Holdsclaw, DeMoss Entering WBHOF

Holdsclaw, DeMoss Entering WBHOF

Posted on June 7, 2018
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame will induct the Class of 2018 this weekend, and four-time Lady Vol All-American Chamique Holdsclaw and former UT assistant coach Mickie DeMoss are among seven women being welcomed.

Members of the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL) also are being recognized as “Trailblazers of the Game.” The WBL was the first professional women’s basketball league in the United States, playing three seasons from 1978 to 1981. Many notable Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductees participated in the WBL, including Carol Blazejowski, Cindy Brogdon, Nancy Dunkle, Peggie Gillom-Granderson, Lusia Harris Stewart, Tara Heiss, Nancy Lieberman, Muffet McGraw, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Pearl Moore, Inge Nissen, Patricia Roberts, Rosie Walker and Holly Warlick. Brogdon, Roberts and Warlick starred for Tennessee, and Warlick, of course, is beginning her seventh season as the Lady Vols’ head coach.

Other 2018 inductees include Ceal Barry (coach), Rose Marie Battaglia (veteran, contributor), Chris Dailey (contributor – assistant coach), Katie Smith (player) and Tina Thompson (player).

The induction ceremony will take place Saturday night at the Tennessee Theatre. Contact the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for ticket information.

The 2018 Induction will mark the 20th anniversary of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, which held its grand opening and inaugural induction in 1999.

With the induction of the Class of 2018, the Hall of Fame has honored 164 inductees, with Holdsclaw and DeMoss becoming the 11th and 12th with Tennessee ties entering the hall. In addition to Brogdon (2002), Roberts (2000) and Warlick (2001), UT also has seen head coach Pat Summitt (1999), athletics director Gloria Ray (2010) and student-athletes Cindy Noble Hauserman (2000), Daedra Charles-Furlow (2007), Bridgette Gordon (2007), Jill Rankin Schneider (2008) and Nikki McCray (2012) enshrined.

2018 LADY VOL INDUCTEES

CHAMIQUE HOLDSCLAW (Player)
• Holdsclaw is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder at Tennessee in men’s or women’s basketball
• She is also the all-time leading scorer in SEC women’s basketball
• Holdsclaw guided the Lady Vols to three NCAA National Championships (1996, 1997, 1998)
• She was a four-time Kodak/WBCA All-American and two-time Naismith Player of the Year
• Holdsclaw was named the Honda-Broderick Award winner in 1998 and was named the James E. Sullivan award winner for top amateur athlete in the U.S. in 1998
• She was named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 1999 and was a WNBA All-Star six times
• Holdsclaw was the WNBA Scoring Champion in 2002 and was the WNBA Rebounding Champion in 2002 and 2003
• She helped guide USA Basketball to a gold medal in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney
• Holdsclaw was a WBCA All-American in high school in 1995

MICKIE DEMOSS (Contributor – Assistant Coach)
• DeMoss’ overall record as an assistant coach is 848-209
• As an assistant coach, she helped guide Tennessee to six NCAA National Championships including 12 NCAA Final Four appearances
• DeMoss also helped guide Tennessee to 11 SEC regular season championships and 10 SEC tournament championships.
• She has helped develop 11 Lady Vols into WBCA All-Americans and three Naismith Players of the Year
• DeMoss also helped develop seven Lady Vols into U.S. Olympians
• She was named the WBCA NCAA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year in 2000
• In 1998, DeMoss was named the Women’s Basketball Journal Top Assistant Coach in the Country
• She was an assistant coach for the Indiana Fever for two years, helping guide them to the 2012 WNBA Championship
• DeMoss has worked as an assistant coach under four Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame coaches (Pat Summitt, Joe Ciampi, Gail Goestenkors and Lin Dunn)

 

UT Athletics

Darius Rucker & Friends Raise More Than $400,000 for St. Jude Through 2018 Concert & Golf Tourney

Darius Rucker & Friends Raise More Than $400,000 for St. Jude Through 2018 Concert & Golf Tourney

Posted on June 7, 2018

Darius Rucker gets by with a little help from his friends.

With his ninth annual Darius & Friends Benefit Concert on June 4 at the Ryman Auditorium and golf tourney on June 5, Darius surpassed $1.6 million raised for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

This year’s concert, auction and golf tourney raised $404,000 for St. Jude, breaking all previous yearly records.

“As a parent, I can’t imagine the emotional toll hearing your child has cancer takes, not to mention the financial stress,” said Darius. “The support families with a child facing life-threating illness receive from St. Jude is just incredible. I’m proud to support St. Jude and I’m so grateful to all our friends who came out and donated their time to be on the show.”

Patrick Davis, Edwin McCain, A.J. McClean of the Backstreet Boys, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Lauren Alaina, Bobby Bones, Ashley McBryde and Rachel Wammack performed with Darius for the more than 2,400 fans in attendance at the Ryman.

photo by Steve Lowry/EB Media

Cam Joins Sam Smith’s “The Thrill of It All Tour” for More Than 20 Summer Dates

Cam Joins Sam Smith’s “The Thrill of It All Tour” for More Than 20 Summer Dates

Posted on June 7, 2018

Cam had so much fun joining Sam Smith onstage during his four sold-out shows at London’s O2 Arena in April that she is extending the party.

Cam will join Sam’s The Trill of It All Tour for more than 20 dates this summer. Kicking off on June 18 in Toronto, Sam and Cam will make stops in Montreal, Detroit, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Nashville, Houston, Miami, Mexico City and more.

“I could not be more excited to go on the road with Sam,” says Cam. “He is one of the greatest singers of our generation. To be associated with his show—that voice, those songs, that heart—it’s a tremendous compliment, and I can’t wait to share my music with his audience every night.”

Cam, Sam and Tyler Johnson co-penned “Palace,” which is featured on Sam’s recent album, The Thrill of It All. Cam also sang backing vocals on the tune.

The Thrill of It All Tour

June 18 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre
June 19 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
June 22 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
June 23 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
June 26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
June 27 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
June 29 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
June 30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
July 3 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
July 4 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
July 6 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
July 7 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
July 10 – Duluth, GA – Infinite Energy Cener
July 11 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center
July 13 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
July 14 – Miami, FL – American Airlines Arena
July 17 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
July 18 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
July 20 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
July 21 – Austin, TX – Frank Erwin Center
July 25 – Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico – Arena Monterrey
July 27 – Mexico City, Mexico – Palacio De Los Deportes

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Get Lost in Kane Brown’s Uptempo New Single, “Lose It” [Listen]

Get Lost in Kane Brown’s Uptempo New Single, “Lose It” [Listen]

Posted on June 7, 2018

After scoring back-to-back No. 1 hits with “What Ifs” and “Heaven” from his self-titled debut album, Kane Brown will ship a new single, “Lose It,” to country radio on June 25.

“Lose It” is possibly the lead single from Kane’s sophomore album, as it is not featured on his 2016 self-titled debut album or the 2017 deluxe version.

“‘Lose It’ is a song that I wrote—it was my first time writing after I already released my album,” says Kane. “I fell in love with this song, it was really exciting, it was really uptempo. It’s one of my favorite songs, so I hope you enjoy it.”

On June 6, Kane and Lauren Alaina took home the CMT Music Awards trophy for Collaborative Video of the Year for “What Ifs.” Kane will hit the road for a number of summer fairs and festivals before joining Chris Young’s Losing Sleep World Tour in September.

Check out “Lose It” below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Walker Hayes Issues a Statement on the Death of Newborn Child

Walker Hayes Issues a Statement on the Death of Newborn Child

Posted on June 7, 2018

We’ve got some sad news to report.

Walker Hayes and wife Laney issued a statement via Instagram on June 6 regarding the death of their newborn child, Oakleigh Klover Hayes.

“It is with great sadness that Laney and I share with you the news that our sweet Oakleigh Klover Hayes was born this morning at the hospital and now is safely in heaven. Thank you for honoring our privacy as we grieve.”

A post shared by Walker Hayes (@walkerhayes) on

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Walker, Laney and their family of six children.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

CMT Music Awards: The Winners

CMT Music Awards: The Winners

Posted on June 6, 2018

We’ve got all of your CMT Music Awards winners as they are announced during the show on June 6 from Bridgestone Arena.

CMT Performance of the Year

  • Backstreet Boys & Florida Georgia Line — “Everybody” (CMT Crossroads) WINNER
  • Andra Day, Common, Little Big Town, Lee Ann Womack, Danielle Bradbery — “Stand Up For Something” (CMT Artists of the Year 2017)
  • Charles Kelley, Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Derek Trucks — “Midnight Rider” (CMT Music Awards 2017)
  • Earth Wind & Fire & Lady Antebellum — “September” (CMT Crossroads)
  • Jason Aldean, Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Keith Urban — “I Won’t Back Down” (CMT Artists of the Year 2017)
  • Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood — “The Fighter” (CMT Music Awards 2017)

Collaborative Video of the Year

  • Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line — “Meant To Be”
  • Carrie Underwood feat. Ludacris — “The Champion”
  • Cole Swindell feat. Dierks Bentley — “Flatliner”
  • Justin Timberlake feat. Chris Stapleton — “Say Something
  • Kane Brown feat. Lauren Alaina — “What Ifs” WINNER
  • Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris — “Craving You”

Breakthrough Video of the Year

  • Carly Pearce — “Every Little Thing” WINNER
  • Danielle Bradbery — “Sway”
  • Devin Dawson — “All On Me”
  • Lanco — “Greatest Love Story”
  • Russell Dickerson — “Yours”
  • Walker Hayes — “You Broke Up With Me”

Duo Video of the Year

  • Big & Rich — “California”
  • Brothers Osborne — “It Ain’t My Fault”
  • Dan + Shay — “Tequila” WINNER
  • Florida Georgia Line — “Smooth”
  • High Valley — “She’s With Me”
  • Tim McGraw & Faith Hill — “Speak To A Girl”

Male Video Of The Year

  • Dustin Lynch — “Small Town Boy”
  • Jason Aldean — “You Make It Easy”
  • Blake Shelton — “I’ll Name The Dogs” WINNER
  • Jon Pardi — “Heartache On The Dance Floor”
  • Luke Bryan — “Light It Up”
  • Thomas Rhett — “Marry Me”

Group Video of the Year

  • Lady Antebellum — “You Look Good”
  • Lanco — “Greatest Love Story”
  • Midland — “Make A Little”
  • Old Dominion — “No Such Thing As A Broken Heart”
  • Little Big Town — “When Someone Stops Loving You” WINNER
  • Rascal Flatts — “Yours If You Want It”
  • Zac Brown Band — “My Old Man”

Female Video of the Year

  • Carly Pearce — “Every Little Thing”
  • Carrie Underwood — “The Champion”
  • Lauren Alaina — “Doin’ Fine”
  • Maren Morris — “I Could Use A Love Song”
  • Miranda Lambert — “Tin Man”
  • Kelsea Ballerini — “Legends”

Video of the Year

  • Justin Timberlake feat. Chris Stapleton — “Say Something”
  • Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line — “Meant To Be”
  • Blake Shelton — “I’ll Name The Dogs” WINNER
  • Brett Young — “Mercy”
  • Brothers Osborne — “It Ain’t My Fault”
  • Carrie Underwood feat. Ludacris — “The Champion”
  • Dan + Shay — “Tequila”
  • Jason Aldean — “You Make It Easy”
  • Kane Brown feat. Lauren Alaina — “What Ifs”
  • Luke Combs — “When It Rains It Pours”
  • Thomas Rhett — “Marry Me”
  • Kelsea Ballerini — “Legends”
Santiago drafted by St. Louis Cardinals, 2nd Vol selected

Santiago drafted by St. Louis Cardinals, 2nd Vol selected

Posted on June 6, 2018
C Benito Santiago / Credit: UT Athletics

Vols senior catcher Benito Santiago was taken in the 34th round with 1,023rd overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft.

Santiago became the 130th overall player drafted out of UT and was the second Vol to be selected in the 2018 Draft. He is the second player to be drafted by the Cardinals organization in the last three years, joining outfielder Vincent Jackson, who was selected by St. Louis in the 14th round of the 2016 draft.

Santiago was previously drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 38th round of the June 2014 MLB Rule IV Draft.

In 2018, Santiago started 54 games as the Vols primary catcher and finished the year tied for the team lead with 15 doubles and seven home runs, both career bests. The senior also set career highs in at-bats (203), RBI (34), slugging percentage (.448) and walks (19). His 34 RBIs ranked second on the team. In non-conference play, Santiago led the team with a .415 batting average, 39 hits, 14 doubles, 24 RBI, 67 total bases, a .713 slugging percentage and .472 on-base percentage.

As a junior, Santiago started 32 of his 33 games and hit .250 with 20 runs scored, six doubles, four triples, three homers and 20 RBIs. His four triples ranked third in the SEC in 2017.

In a breakout sophomore campaign, Santiago recorded a .309 batting average that included 11 doubles, three triples and one home run. He also drove in 18 runs over 53 games and scored 33 runs for Tennessee during the 2016 season.

During his first year with the Orange and White in 2015, Santiago played in 33 games. The Florida native made his first start as a Volunteer during the second game at Florida International (Miami, Fla.) and recorded 10 putouts behind the plate. Santiago later hit his first collegiate RBI-double against Arkansas in the 2015 SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover, Ala.

-UT Athletics

 

Forward D.J. Burns Signs with Tennessee

Forward D.J. Burns Signs with Tennessee

Posted on June 6, 2018
F DJ Burns / UT Athletics

The Tennessee basketball program has added a promising frontcourt prospect to its roster, as forward D.J. Burns has signed and submitted an institutional aid agreement to the university.

A 6-8, 250-pound forward from Rock Hill, South Carolina, Burns will enroll at UT this week, and he will be a freshman for the Volunteers during the upcoming 2018-19 season.

“We targeted D.J. three years ago because he fits our culture on and off the court,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “His mom and dad have prepared him well, and we believe he’s got a really bright future. D.J. allows us to play through the high or low post. He’s a good passer, he can make perimeter shots and he’s got excellent footwork. With his attitude and approach, he’ll grow quickly and tremendously within our player development program. We’re excited about D.J. He’s a great addition for us.”

Burns—who totaled more than 1,000 points and more than 1,000 rebounds during his prep career—was coached at York Preparatory Academy in Rock Hill by Frank Hamrick. Burns played his AAU ball in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League with the Georgia Stars, coached by Chris Richards.

Burns was originally a member of the Class of 2019 but announced in early May that he was reclassifying to the Class of 2018. He graduated early on May 25.

Still included on ESPN’s Class of 2019 national prospect rankings, Burns lands at No. 52 on the most recent listing. And according to the 247Sports.com industry composite for the Class of 2018, Burns is rated as a four-star recruit, the third-ranked prospect in the state of South Carolina, the nation’s 12th-ranked center and is rated 103rd among all prospects nationally.

Burns’ ESPN.com recruiting profile states that, “in many ways, Burns has an old-school post game with great mobility that should make for a winning combination in Knoxville.”

Burns received team MVP honors during a standout junior season this past winter. He averaged a double-double (14.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg), was named MVP of both the C. Dan Joyner Poinsettia Classic in Greenville and the USA National Prep Championships in North Myrtle Beach. He also was one of 24 players selected to compete in the South Carolina Junior Showcase in Columbia. He received an invitation to participate in the upcoming NBPA Top 100 Camp in Virginia June 12-17.

As a sophomore in 2016-17, Burns averaged 14.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the field. He scored in double figures 15 times and logged three 20-point games.

Burns, who will wear jersey No. 32 at UT, joins former Tennessee basketball team captains Garland “Mule” O’Shields (Spartanburg, 1944-46) and Major Wingate (Florence, 2003-06) as just the third South Carolina native ever to sign with the Vols.

-UT Athletics

 

Linginfelter Selected in 19th Round of 2018 MLB Draft by Washington Nationals

Linginfelter Selected in 19th Round of 2018 MLB Draft by Washington Nationals

Posted on June 6, 2018
Zach Linginfelter – UT RHP / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — University of Tennessee right-handed pitcher Zach Linginfelter was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 19th round (581st overall) of the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

With his selection, Linginfelter becomes the 129th overall player drafted out of Tennessee and the first Volunteer to be selected in the 2018 Major League Draft. He is the first UT draftee by the Washington Nationals’ organization since Andrew Lee was selected in the 11th round of the 2015 draft.

As a draft eligible sophomore, Linginfelter has the option to return to Tennessee next season as all non-senior college draftees have the option to return to school if they do not sign a pro contract by July 15.

Linginfelter was previously drafted by the New York Yankees out high school in the 16th Round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.

This season, Linginfelter started four games, posting a 3-4 record with a 3.93 ERA and a career-best 71 strikeouts through 55.0 innings of work. He led the Vols’ staff in strikeouts and finished second on the team with two saves in 2018. In his final appearance of the season at Missouri on May 17, Linginfelter became the first UT pitcher since James Adkins in 2007 to record 14 punchouts.

As a freshman on UT’s staff in 2017, he made 22 appearances, including six starts, posting a 3-4 record and three saves for a 3.67 ERA. That year, Linginfelter struck out 61 batters through 56.1 innings of work. His three saves and 61 strikeouts rank among the top five single-season records by a freshman at Tennessee.

-UT Athletics

 

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