Walk-Through Metal Detectors in Use at TBA

Posted on October 30, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As a reminder for the upcoming Tennessee basketball season, the University of Tennessee has implemented a new security measure to enhance patron safety at all events at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Walk-through metal detectors are now in place and operational at all arena entrances.

Please be advised that this new security measure may add time to the process of entering the arena, so fans are encouraged to allow additional time for entry. Patrons are also encouraged to bring only necessary items with them in order to ensure a smooth and timely arena entry.

Tennessee’s Clear Bag Policy is still in place, and all bags will be checked before entrants pass through the metal detectors. There will be signage and staff to help direct fans through the process at each entry point.

To expedite entry into Thompson-Boling Arena, Gate F—located on the southeast corner of the arena—will be opened this season.

In addition to Tennessee athletic events, the metal detectors also will be in use for all ticketed arena events, such as concerts and other entertainment shows.

Remove These Items from Pockets
Cellphone
Camera
Other large metal objects

These Items May Remain On-Person or in Pockets 
Watch
Jewelry
Wallet
Belt
Jacket
Shoes
Coins

Note: Staff and media also are required to pass through the metal detectors.

UT Athletics
UT’s Davis, Westbrook Earn Preseason All-SEC Recognition

UT’s Davis, Westbrook Earn Preseason All-SEC Recognition

Posted on October 30, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee women’s basketball sophomores Rennia Davis and Evina Westbrook have been named to the Coaches Preseason All-SEC Team, the Southeastern Conference office announced on Tuesday.

Davis, a 6-foot-2 guard/forward from Jacksonville, Fla., was named to the first team, while Westbrook, a 6-0 point guard from Salem, Ore., was selected for the second unit.

The coaches also made their predictions for the 2018-19 season and projected the Lady Vols to finish fourth in the league standings. Defending champion Mississippi State tops the order of finish, with South Carolina and Georgia picked ahead of Tennessee. Missouri, Texas A&M and Kentucky round out the top half of the league. The bottom half is comprised of Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss.

The Lady Vols, who were recently picked third in the media’s preseason poll, return three starters from last year’s squad that finished 25-8 overall and 11-5 in the SEC with a tie for fourth place. Davis and Westbrook, who were UT’s third and fifth-leading scorers a year ago, respectively, were 2018 SEC All-Freshman honorees.

Davis, who is on the Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch list, averaged 12.0 points and 7.6 rebounds as a freshman, starting 32 of 33 games. She was twice named SEC Freshman of the Week, Davis finished the 2017-18 season ranked No. 11 in rebounding in the conference. She posted the sixth-best rebounds-per-game average ever by a Lady Vol freshman at 7.6, leading the team on the boards six times during the 2017-18 season. She shot .483 from the field, .329 on three-pointers and .740 from the free throw line, knocking down 25 threes to rank fourth on the team.

The Ribault High School graduate notched nine double-doubles to tie Tamika Catchings for the fifth-most double-doubles recorded by a Lady Vol freshman. Tennessee players ahead of her on the list are Chamique Holdsclaw (16), Sheila Frost (11), Bashaara Graves (10) and Candace Parker (10).

Westbrook, who is on the Nancy Lieberman Award preseason watch list, started all 33 games as a freshman and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. She averaged 8.4 points, 4.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game in 2017-18, with an assist average that ranked second-best all-time by a Lady Vol rookie. Her 12 assists against Troy also tied the school’s freshman record for assists in a game and ranked seventh all-time.

Westbrook recorded three or more assists in 26 games and scored 10+ points on 12 occasions. She finished first in assists (143), second in blocks (23) and tied for the second most three-pointers among Lady Vols, knocking down 27. Her 143 assists were the second-most ever by a UT rookie.

Tennessee plays its lone exhibition game on Monday night at 7 p.m., welcoming Carson-Newman to Thompson-Boling Arena. The Lady Vols host their regular-season opener on Nov. 11, as Presbyterian comes to town for a 2 p.m. contest. Both contests will be streamed live on SECN+. Tickets are available at AllVols.com or by calling (865) 656-1200 during business hours.

Preseason Coaches’ Predictions

Order of Finish
1. Mississippi State
2. South Carolina
3. Georgia
4. Tennessee
5. Missouri
6. Texas A&M
7. Kentucky
8. Auburn
9. LSU
10. Alabama
11. Arkansas
12. Florida
13. Vanderbilt
14. Ole Miss

Player of the Year
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State

First Team All-SEC
Caliya Robinson, Georgia
Maci Morris, Kentucky
Anriel Howard, Mississippi State
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State
Sophie Cunningham, Missouri
Tyasha Harris, South Carolina
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M.

Second Team All-SEC
Malica Monk, Arkansas
Janiah McKay, Auburn
Unique Thompson, Auburn
Taylor Murray, Kentucky
Ayana Mitchell, LSU
Shandricka Sessom, Ole Miss
Amber Smith, Missouri
Alexis Jennings, South Carolina
Evina Westbrook, Tennessee

 

UT Athletics

Paul Bain Named Burlsworth Trophy Nominee

Paul Bain Named Burlsworth Trophy Nominee

Posted on October 30, 2018
Paul Bain – Vols DL – Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee defensive lineman Paul Bain was announced as a nominee for the 2018 Burlsworth Trophy on Tuesday afternoon.

The Powder Springs, Ga., native was one of 69 players from Division I (FBS) schools named by the Burlsworth Trophy in conjunction with the Springdale (AR) Rotary Club.

In its ninth year, the Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding college football player in America who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.

Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with an FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university’s athletic department. The award is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Recent winners include Washington State quarterback Luke Falk (2017) and former Heisman Trophy winner at Oklahoma, Baker Mayfield (2015 & 2016).

Bain started his collegiate career at Division II Tusculum College before deciding to transfer after one season to join the Tennessee football program as a walk-on prior to the 2016 season.

The redshirt senior played sparingly during his first three seasons with the program but impressed the Vols’ new coaching staff this spring and summer. Bain’s hard work was rewarded earlier this season when he was put on scholarship by head coach Jeremy Pruitt the Tuesday prior to UT’s home opener against ETSU.

As a regular on special teams and in the Vols’ defensive line rotation this season, Bain has set career highs with 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery while seeing action in all eight games this year.

The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, in conjunction with Springdale Rotary Club, will host an awards ceremony on December 3, 2018 in Springdale, Ark., to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2018 winner.

 

UT Athletics

“Real Country” TV Show With Shania Twain, Travis Tritt & Jake Owen Announces 21 Contestants & $100,000 Grand Prize

“Real Country” TV Show With Shania Twain, Travis Tritt & Jake Owen Announces 21 Contestants & $100,000 Grand Prize

Posted on October 30, 2018

Shania Twain, Travis Tritt and Jake Owen will join forces in an effort to mentor new country talent for the upcoming television series, Real Country, which debuts on USA on Nov. 13.

The eight-part series, which was filmed in Nashville over the summer, will feature 21 artists vying for the chance to win $100,000 and a performance slot on the Grand Ole Opry. During each hour-long episode, three artists will compete for $10,000, a performance at Stagecoach Music Festival and the chance to move on to the $100,000 grand finale.

Shania, Travis and Jake hand-selected their “teams,” which you can see below.

Shania’s Picks: Billie Jo, The Davisson Brothers Band, Kylie Frey, Riley Thompson, Tiera, Micah Woods and The Young Fables

Jake’s Picks: Adairs Run, Jaida Dreyer, Larry Fleet, Jamie Floyd, Savannah Keyes, Frank Ray and Regan Stewart

Travis’ Picks: Bri Bagwell, Scooter Brown, Copper Chief, Tony Jackson, Dave Kennedy, Cody Purvis and Porter Union

photo courtesy of USA Network

“Thankful” yet “Conflicted” Maren Morris Says It’s “Concerning” She’s the Only Solo Female in the Top 30 on Billboard’s Country Chart

“Thankful” yet “Conflicted” Maren Morris Says It’s “Concerning” She’s the Only Solo Female in the Top 30 on Billboard’s Country Chart

Posted on October 30, 2018

Maren Morris scored the second Top 5 single from her solo catalog this week as “Rich” reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

That’s the good news.

The bad news? Maren is the only solo woman featured in the Top 30 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart this week. In fact, another solo female artist doesn’t make an appearance on the chart until Carrie Underwood clocks in at No. 34 with “Love Wins.”

In an exclusive interview on Elaina Smith’s Women Want to Hear Women podcast, Maren says that she is “conflicted” about her Top 5 accomplishment.

“I feel conflicted, because I worked so hard to put this album [Hero] out with songs that I dearly care about, and it’s sad because I want to celebrate the fact that my song is in the Top 5, but I also feel like I can’t fully celebrate because I am the only woman in the Top 30,” says Maren to Elaina. “It feels like a catch 22 sometimes because I feel ungrateful when I bring attention to the fact there is such a lack of female representation at radio right now. But I’m also thankful, so I do feel on the fence about it because I’m obviously so gracious that radio is playing this and fans are loving this song, but at the same time I want to be able to celebrate my friends that are putting out incredible music that aren’t even getting a single spin. It’s a weird spot to be in. I want to inspire and help change the landscape and get more female voices heard, but it’s definitely concerning to look at the chart today and literally be the only one that’s a woman on it.”

What a shame that Maren feels like she can’t fully celebrate her accomplishments. Maren, we say CONGRATS. Keep up the outstanding work.

Maren tackles more hard-hitting topics during Elaina’s Women Want to Hear Women podcast, which will air right here on NCD—and on all major podcast platforms—on Nov. 5.

Hoops Preview: Vols vs. Tusculum

Posted on October 30, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee basketball program returns to the hardwood on Wednesday night went it hosts Tusculum in its lone exhibition contest of the preseason. Tip is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Wednesday’s game can streamed online through SEC Network+/WatchESPN. Visit espn.com/watch or download the WatchESPN app to view the game on a computer or mobile device. Roger Hoover (play-by-play), Vincent Yarbrough (analyst) and Maddy Glab (reporter) will have the call.

Fans in Knoxville can hear Bob Kesling‘s call of the game on WNML while this week’s edition of Vol Calls will air on WIVK. Vol Network affiliates throughout the state will have the option to carry one of the two programs, but both are available to stream online through UTSports.com and the UT Gameday app.

Tennessee, ranked 6th in the preseason AP Poll, is coming off a 26-9 season in which it earned a share of the SEC regular season crown. The Vols return 14 players—including all five starters—from a squad that appeared in the title game of the SEC Tournament before advancing to its first NCAA Tournament since the 2013-14 season.

The 109th season of Tennessee Basketball officially begins next Tuesday, Nov. 6, when Lenoir-Rhyne visits Knoxville (7 p.m., SEC Network).

ABOUT TUSCULUM

  • Tusculum University is a private institution and NCAA Division II member located approximately 75 miles east of Knoxville in Greeneville, Tennessee. The Pioneers compete in the South Atlantic Conference.
  • Tusculum head coach J.T. Burton, who served as the director of player development on the Vols’ staff for one season under Donnie Tyndall in 2014-15, is in his first season with the Pioneers.
  • Burton boasts more than 20 years of coaching experience. He has amassed 150 victories, five 20-win campaigns, three national postseason appearances and two trips to the national quarterfinals.
  • Burton coached two seasons at Motlow State Community College in Lynchburg, Tennessee, where he led the Bucks to an impressive 55-13 record. In 2016, he coached Motlow State to a 25-7 record and finished runner-up in both the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association and the NJCAA Region XII Tournament. In 2017, he guided the Bucks to a 30-6 campaign while sweeping the Region XII regular season and tournament titles, and advanced to the NJCAA Elite Eight.

VOLS EARN HIGHEST-EVER PRESEASON AP RANKING

  • With a roster that returns nearly every major contributor from last season, including all five starters, UT received its highest ranking ever in the Associated Press preseason poll, coming in at No. 6.
  • Tennessee has been listed in the top 10 of every major preseason poll. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) and analyst Dick Vitale tabbed the Vols as the No. 3 team in the country, while CBS and Andy Katz of the NCAA each ranked the Vols as the fourth best team in the nation.
  • UT has been ranked in the preseason AP poll 14 times, with the previous high of No. 7 coming during the 2007-08 campaign. That year, the Big Orange eventually made their way to No. 1 for the first time ever and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.
  • This is the sixth time Tennessee has started the season ranked in the top 10 of the preseason AP poll (see chart below). It also marks the first time UT enters the season ranked since 2010-11, when the Vols landed at No. 23 heading into the season-opener.

SEASON            AP PRESEASON RANK        POSTSEASON RESULT
1975-76                             9th                                NCAA First Round
1998-99                             9th                                NCAA Second Round
2000-01                             9th                                NCAA First Round
2007-08                             7th                                NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2009-10                            10th                               NCAA Elite Eight
2018-19                            6th                                         TBD

LEAGUE MEDIA PICKS VOLS SECOND; WILLIAMS IS PRESEASON POY PICK

  • In mid-October, a panel of league media picked Tennessee to finish second in the SEC regular-season race, behind Kentucky.
  • The media predicted forward Grant Williams to repeat as SEC Player of the Year (and to be a first-team All-SEC performer), while wing Admiral Schofield was tabbed as a preseason All-SEC second-teamer.

SEVEN EARN VOLSCHOLAR STATUS

TENNESSEE HAS NEVER WON BACK-TO-BACK SEC TITLES

  • While Tennessee’s 10 SEC championships are tied for second-most among league schools, the Volunteers have never captured consecutive conference crowns.
  • Tennessee won a share of the regular-season SEC championship last year with a 13-5 record in league play.
  • In addition to Tennessee’s 10 SEC titles (three of which came via winning the conference tournament in 1936, 1941 and 1943), the Vols also won the SEC Tournament in 1979.
  • A league title this season also would give head coach Rick Barnes his first back-to-back league titles. He enters the 2018-19 campaign with three Big 12 and one SEC championship under his belt.

ANNIVERSARIES

  • The 2018-19 season marks the 40th anniversary of Tennessee’s 1979 SEC Tournament championship. The Volunteers went 12-6 in league play before defeating Auburn and Kentucky (in overtime) in Birmingham to secure the SEC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. That team, coached by Don DeVoe, was the last Tennessee squad to win the conference tournament.
  • This season also marks the 10th and 20th anniversary of UT’s SEC Eastern Division titles in 2008-09 and 1998-99, respectively. The league abandoned divisional play following the 2010-11 season.
  • Ten years ago (on Dec. 3, 2008) Tyler Smith recorded the only triple-double in program history, totaling 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
  • Twenty years ago (on Dec. 6, 1998), the Vols set a single-game school record with 15 blocks during a 56-53 home win over 20th-ranked Pitt.
  • Sixty years ago, during the 1958-59 campaign, All-American center Gene Tormohlen set the Tennessee single-season record for rebounding average when he pulled down 17.7 rebounds per game (372 in 21 games). He also set the program record for consecutive double-doubles that year, posting 14 straight from Dec. 27, 1958 through Feb. 21, 1959).

VOL FANS EAGER TO PACK THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA

  • So far this season, two Tennessee home games have sold out already before the end of October. Single game tickets went on sale on Oct. 9, and since then, the Vols’ home games against West Virginia (Jan. 26) and Kentucky (March 2) have sold out.
  • Tickets are extremely limited for Tennessee’s Feb. 9 home game against Florida, with other games also expected to be sellouts.
  • Last season, three of the Vols’ home games were sellouts: North Carolina (Dec. 17), Kentucky (Jan. 6) and Georgia (March 3).

 

UT Athletics

Watch Delta Rae “Play It Forward” With Stunning Cover of Cam’s “Diane”

Watch Delta Rae “Play It Forward” With Stunning Cover of Cam’s “Diane”

Posted on October 30, 2018

The band Delta Rae—comprised of Ian Hölljes, Eric Hölljes, Brittany Hölljes, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mike McKee and Grant Emerson—stopped by the Nash campus last week to chat with Elaina Smith for her Women Want to Hear Women podcast (you can listen to the entire episode here).

One of the podcast’s segments—“Play It Forward”—beckons the featured artist/band to perform a song from another female’s catalog.

For their Play It Forward, Delta Rae covered Cam’s “Diane,” a tune she released in 2017.

Watch Delta Rae’s stunning performance below.

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