Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick spoke to the media in the postgame after the Lady Vols’ 80-79 home loss to Arkansas.
Video: Holly Warlick postgame “All the noise that we’re hearing, those kids have blocked everything out”
Video: Lady Vols players react to program-high 5th straight loss
Players Rennia Davis (c), Zaay Green (r) & Evina Westbrook (l) spoke to the media in the postgame after the Lady Vols’ 80-79 home loss to Arkansas.
Top Spot: Tennessee Ascends to No. 1 in AP Rankings
Riding a 12-game win streak and fueled by one of the most efficient offensive attacks in the nation, Tennessee ascended to the top spot in Monday’s updated Associated Press Top 25 rankings.
It marks the second time in program history that the Volunteers have earned the top spot in the AP poll. The first came on Feb. 25, 2008.
As of Monday’s rankings update, Tennessee has occupied a spot in the AP Top 25 for 27 consecutive weeks. That is the third-longest such streak in school history.
Fourth-year head coach Rick Barnes and his defending SEC Champion squad navigated a pre-conference schedule that rated among the most challenging in the country before opening SEC play with five straight victories. Tennessee has no losses in regulation—its only setback coming in overtime against then-No. 2 Kansas at a neutral site. The Vols on Dec. 9 defeated then-top-ranked and undefeated Gonzaga on a neutral floor.
Tennessee has defeated all but one unranked opponent it’s faced by double digits and boasts an overall scoring margin of +19.5.
The Big Orange also boast two of the top scorers in the Southeastern Conference, as Grant Williams (18.9 ppg) and Admiral Schofield (17.4 ppg) rank first and third, respectively.
Senior forward Kyle Alexander is the second-most prolific shot blocker in school history, and junior point guard Jordan Bone is on track to shatter Tennessee’s all-time record for assist/turnover ratio.
Each of those four players have logged double-doubles this year, making UT one of only a handful of major-conference programs with four different individuals who have done so.
And junior guard and Knoxville native Jordan Bowden is making a case for SEC Sixth Man of the Year consideration, as he averages a team-best 17.6 points per game—off the bench—during SEC play.
During his tenure as head coach at Texas, Barnes led the Longhorns to the No. 1 spot in the AP poll for two weeks in January 2010. In total, he has now led his teams to 243 total weeks in the AP Top 25. That includes 110 weeks in the top 10.
UT Athletics
Tennessee Football Adds Transfer Deangelo Gibbs
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt announced the addition of transfer Deangelo Gibbs on Monday.
Gibbs comes to the Vols after lettering for two years at Georgia following a standout prep career at Grayson (Ga.) and Peachtree Ridge (Ga.) high schools.
“Deangelo is a guy that I knew, and our staff knew in recruiting when he was coming out of high school,” Pruitt said. “He’s a guy that can play on either side of the ball. He’s very tough and has unique ball skills. He’s a very instinctive player, and he has size and speed. We are happy to have him at Tennessee.”
An Oxford, Ga., native, Gibbs played in 13 games and made 10 tackles over two seasons as a defensive back with the Bulldogs.
The 6-1, 205-pounder was an Under Armour All-American and ranked as a five-star prospect in the 2017 Class by both ESPN and Scout. ESPN ranked Gibbs the top prospect in Georgia and the nation’s No. 10 recruit overall, while 247Sports composite rankings rated him the nation’s No. 4 safety prospect and Rivals tabbed him the nation’s No. 6 athlete.
Gibbs was a standout high school player at defensive back and receiver, leading Grayson to a state championship and a 14-1 overall record in 2016. He collected all-state honors in 2016 as well as in 2015 with Peachtree Ridge, where he also was tabbed Gwinnett County’s top defensive back his junior year.
Gibbs starred at Peachtree with current Vols defensive backs Nigel Warrior, his cousin, and Baylen Buchanan.
UT Athletics
![Brantley Gilbert & Lindsay Ell Drop Video for New Duet, “What Happens in a Small Town” [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2019/01/21105314/Brantley-girlbert-Lindsay-Ell-Joseph-Llanes.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Brantley Gilbert & Lindsay Ell Drop Video for New Duet, “What Happens in a Small Town” [Watch]
Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell dropped a new video for their recent duet, “What Happens in a Small Town.” The lead single from Brantley’s upcoming fifth studio album is currently No. 40 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after five weeks.
The new video, which was directed by Shaun Silva (“Any Ol’ Barstool” by Jason Aldean), was filmed in Columbia, Tenn., a town 45 miles south of Nashville. Penned by Brantley, Brock Berryhill, Josh Dunne and Rhett Atkins, “What Happens In A Small Town” was produced by Dann Huff, who has helmed Brantley’s three previous albums.
“This song builds and burns,” Brantley says. “It really has that want for someone you can’t have, and having to live in all the places they are. I wanted to have someone on the record who could match those feelings, to really push the song. It’s not just any female who makes sense, and we knew that. But Lindsay is a whole other kind of artist, and she understands that power.”
Not only does Lindsay add her vocal prowess to the single, but she also lends her guitar chops.
“It was great that they wanted me to play,” Lindsay says. “To be part of a song like this is great, but to be asked to play on someone’s song who I respect so much takes it up another level. Obviously playing in front of Dann Huff is something else, but he knew how to really push me—and get a vocal that contains everything situations like this one are made of.”
Watch Brantley and Lindsay’s new video for “What Happens in a Small Town.”
photo courtesy of Joseph Llanes
![Tim McGraw Opens His New Nashville Fitness Club [Photo Gallery]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2019/01/21094033/Tim-McGraw-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Tim McGraw Opens His New Nashville Fitness Club [Photo Gallery]
Tim McGraw opened a new club in Nashville on Jan. 18. Unlike his peers on Lower Broadway, Tim’s club is for pumping iron, not pounding booze.
Tim partnered with Snap Fitness to help design and launch a new line of boutique gyms called Trumav Fitness. The flagship club opened in Nashville on Jan. 18 at 601 9th Ave South with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tour of the club and meet-and-greet with some of the trainers.
“Physical fitness is something I value—it can help you lead your best life,” said Tim. “Working out becomes a habit when it’s an easy part of your every day. That’s why I’ve partnered with Snap Fitness to create Trumav. We want to help you find what works for your fitness goals and give you a community that can inspire you to achieve them.”
Trumav Fitness provides instructional exercise classes, and members can work out on their own, with a trainer or in a group class setting. Each club will include custom equipment and programs based on Tim’s personal workout routines, as well as the expertise of Snap Fitness professionals.
photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Jimmy’s blog: Gaining No. 1 spot would be significant for Vols
By Jimmy Hyams 
At some point Monday, Tennessee will likely be ranked No. 1 in the AP poll or coaches’ poll – or both.
Duke was ranked No. 1 in the AP poll last week but lost to Syracuse before beating No. 4 Virginia.
Michigan was ranked No. 2 in the AP poll last week but lost to unranked Wisconsin.
Virginia was ranked No. 1 in the coaches’ poll but lost to Duke.
With Tennessee’s narrow win over Alabama, that should clear the path for the Vols (15-1) to jump from No. 3 to the top spot in at least one poll.
But Tennessee coach Rick Barnes doesn’t seem to care.
“I don’t think anything about it,’’ Barnes said when asked about his team possibly moving to No. 1. “We’re going to be in a lot of games like this whether we are ranked one, 21 or 41.’’
Vol junior Grant Williams echoed those sentiments.
“It would be nice and our fans would love it, but for us, we’ve just got to focus on each other,’’ Williams said.
While Barnes and Williams downplay it, ascending to No. 1 for UT does matter.
Maybe not for some of the blue bloods in the game – Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas – but it does for a program like Tennessee.
Before the 2016-17 season, the Vols were picked 13th in the media preseason SEC poll. The two years prior, the Vols had a combined record of 31-35, 14-22 in the SEC. Tennessee was battling just to get a berth in the NIT.
This is a school that has never been to the Final Four in men’s hoops and has reached the No. 1 spot just once in history.
In the past 35 years, here are five significant events in men’s basketball: Beating No. 1 Kansas with four suspended players, Chris Lofton hitting a 3 over Kevin Durant to upset Texas in 2007, winning the SEC in 2018 and 2008.
And ascending to the No. 1 spot in 2008 after an epic win over No. 1 Memphis.
Being ranked No. 1 tells you about where this program has come under Barnes.
It can help in recruiting and national interest. It can help in attendance and financial support. And, this year, it can help the national outlook of the SEC.
I don’t blame Barnes for downplaying the rankings. The ultimate goal is the Final Four and a national title.
But I wouldn’t dismiss what this team has done, either. It has gone 16-1 against a difficult schedule and won 12 in a row for the first time since 1977.
“The guys that are playing right now, they’ve built this thing,’’ Barnes said. “They’ve built it. … Is it nice to be ranked? Of course. The attention that comes with your program, it filters down to every aspect of your program. You have to deal with it and handle it.
“How you do that is by staying focused on what’s at hand and that’s playing basketball. You can’t let the outside noise (affect you). You don’t come unraveled, you stay focused on the task at hand.’’
After Tennessee earned the No. 1 ranking with a win over Memphis in 2008, it lost the next week to 18th-ranked Vanderbilt to fall out of the top spot.
That could be a valuable lesson for this team, which plays at Vanderbilt on Wednesday.
Williams admits it will be hard not to know where UT is ranked late Monday morning. But he added this: “Every team in the top five is a No. 1 team. Every team in the top 25 might potentially get up there, so it’s a long season. It doesn’t matter where you are at the halfway part, it’s where you’re at at the end.’’
But wouldn’t being ranked No. 1 be a significant achievement?
“It would be significant,’’ Williams said. “It would be nice for the program to say we’ve done it again. It’s all about keeping it there and letting it last.
“For me, I’ve always thought my goal is to hang banners rather than worry about halfway through the season, and if we get caught up in that, we’re not going to be doing what our goals are.’’
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
Hoops Preview: No. 20/17 Lady Vols vs. Arkansas
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 20/17 Tennessee (12-5, 1-4 SEC) plays the first of two home “We Back Pat” games, as Arkansas (13-5, 2-2 SEC) comes to Knoxville for a Monday night contest at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7:02 p.m. ET, with the game being carried by the SEC Network and the Lady Vol Radio Network.
The match-up with the Razorbacks on Monday will be the first of four straight contests on The Summitt for the Big Orange. No. 1/1 Notre Dame visits on Thursday at 7 p.m. for the second “We Back Pat” game, followed by LSU on Sunday at 1 p.m. for the “Live Pink, Bleed Orange” contest and Florida next Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Lady Vols will try to get back on the winning track after dropping their past four contests to Missouri, No. 16/16 Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama. UT was in a back-and-forth affair with Bama on Thursday night before a 3-for-21 fourth-quarter shooting effort by UT and a 9-for-17 performance by the home team gave the Crimson Tide an 86-65 win.
Arkansas, meanwhile, has split its SEC contests, falling to No. 7/6 Mississippi State and Missouri, while defeating Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. The Razorbacks, who had Thursday night off, beat the Commodores in Fayetteville last Sunday, 83-62, hitting 13 of 35 three-pointers in that victory.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
- Brenda VanLengen (play-by-play) and LVFL Andraya Carter (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.
“WE BACK PAT” WEEK
- “We Back Pat” Week is celebrated by all 14 teams in the SEC, and many other basketball programs around the world take time to observe the occasion as well. The initiative, which utilizes promotional public address announcements, video endorsements and television exposure to share a very important message, focuses on raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and The Pat Summitt Foundation’s role in fighting it.
- Fans are encouraged to wear a “We Back Pat” shirt to both games. “We Back Pat” shirts will be available for sale at the Vol Shop. Each shirt contains a special code for a discounted ticket to both UT “We Back Pat” games (Arkansas & Notre Dame).
- Orange and purple shakers, courtesy of the Pat Summitt Foundation, will be available at both games for fans to pick up from the Fan HQ table at Section 129 while supplies last.
- During Monday’s halftime, fans will have the opportunity to meet the 2019 Tennessee Softball team and hear a special tribute performance by the Tennessee Pep Band. On Thursday, fans will want to stay in their seats during halftime for the world famous acrobat, Red Panda. Additional promotions and fun can be found at: https://utsports.com/sports/2017/9/27/fan-experience.aspx.
- There will be check presentations from various events and organizations to the Pat Summitt Foundation prior to the Arkansas game and one from the Pat Summitt Foundation to the Pat Summitt Clinic at UT Medical Center during the first quarter of the Notre Dame contest.
- To learn more please visit www.patsummitt.org, like the foundation on facebook.com/webackpat, and follow it on Twitter and Instagram @webackpat.
OTHER PROMOTIONS
- 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 game! 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 $10 at AllVols.com.
- Free parking & shuttle service is available from UT’s Ag Campus. Shuttles begin two hours prior to tip.
TENNESSEE-ARKANSAS SERIES NOTES
- Tennessee holds a 30-3 all-time record vs. Arkansas, dating back to Feb. 29, 1992, when UT prevailed, 105-59, in the initial meeting.
- The Lady Vols are 14-1 in Knoxville, 14-2 in Fayetteville and 2-0 at neutral sites.
- Tennessee is 1-0 in overtime and 2-0 in the postseason vs. UA, meeting for the first time in SEC Tournament play in 2016. UT prevailed, 68-51, in the second round in Jacksonville, Fla., on March 3 of that year.
- UT is 7-1 vs. the Razorbacks during the Holly Warlick era, including 3-0 at home, 3-1 on the road and 1-0 in SEC Tournament play. She is 1-0 head-to-head vs. Mike Neighbors.
- All four road games in the series under Warlick have been close, with UT winning by six in 2013 (60-54) and by nine in 2015 (60-51), losing by five (59-64) in 2016 and winning by five (90-85) in 2018.
- In home games vs. Arkansas during the Warlick era, UT has won by 10 (2014), 18 (2016) and 13 (2017).
- UT’s only setback to the Razorbacks in Knoxville came at Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 23, 2012, when Arkansas walked away with a 72-71 overtime victory and ended an 18-game Lady Vol winning streak in the series.
- A 75-57 triumph over Arkansas in Knoxville on Feb. 4, 2016, gave Holly Warlick the 100th win of her head coaching career in year number four at Tennessee.
- Despite the series disparity, Tennessee has overcome some significant deficits to claim some recent wins vs. UA.
- UT overcame a nine-point second-half gap in Fayetteville on Jan. 11, 2015, to win, 60-51; an eight-point first-half deficit to win 70-60 in Knoxville on Jan. 30, 2014; and an 11-point second-half gap on Feb. 24, 2013, in Fayetteville to win, 60-54.
- The last time the two teams faced each other as ranked squads was in 2003 when #4-ranked Tennessee won, 92-79, over #12-ranked Arkansas in Fayetteville.
- No. 1/1 Tennessee and unranked Arkansas met in an NCAA Final Four semifinal game in Kansas City, Mo., on March 27, 1998, and the Lady Vols cruised past the Razorbacks, 86-58, en route to their perfect 39-0 season.
ABOUT TENNESSEE
- WESTBROOK LEADING: Over the past three games, Evina Westbrook has paced Tennessee on offense, averaging 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists while playing 37.0 minutes per contest. She is shooting 47 percent from the field (24-51), 40 percent on threes (4-10) and 77 percent from the free throw line (10-13) during that span.
- ZAAY STEPPING UP: Freshman guard Zaay Green has stepped up her scoring game in SEC play, ranking as UT’s third-leading point-producer at 10.2 ppg.
- MEME ALL ABOUT CHARITY: UT senior Meme Jackson has struggled from the field in SEC play, but she has been spot-on from the free throw line. She has hit 15 of 16 attempts for an SEC-leading 93.8%.
- BOARD TANDEM: Rennia Davis and Cheridene Green are averaging 9.8 and 8.8 rpg. in SEC games, helping UT rank No. 1 in rpg. at 47.4 in five conference contests.
- LOOKING FOR THE TRIO: In its 12 wins, Rennia Davis (15.6), Meme Jackson (14.7) and Evina Westbrook (14.3) are all averaging double figures in scoring. Zaay Green and Cheridene Green provide 9.3 and 8.3 ppg. In its five losses, Westbrook is averaging 21.4, Zaay Green 11.0, Davis 9.6, Jackson 7.4 and Cheridene Green 7.4.
- NEW GO-TO PLAYERS: UT’s go-to players are all in new roles and learning to adjust to defenses geared to inhibit them. That can be frustrating. Two sophomores lead the team in scoring (Westbrook, Davis) and freshmen (Green, Burrell) are the fourth and seventh-highest scorers on the team thus far. It bodes well for the future.
- NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Rennia Davis leads UT in scoring and rebounding in home games this year at 15.6 ppg. and 9.1 rpg. She hits 47% on FGs, 48% on 3FGs and 89% on FTs at Thompson-Boling Arena.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE LADY VOLS
- Zaay Green recorded her first career double-double and No. 20/17 Tennessee out-rebounded Alabama, 49-44, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a UA team that shot a blistering 50 percent from the floor en route to an 86-65 Tide victory at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.
- Sophomore Evina Westbrook was Tennessee’s (12-5, 1-4 SEC) high scorer with 19 points and five assists. Zaay Green finished the day with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while fellow freshman Rae Burrell managed 12 points and seven rebounds.
- Alabama (10-8, 2-3 SEC) was led by junior guard Cierra Johnson, who had 17 points and seven rebounds. Ariyah Copeland finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Shaquera Wade added 15 points.
ABOUT ARKANSAS
- The Razorbacks are in the second year of the Mike Neighbors era, and they returned four starters and 10 total letterwinners from a year ago.
- Guard Malica Monk was UA’s top returnee, averaging 15.9 ppg. and 3.4 rpg. in 2017-18, while point guard Jailyn Mason tallied 11.0 ppg. and 5.6 rpg.
- Oklahoma transfer Chelsea Dungee leads the team this season in scoring, putting in 16.9 ppg. and knocking down 31 three-pointers thus far.
- Monk is second at 12.3 ppg. and junior college transfer Alexis Tolefree supplies 11.3 ppg., with 41 three-pointers to her credit.
- Arkansas was 13-18 overall (3-13 SEC) last season.
- The Razorbacks’ only key loss was guard Devin Cosper, who averaged 14.1 ppg. and 5.6 rpg.
UA’S LAST GAME
- The Razorbacks jumped to a 21-9 lead after one and led by 27 points at the half en route to an 83-62 home victory over Vanderbilt on Sunday.
- Arkansas put four players in double figures, led by 16 points from Raven Northcross-Baker. Four of her buckets came from beyond the arc.
- Malica Monk dropped in 15, followed by Kiara Williams with 11 and Chelsea Dungee with 10.
- Arkansas finished 13 of 35 from three-point range, including 5-of-10 marksmanship in the second period. UA now has 144 threes in 466 tries in 2018-19.
- UA forced Vandy into 23 turnovers and generated 27 points off those miscues.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
- Rennia Davis recorded a career-high 33 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 11/11 Tennessee to a 90-85 win at Arkansas on Feb. 8, 2018.
- Davis connected on 13-of-18 shots from the floor, as the Lady Vols (20-4, 8-3 SEC) earned their 20th victory for the 42nd season in a row. Meme Jackson added 21 points with five 3-pointers, while Jaime Nared netted 16 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the win.
- Devin Cosper scored 29 points for the Razorbacks (6-18, 2-8 SEC), while Malica Monk went 4-for-4 from beyond the 3-point arc and finished with 25 points. UA cut the deficit to two at multiple points in the fourth quarter, but UT held on down the stretch despite no field goals over the last 3:37.
LAST TIME WE HOSTED ARKANSAS
- Mercedes Russell posted her 15th double-double of the season in a 59-46 home win over Arkansas on Feb. 19, 2017.
- After a 2:52 scoring drought by UT to start the first quarter, Russell got things going for the Lady Vols (17-10, 8-6 SEC) by scoring the first five points. She finished the day with 13 points and 10 rebounds, passing Candace Parker for the third most double-doubles by a junior in Tennessee history.
- Jaime Nared broke out of her recent shooting slump to account for a game-high 19 points behind 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. She added nine rebounds and two steals in the contest despite early foul trouble.
- Jessica Jackson (18) and Malica Monk (11) led UA.
COMING UP FOR UT AND ARKANSAS
- UT steps out of conference play one last time, as it welcomes No. 1/1 Notre Dame to The Summitt on Thursday at 7 p.m. (ESPN) for the Lady Vols’ second “We Back Pat” game.
- Arkansas, meanwhile, is back in Fayetteville on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT, facing Alabama in the Razorbacks’ “We Back Pat” contest (SECN+).
UT Athletics
No. 3 Tennessee Edges Alabama in Final Minute, 71-68
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In front of a season-high crowd of 21,957, No. 3 Tennessee edged the Alabama Crimson Tide, 71-68, Saturday to remain undefeated in Southeastern Conference play.
With the Vols (16-1, 5-0 SEC) up 69-68 with 3.2 seconds left, Alabama’s (11-6, 2-3 SEC) John Petty was called for a travel at the elbow to give the ball back to Tennessee. Lamonte Turner–fouled on the ensuing inbounds play–drilled both of his attempts at the line to give UT a three-point edge with 2.5 seconds left in the game.
A half-court heave from Alabama’s Kira Lewis Jr. was long at the buzzer, giving Tennessee its 11th win inside of Thompson-Boling Arena this season. National Player of the Year candidate Grant Williams led the way with 21 points, including nine in the second half. The junior, who fouled out with 12 seconds left in the game, has now scored 20 or more points in eight games this season.
Admiral Schofield ended the game with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. With just under three minutes on the clock, Tennessee turned to the senior wing as he got his defender in the air before knocking down a running jumper from just inside the elbow. His jumper tied the game at 65-65 with 2:51 left to play.
On the next possession, the Vols went to Schofield again. He laid it up with 2:12 on the clock to put Tennessee ahead for good at 67-65.
With Tennessee up one and Alabama with the ball with 1:31 on the clock, the Tide got the ball to Petty in the right corner. Williams sprinted to the corner, leapt as high as he could and blocked Petty’s shot to keep Tennessee in front.
Then, after scooping up a key offensive rebound on the other end, Williams laid it up and in to give the Vols a 69-66 advantage with 46 seconds remaining in the game.
It was the largest lead Tennessee had in the final 10 minutes of play, as neither team led by more than one score in the final 12:30.
After taking a double-digit lead into the halftime break, Alabama came out of the locker room on a 13-0 run to start the half. A Herbert Jones layup with 16:39 left in the game gave the Tide their first lead, as it was the first time this season an opponent has led in Thompson-Boling during the second half this season.
For much of the first half, Tennessee held the Alabama offense under 30 percent from the field as the Tide made just two of their first 10 attempts from the field. This helped the Vols build up the lead to as much as 12 midway through the first half.
A couple of Alabama made baskets cut the lead down to eight but, Tennessee stretched its lead back to double digits before halftime behind balanced scoring.
Every player who played more than three minutes in the first half had at least four points, with Grant Williams leading the way for the Vols. The junior finished the half with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
Of Tennessee’s 18 field goals in the first 20 minutes, 12 were assisted on, as Jordan Bone had a team high five heading into the locker room. Saturday marked the eighth consecutive game the junior has had five or more assists. He has also had five or more assists in 14 of the Vols 17 games on the year.
The Vols took a 44-32 lead into the halftime break, making it the ninth time at home this season they held a double-digit lead at the half.
Clutch in Crunch Time: Tennessee made four of its last six field goals to finish the game while holding Alabama to just one of its last seven from the field. Admiral Schofield had two of Tennessee’s field goals during that final stretch, while Jordan Bowden and Grant Williams had one apiece.
Nickel and Dime ‘Em: With seven assists during Tennessee’s win, Jordan Bone recorded at least five assists for the eighth consecutive game. In total, Bone has dished out at least five assists in 14 of Tennessee’s 17 games.
Alexander Moves Up Blocks List: Kyle Alexander continues to climb Tennessee’s all-time blocks list, as he passed Wayne Chism and moved into sole possession of second-place during Tennessee’s win over Alabama. The Milton, Ontario, native blocked five shots against the Tide, moving his career total to 153.
Winning Season: Tennessee moves its winning streak to 12 games, which is its longest since the 1977-78 season. The Vols are just three games away from tying the all-time mark of 15 consecutive wins, which lasted from 1915-17. Their 16-1 start this season ties as the best start in school history (2007-08).
Up Next: Tennessee heads to Nashville for a midweek clash with the Vanderbilt Commodores. Wednesday’s tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
UT Athletics
Tee Martin Returns to Rocky Top as Assistant Football Coach
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt announced the hiring of former Volunteer quarterback and 1998 national champion Tee Martin as an assistant coach on Saturday.
Martin’s specific title and duties will be announced in the coming days.
The Tennessee legend returns to Rocky Top following a seven-year stint on the staff at Southern California where he had coached wide receivers since 2012 and added responsibilities as passing game coordinator in 2014 and offensive coordinator at the end of the 2015 season.
“I’m excited to welcome back Tee Martin as one of our assistant coaches,” Pruitt said. “He coordinated some of the nation’s top offenses at USC, and he develops and identifies players as well as any coach in the country. He’s an excellent recruiter, and he is terrific at building relationships with his players. He cares about developing young men on and off the field. Tee was the quarterback on one of the greatest teams in school history, winning a national championship. He knows what it take to win here, and I’m excited to have him on our staff.”
Martin was named the 247Sports National Recruiter of the Year in 2016 and tabbed a semifinalist for the Broyles Award in 2017. He helped lead the Trojans to a Rose Bowl victory in 2016 and the Pac-12 Championship and a Cotton Bowl berth during the 2017 season.
Martin also coached at Kentucky (2010-11) and New Mexico (2009), was a high school coach in Atlanta and a trainer for Nike and the Elite 11 Quarterback Camps following a professional football career that included three years in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders and two years in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“It’s the perfect time to come back home,” Martin said. “With Coach Fulmer’s support, Coach Pruitt is taking the Tennessee program in the right direction, and I’m excited to be a member of this outstanding coaching staff. I truly love this university and I bleed Orange and White. My time here was the greatest four years I could’ve ever imagined on and off the field. It’s my goal to help our Tennessee football student-athletes have the same experiences I had when I was a student here. It’s great to be home.”
The Mobile, Ala., native was a two-year starter at quarterback for UT, leading the Vols to a 13-0 season in 1998, culminating with a 23-16 win over Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl to capture the first BCS National Championship.
For his Tennessee career, Martin passed for 4,592 yards and 32 touchdowns. He added 614 yards and 16 scores on the ground. He finished with a 22-3 record as the Vols’ starting quarterback – an .880 winning percentage that remains the best in school history.
Martin coached 11 NFL Draft selections at USC and Kentucky, including current NFL wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Nelson Agholor, Marqise Lee, Robert Woods and Randall Cobb – all of whom were chosen in the first two rounds of the draft after having Martin as their position coach.
Additionally, Martin coached Sam Darnold, who became USC’s first-ever 4,000-yard passer in 2017 before being selected with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Darnold and running back Ronald Jones (1,584 rushing yards) teamed with wide receiver Deontay Burnett (86 catches, 1,114 yards) to form the nation’s No. 13 offense (484.1 yards per game) in 2017. USC won the Pac-12 Championship that season, finishing 11-3 and advancing to the Cotton Bowl.
Led by Darnold, a freshman All-American, and Smith-Schuster in 2016, USC finished 20th in the nation in total offense (477.1). The Trojans won the Rose Bowl in a 52-49 shootout against Penn State and wrapped up the season with a 10-3 record.
Smith-Schuster collected several All-America honors in 2015 after tallying 89 catches for 1,454 yards and emerging as the latest wide receiver to blossom under Martin.
He followed Agholor, who caught 104 passes for 1,313 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to snagging All-America honors in 2014. In his first year as the passing game coordinator, Martin orchestrated an aerial attack that finished No. 15 in the nation in passing offense and saw Agholor become a first-round pick, while quarterback Cody Kessler was drafted in the third round.
Lee wrapped up his USC career in 2013 as the Trojans’ all-time leader in receiving yards (3,655). In 2012, Lee set the Pac-12 record for receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,721) to go along with 12 touchdowns as he captured the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top wide receiver, and collected unanimous All-America honors.
Martin coached wide receivers at Kentucky in 2010-11, adding passing game coordinator responsibilities in 2011. Cobb emerged as an All-American wide receiver and all-purpose player under Martin in 2010, totaling 84 catches for 1,017 yards and scoring 13 total touchdowns en route to being drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft that spring.
Martin, who wore No. 17 at Tennessee, was a two-year starter for the Vols from 1998 to 1999. He set an NCAA record with 23 consecutive completions against South Carolina during the national championship season in 1998. He led the Vols to a 9-3 mark in 1999 and a second consecutive appearance in the Fiesta Bowl. He grabbed All-SEC honors in 1999 before being selected by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.
In 2000, Tee Martin Drive was dedicated to the Orange and White legend. The street runs down the south side of Neyland Stadium and connects to Phillip Fulmer Way.
He and his wife, Toya, have two sons, Kaden and Cannon, and twins, daughter A’Yadra and son Amari, who is a starting wide receiver at Clemson. His wife is a recording artist with hit singles, “I Do!” (2001) and “No Matta What (Party All Night)” (2002).
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