Randy Houser and wife Tatiana announced via Instagram on Jan. 27 that they are expecting their first child together in June.
The couple, which married in 2016, donned “Daddy Houser” and “Mamma Houser embroidered shirts for the pic, while their dog displayed an ultrasound image of Baby Houser around its neck.
“2019 just keeps getting better,” said Randy via Instagram. “Man it has been hard to keep this secret because we are SO EXCITED. We’re Pregnant!!! BABY HOUSER IS COMING IN JUNE! I feel so completely blessed to have this news to share 🙏🏼 Can’t wait for the best year of our lives @tatianahouser#babyhouser 📷 @natalia_davidson.”
Randy has a son, West, 6, from a previous marriage.
The Recording Academy announced its list of 25 singles/albums that have been added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The 2019 inductees include a number of country-centric recordings, including Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.” and Jackson Browne’s 1972 self-titled album.
The Grammy Hall of Fame was established by the Recording Academy’s National Trustees in 1973 to honor recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee from all branches of the recording arts. Now in its 46th year, the Grammy Hall of Fame boasts 1,088 recordings on display at the Grammy Museum in L.A.
Here’s a full list of 2019 Grammy Hall of Fame inductees:
“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” (single) — Edward Meeker with The Edison Orchestra (1908)
“St. Louis Blues” (single) — W.C. Handy (1914)
“La Bamba” (single) — El Jarocho (1939)
“Ko Ko” (single) — Charlie Parker’s Ri Bop Boys (1945)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Sophomore guard Rennia Davis tied her season high of 24 points to power the Lady Vols past LSU, 74-65, on Sunday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena for their annual “Live Pink, Bleed Orange” game.
Sophomore forward 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.
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.
The Lady Vols sparked an 8-0 run to start the game behind a pair of jumpers from Zaay Green. Tennessee forced four turnovers and held the Tigers in a scoring drought for nearly three minutes out of the gate. Midway through the first quarter, the Lady Vols had three players with four points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and a 14-8 lead. Each of Tennessee’s five starters scored within seven minutes of play, as the Lady Vols forced eight first-quarter turnovers. Davis led Tennessee early on with eight points, giving the Lady Vols a 22-17 lead going into the second quarter.
After playing more than three minutes in the second quarter, the teams had combined for just six points while committing a total of seven turnovers. Tennessee hit its stride by holding LSU to a two-minute scoring drought to take a 32-25 lead with three minutes remaining in the first half. Eight of the Tigers’ 12 points in the quarter were notched at the charity stripe, as LSU hit just 2-of-10 shots from the field. Going into the half, the Lady Vols tallied 16 points off turnovers, 22 points in the paint and forced 15 turnovers en route to a 36-29 halftime lead. Davis led Tennessee with 10 points at the half, while Kushkituah and Green each registered eight points apiece.
The Tigers jumped out to a quick 7-2 run to start the second half, but a jump shot from Green got the Lady Vols back on track. Tennessee responded with an 8-0 run over the next minute, with an and-one from Massengill to cap it off and give the Lady Vols a 46-36 lead. Tennessee finished the third quarter with an alley-oop to Davis, who converted to give the Lady Vols a 52-43 lead going into the final quarter of play. Tennessee held LSU without a field goal for the final four minutes of the third quarter, as Davis led the Lady Vols with six points and three rebounds.
Tennessee was challenged early in the fourth quarter, as a 3-pointer from Mercedes Brooks of the Tigers cut UT’s lead to just three points. Davis hit a pair of free throws to give Tennessee a 60-52 lead at the halfway point of the fourth quarter. A Cheridene Green layup at the 4:12 mark finished a 6-0 run by the Lady Vols, who extended their lead to double-digits. Kushkituah gave Tennessee its largest lead of the game with a layup with under three minutes remaining in the game. The Lady Vols hit their final three shots from the floor to ice the game and notch the 74-65 win at home.
Up Next: The Lady Vols play their fourth straight home game on Thursday, hosting Florida at 7 p.m. The game will be available for streaming online via SECN+.
Back To Her Double-Figure Ways: With a season-high-tying 24 points, Rennia Davis logged her 14th double-digit performance and fourth 20+ effort of the season, breaking a four game stretch in which she scored nine points or less. She opened the season by scoring double figures in 13 of her first 14 contests.
Kasi’s Baaaack:Kasiyahna Kushkituah notched a career-high 14 points, recording her first double-digit game since leaving the lineup due to an injury in late November. Prior to being injured she’d scored 10 or more points in four of UT’s first five games.
Owning The Paint: Tennessee outscored LSU in the paint 22-6 in the first half and went on to stretch the margin to 20 points, ending the day with a total of 44 points in the paint to LSU’s 24 points. UT has outscored 13 of 20 opponents in the paint this season.
Turn ‘Em Over: The Lady Vols forced 25 turnovers against LSU, the most committed by a UT opponent since FAMU (32) and tying as the highest turnover total by the Lady Tigers this season. Tennessee capitalized on those turnovers, converting them into 23 points.
UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In front of a season-high crowd of 22,149, No. 1 Tennessee pulled away from the West Virginia Mountaineers, 83-66, to extend its winning streak to 14 games, tying the second-longest mark in program history.
The Vols move to 5-1 all-time in the SEC/Big-12 Challenge and are winners of their last three games in the cross-conference series.
In his first start since the final game of the 2016-17 season, Lamonte Turnerled the Vols (18-1) with a season-high 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Admiral Schofield recorded his third double-double of the season, finishing with a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with 14 points.
In total, Tennessee had four players score in double figures, with Grant Williams posting 19 points and Jordan Bowden tallying 15 off the bench. Those four players combined for 71 of the team’s 83 points Saturday afternoon in Thompson-Boling Arena.
After taking an 11-point lead into halftime, Tennessee played nearly the entire second half with a double-digit lead. Turner quickly pushed the lead to 15 points within the first minute of the second half. The redshirt junior had a layup on the opening possession then stripped West Virginia’s (9-11) Jermaine Haley before converting on another layup.
The Vols continued to pressure the Mountaineers in the second half, forcing them to turn the ball over 14 times in the final 20 minutes of play. In all, West Virginia turned the ball over 24 times, the most turnovers by any Tennessee opponent this season.
UT took advantage, scoring 24 of its 52 points in the second half off of Mountaineer turnovers. On the other end, Turner continued to stay hot in the second half, converting on all five of his field-goal attempts to add 12 points to his game-high scoring line.
With just two points at the midway point of the game, Bowden gave Tennessee a boost off the bench in the second half. The junior scored 13 points in just 14 minutes in the second half, going 5-of-8 from the field in the second frame.
After trailing by as many as 12 in the first half, Tennessee worked its way back into the game with its effort on the defensive end. The Vols held the Mountaineers scoreless for a stretch of more than nine and a half minutes from the 11:05 mark to the 1:34 mark of the first half.
That allowed UT to go on a 17-0 run, capped off by a Williams layup and-one conversion to give Tennessee a 24-19 advantage with just over two minutes left in the first half.
Over the last 11 minutes of the first half, the Vols limited West Virginia to just two points as Tennessee went on a 24-2 run to take a 31-21 lead into the locker room.
After being held scoreless for much of the half, Williams accounted for eight of UT’s final 11 points in the opening frame, scoring all eight points in the final 2:20 minutes. Turner led all scorers with 11 points in the first half, converting on a trio of three pointers on five attempts.
First-Half Defensive Stand: During the first half, Tennessee held West Virginia scoreless from 11:05 remaining in the half all the way until the 1:34 mark. Over the course of that span, the Vols forced the Mountaineers to miss 13 consecutive field goals.
Turner Starts and Shines: 2018 SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year Lamonte Turner’s start at guard against West Virginia was his first start since March 9, 2017. Turner responded by leading all scorers with a season-high 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Turner also had a game-high-tying five assists.
Win Streak: With the win over West Virginia, Tennessee has now won 14 games in a row. The streak is Tennessee’s longest since the 1922-23 season, when the Vols opened the year with 14 consecutive victories. Tennessee’s all-time longest win streak is 15 games, spanning from Feb. 20, 1915, to Jan. 20, 1917.
SEC/Big 12 Challenge: Tennessee improved to 4-1 all-time in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge following its win over West Virginia, and has now won three consecutive games in the event.
Up Next: Tennessee travels to Columbia for a midweek matchup with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Tuesday’s night tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes spoke to the media in his postgame press conference after #1 Tennessee picked up an 83-66 victory over West Virginia in Knoxville.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee (12-7, 1-5 SEC) is back in action on Sunday in its third of four straight home games, as LSU (12-6, 3-3 SEC) comes to Thompson-Boling Arena for the annual “Live Pink, Bleed Orange” game.
The contest’s visibility will be used to raise awareness toward the fight against breast cancer. UT head coach Holly Warlick and LSU’s Nikki Fargas have been active participants in that fight with their fundraising organization Champions for a Cause.
Tip-off is slated for 1:02 p.m. ET, with the game being carried by the SEC Network and the Lady Vol Radio Network. Sunday’s game is UT’s third game in seven days, with both Arkansas and LSU having open dates prior to facing the Lady Vols and getting an entire week to prepare.
A youthful Lady Vol team has endured some tough lessons in SEC play, falling in five straight contests. Four of those five setbacks, however, came by a combined total of nine points.
UT stepped outside of league play on Thursday night and lost its sixth straight contest, but the Lady Vols played well in leading No. 1/1 Notre Dame through the first two quarters before eventually falling to an experienced and defending NCAA champion Fighting Irish squad, 77-62.
LSU played last Sunday at Alabama and secured a 62-56 victory in Coleman Coliseum to even its SEC record. The win snapped a two-game losing skid, as the Lady Tigers had fallen in home games against South Carolina (76-53) and Kentucky (64-60). LSU’s contests have been mostly low-scoring efforts on both sides, as the team averages 57.2 points per game in league play and allows 58.7 ppg. The Lady Tigers’ highest point total has been 63 vs. Texas A&M, while only South Carolina (76) has scored more than 64 vs. LSU.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Pam Ward (play-by-play) and Carolyn Peck (analyst) will describe the action for the SEC Network.
Mickey Dearstone is handling the call 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.
“LIVE PINK, BLEED ORANGE” GAME
Sunday is UT’s Live Pink, Bleed Orange game. Join us for a pink-themed game in Thompson-Boling Arena as we increase awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
Arrive early to get your 2019 Live Pink, Bleed Orange T-Shirt, one per person while supplies last.
UT Medical Center’s Mobile Mammography unit will be providing 3D Tomo screenings from 11 a.m.- 12:45 p.m. outside the arena on Phillip Fulmer Way. For more info. or to schedule an appointment, call the UT Breast Health Outreach Program at 865-305-9753.
OTHER PROMOTIONS
Enjoy the pre-game Kids’ Corner at Gate F. It opens one hour prior to tip-off. Fun includes free face painting, the Big Orange prize wheel, visits from Smokey and cheerleaders, dog crafts, cookie decorating and more at the Kids’ Corner.
Post-game Lay-ups: Kids 12 & younger can shoot a lay-up on the court after the game!
High-Five Tunnel: 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.
Help us Spark the Summitt during introductions at the arena! Download our new free light-up app, courtesy of Coca-Cola. Once downloaded, simply open your Hoops Hype app when the lights go out, and let your phone do the rest.
Tickets are available for as low as $15 at AllVols.com.
Free parking & shuttle service will be available from UT’s Ag Campus. Shuttles begin two hours prior to tip-off.
UT-LSU SERIES NOTES
UT enters the 64th meeting in the series with a 48-15 edge, including a 21-3 record in Knoxville, 15-8 slate in Baton Rouge and a 12-4 mark at neutral sites.
Tennessee has won 11 of the last 14 meetings, but LSU has taken two of the past three.
Holly Warlick owns a 5-3 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 with both teams ranked was on Jan. 2, 2014, when #16 LSU upset #5 Tennessee in Knoxville, 80-77.
UT has scored 77 points vs. LSU in two of the past three meetings in Knoxville and had 75 in the middle tilt of that trio of games.
ABOUT TENNESSEE
E FOR 20!: Evina Westbrook is just the fourth Lady Vol (and first sophomore) in the past decade to have nine or more 20-point games in a season. Other Lady Vols to achieve that feat are Jaime Nared (11, 2017-18), Diamond DeShields (10, 2015-16 & 11, 2016-17) and Meighan Simmons, (10, 2012-13 & 2013-14).
ZAAY LEADS THE WAY: Zaay Green became the first player other than UT’s trio of Rennia Davis, Meme Jackson and Evina Westbrook to lead the team in scoring when she fired in a career-best 19 vs. No. 1/1 Notre Dame. She has raised her overall scoring average to 10.6 ppg. and ranks as the No. 2 freshman in scoring in league games at 11.3 ppg. In all games, she is second among rookies in scoring (10.6 ppg), T2nd in rebounding (4.4 rpg) and T3rd in assists (2.4 apg).
LONDON CALLING: Cheridene has been on a roll of late, posting double-figure rebounding totals in five of her past six games. She is averaging 10.5 rpg. the past six contests.
SECOND CHANCES: Tennessee’s rebounding has been a strength this season, especially on the offensive glass. UT is ranked No. 5 with 17.7 offensive boards per game, and the Lady Vols have won the second chance points battle in 15 of 19 games by an average of 14.6 to 9.6.
YOUNGSTERS CONTRIBUTING: In addition to a young starting lineup, UT has youth coming off the bench as well. UT has impressively won the bench points battle in 13 of 19 games, outscoring foes 16.9 to 12.1.
GETTING TO THE LINE: UT is ranked No. 19 in free throw attempts this season. Despite Notre Dame having 28 trips to UT’s eight Thursday night (their fewest all season), the Lady Vols have shot more free throws than their opponents in 13 of 19 games.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE LADY VOLS
Freshman guard Zaay Green scored 15 points in the first half to put UT up 34-31 at the break, but No. 1/1 Notre Dame rallied in the second half to grab a 77-62 win Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Green finished the game with a career-high 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Sophomore point guard Evina Westbrook was Tennessee’s second highest scorer with 16 points, while senior forward Cheridene Green pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds for her seventh double-digit rebound game of the season.
Despite a four-point first-half performance, Arike Ogunbowale finished as the leading scorer for the Irish (19-1, 6-0 ACC) with 28 points, while three other Notre Dame players posted double-digit points. Jackie Young recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and only two turnovers.
ABOUT LSU
The Tigers are in the eighth year under head coach Nikki Fargas.
Preseason All-SEC Second Team selection Ayana Mitchell, along with returning starters Faustine Aifuwa, Jaelyn Richard-Harris and Khayla Pointer highlight the team.
Mitchell leads the team in scoring (13.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.7 rpg).
LSU is 1-3 against ranked opponents this year, defeating then-No. 21 Texas A&M (63-52), but losing to No. 21 South Carolina (53-76) and No. 16 Kentucky (60-64).
LSU finished 19-19 overall (11-5 SEC) last season.
The Tigers lost senior Raigyne Louis, who was named the team’s MVP and Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row. During last season, she scored 466 points, 169 rebounds and 67 steals while dishing out a team-leading 112 assists.
LSU’S LAST GAME
The LSU women’s basketball team bounced back after two tough losses to defeat Alabama on Jan. 20 by a score of 62-56.
Khayla Pointer led the Lady Tigers with a career-high 26 points while adding six rebounds and three steals.
Faustine Aifuwa had another productive game, scoring 11 points and grabbing eight boards. Ayana Mitchell scored in dou-ble-digits with 10 points and had six rebounds.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
Mercedes Russell scored 14 points and added 10 rebounds, but No. 10 Tennessee could not overcome a 44-point second half by LSU in a 70-59 loss in Baton Rouge on Jan. 28, 2018. Russell also tallied her ninth double-double of the season and 39th of her career with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Meme Jackson recorded 13 points and three 3-pointers, while Evina Westbrook dished out seven assists to go along with 10 points for UT.
Jackson scored an SEC career-high 13 points, 11 of which came in the second half, marking her sixth double-figure scoring game of the season and ninth of her career. Jackson shot 3-of-6 from the 3-point line.
An 8-0 LSU run, highlighted by six points from Chloe Jackson, gave the Lady Tigers their first 10-point advantage during the game.
LAST TIME WE HOSTED LSU
No. 25 Tennessee led for nearly the entire game and used a strong fourth quarter to pull away from an upset-minded LSU squad for a 77-58 win at Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 2, 2017.
Jaime Nared and Diamond DeShields both posted double-doubles and four UT players scored in double figures, as the Lady Vols (15-7, 6-3 SEC) won their fourth straight game. Tennessee shot a blistering 53 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Tigers, 42-28.
DeShields, Nared and Mercedes Russell came up big, combining for 59 of the team’s 77 points on the night.
COMING UP FOR UT AND LSU
UT plays its fourth straight home game on Thursday, as Florida visits The Summitt for a 7 p.m. ET contest (SECN+).
LSU, meanwhile, hosts #7/6 Mississippi State at 6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Top-ranked Tennessee and West Virginia are set to meet on the hardwood Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena in front of a sold-out crowd as part of ESPN’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
The game will tip at 4 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.
In its sixth year, Tennessee (17-1) holds a 3-1 record when competing in the cross-conference showcase, including a 68-45 win at Iowa State last season. The Vols and Mountaineers (9-10) are meeting for the first time since Nov. 23, 2007, when seventh-ranked UT defeated West Virginia, 74-72, at the Legends Classic in Newark, New Jersey.
The Big Orange enters the game after a dominant performance by Grant Williams on Wednesday night to lift the Vols over in-state rival Vanderbilt on the road. The junior forward finished with a career-high 43 points. It was the most points scored in a game by a Vol since all-time leading scorer Allan Houston also dropped 43 against LSU on Feb. 10, 1990. Williams’ effort also tied for the fifth-most points in a single game in school history. Williams was 10-of-15 from the field and a program-record 23-of-23 from the free-throw line. That mark broke the Tennessee records for most free throws in a game and consecutive free throws in a single game, surpassing Bill Justus’ 22 total makes and 18 consecutive free throw makes vs. Ohio on March 17, 1969.
West Virginia lost its best player, junior forward Sagaba Konate (13.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.8 bpg), to injury in December. However, junior guard James Bolden and senior forward Esa Ahmad have stepped up in his absence. Bolden leads the team in scoring (12.8 ppg), assists (2.6 apg) and steals (1.1 spg). He is second on the team in 3-pointers with 29 makes on the year. Ahmad is an all-around player, leading the team in rebounding (5.6 rpg) and ranking second in scoring (12.3 ppg), assists (1.8 apg), steals (0.9 spg) and blocks (0.7 bpg).
The anticipation by the fans for this exciting season was felt early on when the West Virginia and Kentucky games sold out shortly after single-game tickets went on sale. Now, all Saturday home games are sold out and limited tickets are left for the remainder of Tennessee’s home slate. Visit AllVols.com soon if you’re interested in buying tickets for one of our remaining conference games.
“Without question, this is the best fanbase I have ever been around,” said head coach Rick Barnes. “You talk about 21,000 fans for Tennessee Tech and almost 20,000 for Wake Forest both around the holidays. We already have some games sold out. I can tell you this is the best fanbase I have been around. I can tell you we appreciate it as a program. I know our players love it too.”
THE SERIES
• Tennessee trails the all-time series with West Virginia, 3-5, dating to 1958. This is the 196th meeting.
• The Mountaineers have a 2-1 edge when the series is played in Knoxville.
• Tennessee is 13-18 all-time against current members of the Big 12 Conference.
A WIN WOULD…
• Extend Tennessee’s win streak to 14 games. That would be UT’s longest win streak since the 1922-23 campaign, when the Vols opened the season with 14 straight victories from Jan. 8 through Feb. 20.
• Stretch the Vols’ home win streak to 20 games, dating to last season (this is the longest home win streak of the Barnes era).
• Give UT an 11-game win streak in regular-season SEC games.
• Give Tennessee a 4-1 record in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
STORYLINES
• Tennessee is aiming for its third straight win in the annual SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
• 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 second week in history that Tennessee has been ranked No. 1.
• Wednesday at Vanderbilt, Grant Williams’ 23-of-23 effort at the free-throw line marked the most makes without a miss in a Division I game since Oklahoma State’s Arlen Clark went 24-for-24 60 years ago on March 7, 1959.
• This is Rick Barnes‘ longest win streak since he led Texas to a 17-0 start to open the 2009-10 season.
• The Vols have shot 50 percent or better in 13 games this season (and 10 of their last 13).
• Tennessee has yet to face a double-digit deficit this season.
LAYUPS
• Grant Williams leads the SEC in scoring (20.3 ppg), ranks second in field-goal percentage (.569), ninth in assists (3.6 apg) and eighth in rebounding (7.5 rpg).
• Admiral Schofield is the SEC’s fifth-leading scorer (16.7 ppg), and is shooting .420 from 3-point range.
• Williams and Schofield both earned a spot on the 25-man Wooden Award Midseason Watch List.
• Point guard Jordan Bone owns the sixth-best assist/turnover ratio (3.83) in Division I and ranks 17th in the country in assists per game (6.4 apg).
• Kyle Alexander is the SEC’s third-leading rebounder during conference play, as he averages 9.2 rebounds per game.
• During league play, SEC Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jordan Bowden ranks second on the team and eighth in the SEC with 16.3 points per game.
ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA
• Tennessee is competing in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge for the fifth time, hosting West Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 26, to cap off its 2018-19 regular-season non-conference slate.
• All-time, the Vols are 3-5 against West Virginia, including a 1-2 mark in Knoxville. The programs haven’t met since Nov. 23, 2007, when the seventh-ranked Vols defeated the Mountaineers, 74-72, at the Legends Classic in Newark, New Jersey.
• The matchup between the Vols and Mountaineers (9-10, 1-6 Big 12) pits two of the top active coaches in Division I in terms of career victories. West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins ranks fourth with 782 wins, while Rick Barnes ranks seventh with 678 triumphs during his career.
• West Virginia lost its best player, junior forward Sagaba Konate (13.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.8 bpg), to injury in December. However, junior guard James Bolden and senior forward Esa Ahmad have stepped up in his absence.
• Bolden leads the team in scoring (12.8 ppg), assists (2.6 apg) and steals (1.1 spg). He is second on the team in 3-pointers with 29 makes on the year.
• Ahmad is an all-around player, leading the team in rebounding (5.6 rpg) and ranking second in scoring (12.3 ppg), assists (1.8 apg), steals (0.9 spg) and blocks (0.7 bpg).
• Derek Culver (10.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg) missed the first part of the season before returning to the hardwood in December. The freshman forward also has helped to fill the missing role of Konate in the post while shooting at a 53-percent clip from the floor.
LAST MEETING VS. WEST VIRGINIA
• Tennessee survived several West Virginia attacks in a 74-72 semifinal win on Nov. 23, 2007, at the Legends Classic in Newark, New Jersey.
• The Vols took a 7-6 lead with just over 15 minutes left in the first half and maintained a lead that grew to as many as seven points before taking a 33-28 advantage at the half.
• UT held the lead until the Mountaineers went on a 9-0 run to take a 41-39 advantage with 14:48 left.
• A three-point play by Ramar Smith and a pair of 3-pointers from JaJuan Smith keyed a 9-2 run that gave the Vols a 48-44 lead. Tennessee never trailed again but had to withstand several late pushes by WVU.
• Alex Ruoff’s 3-pointer with 15 seconds left cut UT’s lead to 71-70 but JaJuan Smith sealed the win with three free throws in the final 13 seconds.
• Chris Lofton led the Vols with 19 points. JaJuan Smith added 17 points despite being saddled with foul trouble for much of the second half. Wayne Chism led the Vols with seven rebounds while adding 15 points.
• Da’Sean Butler led the Mountaineers with 16 points. WVU’s second-leading scorer with 12.5 ppg entering the contest, Jamie Smalligan was held scoreless
• Tennessee had 10 steals off 19 West Virginia turnovers.
SEC/BIG 12 CHALLENGE HISTORY
• The Big SEC/Big 12 Challenge is in its sixth year. Tennessee is 3-1 in the event, as the Vols did not take part in the inaugural challenge.
• Through five years, the SEC trails the challenge, 21-29.
• Last season, UT posted a convincing 68-45 road win at State (1/28/17).
• Tennessee’s all-time record against current members of the Big 12 stands at 13-18. Fourth-year UT head coach Rick Barnes—who spent 17 seasons coaching in the Big 12 before transitioning to Knoxville prior to the 2015-16 campaign—owns a 159-95 record against current Big 12 teams and is 8-4 in his career against West Virginia.
COACHES vs. CANCER SUITS & SNEAKERS WEEK
• This year’s Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week runs Jan. 21-27. Tennessee’s staff is wearing sneakers for UT’s games against Vanderbilt (W) and West Virginia.
• Tennessee owns a 15-5 record in Coaches vs. Cancer “Suits and Sneakers” games, dating to the NABC/American Cancer Society initiative’s launch in February 2004.
• The Vols are 9-2 at home and 6-3 on the road when the coaching staff breaks out its fresh kicks.
• The Coaches vs. Cancer mission is to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living among students, faculty, school staff, fans and the community at large, through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs.
VOLS OFF TO HOT SEC START
• Tennessee’s 6-0 start to SEC play is its best start in league play since it won its first eight conference games in 1981-82.
• Head coach Don DeVoe guided Dale Ellis and the Vols to a 13-5 league mark to tie for the SEC Championship that season. Tennessee finished 20-10 overall after falling to a Ralph Sampson-led Virginia squad in the NCAA Tournament.
MUSIC CITY LINE DANCE
• Grant Williams enjoyed a record-setting night at the free-throw line on Jan. 23 to lead the Vols to an overtime road win at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym.
• Williams was a perfect 23-of-23 at the line, setting an SEC record for most free-throw makes without a miss in a single game.
• It was the second-most makes ever in a single game by an SEC player and the third-most makes ever in an SEC intraconference game.
• It also was the most makes without a mess in a single game by a Division I player in 60 years (since Oklahoma State’s Arlen Clark went 24-of-24 on March 7, 1959.
• Williams drew an incredible 14 fouls in the win, and he attempted and made more free throws than Vanderbilt’s entire team (13 of 21).
Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes spoke with the media in a group session Friday ahead of Saturday’s Big 12/SEC Challenge game vs. West Virginia.
