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.
Grant Williams – Vols Forward / Credit: UT Athletics
OXFORD, Miss. — No. 19 Tennessee will play its first of back-to-back road games on Saturday, taking on the Rebels at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The game will tip at 1 p.m. ET and will be televised live on SEC Network and streamed online via WatchESPN.
The Vols (20-7, 10-5 SEC) are coming off their 20th regular-season win of the year, the first time achieving that mark since 2009-10 (23), after defeating Florida at home on Wednesday night. Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams fueled Tennessee’s offense, combining for 39 of UT’s 62 points (63 percent) in the matchup. Williams, who finished with game-high 23 points, scored 11 of UT’s final 18 points. Schofield chipped in 16 points.
In the first meeting between Tennessee and the Rebels, the Vols shot 71 percent (20-of-28) from the floor in the second half and connected on a season-high 13 treys en route to their highest scoring performance of the season with a 94-61 win. Five different players reached double-digit scoring, with Schofield leading the way with 15 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
Since the first matchup, Ole Miss (12-16, 5-10 SEC) has experienced a lot of changes, as Andy Kennedy announced his plans to resign at the conclusion of the season on Feb. 12. But he then stepped aside on Feb. 18. Tony Madlock is now the acting head coach and helped lead the Rebels to an overtime win at Missouri on Tuesday, 90-87. Deandre Burnett, a preseason All-SEC first-team selection, has been Ole Miss’s best player this year. He currently ranks 15th in the SEC in scoring (14.3 ppg) and sixth in assists (4.1 apg).
After Saturday’s showdown, the Vols stay on the road for a game at Mississippi State on Feb. 27 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. Both games will be televised on SEC Network.
THE SERIES
Overall: UT leads, 72-44
In Knoxville: UT leads, 42-12
In Oxford: Series tied, 25-25
Neutral Sites: UM leads, 7-5
Current Streak: Tennessee has won two straight
Last Meeting: Tennessee won, 94-61, in Knoxville, 2/3/18 Rick Barnes vs. Ole Miss: 2-2 Rick Barnes vs. Tony Madlock: No meetings
RIGHT NOW
The Vols are rated No. 11 in the NCAA RPI. Ole Miss is No. 107. Jordan Bone has a 3.4 assist/turnover ratio in SEC road games this season (24 assists, seven turnovers).
Per KenPom, Tennessee rates seventh nationally in defensive efficiency.
Tennessee ranks 31st nationally with 4.8 blocked shots per game.
A WIN WOULD…
Give the Vols 11 SEC victories for the first time since 2013-14.
Snap the Vols’ three-game losing streak in Oxford and sand as UT’s first victory at The Pavilion at Ole Miss.
Leave Rick Barnes nine wins shy of passing the legendary John Wooden on the NCAA’s all-time Division I wins list. Wooden totaled 664 wins in 29 seasons.
ABOUT OLE MISS
• A lot has changed in Oxford since the first matchup between UT and the Rebels just three weeks ago. One of the longest-tenured head coaches in the SEC, Andy Kennedy, announced his plans to resign at the conclusion of the season on Feb. 12. But he then stepped aside on Feb. 18. Tony Madlock has stepped in as the acting head coach at Ole Miss (12-16, 5-10 SEC) for the remainder of the season.
• Although the Rebels boast wins over Alabama, Florida and Missouri, all of which are currently tied for third in the league standings, Ole Miss has struggled over the past month, dropping seven of its last eight games.
• The lone win came on Tuesday night in overtime at Missouri in Madlock’s first game as head coach. Breein Tyree scored 25 points, including a game-tying basket with three seconds left to force overtime. The Rebels upset the Tigers, 90-87.
• Deandre Burnett, a preseason All-SEC first-team selection, has been Ole Miss’s best player this year. He currently ranks 15th in the SEC in scoring (14.3 ppg) and sixth in assists (4.1 apg). The senior guard has been the team’s leading scorer in 10 games this season, more than any other player.
• Junior guard Terence Davis, who is averaging 13.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg, stands as the team leader in rebounds (176) and blocks (27). Burnett and Davis are joined by Tyree (10.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.6 apg) and Bruce Stevens (10.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.2 apg) as the Rebels’ double-digit scorers.
• Like Tennessee, Ole Miss boasts a deep roster, with eight players averaging more than 15 minutes per game this season and six averaging at least 20 minutes a contest.
LAST MEETING WITH OLE MISS
• No. 18 Tennessee never trailed on its way to capturing its fourth straight SEC win, cruising by Ole Miss on Feb. 3, 2018, in Knoxville, 94-61.
• The win was the Vols’ fifth straight overall, giving them their longest winning streak of the season. Tennessee held its opponent to fewer than 65 points for the seventh straight game and led wire-to-wire for the third time this season.
• Ole Miss threatened to take the lead early in the second half with a 7-0 run that cut Tennessee’s advantage to three points, but the Vols immediately answered with a 14-3 run to break away. Following that stretch, the Rebels never got closer than 12 points.
• The Vols shot 71 percent in the second half. After missing their first two shots they went on to make 20 of their last 26 field goals.
• Tennessee shot 53 percent for the game, including 13-of-29 from beyond the 3-point arc. The 13 made 3-pointers tied a season-high.
• Lamonté Turner and Grant Williams each scored 17 points. Admiral Schofield logged his third career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Kyle Alexander tied a career-high with 14 points, and Jordan Bowden added 10.
• Bruce Stevens led Ole Miss with 17 points, and Terence Davis added 13. Deandre Burnett, who entered the game averaging 15.2 points per game, scored just seven points on 2-of-13 shooting.
• The Vols opened the game on a 12-3 run, capped off by 3-pointers from Yves Pons and James Daniel III, but the Rebels were able to cut that deficit all the way down to two at 17-15 with 7:52 remaining in the half. UT answered with a 10-0 spurt.
VOLS PUT ON OFFENSIVE CLINIC DURING SECOND HALF vs. OLE MISS
• Tennessee put on a clinic during the second half of its 94-61 rout of Ole Miss on Feb. 3.
• The Vols scored 59 points in the half, during which they missed their first two field goals before making 20 of their last 26 attempts from the floor.
• The Vols shot .714 as a team during the half.
• The 59 points were UT’s most in a half since scoring 60 in the first half of a 114-75 season-opening win over Chattanooga on Nov. 25, 2008.
• Tennessee had 17 assists and just one turnovers during the half.
• UT’s 33-point margin of victory was its largest in a regular-season SEC game since beating Vanderbilt, 76-38, on March 1, 2014, by 38 points (in postseason play, UT beat Auburn by 38 points [97-59] in the first round of the 2016 SEC Tournament).
• During the final 20 minutes vs. Ole Miss Saturday, the Vols averaged 1.84 points per possession.
MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST OLE MISS
• Brandon Wharton scored 20 points, Rashard Lee added 17 and 10 rebounds, Isiah Victor poured in 16 points and C.J. Black totaled 15 and 13 rebounds as UT upset the 11th-ranked Rebels 77-67 in Knoxville on Jan. 17, 1998.
• Gene Tormohlen grabbed 31 rebounds at Ole Miss on Feb. 11, 1957, to lift UT to a 98-88 win in Oxford. The 31 boards still stand as the second-best single-game effort in school history.
• Carlus Groves went 11-for-12 (.917) from the floor, the fourth-best single-game average in UT annals, against the Rebels to lift Tennessee to a 98-86 win in Knoxville on Feb. 19, 1992.
• Jeronne Maymon grabbed an incredible 10 offensive rebounds as part of an 11-point, 17-rebound effort against Ole Miss in the 2012 SEC Tournament in Nashville. Despite 21 points from Trae Golden and 15 from Skylar McBee, the Vols fell in overtime, 77-72.
MISSISSIPPI LETTERMEN UNCOMMON
• Incredibly, Tennessee has had just one all-time letterman from the state of Mississippi. Sardis, Mississippi, native Torrey Harris played for the Vols from 1995-99.
CURRENT VOLS’ CAREER STATS VS. OLE MISS
• In his three career games against Ole Miss, point guard Jordan Bone owns a 5.0 assist/turnover ratio (15 assists, three turnovers) in 54 total minutes.
• In his three career games against Ole Miss, Jordan Bowden averages 12.7 points and 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
• Admiral Schofield has played four previous games against the Rebels, averaging 9.5 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range (6-for-12).
• Lamonté Turner has had success in his three previous outings vs. Ole Miss, averaging 13.7 points and 4.3 assists while shooting .500 from the field and .529 from 3-point range (9-for-17).
• In three career games against Ole Miss, Grant Williams averages 13.3 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting .538 from the field (14-for-26).
TENNESSEE HAS BEEN A BIG DRAW ON THE ROAD THIS SEASON
• Tennessee has played in front of four road sellouts this season. Three of those came in SEC play (Missouri, South Carolina and Alabama), while the other came at Iowa State in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
• While UT’s game at Kentucky wasn’t technically a “sellout,” the crowd of 23,332 filled Rupp Arena to 99.3 percent capacity.
• Through Tennessee’s 10 true road games this season, the crowd has been at an average capacity of 92.6 percent.
• Tennessee’s average true road game attendance this season: 14,427 (26.5 percent increase from last season’s 11,402 per game average).
20 WINS AND COUNTING
• With 20 triumphs thus far, Tennessee has already exceeded last season’s total of 16 wins, and the Vols still have three regular-season games remaining.
• Tennessee has logged its 25th all-time 20-win season and its first since 2013-14, when the Vols finished with 24 victories and advanced to their seventh Sweet Sixteen.
• Tennessee also recorded 20 regular-season victories for the first time since 2034-14 (20).
• In 31 seasons as a Division I head coach, Rick Barnes has now led his teams to 20 or more wins 20 times.
THREE VOLS COULD MAKE 50+ 3-POINTERS
• Tennessee could boast three players with 50 or more made 3-pointers for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
• Lamonté Turner already has 52 made triples, while Admiral Schofield has 46, and Jordan Bowden has 44.
• In 1999-2000, the three Vols who accomplished that feat were: Tony Harris (73), Jon Higgins (53) and Vincent Yarbrough (53).
• That 1999-2000 squad finished with a 26-7 (12-4 SEC) record, won a share of the SEC regular-season championship and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to North Carolina in Austin, Texas.
BARNES A SEMIFINALIST FOR NAISMITH COACH OF THE YEAR
• Rick Barnes is one of 10 semifinalists for the Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Men’s College Coach of the Year.
• In his third season at Tennessee, Barnes has taken a team picked in the preseason to finish 13th in the 14-team Southeastern Conference to a 20-7 (10-5 SEC) record and second-place in the current league standings. The Volunteers are rated No. 11 in the NCAA’s RPI listing and have spent 12 consecutive weeks in the AP top-25 poll. Tennessee has won eight games away from home and defeated five “Power Five” opponents during non-conference play (Purdue, NC State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Iowa State).
• Four finalists will be announced on March 15.
BARNES APPROACHING WOODEN’S CAREER WINS TOTAL
• Rick Barnes owns 655 Division I wins in his 31 seasons as a head coach. Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden totaled 664 victories during his 29-year career.
• Barnes needs only 10 more wins to ascend past Wooden into 26th place on the all-time D-I wins list.
• After Barnes passes Wooden, the next coach whose wins total he could exceed is Gary Williams (668). Ironically, Barnes was an assistant under Williams at Ohio State in 1986-87.
TENNESSEE SECOND IN LEAGUE WITH EIGHT WINS AWAY FROM HOME
• Tennessee’s eight wins away from home are second-most among SEC teams this season (Auburn has 10). The Volunteers have six true road wins (in 10 tries) and a pair of neutral-site wins (Purdue and NC State).
• UT’s true road wins have come at Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Iowa State and Kentucky.
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.
