Hoops Preview: Lady Vols at Vanderbilt

Hoops Preview: Lady Vols at Vanderbilt

Posted on February 3, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After playing four in a row at home, Tennessee (14-7, 3-5 SEC) hits the road for two straight games, starting with a 2 p.m. CT (3 ET) matinee vs. Vanderbilt (6-15, 1-7 SEC) in Nashville on Sunday. ESPN2 will carry the 81st meeting between the Lady Vols and Commodores, as they face off on Super Bowl Sunday at historic Memorial Gymnasium.

UT enters the in-state rivalry game on much better footing, having won back-to-back games after a much-publicized six-game losing streak. The Lady Vols took care of LSU last Sunday, 74-65, and handled Florida on Thursday night, 67-50, with both games taking place in Knoxville.

On Sunday, Tennessee will attempt to snap a two-game road skid, which includes setbacks at Georgia (66-62) and Alabama (86-65) on Jan. 13 and Jan. 17, respectively. In four of the Lady Vols’ five SEC losses, they have lost by a combined total of nine points, including a one-point loss to Arkansas, two-point setbacks to Missouri and Kentucky, and a four-point loss at Georgia.

Vanderbilt has lost two in a row, seven of eight and 10 of its past 12 contests. The Commodores’ only SEC victory came at home vs. Ole Miss, 80-68, but they’ve been competitive in many of those games, including an 11-point loss to current No. 16/18 South Carolina, 80-69, in Columbia on Monday night.

The Lady Vols feature two in-state players, including Murfreesboro native (Blackman H.S.) Meme Jackson, a senior guard/forward, and freshman point guard Jazmine Massengill of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga. UT assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Sharrona Reaves is a product of Murfreesboro’s Oakland High School.

VU’s director of offensive analytics is Mickie DeMoss, who worked alongside Holly Warlick and served under Pat Summitt as assistant/associate head coach/assistant from 1985-2001/2001-03/2010-12. Vandy graduate assistant Kortney Dunbar played at Tennessee from 2014-18, appearing in 101 games and averaging 2.9 ppg. and hitting 69 three-pointers.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Paul Sunderland (play-by-play), Nell Fortner (analyst) and A’ja Wilson (analyst) are on the call for ESPN2.
  • 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.
  • For UT home games, the Lady Vol Network has a low-power transmitter that makes the game available on the radio at 99.3 FM.

LADY VOL NOTES

  • After bursting to an 8-0 record and standing 12-1 after opening SEC play with a win at Auburn, a youthful Lady Vols team (7 of 10 active players are freshmen and sophomores) has gone through some growing pains.
  • Losing four of the games by a combined nine points, UT dropped five consecutive league tilts before bouncing back with wins over LSU and Florida.
  • UT also fell to Notre Dame during the midst of that SEC skid, 77-62, in a game the Lady Vols led at the half by three en route to their sixth straight loss.
  • That game, however, seems to have been a turning point for this team.
  • UT features four players scoring in double figures, including two sophomores and a freshman.
  • Sophomores Evina Westbrook (15.9) and Rennia Davis (13.9) lead the way in scoring average, followed by senior Meme Jackson (11.7) and freshman Zaay Green (10.3).
  • After seeing Davis mired in a four-game slump, she has reemerged as a go-to player, firing in 24 and 19 points in the past two games, both victories.
  • Jackson has suffered a performance lull as well after hitting double figures in 10 of her first 13 games, including a 27-point effort at Auburn.
  • The senior missed two games (N.D., LSU) after injuring an ankle vs. Arkansas, and is in search of her first double-figure scoring game since Jan. 3.
  • Center Kasiyahna Kushkituah scored in double figures in four of her first five games this season before a knee injury forced her to miss three games and limited her mobility in the next 11 outings.
  • Kushkituah shed a bulky knee brace during the LSU game and finished the day with 14 points and eight rebounds. She followed with six points and six rebounds on 3-of-4 shooting vs. Florida and appears to be hitting her stride again.
  • Senior forward Cheridene Green has pulled down double-figure totals in rebounds during the past four games and in seven of her past eight contests.
  • Freshman Zaay Green has averaged 13.0 ppg. over the past five contests

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE LADY VOLS

  • Sophomore Rennia Davis and redshirt senior forward Cheridene Green each posted double-doubles to propel Tennessee to victory over Florida on Thursday night in Thompson-Boling Arena, 67-50.
  • Davis ended the day as Tennessee’s (14-7, 3-5 SEC) leading scorer with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Green posted a season-high-tying 15 points and 10 rebounds. All five starters scored in the first quarter for the Lady Vols and combined to finish with 53 of the team’s 67 points as UT won its second straight contest.
  • The Lady Vols shot 45 percent from the floor, and nine players scored on the night. UT controlled the battle inside, out-rebounding Florida, 48-32, and held a 28-22 scoring advantage in the paint. Tennessee’s defense complimented its tough play inside, holding UF to 29 percent (19-66) from the field. It was the second-lowest field goal percentage allowed all season by the Big Orange.
  • The Gators (5-16, 1-7 SEC) were led by redshirt senior guard Funda Nakkasoglu, who finished with 18 points, three rebounds and an assist in the contest. Sophomore Kiara Smith recorded double-digits points, notching 11 in the scoring column along with three rebounds.

VANDERBILT NOTES

  • VU returned three starters and six letterwinners but lost a big chunk of its offensive production in Rachel Bell (10.9), Christa Reed (10.5), Kayla Overbeck (9.9) and Erin Whalen (7.4).
  • Leading scorer Chelsie Hall (11.9) returned, as did Cierra Walker (8.7).
  • Transfer Mariella Fasoula, a 6-5 forward, has made an impact at 17.0 ppg. and 7.7 rpg. Walker (11.9) and Hall (10.2) also score in double figures.
  • Fasoula, a native of Greece, made the move to the West End from Boston College.
  • Vanderbilt struggled to a 7-24 record, including 3-13 in the SEC to tie for 11th place, in Stephanie White’s second season as head coach.
  • UT took a pair of wins over the Commodores during the 2017-18 season.
  • The Lady Vols won at Memorial Gym on Jan. 7, 2018, 86-73, and grabbed a 74-64 victory at Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 4.

VANDY’S LAST GAME

  • Vanderbilt fell to #20/24 Texas A&M, 69-53, Thursday night in Reed Arena.
  • The Commodores trailed 21-14 in the second quarter, but Autumn Newby and Brinae Alexander buried a pair of jumpers to cut the Aggie lead to three, 21-18. Chennedy Carter connected on two shots from the charity stripe to spark a 12-0 Texas A&M run that gave the Aggies a 33-18 cushion at the half.
  • Alexander led players with a career-high 24 points on a career-high four triples made. LeaLea Carter continued her double-digit trend with 13 points.
  • Newby pulled down a career-high 13 boards to lead all players.
  • The Commodores out-rebounded Texas A&M 40-to-37 and held the Aggies to just eight percent from beyond the arc.

THE LAST TIME WE MET

  • Seniors Mercedes Russell and Jaime Nared combined for 50 points to lead #12/13 Tennessee (19-4, 7-3 SEC) to a hard-fought 74-64 victory on the road at Vanderbilt (6-18, 2-8 SEC) on Feb. 4, 2018.
  • Russell logged her 41st career double-double and 11th of the season, scoring 20 points while reeling in 11 rebounds.
  • Nared, a finalist for the Cheryl Miller award, tallied her ninth double-double of the season and 18th of her career, pouring in 16 points and grabbing five rebounds in the final five minutes of the game. She tied her career high of 30 points and grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds on the day. She connected on 15 of 17 free throw attempts, tying for the fourth-most ever by a Lady Vol.
  • Vanderbilt was led in scoring by freshman Chelsie Hall who had 19 points.

COMING UP FOR UT AND VU

  • The Lady Vols will be idle on Thursday before heading to Starkville to take on No. 6/6 Mississippi State next Sunday at 1 p.m. CT (2 ET) on ESPN.
  • After hosting Tennessee, Vanderbilt also will be idle on Thursday before hitting the road for two games, starting with a Feb. 10 contest at Missouri.

UT Athletics

Hoops Preview: #1 Tennessee at Texas A&M

Hoops Preview: #1 Tennessee at Texas A&M

Posted on February 1, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Riding a 15-game win streak, No. 1 Tennessee has a chance to set the program record for consecutive victories Saturday night on the road against Texas A&M at Reed Arena.

The game will tip at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN 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.

The UT record for consecutive wins has stood for more than a century, dating back to a 15-game stretch during the 1915-17 seasons. The Vols (19-1, 7-0 SEC) matched that mark Tuesday night with a 92-70 win at South Carolina, as Admiral Schofield (24) and Grant Williams (23) posted 20-point games.

The Aggies (8-11, 1-6 SEC) lost several key pieces from last year’s Sweet Sixteen squad, including three of their top four players. Sophomore guard TJ Starks (13.3 ppg, 3.6 apg) has stepped up as the leader for this year’s squad, pacing the team in scoring and assists. Sophomore forward Savion Flagg (12.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.6 apg) has also taken on an increased role.

After Saturday’s showdown, Tennessee returns home for a three-game stand, beginning with a matchup against Missouri on Tuesday at 9 p.m.

THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads the all-time series with Texas A&M, 7-5, dating to 1951. The Vols have won each of the last two meetings.
• The series is deadlocked at 2-2 when it is played in College Station.

A WIN WOULD…
• Extend Tennessee’s win streak to 16 games, which would stand as the longest win streak in the program’s 110-year history.
• Stretch the Vols’ true road game win streak to eight.
• Give UT an nine-game win streak in regular-season SEC contests.
• Tie as UT’s best SEC start since the 1981-82 season (8-0).
• Make the Vols 5-1 all-time as the AP’s top-ranked team.
• Give Tennessee 20 wins earlier than any previous season. The 2007-08 SEC Championship team notched its 20th victory on Feb. 5.

STORYLINES
• Saturday is UT’s first appearance in the Lone Star State since falling to Loyola-Chicago in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
• This is Rick Barnes‘ longest win streak since he led Texas to a 17-0 start to open the 2009-10 season.
• At tipoff Saturday, 70 full days will have elapsed since Tennessee’s last loss.
• This is Tennessee’s best start to SEC play since it won its first eight league games in 1981-82.
• The Volunteers received 48 of 64 first-place votes in this week’s AP Top 25 poll. This is the third week in history that Tennessee has been ranked No. 1.
• The Vols have shot 50 percent or better in 14 games this season and rank second in the country with a .510 field-goal percentage.
• Only two Division I players have more free throw attempts than Grant Williams this season (169), and he also ranks third in makes (140).

LAYUPS
• Grant Williams leads the SEC in scoring (20.4 ppg), ranks second in field-goal percentage (.573), sixth in free-throw percentage (.828) and seventh in rebounding (7.4 rpg).
• Admiral Schofield is the SEC’s fourth-leading scorer (17.0 ppg).
• Williams and Schofield both earned a spot on the 25-man Wooden Award Midseason Watch List.
• Point guard Jordan Bone owns the ninth-best assist/turnover ratio (3.49) in Division I and ranks 15th in the country in assists per game (6.5 apg).
• Lamonté Turner is averaging 11.6 points off the bench in SEC play.
• During league play, SEC Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jordan Bowden ranks second on the team and ninth in the SEC with 16.2 points per game. But he missed Tuesday’s game at South Carolina with a knee injury.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M
• Billy Kennedy and Texas A&M (8-11, 1-6 SEC) entered the season fresh off a Sweet Sixteen appearance in last year’s NCAA Tournament. However, the Aggies lost several key pieces from that team, including three of their top four players. The lone Aggie starter set to return was Admon Gilder, but a medical issue has forced him to sit out the season.
• Sophomore guard TJ Starks (13.3 ppg, 3.6 apg) has stepped up as the leader for this year’s squad, pacing the team in scoring and assists. Sophomore forward Savion Flagg (12.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.6 apg) has also taken on an increased role following the departure of Tyler Davis and Robert Williams from last year’s team.
• Junior forward Josh Nebo (8.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.6 bpg) is a force in the paint. He is shooting 77 percent from the field this season and ranks second in the SEC in blocks with 50. Junior guard Wendell Mitchell (11.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 spg) rounds out the double-digit scorers for Texas A&M.
• The Aggies have a couple of solid wins so far this season, beating Alabama on the road and Kansas State in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge last week. A&M also played a tough non-conference schedule with games against Gonzaga, Minnesota and Washington all contested away from home.

LAST MEETING VS. TEXAS A&M
•  Kyle Alexander scored a career-high 14 points and No. 24 Tennessee held off Texas A&M on Jan. 13, 2018. at Thompson-Boling Arena, 75-62.
•  The Vols forced 17 Texas A&M turnovers, the second-most of the season for the Aggies, on their way to a third-straight SEC win. The win was also Tennessee’s first over Texas A&M in Knoxville since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012.
•  Tennessee led by as many as 14 at 65-51 with 6:27 remaining, but Texas A&M put together a quick 8-0 run to cut the lead to six with 3:41 to go. From there, the Vols finished strong, ending the game on a 10-3 run.
•  In addition to Alexander’s performance, Jordan Bowden turned in a stellar outing, leading Tennessee in scoring with 15 points and grabbing six rebounds. Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone also scored in double figures, with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
•  Admon Gilder paced Texas A&M with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while DJ Hogg added 13. The Vols held Tyler Davis, the Aggies’ leading scorer who came in averaging 14.6 points per game, to just nine points.
•  Trailing 12-11 midway through the first half, Tennessee used a 13-3 run to take a 24-17 lead with 8:02 before halftime, a lead it would never relinquish.
•  The Vols battled their way to a 36-28 halftime advantage, with seven different Vols scoring in the opening period. The lead at the break came thanks in part to Texas A&M’s 13 turnovers, which Tennessee converted into 15 points.
•  The Vols made it their 11th game of the season with 15 or more points off turnovers, scoring 22 points off the Aggies’ 17 miscues.
•  The contest marked the 1,000th game of Rick Barnes‘ Division I head coaching career.

MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST TEXAS A&M
• Grant Williams tied Tennessee’s all-time, single-game record for blocked shots with six in last year’s win over the Aggies in College Station. He also added 12 points and five rebounds in the victory.
• In the longest game in Tennessee basketball history, the Vols posted an epic 93-85 four-overtime win at Texas A&M Feb. 23, 2013, in the first game between the teams as conference foes. Trae Golden tallied 32 points for the Vols, while Jarnell Stokes totaled 20 points and 16 rebounds, and Jordan McRae scored 23.
• Tony White posted the highest points total by a Vol in the series when he scored 34 vs. the Aggies in an 88-70 UT home win on Dec. 7, 1985.
• Herb Neff (13 pts, 14 rebs) and Charlie Hipsher (11 pts, 12 rebs) each logged double-doubles for Tennessee as the Vols downed Texas A&M 60-52 in the first-ever meeting between the programs on Dec. 15, 1951, in Knoxville.
• Houston native Brandon Crump averaged 16.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in two career games against the Aggies. His three blocks against A&M during an 83-66 loss in College Station on Dec. 4, 2002, are the most by a Vol in the series.

BARNES VERY FAMILIAR WITH A&M
• As a head coach, Rick Barnes has faced Texas A&M 35 times, compiling a 27-8 (.771) record.
• His Texas teams went 23-7 vs. the Aggies from 1999-2015, and he also led Clemson to a 2-0 record against A&M in the mid-90s.
• The only teams Barnes has faced more than the Aggies are Oklahoma (41 meetings), Oklahoma State (40), Baylor (39) and Texas Tech (37).

IF IT WEREN’T FOR TENNESSEE, TEXAS WOULD BE “NORTH MEXICO”
• There can be no doubt Texas owes a great debt of gratitude for its statehood to the fierce men from Tennessee.
• Before the Alamo fell, 33 Tennesseans, the largest number of defenders provided by any state — nearly four times as many as from Texas — kept Mexican General Santa Anna’s overwhelming army at bay for 13 days against unbelievable odds.
• On March 6, 1836, the brave Tennessee Volunteers and the other Alamo defenders were overrun and breathed their last.
• However, the crucial days the Volunteers slowed down the Mexican army gave another Tennessean, Sam Houston, enough time to gallop through Texas raising an army to defend what would become the Lone Star State. This army defeated Santa Anna in no small part because of the contributions of Tennessee’s Volunteers.

VOLS STREAKING ALONG
• Tennessee is riding a 15-game win streak, which ties as the longest in program history.
• It is the second-longest active win streak in Division I, trailing only Hofstra (16).
• Tennessee’s 20-game home win streak is the second-longest active streak in Division I. Houston has won 30 straight at home; Buffalo also has won 20 straight.
• The Vols’ seven-game active win streak in true road games is the second-longest in Division I, trailing only Hofstra (7).

ROAD WARRIORS
• Dating to the start of last season, Tennessee has won 19 total games away from home.
• That includes victories this year over Louisville and Gonzaga (both at neutral sites) as well as wins at Memphis, Missouri, Florida, Vanderbilt and South Carolina.

BALANCED SCORING EACH HALF
• Tennessee’s scoring output has been balanced in each half this season.
• The Vols score 42.8 points in the first half of games (855 total points).
• Tennessee’s second-half scoring average stands at 42.4 points (848 total points).
• The Vols have been to overtime twice this season, scoring 12 points in the extra period each time.

 

UT Athletics

Kacey Musgraves Adds More Dates to Her “Oh, What a World Tour”

Kacey Musgraves Adds More Dates to Her “Oh, What a World Tour”

Posted on February 1, 2019

Kacey Musgraves has extended her headlining Oh, What a World Tour with 17 more dates this summer and fall.

Following her previously announced tour dates, Kacey will hit the festival circuit this summer before embarking on the next leg of her Oh, What a World Tour, including stops in Phoenix, Boston, Toronto, New Orleans and more.

Pre-sale for the new tour dates begins on Feb. 1 at 12 p.m. ET, with tickets going on sale to the general public on Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. local time.

Oh, What a World Tour Dates (new dates in bold)

Feb. 1 The Sylvee Madison, WI
Feb. 2 Palace Theatre St. Paul, MN
Feb. 5 Grammy Museum Performance Los Angeles, CA
Feb. 13 The Van Buren Phoenix, AZ
Feb. 14 The Theatre at Ace Hotel Los Angeles, CA
Feb. 15 The Theatre at Ace Hotel Los Angeles, CA
Feb. 16 The Masonic San Francisco, CA
Feb. 18 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland, OR
Feb. 19 Paramount Theatre Seattle, WA
Feb. 22 Paramount Theatre Denver, CO
Feb. 25 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Houston, TX
Feb. 27 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
Feb. 28 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
March 1 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
March 2 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
March 8 The Bomb Factory Dallas, TX
March 9 Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater Austin, TX
March 10 Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater Austin, TX
March 19 Tennessee Theatre Knoxville, TN
March 21 Alabama Theatre Birmingham, AL
March 22 The Tabernacle Atlanta, GA
March 23 The Tabernacle Atlanta, GA
March 25 Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL
April 12 Coachella Indio, CA
April 19 Coachella Indio, CA
June 1 Governors Ball New York, NY
June 15 Bonnaroo Manchester, TN
June 23 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Telluride, CO
June 26 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO
July 26 Newport Folk Festival Newport, RI
July 28 FloydFest Floyd, VA
Aug. 24 Vina Robles Amphitheatre Paso Robles, CA
Aug. 27 Comerica Theatre Phoenix, AZ
Aug. 28 Santa Fe Opera House Santa Fe, NM
Sept. 4 Starlight Theatre Kansas City, MO
Sept. 5 Stifel Theatre St. Louis, MO
Sept. 6 Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica Cleveland, OH
Sept. 7 Wolf Trap Vienna, VA
Sept. 9 Sony Centre for the Performing Arts Toronto, ON
Sept. 11 The Met Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA
Sept. 12 Blue Hills Bank Pavilion Boston, MA
Sept. 13 Sprint Pavilion Charlottesville, VA
Sept. 14 Koka Booth Amphitheatre Cary, NC
Sept. 17 Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Asheville, NC
Sept. 19 Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC
Sept. 20 Volvo Car Stadium Charleston, SC
Sept. 27 The Fillmore New Orleans New Orleans, LA
Sept. 28 The Fillmore New Orleans New Orleans, LA

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Lady Vols Tame Gators, 67-50

Posted on February 1, 2019
Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomore Rennia Davis and redshirt senior forward Cheridene Green each posted double-doubles to propel Tennessee to victory over Florida on Thursday night in Thompson-Boling Arena, 67-50.

Davis ended the day as Tennessee’s (14-7, 3-5 SEC) leading scorer with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Green posted a season-high-tying 15 points and 10 rebounds. All five starters scored in the first quarter for the Lady Vols and combined to finish with 53 of the team’s 67 points as UT won its second straight contest.

The Lady Vols shot 45 percent from the floor, and nine players scored on the night. UT controlled the battle inside, out-rebounding Florida, 48-32, and held a 28-22 scoring advantage in the paint. Tennessee’s defense complimented its tough play inside, holding UF to 29 percent (19-66) from the field. It was the second-lowest field goal percentage allowed all season by the Big Orange.

The Gators (5-16, 1-7 SEC) were led by redshirt senior guard Funda Nakkasoglu, who finished with 18 points, three rebounds and an assist in the contest. Sophomore Kiara Smith recorded double-digits points, notching 11 in the scoring column along with three rebounds.

Tennessee out-rebounded UF 8-4 in the first 5:26 of the game and set the tone inside early on the Gators, as sophomore center Kasiyahna Kushkituah and Green collected five of the team’s first eight rebounds. The duo finished the contest with a combined 21 points and 16 boards.

The Lady Vols forced the Gators into a scoring drought of 2:01 in the first quarter and held a 15-4 advantage at the 3:07 mark of the first period. Tennessee went on a 9-4 run to end the quarter, knocking down all of its three-point attempts in the frame (3-of-3). Evina Westbrook dropped in two consecutive triples, giving the Lady Vols a 21-6 advantage at the 1:32 mark in the first period.

The Big Orange hit four-straight shots over the rest of the period, taking a 24-8 advantage over the Gators after Rennia Davis hit a last-second three-point shot to end the quarter.

Tennessee finished the first period with eight assists on nine baskets. Westbrook recorded four assists in the quarter, while Zaay Green followed up with three dimes of her own. The 16-point advantage the Lady Vols held over the Gators marked the largest lead the Big Orange held over an opponent in the first quarter since Nov. 18, when it led Florida A&M 34-10 after one period of play.

Florida finished the second period strong, as it went on a 6-0 run over the last 1:15 of the first half and outscored the Lady Vols 19-15 in the quarter. Tennessee went into halftime up 39-27. The Big Orange also held the advantage in the rebound column, as it out-gained the Gators 23-12 on the boards in the first 20 minutes.

Senior guard Meme Jackson made her return to the court to a standing ovation after missing the past two games with an ankle injury at the 1:42 mark in the first quarter. Jackson scored on a floater in the lane with 3:17 in the second period, and she followed the shot up several possessions later with a step-back jumper, extending the Lady Vols’ lead to 39-21 with 1:51 remaining in the first half. The 18-point advantage tied the biggest lead for the Big Orange in the first two quarters.

Cheridene Green controlled the pace for the Lady Vols in the final quarter, as she tallied six points and five rebounds. Tennessee outscored the Gators 15-14 and never led by less than 13 points.

Davis was consistent throughout the game for the Lady Vols, scoring nine of her points in the first half and pitching in 10 in the final 20 minutes. Westbrook was an efficient facilitator in the contest, recording seven assists to only two turnovers. The Lady Vols finished the contest shooting 79 percent from the free throw line (11-14).

Cheridene Green collected six offensive rebounds and helped UT capture a 13-4 advantage in second-chance points in the contest. Tennessee had assists on 18 of its 26 field goals in the game, which equaled 69 percent of the total makes.

The Big Orange held an 18-8 advantage in assists, 5-4 in steals and 2-0 in blocks. UT also outscored Florida’s bench, 14-11.

Up Next: The Lady Vols return to the road, traveling to in-state rival Vanderbilt for a 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) matchup on Sunday. The game will be televised by ESPN2.

First Quarter Lockdown: UT held UF to just eight points in the first period, tying UNCA’s eight first-quarter points as the lowest first-quarter point total by an opponent this season. Tennessee rode 56.3% shooting from the field and a went a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc en route to a 16-point lead by the end of the opening stanza. That marked UT’s largest first quarter lead since leading by 24 (34-10) against Florida A&M on Nov. 18.

E Dishin’: Evina Westbrook now has 12 games with five or more assists and is averaging 5.1 apg on the season.

Rennia Rolling: Rennia Davis bounced back from a four-game single-digit scoring slump to lead Tennessee offensively in back-to-back games, scoring 24 against LSU and 19 vs. Florida. It marks the first time she has ever led UT in scoring in consecutive games.

Elite Company: Rennia Davis has now logged a total of 18 games with 10 or more rebounds, becoming just the second Lady Vol to reach that achievement as an underclassman since the turn of the century. The only other UT sophomore to amass more games with 10+ rebounds since the year 2000 was Candace Parker who tallied 33 by the end of her redshirt sophomore season.

Big On The Boards:  Tennessee out-rebounded Florida, 48-32, and is averaging 46.0 rpg in SEC play while holding opponents to an average of 35.5 rpg. UT has now outworked 18 of 21 opponents on the glass this season.

-UT Athletics

 

Zac Brown Band Announces New Summer Tour

Zac Brown Band Announces New Summer Tour

Posted on February 1, 2019

The field mouse is fast, but the owl sees at night!

Zac Brown Band will embark on a 30-plus-city tour this summer, dubbed The Owl Tour.

The announcement comes as the band prepares to release their upcoming new studio album featuring lead single, “Someone I Used to Know.” Additional album details including release date, track list and artwork will be coming soon. According to a press release, The Owl Tour and forthcoming album “draw inspiration from the mythology and mystery surrounding the Great Horned Owl that can see perfectly in the night, serving as a guide when we need sight in even the darkest of moments.”

The tour will kick off on May 25 in Indianapolis, making additional stops in Boston, Tampa, Milwaukee and more. Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and Caroline Jones will serve as support on various dates.

Tickets to the general public go on sale on Feb. 8, with pre-sale for fan club members beginning Feb. 5.

The Owl Tour

  • May 25 | Indianapolis, IN | Legends Day Indy 500
  • June 7 | Gilford, NH | Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *
  • June 8 | Gilford, NH | Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *
  • June 9 | Syracuse, NY | St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview *
  • June 14 | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | Blossom Music Center
  • June 15 | Darien Center, NY | Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
  • June 21 | Bethel, NY | Bethel Woods Center for the Arts +
  • June 22 | Holmdel, NJ | P.N.C. Bank Arts Center +
  • June 23 | Holmdel, NJ | P.N.C. Bank Arts Center +
  • June 28 | Burgettstown, PA | KeyBank Pavilion
  • June 29 | Tinley Park, IL | Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
  • June 30 | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee Summerfest
  • July 12 | Calgary, AB | Calgary Stampede
  • July 21 | Brooklyn, MI | Faster Horses Festival
  • July 24 | Paso Robles, CA | California Mid-State Fair
  • July 25 | Irvine, CA | Five Point Amphitheater
  • July 26 | Irvine, CA | Five Point Amphitheater
  • Aug. 9 | Denver, CO | Coors Field * +
  • Aug. 11| Des Moines, I AGrandstand – Iowa State Fairgrounds +
  • Aug. 23 | Wantagh, NY | Nikon at Jones Beach Theater +
  • Aug. 24 | Wantagh, NY | Nikon at Jones Beach Theater +
  • Aug. 25 | Bristow, VA | Jiffy Lube Live +
  • Aug. 29 | Hershey, PA | Hershey Park Stadium *
  • Aug. 30 | Saratoga Springs, NY | Saratoga Performing Arts Center *
  • Aug. 31 | Boston, MA | Fenway Park (on sale February 15) *
  • Sept. 6 | Camden, NJ | BB&T Pavilion *
  • Sept. 7 | Camden, NJ | BB&T Pavilion *
  • Sept. 8 | Hartford, CT | XFINITY Theatre *
  • Sept. 19 | Chula Vista, CA | North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre +
  • Sept. 20 | Mountain View, CA | Shoreline Amphitheater +
  • Aug. 17 | Jacksonville, FL | Daily’s Place
  • Aug. 18 | West Palm Beach, FL | Coral Sky Amphitheatre *
  • Aug. 19 | West Palm Beach, FL | Coral Sky Amphitheatre *
  • Aug. 20 | Tampa, FL | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre *
  • Aug. 25 | Rogers, AR | The Walmart Amp *
  • Aug. 26 | Dallas, TX | The Dos Equis Pavilion (on sale February 15) *

*  With special guest Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
+  With special guest Caroline Jones

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

George Strait to Release 30th Studio Album, “Honky Tonk Time Machine,” on March 29 [Listen to New Song Now]

George Strait to Release 30th Studio Album, “Honky Tonk Time Machine,” on March 29 [Listen to New Song Now]

Posted on February 1, 2019

George Strait will release his 30th studio album, Honky Tonk Time Machine, on March 29.

The new album features 13 songs, including 12 originals and a cover of Johnny Paycheck’s “Old Violin.”

George co-penned eight of the tracks, including a duet with Willie Nelson, “Sing One With Willie.” Longtime collaboration Dean Dillon co-penned seven songs, while George’s son, Bubba, co-penned 10 tracks.

“I’m really excited to have some new music coming out,” says George. “It’s been about two years since I’ve released a record. It was great writing with Bubba and Dean again and creating such a beautiful song with Bubba and Jeff Hyde. Also, it was a very special thing for me to be able to write and sing one with the legend Willie Nelson. I hope everyone enjoys listening to Honky Tonk Time Machine as much as I enjoyed making it.”

George’s grandson, Harvey, is featured on the track “God and Country Music,” which you can listen to below. The tune follows the 2018 release of the album’s first song, “Código.”

Honky Tonk Time Machine Track Listing & Songwriters

  1. “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” (George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon)
  2. “Two More Wishes” (Jim Lauderdale and Odie Blackmon”
  3. “Some Nights” (Bubba Strait, Brice Long and Phillip White)
  4. “God and Country Music” with Harvey Strait (Luke Laird, Barry Dean and Lori McKenna)
  5. “Blue Water” (George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon)
  6. “Sometimes Love” (George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon)
  7. “Código” (George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon)
  8. “Old Violin” (Johnny Paycheck)
  9. “Take Me Away” (George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon)
  10. “The Weight of the Badge” (George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon)
  11. “Honky Tonk Time Machine” (Bubba Strait, Brice Long and Bart Butler)
  12. “What Goes Up” (George Strait, Bubba Strait and Jeff Hyde)
  13. “Sing One with Willie” featuring Willie Nelson (George Strait, Willie Nelson, Bubba Strait and Buddy Cannon)

photo by Curtis Hilbun / JpegFoto.com

Florida Georgia Line Collaborates With Jason Derulo on New Song, “Women” [Listen]

Florida Georgia Line Collaborates With Jason Derulo on New Song, “Women” [Listen]

Posted on February 1, 2019

Florida Georgia Line shared a new song, “Women,” from their upcoming album, Can’t Say I Ain’t Country, which drops on Feb. 15.

The new tune is a collaboration with Jason Derulo, who previously worked with FGL on the re-mix of “This Is How We Roll” and the retooled version of “All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night” for Monday Night Football.

“Women,” which was penned by FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, Derulo, David Garcia and Josh Miller, is the fifth song the duo has shared from their upcoming album, following singles “Simple” and “Talk You Out of It,” as well as “Colorado” and “People Are Different.”

“It was such an honor to have Jason Derulo on this one,” said FGL via Twitter. “It’s a song that just puts women on a platform like they so deserve. ‘Women’ is a tribute to all the women out there . . . we wouldn’t be here without them.”

Listen to “Women” below.

photo by Jason Simanek

Locash to Drop New Album, “Brothers,” on March 29

Locash to Drop New Album, “Brothers,” on March 29

Posted on February 1, 2019

Preston Brust and Chris Lucas of Locash will release their new album, Brothers, on March 29.

The 11-song offering will be the first album on Locash’s new label, Wheelhouse Records/BBR Music Group. Brothers features lead single “Feels Like a Party, which Locash released last year. Songwrtiers on the new album include Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Chris DeStefano and more.

“At the end of the day, we are all brothers and sisters,” says Chris. “We’ve all seen our share of sunshine and rain—I know Preston and I certainly have. In order to get through it all, we all need to lean on each other. This album is all about recognizing that brotherhood and bringing people together.”

“We wanted to create music that folks can just get lost in for a minute, put their struggles and differences aside and just enjoy the moment,” adds Preston. “We wanted Brothers to almost be a soundtrack to those standout moments in life where everybody is enjoying life to the fullest.”

The album is available for pre-order now.

photo by David McClister; design by Tony Budenz

Brothers Track List & Songwriters

  1. “One Big Country Song” (Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy)
  2. “How Much Time You Got” (Jacob Durrett, Corey Crowder, Rhett Akins)
  3. “Brothers” (Preston Brust, Chris Lucas, Corey Crowder, Tyler Hubbard)
  4. “Summer in a Truck” (Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Zach Crowell)
  5. “God Thing” (Jordan Schmidt, Alex Smith, Tyler Hubbard, Russell Dickerson)
  6. “It’s Only Midnight” (Marv Green, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson)
  7. “Feels Like a Party” (Preston Brust, Chris Lucas, Tyler Hubbard ,Corey Crowder)
  8. “Secret Weapon” (Preston Brust, Chris Lucas, Jordan Schmidt, Corey Crowder)
  9. “Cold Beer Kinda Night” (Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Rhett Akins)
  10. “Kissing a Girl” (Matthew West, Andrew Pruis, Thomas Finchum)
  11. “Beers to Catch Up On” (Rhett Akins, Jeremy Stover, Paul DiGiovanni)

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Jimmy’s blog: Warlick says players have changed since she became head coach

Posted on January 31, 2019

By Jimmy Hyams

The Tennessee Lady Vols recently snapped a six-game losing streak that had reached historic proportions for the program.

Sunday’s win over LSU ended a skid that last occurred in 1970, when UT played just six games.

Less than a decade later, Holly Warlick, a star at Bearden High School, became an All-American at Tennessee and an Olympian.

The game has changed since the days of women playing six-on-six basketball.

The players have changed since Warlick became a head coach seven years ago.

Speaking at the Big Orange Tipoff Club on Wednesday, Warlick was asked the difference in players today versus six or seven years ago.

“We’re getting a lot of kids that play a lot of basketball but don’t work on their game,’’ Warlick said. “I see less fundamentals than six years ago.’’

Warlick also said she sees more parental and personal trainer involvement.

Warlick said UT has signed quite a few 5-star kids and high school All-Americans, but some of their fundamentals are “non-existent.’’

She said you can’t assume a 5-star “knows everything,’’ so UT has to teach fundamentals every day in practice, often doing one-on-one drills against male practice players.

“We try to get kids that fit in our program, (want to) graduate and have great character and love the game,’’ Warlick said. “The majority of the time, we hit it spot on. We don’t get it right all the time, but we get it right most of the time.’’

Warlick said her team (13-7, 2-5 SEC) is “not at the point where we want to be,’’ but she didn’t say it was due to lack of personnel.

“We’ve got talent, no question,’’ Warlick said. “We’re young. That doesn’t give us an excuse, but it gives us an opportunity to teach and we’re going to build that toughness. I’ve been told you can’t teach effort and toughness. Well, I’m going to prove that wrong because that’s what we need.’’

Warlick also said coaching styles have changed, implying that you can’t be as tough and demanding on today’s players as you once could.

“I think if Pat Summit was coaching right now, she’d be turned in for verbal and physical abuse,’’ Warlick said.

Warlick said she agrees “100% that our players have a tough time taking a charge. I think the four we’ve taken are a major ordeal for me.’’

Asked if the players are afraid to take a charge, Warlick said there’s “probably a little fear factor because you’ve got to take a hit.’’

Warlick added: `I’ll say this: We’re good at charging into people.’’

Warlick also said the majority of star players weren’t taught to take a charge in high school.

Warlick also said she thinks center Kasi Kushkituah and Zaay Green will be great players. She said freshman Rae Burrell has a “beautiful jump shot.’’

She said if she got into a fight, she’d want Green and Burrell beside her: “They’ve got a little meanness to them.’’

Lady Vols fans and social media haven’t been kind to Warlick, who won three SEC titles of some sort her first three seasons as Summitt’s replacement, but has seen the program slip in recent years.

“I’ve had more of my peers and assistant coaches reach out to me,’’ Warlick said. “So the only time I know that I’m really getting killed on social media is because everybody tells me to hang in there.’’

Warlick said she keeps her blinders on during a season.

“If you do listen to outside noise,’’ she said, “you’re going to question your ability and your confidence and your thoughts.’’

Warlick said her team needs more focus and toughness. She pointed to the UT men’s team as going through “growing pains’’ and working hard to become ranked No. 1.

She said Lady Vols showed toughness and effort in the win over LSU by forcing 25 turnovers and getting 15 points off 19 offensive rebounds.

She also said she is confident here team has turned the corner.

Tennessee hosts Florida (5-15, 1-6 SEC) tonight at 7.

Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all 

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