Hoops Preview: No. 20/17 Lady Vols vs. Alabama

Hoops Preview: No. 20/17 Lady Vols vs. Alabama

Posted on January 15, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 20/17 Tennessee (12-4, 1-3 SEC) plays its second straight road contest, as the Lady Vols head to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama (9-8, 1-3 SEC) on Thursday night. Tip-off is slated for 8:02 p.m. CT (9:02 ET) at Coleman Coliseum, with the game being carried by the SEC Network and the Lady Vol Radio Network.

This marks the 46th meeting between these programs, with Alabama holding a four-game winning streak over the Lady Vols and taking the past two games in Tuscaloosa. In addition to attempting to halt that series streak, the Lady Vols will be seeking to end a three-game losing skid that began on Jan. 6. UT has lost its last three contests to Missouri (66-64), Kentucky (73-71) and Georgia (66-62) by a combined total of eight points.

The Crimson Tide enters Thursday night’s match-up with a losing streak of its own, dropping its last three contests and four of its past five. One of those losses, though, was a three-point setback on the road at (then) No. 23 South Carolina, 62-59, illustrating the ability of the Tide to play well against ranked opponents.

Alabama is struggling to score in SEC play, averaging 58.0 ppg., including 43 in its loss at Texas A&M on Sunday.

After scoring 80+ in its last five non-conference games, Tennessee tallied 78 on the road vs. Auburn before failing to score more than 71 the past three outings, including 64 vs. Missouri and a season-low 62 at Georgia. UT’s scoring difficulties coincide with field goal percentages of 34.9, 37.9 and 35.9 as well as free throw percentages of 66.7, 58.6 and 59.1 the past three contests. UT also went from averaging 8.5 threes per game over the previous six outings to 3.7 during the past three contests.

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.

UT-ALABAMA SERIES NOTES

  • The Lady Vols hold a 49-6 all-time record vs. Alabama, dating back to Jan. 22, 1977, but the Crimson Tide is riding a four-game win streak in the series with Tennessee.
  • UT failed to reach 65 points in any of those losses and didn’t hit 58 in either of the two recent games in Tuscaloosa.
  • Against the Tide, the Lady Vols are 18-2 in Tuscaloosa, 22-1 in games played in Knoxville and 9-3 at neutral sites, with UA taking the last two match-ups on its courts.
  • There has never been an overtime game in the series.
  • UT is 16-1 vs. Alabama in Coleman Coliseum, losing for the first time there on Feb. 16, 2017, 65-57.
  • From 2011-16, Crimson Tide women’s basketball played in Foster Auditorium, where UT was 2-1, including a 54-46 loss on Feb. 25, 2016.
  • That loss in 2016 ended a 42-game UT win streak.
  • Prior to that victory, the last Alabama win was on March 3, 1984, at the SEC Tournament in Athens, Ga., by a score of 85-66.
  • The other came at the 1981 SEC Tournament, as the Tide knocked off #10-ranked Tennessee, 77-71, on Jan. 30.
  • Third-year Tennessee assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Sharrona Reaves played at Alabama (1995 graduate) for head coach Rick Moody.
  • Alabama director of operations Brian Johnson is a 2016 Tennessee graduate who served as a manager on Holly Warlick‘s staff for four seasons.

NOTING THE LADY VOLS

  • GREEN MACHINE: A switch has been flipped, and Cheridene Green has turned into a rebounding machine over the past three games. She has posted totals of 14 (7 off./7 def.) vs. Missouri, 15 (8/7) vs. Kentucky and 10 (5/5) vs. Georgia to average 13.0 during that stretch and bump her season number to 7.1 through 16 games.
  • MAKE THE FLASH LAST: UT has shown flashes of how good it can be, with the first quarter vs. Georgia serving as a perfect example. The Lady Vols hit 10 of 16 shots for 62.5 accuracy in jumping to a 22-10 lead. After a 14-14 second quarter, the third quarter was the opposite of the first, with UT hitting only 2 of 16 shots (12.5%) and losing the period’s scoring battle, 25-11.
  • THREES ARE KEY: UT went six  straight games where it hit at least seven three-point shots. The past three games, all losses, the Lady Vols have hit no more than four treys in a contest.
  • AMONG BEST ON BOARDS: UT has won the rebounding battle in 14 of 16 games this season. The Lady Vols rank No. 7 nationally in rebounds per game (45.81), No. 7 in offensive rebounds per game (18.0), No. 9 in rebound margin (12.0) and No. 10 in total rebounds (733).
  • LET’S GRAB 50: Tennessee has pulled down 50 or more rebounds in six contests this season, including the past two: 50 vs. Kentucky and 54 vs. Georgia.
  • EVINA GOES FOR 20 AGAIN: Evina Westbrook has scored 20 or more points in half (8) of Tennessee’s games thus far, including 20 and 23 in her past two contests.
  • GOTTA KNOCK ‘EM DOWN: UT is doing a great job getting to the free throw line (364 times/No. 11 NCAA/No. 2 SEC) and making them (242/No. 21 NCAA/No. 5 SEC). It just needs to make a higher percentage of shots at the charity stripe (66.5/No. 225 NCAA/No. 12 SEC).
  • NEW GO-TO PLAYERS: UT’s go-to players are all in new roles and learning to adjust to defenses geared to inhibit them. Two sophomores lead the team in scoring (Westbrook, Davis) and freshmen (Green, Collins) are the fourth and sixth-highest scorers on the team thus far. Bodes well for the future.

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE LADY VOLS

  • Sophomore point guard Evina Westbrook poured in 10 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a third-quarter UT shooting slump and Georgia’s second-half rally in a 66-62 Lady Vols setback at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens.
  • There were five ties and 10 lead changes in a contest of huge momentum swings.
  • Westbrook led Tennessee (12-4, 1-3 SEC) in scoring with a game-high 23 points, logging her eighth 20+ point performance of the season. Rennia Davis had six points and 12 rebounds, while Cheridene also added six points and 10 rebounds.
  • Caliya Robinson was Georgia’s (12-5, 3-1 SEC) high scorer with 16. Gabby Connally had 13, while Taja Cole and Jenna Staiti each had 12.

ALABAMA NOTES

  • The Crimson Tide returned two starters and seven letterwinners from a year ago, including point guard Jordan Lewis and guard Shaquera Wade.
  • Lewis, however, suffered a broken wrist vs. Virginia on Dec. 20 and is out for the year. She was averaging 13.5 ppg. 4.0 rpg. and 3.1 apg. in eight games.
  • Jasmine Walker, a 6-3 junior forward and 5-10 junior guard have picked up the scoring slack, averaging 13.9 and 13.5 points, respectively, for Bama.
  • UA is shooting .389 from the field, .312 on threes and .696 on free throws, and averages 67.5 ppg. while surrendering 65.4 (58.0-66.2 in SEC games).
  • Alabama finished 20-14 overall and 7-9 in league play in 2017-18, good for eighth in the SEC.
  • The Tide won two games in the WNIT before falling at Virginia Tech, 74-67.
  • UA picked up its first ever win in Knoxville, 72-63.

UA’S LAST GAME

  • Alabama lost to Texas A&M, 70-43, on Sunday afternoon at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas.
  • Junior point guard Cierra Johnson led the Tide with eight points and six rebounds, as eight different players scored in the game for UA.
  • Texas A&M jumped out to a 15-6 first quarter lead and never looked back. The Aggies held a 31-17 advantage at the halftime break and continued to lead in double figures the rest of the way.

THE LAST TIME WE MET

  • Jaime Nared had a game-high 22 points, but it wasn’t enough as No. 11 UT lost to Alabama, 72-63, on Feb. 15, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena.
  • The Lady Vols (21-5, 9-4 SEC) came out on the losing end of a streaky game that saw leads exchanged on three different double-digit runs. Tennessee had the advantage in the paint, out-rebounding the Crimson Tide 45-39, but Alabama (16-10, 6-7 SEC) won the game behind a 42.6% field goal percentage to UT’s 35.3% effort.
  • Tennessee had three players in double figures. Nared led the Lady Vols with 22 points, Rennia Davis scored 18, and Mercedes Russell added another 11. Both Davis and Russell notched double-doubles, with 10 and 11 rebounds, respectively.
  • The Crimson Tide’s offense was paced by Jordan Lewis with 19 points and Ashley Williams with 16.

LAST TIME THEY PLAYED IN TUSCALOOSA

  • Schaquilla Nunn recorded her first double-double of the season, but it wasn’t enough as Tennessee fell short against Alabama, 65-57, at Coleman Coliseum on Feb. 16, 2017.
  • Nunn finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Lady Vols (16-10, 7-6 SEC). Mercedes Russell (17) and Alexa Middleton (14) also cracked double digits.
  • UT struggled with leading scorer Diamond DeShields knocked out by a first-quarter injury and Jaime Nared in early foul trouble.

COMING UP FOR UT AND UA

  • UT returns home for a Monday night “We Back Pat” contest at Thompson-Boling Arena vs. Arkansas. Tip is set for 7:02 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
  • Alabama, meanwhile, welcomes LSU to town for a 1 p.m. CT Sunday matinee on the SEC Network.

UT Athletics

Former Vol Willie Richards Passes Away

Former Vol Willie Richards Passes Away

Posted on January 15, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

Former Tennessee football player Willie Richards passed away on Monday in Barnesville, Ga.

Richards, a linebacker, played for the Volunteers in 1990 and 1992, appearing in 14 games while making four starts. The Griffin, Ga., native totaled 46 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during his time at UT.

Richards transferred to Tennessee in 1990 after spending two years at Hinds Junior College in Raymond, Miss., where he was a Junior College All-State selection and helped lead Hinds to a Mississippi Junior College State Championship in 1988.

Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.

UT Athletics
Thomas Rhett Says the Message Behind Top 5 Hit, “Sixteen,” Is to “Be Content and Enjoy Your Life”

Thomas Rhett Says the Message Behind Top 5 Hit, “Sixteen,” Is to “Be Content and Enjoy Your Life”

Posted on January 15, 2019

Thomas Rhett’s 2017 album, Life Changes, has spawned four No. 1 singles: “Craving You,” “Unforgettable,” “Marry Me” and “Life Changes.”

TR is trying to make it five in a row with his current single, “Sixteen,” which is No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart this week.

As TR told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, the message behind his nostalgic track, which he co-penned with Sean Douglas and Joe Spargur three years ago, is to “really enjoy your life.”

“I wrote ‘Sixteen’ when I was 25 years old,” says Thomas Rhett. “It was one of the first songs I wrote for Life Changes, and for a long time, I thought that ‘Sixteen’ would be the name of the record. I thought it would be the first single, and as you start to write, you start to figure out what’s first, what’s last, what’s second—and ‘Sixteen,’ to me, is one of my favorite songs I’ve gotten to write because I think that that story is so relatable to so many people. All of us that are young want to be old, and all of us that are old want to be young, and I think that song, really, the message is just be content where you are and really enjoy your life.”

If TR’s Instagram page is any indication, it seems like he’s really enjoying his life with wife Lauren and daughters Ada, 1, and Willa Gray, 3.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Keith Urban “Agrees” to Jump Out of a Cake to Fulfill Loretta Lynn’s Birthday Wish

Keith Urban “Agrees” to Jump Out of a Cake to Fulfill Loretta Lynn’s Birthday Wish

Posted on January 15, 2019

In honor of Loretta Lynn’s 87th birthday on April 14, a number of artists will take part in her All-Star Birthday Celebration Concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on April 1.

The concert will feature performances by Alan Jackson, Brandy Clark, Darius Rucker, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Jack White, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Margo Price, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, Trisha Yearwood and more.

In a new development, Keith Urban may be performing twice.

“I am so excited to celebrate my 87th birthday with all my friends,” says Loretta. “This is the first time I’ve ever had a birthday party! My birthday wish has come true. The only other wish I have is that Keith Urban jumps out of my birthday cake!”

It sounds like Loretta may get her second wish.

After Nash Country Daily posted Loretta’s wish via Twitter, Keith Urban responded by saying, “… your wish is always my command Miss Loretta!!!! – KU.”

We’ll keep you updated with further “cake jumping” developments, but this concert is already a once-in-a-lifetime show. Tickets for the general public go on sale on Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. CT.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Vols Represented on all Four Teams in NFL Conference Championship Games

Vols Represented on all Four Teams in NFL Conference Championship Games

Posted on January 15, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A VFL is guaranteed to be crowned a Super Bowl Champion this season following last weekend’s divisional playoff results. A former Tennessee Volunteer is represented on each of the four remaining teams as the NFL’s conference championship games kick off this Sunday.

The Kansas City Chiefs have four Vols (Eric Berry, Dustin Colquitt, Kahlil McKenzie and Alex Ellis) and will host the New England Patriots and wide receiver/kick returner Cordarelle Patterson in the AFC Championship Game at 6:40 p.m. ET on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City (CBS).

Colquitt has punted in every game this season, while McKenzie, a rookie offensive lineman, has not been activated for a game and tight end Alex Ellis is on the injured reserve list. Berry, a three-time All-Pro safety, returned from injury to play in two games at the end of the season, but did not play over the weekend and is listed as day-to-day.

Led by star running back Alvin Kamara, the New Orleans Saints will host the Los Angeles Rams and backup running back John Kelly at 3:05 p.m. ET on Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans (FOX).

Last season, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett became the 46th Vol to win a Super Bowl all-time. Entering this weekend, VFLs have logged 89 Super Bowl appearances.

Atlanta will host Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Feb. 3.

Eric Berry – DB, Kansas City Chiefs
Eric Berry sat out most of the season for the Chiefs in 2018, but returned to play in two games late in the season, totaling 11 tackles and starting both contests.

The Chiefs finished 12-4 in the regular season to claim the AFC’s No. 1 seed. After defeating the Colts, 31-13, on Saturday in the divisional round of the playoffs, Kansas City hosts New England for a berth in the Super Bowl.

Berry did not play against the Colts, but Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Monday he would be day-to-day this week meaning he could be active for the Chiefs’ first AFC Championship appearance since 1994.

Dustin Colquitt – P, Kansas City Chiefs 
Colquitt punted only three times in a 31-13 victory for the Chiefs over the Colts. He had a long of 50 yards and placed two fair catches inside the 20.

The 14-year veteran has spent his whole career with the Chiefs and will play in his first-ever AFC Championship Game.

He will look to join his father, Craig, and brother, Britton, as VFL punters who appeared in Super Bowls. Craig won Super Bowls with the Steelers in 1979 and 1980, while Britton won the Super Bowl with the Broncos in 2016 after appearing in the game in 2014.

Alvin Kamara – RB, New Orleans Saints 
Kamara finished the regular season second in the NFL with 18 total touchdowns in 2018, and while he did not find the end zone on Sunday in the second round of the NFC playoffs, he made his impact felt in the Saints’ 20-14 comeback victory over the Eagles, totaling 71 rushing yards on 16 carries and making four receptions for 35 yards. Kamara had a 46-yard touchdown catch nullified because of a holding penalty.

His 12-yard run on 3rd-and-10 with just over 1:00 remaining in the game sealed the victory for the Saints.

New Orleans last advanced to the NFC Championship Game during the 2009 season, winning Super Bowl XLIV that year.

John Kelly – RB, Los Angeles Rams 
John Kelly made a special teams tackle to help the Rams defeat the Cowboys, 30-22, on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Kelly played in four games as a backup running back for the NFC’s No. 2 seed. He logged 27 carries for 74 yards and caught two passes for 27 yards.

The Rams are appearing in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 2001 season.

Cordarelle Patterson – WR, New England Patriots 
Patterson had one rush for three yards and returned one kick for 23 yards as the Patriots steamrolled the Chargers, 41-28, to advance to the AFC Championship Game for the eighth consecutive year.

Patterson, a six-year NFL veteran, is in his first year with the Patriots after one season with the Raiders and four years with the Vikings. The first-round pick played for new Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney when he was with the Vols in 2012.

Kahlil McKenzie – OL, Kansas City Chiefs and Alex Ellis – TE, Kansas City Chiefs
McKenzie, a rookie, appeared on the practice squad for most of the 2018 season as he learned offensive line after playing defensive tackle in college. He has not been on the active roster this season.

Ellis played in two games before going on injured reserve.

 

UT Athletics

Tim McGraw to Launch Flagship Fitness Club in Nashville on Jan. 18

Tim McGraw to Launch Flagship Fitness Club in Nashville on Jan. 18

Posted on January 15, 2019

The perpetually fit Tim McGraw has partnered with Snap Fitness to help design and launch a new line of boutique gyms called Trumav Fitness.

The flagship club is slated to open in Nashville on Jan. 18 at 601 9th Ave South. On opening day, a ribbon cutting event will be held from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., co-hosted by Tim. Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to tour the club, meet the trainers and learn more about memberships.

“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 will provide 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.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Jimmy’s blog: Vols have gained Barnes’ trust

Jimmy’s blog: Vols have gained Barnes’ trust

Posted on January 15, 2019

By Jimmy Hyams

Less than a minute remained in the game.

Tennessee had struggled from the outset against a pesky Florida squad that was trying to spring an upset over the No. 3 team in the country.

The Vols were nursing a two-point lead. In the huddle during a timeout, Grant Williams stepped forward.

“Let me have the ball and I’ll make the right play,’’ Williams said.

So the Vols fed Williams the ball just beyond the foul line. He drove left, kicked the ball out to the right corner where Admiral Schofield delivered a dagger of a 3-pointer with 41.3 seconds left to seal the deal.

Tennessee turned that 5-point lead into an impressive 78-67 victory Saturday in a hostile environment against a desperate team.

Williams made a “terrific pass’’ to Schofield, said Tennessee coach Rick Barnes, whose team hosts Arkansas tonight at 7.

What Barnes didn’t say – but implied – is that he trusts his veteran team. He trusts his experienced players to make the right play at the right time. He trusts them because they have earned that trust.

Barnes has taken his team to battle against the best of the best over the past few years – North Carolina, Kansas, Gonzaga, Kentucky, Purdue, Villanova. That has toughened his team and put the Vols in position to achieve goals the program has yet to reach – like consecutive SEC championships and a Final Four appearance.

Florida coach Mike White, once offered the UT job, said he thinks Tennessee is a Final Four caliber team.

The strength of this Tennessee team is it has no weakness. It can pass, shoot, score inside, score outside, play defense, rebound, make free throws, hit clutch shots and protect the ball.

Since the SEC did away with divisional play five years ago, the average record of the SEC regular-season champion has been 15-3.

I said before SEC play started that UT should take 15-3 and be elated.

I still think 15-3 wins the SEC, but UT has the potential to better that mark – if it stays healthy.

When Lamonte Turner returned three games ago from offseason shoulder surgery that sidelined him for eight of the first 11 contests, he brought a spark on offense and defense. Last year’s SEC co-Sixth Man of the Year hit 39.5 percent from 3-point range last year and he can defend.

“Lamonte, if he wanted to, could be one of the best defensive guards in the country when he’s locked it,’’ Barnes said.

The only issue is that Turner gets anxious and tries to steal the ball, Barnes said.

Barnes said he isn’t sure UT would have won its first three SEC games without Turner.

I’m not sure Tennessee would have won it first three SEC games without Jordan Bowden.

Bowden didn’t score a field goal in the two games preceding SEC play, but in three conference games, he’s scored 20, 20 and 17 points. He scored 12 in a row in the second half to keep the Vols within striking distance of Florida.

Barnes said Bowden, a Knoxville native, has “probably’’ had his best three-game stretch in a UT uniform.

Bowden is a great example of why UT is ranked No. 3 in the country. He was a three-star prospect overlooked by many who developed under Barnes and his staff. Same for Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams. Same for Kyle Alexander. And Jordan Bone. And Turner.

Barnes continually tells his team it needs to improve.  The players have received the message.

“It’s when guys get to where they think they’ve got all the answers is when bad things happen,’’ Barnes said. “We don’t have a team that thinks that way.’’

They’re thinking one game at a time – and that could take them into unchartered territory.

GATOR CHOMP: Barnes wasn’t thrilled that several of his players did the Gator Chomp at Florida fans in the stands after the road win – mostly toward the student section.

But he didn’t seem all that upset, either.

“I don’t like it because I want total focus on the main thing,’’ Barnes said.

Barnes said he wasn’t on the floor for pregame warmups an hour before tipoff, so he doesn’t know what Florida fans were yelling at his players.

Schofield said Florida fans were shouting “disrespectful, inhumane’’ remarks.

“We tell our guys to control their emotions throughout the game,’’ Barnes said. “Sometimes when the game is over, they let it out. It happens.

“Do I like that? When I was a kid, I probably would have. But I’m not a kid anymore. As a coach, I’m older now and I just want to play the game. I want our guys to learn from it.

“I understand emotion. I understand competition. They hear a lot. It’s part of what makes college basketball what it is. Emotions can run high at times.’’

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

Rascal Flatts Cut Ties With Developer After Failed Namesake Restaurants

Rascal Flatts Cut Ties With Developer After Failed Namesake Restaurants

Posted on January 15, 2019

Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts have severed ties with restaurant developer RF Restaurants, LLC.

In 2017, the trio licensed the use of its name to RF Restaurants to open a chain of restaurants, reportedly in Cleveland, L.A., Orlando and more. However, according to Rascal Flatts’ recent post on Instagram, the group has terminated its agreement with RF Restaurants, saying, in part: “We ended the agreement and do not have a business relationship with the developer. They are not authorized to use our name in any way. We wanted to be transparent to our fans in case there was any confusion related to our involvement in the restaurants.”

In 2018, it was reported by WKYC that RF Restaurants’ project in L.A. was mired in a lawsuit and its project in Cleveland was stalled, while also noting a possible mafia connection.

In April 2017, Jay DeMarcus told Nash Country Daily, “We’re excited about [the restaurants]. We’re not running it. There’s a group that came to us and pitched us this idea to license our names.”

“God, can you imagine if we tried to run it on our own?” added Joe Don. “That place would be a wreck.”

You can read Rascal Flatts’ full statement via Instagram below.

photo by Jason Simanek

Old Dominion Extends “Make It Sweet Tour” With Spring Dates

Old Dominion Extends “Make It Sweet Tour” With Spring Dates

Posted on January 15, 2019

The guys from Old Dominion—Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi and Whit Sellers—are extending their Make It Sweet Tour with 14 new dates this spring.

Added stops include Nashville, New York, Philadelphia and more. Old Dominion will use a bevy of openers for the tour, including Michael Ray, Jordan Davis, Morgan Evans and more.

The Make It Sweet Tour will kick off on Jan. 18 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill.

Make It Sweet Tour (new dates in bold)

  • Jan 18 | Chicago, Illinois | Allstate Arena ^+
  • Jan 19 | Bloomington, IL | Grossinger Motors Arena ^+
  • Jan 24 | Bemidji, MN | Sanford Center^+
  • Jan 25 | Brookings, SD | Swiftel Center^+
  • Jan 30 | Scottsdale, AZ | Birds Nest WM Open
  • Feb 2 | Durant, OK | Choctaw Grand Theater^+
  • Feb 7 | Lowell, MA | Tsongas Center^+
  • Feb 8 | Uncasville, CT | Mohegan Sun Arena^+
  • Feb 9 | Washington, DC | The Anthem^+
  • Feb 27 | Athens, GA | Akins Ford Arena*
  • Feb 28 | Asheville, NC | U.S. Cellular Center^*
  • Mar 1 | North Charleston, SC | North Charleston Coliseum^*
  • Mar 4  | Houston, TX  | Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
  • Mar 7 | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola Bay Center^*
  • Mar 8 | Tallahassee, FL | Donald L Tucker Center^*
  • Mar 10 | Plant City, FL | Flordia Strawberry Festival
  • Mar 28 | Madison, WI | Alliant Energy Center^*
  • Mar 29 | St. Louis, MO | Chaifetz Arena^*
  • Mar 30 | Omaha, NE | CenturyLink Center^*
  • Mar 31 | Cedar Rapids, IA | US Cellular Center ^*
  • April 10 | Casper, WY | Casper Events Center >&
  • April 11 | Loveland, CO | Budweiser Events Center >&
  • April 13 | Tupelo, MS | Bandcorp South Arena  ^&
  • April 25 | Boise, ID | CenturyLink Arena^*
  • April 26 | Reno, NV | Reno Events Center*
  • April 27 | San Jose, CA | San Jose Events Center*
  • April 28 | Indio, CA | Stagecoach Country Music Festival
  • May 2 | FT Wayne, IN | War Memorial Coliseum^*
  • May 3 | Nashville, TN | Ascend Amphitheater ^* (On-Sale January 25)
  • May 8 | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | Scotiabank Centre #%
  • May 10 | Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada | Avenir Centre #%
  • May 12 | St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada | Mile One Center #%
  • May 17 | New York, NY | Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden ^*
  • May 18 | Philadelphia, PA | Skyline Stage @ The Mann ^*
  • May 23 | Portland, ME | Thompson’s Point ^*
  • May 24 | Gilford, NH | Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion ^*
  • May 25 | Farmingville, NY | Brookhaven Amphitheater ^*
  • May 31 | Virginia Beach, VA | Patriotic Festival!@
  • Jun 1 | West Windsor, NJ | Thunder 106 Presents Country in the Park&
  • June 13 | Windsor, Canada | Caesars Windsor ^
  • June 15 | Winsted, MN | Winstock Country Music Festival
  • June 21 | Manhattan, KS | Country Stampede
  • June 28 | Dauphin, Canada | Dauphin’s Countryfest
  • July 10 | London, Canada | Rock the Park Music Festival
  • July 12 | Rhinelander, WI | Hodag Country Festival
  • July 27 | Hillsboro, OR | Washington County Fair
  • Aug 3 | Camrose, Canada | Big Valley Jamboree
  • Aug 4 | Merritt, Canada | Rockin’ River Music Festival
  • Sept 11 | Morrison, CO | Red Rocks Amphitheater
  • Sept 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | Utah State Fairpark
  • Sept 19 | Puyallup, WA  | Washington State Fair

Jordan Davis ^
Morgan Evans +
Mitchell Tenpenny*
Michael Ray >
Carlton Anderson &
The Washboard Union #
Jason Benoit %
Morgan Evans !
Brandon Lay @
Support TBD &

photo by Jason Simanek

Hoops Preview: #3 Tennessee vs. Arkansas

Hoops Preview: #3 Tennessee vs. Arkansas

Posted on January 14, 2019
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 3 Tennessee returns home Tuesday night after a pair of road games last week to face the Arkansas Razorbacks in Thompson-Boling Arena.

The game will tip at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN2 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. There are still tickets available for the game. You can visit AllVols.com to purchase tickets for Tuesday’s game or any of the other weekday games for the rest of the season.

“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.”

Tennessee (14-1, 3-0 SEC) enters the matchup riding a 10-game winning streak. Last week, the Vols bested two of the country’s top 35 defenses, defeating Florida and Missouri by double digits on their home floors. Jordan Bowden had an impressive week and was crucial to both of the victories, averaging 18.5 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the field. Against the Gators, he scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, including a stretch of 12 consecutive points to snap a 4:17 scoreless drought for the Vols. The scoring spree was capped off by a 3-pointer followed by a steal at midcourt for a one-handed slam at the other end to give UT a 65-63 lead that Tennessee wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game. It was the Big Orange’s first win in Gainesville since 2012.

Arkansas (10-5, 1-2 SEC) is one of the youngest teams in the country with no seniors and only one uppperclassmen on scholarship. Anchoring the group is All-SEC forward and projected first-round draft pick Daniel Gafford, leading the team in scoring (17.5 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg) and blocks (2.2 bpg). He ranks 11th in the country in field-goal percentage, shooting an impressive .658 clip. The 6-11 sophomore is a monster in the paint with seven double-doubles to pace the SEC and will be a good matchup for Grant Williams.

After Tuesday’s showdown, the Vols host Alabama in Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET in front of a sold-out crowd. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN2 and can be streamed online at WatchESPN.

THE SERIES
• Tennessee’s all-time series with Arkansas is tied, 20-20, dating to 1936.
• The Vols have an 11-4 edge when the series is played in Knoxville.
• The Razorbacks had won six straight over the Vols before UT posted an 84-66 win in the SEC Tournament last season.

A WIN WOULD…
• Extend Tennessee’s win streak to 11 games. The Vols’ last 11-game win streak came during the 2007-08 campaign, when UT reeled off 11 straight victories from Nov. 27 through Jan. 19.
• Stretch the Vols’ home win streak to 18 games, dating to last season (this is the longest home win streak of the Barnes era).
• Give Tennessee a winning record in its all-time series with the Razorbacks.

STORYLINES
• The Volunteers are receiving 13 first-place votes in this week’s AP Top 25 poll.
• Tennessee’s SEC margin of victory through three league games stands at a robust 27 points.
• This is Rick Barnes‘ longest win streak since he led Texas to 11 straight victories from Jan. 11-Feb. 16, 2011.
• The Vols have shot 50 percent or better in 12 games this season (and nine of their last 10).
• Tennessee has yet to face a double-digit deficit this season.
• Tennessee is off to its best 15-game start since also starting the season 14-1 in 2007-08.
• With an average attendance of 17,499, Tennessee ranks fourth nationally.
• Junior point guard Jordan Bone totaled 124 assists in 35 games last season. He’s got 93 assists through 15 games this year.

LAYUPS
• Grant Williams leads the SEC in scoring (18.9 ppg), ranks second in field-goal percentage (.583), seventh in assists (3.9 apg) and eighth in rebounding (7.9 rpg).
• Admiral Schofield is the SEC’s second-leading scorer (17.7 ppg), and is shooting .446 from 3-point range.
• Williams and Schofield both earned a spot on the 25-man Wooden Award Midseason Watch List.
• Kyle Alexander is the SEC’s top rebounder during conference play, as he averages 12.0 rebounds per game.
• Jordan Bowden leads the Vols and ranks third in the SEC with 19.0 points per game during league play. And he’s doing it off the bench.
• Junior guard Lamonté Turner, last season’s SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year, returned from a left shoulder injury just in time for SEC play. He’s averaging 9.0 points per game against league opponents.

ABOUT ARKANSAS
• The Arkansas Razorbacks (10-5, 1-2 SEC) lost a lot of talent from last year’s squad, as the team’s top two scorers both graduated. Now, Mike Anderson is trying to rebuild the program with 13 underclassmen and no seniors on the roster.
• Anchoring the group is All-SEC forward and projected first-round draft pick Daniel Gafford, leading the team in scoring (17.5 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg) and blocks (2.2 bpg). He ranks 11th in the country in field-goal percentage, shooting an impressive .658 clip. The 6-11 sophomore is a monster in the paint with seven double-doubles to pace the SEC.
• Mason Jones is another player to keep an eye on. The sophomore guard ranks second on the team in scoring (14.8 ppg), rebounding (4.9 rpg) and assists (3.1 apg).
• Freshman guard Isaiah Joe (14.1 ppg, 1.5 spg) rounds out the double-digits scorers for the Razorbacks. Joe is the team’s best 3-point shooter, ranking second in the SEC with a .432 3-point field-goal percentage. On the season, he’s knocked down 51 shots from beyond the arc.
• Jalen Harris (8.8 ppg, 6.5 apg) is the reason the Razorbacks rank second in the SEC in assist/turnover ratio (1.32). The redshirt sophomore is fifth in the nation in that category with a 4.45 ratio.

LAST MEETING VS. ARKANSAS
•  Hot shooting propelled No. 2 seed Tennessee to an impressive 84-66 wire-to-wire victory over the sixth-seeded Arkansas in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament on March 10, 2018, at Scottrade Center.
•  The Vols advanced to their first SEC Tournament Championship Game since 2009 and will face the fourth-seeded Kentucky Wildcats on March 11.
•  Jordan Bone fueled the Big Orange offense Saturday with 19 points and four assists on the day. He was one of five different Volunteers to score in double figures. Admiral Schofield posted another strong performance with 16 points, seven boards and two assists.
•  Kyle Alexander, James Daniel III and Grant Williams all added 12 points apiece. Alexander also finished with seven rebounds and two blocks, while Williams had five boards, four assists and a block.
•  The Vols put on a show offensively, shooting 57.1 percent (28-of-49) from the field. That percentage just narrowly missed Tennessee’s season-high of 57.5 percent at South Carolina on Jan. 20, 2018. UT did surpass its season-high for 3-point shooting, making 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from deep.
•  Despite Arkansas facing a 19-point deficit at the break, the Hogs (23-11) didn’t go away quietly. An 8-0 run pulled the Razorbacks within 11 points with 15:24 remaining in the game. To begin the second half, UT was 1-of-8 from the floor.
•  Tennessee would not relinquish its lead, though, converting on 14 of its 16 trips to the free-throw line during the frame to halt any possible comeback by the Razorbacks.

MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST ARKANSAS
• Bristol, Tennessee, native Bobby Hogsett scored eight points and added 10 rebounds as Tennessee won its first-ever game against Arkansas, 77-57, on Dec. 27, 1963, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
• In front of 21,237 Orange-clad fans, UT knocked off Nolan Richardson’s fifth-ranked Razorbacks 83-81 in Knoxville on Feb. 5, 1992. Lang Wiseman and Allan Houston both scored 26 points.
• The Vols upset No. 13 Arkansas in Fayetteville, 101-91, on Feb. 16, 1993, thanks to a double-double by LaMarcus Golden (22 points, 11 rebounds).
• Cleveland, Tenn., native JaJuan Smith dropped 32 points on the Hogs during a 93-71 win over Arkansas in Knoxville on Feb. 5, 2008.
• Jordan McRae powered Tennessee to an 81-74 win over Arkansas on Jan. 22, 2014, exploding for 34 points—including UT’s final 13—at Thompson-Boling Arena.

THE LAST TIME TENNESSEE LOST…
• When Tennessee tips off vs. Arkansas Tuesday, 52 days will have elapsed since the Vols last lost a game (that lone loss came on Nov. 23 against Kansas).
• The federal government was operational the last time Tennessee lost.
• K-State and UCLA both were ranked in the top 20.
• College football coach Manny Diaz has held three different jobs since Tennessee’s last loss (Miami’s defensive coordinator, Temple’s head coach, Miami’s head coach).

TENNESSEE’S FIELD-GOAL PERCENTAGE THROUGH THE ROOF
• During last season’s SEC title run, Tennessee shot better than 50 percent from the field in nine games.
• This season, the Vols have shot better than 50 percent in 12 games—including nine of the last 10.
• Tennessee’s top shooting performance this season came against Tennessee Tech on Dec. 29, when the Big Orange shot .638 (37-58).

 

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