Hoops Preview: Lady Vols vs. LSU

Hoops Preview: Lady Vols vs. LSU

Posted on March 5, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 8 seed Tennessee (18-11, 7-9 SEC) will meet No. 9 seed LSU (16-12, 7-9 SEC) at noon on Thursday in the second round of the SEC Tournament.

Tip-off is slated for 12:02 p.m. ET at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., for a contest that is being televised by the SEC Network and carried by the Lady Vol Radio Network and SiriusXM Radio. The winner of Thursday’s game will advance to face No. 1 seed Mississippi State (27-2, 15-1 SEC) at noon on Friday.

The Lady Vols closed out the regular season on Sunday with a dominant 81-56 victory at Ole Miss, moving from 10th to 8th in the SEC standings. After a tough six-game losing skid in January, which included four SEC losses by a combined total of nine points, Tennessee has won six of its last 10 games.

After a surge that saw it win four of five games in early February, LSU enters tourney play having lost its last three contests. The Lady Tigers are coming off a 56-46 home setback vs. Auburn on Sunday in which they were held to single digits in the second and third quarters.

Tennessee and LSU are meeting for the 65th time, with the Big Orange leading the series, 49-15. This will mark the 14th meeting between UT and LSU in the SEC Tournament. The Lady Vols own a 9-4 record in tourney play vs. the Lady Tigers.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Courtney Lyle (play-by-play), Tamika Catchings (analyst) and Steffi Sorensen (sideline) will have the call for the SEC Network.
  • Mickey Dearstone is behind the microphone for IMG College/Lady Vol Network radio/online broadcasts for the 20th season. A link to the live audio stream can be found on each game’s Hoops Central page or the Lady Vol schedule on UTSports.com.
  • Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
  • The SEC Radio Network will broadcast all games during the tournament and can be heard on Sirius 138, XM 191 and Online 962.

UT-LSU SERIES NOTES

  • UT enters the 65th meeting in the series with a 49-15 edge, including a 22-3 record in Knoxville, 15-8 slate in Baton Rouge and a 12-4 mark at neutral sites.
  • Tennessee has won 12 of the last 16 games, but UT and LSU have split the past four.
  • Holly Warlick owns a 6-3 record against Nikki Fargas as a head coach. Fargas is the only former Lady Vol player to ever hand Warlick a loss as a head coach.
  • The Lady Vols are 1-1 vs. LSU in overtime games. The last time the two teams went to OT was on March 1, 1997. Tennessee won the game 100-99 to advance to the semifinals of the SEC tournament.
  • The last time these programs met in the SEC Tournament was on March 7, 2014, in Duluth, Ga. Then No. 6 Tennessee earned a 77-65 victory over the Lady Tigers in the quarterfinals and ended up winning the championship.

LADY VOL NOTES

  • RELIABLE RENNIA: Rennia Davis is a consistent scorer, hitting double figures a team-high 23 times, including the past 10 games. She’s also solid on the boards, leading the team in rebounds on 14 occasions (2nd on the team) and tallying a team-high eight double-doubles this season.
  • DISHIN’ & SWISHIN’: Evina Westbrook is tops in leading her team in scoring (12 times) and in assists (22 times). She has tallied five or more dimes in 18 games, including a total of nine in the win vs. Ole Miss on Sunday.
  • LONDON RISING: Cheridene Green has doubled her scoring and rebounding averages in all games from 4.1 and 3.7 last year to 9.2 ppg. and 7.6 rpg. this season. She’s been even better in SEC games, producing 10.3 ppg. and 8.8 rpg.
  • STEPPING UP TO SCORE: UT has had five different players lead the team in scoring in five of its past six games. Zaay Green, Evina Westbrook (twice), Rennia Davis, Cheridene Green and Meme Jackson have answered the call.
  • WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN: Tennessee has allowed only 61.0 ppg. in its seven SEC wins this season and is surrendering 77.7 ppg. in its league losses. UT is standing at +13.0 in rebounding and shooting .763 at the free throw line in conference victories while possessing a +4.4 board edge and a .673 free throw rate in SEC losses.
  • STRONG ON THE BOARDS: UT has won the rebounding battle in 24 of 29 games, including 14 of 16 SEC contests (MSU, VU).
  • SO MUCH BETTER AT THE LINE: UT has improved its free throw shooting so much this year, hitting at a .675 rate in the non-conference schedule and warming up to a .717 percentage in league play.
  • THREE-POINT BARRAGE: Tennessee hit eight threes vs. Ole Miss, its first game with six or more since Jan. 3 at Auburn. Meme Jackson was a big part of Sunday’s long-range success, knocking down five on six shots for her biggest game since that Jan. 3 Auburn contest. It ignited UT’s offense.

TENNESSEE IN THE SEC TOURNAMENT

  • Tennessee enters Thursday’s game with a 78-22 (.780) all-time record in the 40th year of the SEC Tournament.
  • UT is 34-5 all-time in its opening game of the SEC Tournament.
  • UT was a No. 7 seed a year ago and is playing as a No. 8 seed for the first time.
  • Tennessee is seeking to capture its league-leading 18th SEC championship trophy. UT was victorious in 1980, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
  • The Lady Vols were runners-up on six occasions, including 1982, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2003 and 2015.
  • UT has advanced to the title game in two of the past five seasons, winning in 2014 as a #2 seed, 71-70, over #4 Kentucky and falling as a #2 seed to #1 South Carolina, 62-46, in 2015.
  • The Big Orange women are 23-6 in SEC Tournament play since 2007-08.
  • Holly Warlick has forged a 9-5 record in SEC Tournament games as a head coach, including 1-1 in title games.
  • Tennessee has had 15 SEC Tournament MVPs through the years, with a Lady Vol winning four of the last eight awards.
  • Isabelle Harrison (2014), Glory Johnson (2012), Shekinna Stricklen (2011) and Alyssia Brewer (2010) were the past four MVPs from Tennessee.
  • Current assistant coach Bridgette Gordon was a two-time SEC All-Tournament selection (1988, 1989), claiming MVP honors in 1989.
  • UT head coach Holly Warlick was a senior point guard on the Lady Vol team that won the very first SEC Tournament title in 1980, defeating Ole Miss, 85-71, at Stokely Athletics Center in Knoxville.

PREVIOUS VISITS TO GREENVILLE

  • This marks the third time Greenville has played host to the SEC Tournament.
  • No. 2 seed Tennessee defeated #1 seed LSU in the tourney title game, 67-56, on March 6, 2005, the first time the event was held here.
  • Shyra Ely was named the SEC Tournament MVP that year, while Shanna Zolman and Brittany Jackson joined her on the all-tournament team.
  • UT beat Auburn in the second round (64-54) and Vanderbilt in the semifinals (76-73) that year.
  • The last trip to Greenville was a short visit for the Lady Vols, as they fell to Alabama, 72-64, in the second round on March 2, 2017.

LADY TIGER NOTES

  •  LSU is led by eighth-year head coach Nikki Fargas.
  • Before she was married, Fargas was known as Nikki Caldwell. She played at Tennessee (1990-94) and was on the staff as a graduate assistant (1998-99) and assistant (2002-08). She won titles as a player (1991) and as an assistant coach (2007, 2008).
  • UT’s Holly Warlick was an assistant on UT’s staff during Fargas’ time as a player and coach.
  • Assistant Tasha Butts played at UT (2000-04) and was a graduate assistant there as well (2004-05).
  • Ayana Mitchell is a first-team All-SEC performer.
  • Mitchell leads the Lady Tigers in scoring (13.4 ppg) and rebounding (10.5 rpg), followed by Khayla Pointer at 12.2 ppg. and 4.5 apg.
  • LSU finished 19-19 overall (11-5 SEC) last season and lost in the NCAA First Round.
  • The Tigers lost leading scorers Chloe Jackson (18.1 ppg.), who went to Baylor as a graduate transfer, and senior Raigyne Louis (16.1 ppg.).

LSU’S LAST GAME

  • The LSU women’s basketball team lost its regular season finale to Auburn by a score of 56-46 on Sunday afternoon in Baton Rouge.
  • Ayana Mitchell finished with a team-high 15 points and career-best 21 rebounds. Mitchell’s 21 rebounds were the most by an LSU player since Sylvia Fowles had 20 in the 2008 Women’s Final Four semifinal against Tennessee.

THE LAST TIME WE MET

  • Sophomore Rennia Davis tied her season high of 24 points to power the Lady Vols past LSU, 74-65, on Jan. 27, 2019, at Thompson-Boling Arena for their annual “Live Pink, Bleed Orange” game.
  • Sophomore center Kasiyahna Kushkituah added a career-high 14 points and eight rebounds, while Zaay Green finished with 10 points and five assists. Davis also racked up seven rebounds while notching her fourth 20+ point game of the season. True freshman Jazmine Massengill also registered a career-best 12 points. Meme Jackson due to an ankle to injury.
  • Tennessee (13-7, 2-5 SEC) forced 25 turnovers, recorded 44 points in the paint and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds in the win.
  • The Tigers (12-7, 3-4 SEC) had three players with double-digit points, with guard Khayla Pointer leading the pack with 17 points and five assists. LSU junior forward Ayana Mitchell logged a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.

LAST UT-LSU GAME AT SEC TOURNEY

  •  Isabelle Harrison scored 21 points, Meighan Simmons and Bashaara Graves each added 14 and No. 6 Tennessee used an overpowering late run to beat LSU 77-65 in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament on March 7, 2014.
  •  UT, spurred by a 19-0 second-half run, came back from a 15-point first-half deficit to overtake the Lady Tigers, tying the team’s biggest rally of the year.
  • Theresa Plaisance finished with 21 points and Danielle Ballard scored 15 for LSU (19-12).

UT Athletics

Lady Vols Hoops Report (3/5/19)

Lady Vols Hoops Report (3/5/19)

Posted on March 5, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick and seniors Meme Jackson and Cheridene Green met with members of the media prior to practice on Tuesday in Pratt Pavilion. UT (18-11, 7-9 SEC) is preparing for the SEC Tournament in Greenville, S.C., where it will face ninth-seeded LSU (16-12, 7-9 SEC) in an No. 8 vs. No. 9 match-up at noon on Thursday.

Answering questions from the media, Warlick discussed UT’s performance at Ole Miss and the importance of performing well in the SEC Tournament.

The Tennessee-LSU game will be televised by the SEC Network.

Head Coach Holly Warlick

On what’s at stake and the mood of the team:
“We’ve got to win a basketball game, and they’re intelligent kids, and they know we need to win. We needed to win at Ole Miss too, so they made it a priority. And I think they’re pretty focused and ready to get down there and ready to start playing.”

On getting into the NCAA Tournament: 
“I’m just worried about LSU. I can’t control what the committee is going to decide or not decide. We’ve just got to play as hard as we can and beat LSU right now.”

On the case she’d make for being included in the NCAA Tournament:
“(I’d say) how hard we play, our schedule. We’ve got to earn it though.  There’s not going to be any favors or anything, so we’ve got to play hard. And if our Ole Miss game is any indication and we come out and play like that against LSU, I think we have a legitimate case, but we’ve got to show that we deserve to be there.”

On what was said to the team between the Vanderbilt and Ole Miss games:
“We met, and the team met, which was really positive, and I just talked about a lot of their self-pride and what they stand for and getting back to playing together as a team. You can talk and you can motivate, and it’s not like we didn’t motivate throughout the whole year, but our kids decided it was important to them, and they played hard (at Ole Miss). When you play hard – I’ve said this the whole time – when you play hard and you play with a lot of passion and energy and selflessness, we’re pretty darn good basketball team.”

On how frustrating it is as a coach in the difference of play against Vanderbilt and Ole Miss:
“That’s funny you said that, because you’re extremely happy for them and then get mad at the same time. As a coach you’ve got to keep moving forward and keep building on what you saw. We’re going to build on that. I know it’s in them, and I know what they can do. They set a pretty high level of intensity and performance, and we need to have that exact same performance against LSU.”

On her message to the team before Ole Miss:
“My talk before (the game) didn’t have anything to do with X’s and O’s. They were prepared and ready, and I just wanted them to see the big picture.”

On the key to success in the win over LSU earlier this season:
“I thought, going back and looking at it, we played well together. Our defense was solid. We gave them probably too many offensive rebounds, which kept them in the game. But we got a great performance out of our inside game. We just played really well together, and when you do that with the talent we have… we just need to carry that over to our second game.”

On Mimi Collins’ development:
“I will tell you this, Mimi Collins has always been a pretty solid offensive player. The only thing I kept telling Mimi that was holding her back was her defense and her defensive presence, and she’s really worked at it. She’s playing with a lot of confidence, and I told her, ‘Your time is coming.”  And I’m going to play people who perform and help this basketball team, and I gave Mimi that opportunity and she stepped up. And she stepped up before she was starting, and now she started against Ole Miss and did a great job, so as long she continues to step up and play hard like she has been, I’m going to play her. We need her.”

On Rennia Davis being named to the All-SEC Second Team: 
“Rennia has been someone for us that we’ve had to go to. She’s had a lot of pressure on her. She has had an up and down season, but we’re really proud of her for handling a lot of the adversity, and then continuing to step up. She has worked at her craft; she’s in the gym all the time, and when you do that and put in the time like Rennia has done, great things are going to happen. This award is a reflection of her putting in the time, and I’m really proud of her.”

On sophomores stepping us as leaders: 
“Well, number one: it’s hard for (Rennia) being a sophomore. Number two: that is not her personality. She she’s not a vocal leader, and it’s very hard for her. So, we’re asking her to do a lot of difficult things, but she’s gotten out of her comfort zone and tried to help this basketball team. It’s hard for all of them. Evina Westbrook, too, she’s a sophomore. It has been difficult. We’ve learned throughout the season what we need to do and what we don’t need to do, and it is a growing process. When you don’t have upperclassmen that have been here and have led, it’s extremely difficult.”

On Kasiyahna’s Kushkituah not playing at Ole Miss:
“She had a death in her family, and she was gone Saturday. (Her not playing) had nothing to do with Kasi and her performance. We’re just excited that everybody else stepped up and had a great game.”

On if she’s talked to the team about how important the game against LSU is:
Absolutely. They’re intelligent. Unlike me, they’re on social media 24-7, so they see what’s been said. They know what’s at stake, and it’d be really foolish for me to try to hide that. The Ole Miss game, we talked about that. That was a huge game for us. We had a lot at stake there. We talked a lot about it. Really every game that we’ve played since we’ve been in the SEC, they understand the importance. They’re intelligent young ladies, and they’ve got to take what they know is important and their skill level and their effort and put it to use.”

Senior Meme Jackson

On difference between games against Vandy and Ole Miss:
“We were playing with a lot of energy and effort all over the floor. We were also playing together, and we had great ball movement.”

On NCAA Tournament chances:
“Our plan is to take it game by game. We aren’t looking too far ahead. We are looking at our next game, and our next game is LSU, so that is what we are focusing on.”

On advice to freshmen:
“Right now, in tournament play, everyone starts off 0-0, because it is a new record and new season. We just have to go out there with a mindset that it’s just one game at a time.”

On what was said after Vanderbilt: 
“Holly talked to us about it, and that was not our identity or who were are. We had a team meeting as well, and we decided that is not how we wanted to end our season, so we had to get together, and I think we have gotten it together.”

Redshirt-Senior Cheridene Green

On giving freshman advice:
“We just tell them to stay focused whether you are nervous or not. We told them to just play your game and be yourself. We told them not to think about the tournament or what people are saying, but just be true to yourself and have fun with it too.”

On previous win against LSU: 
“I think our effort was there, and we played defense well. LSU is a great defensive team, and we matched that toward the end of the game. We need to make sure we give great effort and stay focused on the game plan.”

On the team meeting:
“We just needed reassurance on the team, and we asked everybody if their goals are all the same. We hold each other accountable to make sure we want what we want, and we have to show it in our actions too.”

On the difference between games against Vandy and Ole Miss:
“Our defense was the main difference. I think Meme had a great game, too, and that also brought everyone along. Our energy was there, too. We were talking to each other, we were holding each other accountable, and we were listening to what the coach was saying. We were together, and that is how it needs to be from here on out.”

 

UT Athletics

Davis, Z. Green Earn SEC Hoops Honors

Davis, Z. Green Earn SEC Hoops Honors

Posted on March 5, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 2019 Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball awards, as chosen by the league’s coaches, were announced on Tuesday, and Lady Vols Rennia Davis and Zaay Green were among the student-athletes recognized.

Davis, a sophomore guard/forward from Jacksonville, Fla., was named to the All-SEC Second Team, while Green, a guard from Duncanville, Texas, was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. It was the first all-conference honor for Davis. Green, meanwhile, became the third member of UT’s current roster to earn rookie acclaim, following 2018 honorees Davis and Evina Westbrook.

Associated Press also released its 10-member All-SEC Team on Tuesday, and Davis garnered second-team accolades from the media as well.

Davis leads Tennessee in rebounding (7.9) and free throw percentage (.873), is second in scoring (14.5), third in steals (45) and three-pointers made (30) and fourth in field goal percentage (.453). The 6-foot-2 graduate of Ribault High School has scored in double figures in 23 of 28 games, tallying 15 or more points on 13 occasions and hitting 20 or more points five times.  She leads the team in double-doubles with eight and has hit 23 of 27 free throws in the final four minutes of games.

Among all the sophomores who’ve ever played at Tennessee, Davis’ season scoring average currently ranks No. 7. She also currently owns the No. 9 single season free throw percentage. Davis currently is No. 1 in the SEC in free throw percentage and is No. 8 in rebounding, No. 9 in field goal percentage and No. 14 in scoring. She is a top-10 finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award, was the MVP and an all-tournament team member at the Junkanoo Jam and was named SEC Player of the Week on one occasion this season.

Green, a 6-0 guard out of storied Duncanville High School, has started 24 of 29 games, averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals while playing 27.2 minutes per contest. She has scored in double figures 15 times, including four games of 15 or more points. She ranks second on the team in assists, third in rebounding and blocks, and fourth in scoring, steals and three-pointers.

Among SEC freshmen, Green ranks No. 2 in scoring and rebounding, No. 3 in assists and steals, and No. 6 in blocks. She was a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week pick this season.

Davis, Green and their teammates will travel to Greenville, S.C., on Wednesday, where they will meet up with LSU in the SEC Tournament Second Round at noon on Thursday in the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The SEC Network will have the telecast, and the game also will be available via the Lady Vol Radio Network and the SEC Radio Network broadcasts on Sirius 138, XM 191 and Online 962.

 

UT Athletics

Justin Moore Readies Most Traditional-Sounding Album to Date, “Late Nights & Longnecks”

Justin Moore Readies Most Traditional-Sounding Album to Date, “Late Nights & Longnecks”

Posted on March 5, 2019

Justin Moore revealed he will release his upcoming fifth studio album, Late Night and Longnecks, on April 26. Justin co-wrote every track on the 10-song offering, which also features songwriters Casey Beathard, David Lee Murphy, Paul DiGiovanni, Rhett Akins, Jeremy Stover and more.

With backing from guitar virtuoso Brent Mason and pedal steel icon Paul Franklin, Late Night and Longnecks promises to be Justin’s most traditional-sounding album to date.

“I’ve never worked with those guys [Mason and Franklin] before, but they’ve played on some of my favorite albums of all time,” says Justin. “We thought it would be really cool to bring them in and record the whole thing at The Castle, this historic studio just south of Nashville where a lot of those legendary hit records were made.”

The album’s lead single, “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home,” is currently No. 39 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after 17 weeks.

Late Nights and Longnecks Track List & Songwriters
1. “Why We Drink” | Justin Moore, Casey Beathard, David Lee Murphy, Jeremy Stover
2. “That’s My Boy” | Justin Moore, Casey Beathard, Jeremy Stover
3. “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home” | Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover
4. “Jesus And Jack Daniels” | Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover
5. “Airport Bar” | Justin Moore, Casey Beathard, Paul DiGiovanni, Jeremy Stover
6. “Small Town Street Cred” | Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover
7. “Never Gonna Drink Again” | Justin Moore, Rhett Akins, Paul DiGiovanni, Jeremy Stover
8. “On The Rocks” | Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover
9. “Someday I Gotta Quit” | Justin Moore, Casey Beathard, Paul DiGiovanni, Jeremy Stover
10. “Good Times Don’t” | Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover

photo by Jason Simanek

Kelsea Ballerini Says Top 20 Single “Miss Me More” Has an Important Message for Women: “You’re Always Worth Standing Up For”

Kelsea Ballerini Says Top 20 Single “Miss Me More” Has an Important Message for Women: “You’re Always Worth Standing Up For”

Posted on March 5, 2019

Kelsea Ballerini has another Top 20 hit on her hands with her current single, “Miss Me More,” which is No. 17 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after 19 weeks.

“Miss Me More” was penned by Kelsea, David Hodges and Brett McLaughlin at a time when Kelsea says she was rediscovering herself after a bad breakup. The tune is featured on Kelsea’s 2017 sophomore album, Unapologetically.

As Kelsea told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, “Miss Me More” has an important message—specifically for women.

“It’s kind of my sass-bomb on the record, but really when you listen to it, it really is about fighting for yourself and knowing that you’re worth it and worth fighting for,” says Kelsea. “I just feel like in our world right now—specifically right now for females—it’s important to know that you’re always worth standing up for and fighting for, so I’m proud of it.”

Watch Kelsea come out swinging in the video for “Miss Me More.”

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Chris Janson’s New “Good Vibes” Video Is an Uplifting Family Affair [Watch]

Chris Janson’s New “Good Vibes” Video Is an Uplifting Family Affair [Watch]

Posted on March 5, 2019

Chris Janson released a family-friendly video—starring his wife and children—for his new single, “Good Vibes.”

The video for the uplifting tune, which was directed by Michael Monaco, also features non-actors—like police officers and a military member—sharing positive experiences with others.

Penned by Chris, Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowel, “Good Vibes” is the lead single from Chris’ upcoming third studio album, which is tentatively slated to drop in September.

“When we wake up in the morning, we have the choice to be in a good mood or a bad mood,” says Chris. “I believe we can change the world with a smile, a good attitude and a timeless message about being kind to everyone. That’s what ‘Good Vibes’ is all about!”

Watch Chris’ new video below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Jordan Davis Scores Second No. 1 Single With “Take It From Me,” a Tune Co-Penned by His Brother

Jordan Davis Scores Second No. 1 Single With “Take It From Me,” a Tune Co-Penned by His Brother

Posted on March 5, 2019

Jordan Davis scored the second No. 1 single of his career as “Take It From Me” topped the Mediabase chart this week.

The tune follows Jordan’s debut single, “Singles You Up,” which reached No. 1 in April 2018.

“Take It From Me” has extra-special significance for Jordan—it’s a song he co-penned with his brother Jacob Davis and Jason Gantt.

“Jacob and I had a dream of having a No. 1 song together when we moved to Nashville and we both cannot thank everyone enough for their support of this tune,” says Jordan. “From country radio to the fans, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Jordan was recently nominated for ACM New Male Artist of the Year. The Louisiana native is currently on the road with Old Dominion as part of their Make It Sweet Tour.

photo by Jason Simanek

Country Music Association Announces Initial Lineup for 2019 CMA Fest

Country Music Association Announces Initial Lineup for 2019 CMA Fest

Posted on March 4, 2019

The Country Music Association has revealed the initial artist lineup for this year’s CMA Fest, which features hundreds of artists performing on multiple stages throughout downtown Nashville on June 6–9.

Nissan Stadium Stage

Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban

Chevy Riverfront Stage, 10 a.m.–5:15 p.m. each day

A Thousand Horses, Lauren Alaina, Jimmie Allen, Danielle Bradbery, Lee Brice, Easton Corbin, Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Jessie James Decker, Gavin DeGraw, Russell Dickerson, Eli Young Band, Lindsay Ell, Tyler Farr, Gone West, Riley Green, Hunter Hayes, Walker Hayes, High Valley, Home Free, Ryan Hurd, LOCASH, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde, Scotty McCreery, Eric Paslay, Carly Pearce, Cassadee Pope, RaeLynn, Mason Ramsey, Michael Ray, Tyler Rich, Runaway June, Dylan Scott, Granger Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny, Morgan Wallen and Aaron Watson

Budweiser Forever Country Stage, 11 a.m.–4:45 p.m. each day

Keith Anderson, Deana Carter, John Carter Cash, Joe Diffie, George Ducas, Charles Esten, Andy Griggs, Halfway to Hazard, Ty Herndon, Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence, Little Texas, Lonestar, The Marshall Tucker Band, Kendell Marvel, Neal McCoy, Montgomery Gentry, Lorrie Morgan, The Nelsons, Jerrod Niemann, Jamie O’Neal, The Road Hammers, Ray Scott, Shenandoah, Sister Hazel, Ricky Skaggs, Kiefer Sutherland, Thompson Square, Uncle Kracker, Mark Wills, Rita Wilson and Darryl Worley

Outdoor daytime stages, including Chevy Riverfront and Budweiser Forever Country are free and open to the public. All artist lineups are subject to change. Additional stage lineups, Xfinity Fan Fair X activities, and more will be announced in the coming weeks. A limited number of four-day passes for the nightly performances at Nissan Stadium are still available at CMAfest.com.

photos by Jason Simanek

Hoops Preview: #5 Tennessee vs. Mississippi State

Hoops Preview: #5 Tennessee vs. Mississippi State

Posted on March 4, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In the final home game of the season, No. 5 Tennessee will honor its four seniors on Tuesday night as the Vols host Mississippi State at Thompson-Boling Arena on Senior Night.

The game will tip at 9 p.m. ET and will be televised on SEC Network and can also be viewed online through WatchESPN. Fans can listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action. Tickets for the game are still available at AllVols.com.

With a chance to repeat as SEC Champions, the Vols (26-3, 14-2 SEC) defeated Kentucky on Saturday to remain in a 2-way tie for first place in the league with LSU. UT clinched a top-4 seed and a double-bye for the conference tournament with a win last week at Ole Miss.

The four seniors being honored are Kyle Alexander, Lucas Campbell, Admiral Schofield and Brad Woodson. Each were part of the first class brought in during Rick Barnes‘ first season and have been crucial in building the foundation of the program. While there is still a lot to be achieved this season, this group has brought Tennessee basketball to one of the top programs in the country during the last two seasons, winning an SEC Title, earning a No. 1 ranking for the second time in program history and earning two bids to the NCAA Tournament.

Mississippi State (21-8, 9-7 SEC) is one of five teams in a battle for the four seed and a double bye in the SEC Tournament. The Bulldogs enter the game coming off their first loss in three weeks, falling 80-75 at Auburn on Saturday. Three-time All-SEC performer Quinndary Weatherspoon leads the SEC in scoring (19.8 ppg) during league play and has dropped 20 points in 13 games this year.

THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads its all-time series with Mississippi State, 83-43, dating to 1924.
• The Vols have a 45-11 edge when the series is played in Knoxville.
• Tennessee is 4-1 against MSU under head coach Rick Barnes.

A WIN WOULD…
• Preserve Tennessee’s perfect home record this season.
• Give the Vols their first undefeated home season since 2007-08.
• Stretch the Vols’ home win streak to 26 games, dating to last season.
• Give the Vols seven consecutive wins over teams from the state of Mississippi.
• Exceed Tennessee’s win total from last season (26-9).

STORYLINES
• Four Volunteers seniors will be honored before Tuesday’s game: Kyle Alexander, Lucas Campbell, Admiral Schofield and Brad Woodson.
• Tennessee is in a two-way tie for first place in the SEC standings with LSU.
• Two of Tennessee’s three losses this season have come in overtime, and all three were away from home against top-15 opponents and Q1 teams.
• For the second year in a row, the Vols are assured of finishing the season with single-digit losses.
• Tennessee’s average home attendance of 18,945 ranks fourth nationally.
• Tennessee guards Jordan Bone (2.9) and Lamonté Turner (2.4) rank first and second in the SEC, respectively, in assist/turnover ratio during league games. Not surprisingly, the Vols also rank first as a team (1.7).

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Ben Howland’s squad is one of five teams in a battle for the four seed and a double bye in the SEC Tournament. Mississippi State enters the game coming off its first loss in three weeks, falling 80-75 at Auburn on Saturday.
• The Bulldogs (21-8, 9-7 SEC) are led by three-time All-SEC performer Quinndary Weatherspoon (18.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.6 spg). The senior guard leads the SEC in scoring (19.8 ppg) during league play and has dropped 20 points in 13 games this year.
• Junior guard Lamar Peters leads MSU in assists (5.4 apg), steals (1.7 spg) and 3-pointers made (68) and is second on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game. Peters, Weatherspoon (46) and junior Tyson Carter (43) are all capable of going off from beyond the arc on any given night. Carter (9.8 ppg, .458 FG%) dropped a season-high 22 points behind four threes against Missouri last week.
• As a team, the Bulldogs are one of the best squads at blocking shots (5.2 bpg), ranking ninth in the country and second in the SEC behind the Vols. They are also second in the league in 3-pointers per game (8.4) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.374). MSU is 20th in the nation and third in the conference in steals per game (8.3), as well.

LAST MEETING VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
•  Tennessee came up with a hard-fought, 62-59 win over seventh-seeded Mississippi State in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament at the Scottrade Center on March 9, 2018.
•  Led by SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year Lamonté Turner’s 15 points off the bench, the Vols  punched their ticket to the semifinals with the win. Turner also added eight rebounds and a career-high four steals.
•  Despite having a tough night from the field, SEC Player of the Year Grant Williams recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. All-SEC wing Admiral Schofield was the only other Vol to score in double digits, finishing with 13 points and eight boards.
• After another slow start in the second half by both teams, the Bulldogs battled back to make it a 51-49 game with 6:43 remaining after a 9-2 run, highlighted by a pair of threes from Lamar Peters.
•  Mississippi State cut it to a one-point deficit, but Turner responded with a hard cut to the basket for a contested layup to make it a three-point game heading into the final media timeout in regulation.
•  The shot would spark a 6-0 run by Turner himself with three consecutive baskets to make it a 58-51 game. After Peters converted on two more three-point plays, the Bulldogs found themselves within one score with 42 seconds left in the game. MSU came up with a defensive stop, and Xavian Stapleton got a wide-open look from three but his shot didn’t fall.
•  Tennessee held a 50-33 advantage on the boards, including 22 offensive rebounds. The Vols converted those into 22 second-chance points.

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.

MISSISSIPPI LETTERMEN UNCOMMON
• Incredibly, Tennessee has had just one all-time letterman from the state of Mississippi. Sardis, Mississippi, native Torrey Harris played for the Vols from 1995-99.

BONE DRIVING VOLS’ OFFENSE
• Point guard Jordan Bone—touted by Rick Barnes as the team’s most improved player prior to the season—is the sparkplug of Tennessee’s offense.
• In addition to averaging a career-best 13.6 points, Bone leads the Vols with 6.1 assists per game (first in the SEC) and a 2.93 assist/turnover ratio (second in the SEC).
• Bone’s 176 assists have directly led to 407 points. Coupled with his 393 points scored, he is responsible for 33.3 percent of the team’s scoring (800 of 2,401).

PICK YOUR POISON
• Tennessee’s roster features five different players who have multiple 20-point games during their careers.
• Grant Williams owns a team-high 24 20-point games, while Admiral Schofield follows with 15 such performances.
• Lamonté Turner has scored 20 or more points seven times, Jordan Bowden and Jordan Bone each have done it four times.

 

UT Athletics

Williams Earns National Player of the Week Honors

Williams Earns National Player of the Week Honors

Posted on March 4, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

After helping the Vols earn victories on the road over Ole Miss and at home against No. 4 Kentucky, Grant Williams has been named the NCAA March Madness and SEC Player of the Week.

Williams averaged 22.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block per game last week to improve Tennessee’s record to 26-3 for the season and 14-2 in conference play.

Down 71-70 against the Rebels, the National Player of the Year candidate hit the game-winning shot with three seconds left to lift No. 7 Tennessee to a 73-71 victory on Wednesday night. It was an all-around performance for Williams, who led all scorers with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go along with six rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.

The Charlotte, N.C., native followed that effort up by dropping 24 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal to help the Vols shut down Kentucky, 71-52, and improve their home winning streak to a nation-best 25 games (tied with Buffalo).

While the stats don’t show it, Williams was crucial in Tennessee’s defense holding the Wildcats to a season-low 52 points, 31.8 percent shooting from the field and just 10 points in the paint.

As the regular season begins wrapping up, Williams is making his final push to repeat as the SEC Player of the Year. He currently ranks in the league’s top 10 in scoring (1st/19.3 ppg), field-goal percentage (2nd/.567), free-throw percentage (4th/.826), rebounding (6th/7.6 rpg) and assist/turnover ratio (9th/1.5). The junior forward also leads the SEC in player efficiency rating (31.0) and is second in offensive rating (130.7), according to Basketball Reference.

The Vols are back in action Tuesday, hosting Mississippi State for Senior Night. The game will tip at 9 p.m. ET and will be televised on SEC Network.

 

UT Athletics

Country News

Weather

  • Forecast
  • Currents
  • Planner