the nearby town of Crawford. He later attended Mississippi Valley State, where he set numerous NCAA I-AA football records before becoming arguably the greatest NFL receiver of all-time.
LAST TIME VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
• A second-half run vaulted No. 8 Tennessee to an 83-76 victory over Mississippi State in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on March 15, 2019, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
• All-SEC wing Admiral Schofield finished with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor. Senior Kyle Alexander also posted a dominant performance, dropping 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting, with nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
• SEC Player of the Year Grant Williams chipped in 16 points, and All-SEC point guard Jordan Bone narrowly missed a double-double with 14 points and nine assists. Junior guard Lamonté Turner was also effective at getting open shots for his teammates, dishing out eight assists to go with four steals. Fellow junior Jordan Bowden rounded out UT’s double-digit scorers with 10 points.
• Mississippi State had four players score in double figures, with Aric Holman’s 20 points on five 3-pointers leading the way.
• Similar to the first half, both teams traded buckets to begin the second half. However, a 10-0 run by Tennessee made it a 13-point game with 9:33 to play. The run was highlighted by a merciless one-handed slam by Schofield over a Mississippi State player that brought the crowd to its feet and gave the Vols all the momentum.
• The game was never closer than seven points after the swing in UT’s favor. Tennessee sealed the victory by knocking down seven of its final nine shots. For the game, UT shot 52 percent (34-of-66) from the floor.
• The first half went back and forth as both teams traded baskets. The Bulldogs held an early lead, but the Vols responded with a 9-0 run to pull ahead with 10 minutes left.
• Tennessee maintained at least a two-possession game for the remainder of the period to head into the break up, 34-28.
MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Junior Dale Ellis grabbed a school-record seven steals as the Vols defeated the Bulldogs 54-44 at “The Hump” in Starkville on Jan. 20, 1982.
• Bill Justus’s two game-winning free throws in the third overtime in Starkville on March 6, 1967, gave the Vols the outright SEC regular-season title. Justus scored 14 in the contest.
• While Justus earned the credit for sealing the win in Starkville in 1967, the Vols would not have contended for the win without 35 points from Knoxville native Ron Widby, who went on to be a Pro Bowl punter for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
• Ernie Grunfeld scored 37 and Bernard King added 30 as the “Ernie & Bernie Show” rolled to a 97-87 win in Starkville. on Jan. 25, 1975.
ROAD WARRIORS
• Dating to the start of the 2017-18 season, Tennessee is 17-10 (.630) in true road games.
• That includes victories at Kentucky, Iowa State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Memphis and Florida.
MINUTE DISTRIBUTION SHOWS YOUTH
• During SEC play, freshmen account for 40.1 percent of Tennessee’s total minutes played.
• The Vols regularly start two true freshmen in guards Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi. They average 32.1 and 26.0 minutes, respectively, in SEC games.
PONS RIDING BLOCK STREAK
• Yves Pons, the SEC’s leading shot-blocker, has blocked at least one shot in every game this season.
• His streak of 20 straight games with at least one block is the longest such streak by a Vol since at least the 1997-98 season (research is ongoing).
• Pons has blocked three or more shots in 12 games this season, including a program-record-tying six-block effort against Jacksonville State on Dec. 21.
• With 11 regular-season games left to play, he already ranks tied for ninth on UT’s single-season blocks list. The record is 73, by C.J. Black in 1997-98.
PONS ON NBA MOCK DRAFT BOARD
• Junior forward Yves Pons currently appears on ESPN’s latest 2021 NBA Mock Draft, released Jan. 22.
• ESPN projects Pons to go to the Philadelphia 76ers as the 52nd overall pick.
The Hot Country Knights—a band fronted by an incognito Dierks Bentley—announced they will hit the road for their One Knight Stand Tour this spring. The 13-date tour kicks off on April 7 in San Diego, making additonal stops in L.A., Boston, Atlanta, Nashville and more. Hannah Dasher, Tenille Townes, Rachel Wammack and Lainey Wilson will provide support during various stops.
The Hot Country Knights are comprised of Dierks’ road band, performing ’90s-esque country tunes while donning aliases, mullet wigs and over-the-top attire from the era. The Hot Country Knights feature lead singer Douglas “Doug” Douglason, lead bass player Trevor Travis, lead guitarist Marty Ray “Rayro” Roburn, fiddle player Terotej “Terry” Dvoraczekynski, steel guitarist Barry Van Ricky and percussionist Monte Montgomery.
“The Knights started as a live band playing at a little place called Teasers on ‘Two for Tuesdays,’ and they just couldn’t get enough of us down there in Murfreesboro,” says Doug Douglason. “We’ve got a little money now, so Barry did some work on the van. We got a few little outstanding legal issues handled so we are free and clear to cross state lines again. Yeah baby, the Knights are riding again!”
Tickets go on sale on Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. local time, with pre-sale for Citi cardmembers beginning on Feb.4 at 10 a.m. local time.
The band’s debut single, “Pick Her Up,” will impact country radio on Feb. 3. In January, the band signed a recording contract with Universal Music Group Nashville, which is Dierks’ longtime label partner.
The Hot Country Knights released their second song, “Asphalt,” on Jan. 31. Watch the cheeky new video below.
One Knight Stand Tour
April 7 | San Diego, CA | House of Blues
April 8 | Los Angeles, CA | The Wiltern
April 9 | San Francisco, CA | The Regency Ballroom
April 16 | Chicago, IL | Joe’s Sports Bar
April 17 | Rosemont, IL | Joe’s Live
April 18 | Royal Oak, MI | Royal Oak Theatre
April 20 | Washington DC | 9:30 Club
April 21 | Brooklyn, NY | Music Hall of Williamsburg
April 22 | Boston, MA | House of Blues
April 24 | Atlanta, GA | Buckhead Theatre
April 25 | Talladega, AL | Talladega Superspeedway
April 29 | Nashville, TN | Ryman Auditorium
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — In conjunction with Super Bowl LIV, Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith was awarded with the inaugural Fritz Pollard Trophy at the 15th annual Johnnie L. Cochran Foundation Jr. Salute to Excellence Awards, hosted by the Fritz Pollard Alliance on Thursday evening at the Broward County Convention Center.
The Fritz Pollard Trophy honors a college player who has exemplified extraordinary courage, community values, and exceptional performance on the field, while the awards ceremony celebrates individuals and organizations who display outstanding performances on the field, in front offices and across the U.S. by exemplifying diversity, courage and meritorious performance.
In a room full of NFL legends, including Harry Carson, John Lynch and Tony Dungy, VFLs Jacques McClendon and Reggie McKenzie, and NFL executives including the league’s commissioner Roger Goodell, the 6-6 Smith delivered as heartfelt of a speech as his play on the field thanking his family, including his late mother Dorsetta Smith, and Vols coaching staff and medical staff for contributing to his success.
“When I got my letter from Tennessee, I knew it was my home,” Smith said. “I’ve had my fair share of obstacles and setbacks. My mom died at the age of 15. Being quite honest, I fell into a state of depression and not really sure what my purpose was.
“I had to rely on the things that I always relied – my family and faith.”
Smith found the recognition to be particularly special because of the legacy of the trophy’s namesake Fritz Pollard, who was the first African-American to become a head coach in the NFL and one of the first two African-American players in the league. Recalling Pollard’s historical milestone and with Black History Month a couple a days away, Smith says the moment means much more.
“Knowing the legacy that Fritz Pollard established and to be receiving an award with his name is truly humbling and a blessing,” the Jackson, Tenn., native said. “This time of year, especially, I often think of those that came before me and paved the way for many of the opportunities that I am able to take advantage of both in football and outside of my sport.
“The scripture Deuteronomy 6:11, ‘we drink from wells we did not dig, we are warmed by fires we did not build’, is something I think about and hope to be able to pass that energy on to others.”
Others to be honored include the Miami Dolphins Football Club (Paul J. Tagliabue Award), Richard Lapchick, PhD (Dan Rooney Lifetime Achievement Award), and NFL Executive Vice President, Football Operations Troy Vincent, President of 49ers Enterprises and EVP of Football Operations Paraag Marathe and the City Furniture Florida Business, who will all receive Salute to Excellence Awards.
Smith has been forging an impressive legacy of his own both on and off the gridiron.
Smith was diagnosed with blood clots in February of 2018, but returned to play for the Vols in 2018. Another setback occurred in October of 2018 and Smith missed the final five games of the season. He again fought back to return to football. A plan was developed by the Tennessee medical staff, in collaboration with specialists, which minimizes Smith’s risk for recurrent blood clots, while allowing him to play football.
Smith started 12 games at left guard in 2019 en route to All-SEC First Team honors from the coaches and media. He was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice this fall. After missing the final five games of the 2018 season and a comeback to football questionable, Smith returned to his dominant ways and spearheaded Tennessee’s six-game win streak to end the season. SEC Network analyst and offensive line expert Cole Cubelic named Smith to his All-America First Team.
The Jackson, Tenn., native continued his commitment to the community even during a busy football season. Smith is an active speaker to youth groups, elementary schools and organizations across the state and led coat drives for Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry (KARM) during the 2018 and 2019 seasons where over 1,000 coats were donated each year because of his efforts.
The grandiose evening was highlighted by remarks from Goodell who shared a few words.
“This is an important organization,” Goodell said. “We have a lot to be proud of. The people that are here are committed to finding solutions. I want to take a moment to congratulate all of the award winners tonight. It is an impressive group. I can see why each of them are so deserving”
Smith will stay in South Florida until Feb. 3 along with four other Vols student-athletes as part of The Big Orange Combine, an immersive experience that includes working behind the scenes at the Super Bowl.
Smith recently announced that he will return to the Volunteers for his senior season. His commitment to his team and community continues to garner recognition as the o-lineman was selected as one of three finalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award given to the nation’s top all-around student-athlete, which will be awarded to the winner on Feb. 18.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt announced the hire of former Tennessee star Jay Graham as running backs coach on Thursday.
Graham has established himself as one of the country’s top mentors of running backs during stops at Texas A&M, Florida State and South Carolina in recent years. He rushed for 2,609 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Vols from 1993-96 and played in the NFL for six years.
“I’m excited to welcome Jay Graham back to Tennessee,” Pruitt said. “He is one of the best assistant coaches in the country, and his track record for developing running backs speaks for itself, as you can see several of the young men he has coached playing on Sundays. He’s the total package as a coach with his experience playing in the NFL and his years coaching in the SEC and ACC. He has tremendous work ethic and an impressive ability to connect with young people. I was impressed by Jay from the start of our time working together and winning a national championship in 2013. He’s one of the best running backs ever to play at Tennessee, which I saw firsthand in the mid-90s. I’m thrilled to be working alongside him again and bringing him back to Rocky Top.”
After his professional football career, Graham returned to UT and earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2004 before embarking on his collegiate coaching career. He earned his master’s degree in Sports Management from Tennessee in 2009.
He previously coached UT’s running backs in 2012, teaming up with current offensive coordinator Jim Chaney.
In 2013, he won a national championship at Florida State alongside Pruitt.
Graham has coached some of college football’s top running backs of the last decade, including NFL stars Dalvin Cook (Minnesota Vikings, 2019 Pro Bowl selection) and Devonta Freeman (Atlanta Falcons, two Pro Bowls) and All-SEC running backs Trayveon Williams (Texas A&M) and Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina).
Since 2013, six Graham-coached running backs have been selected in the NFL Draft.
This past season, Graham coached Texas A&M true freshman Isaiah Spiller to a 946-yard, 10-touchdown, SEC All-Freshman season. Spiller led all SEC freshman running backs in rushing yards.
In 2018, Williams set Texas A&M single-season records and led the SEC in all-purpose yards (2,038) and rushing yards (1,760) in 2018 while scoring 18 touchdowns. He was a sixth-round pick by the Bengals in 2019. Additionally, fullback Cullen Gillaspia was a seventh-round selection by the Houston Texans.
Cook set Florida State school records for single-season rushing yards (1,765 in 2016) and career rushing yards (4,464 from 2014-16) under Graham’s tutelage. He finished in the top 10 in Heisman Trophy voting in 2015 and 2016 and was a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Graham coached Freeman at Florida State to a 1,016-yard, 15-touchdown season as the Seminoles finished 14-0 and won the 2013 national championship with an offense that scored a national-record 723 points.
Graham also guided Florida State’s special teams units from 2014-17, coaching three-time All-American placekicker Roberto Aguayo, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Prior to joining Jimbo Fisher’s staff at Florida State, Graham spent one season at his alma mater in 2012, helping the Vols more than double their rushing output from 70.4 yards per game in 2011 to 160.3 yards per game in 2012 behind Rajion Neal and Marlin Lane.
He spent three seasons at South Carolina from 2009-11, where he coached Lattimore to consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, including 1,609 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2010. Lattimore was a fourth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers.
Graham also served one-year stints at Miami (Ohio), UT-Martin, San Diego and Chattanooga after getting his coaching start as a graduate assistant at Tennessee in 2005.
Graham grabbed All-SEC second-team honors in 1995 and 1996 while leading Tennessee in rushing both seasons.
The Concord, N.C., native rushed for 1,438 yards in 1995, the second-most in a single season ever by a Vol, collecting a school-record 11 100-yard games and scoring 12 touchdowns along the way that year.
He had 797 yards and 11 scores in 1996. He ranks second in school history with 14 career 100-yard games.
Graham was a third-round selection by Baltimore Ravens in 1997. He played six years in the NFL with the Ravens, Packers and Seahawks.
Graham and his wife, Kelly, are the parents of three daughters, Nia, Denae and Kierra, and two sons, Jayson and Kellan.
Little Big Town stopped by the Late Show With Seth Meyers on Jan. 29 to perform “Next to You,” a new tune from their 2020 No. 1 album, Nightfall.
Penned by Michael Jade, Trevor Jarvis and Hillary Reynolds, “Next to You” features LBT’s Karen Fairchild on lead vocals with sublime harmonies from Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman and Philip Sweet as they join together on the chorus: “Don’t you know you’re the fire in my bones / You’re my heart and my home / Ooh, and I know I don’t say it enough / I’ve been down on my luck, my luck / But I’ll be fine in the mornin’ next to you.”
Super Bowl LIV (54) on Feb. 2 is not slated to have any country-centric performers taking the stage at halftime (Jennifer Lopez and Shakira) or performing the national anthem (Demi Lovato) during pre-game festivities. However, a handful of country stars have taken part in various Super Bowls over the last 50-plus years.
Take a look at what some of your favorite country stars brought to TV’s biggest stage during past Super Bowls.
Halftime Performances
Super Bowl XXXVII, 2003: Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting performed the halftime show, with Shania singing “Up!” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”
Super Bowl XXVIII, 1994: Clint Black (“Tuckered Out”), Tanya Tucker (“It’s a Little Too Late”), Travis Tritt (“T-R-O-U-B-L-E”), Wynonna (“No One Else on Earth”) and the Judds (“Love Can Build a Bridge”) headlined the halftime show, which was dubbed “Rockin’ Country Sunday.” Charlie Daniels joined the troupe during the finale.
Super Bowl XXIV, 1990: Doug Kershaw was one of the performers during the 1990 Super Bowl. Doug had a handful of Top 20 hits on the country charts in the 1950s and ’60s with his brother Rusty as the duo Rusty & Doug.
Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus have parlayed their smash hit, “Old Town Road,” into a Super Bowl spot for Doritos.
The tune, which spent a record 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, has won a number of awards in the past year, including the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year, MTV Award for Song of the Year and more.
The new Super Bowl ad features Lil Nax X going toe to toe in a dance-off with actor Sam Ellitott, while Billy Ray—who has a number of achy-breaky moves—closes the commercial by quipping, “I ain’t dancing.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 22/22 Tennessee (16-4, 6-1 SEC) hits the road for the first of three away games in its next four outings, playing Vanderbilt (12-8, 2-5 SEC) at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on Thursday at 8:05 p.m. CT (9:05 ET).
This will mark the 83rd contest in a rivalry that began in 1976. UT leads the series, 72-10, and has won 10 of the past 11, with Vandy picking up its first-ever victory in Knoxville last season. The UT women are 247-61-1 all-time vs. four-year college teams from the Volunteer State, defeating ETSU (72-68) and Tennessee State (73-43) earlier this season.
The Lady Vols are currently tied for second place in the league standings with Mississippi State at 6-1. South Carolina is in the catbird’s seat with a 7-0 league mark. Kentucky and Texas A&M are a game behind UT at 5-2. Vandy, meanwhile, is tied for ninth with Alabama, Florida and Missouri at 2-5.
Tennessee features two players from the Volunteer State, including Jazmine Massengill (Chattanooga) and Jaiden McCoy (Knoxville), plus a head coach from Sparta (Kellie [Jolly] Harper) who played at Tennessee as well. Vanderbilt has five players from in-state.
Former Lady Vol Tamika Catchings will be broadcasting for the SEC Network and another LVFL (Kortney Dunbar) is a graduate assistant for the Commodores.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday’s game will be televised by the SEC Network with Eric Frede (PxP) and Tamika Catchings (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.
THE ROAD LEADING UP TO THIS
Tennessee enters Thursday night having won five of its last six and eight of its last 10.
UT has won five straight SEC games and is 2-1 in road league contests, dropping an 80-76 decision vs. Kentucky on Jan. 5.
Rennia Davis is averaging 19.4 over her last five games, shooting 56.9 percent from the field, 46.7 on threes and 76.2 at the charity stripe.
Vanderbilt is 1-4 over its last five but won at Georgia and was quite competitive vs. Mississippi State.
VU is coming off a 98-61 loss at Alabama on Sunday, while UT beat Alabama on Jan. 20, 65-63, with Rennia Davis hitting a long-range, step-back three before the buzzer.
The Commodores played UConn on Nov. 13 and lost by 13, 64-51, while Tennessee suffered a 60-45 loss to the Huskies on Jan. 23 after committing 27 turnovers.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Tennessee is in the midst of a four-game swing where it plays three of four away from home. The next two following the Vandy game are top-10 match-ups at No. 1/2 South Carolina and vs. No. 9/8 Mississippi State on Feb. 2 and 6, respectively, followed by a rematch at #RV/RV LSU on Feb. 13.
Vandy, meanwhile, heads to Auburn for a 2 p.m. CT contest on Sunday. SECN+ has the coverage.
DAVIS NAMED SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
University of Tennessee junior forward Rennia Davis was named the SEC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday. The honor is the second of the season for Davis and the fifth of her career.
The 6-foot-2 Lady Vol standout ran her streak of scoring in double figures to 18 consecutive games, averaging 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals last week in No. 22/22 UT’s split with #3/5 UConn and #RV/RV LSU. Davis finished 16 of 27 from the field for 59.3 percent accuracy. She was four of nine from three-point range (44.4) and went 10 of 11 from the free-throw line (90.9).
The graduate of Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Fla., closed the week for the Lady Vols with her second 30-point game of the season, firing in 30 and pulling down eight rebounds in a key conference victory over LSU. The win enabled the Big Orange to remain in a tie for second place in the league standings.
Davis connected on nine of 13 shots from the field (.692), including two of five from long range, and knocked down all 10 free-throw attempts to tie for the fourth-best 100-percent performance in Lady Vol history.
RECAPPING OUR LAST GAME
The No. 23/23 Lady Vols got back in the win column on Sunday, defeating LSU, 63-58, in a key SEC match-up in front of a season-best crowd of 10,230 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The victory enabled the Lady Vols to post a 2-1 record during a week in which they played three games, including both SEC opponents entering contests having had an off-date prior to their meeting with the Lady Vols.
Junior forward Rennia Davis led Tennessee (16-4, 6-1 SEC), going a perfect 10 of 10 from the free-throw line en route to a game-high 30 points and eight rebounds.
LSU (14-5, 4-3 SEC) was led by redshirt senior Ayana Mitchell, who logged a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Khayla Pointer was also in double figures for the Tigers with 12.
NOTES FROM THE LAST GAME
Rennia In The Record Books: Junior Rennia Davis turned in 30 points against LSU, making it the 11th time she’s scored at least 20 points and the third time she’s hit 30. She’s now tied for 11th all-time in career 20+ point performances by Lady Vols. Additionally, she went a perfect 10 of 10 from the line to tie for fourth all-time in free-throw percentage for a single game.
Shot Swatting: Freshman Tamari Key blocked four shots against the Tigers, putting her average in SEC play at 4.7 bpg. Key currently leads the conference, while South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston is second in conference play, averaging 2.3 bpg.
Defense Wins Games: Coming into the contest, LSU was averaging 61.1 ppg. off a .448 shooting percentage from the floor. Tennessee held them below their averages in both points and shooting percentage at 58 points on .333 shooting.
Horston Dropping Dimes: Freshman Jordan Horston dished out a career-high-tying nine assists against the Tigers, moving her average to 5.2 apg. If the season ended today that average would be first all-time among Lady Vol freshmen.
UT-VU SERIES NOTES
The Lady Vols are 29-7 vs. the Commodores in Nashville, 33-1 in Knoxville and 10-2 at neutral sites, with those being postseason games.
UT had a 10-game series winning streak snapped last season, when Vandy won for the first time ever in Knoxville.
These squads have been to overtime on one occasion, with Tennessee seizing a 92-79 decision in Nashville on Jan. 19, 1997.
Including that OT game, Kellie (Jolly) Harper was 9-0 vs. Vanderbilt as a Lady Vol point guard and is 1-2 vs. the Commodores as a head coach.
Harper was 0-1 vs. VU while head coach at Western Carolina (73-44, March 21, 2009), and 1-1 vs. the Commodores while at NC State, dropping a 77-71 decision on the road on Nov. 28, 2009, and winning at home, 66-59, on Dec. 18, 2011.
Rennia Davis averaged 15.5 ppg. and 9.0 rpg. vs. VU in two games last season. She had a 17/12 double-double in Nashville on Feb. 3, 2019.
The UT women are 247-61-1 all-time vs. four-year college teams from the Volunteer State, defeating ETSU (72-68) and Tennessee State (73-43) earlier this season.
ABOUT VANDERBILT
Vanderbilt returned four starters and seven total letterwinners from last season’s squad which finished 7-23 overall and 2-14 (14th) in the SEC. VU was picked to finish 14th by the media and 12th by the coaches in the 2019-20 preseason poll.
The Commodores are led by redshirt senior forward Mariella Fasoula, who averages 14.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest. VU also gets 13.4 ppg. from sophomore Brinae Alexander and freshman Koi Love.
RECAPPING VANDY’S LAST GAME
Alabama was not a gracious host Sunday, as the Crimson Tide used a dominant first quarter to knock off a shorthanded Vanderbilt team, 98-61, at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.
Fifth-year senior and leading scorer Mariella Fasoula attempted to play through illness but was held scoreless in just nine minutes for the Commodores who were already without starters Brinae Alexander and Autumn Newby due to injury.
Junior guard Chelsie Hall tied a career high with five steals, freshman Kiara Pearl tallied a career-best 11 points, sophomore guard Jordyn Cambridge finished with a career-best three blocks and senior LeaLea Carter led four Commodores in double figures with 15 points.
Vanderbilt fell on the road for just the second time this season and dropped to 12-8 overall and 2-5 in SEC play.
THE LAST TIME WE MET THE ‘DORES
Redshirt senior Cheridene Green posted a career-high 20 points on Senior Night, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a Vanderbilt team that shot 53.8 percent from the floor, handing Tennessee a 76-69 loss at home on Feb. 28, 2019.
Green’s previous best scoring performance also came against Vanderbilt, on Jan. 17, 2018, when she tallied 17 points.
Sophomore Rennia Davis was also in double figures for Tennessee (17-11, 6-9 SEC) with 14.
THE LAST TIME WE MET IN NASHVILLE
The Lady Vols went 17-of-20 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to secure their third straight victory, defeating rival Vanderbilt on Feb. 3, 2019, 82-65, in Memorial Gymnasium.
Sophomore Rennia Davis and senior Meme Jackson had 17 apiece for UT (15-7, 4-5 SEC). Davis posted 12 rebounds to record her second straight and sixth overall double-double of the season.
Vanderbilt (6-16, 1-8 SEC) was led by redshirt junior Mariella Fasoula, who had 16 points, eight rebounds and went a perfect six of six from the free-throw line. Chelsie Hall and Autumn Newby each had 11 for the Commodores.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Despite three Vols scoring in double figures, Tennessee fell to Texas A&M, 63-58, Tuesday night in Thompson-Boling Arena. The contest featured seven lead changes and a season-high nine blocks by UT.
Junior John Fulkerson led the Vols (12-8, 4-3 SEC) with 15 points and a team-high six rebounds. It marked the sixth time in seven games that Fulkerson has scored in double digits. Senior Jordan Bowden was right behind him with 13, followed by junior Yves Pons, who scored 10.
The Aggies (10-9, 4-3 SEC) were paced by freshman Wendell Mitchell, who recorded 23 points on the night. The Big Orange held Texas A&M to a 30.4 percent shooting percentage and forced 14 turnovers, but the Aggies’ 46-21 advantage in rebounding and 16 second-chance points were enough for them to overcome any offensive shortcomings.
Both teams started slow offensively, but Tennessee went on a 5-0 run to gain its largest lead of the opening half at 14-6. The Aggies then went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 14-14, but the Vols responded with back-to-back dunks from Pons and James to put the Big Orange up by four, 18-14.
But A&M closed the first half strong and managed to take a 25-24 lead into the break.
The Big Orange scored the first eight points of the second half with three free throws from Santiago Vescovi, a 3-pointer from Pons and a lay-in from Fulkerson to put Tennessee on top again, 32-25.
Fulkerson scored the next seven points for UT, but the Aggies kept things close.
Texas A&M went on their second 8-0 run of the night later in the second half, taking the lead, 40-39, with slightly more than 10 minutes left to play. Bowden ended a UT scoring drought with a momentum-shifting dunk, giving Tennessee the lead back yet again.
With less than a minute left in regulation, Bowden delivered a clutch 3-pointer, tying the game at 53-53.
But the Aggies responded with a triple of their own when Mitchell hit from beyond the arc–a shot that proved to be the game-winner.
Block City: Tennessee came into the game ranked ninth in the nation in blocks per game (5.9 bpg) and kept that pace by recording a season-high nine blocks. Tennessee has now recorded 121 blocks on the season, upping its average to 6.1 per game. Tuesday marked the fourth time the team recorded eight or more blocks in a contest this year.
Career-High Night: Two different Vols recorded career-highs in the block column as Olivier Nkamhoua and Jalen Johnson both recorded three. Nkamhoua, a true freshman, tallied his three blocks in one four-minute span.
Yves Making His Mark:Yves Pons finished the contest with two blocks, marking his 20th consecutive game with at least one block. It also marked the fifth-time this season that the junior has made two or more 3-pointers in a contest.
Dishing ‘Em Out: Freshman Santiago Vescovi recorded a career-high in assists with six. His previous best performance was four against both Ole Miss and LSU.
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