Hoops Preview: #19 Tennessee at Ole Miss

Hoops Preview: #19 Tennessee at Ole Miss

Posted on February 23, 2018
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.

 

UT Athletics

Watch Ashley Monroe’s Sultry New Video for “Hands On You”

Watch Ashley Monroe’s Sultry New Video for “Hands On You”

Posted on February 23, 2018

Ashley Monroe announced she will release her new album, Sparrow, on April 20. The 12-song offering, which was produced by Dave Cobb, was recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A.

Working with some of her closest collaborators, including Brendan Benson and Waylon Payne, Ashley recorded and wrote many songs on Sparrow while she was pregnant with her first child.

“I felt powerful,” she says. “I wasn’t puffing, I wasn’t drinking wine, I was just singing.”

Ashley dropped a sultry new video for the album’s lead song, “Hands On You,” which you can watch below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85fVsUylk5I&feature=youtu.be

photo by Hannah Burton

Jake Owen Announces “Life’s Whatcha Make It Tour” With Chris Janson & Jordan Davis

Jake Owen Announces “Life’s Whatcha Make It Tour” With Chris Janson & Jordan Davis

Posted on February 23, 2018

Jake Owen is ready to play ball this spring with the announcement of his new Life’s Whatcha Make It Tour.

Most of the shows for the 20-plus-date trek will take place at baseball stadiums. The tour kicks off on May 5 in Chattanooga, Tenn., and makes stops in Little Rock, Birmingham, Sacramento and more.

Chris Janson and Jordan Davis will serve as openers.

“I really do believe that life’s whatcha make it,” says Jake. “If you wake up feeling positive, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll see things throughout the day in a positive light. I think concerts are like that: it’s what you make it. People show up to have a good time and the artists on stage feel that too. A lot of my songs over the years have pointed to that idea. The fact that we’re playing baseball parks on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the summer, when people are ready to get out, have a good time, and don’t have to work the next day, is really cool. And, I’m so pumped to have Chris Janson and Jordan Davis on the bill with me. It’s going to be an awesome tour. I’m fired up.”

Tickets go on sale on March 2.

Life’s Whatcha Make It Tour

  • 5/18 Chattanooga, TN AT&T Field
  • 5/19 Augusta, GA SRP Park
  • 6/2 Erie, PA UPMC Park
  • 6/3 Vienna, VA Wolf Trap – Filene Center^
  • 6/15 Jackson, TN Ballpark at Jackson
  • 6/16 Little Rock, AR Dickey-Stephens Park
  • 6/30 Bowling Green, KY Bowling Green Park
  • 7/6 Naperville, IL Ribfest^
  • 7/7 South Bend, IN Four Winds Field*
  • 8/4 Washington, MO Washington Town & Country Fair
  • 8/9 Ft. Wayne, IN Parkview Field
  • 8/18 Berea, OH WGAR Country Jam*^
  • 8/24 Glen Allen, VA Innsbrook After Hours
  • 8/25 Kannapolis, NC Intimidators Stadium
  • 8/30 Birmingham, AL Regions Field
  • 8/31 Montgomery, AL Riverwalk Stadium
  • 9/7 Champaign, IL State Farm Center*~
  • 9/14 Sacramento, CA Raley Field*
  • 9/15 Fresno, CA Chukchansi Park*
  • 9/21 Colorado Springs, CO Security Service Field
  • 9/22 Ogden, UT Lindquist Field

*Does not include Chris Janson
^ Tickets already on sale
~ Tickets on sale Friday, March 30

Barnes a Semifinalist for Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year

Posted on February 23, 2018
Rick Barnes – Vols Coach / Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes was named by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Friday as 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 Associated Press 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).

Other semifinalists include Texas Tech’s Chris Beard, Virginia’s Tony Bennett, Clemson’s Brad Brownell, Cincinnati’s Mick Cronin, Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann, Xavier’s Chris Mack, Purdue’s Matt Painter, Auburn’s Bruce Pearl and Villanova’s Jay Wright.

“In such a wildly competitive season, these 10 coaches have proven their mettle and have positioned their teams for a magical March run,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Our voters will be challenged to select four from this group, since they are all very deserving.”

The Naismith Awards master voting academy will trim the 10-man list to four finalists, who will be announced on March 15. A fan vote then will account for five percent of the final Coach of the Year selection tally, and fans will have the opportunity to cast their vote by visiting www.naismithtrophy.com/vote between March 19-30.

The Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Men’s College Coach of the Year will be announced on during the Naismith Awards brunch April 1 at Pearl Stable in San Antonio, Texas.

“Werner is excited to help recognize the hard work and dedication of these talented coaches again this year,” said Chris Filardi, vice president of marketing at WernerCo. “This group of semifinalists represent the best in coaching and leadership.”

 

UT Athletics

Jimmy’s blog: What did SEC media miss when picking UT 13th in preseason poll?

Posted on February 23, 2018

By Jimmy Hyams

When I learned SEC basketball media had picked the Tennessee men to finish 13th in the SEC, one thought game to mind: What do they know that I don’t know?

I was flabbergasted.

I picked Tennessee 6th. I also picked the Vols to win 20 regular-season games and make the NCAA Tournament. I didn’t think a jump from 16 wins to 20 was farfetched. And I thought 20 wins would ensure an NCAA bid.

So what did I see that others didn’t?

Basically, three things.

  1. Player improvement. I felt under coach Rick Barnes and his staff, the players would be better. That has held true in many respects. I think you can argue that Grant Williams, Lamonte Turner, Jordan Bone, Jordan Bowden, Admiral Schofield and Kyle Alexander – the core of the returners – are better. In a tangible sense, look at the 3-point shooting. Schofield has gone from 38.9 percent to 39.3 percent; he was in the mid-40s recently. Bowden has gone from 31.5 percent to 42.7 percent, and he was over 60 percent entering SEC play. Turner has gone from 32.8 percent to 39.1 percent. And Bone has gone from 30.4 percent to 34.6 percent. Also the team has gone from 32.6 to 37.9.
  2. The European trip. Many teams that had made summer excursions did well that season,  whether the trip was to Europe or Australian or Asia. It can help build a bond and team chemistry. Several SEC teams have advanced to the Final Four after having made overseas trips.
  3. More guard depth. I felt the additions of grad transfer James Daniel (who led the nation in scoring two years ago) and junior college transfer Chris Darrington would add production. While Darrington has struggled, Daniel has been in double digit six times in scoring and twice in assists.

I thought those three things would make Tennessee better.

I also thought a more experienced team would do a better job of closing out games. That was put to the test when Tennessee blew a 15-point first half lead against Villanova and crumpled in the second half against North Carolina.

But for the most part, UT has found a way to put away close games. The Vols are 6-3 in games decided by five points or fewer, with the defeats to North Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri.

How Tennessee finishes the season will be intriguing.

In the last three years, after Feb. 1, Tennessee has closed the season 8-21. Part of that can be attributed to a not-so-good team. Part of it can be blamed on injuries to leading scorers Kevin Punter (two years ago) and Robert Hubbs (last year).

Can this team close strong? That remains to be seen.

Tennessee is 4-2 since Feb. 1 with games remaining against Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Georgia – then the SEC Tournament.

To this point, though, no one can argue that UT has overachieved. Of UT’s top eight players, seven were three star and one (Daniel) was a one star.

That means UT has done a good job of evaluating and/or developing talent.

ESPN basketball analyst Seth Greenberg made an interesting observation earlier this week. He said one reason Villanova, Virginia and Purdue are so good is because they are senior-laden teams with players that have played together for years.

His formula for winning in college: Getting old and staying old.

Greenberg thinks Barnes is using that formula to build Tennessee’s program.

“He has recruited guys that are willing to be coached, play hard and have toughness,’’ Greenberg said. “Then you add pieces to that foundation.’’

Tennessee plays just one senior: Daniel. That should bode well for next season.

If UT can add the right piece or two for next season, then making the NCAA Tournament, competing for a top five seed and winning 20 games won’t be a surprise.

And UT won’t be picked 13th again, either.

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

Online Fundraiser Established for the Family of Daryle Singletary

Online Fundraiser Established for the Family of Daryle Singletary

Posted on February 23, 2018

An online fundraiser on YouCaring.com has been organized by Franklin Synergy Bank for the family of country singer Daryle Singletary, who died unexpectedly on Feb. 12 at his home in Lebanon, Tennessee. He was 46 years old.

Daryle is survived by his wife, Holly, two sons, Jonah and Mercer, and two daughters, Nora and Charlotte.

According to a statement on YouCaring.com, “funds will be used for all family and funeral expenses.” Almost $8,000 of the $100,000 goal has been raised.

Daryle had a string of Top 10 hits in the mid-1990s with “I Let Her Lie,” “Too Much Fun” and “Amen Kind of Love.”

photo by Jason Simanek

Kacey Musgraves Releases Two Songs, “Space Cowboy” & “Butterflies,” From Upcoming Album, “Golden Hour” [Listen]

Kacey Musgraves Releases Two Songs, “Space Cowboy” & “Butterflies,” From Upcoming Album, “Golden Hour” [Listen]

Posted on February 23, 2018

Kacey Musgraves announced she will drop her new album, Golden Hour, on March 30.

The new 13-song offering follows Kacey’s 2013 debut album, Same Trailer Different Park, and her 2015 sophomore album, Pageant Material, both of which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Kacey co-wrote and co-produced the new album with Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian.

“I had a different mindset this time, which was feeling rather than thinking—leading heart first,” says Kacey.

Golden Hour is available for pre-order now, with two instant-grat tracks, “Butterflies” and “Space Cowboy,” which you can listen to below.

Golden Hour Track List

  1. “Slow Burn”
  2. “Lonely Weekend”
  3. “Butterflies”
  4. “Oh, What a World”
  5. “Mother”
  6. “Love Is a Wild Thing”
  7. “Space Cowboy”
  8. “Happy & Sad”
  9. “Velvet Elvis”
  10. “Wonder Woman”
  11. “High Horse”
  12. “Golden Hour”
  13. “Rainbow”

photo by Carissa Riccardi

Warlick Nabs 150th Win As Lady Vols Top Gators, 70-42

Posted on February 22, 2018
Holly Warlick – Lady Vols HC / Credit: UT Athletics

GAINESVILLE, Fla. —  #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 (Jacksonville/Ribault H.S) added 10 rebounds to log her seventh career double-double.

Florida was led in scoring by Paulina Hersler, who ended the day with 12 points and five rebounds.

Tennessee launched a balanced attack from the start with UT’s first three baskets coming from three different players. The Lady Vols ran a smothering press in the opening minutes, forcing five turnovers that were converted into nine points. UT got out to an 18-13 lead with 2:18 to go in the period, but Funda Nakkasoglu scored back-to-back buckets to tie the score at 18 by the end of the first quarter.

Cheridene Green opened the scoring for the Lady Vols in the second stanza driving through the lane for a layup. The teams traded buckets through the 5:38 mark, after which a Westbrook jumper launched a 6-0 run to put UT ahead by four with 4:28 to play. Florida answered, tying it up 28-28 with 1:11 to go in the period, but Tennessee closed out the half with four unanswered points to take a 32-28 lead into the break.

The Lady Vols picked up where they left off in the third, scoring 14 unanswered points while holding the Gators scoreless until the 2:14 mark when Hersler converted on a jumper. Following Heisler’s bucket UT launched into another 10-0 run to close out the period. Tennessee held UF to only two points in the third quarter, the fewest points any SEC team has scored in a quarter against UT.

The teams traded baskets to start the final period, but Tennessee outscored Florida 9-3 in the final four minutes to coast to victory.

Next Up: Tennessee returns home to host No. 7/6 South Carolina Sunday on Senior Day. UT’s final game of the regular season, it’s scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.

Run Tracker: The Lady Vols logged an 18-0 run against the Gators spanning the second and third quarters. That run is Tennessee’s 12th run of at least 12 points this season and its largest run to date, surpassing its previous season-best of 17-0 against Central Arkansas.

Third Quarter Lockdown: Tennessee allowed UF only two points in the third quarter, the second fewest points scored in a quarter by any opponent and the lowest quarter total UT has ever allowed to an SEC school.

Quick Hands: The Lady Vols managed 17 steals against Florida. That total is the most steals snagged by a Tennessee team since they picked off 22 vs. ETSU on Dec. 2, 2015. It’s the most steals vs. an SEC foe since UT logged 19 vs. Kentucky on Feb. 3, 2008.

-UT Athletics

 

Randy Rogers Talks Songwriting, Touring With His Longtime Band, Making His Upcoming Album With Dave Cobb & More

Randy Rogers Talks Songwriting, Touring With His Longtime Band, Making His Upcoming Album With Dave Cobb & More

Posted on February 22, 2018

Jim Casey talks with Randy Rogers about:

  • his very successful 2017
  • writing his first songs as an 11-year-old
  • the best song he’s ever written, “In My Arms Instead”
  • the healing power of music
  • getting his start singing in the church choir
  • picking up the guitar for the first time as a 12-year-old
  • the path that Robert Earl Keen blazed for Texas singer/songwriters
  • today’s up-and-coming crop of talented songwriters, including Parker McCollum, William Clark Green and Red Shahan
  • graduating from Texas State University in San Marcos in 2001 with a degree in Mass Communications
  • removing himself from social media
  • the family aspect of his band, including having the same crew and bus driver
  • using a number of producers over his career, including Radney Foster, Paul Worley, Jay Joyce, Lloyd Maines and Buddy Cannon
  • working on his upcoming album, which is being produced by Dave Cobb and tentatively slated to drop this fall
  • making Hold My Beer: Vol. 2 with Wade Bowen and touring together
  • his charitable work with Cheatham Street Live

Participants:

  • Randy Rogers of Randy Rogers Band
  • Jim Casey, editor in chief

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