Hoops Preview: #22/24 Tennessee Lady Vols vs. Howard

Hoops Preview: #22/24 Tennessee Lady Vols vs. Howard

Rennia Davis – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 22/24 Tennessee (9-2) will open a two-game home stand and simultaneously close out the 2019 portion of its schedule on Sunday, as the Lady Vols welcome Howard (8-4) to Thompson-Boling Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:02 p.m. ET. This will mark the first time these programs have met on the hardwood.

Tennessee is coming off a two-game West Coast swing from Dec. 16 to Dec. 22 that saw the Big Orange come away with a split. The Lady Vols suffered a 78-51 defeat at (then) No. 1/1 Stanford on Dec. 18 and closed the trip in Oregon on Dec. 21 with an 88-61 victory at Portland State. During the trip, the Tennessee players and staff enjoyed a couple of cool educational experiences, visiting the world headquarters of Facebook/Instagram/Oculus in Menlo Park, Calif., and the world headquarters of Nike in Beaverton, Ore.

Howard, meanwhile, comes to town with a four-game winning streak and with victories in seven of its last nine contests. The Bison closed out the pre-holiday slate with an 86-75 victory over George Mason in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Fairfax, Va., on Dec. 21.

Tennessee will open its Southeastern Conference schedule on Jan. 2, as Missouri comes to town for a 5 p.m. ET contest whose tip time was moved earlier to avoid a direct conflict with the Vol football team’s 7 p.m. ET appearance in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Howard begins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on Jan. 4, as the Bison travel to Princess Anne, Md., to face Maryland Eastern Shore.

 

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Sunday afternoon’s game will be streamed live by SECN+ with Michael Wottreng (PxP) and Steve Hamer (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.
  • 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.

ESPN2 SELECTS UT AT UK GAME

  •  ESPN and the SEC announced that Tennessee’s game at Kentucky on Jan. 5 in Memorial Coliseum will be televised by ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET

PROMOS

  • Gates open at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. Tickets start at just $5. Purchase yours today at AllVols.com.
  • There is free parking & shuttle service available from UT’s Ag Campus. Shuttles begin two hours prior to tipoff.
  • Enjoy the pregame Kids’ Corner at Gate F. It opens one hour prior to tipoff. Fun includes free face painting, the Big Orange prize wheel, visits from Smokey and cheerleaders, crafts and more at the Kids’ Corner.
  • Want to be the Jr.Vol of the Game? Sign up for the Jr.Vol Club today and get the chance to see yourself on the videoboard. Members also receive free Jr.Vol swag, tickets to games for all sports and exclusive Jr.Vol events.
  • There will be postgame lay-ups on Sunday. Kids 12 and younger can shoot a lay-up on the court after the game.
  • Come High-Five the Lady Vols. Kids 12 & younger can pick up a wristband at the Fan HQ table on the concourse to participate in the pregame High-Five Tunnel. Wristbands are limited. To purchase discounted group tickets and reserve wristbands for your team, call 865-946-7000.
  • You can be a part of the Lady Vols’ electric introductions. Make sure to download our light show app courtesy of Coca Cola. The “Hoops Hype” app is available free of charge from the Apple Store or the Google Play Store.

RECAPPING OUR LAST GAME

  • The No. 23/24 Lady Vols shot a scorching 51.4 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from behind the arc on Dec. 21, defeating Portland State in Viking Pavilion, 88-61.
  • Sophomore Rae Burrell led Tennessee (9-2) in scoring, narrowly missing a double-double with a career-high 21 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Jordan Horston was close behind, also setting a career high with 20 points.
  • Junior Rennia Davis recorded her tenth rebound of the game just over two minutes into the second half to solidify the 24th double-double of her career. She went on to collect a season-high 13 rebounds while scoring 18 points.
  • Portland State (6-4) was led in scoring by Kylie Jimenez and Desirae Hansen, who finished with 15 and 10, respectively.

NOTES FROM THE LAST GAME

  • Big On The Boards: UT out-rebounded PSU, 56-26, recording its second-highest rebounding margin of the season. Tennessee now has won the rebounding battle in eight of 11 games and is averaging 51.6 rpg. while holding opponents to 35.5 rpg.
  • Burrell Heating Up: Sophomore Rae Burrell scored a career-high 21 points at Portland State. She now has scored in double figures in five of the last eight games, increasing her career high in three of those contests.
  • Jaz Dishing: Sophomore Jazmine Massengill doled out a career-high 10 assists, moving her season average to 4.5 apg.  If the season ended today, she would tie with Ariel Massengale for fifth all-time among Lady Vol sophomores.
  • Hot Hand Horston: Freshman Jordan Horston recorded a career-high 20 points against PSU. Nine of those came during a four-and-a-half-minute flurry at the outset of the fourth quarter.
  • Balanced Attack: Ten of UT’s 11 active players scored at least two points against the Vikings, while four found their way into double figures (Burrell – 21, Horston – 20, Davis – 18, Key – 11).
  • Big Time Runs: Tennessee posted two 14-0 runs against Portland State, marking its third-longest run of the season and moving its total of 10+ runs to nine on the year.

TENNESSEE TOPICS

  • The Lady Vols hit their most field goals this season in the win over Portland (38 of 74, .514).
  • Tennessee has outworked nine of 11 foes on the glass this season and has a +16.2 rebound margin that ranks No. 1 nationally through the game vs. Portland State.
  • UT is pulling down 51.6 rebounds per contest while allowing 35.5. The Lady Vols’ per game total ranks No. 2 in the nation.
  • The Lady Vols average 16.8 second chance points per game and have won that category in every contest but one (Central Arkansas).
  • The Lady Vols’ bench has been a strength this season, with the Big Orange holding a 28.2 to 16.1 advantage in points from reserves.
  • UT has been at its best offensively in the third and first quarters this season, averaging 20.0 and 18.9, respectively, during those periods. On the defensive end, the Lady Vols are their stingiest in the second frame, allowing only 11.5 points over that 10-minute stretch.
  • Tennessee has shot for a higher percentage from the field in every game except for the Texas and Stanford match-ups, in which the Longhorns knocked down 36.2 to UT’s 30.6 percent and the Cardinal prevailed, 42.6 to 27.8. UT shoots 43.0 from the field for the season.
  • The Lady Vols are allowing opponents only 30.1 percent shooting from the field and have allowed only No. 1/1 Stanford (42.6) to shoot better than 36% this season.
  • The Lady Vols have limited foes to only 24.8 percent shooting from the three-point arc after Stanford (11-30, .367) and Portland State 12-30, .400) had the best long-range shooting games of the year vs. UT.
  • Tennessee has recorded 16 or more assists in every game but one this season (Stanford, 7). Its season-best mark for dimes is 25 vs. UAPB, followed by 23 vs. Portland State.
  • The Big Orange women have won the opening tip in all 11 games.

COMFORTS OF HOME

  • Tennessee is 6-1 at home this season and is out-rebounding foes 50.1 to 35.0.
  • UT is outscoring foes at home by a 74.4-48.1 score.
  • The Lady Vols are shooting .462 from the floor to the .272 put up by opponents on Rocky Top.
  • Rennia Davis is hitting .476 of her shots at Thompson-Boling Arena to lead Tennessee at 14.9 ppg. and 8.3 rpg.

ABOUT HOWARD

  • Howard University is located in Washington, D.C., and has an enrollment of 9,689 students.
  • Howard was picked to finish third in the MEAC this season after placing fifth a year ago with a 10-6 league mark and an 18-13 overall record.
  • Top returnees include All-MEAC Second Team guard Sarah Edmond, third-team picks in guards Jayla Thornton and Ayonna Williams and MEAC All-Rookie Team forward Krislyn Marsh.
  • The Bison are coached by fifth-year leader Ty Grace, who is 68-76 at the school.
  • Also back is senior forward Imani Bryant, who was a four-time winner of MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors last season.

ABOUT HU’S SEASON

  • Howard is 8-4 as it heads to Knoxville, winning its last four contests.
  • The Bison started the season 1-2 and have been 7-2 since then.
  • UT will mark Howard’s second ranked opponent this season. HU fell at No. 25 South Florida, 82-53, on Nov. 12.
  • The Bison played Power 5 school Washington in the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico on Nov. 29, falling, 75-58.
  • Howard also fell to Bucknell in that tourney, 70-60.

RECAPPING THE BISON’S LAST GAME

  • Howard grabbed a big road win at George Mason, winning 86-75 at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Va., on Dec. 21. With the victory, HU extended its winning streak to a season-high four games.
  • Guards Ayonna Williams (Washington) and Jayla Thornton (Newark, N.J.) led the Bison attack, scoring over 20 points apiece. Williams produced a season-best 28 points, including 21 points after intermission, while the New Jersey native was nearly perfect from the floor, tallying 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting, including 5-of-6 from long range.
  • Senior forward Imani Bryant (Berkeley, Calif.) filled the stat sheet, registering a season-high 12 points, seven boards, three steals and three blocks, while classmate Sarah Edmond (Freeport, N.Y.) added 11 points and five dimes in the win.
  • Overall, the Bison shot over 51-percent (31-of-60) from the field.

-UT Athletics

Vince’s View: Score predictions on 9 SEC Bowls including Vols/Hoosiers in Gator Bowl

Vince’s View: Score predictions on 9 SEC Bowls including Vols/Hoosiers in Gator Bowl


SEC BOWLS

Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl (Houston)
Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma State
Dec. 27 – 6:45 pm ET / 5:45 pm CT – ESPN
Line: Texas A&M – 4 ½
Vince’s View: If Oklahoma State was at full strength, I’d likely go the Cowboys way. Texas A&M should be plenty motivated to show that they are better than what they showed vs. LSU.
Score Prediction: Texas A&M 35 Oklahoma State 21

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta)
LSU vs. Oklahoma
Dec. 28 – 4 ET / 3 CT – ESPN
Line: LSU -11
Vince’s View: I had no confidence Oklahoma could guard LSU’s passing attack initially. Now with the suspensions for OU, it could get even uglier.
Score Prediction: LSU 48 Oklahoma 24

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (Nashville)
Mississippi State vs. Louisville
Dec. 30 – 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT – ESPN
Line: Mississippi State -4
Vince’s View: The Bulldogs rushing attack, even with shaky QB play, should be too much for the pourous Louisville defense to handle.
Score Prediction: Miss State 31 Louisville 20

Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami)
Florida vs. Virginia
Dec. 30 – 8 pm ET / 7 pm CT – ESPN
Line: Florida -14 ½
Vince’s View: The is a mismatch on paper and will be on the field. Virginia does not have the athletes, even with no CJ Henderson for UF, to hang with the Gators.
Score Prediction: Florida 34 Virginia 7

Belk Bowl (Charlotte)
Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech
Dec. 31 – Noon ET / 11 am CT – ESPN
Line: Virginia Tech -2 ½
Vince’s View: The Hokies should be fired-up in Bud Foster’s final game on the sideline as DC. However, UK’s rushing attack has been incredible with Lynn Bowden at QB.
Score Prediction: Kentucky 28 Virginia Tech 27

Outback Bowl (Tampa)
Auburn vs. Minnesota
Jan. 1 – 1 pm ET / Noon CT – ESPN
Line: Auburn -7
Vince’s View: Minnesota should fall under the “happy to be there” category. Auburn has had plenty of time to come down from it’s Iron Bowl victory. The D-line should be the difference unless Auburn is just not interested. The Tigers were interested last season when Gus Malzahn called plays and they looked like they were going to score 100 on Purdue in Nashville.
Score Prediction: Auburn 31 Minnesota 13

VRBO Citrus Bowl (Orlando)
Alabama vs. Michigan
Jan. 1 – 1 pm ET / Noon CT – ABC
Line: Alabama -7
Vince’s View: I know Alabama is a prime candidate to have a letdown because it’s the first time the Tide isn’t in the college football playoff and Bama’s been disinterested in bowls before (OU & Utah Sugar Bowls.) However, those were live and capable underdogs. I don’t think Michigan is that.
Score Prediction: Alabama 42 Michigan 14

Allstate Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
Georgia vs. Baylor
Jan. 1 – 8:45 pm ET / 7:45 pm CT – ESPN
Line: Georgia -6
Vince’s View: Both teams are great defensively. Georgia should roll on talent alone. But, Baylor’s likely high motivation, Georgia potential low motivation (again) and the Bears quality coaching staff should make up the difference.
Score Prediction: Baylor 20 Georgia 17

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Jacksonville)
Tennessee vs. Indiana
Jan. 2 – 7 pm ET / 6 pm CT – ESPN
Line: Tennessee -1 ½
Vince’s View: I expect Tennesee to be sharp in this ball game. I don’t think the Jauan Jennings first half suspension will be a major factor, even though Indiana typically starts fast. The Vols should have some new wrinkles on offense that will lead to more points. Plus, Indiana is dealing with more injury questions than Tennessee is.
Score Prediction: Tennessee 38 Indiana 24


Find more of my broadcasting work at VinceSports.net

Stevie Nicks Added to Nashville’s Free New Year’s Eve Show With Keith Urban

Stevie Nicks Added to Nashville’s Free New Year’s Eve Show With Keith Urban

Rock legend Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame will join headliner Keith Urban onstage at Nashville’s annual Music City Midnight performance on New Year’s Eve.

The free event will take place at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park (approximately one mile from the heart of downtown). This will be the fourth year in a row that Keith headlines the show.

Additional performers include Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, The Struts, Amanda Shires, Bren Joy, Kalie Shorr, DJ Dave Aude and the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

Gates will open at 4 p.m. CT on Dec. 31, followed by the raising of the Music Note (Nashville’s equivalent to NYC’s ball drop) to kick off the live music. The event will include the traditional Music Note Drop and accompanying fireworks display to ring in the New Year against the backdrop of the iconic State Capitol building and unique view of the Nashville skyline.

Portions of the concert will be featured in the holiday coverage on both CNN and NBC.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Play It Forward: Lindsay Ell Says the World Needs to Discover Adam Hambrick’s “Forever Ain’t Long Enough” [Listen]

Play It Forward: Lindsay Ell Says the World Needs to Discover Adam Hambrick’s “Forever Ain’t Long Enough” [Listen]

NCD is closing out the year with our “Play It Forward” segment, which beckons our featured artists to recommend a singer or song that mainstream country fans may not be familiar with.

Today’s recommendation comes from Lindsay Ell.

“I want to give a shout-out to Adam Hambrick,” says Lindsay. “He is such a rock star. He is one of my favorite songwriters in town. He’s a good buddy of mine. He is so talented on songs like ‘Forever Ain’t Long Enough.’ The world needs to discover him.”

Listen to Adam’s “Forever Ain’t Long Enough” below.


Play It Forward

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

ESPN Names VFLs White and Manning All-Time All-Americans

ESPN Names VFLs White and Manning All-Time All-Americans

Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football legends Reggie White and Peyton Manning were named to ESPN’s All-Time All-America first team and second team, respectively, the network revealed on Thursday.

As part of the yearlong ESPN College Football 150 storytelling initiative, the prestigious honor is comprised of a First Team and a Second Team, with 11 players on offense, 11 on defense, a kicker, a punter and an all-purpose player on both teams.

White, who was a standout defensive lineman for the Vols from 1980-83, holds the program’s single-season record with 15 sacks and is tied for second in single-game sacks (four). White jumped into a starting role by the end of his freshman campaign and had an illustrious senior season where he became a consensus All-American, SEC Player of the Year and a Lombardi Award finalist after registering 100 tackles, 15 sacks, nine tackles for loss and an interception.

While with the Vols, the Chattanooga, Tenn., native recorded 293 tackles, 32 sacks (the second most in program history), 19 tackles for loss and four fumble recoveries. White went on to become one of the most decorated players in NFL history as well. He was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 1984 Supplemental Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles after spending two seasons in the United States Football League, and was the NFL’s all-time sacks leader with 198 at the time of his retirement. White was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002, two years before his passing in 2004, and was posthumously elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 2006.

Manning quarterbacked the Vols from 1994-97 and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy his senior season after leading Tennessee to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the Orange Bowl. Manning finished the year with 3,819 passing yards and 36 touchdown passes, both single-season program records.

For his career, Manning amassed 11,201 passing yards, 863 completions and 89 touchdown passes, all program bests that still stand. In total, Manning started 45 games, winning 39 and finishing in the top eight in Heisman voting during each of his final three seasons with Tennessee before being selected the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He was also a consensus All-American in 1997, and earned the Maxwell Award and Campbell Trophy. Manning was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2017 class.

Both White and Manning went on to become Super Bowl champions as well (White with the Green Bay Packers and Manning twice, once with the Indianapolis Colts and once with the Denver Broncos). Tennessee has retired White’s No. 92 and Manning’s No. 16 jerseys.

 

UT Athletics

2015 Gator Bowl MVP Joshua Dobbs Excited to Welcome Vols Back to Jacksonville

2015 Gator Bowl MVP Joshua Dobbs Excited to Welcome Vols Back to Jacksonville

Credit: UT Athletics

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The last time the Tennessee football team played in Jacksonville, sophomore quarterback Joshua Dobbs was the star, accounting for three total touchdowns in a 45-28 victory over Iowa in the 2015 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Five years later, the Volunteers will return to TIAA Bank Field and face another Big Ten team, Indiana, in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Jan. 2.

Dobbs will be back, too.

The Tennessee graduate (‘17) is in his third year in the NFL. He plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars following two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I’m not sure what I’m doing for New Year’s yet, but on January 2nd, I will be in Jacksonville to support the team and see them play,” Dobbs said. “I’m excited about it. I knew right when it got announced I’d make sure to be in Jacksonville.”

The Jaguars play their final game of the season on Dec. 29, and their home field, TIAA Bank Field, also hosts the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

The 2015 Gator Bowl served as a jumping off point for Dobbs. After starting the 2014 season as the third-string quarterback, Dobbs won the starting job at the midway point of the season and finished 4-1 as a starter, including his MVP performance in Jacksonville.

Dobbs completed his first seven passes against Iowa, leading the Vols to touchdowns on their first four drives to jump out to a 28-0 lead on the Hawkeyes. He finished 16-of-21 for 129 yards and one passing touchdown to go along with 76 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground.

“To get the chance to go to Jacksonville, the bowl experience was amazing,” Dobbs said. “When I look back at it, it helped in my development as a young player to be able to get a chance to ball with my teammates, to get extra reps in the offense, and to continue to grow as a player and those extra opportunities to grow and grind and just be around the guys. Bowl season definitely helped me and my progression as a QB.”

Following his Gator Bowl, Dobbs would go onto to start the next 26 games, leading Tennessee to back-to-back nine-win seasons and two more bowl wins. He wrapped up his career second in UT history behind only Peyton Manning in total offense with 9,936 yards. He ranks fifth in school history in passing yards (7,138), touchdown passes (53) and wins by a starting quarterback (23). His 2,160 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground are the most-ever by a Vols’ signal-caller. Oh, and he managed to find the time to graduate with a degree in aerospace engineering, as well.

“It was an unreal four years of my life,” the Alpharetta, Ga., native said. “I miss it every day, but I’m thankful I had those four years and they really helped propel me for my life after college, my NFL life, and all my endeavors off the field.”

Dobbs was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft and played in five games with the Steelers before he was traded to the Jaguars right before the 2019 season.

He has followed the Vols closely this season and likes the direction they are headed under head coach Jeremy Pruitt. He still talks to several former teammates and is excited to watch his buddies play in person again, including fellow quarterback, Jarrett Guarantano, and wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who was one of his favorite targets during the 2016 season. Dobbs and Jennings connected on one of the most memorable Tennessee plays of the last decade – a game-winning Hail Mary to beat Georgia in Athens in 2016.

“Obviously, I was tuned in all year,” he said. “Just to see the resolve of the team, the resiliency. We all know how this season started but to see them fight back and compete and play starting with guys like Jauan (Jennings) and Jarrett (Guartantano). Just to see that resolve of the team was amazing. I’m just excited they’re in a bowl game and excited they get a chance to play again, compete, and go out and show the nation what Tennessee is. It is going to be a fun weekend in Jacksonville.”

One of the top memories from the 2015 Gator Bowl for all of the Vols was the incredible amount of fan support. It was a virtual home game for Tennessee with tens of thousands of fans making the trek south to Jacksonville five years ago.

The Big Orange fans even created their own Vol Walk.

“We were driving up to the stadium, I don’t even think we had a Vol Walk planned then, but there were so many fans we had to get off the busses and walk to the stadium,” Dobbs said. “That’s how many people were there.”

He expects more of the same from Vol Nation on Jan. 2.

“I know it’s going to be another big turnout, it is going to be a sea of orange everywhere,” he predicted. “It was a blast to see all the fans. There’s a lot of pictures of the stadium just showing how packed it was with orange.

“Tennessee Volunteer fans are excited, the alumni are excited. I’m definitely excited. I’ve had so many friends, ex-teammates hitting me up saying ‘Hey you’re in Jacksonville can I stay with you?’ It’s going to be a really nice party in Jacksonville.”

 

UT Athletics

Hoops Central: Tennessee vs. Wisconsin

Hoops Central: Tennessee vs. Wisconsin

Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee men’s basketball team returns from its holiday break, when it takes on Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon inside Thompson-Boling Arena. Tipoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

Saturday’s game can be seen on CBS and online through CBS Sports Live. The link to stream Saturday’s game online, through CBS can be found here. Carter Blackburn and Clark Kellogg 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 bounced back from two consecutive defeats to down Jacksonville State, 75-53, at home on Saturday afternoon. The victory was the 700th in the illustrious career of head coach Rick Barnes. The Vols were led by senior Jordan Bowden who poured in a game-high 19 points and junior John Fulkerson who added 16 on 8-of-11 shooting from the field. Senior Lamonte Turner dished out 11 assists, marking the third time the Florence, Alabama native totaled 11 or more assists this season. Turner became just the third Vol to reach that feat joining Rodney Woods (1974-75) and Johnny Darden (1976-77, 1977-78). As a team, Tennessee recorded a season-high 25 assists on 31 made field goals.

After the game, Turner—who has been battling lingering shoulder problems—announced his decision to step away from the court for medical reasons. A redshirt senior from Florence, Alabama, Turner graduated in May. In 106 career games, Turner scored 1,086 points and averaged 10.2 points and 3.3 assists per game.

This will be the fifth meeting all-time between Wisconsin and Tennessee, with the series knotted at two wins apiece. A victory would push Barnes’ win percentage above .500 against current members of the Big Ten.

A win would also give Tennessee a 213-132 record in the 2010s as the decade comes to a close.

Up next, Tennessee opens up conference action, when it hosts LSU in its SEC opener, next Saturday, Jan. 4 at noon inside Thompson-Boling Arena.

THE SERIES
• Having just met four times since 1981, the all-time series between the programs is tied at 2-2.
• Tennessee swept the first two games, earning a win in 1981 and again in 2000, downing a ranked Wisconsin team in Knoxville.
• The Badgers have since won two in a row, including a 65-62 victory over Tennessee in Madison on Dec. 29, 2001, and a more recent triumph at the 2016 Maui Invitational.
• Tennessee owns a 23-35 all-time record against current members of the Big Ten.
• Rick Barnes is 1-4 in his career against Wisconsin and 30-30 against current members of the Big Ten.

A WIN WOULD…
• Give the program a 213-132 record in the 2010s as the decade draws to a close.

STORYLINES
• Saturday’s game has been sold out for several weeks. It is one of five UT home games that has sold out thus far.
• This is the first of two games under the current home-and-home contract. The Vols travel to Madison to face the Badgers on Nov. 11, 2020.
• Tennessee’s last contract with a Big Ten program was a two-game series with Ohio State in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Each team won at home.
• Wisconsin boasts four Final Four appearances and a national championship in 1941.
• Tennessee Director of Men’s Basketball Sports Performance Garrett Medenwald is a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and a 2013 graduate of UW-Whitewater.
• Lamonté Turner announced on Dec. 21 that he will no longer suit up for the Vols due to thoracic outlet syndrome.

LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee fell out of the top-25 rankings this week, though it is receiving votes in both polls.
• Tennessee currently ranks third in the country in average home attendance (18,603), trailing only Syracuse and Kentucky.
• Tennessee leads the SEC and ranks ninth nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 57.2 ppg.
• Tennessee is a perfect 23 for 23 at the free-throw line over its last two games.
• Junior John Fulkerson is shooting a team-best .671 from the field while averaging a career-best 11.8 points per game this season.
• Junior forward Yves Pons has blocked at least one shot in every game this season and tied UT’s single-game record with six blocks against Jacksonville State.
• True freshman Josiah-Jordan James leads the Vols and ranks 12th in the SEC with 6.3 rebounds per game. He is the top-rebounding freshman in the league.
• Midyear enrollee Santiago Vescovi is set to arrive in Knoxville Saturday.

ABOUT WISCONSIN
• Wisconsin is currently riding an up-and-down season that sees the Badgers sitting at 6-5 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play. Wisconsin is coming off an 83-64 win over UW Milwaukee last Saturday.
• Thus far, the Badgers have been led by junior Nate Reuvers who leads the team in scoring (15.2 ppg), rebounding (5.2 rpg) and blocks (2.5 bpg). His 2.5 bpg rank 25th in the country and are fourth in the Big Ten.
• Wisconsin has also seen consistent scoring from redshirt-junior Kobe King (11.5 ppg) who’s seen a 7.2 ppg jump in scoring production from the conclusion of the 2018-19 season.
• Where the Badgers have struggled this season is moving the ball and assisting on made baskets. Wisconsin has just 128 assists to 263 made field goals, which is an assist rate of less than 50 percent. Their 11.6 apg ranks 287th in the country out of 350 Division I programs, as just one Badger, D’Mitrik Trice, averages more than 3.0 assists per contest.
• Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard has continued the storied success of Badgers basketball following the departure of former head man Bo Ryan. Gard became the third coach in the last 20 years to lead his team to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament in his first two years at the helm of his program when he led the Badgers to the round of 16 in both 2016 and 2017. Gard joined Steve Lavin at UCLA (1996-97) and Mark Few at Gonzaga (2000-01) on that list.
• Wisconsin is a public, state-funded institution that was the first public institution founded in Wisconsin (1848) and remains the oldest and largest public university in the state.

LAST TIME VS. WISCONSIN
• Tennessee overcame a 17-point deficit to take a second-half lead against 16th-ranked Wisconsin, but the Badgers’ experience enabled them to hold off the UT charge and hand the Vols a 74-62 loss on Nov. 21, 2016, the opening day of the Maui Invitational.
• Sophomore guard Shembari Phillips (now a fifth-year senior at Georgia Tech) led the Volunteers with 16 points against the Badgers, including 10 in the second half. Senior Robert Hubbs III and junior Detrick Mostella each scored 12. Sophomore forward Kyle Alexander grabbed a team-high six rebounds, while redshirt freshman guard Lamonté Turner totaled five points, three steals and two assists with no turnovers.
• After trailing 40-32 at halftime, the Big Orange opened the second half with a 12-0 run, taking their first lead of the game, 42-40, on a jumper by freshman forward Grant Williams.
• Tennessee held Wisconsin scoreless for the first 4:25 of the second half until preseason All-Big Ten forward Bronson Koenig broke the Badger’s drought with a layup, which keyed a 14-6 run by the Badgers.
•  At the under-eight-minute media timeout, Tennessee found itself trailing by eight, 56-48. Koenig and senior teammate Nigel Hayes accounted for 13 of Wisconsin’s final 16 points spanning the final four and a half minutes of the game.
•  After missing the first two games of the season with a foot injury, true freshman point guard Kwe Parker made his debut for the Vols, logging six minutes off the bench and handing out one assist.

BARNES BECOMES SEVENTH ACTIVE COACH TO REACH 700 CAREER WINS
• Rick Barnes recorded his 700th career victory as a college head coach when the Vols defeated Jacksonville State on Dec. 21.
• He became the seventh active head coach to log 700 Division I victories and the 22nd all-time.
• He is four victories away from recording his 100th win at Tennessee.

TURNER SHUTS IT DOWN
• After battling through shoulder problems since the 2017-18 season, redshirt senior guard Lamonté Turner announced on Dec. 21 that he was ending his UT playing career due to thoracic outlet syndrome.
• Turner graduated in May of 2019 (Communication Studies). He scored 1,086 career points and ranks tied for 10th in program history with 171 made 3-pointers.
• It is a significant blow to this UT roster, as Turner was the team’s unquestioned leader. Jordan Bowden is now the team’s lone active senior.

VESCOVI’S ARRIVAL IMMENENT
• Given the status of senior guard Lamonté Turner, the arrival of mid-year enrollee Santiago Vescovi is well timed.
• The 18-year-old, Uruguayan guard is set to arrive in Knoxville Saturday. Vescovi comes to Rocky Top from the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia.
• Vescovi must await standard NCAA and SEC clearance protocols before becoming eligible to compete in games, and a decision on whether or not he will compete this season has yet to be made.
• Adjusting to college life is a challenge in itself—and the demands of playing the guard position for Rick Barnes is equally as difficult, if not more so.

PONS RIDING BLOCK STREAK
• Yves Pons, the SEC’s second-leading shot-blocker, has blocked at least one shot in every game this season.
• His streak of 11 straight games with at least one block is the longest such streak by a Vol since Wayne Chism authored a 14-game block streak as a senior in 2009-10.
• Pons has blocked three or more shots in six games this season, highlighted by a program-record-tying six-block effort against Jacksonville State on Dec. 21.

WE LOVE A PACKED HOUSE
• Dating to the start of last season, Tennessee has played 17 games in front of sold-out—and sometimes over-capacity—crowds.
• That includes six home games as well as games at Memphis, Florida, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Auburn, the 2019 Emerald Coast Classic (two games) and Cincinnati.

 

UT Athletics

Play It Forward: Ashley McBryde Says Everyone Needs to Hear Tenille Arts’ “I Hate This” [Listen]

Play It Forward: Ashley McBryde Says Everyone Needs to Hear Tenille Arts’ “I Hate This” [Listen]

NCD is closing out the year with our “Play It Forward” segment, which beckons our featured artists to recommend a singer or song that mainstream country fans may not be familiar with.

Today’s recommendation comes from Ashley McBryde.

“When I found Tenille Arts, I was just like, ‘Wow!’” says Ashley. “Her song, ‘I Hate This,’ is a great song. Everyone needs to hear it.”

Listen to Tenille’s “I Hate This” below.


Play It Forward

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Murder Suspect Arrested in Death of Tucker Beathard’s Brother, Clayton Beathard

Murder Suspect Arrested in Death of Tucker Beathard’s Brother, Clayton Beathard

Nashville police arrested Michael D. Mosley, 23, on Dec. 25 and charged him with two counts of criminal homicide in the stabbing deaths of Clayton Beathard, 22, and Paul Trapeni III, 21, on Dec. 21.

Clayton was the son of country songwriter Casey Beathard and the brother of singer/songwriter Tucker Beathard (pictured in main photo) and NFL quarterback C.J. Beathard.

Mosley was also charged with one count of attempted criminal homicide for wounding a third man. Mosley was captured on Dec. 25 in Cheatham County, Tenn., after a joint task force located him in a vacant house. Mosley is being held without bond on the two criminal homicide charges, and a $5 million bond was set on the attempted criminal homicide charge.

“The fatal stabbings appear to have resulted from an argument over a woman that began inside Dogwood Bar and then turned physical when the parties went outside,” according to a press release from Nashville Police. “Multiple persons were involved in the outdoor fight during which the two men were both fatally stabbed in their sides.”

Metro Nashville PD posted a series of tweets and photos on Dec. 25 to announce Mosley’s capture:

Clayton played football at Long Island University.

“We are thankful that he is off of the streets,” said Clayton’s father, Casey, according to the Tennessean. “We are sad because two incredible young men are missed. The only thing that holds us together is trusting God. We are in awe of all of the good we have already seen him working in and through this tragedy.”

Mosley has previous convictions for robbery, felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor assault.

photo by NCD

Midseason Addition Santiago Vescovi Set to Join Vols

Midseason Addition Santiago Vescovi Set to Join Vols

Vols G Santiago Vescovi / Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes has announced a midseason addition to the roster, as highly-rated international prospect Santiago Vescovi (pronounced: sahn-tee-AH-go vess-CO-vee) is set to join the team this weekend. Vescovi officially signed with UT on Nov. 22.

A 6-2 guard from Montevideo, Uruguay, Vescovi will begin classes as a freshman on Jan. 8 and plans to major in Business. He must await standard NCAA and SEC clearance protocols before becoming eligible to compete in games, and a decision on whether or not he will compete this season has yet to be made.

Vescovi’s playmaking ability and shooting prowess put him on the international hoops radar and landed him placement at the NBA Academy Latin America in Mexico City, Mexico, when it first opened in the winter of 2018. This past July, he transferred to The NBA Global Academy, an elite basketball training center at Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

The NBA Academy initiative exposes elite prospects to NBA-level coaching, facilities and competition and provides a global framework for them to maximize their success. Up to twelve elite student-athletes attend The NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia, each year, developing under the supervision of NBA-trained personnel.

Through local partnerships, every NBA Academy prospect is a full-time student-athlete and receives a full scholarship to attend the academy and a local public or private school.

Vescovi, led The NBA Global Academy to a championship at the 2019 NBA Academy Games this past July. Then 17 years old—he turned 18 on Sept. 14—he led the team in scoring in both the semifinal and title game.

He also recently starred at the NBA G League International Challenge in Uruguay and the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte.

Vescovi earned All-Star honors at the three-day BWB Global Camp while competing against players with NBA experience, such as Greg Monroe, Paul Zipser and Josh Huestis. Vescovi also was named the MVP of the 2019 Skill Factory Tournament of Champions in Atlanta after totaling 29 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the championship game.

Vescovi’s grandfather, Daniel Vanet, was a star basketball player in Uruguay, and Vescovi previously wore jersey No. 9 in his honor.

With the addition of Vescovi, who will wear jersey No. 25, Tennessee now has seven left-handers and four international players on its roster.

-UT Athletics

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