Reba McEntire will appear on CBS This Morning on March 1 at 8 a.m. ET to announce some of the nominees for the 53rd ACM Awards.
Reba will also appear live via her Facebook page prior to CBS This Morning to announce the nominees for Song of the Year. Additional nominees will be announced on ETonline.com at 8:50 a.m. ET.
The ACM Awards will air live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET. on CBS.
The Academy of Country Music announced its roster of performers for the events surrounding ACM Awards weekend in Las Vegas on April 12–15. More than 40 country artists—including Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini, Kip Moore, Midland, Old Dominion and more—are scheduled to take the stage at various Vegas venues for the 6th annual Party for a Cause events.
Almost seven years after winning Season 10 of American Idol, Scotty McCreery has scored his first No. 1 single as “Five More Minutes” ascended to the top of both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay charts.
Scotty co-penned the deeply personal tune with Frank Rogers and Monty Criswell two weeks after the death of his grandfather in 2015.
“There was a time I thought this song would never see the light of day,” says Scotty. “Seeing this song, inspired by my Granddaddy Bill, go gold and then become my first number one means the world to me! After writing it with Frank Rogers and Monty Criswell, I tweeted out that ‘I think I just wrote my favorite song I’ve ever written,’ and that still holds true today. Thank you to my fans, country radio, Triple 8 Management, Triple Tigers Records, my band and crew, and everyone on my team.”
“Five More Minutes” is the lead single from Scotty’s upcoming third album, Seasons Change, which will drop on March 16. The 11-song offering will be Scotty’s first album since 2013’s See You Tonight.
“In the last five years, I have grown from a teenager to a man, moved out on my own, lost my grandfather, proposed to the love of my life and learned more about myself than I could have imagined,” says Scotty. “This all shows up in the 11 songs on Seasons Change, and I cannot wait to share this music with my fans after such a long time between releases.”
If you want to catch the “Cowboy” onstage in 2018, you’d better get cracking.
George Strait is only scheduled to play a handful of dates this year, including stops in New Orleans, Austin and Tulsa.
However, there is good news coming out of George’s camp: he will close out 2018 with two newly announced shows at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and 8. The Strait To Vegas series started with six shows in 2016 and was extended with 10 more in 2017. The shows in December will be the last of 2018. Tickets go on sale on April 6.
Fellow Texans Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett will join George for the two shows in Vegas.
Cole Swindell will try to score his eighth career No. 1 single with the release of “Break Up In the End.”
Written by Jon Nite, Chase McGill and Jessie Jo Dillon, “Break Up in the End” is the lead single from Cole’s upcoming album, which follows his 2016 sophomore album, You Should Be Here.
“Knowing that everyone is about to hear this song is something I have been waiting on since the day I first heard it,” said Cole Swindell. “I am honored that my songwriting friends trust me with such an amazing message. I’m excited and confident in the strength of ‘Break Up In The End’ and it being the first song from my upcoming third album. This is the perfect set up of what’s to come.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With Sunday’s 65-46 victory over #7/6 South Carolina, the #15/14 Tennessee women’s basketball team concluded the regular season at 23-6 overall and 11-5 in Southeastern Conference play. That league mark put the Lady Vols in a four-way tie for fourth place in the standings, but the tiebreaker dictated a No. 7 seed for Holly Warlick‘s squad in the upcoming SEC Tournament in Nashville.
UT will open play on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT (7 ET) vs. No. 10 seed Auburn (14-14, 5-11 SEC) at Bridgestone Arena. The SEC Network will televise.
The Lady Vols beat the Tigers, 70-59, on Jan. 4 in the teams’ second game of the SEC schedule. The winner of that game faces No. 2-seed South Carolina at 6 CT (7 ET) on Friday. That contest also will be carried by the SEC Network.
With 17 trophies, Tennessee has won the most SEC Tournament crowns by far. Vanderbilt is second with six. UT is 77-21 all-time in league tourney play, making two championship game appearances under Holly Warlick. UT won the 2014 SEC crown in Duluth, Ga., and fell to South Carolina in the championship game in Little Rock in 2015.
This marks the sixth time the SEC Tournament has taken place in Music City, with the Lady Vols claiming the hardware the last time it was held there (2012) as well as in 2011 and 2008. UT made the semifinals in 2004 and 2002.
Undefeated Mississippi State drew the No. 1 seed for this year’s tournament, while Georgia and LSU claimed the third and fourth spots and earned the automatic bye into Friday’s quarterfinal round.
Mercedes Russell – Lady Vols Forward / Credit: UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 15/14 Tennessee closed out the regular season Sunday with a 65-48 victory over No. 7/6 South Carolina in front of a crowd of 13,058 on senior day at Thompson-Boling Arena.
After a pregame ceremony that celebrated their tremendous careers in the orange and white, Mercedes Russell, Jaime Nared and Kortney Dunbar helped lead the Lady Vols (23-6, 11-5 SEC) to their third consecutive win against the Gamecocks (23-6, 12-4 SEC).
Russell recorded a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Rennia Davis added 18 points and 10 boards for UT. Mikiah Herbert Harrigan led South Carolina with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting.
After a slow start on the offensive end, Tennessee opened the second half with a 14-0 run and grabbed all momentum. The Lady Vols overcame a 10-point second quarter deficit on Sunday, which was their largest comeback in any win this year.
Both teams had to work through offensive droughts in the first quarter. South Carolina went on an early 9-0 run over a 4:55 span after Russell opened the scoring with a pair of free throws, but the Tennessee defense was able to respond by holding the Gamecocks scoreless for the next 3:48. Although a Davis layup cut it to four late in the frame, the Lady Vols could not get much else going and were held to eight points, their lowest total in a first quarter this season.
UT’s offensive struggles continued in the early stages of the second period, as it did not record a point until nearly the halfway mark of the quarter. With six minutes left in the half, a jumper by Ladazhia Williams put the Gamecocks ahead by double digits. The Lady Vols closed out the half strong, however, outscoring USC 11-6 over the last five minutes. With 1:36 remaining in the half, an Evina Westbrook drive and floater off the glass made it a three-point contest. Despite putting up a season-low 21 points in the first half, a strong defensive effort from the Lady Vols kept the score within reach, as they went into the break trailing by five.
Herbert Harrigan led the Gamecocks in the first half with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Davis scored nine for UT, while Russell added eight points and six boards.
The Big Orange stormed out of the gate in the second half, opening the third quarter with a 14-0 run, highlighted by a Russell put-back that gave Tennessee its first advantage since leading 2-0. UT was clicking on all cylinders offensively and shot 65 percent from the field in the period. The Lady Vols continued to use a stingy effort on defense in limiting South Carolina to nine points and forcing five turnovers, as UT went into the final 10 minutes ahead 50-35.
Davis was sensational in the third quarter for the Lady Vols. The freshman scored nine points, including a deep 3-pointer as time expired, and hauled in four rebounds while providing energy on both ends of the floor. Davis put Tennessee up by 10 for the first time on a layup with just under five minutes remaining in the frame.
The Lady Vols continued to separate themselves in the fourth quarter, maintaining their double-digit advantage throughout. UT asserted itself on the glass and finished the game with 21 offensive rebounds to USC’s seven. A late 9-2 run capped off by a Dunbar 3-pointer with 1:36 remaining put Tennessee ahead by 22.
Meme Jackson finished with 10 points and two blocks, while Evina Westbrook added eight points and Nared chipped in six with five boards. Doniyah Cliney netted 14 for the Gamecocks including a pair of 3-pointers.
Russell’s double-double was her 14th in 2017-18, tying her for the most in a single season by a Lady Vol senior. She set the junior record last year.
Up Next: Tennessee will travel to Nashville to face Auburn in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday. The game is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) and will be televised on the SEC Network.
Starting Five: The Lady Vols started all three seniors against South Carolina for Senior Day, marking the first change to the starting lineup all season. The streak of 28 games with the same starting five is the longest Tennessee has ever opened a season with the same starting five since at least the 1977-78 season.
Third Quarter Fireworks: Tennessee opened the third quarter with a 14-0 run against South Carolina en route to outscoring the Gamecocks 29-9 in the period. UT also had a big third quarter against Florida, posting back-to-back runs of 14-0 and 10-0 while limiting the Gators to just two points.
In Good Company: With 16 points and 12 rebounds Mercedes Russell recorded her 14th double-double of the season against South Carolina, tying her with Shelia Collins, Lisa Harrison and Glory Johnson for the most double-doubles in a season by a Lady Vol senior. Russell set the junior record a year ago with 19. The senior now has 44 for her career, ranking behind only Chamique Holdslcaw (57) and Candace Parker (45) in UT history.
Davis Climbing The Double-Double List:Rennia Davis posted her eighth career double-double against South Carolina, putting her at sixth on the list for the 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), Candace Parker (10) and Tamika Catchings (9).
Warlick vs. Staley: With the win tonight Tennessee extends its winning streak over South Carolina to three games, and head coach Holly Warlick improves her record against Dawn Staley to 5-3. Warlick’s career SEC record (61-20, .753) ranks her first among all SEC women’s head coaches.
Admiral Schofieled – Vols forward / Credit: UT Athletics
OXFORD, Miss. — A career game by Admiral Schofield fueled No. 19 Tennessee to a win on the road against Ole Miss, 73-65, on Saturday afternoon at The Pavilion at Ole Miss.
Schofield set a new career-high for scoring with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting to go along with seven boards and three assists in 35 minutes of action. Jordan Bowden recorded15 points, four rebounds and a pair of steals for the Vols (21-7, 11-5 SEC).
The Rebels (12-17, 5-11 SEC) fought back from a 15-point halftime deficit by opening the second period on a 9-0 run to make it a 41-35 game and forcing UT to call a timeout at the 17-minute mark. Tennessee wouldn’t make its first second-half basket until a layup by Bowden with 14:24 on the clock.
After Ole Miss cut the game to seven, the Vols went on a 19-7 run to make it a 60-44 game with less than eight minutes remaining. During the stretch, Schofield scored nine points, while Lamonte Turner added six points on a pair of threes.
Tennessee extended its lead to 21 with a 14-2 run during the middle of the second half, but the Rebels would fight back to make it a 10-point game with only with a minute left. A pair of free throws by Bowden with 52 second left halted any chance of a comeback.
Turner, who was 4-for-4 during the final two minutes of play from the charity stripe, finished with 13 points, 10 of which came in the second half. Jordan Bone tied his career high for assists with eight while chipping in six points and four rebounds.
Breein Tyree led the Rebels with 17 points, while Bruce Stevens added 14 points seven rebounds in the game.
The Vols began the game on a 13-4 run before the first media timeout with a pair of 3-pointers from Bowden to spark the offense. Tennessee would end up extending its lead to as much as 20 points following a fast-break layup by Bone with 5:37 left to play, making the score 33-13.
In the frame, UT assisted on 13 of its 15 total baskets to help get the open shot, led by five from Bone. Schofield came out on fire, dropping 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor, while Bowden chipped in 11 points on three treys.
Behind six threes and 46-percent shooting (15-of-33), the Volunteers took a 41-26 lead into intermission.
UP NEXT: The Vols stay on the road for a game at Mississippi State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. UT then returns home for its regular-season finale in a rematch against Georgia on March 3 at 6 p.m. ET. Both games will be televised on SEC Network.
SHARING IS CARING: Entering Saturday’s contest, the Vols led the league during SEC play with 14.8 assists per game. Against the Rebels, UT improved that stat by dishing out 20 assists on 25 field goals in the matchup (80 percent). Bone led the way with a career-high-tying eight assists.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 15/14 Tennessee (22-6, 10-5 SEC) and #7/6 South Carolina (23-5, 12-3 SEC) close out the regular season with a 4:02 p.m. ET match-up on Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena. UT is expecting a crowd approaching 12,000, but good seats are still available.
South Carolina sits in second place in the SEC standings, while the Lady Vols are tied for fifth with Texas A&M and LSU.
This marks the 56th all-time meeting in the series, with Tennessee leading, 49-6. The Lady Vols are seeking a season sweep of the Gamecocks and will try to extend their win streak vs. South Carolina to three games. UT prevailed in Columbia earlier this season on Jan. 14, 86-70, and defeated USC there last season, 76-74, on Jan. 30. South Carolina star A’ja Wilson missed the first meeting this season due to an ankle injury but has returned to full strength.
Holly Warlick has forged a 4-3 record vs. Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks in her six seasons at the helm, owning a 1-1 record vs. USC in Knoxville, a 3-1 mark in Columbia and an 0-1 slate in SEC Tournament play. Staley also serves as coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s team.
UT enters Sunday’s match-up having won five of its past seven games but one of its last three. On Thursday night, the Lady Vols used a 24-2 third-quarter blitz to roll past Florida, 70-42, and erase the bitter taste of back-to-back losses to Alabama (72-63) and #13/13 Missouri (77-73).
South Carolina, meanwhile, fought off a challenge from #24 LSU on Thursday night to win, 57-48, in Columbia and run its win streak to five games after dropping back-to-back games to #1/1 UConn (83-58) and #2/2 Mississippi State (67-53) on Feb. 1 and 5, respectively.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Pam Ward (play-by-play) and Gail Goestenkors (analyst) will describe the action for the UT-South Carolina television broadcast on ESPN2.
Mickey Dearstone is handling the call for IMG College/Lady Vol Network radio/online broadcasts for the 19th 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.
GAME PROMOTIONS
It’s Kids’ Day! There will be free pregame fun at the Gate F Kids’ Corner.
Postgame lay-ups on the court for kids ages 12 & under.
High-five tunnel for the first 50 kids every game! Pick up a wristband for the tunnel at section 113 on the concourse.
Free parking & shuttle service from UT’s Ag Campus.
Halftime performance by Quick Change.
LADY VOL SENIOR DAY
Tennessee seniors Kortney Dunbar, Jaime Nared and Mercedes Russell, and manager Wyatt Hopper will be honored before the game, beginning at 3:40 p.m. ET (14:00 on the countdown clock).
UT is 5-0 in its final home game of the regular season under Holly Warlick and 40-3 all-time since 1974-75.
The Lady Vols have won their last 11 final regular season home contests, last dropping one in 2005-06 (L, Florida, 95-93 OT). The other setbacks came in 1975 (Tenn. Tech) and 1983 (Kentucky).
Warlick’s first season as head coach, UT beat Texas A&M on Lady Vol senior day to clinch the 2013 SEC regular season championship.
The Lady Vols beat South Carolina, 73-61, in the 2014 senior day game and 100-57 in the 1993 senior day contest.
SENIOR CLASS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The Lady Vol senior class spans five seasons, including Mercedes Russell‘s freshman year of 2013-14 (she redshirted due to surgery in 2014-15).
UT is 123-44 during that time, including 56-23 in SEC play.
The Lady Vols won the 2014 SEC Tournament championship and the 2015 SEC regular season crown.
Tennessee went to five NCAA Tournaments, forging Elite Eight finishes in 2015 and 2016.
The team won the 2017 Cancun Challenge Riviera Division title, a 2013 Junkanoo Jam championship and went 3-0 on a tour of Italy in 2015 while facing international competition.
Mercedes Russell (1,526 pts./1,034 rebs./131 games/96 starts) was an AP and WBCA honorable mention All-American and member of the AP and Coaches All-SEC Second Team a year ago. She made the 2016 Sioux Falls All-Regional Team and was a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2014 and 2017.
Jaime Nared (1,403 pts./696 rebs./123 games/89 starts) was a 2017 Coaches All-SEC Second Team pick and a member of the 2015 and 2016 SEC Academic Honor Rolls.
Kortney Dunbar (282 pts./154 rebs./97 games/4 starts) is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society.
UT’s UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The SEC Tournament in Nashville begins on Weds., Feb. 28, and runs through Sun., March 4.
By Sunday night, Feb. 25, the bracket will be set.
Selection Monday for the NCAA Women’s Tournament is on March 12 (7 p.m., ESPN).
UT is in the hunt to potentially host NCAA First and Second Round games March 16-19.
THE LATEST ON TENNESSEE
Holly Warlick picked up her 150th career win as a head coach in the Florida game on Thursday night, coming in her 202nd career contest.
UT posted its most steals since recording 22 vs. East Tennessee State on Dec. 2, 2015, and its most vs. an SEC foe since nabbing 19 vs. Kentucky on Feb. 3, 2008.
The 25 turnovers committed by Florida were the most by an opponent since ETSU had 35 in that 2015 game and the most by a league foe since Auburn had 25 on Jan. 1, 2012.
UT allowed only two points to Florida in the third quarter, the second fewest allowed in school history in a period and the fewest vs. an SEC foe.
The Lady Vols’ 24-2 blitz of UF in the third quarter was fueled by 14-0 and 10-0 runs that sandwiched the Gators’ lone points. The 14-0 burst was part of a total 18-0 streak that spanned the second and third stanzas.
The 14 second-half points by Florida tied for third fewest allowed by a Tennessee team.
Mercedes Russell needs a double-double to give her 14 for the season and tie for the most by a Lady Vol in a senior season. Glory Johnson, Lisa Harrison and Shelia Collins had 14 in their finals seasons at Tennessee.
The next double-double by Russell would be the 44th of her career, leaving her one shy of tying Candace Parker (45) for second all-time by a Lady Vol. Chamique Holdsclaw is first with 57.
Rennia Davis posted the seventh double-double of her rookie season vs. Florida, tying Karla Horton for sixth most of any UT freshman.
Ahead of Davis are Chamique Holdsclaw (16), Sheila Frost (11), Bashaara Graves (10), Candace Parker (10) and Tamika Catchings (9).
Three different Lady Vol rookies have been named SEC Freshman of the Week this season. Rennia Davisearned the honor twice (most recently on Feb. 12), while Evina Westbrook and Anastasia Hayes have once each.
Jaime Nared has twice been named the SEC Player of the Week this season.
Nared also was named the College Sports Madness National and SEC Player of the Week on two occasions this season.
Jaime Nared and Mercedes Russell have been included as members of the Wade Trophy Award Midseason Watch List and Citizen Naismith Trophy Late Season Watch List. Nared is among the top 10 for the Cheryl Miller Awards, while Nared is in the same company for the Lisa Leslie Award.
Mercedes Russell surpassed the 1,000-rebound mark vs. Georgia and the 1,500-point mark against Alabama, becoming only the sixth Lady Vol to reach 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. The others in that club are Chamique Holdsclaw, Glory Johnson, Bashaara Graves, Sheila Frost and Tamika Catchings.
UT has led 24 of 28 games this season at the half. UT trailed Mississippi State by 13, Missouri by six and Alabama by five, and was tied vs. Auburn.
UT’s roster features seven players 6-2 or taller, tying the 2004-05 team as the second tallest in Lady Vol history behind the 2014-15 unit that boasted eight.
UT is 19-0 when leading with 5:00 left in the game, 2-0 when tied and 1-6 when trailing.
The Lady Vols have allowed seven opponents to score more than 72 points (Marquette – 99, Texas – 75, Vandy – 73, A&M – 79, Notre Dame – 84, Arkansas – 85, Missouri – 77) and have allowed only nine teams to shoot better than 41 percent from the field (Missouri, .556; Vanderbilt in Knoxville, .491; Texas A&M in Knoxville, .484; Notre Dame, .478; Arkansas, .477; Vanderbilt, .469; Marquette, .437; Miss. State, .418; Alabama, .426).
When UT has more fouls than its opponent, the Lady Vols are 2-4, losing to Texas A&M, Notre Dame, LSU and Missouri, and beating Marquette in OT and winning by 14 at Kentucky.
TENNESSEE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA
UT enters Sunday’s contest with a 49-6 advantage in the series, including 21-2 in Columbia, 21-2 in Knoxville and 7-2 at neutral sites.
South Carolina had won the last three meetings, including twice in 2014-15, before Tennessee bounced back to win in Columbia last season and this season.
In UT’s 86-70 win on Jan. 14, the Lady Vols’ point total was the highest by the Orange and White since hitting 86 vs. USC on Jan. 15, 2004.
Tennessee is 5-2 vs. USC during the postseason and is 1-0 in overtime, taking a 79-73 extra-frame decision over the Gamecocks in the Palmetto State on Feb. 15, 1996.
Since 2010, UT and USC each have won four SEC regular-season titles, with UT winning or sharing in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015 and USC doing so in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Holly Warlick is 4-3 vs. the Gamecocks since taking over as head coach at UT prior to the 2012-13 season.
Warlick suffered her first loss to Dawn Staley and company on Feb. 23, 2015, when USC prevailed, 71-66, in Columbia.
Three seasons ago, #10/9 Tennessee and #4/5 South Carolina met in the regular season finale in Knoxville, and the Lady Vols rolled to a 73-61 win on Senior Day for Meighan Simmons.
After defeating South Carolina, the regular season SEC champs at 14-2, the 13-3 Lady Vols went on to claim the 2014 SEC Tournament title in Duluth, Ga.
Warlick picked up the first SEC victory of her head coaching career in Columbia on Jan. 3, 2013, as her #12/13 Lady Vols went into Colonial Life Arena and took down #18/15 USC, 73-53.
The Lady Vols went 1-1 vs. South Carolina in 2011-12, suffering their first loss to the Gamecocks since Jan. 23, 1980 (56-52 in Columbia), when UT head coach Holly Warlick was a senior point guard for the Big Orange.
Warlick’s 1979-80 UT squad bounced back to win two follow-up games vs. USC that season, and she finished her playing career 4-1 vs. the team from the Palmetto State.
Tennessee lost to South Carolina, 64-60, on Feb. 2, 2012, in Knoxville, but rebounded to defeat USC in the 2012 SEC Tournament semifinals in Nashville, 74-58, en route to its 16th SEC postseason championship.
LAST MEETING BETWEEN UT AND USC
Senior Mercedes Russell recorded a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double to lead No. 6/6 Tennessee to an 86-70 victory over No. 9/8 South Carolina on Jan. 14, 2018, at Colonial Life Arena.
Jaime Nared added 21 points as the Lady Vols (16-1, 4-1 SEC) bounced back from their first loss of the season with a win over the defending national champions and their second consecutive victory in Columbia. UT was fueled by a balanced attack, with five different players reaching double figures.
Tyasha Harris put on an offensive display for South Carolina (14-3, 3-2 SEC) with a game-high 28 points and four assists. The Gamecocks were able to cut the deficit to four with under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but Tennessee relied on strong defense and timely scoring to end the game on a 16-4 run.
UT’s freshman trio of Evina Westbrook, Rennia Davis and Anastasia Hayes had a strong showing in the second half, combining for 29 points over the final 20 minutes. Westbrook finished with 14 points, including 2-for-2 shooting from behind the arc, as well as a game-high five assists, while Davis and Hayes netted 11 points apiece.
LAST MEETING IN KNOXVILLE
Diamond DeShields scored 21 points and Bashaara Graves had a double-double in No. 24/RV Tennessee’s 62-56 loss to No. 3/2 South Carolina on Feb. 15, 2016, at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Lady Vols (15-10, 6-6 SEC) and the Gamecocks (24-1, 12-0 SEC) combined for a physical and exciting contest with several trips to the free-throw line. Tennessee went 17-of-22 (77.3 percent) from the stripe and South Carolina shot 22-of-30 (73.3).
DeShields scored 15 of her 21 points in the second half and finished 7-of-17 on the night with four rebounds and two assists. Graves tallied 13 points and 10 boards, marking her sixth double-double of the season and the 27th of her career.
South Carolina’s A’Ja Wilson dominated the game with 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor and a 9-of-11 effort on free throws. Khadijah Sessions had 13 points and Tiffany Mitchell added 12 points.
MORE ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA
Tennessee has some ties to USC via a member of the coaching staff and one of its players.
USC assistant Jolette Law spent the past five years on Holly Warlick‘s staff before joining the Gamecocks over the summer. Law is a South Carolina native from Florence.
Former Lady Vol Te’a Cooper transferred to South Carolina after last season. She sat out the 2016-17 campaign at Tennessee while rehabbing a knee injury suffered between her freshmen and would-be sophomore seasons.
The Gamecocks feature three active players scoring in double figures, led by A’ja Wilson (22.9). She is joined by Alexis Jennings (11.7) and Tyasha Harris (11.5).
The Gamecocks have key wins over #15/13 Maryland, #14/16 Duke, #22/21 Texas A&M, #11/11 Missouri, #20/19 Georgia and #24 LSU.
Defending NCAA champion South Carolina is coached by Dawn Staley, who is 244-85 in her 10th year at the school. She is 416-165 in her 18th season overall as a head coach.
USC has won or shared a piece of the last four SEC titles and has claimed the last three tourney crowns.
USC LAST TIME OUT (USC 57, LSU 48)
A’ja Wilson scored 27 points and had a career-best 24 rebounds to lead No. 7 South Carolina to a 57-48 win over No. 24 LSU on Thursday night.
It was senior night and the 6-foot-5 Wilson scored the first seven points of the game as the Gamecocks (23-5, 12-3 Southeastern Conference) never trailed.
Raigyne Louis had 17 points and eight rebounds and Chloe Jackson added 16 points for LSU
Alexis Jennings added 10 points for USC.
TENN. LAST TIME OUT (MU 77, UT 73)
#15/14 Tennessee defeated Florida at Exactech Arena on Thursday night, 70-42, giving Holly Warlick her 150th career win as a head coach (150-52) in her sixth season at the helm.
The Lady Vols (22-6, 10-6 SEC) were led in scoring by Jaime Nared and Evina Westbrook with 13 each. UT had three other players in double figures, including Meme Jackson (11), Rennia Davis (11) and Anastasia Hayes (10). In a return to her home state, Davis added 10 rebounds to log her seventh career double-double.
Florida was led in scoring by Paulina Hersler, who ended the evening with 12 points and five rebounds.
A 24-2 blitz in the third quarter, fueled by a 14-0 spurt to open the second half, broke open an interesting game and allowed UT to cruise home with its 22nd win of the season.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee seniors Mercedes Russell, Jaime Nared and Kortney Dunbar met with members of the media before practice on Saturday in Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee is preparing to host No. 7/6 South Carolina on Sunday in what will be the final regular season home game for the seniors.
Answering questions from the media, the seniors discussed their time in Knoxville, the emotions of Senior Day and what they hope to accomplish in the postseason.
Tennessee vs. South Carolina is scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2. Senior Day festivities are slated to begin at 3:40 p.m.
On what made her choose Tennessee:
“I think really just the family atmosphere at Tennessee helped me make the transition. They’re very welcoming, which obviously helped being so far away from home, which was tough at the beginning. I think it was easier just having people there to experience it with you and kind of go through the same things that you’re going through. Just having teammates and coaches going through what you’re going through really helped.”
On what made her come back to Tennessee for a fifth season:
“I think it was more for the team than anything. Obviously last season was something that we want to forget, so I didn’t want to leave on a note like that. Obviously it was for the better, because the team is way different. It’s been an awesome, really fun senior year. College is something that you won’t get back, so spending another year here has just been awesome.”
On what previous trips to the NCAA Tournament have taught her about the postseason:
“It takes your best game. In that moment it’s either win or go home and everyone comes to play their best. No matter what seed they are, where they are, everyone comes to play their best game because no one wants to go home and end their season.”
On keeping the emotions under control on Senior Day:
“We have been here for four years. There are going to be some emotions in the beginning since it is the last guaranteed home game. It’s still going to be a good game. South Carolina is a good team. We have to make sure we put our emotions aside and just focus on the game.”
On the leadership role she has taken this season:
“We are such a mixed group; we have some upperclassmen, but the rest are pretty young players. We know how freshman and sophomore year is. Sometimes it is difficult with classes and games. If we aren’t playing our best, sometimes it gets difficult. As a leader I try making sure everyone is okay and everyone is in tune with the game plan and playing well in practice. The most important thing is making sure that they are okay as people. There are so many aspects that you have to make sure that you are doing so we are able to be at our best.”
On the freshmen:
“The freshmen have been great this year. They have been expected to play a lot of minutes since the beginning of the season. That is something that we weren’t expected to do when we were freshmen, at least not as much as they have. I think they have handled it well. They have grown as people. They all have so much potential to do really great things here. The class next year is a really good class too. I am excited to watch in the coming years to see how they grow as players. They are going to do really good things here.”
On getting refocused after Senior Day festivities:
“We know what is at stake. We know that this is a huge game for us. I think that leaving those emotions out there in the first couple of minutes and seeing Jaime and Mercedes walk out is going to be tough. We know when we huddle up it’s game time. That’s what our families came for. It’s going to be a good game. We want to win for our crowd, our season and our family.”
On the expectations when coming to Tennessee:
“Obviously the expectation is to win championships. It’s still the same expectation this year for everyone. We are 10 deep this year. I know that with us writing on the board that we want an SEC Tournament title, we want a National Championship. The expectations haven’t been reached. I think that’s why Mercedes said she wanted to stay and go out on a high note. Coach believes in us; we believe in each other. Like Jaime said on the freshmen, they can get us there. They are experienced enough now. They have experience in big games. Hopefully ending with South Carolina and the SEC Tournament on a high note will set us up for national championship run.”
On family members coming for Senior Day:
“I know me personally, there is probably a mini bus coming from Illinois. I’m sure it’s probably the same for both of them, but I probably have about 20-25 people coming.”
VFL Jason Witten and AD Phillip Fulmer / Credit: UT Athletics
FRISCO, Texas – VFL Jason Witten held his inaugural Collegiate Man of the Year Award presentation on Thursday night at the Dallas Cowboys Headquarters, The Star.
The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is in its first year and honors a college football player who has demonstrated an outstanding record of leadership by exhibiting courage, integrity and sportsmanship – virtues Witten has embodied during his football career with the Vols and the Cowboys.
After a list that began with 155 players and was shortened to 20 semifinalists, Witten and his Board of Directors picked three finalists for the award: Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph, Alabama cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick (who was coached by UT head coach Jeremy Pruitt) and UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin.
Griffin took home the honor in front a crowd that included several of Witten’s past and current Cowboys’ teammates, including Tony Romo and Emmitt Smith, as well as his college head coach, Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer.
“I was honored to be sitting at the head table at the first ever Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year event,” Fulmer said. “The presentation was outstanding and congratulations to Shaquem Griffin on being the first winner of the award.
“Jason Witten is the perfect man, player, leader, and role model to have his name on this award. Jason has achieved, overcome, worked, and led at the highest level of collegiate and professional football, all the while maintaining his integrity, passion, compassion, and character as a husband, father, and community leader. I am proud of Jason as he continues to represent UT, the Dallas Cowboys, and all that is good in sports on a daily basis.
“This is an award that every college football player should strive to be nominated for.”
Griffin led UCF to an undefeated season and conference championship, despite having only one hand. An inspiration to his teammates, he graduated with a degree in sociology and is a regular volunteer at local Boys & Girls Clubs.
“I am truly honored to present the inaugural Collegiate Man of the Year award to Shaquem Griffin,” Witten said. “Shaquem embodies everything that is great about college football and everything that makes a great leader. He has obviously overcome a lot of adversity to accomplish all that he has, and the fact that he gives so much of himself to the community makes him even more impressive.”
Witten was named the 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year in recognition of his off-the-field community service and playing excellence. He has made 11 Pro Bowl appearances, tying the Cowboys’ record and is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (239), receptions (1,152) and receiving yards (12,448). Witten played three seasons at Tennessee and totaled 797 yards and 68 receptions, becoming one of the nation’s best all-around tight ends as a junior.
In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, Witten has also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.
As the winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, Griffin will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school’s athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle. The SCORE Foundation, founded in 2007, has positively impacted tens of thousands of children and families in Texas and Tennessee over the last 10 years. The foundation operates its nationally-recognized SCOREkeepers program, which places trained male mentors on staff to work with children at family violence shelters, at nine shelters in the two states. SCORE has also operated a weekend food backpack program for disadvantaged children in North Texas, opened Jason Witten Learning Centers in five different Boys & Girls Clubs and opened the Jason and Michelle Witten Emergency Waiting Room at the Niswonger Children’s Hospital in Johnson City, Tenn.
However, there is good news coming out of George’s camp: he will close out 2018 with two newly announced shows at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and 8. The Strait To Vegas series started with six shows in 2016 and was extended with 10 more in 2017. The shows in December will be the last of 2018. Tickets go on sale on April 6.
