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Hoops Preview: No. 11/12 Lady Vols vs. Presbyterian

Posted on November 10, 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 11/12 Tennessee will open the 2018-19 regular-season schedule on Sunday (Nov. 11), as the Presbyterian Blue Hose come to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville for a 2 p.m. ET contest (SECN+).

The match-up marks the beginning of the seventh season of the Holly Warlick era and the first-ever meeting between these schools in women’s basketball.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Mick Gillispie (play-by-play), Steve Hamer (analyst) and Kasey Funderburg (sideline) will describe the action for the UT-Presbyterian online broadcast on 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.

PROMOTIONS FOR THE GAME

The UT men’s basketball team used the successful campaign, #FeedTheFloor, a year ago, and this year the Lady Vols will try to reinforce the importance of active, vocal fans with a #SparkTheSummitt initiative. Fans can ignite the home team’s players on their appropriately-named court (The Summitt) with relentless enthusiasm. The home fans can give their all for Tennessee, just like the Lady Vols.
Salute to Service Weekend: UT says thank you for the service and sacrifice by members of our U.S. armed forces.
Current military members and veterans may present their Military I.D. or DD-214 at Gate C, Gate E or the ticket tent located on Phillip Fulmer Way prior to entering Thompson-Boling Arena for complimentary admission for themselves and their immediate family members.
Enjoy the pregame Kids’ Corner at Gate F. Opening one hour prior to tip-off, the fun includes free face painting, the Big Orange prize wheel, visits from Smokey and cheerleaders, crafts and more.
It’s National Sundae Day! The first 100 kids at Kids’ Corner can build their own sundae with a wide variety of toppings.
Post-game lay-ups: Kids 12 and younger can shoot a lay-up on the court after the game!
High-Five Tunnel: Kids 12 and younger can pick up a wristband at the Fan HQ table on the concourse to participate in the pregame High-5 Tunnel. Wristbands are limited. To purchase discounted group tickets and reserve wristbands for your team, call 865-946-7000.
Free parking and shuttle service is available from UT’s Ag Campus. Shuttles begin two hours prior to tip.
If you attended Rocky Top Tip-Off and have a free ticket voucher for the home opener, present your voucher at Gate C, Gate E or the ticket tent located on Phillip Fulmer Way prior to entry to Thompson-Boling Arena.

LADY VOLS IN OPENERS

The Lady Vols are 40-4 in season openers over the past 44 years, including 25-3 at home, 8-0 at neutral sites and 7-1 on the road.
UT is 5-1 in season openers under Holly Warlick, including 3-0 at home and 2-1 on the road.
UT is 41-3 all-time in its first home game of a season, including 6-0 during the Warlick era.
Tennessee has a 30-1 record at Thompson-Boling Arena in its first home appearance of a season, including 3-0 during the Warlick era.
UT has won 12 season openers in a row at home, dating back to a 69-64 setback to #6 Louisiana Tech in Knoxville on Nov. 14, 1999.
UT has won its last five season-openers and 17 of its last 18.

WHAT TO WATCH

THREE STARTERS RETURN: The Lady Vols return three starters in senior guard Meme Jackson and sophomores Rennia Davis (G/F) and Evina Westbrook (PG). That trio should set the tone for UT.
PRESEASON PUB: Davis and Westbrook are preseason All-SEC picks and are on the preseason watch lists for the Cheryl Miller Award and Nancy Lieberman Award, respectively. Both made SEC All-Freshman in 2017-18.
NO. 4 RECRUITING CLASS: The fourth-ranked signing class in 2018 will make its regular season Rocky Top debut. That group of freshmen includes guard/forward Rae Burrell, forward Mimi Collins, guard Zaay Green and point guard Jazmine Massengill.
NEW FACES IN THE PAINT: With Mercedes Russell gone to the WNBA, Cheridene Green, Kasiyahna Kushkituah, Mimi Collins and Kamera Harris are trying to provide UT a new inside presence.

UT’S LAST GAME

No. 11/12-ranked Tennessee cruised past Carson-Newman, 128-59, in its season-opening exhibition game last Monday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Lady Vols, who now have beaten the Lady Eagles 15 years in a row in preseason affairs, had eight players register double-digit points in the win. The true freshman duo of Zaay Green (28 points, 10 rebounds) and Mimi Collins (16 points, 10 rebounds) each posted double-doubles, combining for 44 points and 20 rebounds in their college debuts.
Sophomore Rennia Davis (17 points, nine rebounds) and freshman Jazmine Massengill (12 points, nine rebounds) were each a rebound shy of double-doubles. Redshirt senior Cheridene Green (16 points), sophomore Kasiyahna Kushkituah (12 points), sophomore Evina Westbrook(11 points) and freshman Rae Burrell (11 points) rounded out the Big Orange players scoring 10 or more points.

A LOOK AT PRESBYTERIAN

Presbyterian is directed by Alaura Sharp, who is in her first season at the school.
She came from La. Tech, where she was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator (2016-18).
Sharp is 95-63 as a head coach at Garden City (Kansas) Community College (2009-13) and Lamar (Colo.) Community College (2008-09).
The Blue Hose return three starters and nine total letterwinners and welcome four newcomers.
PC finished 12-18 overall and 9-9 in league play a year ago, good for fifth place.
Kacie Hall, a 5-7 junior guard, is the team’s leading returnee, averaging 11.1 points per game and firing in 62 three-pointers in 2017-18.
Hall was an All-Big South Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore. She is a preseason All-Big South First Team pick in 2018-19 after posting 12.7 ppg. in league games last year.

PC’S LAST GAME

Freshman Shamani Stafford scored a game-high 18 points and senior Salina Virola added a double-double, as the Presbyterian College women’s basketball team defeated Augusta 65-47 in an exhibition game at the Templeton Center in Clinton, S.C., on Nov. 4.
Stafford led all scorers with 18 points. She went 7-of-15 from the floor and 2-of-4 for three. Olivia Swantson led Augusta with 15 points, with most of her points coming off 4-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc.
Virola posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, a game-high, in just 15 minutes played. In total, PC had four players in double figures with Kacie Hall and Bria Gibbs each scoring 11 points.

UT Athletics

Williams’ 31 leads No. 6 Vols past Louisiana, 87-65

Posted on November 10, 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Grant Williams recorded his fourth career 30-point game, leading No. 6 Tennessee to a 87-65 victory over Louisiana at Thompson-Boling Arena Friday in front of a crowd of 16,864.

Williams finished with 31 points on 11-for-15 shooting, while also collecting 10 rebounds to give him his sixth career double-double. The performance marked the third straight season in which Williams recorded a 30-point game.

Tennessee (2-0) took a 17-point lead into halftime and was never seriously threatened the rest of the night. To open the second half, Louisiana (1-1) hit five of its first seven shots to gradually cut the Vols’ lead to 13 points, but the Cajuns never got closer than that margin for the remainder of the game.

For the second straight game, all five of Tennessee’s starters scored in double figures. In addition to Williams’ 31, Admiral Schofield had 15 while Jordan Bone, Jordan Bowden and Kyle Alexander had 10 apiece.

Bone tied a career-high with eight assists. Williams’ 10 rebounds led the Vols on the boards, while Schofield and Yves Pons added seven rebounds each.

In the first half, Louisiana came out hot, hitting five of its first six shots to take an early 13-10 lead. On the next possession, a 3-pointer from Bone jumpstarted a 20-2 Tennessee run.

That run helped the Vols take a 15-point lead with 8:34 remaining in the first half, which led to a 48-31 Tennessee advantage at halftime.

Both Williams and Bone reached double-figure scoring in the opening half, with 15 and 10 respectively. Schofield added nine points in the opening frame. All eight Vols that played in the first half converted at least one field goal.

Defensively in the first half, Tennessee forced 10 turnovers by the Ragin’ Cajuns.

STARTERS PAVING THE WAY: The Vols’ five starters – Kyle Alexander, Jordan Bone, Jordan Bowden, Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams – are averaging a combined 73.5 points per game through Tennessee’s first two outings of the season.

ON FIRE THROUGH TWO: Through two games, Tennessee has scored a combined 173 points, the most points by a Tennessee team through the first two games of the season since the 2011-12 campaign (177). Tennessee has also shot 61.9 and 54 percent from the field in its first two games. The Vols shot 50 percent or better from the field during back-to-back games on just one occasion last season.

SHARING THE ROCK: Tennessee finished the game with 27 assists, the most since also dishing out 27 against Ole Miss last season on Feb. 3, 2018. Last season, the Vols averaged 15.7 assists per game. Through two games, UT is averaging 25 assists to its opponents’ nine assists per game.

WILLIAMS REACHES 30 POINTS: Grant Williams’ 31 point performance against Louisiana marks the 12th time that the Charlotte, N.C., native has reached the 20-point threshold in his Tennessee career and first time since last season’s regular-season finale against Georgia.

UP NEXT: Tennessee returns to Thompson-Boling Arena next Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, meeting with Georgia Tech for the fourth straight season. The game will be televised on ESPN2. Tickets remain available at AllVols.com.

UT Athletics

Lady Vols Hoops Report (11/9/18)

Posted on November 9, 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Holly Warlick met with the media on Friday in advance of Sunday’s regular season opener with Presbyterian. The skipper of the No. 11/12 Lady Vols reflected on what was learned during her team’s exhibition win last Monday and on what can be expected from the Blue Hose, who are appearing for the first time on UT’s schedule.

Tennessee and PC will meet on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET at Thompson-Boling Arena, with the game being streamed on SECN+. Each team is opening the 2018-19 campaign after playing a sole exhibition contest. The Lady Vols rolled past Carson-Newman,128-59, on Nov. 5, while Presbyterian prevailed, 65-47, vs. Augusta in Alaura Sharp’s first game at the helm of the Blue Hose on Nov. 4.

Sunday’s contest will be part of UT’s Salute To Service weekend. Current military members and veterans may present their Military I.D. or DD-214 at Gate C, Gate E or the ticket tent located on Phillip Fulmer Way prior to entering Thompson-Boling Arena for complimentary admission for themselves and their immediate family members.

Head Coach Holly Warlick

On Evina Westbrook’s maturity:
“Being a point guard as a freshman (last year) in the SEC is extremely difficult. Anytime you get the chance to get experience against the teams we play, going every day in practice against guys (male practice players), it’s going to help her. She’s doing fantastic… just her focus, her ability to lead, what she’s done with the freshmen. She’s really taken the opportunity to spend a lot of time with them and help them along the way.”

On Westbrook taking the freshmen under her wing:
“Most definitely. A lot of it is the off- the-court stuff that we don’t see. She lives with two of our freshmen, so she has to be a great example for them on a daily basis. You can tell, and you can ask them, the freshmen listen to her.”

On what they are working on following the exhibition win over Carson-Newman:
“(We) really want to continue on our intensity, take great shots and stay focused – those three things. I thought our exhibition game was great for us. We played a lot of people, and we’re going to play a lot of people, but really for the most part, I’m pleased with those three things… but we’ve got to continue to get better.”

On how they’ve been working on intensity and focus:
“We spend a lot of time on it. We spend a lot of time not allowing them to be average. We spend a lot of time on making sure we have everyone’s attention and they’re staying focused. We just put them in situations where they’ve got to think. It’s not always about coming to a coach and saying, ‘Is that right or wrong?’ Sometimes we learn it’s trial and error, and this group has done a great job with it.”

On how the team’s chemistry translated on the floor against Carson-Newman:
“Just in their excitement, seeing how they’re excited for each other. Not so much when they do something for themselves, but when Zaay Green blocks a shot, they’re all going crazy. When someone makes a three, they’re all going crazy. And that’s what makes it fun, seeing people get excited about other people.”

On if she plans on mixing up lineups:
“I recruited them to play. They’re coming along. They’re going to make mistakes, yes, but the only way they can learn is to get out there, and I’m going to play them, because of the style we’re playing; We’re running, we’re pressing, and it takes a lot out of you, so, I’m going to play a lot of people.

On if she saw any player combinations that surprised her during the Carson-Newman game:
“You always do. You’ll see a team that maybe rebounds better together or is a better defensive team together, or the offense flows a little better with this group. It’s too early to really pinpoint, but I’m watching that, absolutely.”

On who she expects to be three-point shooters this season:
“Rennia Davis, Zaay Green, Rae (Burrell), Meme (Jackson) – they’re all very capable of doing that. We didn’t shoot the ball well the other day, and that translates to me to go get you a two and then come back and shoot the three. They’ve been consistent, but we’ve got to get better, and we’re just continuing to work on it.”

On if the struggles at the free-throw line are mostly mental:
“Oh, I’m sure it is. To me, that’s what it is, it’s mental. And when it’s mental, you get in the gym and it’s just repetitions and that builds confidence. That allows you, when you shoot 500 free throws a week, now you step to the line and think, ‘Now I’ve shot 500 of these. I’ve got to get up there with confidence.’ Free throws, a lot of it is mental; a lot of it is mental, and the only way you can overcome that is repetition and getting in the gym.”

On how she expects Presbyterian to challenge UT on Sunday:
“Some of the guards are small, and like Carson-Newman, shoot the three-ball well. They’re going to spread the floor, going to spread us out. Our bigs are going to have to come out and play. (They’ve got) a new coach. I haven’t seen film on them, but know what they did in their exhibition game, so we’ve just got to go out and get our feet wet and just kind of adjust as the game goes on.”

On how Lou Brown is handling everything since her injury:
“I think it hits her at different times. I think the first game she was a little emotional not being out there, but she sees where she’s going to contribute, and that’s her maturity and her knowledge. There’s something about sitting on a bench and watching the game and not worrying, ‘Am I going in? Am I not going in?’ She’s literally focused on the game and what she sees and what she can relay to her teammates. It’s really good for you to hear your peers tell you what they see.”

On when she expects to hear from the NCAA about a potential sixth year of eligibility for Lou Brown:
“That’s a great question. I don’t know the answer to that; hopefully sooner rather than later… She’s doing great. She’s doing really, really well. But I don’t know the process. We’ve never had this situation happen, so I don’t know what the timetable is, but we’re very hopeful it will happen.”

UT Athletics

Justin Moore to Host “Veterans Day Salute” Across Cumulus Stations

Posted on November 9, 2018

Justin Moore will host the inaugural Veterans Day special across select Cumulus platforms on Monday, Nov. 12.

Tune in at noon (all time zones) to hear A Veterans Day Salute with Justin Moore as he performs some of his hits, including “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” and “Small Town USA.” In addition, he’ll perform his new single, “The Ones That Didn’t Make Back Home,” and discuss his longtime appreciation of the U.S. military and veterans.

Co-written with Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill and Jeremy Stover, “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home” pays homage to the men and women who fight everyday for our country’s freedom.

“This is not about me,” says Justin. “I know my contributions pale in comparison, but I always try and show my gratitude for their service whenever I can.”

Justin recently announced upcoming tour dates in 2019 in advance of releasing his fifth studio album.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Kelsea Ballerini Comes Out Swinging in New Video for “Miss Me More” [Watch]

Posted on November 9, 2018

Kelsea Ballerini isn’t pulling any punches in her new video for “Miss Me More,” which is currently No. 44 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after two weeks.

“Miss Me More,” which was penned by Kelsea, David Hodges and Brett McLaughlin, is featured on Kelsea’s 2017 sophomore album, Unapologetically. The tune follows previous single “I Hate Love Songs,” which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

Kelsea’s new video for “Miss Me More” features the Tennessee native hitting the gym and trading blows in the boxing ring against her “former” self. Shane Drake directed the video at Jaxon Boxing Gym in L.A.

“I wrote ‘Miss Me More’ about a time when I was rediscovering myself after a bad breakup,” says Kelsea. “I felt like I was fighting for myself and so, I always had the vision for this video as a dark, intense, fight scene to reflect that. I can’t wait for everyone to see a new perspective of this song.”

Check out the new clip below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Jimmy’s blog: Pruitt would take bowl bid at 5-7 for added practices

Posted on November 9, 2018

By Jimmy Hyams

I would never consider 6-6 to be a good season at Tennessee.

In some years, a .500 record would be acceptable – like this year. But by Tennessee’s standards, that would never be a good season.

And I’m not a fan of 6-6 teams going to bowl games.

But this season, because there are 40 bowls, there is a chance that Tennessee at 5-7 could get an invite to a bowl. That all depends on how many 5-7 teams are needed to fill the bowl slots and your academic standing.

Jeremy Pruitt is in his first year as Tennessee’s coach. He’s doing everything he can to improve a team that his short on talent, strength and speed.

If UT went 5-7 and got invited to a bowl, would he accept?

“Absolutely,’’ he said when I asked him that question on the SEC teleconference earlier this week.

Pruitt said his team “needs as many games as it can get,’’ which, if you’re going to a bowl, means potentially 15 more practices.

Pruitt said his team needed 45 practices in the spring, not the 15 allotted.

Two 5-7 SEC teams in recent years have been invited to a bowl – Missouri and Mississippi State.

Missouri declined a bid after a 5-7 season and the retirement of coach Gary Pinkel.

Mississippi State accepted in 2016 and won the St. Petersburg bowl to finish 6-7.

Some would argue that a program as proud as Tennessee’s should NOT accept a bowl bid with a losing record. But it’s hard to argue when Pruitt says his players need more practices.

Last week: 6-1

Overall: 69-14

Recap: We picked Auburn 27-23 over Texas A&M and Tigers won 28-24 … We picked South Carolina by 3 over Ole Miss and Gamecocks won by 4 … We weren’t close on the margin of victory for Alabama over LSU, Mississippi State over Louisiana Tech, Georgia over Kentucky … The UT-Charlotte game was closer than we anticipated, although we did take the under at 22 points … We completely blew Missouri blowing out Florida.

This week’s picks:

Alabama 45-17 over Mississippi State

Kentucky 24-17 over Tennessee

Florida 24-20 over South Carolina

LSU 30-24 over Arkansas

Georgia 30-20 over Auburn

Texas A&M 40-31 over Ole Miss

Missouri 34-24 over Vanderbilt

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

Kane Brown Talks New Album, Recent Wedding, Upcoming Tour, Guinness Record & More

Posted on November 9, 2018

Jim Casey talks with Kane Brown about:

staying cool under pressure
getting married in October
releasing his new sophomore album, Experiment, on Nov. 9
learning from the process of making his debut album in 2016
growing as a songwriter
working with producer Dan Huff on the new album
choosing current Top 10 hit, “Lose It,” as the new album’s lead single
the inspiration behind new song, “Homesick”
hitting the road for his first headlining tour in 2019
learning from Jason Aldean’s live show
setting the Guinness World Record for becoming the first country artist to simultaneously top five different Billboard charts

Show Participants:

Kane Brown
Jim Casey, NCD editor in chief

Hoops Central: #6 Vols vs. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

Posted on November 9, 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A pair of reigning conference champions face off at Thompson-Boling Arena on Friday night when No. 6 Tennessee plays host to Louisiana for a 7 p.m. ET tip on SEC Network +.

Tickets are available at AllVols.com. Also, as part of Tennessee Athletics’ Salute to Service Weekend, current military members and veterans may present a Military ID or DD 214 at Gate C, Gate E or the ticket tent located on Phillip Fulmer Way prior to entering Thompson-Boling Arena for complimentary admission for themselves and any immediate family members.

Tennessee (1-0) opened the season with a victory, topping Lenoir-Rhyne 86-41 on Tuesday night. All five starters finished the game in double figures, led by Jordan Bone’s 18 points. Kyle Alexander chipped in a career-high 16 points while tallying four blocks in the contest.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (1-0) come to Knoxville off a 121-80, season-opening win over the University of the Virgin Islands. The reigning Sun Belt Conference champions had six players in double figures, led by a pair of 19-point performances from JaKeenan Gant and Malik Marquetti. As a team, ULL shot 67.1 percent from the field (including 58.3 percent from three) while forcing 22 turnovers.

ABOUT LOUISIANA

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (1-0) enter Friday night’s matchup in Thompson-Boling Arena with aspirations to improve upon an impressive 2017-18 campaign.
Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year Bob Marlin led the Ragin’ Cajuns to a record-breaking year as Louisiana won a school-record 27 games and earned its first outright Sun Belt Conference regular-season title since the 1999-2000 season. The Ragin’ Cajuns won 20 of 22 games from December through February while dominating the league statistics, finishing as the league leader in 10 categories, including scoring offense (83.2), field-goal percentage (.464), free-throw percentage (.761) and assists (17.4).
While first-team All-Sun Belt Conference players Frank Bartley and Bryce Washington graduated, the Ragin’ Cajuns return three starters, including Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year JaKeenan Gant (13.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.3 bpg).
With nine upperclassmen on the roster and three transfers from “Power Five” programs, Louisiana has the experience and talent to once again compete for a Sun Belt title in 2018-19 and will offer a good early-season test for the Volunteers.
In their season opener against Virgin Islands, the Ragin’ Cajuns were lights out from the floor, knocking down 67 percent of their shots in a 121-80 victory. Gant finished with 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 25 minutes of action. Senior guard Marcus Stroman, a transfer from South Carolina, was on the cusp of recording a triple-double with 10 assists, eight points and eight rebounds.

TENNESSEE RETURNS TO NIT SEASON TIP-OFF THIS MONTH

Tennessee will make its fourth all-time appearance in the NIT Season Tip-Off later this month. The four-team field consists of the Vols, Kansas, Louisville and Marquette, taking place in Brooklyn, N.Y., at the Barclays Center.
Tennessee opens play with a matchup against Louisville on Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. ET. The other side of the bracket features a contest between Kansas and Marquette. The winners and losers of each game on Nov. 21 will meet two days later on Nov. 23.
In its last NIT Season Tip-Off appearance, UT won the 2010 championship with victories over VCU and Villanova.
The Vols also appeared in the 1992 and 2006 NIT Season Tip-Offs. The Big Orange defeated Rutgers before falling to Seton Hall in 1992. In 2006, UT suffered losses to Butler and North Carolina at Madison Square Garden.
Both Tennessee (No. 6) and the Jayhawks (No. 1) enter the season ranked in the top 10 of the AP preseason poll. If the two teams were to face off and the rankings hold, the game would mark UT’s fifth contest against a top-10 non-conference foe during the last three seasons.

SCHOFIELD, WILLIAMS APPROACHING 1,000-POINT MILESTONE

Senior wing Admiral Schofield and junior forward Grant Williams enter the season less than 100 points away from eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for their careers.
A total of 48 Vols have accomplished that feat during their time on Rocky Top, with Robert Hubbs III being the most recent addition to the 1K Club in 2016-17.
Schofield (960 points) and Williams (933 points) could both reach the milestone within the first month of the season. The last time a UT duo achieved the feat in the same season was during the 2013-14 campaign, as eventual NBA Draft picks Jordan McRae (1,521 points) and Jarnell Stokes (1,129 points) joined the club while helping lead Tennessee to a Sweet Sixteen appearance.
All-time, UT has had 10 duos reach 1,000 points in the same season, including Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King in 1975-76.
Along with this year’s All-SEC duo, junior guard Lamonté Turner also could surpass 1,000 career points this season. At 644 career points, the 2018 SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year needs just 356 points to reach 1,000. Last year, Turner finished the season with 381 points. If all three were to eclipse the mark, it would mark the first time a Tennessee trio has done so in the same year.

SCHOFIELD, WILLIAMS NAMED TO NAISMITH WATCH LIST

Tennessee’s All-SEC duo of Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams continued garnering preseason recognition Monday, as the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced its watch list for the 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy Men’s Player of the Year.
Tennessee was one of 11 schools to have multiple players on the list, including Duke, Gonzaga, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Nevada, North Carolina, Villanova and Virginia. The Vols could also potentially face 13 players named to the list during the regular season.

WILLIAMS TABBED TO WOODEN AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST

Grant Williams racked up his third preseason national player of the year consideration, as the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s announced its Preseason Top 50 Watch List.
Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for the most prestigious honors in college basketball, the Wooden Award All American Team™ and Most Outstanding Player Award.
The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2019 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy’s during the ESPN College Basketball Awards on Friday, April 12, 2019.

-UT Athletics

Video: Barnes updates status on Turner/Johnson, previews ULL

Posted on November 8, 2018

Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes spoke with the media on Thursday ahead of the team’s home game vs. Louisiana Lafayette on Friday.

Football Preview: Tennessee vs. #11/12/12 Kentucky

Posted on November 8, 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After a victory over Charlotte on Homecoming last week, Tennessee jumps back into Southeastern Conference play this Saturday as No. 11 Kentucky visits Neyland Stadium.

Kickoff for the game is set for 3:30 p.m. on the SEC Network. John Congemi (play-by-play) and Taylor Zarzour (analyst) will have the call with Kris Budden reporting from the sidelines. Vol Network radio affiliates will have a live audio broadcast with Bob Kesling, Tim Priest and Brent Hubbs. Sirius (Channel 135) and XM satellite radio (Channel 210) will also carry the game.

Saturday is the start of the home stretch of the regular season for the Vols, who will play their next two games at home before capping off the regular season with a road contest against in-state rival Vanderbilt. UT needs to win two of its final three games to become bowl eligible.

Need to Know

Series History: Kentucky
Tennessee and Kentucky will meet for the 114th time on Saturday afternoon. The Vols lead the all-time series with a 79-25-9 record, including a 42-10-6 mark in Knoxville. UT has played and beaten UK more than any other team in program history. The two programs first met on the gridiron way back in 1893.

The Big Orange have not lost to the Wildcats at home since 1984 and are 16-0 in that span. Kentucky came away victorious, 29-26, in last season’s meeting in Lexington to snap a five-game losing streak in the series.

Talented Trio Out Wide
Tennessee boasts one of the better wide receiver trios in the SEC in Josh Palmer, Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings. The three have combined for 74 receptions, 1,151 receiving yards and six total touchdowns.

Palmer, a sophomore from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, leads the team with 414 receiving yards and has been a big-play threat for the Vols, averaging 23.0 yards per catch, which ranks second in the nation.

Callaway paces the unit with a career-high 30 catches to go along with 402 receiving yards. The junior is also dangerous on punt returns, as seen last week with an 82-yard punt-return touchdown, the second of his career.

Jennings is tied for the team lead with three receiving touchdowns and ranks second on the squad with 26 catches this season after missing basically all of 2017 with a wrist injury suffered in the season opener.

Phillips Continues Impressive Stretch
The Vols have been much improved on defense this season and senior defensive end Kyle Phillips has played a major role in that success. Phillips is having a breakout year for the Orange and White, having already set career highs with 37 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks and four passes defensed. The Nashville native has also forced and recovered a fumble this year and returned an interception for a touchdown against No. 1 Alabama. In last weekend’s win over Charlotte, Phillips tied career highs with two tackles for loss, a sack and two pass breakups.

Dynamic Duo at Corner
The duo of Alontae Taylor and Bryce Thompson has impressed at cornerback this season for UT. Taylor and Thompson are the only pair of true freshmen in the SEC to start a game together at corner this season, doing so four times now.

Thompson leads the team and ranks second in the SEC with three interceptions and has been named to the PFF College SEC Defensive Team of the Week three times this season. His three picks are tied for the most by a Tennessee true freshman since Eric Berry had five in 2007. Taylor leads the team with two forced fumbles and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in UT’s upset victory at No. 21 Auburn a few weeks ago. He’s also racked up 27 tackles and has blocked a punt this year.

Defense Improving Under Pruitt
Tennessee’s defense has shown significant improvement this season under first-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt. The Vols are on pace to better their defensive statistics in nearly every major category this season. The Big Orange have held three opponents without a touchdown this year (ETSU, UTEP, Charlotte), marking the first time since 2008 that the Vols have accomplished that feat. Tennessee has also scored three defensive touchdowns this season, which is tied for seventh in the FBS.

Salute to Service
The Vols will honor military members for its annual Salute to Service game on Saturday. Planned moments during the game include a half-time performance by the Marine Drill Team, veteran Jim Cundall being honored as the Volunteer of the Game and a recognition of Gold Star families pregame.

A flyover performed by the 134th Air Refueling Wing, a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard stationed at McGhee Tyson, will also take place at the end of the National Anthem depending on weather conditions.

Seats for Service Members
Fans now can team-up with Tennessee Athletics to help East Tennessee service members, veterans and their families enjoy a game in Neyland Stadium by contributing to the purchase of a ticket for a service member. Just $35 purchases a single ticket, and contributions of any amount will be combined to purchase seats. Tennessee Athletics will match every ticket purchased for the Kentucky game, up to 750 tickets. Tickets to the Tennessee-Kentucky football game on Nov. 10 will be donated directly to 10 local and state military and veterans’ organizations that Tennessee Athletics has identified as longstanding partners (the same was done for the UTEP game on Sept. 15). Fans interested in contributing to “Seats for a Service Members” are encouraged to call 1-800-332-VOLS.

About Kentucky
Kentucky is having one of its best seasons in program history, entering Saturday’s game with a 7-2 record, it’s best nine-game start to a season since 1984. Sitting at 5-2 in conference play, the Wildcats have clinched a winning record in SEC play for the first time since 1977 and have already assured themselves a second-place finish in the SEC East. They are ranked in all three major polls (No. 11 CFP, No. 12 AP & Coaches) and are looking to reach the eight-win mark for just the fourth time in the past 57 years.

Kentucky is led by a dominant defense and powerful running game. UK ranks eighth in the country in scoring defense (15.3 ppg) and 15th nationally and fourth in the SEC in total defense (311.8 ypg). The Wildcats are coming off a 34-17 loss to Georgia last week, which was the first time all season they had allowed more than 20 points in a game. The defense is led by senior linebacker Josh Allen, who is the SEC leader with 10.0 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. Senior safety Darius West leads the secondary with three interceptions and six pass breakups.

Junior running back Benny Snell Jr. has been the heart and soul of the Kentucky offense this season, ranking first in the SEC with 1,008 rushing yards. The workhorse back has also scored a team-leading 10 touchdowns and ranks seventh among active FBS players in career rushing yards (3,432). Snell is the first player in program history to record three straight 1,000-yard seasons and is just the third player in SEC history to have 1,000 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in each of his first three seasons, joining Georgia’s Herschel Walker (1980-82) and Arkansas’ Darren McFadden (2005-07).

At quarterback, the Wildcats are led by sophomore Terry Wilson, who has thrown for 1,214 yards and six touchdowns to go along with six interceptions this season. Wilson is also a threat in the ground game with 418 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

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