Tennessee Basketball Great Gene Tormohlen Passes Away

Tennessee Basketball Great Gene Tormohlen Passes Away

Posted on December 31, 2018

Tennessee basketball’s all-time greatest rebounder, All-American center Gene Tormohlen, passed away last Thursday at the age of 81 in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Tormohlen (pronounced: tor-MO-lin), who starred for the Volunteers from 1956-59, earned 1959 second-team All-America honors and was a two-time consensus first-team All-SEC selection his last two years on Rocky Top. His career spanned just three years, as freshmen were ineligible for varsity competition during that era.

Nicknamed “Bumper” for his rebounding proficiency, the 6-8, 230-pounder still holds several Tennessee rebounding records, including single-season average (17.7 rpg in 1959), total career rebounds (1113) and career rebounding average (16.9 rpg). Each of his yearly totals rank in the top five all time for UT, including his career-high 384 boards in 1957-58 that rank as the second-highest mark in program history.

Considered Tennessee’s first accomplished big man, Tormohlen holds 24 of the program’s top 45 single-game rebounding performances, each of which included at least 20-rebounds. On Feb. 11, 1957, he recorded a career-high 31 boards against Ole Miss. That stands as the second-best single-game total in UT history behind Herb Neff’s 36-rebound effort vs. Georgia Tech on Jan. 26, 1952.

Despite a three-year career that saw him play only 66 games with the Big Orange, Tormohlen still managed to become one of only two Volunteers ever to record more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career (Hall of Famer Bernard King is the other Vol to do so).

Along with leading the squad on the glass, Tormohlen led Tennessee in scoring during his junior and senior seasons, averaging 15.5 points over the course of his career for 1,020 points. He was a double-double machine for the Vols, ranking third in school history with 50 double-doubles in 66 games and holding the longest streak of consecutive double-doubles at 14.

“Personally, he was always a very nice and kind and gentle man,” Tennessee teammate Dalen Showalter said. “But when he got in the ball game, he was mean. He went after the ball no matter who was in his way—Tennessee players, opposing players, it did not matter. He just wanted the ball.”

Tormohlen was coached at Tennessee by Emmett Lowery and was selected by Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers) with the 11thoverall pick in the 1959 NBA Draft. After playing six NBA seasons with the Hawks organization—five years in St. Louis Hawks and one in Atlanta—he served as an assistant coach with the franchise (including eight games as interim head coach at the end of the 1975-76 campaign). He also spent time as an assistant with the Chicago Bulls and was an NBA scout for several seasons, including many years with the Los Angeles Lakers.

A native of Holland, Indiana, who was born on May 12, 1937, and graduated from Holland High School, Tormohlen was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. He was named to Tennessee’s All-Century Team in 2009 and was later honored as Tennessee’s SEC Basketball Legend at the 2012 SEC Tournament in New Orleans.

Well-wishers are encouraged to make a contribution in Tormohlen’s memory to the Catch-A-Dream Foundation “for youth with precious little time to lose” at: www.catchadream.org/tributes/memorial/

 

UT Athletics

New Year’s Eve TV Lineups: Ring in 2019 With Blake Shelton, Maren Morris, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini & More

New Year’s Eve TV Lineups: Ring in 2019 With Blake Shelton, Maren Morris, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini & More

Posted on December 31, 2018

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest

  • Channel: ABC
  • Time: 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. ET
  • Hosts: Ryan Seacrest (NYC), Jenny McCarthy (NYC), Ciara (Hollywood), Lucy Hale (New Orleans)
  • Performers: Kelsea Ballerini, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina, Maren Morris, Florida Georgia Line, Bastille, New Kids on the Block, Lucy Hale, Christina Aguilera, Camila Cabello, Ciara, Foster the People, Halsey, Dua Lipa, Ella Mai, Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, Bazi, Weezer, Macklemore, Skylar Grey, The Chainsmokers and Post Malone

NBC’s New Year’s Eve

  • Channel: NBC
  • Time: 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET/PT
  • Hosts: Carson Daly, Chrissy Teigen, Leslie Jones
  • Performers: Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Brett Young, Kelly Clarkson, Diana Ross, Jennifer Lopez, Andy Grammer, John Legend, Bebe Rexha, Keith Urban and Brett Young

Fox’s New Year’s Eve

  • Channel: Fox
  • Time: 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET
  • Hosts: Steve Harvey, Maria Menounos
  • Performers: Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Sting, Snoop Dogg, Robin Thicke, Florence + the Machine, Juanes and Why Don’t We

photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Lady Vols Fend Off Belmont, 84-76

Lady Vols Fend Off Belmont, 84-76

Posted on December 30, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 10/10 Tennessee led by as many as 18 points before holding off a late rally to secure an 84-76 victory over Belmont in front of a season-best crowd of 8,546 on Sunday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Bruins (7-4) rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit to take their first lead since the opening minutes of the game with a 22-6 run in the second half. The Lady Vols (11-1), however, closed out the game on a 19-10 run to earn the victory.

Evina Westbrook led the way for Tennessee with 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds. The sophomore guard had 11 points in the fourth quarter alone to resurrect the Lady Vols’ offense after they managed only eight third-quarter points. It marked the sixth time in her career that Westbrook eclipsed the 20-point mark in a game, with all six occasions coming this season.

Sophomore forward Rennia Davis posted another strong performance, finishing with 19 points and six boards. Senior Meme Jackson and freshman Zaay Green both chipped in 10 points each to round out the double-digit scorers for the Lady Vols. Westbrook and freshman guard Jazmine Massengill dished out seven and five assists, respectively, as the Lady Vols ended up with 19 overall.

The Bruins (7-4) were led by a double-double from Ellie Harmeyer, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds. She had 16 points in the second half to give Belmont a chance.

The Lady Vols came out with the hot hand from deep in the first quarter, knocking down six 3-pointers to take a 26-20 lead. Davis was 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in the period and led all scorers with nine points. Belmont took a 10-6 lead early on, but Tennessee responded with an 11-0 run.

In the second period, UT used its size advantage to build a 16-point lead going into halftime, as six of the Lady Vols’ 10 baskets in the quarter came in the paint. Tennessee sustained its success from the arc as well, knocking down nine 3-pointers before intermission, which was one short of the season high for threes in a game.

UT shot a 53-percent clip (19-of-36) from the field in the first half to take a 51-35 lead into the break over the Bruins.

The Bruins wouldn’t go away easily, though, outscoring the Lady Vols 23-8 in the third quarter to pull within one heading into the final period. Belmont ended the frame on a 16-2 run to make it a 59-58 game in favor of UT.

Belmont grabbed the lead, 64-63, with 6:12 remaining and again at 66-65, with 5:27 to go, causing some concern from the partisan crowd. The Lady Vols, however, used 8-of-13 accuracy from the field and 9-of-12 shooting from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, while holding Belmont to 8-of-22 on field goals, to turn back the Bruins’ upset bid.

Up Next: The Lady Vols will begin SEC play on the road on Thursday, facing Auburn at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT). The game will be streamed on SECN+.

Threes Dropping Early: Tennessee shot lights out from three in the first quarter, converting six of their eight attempts from beyond the arc. UT’s six 3-pointers were more than the Lady Vols had in three games this season. Rennia Davis was three-for-three from behind the arc in the opening 10 minutes, tying her career high in the first quarter.

Jaz Finding Her Groove: Through the first nine games freshman Jazmine Massengill averaged 2.6 ppg., 3.9 rpg. and 1.2 apg while shooting .265 from the floor. Over the last three games she’s averaging 7.0 ppg., 6.0 rpg. and 4.6 apg. while shooting .588 from the field.

Three-Ball Frequency: Tennessee hit nine treys against Belmont, extending its streak of games with seven or more threes in a game to five for the first time in Lady Vol history.

Sharp Shooters: Tennessee hit a blazing 52.8% from the floor in the first half, its highest first-half shooting percentage since shooting 59.4% against Texas A&M at home on Feb. 1, 2018.

 

UT Athletics

No. 3 Tennessee Powers Past Tennessee Tech, 96-53

No. 3 Tennessee Powers Past Tennessee Tech, 96-53

Posted on December 29, 2018
Credit: TU Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After an Admiral Schofield put back layup on the opening possession, No. 3 Tennessee led its pre-conference finale wire-to-wire, defeating Tennessee Tech 96-53 on Saturday in front of a season-high 21,165 fans.

The Vols (11-1) powered their way past the Golden Eagles (4-9) dunking the ball a season-high 12 times and blocking a season-high 12 shots en route to the 43-point victory. This marks the fifth time this season that Tennessee has defeated an opponent by 20-plus points inside of Thompson-Boling Arena.

It also is the most points the team has scored at home this season and was the second-largest margin of victory. The 43-point victory matches the largest margin of victory all-time against Tennessee Tech, with the other coming in a 65-22 win on Dec. 9, 1946.

Grant Williams finished with a game-high 25 points converting on 10-of-11 attempts from the field. Three other Vols joined Williams in double figures, including Jordan Bone who recorded his second double-double in three games, posting 16 points and a game-high 10 assists.

Tennessee finished the night shooting a season-high 63.8 percent from the field. For most of the game, the Vols were shooting better than 70 percent from the field, including a 74.4 percent mark in the first half.

John Fulkerson ended the game with a career-high 15 points with eight coming via dunk. The redshirt sophomore shot 6-of-7 from the field, adding four rebounds, two rebounds and two steals. Williams, Fulkerson and Schofield combined for 56 points in the game shooting 88.5 percent on 23-of-26 shooting.

Tennessee ended the last 10:32 minutes of play on a 23-4 run as the Vols limited the Golden Eagles to just 20 points in the second half.

The lead stretched out to 20-plus points just three minutes into the second half where it remained for the rest of the game. Tennessee led by as many as 44 points in the second half.

The Vols lead ballooned to double digits just seven minutes into the game as the team made nine of its first 12 attempts from the field. In just his first six minutes on the floor, Williams entered double figures, beating everyone down the floor to give Tennessee a 20-8 edge at the 12:45 mark of the first half.

Tennessee continued to attack the rim in the first half, dunking the ball eight times on the Golden Eagles. Seven of the dunks came within a six minute, 55 second stretch, as John Fulkerson’s breakaway slam extended the Tennessee edge to 27 points with 3:05 to play in the first half.

With the help of 18 points from Williams and 12 from Bone, the Vols took a 51-33 lead into the halftime break. Williams converted on 8-of-9 attempts from the field as Tennessee shot 74.2 percent in the half. The Vols 51 first half points are the most in the first half this season.

ALEXANDER CONTINUES TO CLIMB BLOCKS LIST: With three blocked shots against Tennessee Tech, senior forward Kyle Alexander moved into fourth place on the Tennessee’s all-time blocks list. The Milton, Ontario native now has 144 career blocks, just two behind third-place Doug Roth.
As a team, Tennessee finished with a season-high 12 blocked shots.

WILLIAMS REACHES 20 POINTS: Grant Williams’ 25 point performance against Tennessee Tech marks the 17th time that the Charlotte, N.C., native has reached the 20-point threshold in his Tennessee career, including the sixth time since this season.

MEET ME AT THE RIM: Tennessee registered a season-high 12 dunks during Saturday’s contest, which came from five different players. John Fulkerson (4), Yves Pons (3), Grant Williams (2), Admiral Schofield (2) and Kyle Alexander (1) all threw down for the Vols.

BONE REACHES DOUBLE-DOUBLE MILESTONE: Jordan Bone became the first Tennessee player to record two double-doubles from points and assists in the same season since Tyrone Beaman did so during the 1982-83 season.

Bone’s 16-point, 10-assist performance against Tennessee Tech joins his 24-point, 11-assist game against Samford for Dec. 19. Over the course of the past three games, Bone has dished out 26 assists while committing only four turnovers — a 6.5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

UP NEXT: The Vols tip off Southeastern Conference play at home against Georgia on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. That game will air on SEC Network.

 

UT Athletics

No. 10/10 LadyVols Shoot Past Racers, 98-77

No. 10/10 LadyVols Shoot Past Racers, 98-77

Posted on December 29, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Seven Lady Vols scored in double digits, fueling No. 10/10 Tennessee to a 98-77 victory over Murray State Friday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.

With a season-high crowd of 8,518 looking on, the Lady Vols (10-1) were led in scoring by Rennia Davis who posted her third double-double of the season with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Other UT players in double figures were Rae Burrell, Mimi Collins, and Meme Jackson with 11 points each, and Evina Westbrook, Jazmine Massengill and Cheridene Green with 10 apiece.

Tennessee out-rebounded the Racers (4-7), 56-24, including a 25-6 advantage on the offensive glass. The 56 rebounds were the second most recorded by the Lady Vols this season behind the 59 registered vs. Florida A&M.

Murray State was led in scoring by Evelyn Adebayo who had 28 on 10-of-19 shooting from the field and 7-of-7 marksmanship from the free throw line. Janika Griffith-Wallace, Brianna Crane, and Lex Mayes were also in double figures for the Racers with 14, 12 and 11, respectively.

The teams traded buckets in the game’s opening minutes, but with just over two minutes left in the first quarter Burrell hit back-to-back baskets to extend Tennessee’s lead to five points at 15-10. The Lady Vols went on to convert two steals into four points to take a 20-14 lead into the second stanza. UT dominated the glass in the first quarter, out-rebounding Murray State 20-6.

The Lady Vols started the second quarter with all four freshmen on the floor and went straight to work with Zaay Green and Massengill each scoring five points apiece by the 7:33 mark, extending UT’s lead to 30-18. The Lady Vols played tough defense, snagging eight steals in the second quarter and pulling down 14 boards before taking a 46-29 lead into the break.

Cheridene Green got things rolling for Tennessee in the second half, scoring on UT’s first two possessions. With 7:57 to play in the quarter, the Lady Vols began an 8-0 run to push the lead to 60-33 by the 6:56 mark. Tennessee had nine players score in the period en route to 35 total points, tying for the fourth most points scored in any quarter by the Lady Vols. At the end of the third, UT led the Racers 81-53.

Davis went on to score nine of Tennessee’s 17 fourth-quarter points, as the Lady Vols cruised to a 98-77 win.
  
Up Next: The Lady Vols will close out a four-game home stand on Sunday, Dec. 30, hosting Belmont at 2 p.m. The contest is UT’s annual Hoops for Hunger game, during which each fan who donates two non-perishable food items will receive a complimentary ticket.

Deep Threats: The Lady Vols had six different players hit at least one 3-pointer, including Jazmine Massengill going two for two. Tennessee hit seven threes on the night, marking the fourth-straight game UT has hit at least seven treys.

Career Nights: Jazmine Massengill set career highs in points (10), assists (8) and 3-pointers made (2). Mimi Collins tied her career high of 11 points and recorded a new career high of three steals. Rae Burrell tied her career high of five field goals made and set a new career high of two assists.

Owning The Glass: Tennessee grabbed 20 rebounds in the first quarter alone (11 offensive/9 defensive) to Murray State’s six, and went on to pull down 56 boards (25/31) vs. 24 for Murray State. The game total was the second best by the Lady Vols this season (59 vs. FAMU). UT held a 34-12 advantage on the glass in the first half, including a 16-1 edge on the offensive end. Rennia Davis and Cheridene Green had six and five rebounds in the opening stanza, respectively, and finished with 13 and eight for the night.

PT For The Youngsters: Tennessee started the second quarter with all four freshmen and sophomore Kasiyahna Kushkituah on the floor. UT pushed the lead from 20-14 to 30-21 during their three-minute stint together before another platoon of players took the court. UT’s freshman finished the night with 41 total points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists vs. the Racers. The freshmen also helped UT produce its most bench points of the season with 38.

Double-Double Time: Rennia Davis recorded her third double-double of the season and the 12th of her career, finishing with 20 points and 13 rebounds. It marked her second 20-point game this season and her rebounding total was a season high and one short of tying her career best.

Shooting And Connecting: Tennessee managed to get off a season-high 81 shots vs. Murray State, connecting on a season-best 41 of them. That led to another 2018-19 best thus far, a shooting percentage of .506.

 

UT Athletics

Hoops Central: #3 Tennessee vs. Tennessee Tech

Hoops Central: #3 Tennessee vs. Tennessee Tech

Posted on December 28, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 3 Tennessee will look to extend its six-game winning streak Saturday, as the Vols host Tennessee Tech in Thompson-Boling Arena in their final game before beginning SEC play.

The game will tip at 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcasted online through SEC Network+ WatchESPN. Fans can listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action. Tickets for most remaining Tennessee home games are available at AllVols.com.

Tennessee (10-1) holds a 23-1 all-time record against the Golden Eagles, winning the last seven meetings in a series that began in 1939. Having already played Memphis this season, UT is 10-4 against in-state opponents under head coach Rick Barnes, including wins in each of its last four games.

Tennessee Tech had to replace all five of its top scorers from a season ago. The Golden Eagles have played in some hostile environments already this season, facing Memphis, Michigan State and North Carolina all on the road. After a tough start, the Golden Eagles have won three of their last four games, dropping at least 90 points in each of those outings.

The Vols enter the game on the heels of an 83-64 victory over Wake Forest. Grant Williams recorded his fourth double-double of the season with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Alexander made his first seven baskets of the game and finished the night with a career-high 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting to go along with eight rebounds to help UT improve its record against ACC foes to 3-0 on the season.

THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads the all-time series with Tennessee Tech 23-1, dating to 1939. The Vols have won seven straight over the Eagles.
• Despite meeting 24 times previously, Tennessee has only been ranked for one of those games.
• The Vols are 57-2 all-time against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference.

A WIN WOULD…
• Extend Tennessee’s win streak to seven games.
• Extend UT’s home win streak to 16 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 89.3 points while shooting .544 as a team.
• Tennessee is 10-4 against in-state opponents under head coach Rick Barnes, including wins in each of its last four.
• Tennessee is off to its best 11-game start since also starting the season 10-1 in 2007-08.
• With an average attendance of 16,378, Tennessee ranks sixth nationally.
• During his 32 seasons as a head coach, Rick Barnes has guided his teams to 106 total weeks in the top 10.
• Just a single vote separates the Vols from No. 2 Michigan in this week’s AP poll.
• Many UT students are gone during this holiday break. Tickets for most remaining Tennessee home games are available at AllVols.com.

LAYUPS
• Grant Williams leads the SEC in scoring (19.6 ppg), ranks second in field-goal percentage (.563), fourth in rebounding (8.5 rpg) and seventh in assists (3.8 apg). He also owns the team’s best plus-minus (per 40) rating at +20.60
• Admiral Schofield is the SEC’s second-leading scorer (18.4 ppg).
• Jordan Bone has logged 71 minutes over UT’s last two games and has totaled 42 points, 16 assists and only three turnovers while also shooting .613 during that span.
• Senior forward Kyle Alexander is coming off a career-high 19 points last Saturday vs. Wake Forest, and he’s averaging double-digit scoring for the first time in his career (10.5 ppg).
• Guard Lamonté Turner remains sidelined with a left shoulder injury and has appeared in only three games this season.

ABOUT TENNESSEE TECH
• Tennessee plays its second non-conference game against an in-state school Saturday, hosting Tennessee Tech. The two schools are separated by just 102 miles.
• The matchup marks the first meeting between the Vols and Golden Eagles since 2016, a 74-68 Big Orange victory. UT holds a 23-1 advantage in the series all time.
• The Golden Eagles (4-8) had to replace all five of their top scorers from a season ago, a group that accounted for 82.8 percent of the team’s total scoring.
• Micaiah Henry leads Tech in scoring (12.3 ppg), shooting percentage (.670) and blocks (22) while also ranking second in rebounding (5.5 rpg).
• Along with Henry, the Golden Eagles boast three other scorers who average double-digits each game: Hunter Vick Jr. (11.7 ppg), Jr. Clay (11.4 ppg) and Malik Martin (11.3 ppg).
• Tennessee Tech has played in some hostile environments already this season, facing Memphis, Michigan State and North Carolina all on the road. After a tough start, the Golden Eagles have won three of their last four games, dropping at least 90 points in each of those outings.

LAST MEETING VS. TENNESSEE TECH
• Robert Hubbs III scored 25 points to lead the Tennessee basketball team to a 74-68 win over in-state foe Tennessee Tech Dec. 13, 2016, at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• The win moved Tennessee’s all-time record to 23-1 against the Golden Eagles and extended UT’s home win streak to four games.
• Hubbs finished the day with 25 points, seven rebounds and went 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. Lamonté Turner added 16 points, going 5-of-9 from the field and dishing out four assists.
• SEC Freshman of the Week Jordan Bowden had nine points, seven of which came in the second half and included back-to-back dunks. Shembari Phillips also tallied nine points and led the team in assists with five.
• Tennessee dominated under the basket, out-rebounding the Golden Eagles 39-31 and scoring 36 of their 74 points in the paint.
• The Vols got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 10-3 lead. Turner again had a hot hand, starting out 4-of-4 from behind the arc. Tennessee took a 43-25 lead into halftime.
• Down by as many as 22 early in the second half, Tennessee Tech went on a 16-3 run to cut the deficit to seven with 7:08 to go in the game, capitalizing on a six-minute stretch in which Tennessee was held without a field goal and turned the ball over eight times.
• Tennessee built its lead back up to 10 before the Golden Eagles rallied back to within four at the 27-second mark, but a pair of Hubbs free throws put the game out of reach.

TECH ROSTER BOASTS SEVERAL WITH EAST TENNESSEE TIES
• Tennessee Tech’s roster features several players from East Tennessee, including freshmen Jr. Clay (Chattanooga; McCallie School), Chase Ridenour (Knoxville; Webb School), Spencer Chandler (Clinton; Anderson County), sophomore Maverick Smith (Oakdale; Oakdale) and junior Tyler Thompson (Kingston; Roane County).

VOLS SUCCESSFUL ON THE IN-STATE CIRCUIT
• Tennessee has won its last four games against in-state opponents and is 10-4 vs. in-state foes under coach Rick Barnes.
• Those 10 wins include triumphs over ETSU (twice), Tennessee State, Vanderbilt (three times), Tennessee Tech, Lipscomb (twice) and Memphis.

 

UT Athletics

Jimmy’s blog: Vols need to hire OC who is labeled `underrated’ at end of season

Jimmy’s blog: Vols need to hire OC who is labeled `underrated’ at end of season

Posted on December 28, 2018

By Jimmy Hyams

So Jeremy Pruitt thinks that, sometimes, offensive coordinators are overrated.

I guess he’s right, if you have an average offensive coordinator. Average play callers are a dime a dozen.

But effective offensive coordinators are not.

Want examples?

I’ll give you three.

In 2005, Tennessee had a losing season and much maligned offensive coordinator Randy Sanders resigned with a month left in the campaign. He actually remained the play caller, then left for Kentucky.

Phillip Fulmer then hired his old friend and colleague, David Cutcliffe. Cutcliffe helped the Vols go from 5-6 to nine wins then 10 wins and an East Division title. The Vols led eventual national champion LSU in the fourth quarter of the SEC championship game before falling in a tight contest.

Cutcliffe not only was a terrific play caller, but he was extraordinary at developing quarterbacks. Not only did he tutor Peyton and Eli Manning, he also helped Heath Shuler and Andy Kelly evolve. He was effective with a passer like Peyton and a runner like Tee Martin.

And in 2006-07, quarterback Erik Ainge went from a college wreck to making a pro check as he was drafted in the NFL.

In 2008, Cutcliffe left Tennessee to become head coach at Duke.

That same season, without Cutcliffe, UT had another losing season and Fulmer was fired.

Was Cutcliffe an overrated offensive coordinator?

In 1981, my first year as a beat writer covering LSU football, the Tigers were a mess, coming off a 3-7-1 season under coach Jerry Stovall.

LSU had a talented but beaten up quarterback in Alan Risher.

Stovall made perhaps the best move of his coaching career – he hired Mack Brown as his offensive coordinator. Brown not only revived the career of Risher, but LSU went 8-2-1, scored impressive victories over Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss and Florida State and earned a berth in the Orange Bowl.

In a move Pruitt should be familiar with, Alabama hired Lane Kiffin off the heap pile after he was unceremoniously fired on the airplane tarmac by Southern Cal.

In Kiffin’s first year, he took a journeyman athlete, Blake Sims, and converted him into a productive quarterback who helped Alabama reach the initial College Football Playoffs.

A year later, Kiffin took fifth-year senior Jake Coker, who had done nothing during his college career, and turned him into a productive quarterback who helped Alabama win the national championship.

In Kiffin’s third year at Alabama, he took an athletic true freshman in Jalen Hurts, won the SEC and reached the national title game with a better-runner-than-passer who was named the SEC offensive player of the year.

After Kiffin left Alabama in 2017, Hurts wasn’t the same quarterback and was benched at halftime in the national title game against Georgia.

So, yes, “sometimes’’ offensive coordinators can be overrated.

But not the good ones.

Not the Cutcliffes or Browns or Kiffins.

I understand what Pruitt is saying. To be explosive on offense, you need dynamic players.

But to get production out of average players, you need a sharp offensive coordinator who can maximize a quarterback’s abilities and outwit a defensive coordinator.

That’s why Pruitt’s hire of an offensive coordinator at this point is so critical – not just to the success of the 2019 team but to Pruitt’s success as Tennessee’s coach.

And at the end of the 2019 season, the Vol Nation is hoping that offensive coordinator will be considered “underrated.’’

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

Hoops Preview: No. 10/10 Lady Vols vs. Murray State

Hoops Preview: No. 10/10 Lady Vols vs. Murray State

Posted on December 27, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 10/10 Tennessee (9-1) is in the midst of a four-game home stand, as Murray State (4-6) comes to town for a Friday night contest at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7:02 p.m. ET, with the game available on SECN+ and the Lady Vol Radio Network.

This marks the return to the hardwood for both squads after they last played on Dec. 21 before going on holiday break. The Lady Vols return to The Summitt after defeating in-state foe East Tennessee State, 80-61, last Friday night in Knoxville.

The Racers, meanwhile, dropped their second straight game and fifth in the past six contests when they fell at Kentucky, 88-49, last Friday afternoon. UT is the third Power Five team MSU has met this season, with the Racers falling to Illinois, 84-52, on Dec. 11 before dropping the match-up with UK.

This is the first meeting ever between these schools and the 76th time the Lady Vols have met a current member of the Ohio Valley Conference. UT is 54-21 vs. squads in that league.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Michael Wottreng (play-by-play) and Steve Hamer (analyst) will describe the action for SECN+.
  • 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

  • It’s Big Orange Friday! Download a Buy One/Get One free ticket voucher available exclusively at BigOrangeFriday.com.
  • We also have a “Holiday On Rocky Top” promotion. Youth sports teams can call 865-974-9591 for special group ticket pricing & exclusive opportunities for their squads.
  • Kids 12 & younger can pick up a wristband at the Fan HQ table on the concourse to participate in the pre-game 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 $5 at AllVols.com.
  • It’s the Twelve Names of Volidays! Friday night features the ninth name of Volidays! If your name is Clark, receive a complimentary ticket to the game at the ticket window with ID.
  • Free parking & shuttle service are available from UT’s Ag Campus. Shuttles begin two hours prior to tip-off.

UT-MURRAY STATE SERIES NOTES

  • This is the first meeting between UT and the Murray State Racers in women’s basketball.
  • Tennessee is 54-21 all-time vs. schools who are currently members of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).
  • The last OVC school UT faced was Tennessee State on Nov. 30, 2016, with UT prevailing in Knoxville, 86-36.

NOTING THE LADY VOLS

  • MY-OH-MEME: Senior Meme Jackson has been on a roll the past three games. After scoring zero vs. Stetson, Jackson has averaged 24.3 points vs. Texas (33), Stanford (17) and ETSU (23), shooting 47.8 percent from the field,  41.2 on threes and 71.4 at the free throw line.
  • E IS DISHIN’ & SWISHIN’: During that same three-game span, Evina Westbrook is averaging 18.0 points and a whopping 8.3 assists per contest, dishing out six, 10 and nine dimes over the past three contests.
  • NO PLACE LIKE HOME: In home games, Cheridene Green is hitting at a 68.8 percent clip (22-32) from the field, while Rennia Davis has hit 90.5 percent of her free throws (19-21). Evina Westbrook has dished out 40 assists and committed only 16 turnovers on The Summitt, averaging 6.7 dimes per contest at home. Mimi Collins is averaging 7.7 points and 6.3 rebounds at home and stands as UT’s sixth-leading scorer and No. 2 rebounder in those games.
  • DIALING LONG DISTANCE: Tennessee enters the Murray State game having hit nine or more three-pointers in three consecutive games 10-9-9 vs. Texas, Stanford and ETSU. You have to go back to Jan. 2-10, 2008, to find the last time that happened (9-11-9 vs. DePaul, Notre Dame and Auburn).
  • STRONG ON THE BOARDS: UT lost the battle on the boards vs. Texas and Stanford, but has out-rebounded all other opponents. They rank No. 16 nationally in rebound margin (10.9), No. 18 in rebounds per game (44.8) and No. 19 in offensive rebounds per game (17.0).
  • UNSELFISH BASKETBALL: UT scored 27 field goals vs. ETSU, with 20 of those buckets coming via teammates’ assists.
  • TURNING ‘EM OVER: UT forces 21.5 turnovers per game, which ranks No. 34 in the nation. The Lady Vols help that cause by grabbing 11.0 steals per contest to rank No. 37 in the land in that category.

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE LADY VOLS

  • Senior wing Meme Jackson fired in 23 points to help (then) No. 9/8 Tennessee head into the holiday break at 9-1 with an 80-61 win over ETSU on Dec. 21 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
  • Senior Cheridene Green (12 points), sophomore Rennia Davis (11 points and seven rebounds) and freshman Mimi Collins (11 points and six rebounds) joined Jackson as double-digit scorers for the Lady Vols, who bounced back from a recent loss to No. 8/9 Stanford.
  • Jackson notched 21 of her 23 points from beyond the arc on 7-of-12 shooting from deep, tying for the fourth-most treys made by a Lady Vol in a single game. Collins, meanwhile, tallied 10 or more points for the first time in her career at Tennessee.
  • Freshman Jazmine Massengill led the Lady Vols defensively with nine rebounds, five blocks and a pair of steals. Tennessee held the Buccaneers to 31-percent shooting on the night and won the rebounding battle by a 50-33 margin.

NOTING MURRAY STATE

  • Murray State is led by second-year head coach Rechelle Turner, a 1996 graduate of the school. She owns a 15-25 record thus far.
  • The Racers lost nine letterwinners and three starters from their 2017-18 squad, but they return five letterwinners and a pair of starters.
  • Back are sophomore guard Janika Griffith-Wallace and sophomore forward Brianna Crane.
  • This year’s leading scorer, junior forward Evelyn Adebayo (17.8 ppg.), sat out at MSU last season after transferring from Gardner-Webb.
  • Adebayo and UT’s Cheridene Green both hail from London, England, with Adebayo attending Barking Abbey School and Green attending Harris Academy Beckenham.
  • The Racers finished 11-19 overall and 7-11 in OVC action for eighth place in Rechelle Turner’s first season as head coach in 2017-18.
  • Murray State was led by Ke’Shunan James (21.3 ppg., 8.2 rpg., 4.0 apg.), Bria Bethea (15.6 ppg.), Abria Gulledge (9.5 ppg.) and Jasmine Borders (8.4 ppg.), who all concluded their MSU careers after last season.

THE RACERS’ LAST GAME

  • Despite leading 18th-ranked Kentucky for most of the first quarter and being tied with the Wildcats at the conclusion of the stanza, the Murray State women’s basketball team could not keep up with the Wildcats over the remaining three quarters and fell, 88-49, on Dec. 21 at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington.
  • The Racers led for more than six minutes in the first and shot 66.7 percent from the floor in the period. Despite the hot hand in the first, MSU cooled significantly, shooting just 30.5 percent in the second through fourth quarters to finish the game at 39.6 percent. Despite the shots not falling after the first, the Racers did end the first half outrebounding the Wildcats, 17-14.
  • Evelyn Adebayo was 7-for-9 from the floor in the game to lead Murray State with 20 points, to go along with a game-high nine rebounds. Brianna Crane was also big for MSU Friday, notching 13 points and eight rebounds.

COMING UP FOR UT AND MSU

  • It’s a quick turnaround after Tennessee plays Murray State on Friday, as Belmont visits The Summitt on Sunday (2 p.m.) to close out 2018 as UT’s second straight OVC opponent.
  • The UT-Belmont match-up features a Hoops For Hunger promotion. Fans may donate two non-perishable food items and receive one complimentary ticket. Please donate at Gate C, Gate E or the ticket tent located on Phillip Fulmer Way prior to entering Thompson-Boling Arena. Donations benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank, helping feed East Tennessee families in need.
  • MSU, meanwhile, enters OVC play with back-to-back home contests vs. Morehead State on Jan. 3 and Eastern Kentucky on Jan. 5.

UT Athletics

Jimmy’s blog: Vols have look of a Final Four team

Jimmy’s blog: Vols have look of a Final Four team

Posted on December 26, 2018

 

By Jimmy Hyams

Seven SEC men’s basketball teams have been to a Final Four.

Tennessee is not one of them.

The Vols have been to just one Elite Eight. Tennessee didn’t even win an NCAA Tournament game with the marvelous duo of Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King.

Now, with a cast featuring mostly three-star players, players rejected by the Big Ten and the ACC an the SEC, Tennessee has a chance to join Kentucky, Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Georgia, Mississippi State and South Carolina as a Final Four team from the SEC.

Would anyone be surprised if the Vols were among the last four standing?

“I would not be surprised at all,’’ Mike DeCourcy, senior college basketball writer for The Sporting News, said during a recent interview on SportsTalk WNML radio.

“I think they are one of six or seven teams, maybe a few more than that, for whom a Final Four at this point is really a goal, something they look at and say, `We should believe we should do that.’

“Now, all those teams can’t fit in so someone will be disappointed. … But I think Tennessee is one of the teams, absolutely, that should feel like it’s a disappointment if they don’t make it. I think they have that capability.’’

The Vols went 26-9 last year, shared the regular-season SEC Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament before being upset by Loyola Chicago. That was a great season for a team picked to finish 13th in the SEC by SEC media, but a tough pill to swallow when a first-ever trip to the Final Four was possible.

DeCourcy thinks these Vols are better equipped to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament than last year’s team.

Why?

“When they played elite teams (last year) they beat Kentucky up both times (in regular-season wins),’’ DeCourcy said. “You can’t really beat people up in this current age of the NCAA. But you can make yourself really hard to play against.

“Someone like Admiral Schofield makes 3s and scores 30 points (against then No. 1 Gonzaga), I don’t think you’d see that a year ago. You might have seen Grant Williams have a game in that ballpark, but he was the only one you’d expect to put up a big number like that.’’

DeCourcy also thinks the Vols are “more dynamic’’ at point guard with Jordan Bone, whose had a three-game stretch in which he averaged about 19 points ?per game. Because UT is a better offensive team this season, DeCourcy says, the Vols will be a threat.

“When you get to the NCAA Tournament, and you can’t score or struggle to score, you struggle to advance,’’ DeCourcy said. “That will be less of a problem for this (UT) team when we get to March than it was a year ago.’’

DeCourcy said the win over Gonzaga was “enormous’’ for the UT team and stamped the Vols as an “NCAA Championship contender.’’

“You get a win like that and do well in the SEC,’’ DeCourcy said, “you’ve got a shot at a really high seed in the (NCAA) tournament. … To beat Gonzaga was really a terrific statement for the Vols.’’

DeCourcy said Kentucky has struggled to regain the form it showed in demolishing the opposition during an exhibition tour to the Bahamas. He didn’t rule out the Wildcats “being that team again.’’

John Calipari’s team showed some of that ability with a recent win over top 10 North Carolina.

Regarding Auburn, DeCourcy said he “wouldn’t put them at the front of the list’’ of Final Four candidates, “but they’re certainly in the ballpark.’’ He doesn’t expect to see the best of Auburn until mid to late January, when the full roster is in tact.

DeCourcy likes Duke but he sees a potential problem.

“Duke has the most talented team in the country one to four by far, it’s not even close,’’ DeCourcy said. “My concern about Duke’s team is they’ve never found an idea of what they want their fifth guy to be.’’

DeCourcey said it’s almost like Duke is missing a “lugnut on a tire.’’

 

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

Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Brett Eldredge & More Share Holiday Greetings on Social Media

Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Brett Eldredge & More Share Holiday Greetings on Social Media

Posted on December 26, 2018

Check out the Christmas greetings that some of your favorite country stars shared on social media, including Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Loretta Lynn, Florida Georgia Line, Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Kelsea Ballerini, Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell, Scotty McCreery, Darius Rucker, Brett Eldredge, Travis Tritt and many more.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Country News

Weather

  • Forecast
  • Currents
  • Planner