Tennessee guard Jordan Bowden spoke in the postgame after Tennessee’s 96-50 win over Georgia in Knoxville Saturday afternoon.
Video: Jordan Bowden postgame “Practices have been really intense and competitive”
Jimmy’s blog: Tennessee home games are back to being an event
By Jimmy Hyams
When Bruce Pearl was in his heyday as Tennessee’s coach, Thompson-Boling Arena didn’t host a game.
It hosted an event.
Tennessee’s men’s basketball is back to the “event’’ status.
And the event Saturday afternoon was a knockout – a one-sided, dominating, almost comically easy victory over nemesis Georgia, 96-50, before a raucous sellout crowd of 21,678
Georgia had won five of its last six games, and blew a 19-point lead against a ranked Arizona State team. The Bulldogs had won five of the last six against Tennessee.
But Tom Crean’s first club in Athens was no match for the nation’s third-ranked team.
“It was uncharacteristic for us to be that uncompetitive,’’ Crean said post-game.
“Our effort level had a lot to do with how successful they were today.’’
Asked if the sellout crowd at TBA impacted his team, Crean deflected that notion.
“I don’t think the crowd had anything to do with how slow we were running or how lethargic we were,’’ he said. “We ran like we were wearing 50-pouind weights on our shoulders.’’
They shot like they were weighing 50-pound weights as well. The Bulldogs missed their first 14 three-point attempts and finished one of 20 beyond the arc. Georgia hit 32.2 percent from the field overall.
Meanwhile, the Vols shot 53.1 percent from the field and four starters were a combined 20 of 34. When UT took an 80-35 lead in the second half, Georgia had missed all 14 three-point tries while Tennessee was six of 12.
As you might expect, UT’s Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield were sharp, scoring 18 each. Kyle Alexander had 12 points and a career-high 14 points.
“That’s as good as he’s been,’’ coach Rick Barnes said of his senior center.
But that trio wasn’t the story.
The story was two-fold.
Jordan Bowden snapped out of a slump to score a game-high 20 points on 8 of 13 shooting after not hitting a field goal in his last two games.
And Lamonte Turner played for the first time since Nov. 28 due to a shoulder injury. The SEC’s co-sixth man of the year last year had missed six consecutive games.
“We can’t get to our full potential without (Turner),’’ Barnes said.
Turner wasn’t effective. In fact, he looked rusty. His first three-point attempt was an air ball, which came, he said as he hiccupped.
Turner entered the game to a standing ovation. In 15 minutes, Turner had six points, two assists and one rebound.
Turner said he expects to play in each game the rest of the season, unless he reinjures the problematic shoulder.
Bowden, who hasn’t shot as well this year as last year, got going after making a couple of mid-range jumpers – and enduring a lecture from Barnes, who accused Bowden of turning down a couple of shots.
“If you’re not going to play the way you practice,’’ Barnes told Bowden, “we’re not going to play you.’’
Bowden got the message, and responded.
In addition to the shooting disparity, Tennessee had a 25-3 edge in points off turnovers, had assists on 25 of 34 baskets and outscored Georgia’s bench 37-19, thanks mainly to Bowden.
This was a much better start to SEC play than a year ago, when the Vols opened 0-2 before going on a run to claim the SEC co-championship.
Interestingly, since the SEC expanded in 1992, the Vols have not started conference play better than 3-0. The Vols won their first three games in 2010, 2008 and 2001.
Tennessee’s best SEC start was 8-0 done twice – in 1982 and 1977.
It’s unlikely the Vols will start 8-0 this season, but don’t rule it out.
This team is on a mission.
And each home game has become an event.
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
Hoops Preview: No. 10/10 Lady Vols vs. Missouri
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 10/10 Tennessee (12-1, 1-0 SEC) plays its second straight game against a team with a Tiger mascot, as Missouri (12-3, 1-0 SEC) comes to town for a Sunday matinee. Tip-off is slated for 2:02 p.m. ET at Thompson-Boling Arena, with the game being broadcast by ESPN2 and the Lady Vol Radio Network.
On Thursday night, the Lady Vols improved to 31-6 all-time and 6-1 during the Holly Warlick era in SEC openers, outlasting a talented Auburn team (12-2, 0-1 SEC) on the road, 78-69. The win was UT’s fourth straight after suffering its only loss on Dec. 18 to No. 8/9 Stanford in Knoxville, 95-85. Auburn had one of the four best records produced by SEC teams during the non-conference slate and had been outscoring foes, 82-0 to 62.7. The Lady Vols improved to 4-0 in road SEC openers under Warlick and to 15-3 in those games all-time. UT has won its last 12 SEC openers on the road.
Mizzou comes into Sunday’s tilt on a four-game streak of its own, getting its first SEC win on Thursday night with a 78-55 triumph over Ole Miss. The Tigers’ losses are at the hands of Green Bay (56-49), Michigan (70-54) and South Dakota (74-61). MU has wins over Duke (62-54) and West Virginia (68-51) to its credit.
The game will feature the SEC’s second-best scoring offensive (UT/82.4 ppg.) vs. the league’s No. 5 scoring defense (MU/55.9).
BROADCAST INFORMATION
- Beth Mowins (play-by-play) and Debbie Antonelli (analyst) will describe the action for ESPN2.
- 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.
GAME PROMOTIONS
- Sunday is Dads & Daughters Day at The Summitt. The Dads & Daughters ticket package includes a pregame event at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, tickets to the game and t-shirts. For more information visit AllVols.com.
- Enjoy the pregame 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, crafts and more at the Kids’ Corner.
- There will be a halftime performance by Peter Rabbit Bucket Drummer.
- Postgame lay-ups: Kids 12 & younger can shoot a lay-up on the court after the game.
- 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.
- There is free parking & shuttle service available from UT’s Ag Campus. Shuttles begin two hours prior to tip-off.
UT-MISSOURI SERIES NOTES
- The Lady Vols hold an 8-2 all-time record vs. Missouri, dating back to Jan. 14, 1978.
- Against Missouri, the Lady Vols are 4-0 in games played in Knoxville, 1-0 in neutral sites, and 3-2 in Columbia.
- Holly Warlick is 5-2 in the series vs. Missouri, possessing a 3-0 record in Knoxville and 2-2 mark in Columbia vs. Robin Pingeton’s squad.
- The two times UT has surrendered more than 70 points in the series during the Warlick era, the Lady Vols have dropped both contests. Both were in Columbia, including one last season.
- Tennessee has won by an average score of 74.7 to 52.7 in the three games in Knoxville since Missouri joined the SEC.
- In games played in Columbia during that time, UT holds only a 65.8 to 65.5 edge in scoring.
- In the past seven games combined, the Lady Vols have outscored the Tigers by an average score of 69.6 to 60.0.
- Tennessee beat MU, 84-39, in Knoxville on Jan. 10, 2013, in their first-ever SEC meeting. Later that season Mizzou evened the score, defeating UT, 80-63, in Columbia.
- Prior to 2013, the Lady Vols defeated Missouri as a non-conference foe three times, most recently at the 2010 Paradise Jam tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands, 82-44, with Holly Warlick serving as UT’s assistant coach.
- Warlick also has had a hand in two wins in the series as a player for Tennessee from 1976-80.
- No. 2-ranked UT defeated the No. 18 Tigers in Warlick’s sophomore year, taking a 101-83 victory at former Lady Vol home arena Stokely Athletics Center on Jan. 14, 1978.
- No. 1 Tennessee prevailed over the No. 19 hosts, 74-61, on Dec. 9, 1978, in Mizzou’s Midwestern Classic in Warlick’s junior season.
NOTING THE LADY VOLS
- THE FIRM: Davis, Westbrook & Jackson…has a nice ring for a law firm. They don’t have legal credentials (yet) but their statistical credentials are pretty impressive. Evina Westbrook (6), Rennia Davis (3) and Meme Jackson (3) have combined to produce 12 20-point games this year. Over the past eight games, at least one has scored 20 for Tennessee. Their numbers: RD: 15.5 ppg./8.3 rpg., EW: 15.5 ppg./5.5 apg. and MJ: 14.8 ppg./36 3FGs.
- M3M3 FOR THREE!: Meme Jackson led UT last season with 50 three-pointers in 33 games. After hitting five of eight at Auburn, she’s on pace to hit 90 or more. If she were to get in that range, that number would place her third all-time at UT for 3FGs in a season.
- DYNAMITE DAVIS: Over the past three games, Rennia Davis is averaging 20.7 ppg., 11.0 rpg. and shooting 56% on FGs (24-43), 56% on 3FGs (5-9) and 90% on FTs (9-10) with a pair of double-doubles.
- SHARING THE BASKETBALL: UT (ranks No. 3 in the SEC at 15.7 apg.) has averaged 19.5 assists the past four games, recording 20 vs. ETSU, 21 vs. Murray State, 19 vs. Belmont and 18 vs. Auburn. Evina Westbrook is averaging 5.8 per game during that span and 5.5 for the season (No. 2 SEC), a mark that would rank No. 7 all-time at UT and No. 2 by a Lady Vol sophomore.
- CONSISTENT SCORING: After putting up 65 points vs. Stetson, the Lady Vols have averaged 85.5 points since then to keep their season number at 82.4 ppg. (45.2 FG%).
- THREE-BALL STREAK: UT has hit seven or more three-pointers in six straight games after having not done that in more than four consecutive contests prior to this year.
- GOING TO THE BOARDS: UT pulls down 45.23 rebounds per game to rank No. 2 in the SEC and No. 13 nationally. They grab 17 offensive boards per contest to rank No. 2 in the league and No. 21 in the country.
NOTING MISSOURI
- Missouri welcomed back 10 letterwinners, including three starters from last year’s squad. Another letterwinner/starter, Cierra Porter recently rejoined the program after initially retiring from basketball following the 2017-18 season.
- Among the returnees is senior guard Sophie Cunningham, a three-time All-SEC selection who is averaging 15.7 ppg. and 5.9 rpg.
- Junior guard Amber Smith is MU’s other double figures scorer, averaging 14.5 ppg. to go with a team-leading 7.7 rpg.
- Missouri is coached by Robin Pingeton, who is in her ninth season at the school and owns a 159-111 record there.
- Last season, Missouri went 24-8 overall and finished tied with UT in fourth place in the SEC at 11-5.
- The Tigers fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Florida Gulf Coast, 80-70.
- In addition to having Sophie Cunningham on the All-SEC Team, Mizzou had Jordan Frericks earning second-team accolades.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
- No. 11/11 Tennessee dropped a hard-fought thriller at No. 13/13 Missouri on Feb. 18, 2018, falling to the Tigers by a score of 77-73 in front of a record crowd of 11,092 at Mizzou Arena.
- Senior Jaime Nared led the Lady Vols (21-6, 9-5 SEC) with 25 points, while Mercedes Russell added 10 points and nine rebounds.
- UT overcame a 13-point second-quarter deficit and worked the game into a 62-62 tie with 5:18 remaining. However, the Tigers (22-5, 10-4 SEC) used clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch to pull ahead late, including two from Sophie Cunningham with one second remaining that put them ahead by four. Cunningham netted 32 points on 9-of-14 shooting to lead Missouri.
THE LAST TIME WE PLAYED MIZZOU IN KNOXVILLE
- Diamond DeShields fired in 22 points, as the Lady Vols pulled away from the Tigers in the fourth quarter to win, 77-66, in Knoxville on Jan. 9, 2017.
- Although the teams fought neck and neck through the first three periods of play, #24/25 Tennessee (16-8, 7-4 SEC) exploded in the fourth to put a gritty Missouri team (16-9, 6-5 SEC) away behind 75 percent shooting from the field during the period.
- Jaime Nared, Mercedes Russell and Jordan Reynolds added 18, 12, and 12, respectively. Cierra Porter led the Tigers with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
UT Athletics
Houston Rodeo’s 2019 Lineup Features Tim McGraw, George Strait, Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton & Many More
Running from February 25 to March 17—yes, 21 days—Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of the largest rodeo and livestock exhibitions in the world. Rodeo Houston features a carnival, a bar-b-que contest, 10K race and some of the best live entertainment in the country. The event pulled in more than 2.4 million attendees during last year’s festivities and more than 1.3 million showed up just for the concerts.
And why wouldn’t they? Country music dominates the week’s lineup at NRG Stadium, and this year is no exception with a star-studded cast that includes George Strait, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Bryan, Turnpike Troubadours, Old Dominion, Luke Combs, Tim McGraw, Kane Brown, Zac Brown Band, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, Brad Paisley and more.
Tickets for the event go on sale Jan. 10 at 10 a.m.
2019 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Lineup
Feb. 25 – Kacey Musgraves
Feb. 26 – Prince Royce
Feb. 27 – Brooks & Dunn
Feb. 28 – Luke Bryan
March 1 – Cardi B
March 2 – Turnpike Troubadours
March 3 – Panic! At The Disco
March 4 – Old Dominion
March 5 – Camila Cabello
March 6 – Luke Combs
March 7 – Tim McGraw
March 8 – Zedd
March 9 – Kane Brown
March 10 – Los Tigres del Norte
March 11 – Zac Brown Band
March 12 – Kings of Leon
March 13 – Santana
March 14 – Chris Stapleton
March 15 – Cody Johnson
March 16 – Brad Paisley
March 17 – George Strait, with special guests Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Lady Vols Win SEC Opener Over Tigers, 78-69
AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 10/10 Lady Vols (12-1, 1-0 SEC) shot a season-high 54.0 percent from the floor to claim their first SEC win of the season at Auburn (12-2, 0-1 SEC) on Thursday night, 78-69.
Senior Meme Jackson went five of eight from behind the arc and a perfect 6-of-6 from the line to lead Tennessee in scoring with 27 points. Sophomore Rennia Davis managed her fourth double-double of the season with 21 points and a career-high tying 14 rebounds. Zaay Green also found her way into double digits with 10 points while setting career highs in both rebounds and assists with eight and seven, respectively.
The Tigers were led by Unique Thompson who posted a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Crystal Primm was their second highest scorer with 16 points, while Daisa Alexander added 13.
Auburn started the game strong, scoring three points and forcing a turnover in the opening minute of the game, but Jackson answered, knocking down her first 3-pointer of the contest at the 8:52 mark. While Jackson scored from the perimeter, Rennia Davis found success inside, racking up seven points by the 4:28 mark to put Tennessee ahead 16-12. Auburn answered by closing out the quarter with a 6-1 run, taking an 18-17 lead into the second period.
The Tigers went up by three on their first possession of the second stanza, but Jackson responded again with a trey to tie it at 20 before Evina Westbrook also got in on the action, hitting a three herself to put UT up 23-20 with 8:15 to play in the half. The Lady Vols went on to lead 27-22 before Auburn rallied back with an 8-0 run, taking a 30-27 lead with 2:23 to play in the half. Jackson again answered, nailing her third trey of the game to knot it up at 30-all on the next possession. Both teams added five points to their tally by the end of the period, making it 35-35 at the half.
Tennessee took its first lead of the second half via a Davis 3-pointer just under two minutes into the third period. The teams traded buckets through the media timeout, after which UT launched an 11-4 run to go ahead 56-48 with two minutes remaining in the stanza. The Lady Vols maintained their eight-point advantage, taking a 58-50 lead into the final quarter.
The Tigers opened the fourth with two straight threes by Erin Howard, cutting UT’s lead to 58-56 with 8:53 left in the game. Davis countered with an old-fashioned three-point play off a Zaay Green assist. Auburn rallied with a 6-0 run to take a one-point lead with 5:41 to play before UT hit back-to-back buckets to go up 65-62. The Tigers would reclaim a one-point lead off a Thompson layup at the 4:16 mark, but the Lady Vols replied with a 6-0 run and hit seven of eight free throws in the final two minutes to walk away with a huge 78-69 victory.
Up Next: The Lady Vols will return home to host Missouri at 2 p.m. on Sunday in Thompson-Boling Arena. Children attending the game can enjoy Kids’ Corner at Gate F, with gates opening one hour prior to tip-off. Activities include free face painting, the Big Orange prize wheel, visits from Smokey and cheerleaders, crafts and more.
20+ Point Club: Meme Jackson fired in 27 points and Rennia Davis recorded 23 points against Auburn, marking Tennessee’s 11th and 12th 20+ point performances of the season. This is the third time both Jackson and Davis have scored in excess of 20, and Evina Westbrook has done so six times. The Lady Vols have now had a 20-point scorer in eight-straight games.
A Three-Point Shooting Team: The Lady Vols knocked down seven treys against Auburn, moving their total to six straight games with seven or more 3-pointers. They have hit nine or more threes in four of those six outings.
Big On The Boards: After out-rebounding Auburn 43-29, Tennessee has out-rebounded 11 of 13 opponents on the season.
Lady Vols and Warlick in SEC Openers: Tennessee improved to 31-6 all-time in SEC openers, including 15-3 on the road. Tonight’s victory was UT’s 12th straight SEC-opener win on the road. Holly Warlick improved to 6-1 in SEC openers, including 4-0 on the road.
UT Athletics
![Chris Young Salutes His Country Music Heroes With Release of New Single, “Raised on Country” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2018/01/11072538/Chris-Young.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Chris Young Salutes His Country Music Heroes With Release of New Single, “Raised on Country” [Listen]
Chris Young will try to score the 12th No. 1 single of his career with the release of “Raised on Country,” which will impact country radio on Jan. 28.
Co-penned by Chris with frequent collaborators Corey Crowder and Cary Barlowe, “Raised on County” name-drops some of Chris’ country music heroes, including George Strait, Merle Haggard, Joe Diffie and Willie Nelson.
“This song is so crazy because when I wrote ‘Raised on Country,’ we were actually out on the road—it was me, Corey Crowder and Cary Barlowe,” says Chris. “And we were like, ya know, we really want just kind of a country anthem. And those are so hard to write, because it seems like they’d be super obvious, but you’ve just got to come at it the perfect way. From the minute we started writing this song, we knew we were on to something. That day, I think I even said, ‘This is definitely going on the record. This is single potential.’ I can’t wait for everyone to hear ‘Raised on Country.’”
“Raised on Country” will be the lead single from Chris’ upcoming eighth studio album, although no date has been set for its release. Chris recently topped the charts with his 11th No. 1 single, “Hangin’ On,” which was the second single from his 2017 album, Losing Sleep.
Listen to “Raised on Country” below.
photo by Jason Simanek
Dolly Parton Celebrates 50th Anniversary as Grand Ole Opry Member
Stay gold, Dolly Parton.
Today (Jan. 4), the Queen of Country is celebrating her golden anniversary—that’s 50 years—as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
“It was always my dream to be on the Opry,” says Dolly. “I actually got to sing on the Grand Ole Opry when I was about 10 years old. I officially became a member back in 1969 and I cannot believe [I’m celebrating] 50 proud years of being a member of the Grand Ole Opry! They call it the ‘Mother Church’ because the old Ryman was a church, but it’s sacred to me, wherever it goes—the church of my heart. For me, the Opry is like the song ‘New York, New York’—if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. I am excited to be coming back home to celebrate 50 years of membership.”
To commemorate the milestone accomplishment, the Opry will celebrate Dolly Week in October with a number of performances on Oct. 10, 11 and 12.
- Oct. 10 | Opry Country Classics featuring performances of Dolly’s No. 1 hits
- Oct. 11 | Dolly’s Mountain Soul: Bluegrass, Americana & Roots Music honors Dolly
- Oct. 12 | Dolly Parton’s 50th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary Celebration featuring Dolly Parton and many more (two shows)
Over the course of her career, Dolly has earned eight Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, five Academy of Country Music Awards and three American Music Awards. In 1999, Dolly was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—both as a solo artist and as a member of Trio. She became a member of the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) honored her with their Icon Award in 2003, and in 2004 the U.S. Library of Congress presented her with their Living Legend Award. In 2005, she was presented the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government, the National Medal of Arts. Dolly will be honored as MusiCares Person of the Year during Grammy Week in February.
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Memphis Grizzlies sign VFL Jarnell Stokes to two-way contract
Memphis, Tenn. – Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the Grizzlies signed forward Jarnell Stokes to a two-way contract.
Stokes (6-9, 260) has appeared in six games (five starts) this season with the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce and has averaged 15.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.00 steals and 1.50 blocks in 27.2 minutes while shooting 60.0 percent from the field and 70.6 percent from the free throw line. Stokes is in his second season with Sioux Falls after he led the Skyforce to the 2016 NBA G League Championship; he was named the NBA G League MVP and Finals MVP, selected as an NBA G League All-Star and earned All-G League First Team honors during the 2015-16 season.
The 24-year-old has started 47 of his 57 career NBA G League games and has averaged 17.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 30.9 minutes for the Skyforce and Iowa Energy (now Wolves).
Selected by the Utah Jazz with the 35th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Stokes competed in 17 games for the Grizzlies to begin his NBA career. He has appeared in 28 games (two starts) over three seasons with the Grizzlies, Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets and has averaged 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.4 minutes.
A Memphis native who attended Central High School before playing collegiately for the University of Tennessee, Stokes played professionally last season for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, averaging 25.0 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.11 steals and 1.04 blocks in 33.5 minutes over 25 games.
Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2018-19 Season Tickets can do so now by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going online to grizzlies.com/tickets. Single Game Tickets are also available for purchase at the FedExForum Box Office, Ticketmaster.com, online at grizzlies.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX.
-Memphis Grizzlies
Hoops Preview: #3 Tennessee vs. Georgia
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Off to its best start since the 2007-08 season, No. 3 Tennessee opens conference play Saturday afternoon against the Georgia Bulldogs in front of a sold-out crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The game will tip at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on SEC Network and can also be viewed online through WatchESPN. Fans can listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
Tennessee (11-1) picks up the conference slate exactly where it left off. In March, the Vols capped off the regular season with a win over the Bulldogs at home to clinch a share of the SEC regular-season title. Now, UT hopes to win the title in back-to-back years for the first time in program history.
Saturday’s matchup will feature a pair of talented forwards clashing in the paint. Grant Williams leads the Vols in scoring (20.1 ppg), rebounding (8.3 rpg) and steals (1.1 spg) while ranking in second in assists (4.0 apg) and blocks (1.8 bpg). Georgia’s Nicolas Claxton (13.3 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 3.1 bpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg) is the reigning SEC Player of the Week after recording his eighth double-digit scoring performance of the season. The sophomore is one of three D-I players–and the only one at a Power 5 school–who leads his team in rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.
“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 anticipation by the fans for this exciting season was felt early on when the Kentucky and West Virginia 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.
THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads the all-time series with Georgia, 95-60, dating to 1913. This is the 156th meeting overall, and the Vols own a 58-15 edge in Knoxville.
• The Volunteers have never been ranked higher than No. 3 for a clash vs. UGA. In 2008, the third-ranked Vols defeated the Bulldogs, 85-69.
• Last season’s home clash with Georgia was an historic night for the Big Orange, as the Vols clinched a share of the SEC regular-season championship.
A WIN WOULD…
• Extend Tennessee’s win streak to eight games.
• Extend UT’s home win streak to 17 games. It’s the longest such streak of the Barnes era.
• Preserve Tennessee’s perfect record this season at Thompson-Boling Arena.
STORYLINES
• Over their last three games, the Vols are averaging 87.3 points while shooting .583 as a team.
• Tennessee is off to its best 12-game start since also starting the season 11-1 in 2007-08.
• With an average attendance of 16,976, Tennessee ranks sixth nationally.
• Tom Crean has coached against the Vols just once previously while head coach at Marquette. His roster featured a guy named Dwyane Wade.
• In four career games vs. Georgia, Jordan Bone (16/2) and Jordan Bowden (12/1) have combined for 28 assists and three turnovers in 210 total minutes played.
• Grant Williams averages 15.8 points and 2.0 blocks in his four previous games played against Georgia.
LAYUPS
• Grant Williams leads the SEC in scoring (20.1 ppg), ranks second in field-goal percentage (.590), fifth in rebounding (8.3 rpg) and seventh in assists (4.0 apg). He also owns the team’s best plus-minus (per 40) rating at +22.96.
• Admiral Schofield is the SEC’s second-leading scorer (18.2 ppg).
• Jordan Bone has logged 97 minutes over UT’s last three games and has totaled 58 points, 26 assists and only four turnovers while also shooting .595 during that span.
• Forwards Kyle Alexander and Grant Williams both grabbed their 500th career rebound in UT’s win over Tennessee Tech last Saturday.
• Junior guard Lamonté Turner, last season’s SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year, remains sidelined with a left shoulder injury and has appeared in only three games this season.
VOLS SHINE IN PRE-CONFERENCE
• Tennessee owns its best winning-percentage entering SEC play since a 12-1 start to the 2007-08 season, a campaign in which the Vols advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.
SEASON PRE-CONF RECORD WIN %
2018-19 11-1 .917
2017-18 9-2 .818
2016-17 7-5 .583
2015-16 7-5 .583
2014-15 8-4 .667
2013-14 9-4 .692
2012-13 8-4 .667
2011-12 7-7 .500
2010-11 10-4 .714
2009-10 12-2 .857
2008-09 9-4 .692
2007-08 12-1 .923
CONFERENCE LID-LIFTERS
• Not since the 2008-09 season has Tennessee faced Georgia in its SEC opener. The Vols won that game, 86-77, in Athens.
• The Volunteers have won 14 of their last 19 SEC openers. The losses came at Arkansas in 2011, vs. Kentucky in 2003, vs. Ole Miss in 2013, at Auburn in 2016 and at Arkansas last season.
• Tennessee is 1-2 in SEC openers under Rick Barnes.
• During his 17-year head coaching tenure at Texas, Barnes was 13-4 in conference openers, including an 8-3 mark on the road.
• The Volunteers 16-15 in SEC home openers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Last season, UT dropped its first home SEC game to Auburn, 94-84, on Jan. 2.
LAST MEETING VS. GEORGIA
• Tennessee scored the game’s final nine points and survived a thrilling battle with Georgia to win a share of the SEC regular-season championship, 66-61, on March 3, 2018.
• The SEC title is UT’s first since the 2007-08 season. The Volunteers were picked in the preseason to finish 13th in the 14-team league.
• With Tennessee leading 61-60 with less than a minute remaining, Kyle Alexander stole a Georgia pass to give the Vols possession. On the other end of the court, Admiral Schofield hit a mid-range jumper with 17 seconds left to push the Volunteers’ lead to three points, 64-61.
• Following a UGA timeout, Georgia guard William Jackson’s final 3-point attempt with five seconds left fell short. Schofield hit two free throws on the other end to seal the win for the Vols.
• The 16th-ranked Vols’ 9-0 run to end the game was sparked by a Lamonté Turner 3-pointer that cut a four-point Tennessee deficit with just over two minutes remaining down to one.
• Sophomore Jordan Bowden made two free throws a minute later to give the Vols the lead that they would not relinquish.
• Schofield led Tennessee with 23 points. Grant Williams, who fouled out of the game with 3:33 remaining, had 22 points. Schofield and Williams combined for 45 of Tennessee’s 66 points (68 percent).
• Senior Yante Maten led Georgia with 18 points, while freshman Rayshaun Hammonds added 12.
OLIVER COACHED AT GEORGIA
• Fourth-year UT assistant coach Desmond Oliver was an assistant coach at UGA under Dennis Felton from 2004-09.
• During Oliver’s tenure in Athens with Felton—who himself was once an assistant under Rick Barnes at Providence and Clemson from 1992-98—the Bulldogs made consecutive postseason appearances in 2007 (NIT) and 2008 (NCAA Tournament).
• Oliver was on UGA’s staff during one of the most memorable conference tourney runs in recent history when Georgia won two games on the same day to capture the 2008 SEC Tournament championship.
MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST GEORGIA
• Austin “Red” Robbins had what may have been the best performance in UT history at the time with 35 points and 20 rebounds on Feb. 7, 1966, as UT routed Georgia 100-71 at old Armory-Fieldhouse in Knoxville.
• Bernard King made 18 field goals at Georgia on Feb. 1, 1975. King had 42 points and 18 rebounds in that 105-69 Vol victory.
• The 12,666 paying customers who packed UT’s Stokely Athletics Center on Feb. 10, 1979, got their money’s worth, as Ellenwood, Georgia, native Reggie Johnson totaled 36 points and 13 rebounds, playing every minute of a three-overtime thriller as UT topped Georgia 87-81. Terry Crosby also played all 55 minutes, adding 21 points
• Future NBA Lottery Pick Marcus Haislip paced the Vols with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Vincent Yarbrough added 17 points as UT outscored the 16th-ranked Dawgs 11-3 in overtime to take a 71-63 win in Knoxville on March 2, 2002.
MEARS OWNED THE DAWGS
• Legendary Tennessee head coach Ray Mears was at his best against Georgia. Mears was 25-4 vs. UGA during his tenure on The Hill (1962-78).
UT Athletics
Tickets Scarce as Vols Enter SEC Play
The third-ranked Tennessee basketball team enters Southeastern Conference play riding a seven-game win streak and undefeated at Thompson-Boling Arena.
One of the hottest teams in America, the Volunteers have 10 remaining home games—five of which are already sellouts.
All tickets have been sold for UT’s home clashes with Georgia (Jan. 5), Alabama (Jan. 19), West Virginia (Jan. 26), Florida (Feb. 9) and Kentucky (March 2).
Fans interested in experiencing the action at Thompson-Boling Arena as the Vols look to defend their SEC Championship are encouraged to purchase tickets soon, as extremely limited stock remains for upcoming showdowns against Arkansas (Jan. 15), Missouri (Feb. 5), South Carolina (Feb. 13), Vanderbilt (Feb. 19) and Mississippi State (March 5).
Tickets can be purchased online at AllVols.com, by calling 1-800-332-8657 or by visiting the UT Ticket Office at the northwest corner of Thompson-Boling Arena (8:30-5:00 p.m. ET).
For games that are already sold out, Tennessee’s official ticket resale marketplace is Vivid Seats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee and secure transactions backed by full-service customer care.
Tennessee’s average home attendance currently stands at 16,976, which ranks sixth nationally.
TIPS & REMINDERS FOR ATTENDING TENNESSEE HOME GAMES
Fans who do not have a gameday parking pass are encouraged to park on the Ag Campus, entering on Joe Johnson Drive via Neyland Drive. For all basketball games, Tennessee Athletics provides free parking and shuttle service to and from Thompson-Boling Arena from this location. The shuttle begins two hours prior to tip-off and runs one hour post-game. Shuttle pickup on the Ag Campus is off of Joe Johnson Drive. All shuttles are fully accessible for those with disabilities.
Free gameday parking also is available in the G-17 garage on Lake Avenue, a 10-minute walk from the arena.
For all games, fans are encouraged to arrive on campus early to allow ample time for parking and arena entry, as crowds are expected to regularly exceed 20,000.
Walk-through metal detectors are now in place and operational at all Thompson-Boling Arena entrances. Cell phones are generally the only item that should be placed in the bin before proceeding through the metal detectors. Keys may remain on your person.
Tennessee’s Clear Bag Policy is still in place, and all bags are subject to search.
Please be advised that these security measures may add time to the process of entering the arena, so fans are encouraged to allow additional time for entry. Patrons also are encouraged to bring only necessary items with them in order to ensure a smooth and timely arena entry. Click HERE for a video demonstrating proper arena entry procedure.
There is signage and staff to help direct fans through the process at each entry point.
Fans are reminded that Gate F at the southeast concourse is open as an entry game on gamedays. All gates open 90 minutes before tipoff for all men’s games.
The Vol Shop has merchandise locations on the arena concourse between gates A-B and between gates E-F.
The concourse also features numerous concessions options, including Calhoun’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Petro’s, Papa John’s, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Great American Cookies, Roberto’s Italian Ice and Buckwild Kettle Corn. To reduce wait times, there are also portable concessions kiosks located throughout the concourse (sections 103, 106, 120, 124) that are ideal for grab-and-go purchases.
UT Athletics
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