Hoops Preview: #18 Tennessee vs. South Carolina

Posted on February 12, 2018
Jordan Bowden – Vols Guard / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Coming off its worst loss of the season, No. 18 Tennessee will look to bounce back on Tuesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena in a matchup with the South Carolina Gamecocks. The game tips at 9 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPNU and streamed online via WatchESPN.

The Vols (18-6, 8-4 SEC) were on the losing end for just the second time in over a month on Saturday, falling on the road at Alabama, 78-50. UT shot a season-low 28 percent (16-of-58) from the floor and made only one basket in the final 10 minutes of play. Tuesday night offers a chance to bounce back as the Vols prepare to close out strong during the final stretch of the regular season. In the first meeting with South Carolina, UT came out on top in Columbia, 70-63, behind Lamonté Turner’s 25 points off the bench.

The Gamecocks (13-12, 4-8 SEC) have lost five straight games and six of their last seven entering Tuesday night’s showdown. On the season, Chris Silva leads the Gamecocks in scoring (14.3 ppg) and ranks fourth in the SEC in rebounding (7.6 rpg). Graduate transfer guard Frank Booker is the team’s other double-digit scorer, tallying 11.3 ppg to go along with 3.1 rpg, 1.1 spg and 1.0 apg in 25 minutes of action per game.

After Tuesday’s matchup, the Vols prepare for a 6 p.m. tip at Georgia on Feb. 17, the first of two meetings in the final five games of the regular season. UT then returns home for a crucial game against the Florida Gators, who Tennessee is currently tied with for second in the SEC standings, on Feb. 21 at 9 p.m.

THE SERIES
• Overall: UT leads, 43-27
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 25-9
• In Columbia: SC leads, 16-15
• Neutral Sites: UT leads, 3-2
• Current Streak: UT has won one
• Last Meeting: UT won, 70-63, in Columbia, 1/20/18
• Rick Barnes vs. South Carolina: 7-3
• Rick Barnes vs. Frank Martin : Martin leads, 7-5

RIGHT NOW
• Tennessee ranks eighth nationally in average home attendance, having drawn 15,981 fans through 12 home games at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Despite Saturday’s 28-point loss, the Vols still have the SEC’s second-best scoring margin in league play (+4.8).
• The Vols are rated No. 13 in the NCAA RPI and own five “quadrant 1” wins.

A WIN WOULD…
• Extend Tennessee’s home win streak to six games.
• Complete the regular-season, 6-0 sweep over “permanent” SEC opponents Vanderbilt, Kentucky and South Carolina.
• Give Tennessee nine SEC victories for the first time since 2013-14, when the Vols finished with 11 league wins.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA
• Since defeating Kentucky before hosting the Vols on Jan. 20, Frank Martin and the Gamecocks (13-12, 4-8 SEC) have struggled to get a win.
• Following the close 70-63 loss against UT, South Carolina went on the road and upset Florida, 77-72. USC then returned home for its matchup against top-10 ranked Texas Tech in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Despite Caroline holding a two-possession lead with less than four minutes to play, the Red Raiders used a 13-2 run to close out the game and get the win.
• Entering Tuesday’s contest, the Gamecocks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven.
• On the season, Chris Silva leads the Gamecocks in scoring (14.3 ppg) and ranks fourth in the SEC in rebounding (7.6 rpg). Graduate transfer guard Frank Booker is the team’s other double-digit scorer, tallying 11.3 ppg to go along with 3.1 rpg, 1.1 spg and 1.0 apg in 25 minutes of action per game.
• In its most recent outing, South Carolina fell to Florida at home, 65-41. Booker scored a game-high 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting. The Gamecocks shot just 28 percent (15-of-54) from the field in the loss.

LAST MEETING WITH SOUTH CAROLINA
•  No. 21 Tennessee went on the road for a hard-fought, 70-63 victory against South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 20, 2018.
•  The Vols held the lead for nearly 37 minutes. South Carolina stayed within striking distance with its 3-point shooting, draining six of 10 in the second half. UT was able to counter that with a strong presence down low, scoring 39 points in the paint.
•  During the final stretch of play, Tennessee held South Carolina to just 1-of-11 shooting from the field to spur an 11-3 run, during which UT was 6-of-6 from the free-throw line to seal the victory.
•  Lamonté Turner posted another strong performance off the bench, dropping 25 points, six boards and a pair of assists in 32 minutes of action. Grant Williams added 14 points and a pair of blocks.
•  Admiral Schofield chipped in 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, while true freshman Derrick Walker scored a career-high 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting to help the Vols shoot 57 percent (23-of-40) from the floor in the game.
•  Tennessee put together a solid first half on offense, converting on 58 percent (11-of-19) of its shots from the floor.
•  Despite UT hitting seven of its final 10 attempts in the period, the Vols were held without a basket during the final 3:52 of the half. But their defense stepped up, holding the Gamecocks to just two points during the last four minutes of the frame.

MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST SOUTH CAROLINA
• On Dec. 6, 1969, unranked Tennessee strolled into Columbia and upset the No. 1-ranked Gamecocks, 55-54, thanks to 20 points from Jimmy England, and double-doubles by Don Johnson (18 pts, 12 rebs) and Bobby Croft (12 pts, 13 rebs).
• A two-overtime thriller in Columbia saw South Carolina pull out a 111-107 win on Feb. 10, 1993, despite 20-point efforts from Allan Houston (29), Lang Wiseman (26) and Corey Allen (22).
• Wayne Chism scored 23 points, JaJuan Smith added 19 and Tyler Smith had 13, but it was Chris Lofton’s 25-footer with 12.0 seconds remaining that lifted the Vols to an 89-87 win over South Carolina in the 2008 SEC Tournament in Atlanta on March 14, 2008.
• 2011 first-team All-SEC guard Scotty Hopson had a bright career against South Carolina, owning a sterling 6-0 record against the Gamecocks. Hopson threw down a posterizing dunk in the 2011 Knoxville win that placed fourth in the CBS Dunk of the Year Contest.

CURRENT VOLS’ CAREER STATS VS. SOUTH CAROLINA
• In three career games against South Carolina, Grant Williams averages 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds (3.0 offensive rebounds per game). He is also 17-of-21 from the free-throw line (.810).
• In three career games against South Carolina, Lamonté Turner averages 14.7 points and is 22-of-24 from the foul line (.917).
• Admiral Schofield averages 7.6 points in five career meetings against the Gamecocks.
• Kyle Alexander averages 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in five games against South Carolina.

FORMER BIG 12 RIVALS BARNES, MARTIN NOW UNDER SEC BANNER
• Tennessee coach Rick Barnes and South Carolina headman Frank Martin meet for the 13th time as conference rivals Saturday, but just the sixth time under the SEC banner.
• The two squared off seven times as coaches in the Big 12 Conference, when Barnes was with Texas and Martin was at the helm at Kansas State.
• Martin owns a 7-5 edge in head-to-head meetings.
• The 51-year-old Martin went 117-54 in five seasons at Kansas State, taking his 2009-10 squad to the Elite Eight and winning the Big 12 Coach of the Year award that same season. Barnes was one of the top coaches in the Big 12 during his 17-year tenure at Texas, winning four Big 12 Coach of the Year awards.
• Martin accepted the head coaching position at South Carolina in 2012 and owns a 109-86 record with the Gamecocks.

TENNESSEE HAS PLAYED FOUR OF NCAA COMMITTEE’S TOP-16 SEEDS
• The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee announced its current top-16 seeds Sunday on CBS. Tennessee has played five of those teams—six if you count the Vols’ preseason charity exhibition at Clemson.
• Tennessee has faced two projected No. 1 seeds (Villanova and Purdue), one No. 2 seed (Auburn) and one No. 3 seed (UNC).

TRENDING NOW
• In SEC play, Tennessee leads the league in assists per game (15.4) and assist/turnover ratio (1.4) while ranking second in scoring margin (+4.8) and rebounding defense (33.4 rapg).
• Sophomore point guard Jordan Bone leads the SEC with a 3.7 assist/turnover ratio during SEC play. He has a positive or even assist/turnover ratio in 10 of 11 conference games.
• Sophomore guard Lamonté Turner has made 10 3-pointers over UT’s last three games.
• Turner leads the SEC with a .929 (39-of-42) free-throw percentage during league play.
• Jordan Bone and James Daniel III share the team lead with 83 assists this season. Bone’s assist/turnover ratio is 2.59, and Daniel’s is 2.52 to rank fourth and fifth in the SEC, respectively.

 

UT Athletics

Lindsay Ell to Join Keith Urban on 8 “Graffiti U World Tour” Dates

Lindsay Ell to Join Keith Urban on 8 “Graffiti U World Tour” Dates

Posted on February 12, 2018

Lindsay Ell will join Keith Urban’s Graffiti U World Tour for eight dates this summer and fall.

Keith’s 58-city tour will kick off on June 15 in St. Louis and will make stops in Nashville, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas and more, as well as 10 dates in Canada.

Lindsay, who was born in Canada, will open seven shows in September in her native country as well as the gig in Rogers, Ark., on Aug. 15.

Kelsea Ballerini will serve as the opener for the remaining 50 dates.

“It’s not very often you get to share the stage with an artist you’ve looked up to since the beginning of your career,” said Lindsay. “I am so excited to be touring with Keith Urban and can’t wait to play for fans in the venues I grew up in!”

Graffiti U World Tour (Lindsay dates in bold)

June 15
St. Louis, MO
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

June 16
Indianapolis, IN
Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center

June 22
Clarkston, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre

June 23
Pittsburgh, PA
KeyBank Pavilion

June 27
Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Performing Arts Center

June 29
Toronto, ON
Budweiser Stage

June 30
Toronto, ON
Budweiser Stage

July 5
Gilford, NH
Bank of NH Pavilion

July 8
Canandaigua, NY
CMAC

July 13
Salt Lake City, UT
USANA Amphitheatre

July 14
Denver, CO
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

July 15
Albuquerque, NM
Isleta Amphitheater

July 20
Mountain View, CA
Shoreline Amphitheatre

July 21
Lake Tahoe, NV
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys

July 22
Lake Tahoe, NV
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys

July 27
Raleigh, NC
Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

July 28
Charlotte, NC
PNC Music Pavilion

July 29
Alpharetta, GA
Verizon Amphitheatre

Aug. 3
Philadelphia, PA
BB&T Pavilion

Aug. 4
Mansfield, MA
Xfinity Center

Aug. 5
Bangor, ME
Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion

Aug. 10
Cleveland, OH
Blossom Music Center

Aug. 11
Bristow, VA
Jiffy Lube Live

Aug. 12
Virginia Beach, VA
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater

Aug. 15
Rogers, AR
Walmart AMP*

Aug. 17
Kansas City, MO
Sprint Center

Aug. 18
Chicago, IL
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Aug. 19
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center

Aug. 24
Nashville, TN
Bridgestone Arena

Aug. 25
Orange Beach, AL
The Wharf Amphitheater

Aug. 26
Tuscaloosa, AL
Tuscaloosa Amphitheater

Sept. 7
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun Arena

Sept. 8
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun Arena

Sept. 14
Ottawa, ON
Canadian Tire Centre*

Sept. 15
London, ON
Budweiser Gardens*

Sept. 19
Winnipeg, MB
Bell MTS Place*

Sept. 21
Saskatoon, SK
SaskTel Centre*

Sept. 22
Edmonton, AB
Rogers Place*

Sept. 23
Calgary, AB
ScotiaBank Saddledome*

Sept. 25
Vancouver, BC
Rogers Arena*

Sept. 27
Eugene, OR
Matthew Knight Arena

Sept. 28
Boise, ID
Taco Bell Arena

Sept. 29
Missoula, MT
Adams Center

Oct. 4
Phoenix, AZ
Ak-Chin Pavilion

Oct. 5
Laughlin, NV
Laughlin Event Center

Oct. 12
Peoria, IL
Peoria Civic Center

Oct. 13
Minneapolis, MN
Target Center

Oct. 14
Grand Forks, ND
Ralph Engelstad Arena

Oct. 18
Toledo, OH
Huntington Center

Oct. 19
Grand Rapids, MI
Van Andel Arena

Oct. 20
Louisville, KY
KFC Yum! Center

Oct. 24
Youngstown, OH
Covelli Centre

Oct. 25
Hershey, PA
Giant Center

Oct. 27
Brooklyn, NY
Barclays Center

Oct. 28
Charlottesville, VA
John Paul Jones Arena

Nov. 1
Little Rock, AR
Verizon Arena

Nov. 2
New Orleans, LA
Smoothie King Center

Nov. 3
Dallas, TX
American Airlines Center

* with Lindsay Ell

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA

Country Stars Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, Chris Young, Oak Ridge Boys & More Remember Daryle Singletary on Social Media

Country Stars Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, Chris Young, Oak Ridge Boys & More Remember Daryle Singletary on Social Media

Posted on February 12, 2018

After news broke that Daryle Singletary died early Monday morning (Feb. 12), many of his country music peers shared their condolences and remembrances of Daryle via social media.

photo courtesy of Absolute Publicity  

Daryle Singletary Dies at Age 46

Daryle Singletary Dies at Age 46

Posted on February 12, 2018

Daryle Singletary died early Monday morning (Feb. 12) at his home in Lebanon, Tennessee. He was 46 years old. The cause of death is still pending.

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.”

Daryle recently teamed up with Rhonda Vincent for a duets album, American Grandstand, which was released in 2017.

Daryle is survived by his wife, Holly, two sons, Jonah and Mercer, two daughters, Nora and Charlotte, parents, Roger and Anita Singletary, brother, Kevin Singletary, sister-in-law, Melinda Singletary, mother and father-in-law, Terry and Sandy Mercer, and brother and sister-in-law, Tony and Kristy Rowland.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

Daryle Bruce Singletary was born on March 10, 1971, in Cairo, Georgia. He earned notoriety for his authentic country style with such hits as “I Let Her Lie,” “Too Much Fun,” “Amen Kind of Love” and “The Note.” On past albums, some of the greatest talents of country music lined up to sing with him including, the late George Jones and Johnny Paycheck, Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Ricky Skaggs, John Anderson, and Rhonda Vincent. His musical integrity led him through years of celebrating the traditional country music style that he loved so much.

photo by Jim Casey

Jason Aldean Releases Innovative Three-Part Music Video for New Single, “You Make It Easy” [Watch]

Jason Aldean Releases Innovative Three-Part Music Video for New Single, “You Make It Easy” [Watch]

Posted on February 12, 2018

If you’ve got 15 minutes to spare today, check out Jason Aldean’s innovative three-part music video for his current single, “You Make It Easy.”

The tune is the fist single from Jason’s upcoming eighth studio album, Rearview Town, which will drop on April 13. The bluesy ballad was co-penned by Morgan Wallen, Jordan Schmidt and Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard.

Directed by longtime collaborator Shaun Silva and filmed outside of Nashville, the three-part music video explores a couple’s love in the face of adversity.

“The first time I heard this song, I was riding around in my truck,” said Jason. “I immediately needed to cut it and always felt like it could be the first single. I told Shaun that I wanted the videos to capture the love story that this song tells, and I think one of the things he’s really good at is taking our ideas and running with them in a cool way.”

Watch the three-part music video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcwjBtGrgMk&list=PLl5Lr6OGa-y1L7UOIDSFGjZj_VY5d1MCx&index=3

photo by Jason Simanek

Russell hits milestone, leads #11 Lady Vols past #18 Georgia 62-46

Russell hits milestone, leads #11 Lady Vols past #18 Georgia 62-46

Posted on February 11, 2018
Lady Vols C Mercedes Russell / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Mercedes Russell collected the 1,000th rebound of her fantastic career, leading No. 11/11 Tennessee to a 62-46 victory over No. 18/18 Georgia on Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The 6-foot-6 senior center became the sixth Lady Vol to reach the 1,000-rebound mark, joining all-time greats Chamique Holdsclaw (1,295), Glory Johnson (1,218), Bashaara Graves (1,044), Sheila Frost (1,043) and Tamika Catchings (1,004). The redshirt senior finished with 13 points and a game-high 15 boards to help UT (21-4, 9-3 SEC) move into a tie for second place in the SEC standings.

The Lady Vols put on a stellar defensive performance in holding Georgia to a season-low 46 points and 29.5 percent shooting (18-of-61) from the field. UT dominated on the glass throughout the game, finishing with a 50-30 rebounding advantage, and forced UGA into 20 turnovers.

Senior forward Jaime Nared contributed 15 points for the Lady Vols, while Meme Jackson and Rennia Davis added 11 apiece. Taja Cole and Mackenzie Engram scored 12 each to lead the Lady Bulldogs (21-4, 9-3 SEC) in the annual Live Pink, Bleed Orange game, which brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer.

After Georgia grabbed a 9-6 edge five minutes into the game, the Lady Vols answered with an 8-2 run capped off by a Nared 3-pointer to put themselves in front by three. UT shot efficiently throughout the first quarter, including going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. A Davis triple from the wing with eight seconds remaining in the quarter gave the Big Orange a 17-13 lead at the end of the frame.

Tennessee’s defense shut the Lady Bulldogs down for the majority of the second stanza, as UGA was held without a point until the 4:01 mark. UT continued to produce offensively during that drought, scoring 13 straight points to increase the lead to double digits for the first time of the afternoon. Nared led the way offensively with 12 points in the half on 3-of-5 shooting.

With Tennessee ahead by 21 in the final minute of the second quarter, the Lady Bulldogs were able to rattle off four quick points, including a Mackenzie Engram jumper as time in the half expired to cut the UT lead to 36-19 going into the intermission. Georgia’s six points were the fewest Tennessee has allowed in a second quarter this season.

Russell’s 1,000th-career rebound came as her eighth of the game with 1:24 left in the first half.

Also appearing in the first half for UT was Kasiyahna Kushkituah. The freshman from Atlanta, Ga., scored three points, including her first since Dec. 6 against Troy, and finished the game with five rebounds in 10 minutes of action.

The two teams traded baskets through the third quarter. Cole scored eight points in the frame for UGA, while Russell led the Lady Vols with seven points and four boards as UT held an 18-point edge with the game heading into the final period.

The defensive intensity continued into the fourth quarter for Tennessee, as Georgia was held to 2-for-13 shooting during the frame and committed six turnovers. The Lady Bulldogs also went 0-for-8 from the floor during a scoring drought that lasted four minutes and 43 seconds. UT was also stagnant on the offensive end during the period, going 1-for-8 on field goal attempts and recording seven points, its lowest total in a fourth quarter this season.

Next Up: The Lady Vols will host Alabama at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

Second Quarter Lockdown:  UT held Georgia scoreless for the first 5:59 minutes of the second quarter and without a field goal until the final 34 seconds of the half. Tennessee limited the Lady Bulldogs to six points in the quarter, the fewest they’ve allowed an SEC opponent in any quarter this season.

Big On The Boards: Tennessee out-rebounded Georgia 50-30, marking the 20th time this season the Lady Vols have pulled down more boards than an opponent. On the season UT is averaging 45.2 rebounds per game while holding opponents to 35.7.

Balanced Offense: The Lady Vols had four players scoring in double digits and eight of the 10 players who saw action for Tennessee scored. This was the 15th game this season UT has had four or more players in double figures.

With The Win: Tennessee moves to 51-16 all time in the series with Georgia and 22-4 vs. the Lady Bulldogs in Knoxville. Today’s win was UT’s 14th straight win over UGA in Knoxville. On the season, the Lady Vols are 6-3 against ranked opponents.

-UT Athletics

 

No. 15 Vols see 6-game winning streak end at Alabama 78-50

No. 15 Vols see 6-game winning streak end at Alabama 78-50

Posted on February 10, 2018
Vols F Grant Williams / Credit: UT Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 15 Tennessee struggled to find any rhythm on offense Saturday night, and its six-game winning streak was snapped by Alabama in a 78-50 loss at Coleman Coliseum.

The 28-point game was UT’s worst loss of the season, as the Vols (18-6, 8-4 SEC) shot a season-low 28 percent (16-of-58) from the floor. In the final 10 minutes of the game, Tennessee made only one basket.

Alabama (16-9, 7-5 SEC) started the second half on a 15-7 run to help extend its lead to 18 points, converting on four straight trips down the floor. The Crimson Tide had the hot hand and would never look back in the game, knocking down nine of its 12 shots before the under-16 media timeout.

Grant Williams led the way for Tennessee with 16 points and four boards. Admiral Schofield finished with seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Alabama forward Donta Hall finished with a double-double, posting 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Tide owned the paint with a 50-18 scoring advantage over UT.

The Vols began the game with a cold hand, shooting 2-of-11 from the floor compared to Alabama’s 7-of-10 shooting. During the stretch, the Tide jumped out to a 17-6 lead.

UT struggled to guard the paint in the opening frame, being outscored 26-8 by the Tide. Hall dominated down low in the first half, tallying 10 points, eights boards and two blocks to give Alabama a 37-27 lead at the break.

Heading into intermission, UT was shooting 31 percent (9-of-29) from the field, while the Tide converted on 55 percent (16-of-29) of its shots. Admiral Schofield led UT with six points and four rebounds during the period.

UP NEXT: The Vols return home for their second meeting with the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET (ESPNU). Tennessee won the first meeting in Columbia, 70-63, led by 25 points from Lamonte Turner. After that game, Tennessee will prepare for a 6 p.m. ET tip at Georgia on Saturday, Feb. 17, the first of two meetings with UGA in the final five games of the regular season.

-UT Athletics

 

Warlick talks about tough next opponent, Georgia

Posted on February 10, 2018
Holly Warlick – Lady Vols HC / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Head Coach Holly Warlick met with members of the media before practice on Saturday in Thompson-Boling Arena.  The No. 11 Lady Vols (19-4, 7-3 SEC) are preparing to host No. 18 Georgia (21-3, 9-2 SEC) on Sunday for the annual Live Pink, Bleed Orange game.

Answering questions from the media, Warlick talked about Rennia Davis‘ breakout performance at Arkansas and how hard Mercedes Russell has worked over the years to be closing in on 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.

The Live Pink, Bleed Orange game will tip off at 3 p.m. ET and be televised on the SEC Network.

Head Coach Holly Warlick

On Think Pink, Bleed Orange…

“Obviously the pink game is something close to me. Nikki Caldwell and I started our Champions For A Cause Foundation to show support for breast cancer, and we just continue to try to raise money and send it to UT Cancer Center. We obviously want it to go to research and to give men and women a chance to be able to use their mobile unit to get tested if they can’t come in (to the clinic). And more importantly, we had a chance to go over to the center where they get their chemo, and it’s a powerful thing. It’s just a powerful thing. To see these people… there’s not one person in there who didn’t have hope.Their attitudes are just incredible. They all, in their minds, are going to beat cancer, and rightfully so. That was something we did last week that was powerful for me, and every time we go over there it just amazes me at people’s attitudes. I’m worried about a basketball game, and they’re worried about life. They put my life all in perspective.”

On Georgia’s freshmen…

“They play hard. They’re great defenders. They play within her system. They’re getting great minutes, and they’ve moved Georgia to where… Last year Georgia was good; (their freshman) have accelerated them and given them confidence to be a great basketball team.”

On if Tennessee’s freshmen have exceeded her expectations… 

“They’ve probably exceeded (my expectations). They’ve been put in roles and put in game situations where we need them to produce. I knew that they were talented, but what do you do when you’re playing in a hostile environment? What do you do when the game is on the line? How do they produce (then)? I think overall they’ve just done an outstanding job. We’ve needed them and have relied on them to win basketball games.”

On Tennessee having 42 consecutive 20-win seasons…

“We almost created a monster here, but we strive to win every game. I didn’t even think about the 20 wins (after Arkansas). We were still kind of thinking about the losses we had. But it comes down… Look, you have to have great players, and I have a staff that gets us prepared. And these kids have to focus; they’ve got to stick with the game plan, and we as coaches have to put them in an opportunity to win. Twenty wins this early on… Last year we struggled a little bit, but this year every win has been a solid win for us, and we’ve taken it one game at a time, and that’s been huge for us.”

On if she encouraged Rennia Davis to look for her shot more against Arkansas…

“I did. We had a good discussion. I didn’t want her to just sit back and let everyone else do their thing. Rennia is an incredible athlete, and I think when she has the confidence… And she’s been in the gym, she’s watched a ton of film, her defense has gotten better. So I told her look, it’s not your offense that’s holding you back, it’s your defense, and she really took that to heart. She had a breakout game, and we need her to continue to do that. I don’t want her to hold back. I don’t want her to just watch Jaime and Mercedes perform. I want her to be at that level as well.”

On Tennessee’s defense…

“It’s got to get more consistent. It’s got to get more consistent, and we’re capable of doing it. We’ve done it, but we can be on a little bit of a roller coaster. We’ve got to make a commitment to it. Yesterday, again, all we did was defense and rebounding. We just have to continue to understand that defense and rebounding will win you games; they’ll win you games. And you see the games we played well in, we played great defense and we controlled the boards.”

On what she’s learned about her players in close games…

“We’re never out of a game. We seem to be able, when we need to, to pick up our defense and pick up what we need to do, and that’s a positive. I would rather us do that the whole game, but we have a knack for when we get down and our backs are against a wall, we really fight. And that’s great, I just want them to do it all the time.”

On Mercedes Russell approaching 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds…

“Mercedes came into this program with a lot of expectations. Her foot injuries were really bad, and I’ll  say this, Mercedes every year she’s gotten better and better.  This summer she got in the gym; she got in the weight room. She’s stronger, she’s more active with her shot, and she’s our anchor inside. I’m really proud of her because it doesn’t just happen because you come in and you’re a highly ranked freshman. You’ve got to work at your game, and she has worked at her game. She’s drawing triple and double teams, and she’s handled them, and I can’t say enough about Mercedes and her success here and what she means to this program.”

On Georgia’s defense…

“They’ve very good. They’ll be aggressive on the ball. They’ll deny us. They’re physical. They’re quick, so taking care of the ball, for us, is going to be key. We can’t have any passes that we just throw out of bounds, because they’re going to bring the pressure on us, and we’re going to have to handle it.”

On currently being in a three-way tie for third in the SEC…

“This is a huge game for us, and these ladies know it. It’s a huge game for us. We’ve talked about it; we’ve put it out there (that it’s a) big game for us. Right now this is a standing game, and we need to get the job done.”

-UT Athletics

 

Hoops Preview: #11 Lady Vols vs. #18 Georgia

Hoops Preview: #11 Lady Vols vs. #18 Georgia

Posted on February 10, 2018
Jaime Nared – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 11/11 Tennessee (20-4, 8-3 SEC) is back in the friendly confines of Thompson-Boling Arena for back-to-back home games, beginning with a Sunday matinee vs. No. 18/18 Georgia (21-3, 9-2 SEC) at 3 p.m. ET.

The 67th meeting between the Lady Vols and Lady Bulldogs is a key one, with UT currently tied with South Carolina and Texas A&M in third place in the Southeastern Conference standings and UGA sitting in second, one game ahead of the Lady Vols.

Tennessee has won three straight and four of its last five recently after dropping three of four vs. a quartet of ranked foes from Jan. 11 to Jan. 21. The Lady Vols are coming off a road win on Thursday, surviving 11 three-pointers from Arkansas to win at Bud Walton Arena, 90-85.

Georgia, meanwhile, has won two in a row since falling at LSU on Feb. 1, 71-60. That loss, though, came on the heels of Tennessee dropping a 70-59 decision to the Lady Tigers in Baton Rouge on Jan. 28. The Lady Bulldogs are coming off a 67-55 home win over Vanderbilt on Thursday night in Athens. It marked the sixth straight game UGA had  failed to reach 70 points in a game, yet it won five of those six contests.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Debbie Antonelli (analyst) will describe the action for the UT-Georgia television broadcast on the SEC Network.
  • 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.

LIVE PINK, BLEED ORANGE GAME

  • The Georgia match-up is Tennessee’s annual Live Pink, Bleed Orange game, creating awareness for the fight against breast cancer.
  • First 8,000 fans receive a pink Live Pink, Bleed Orange T-shirt.
  • First 2,000 fans will receive a pink shaker, courtesy of United Healthcare.
  • UT Medical Center’s Mobile Mammography unit will be providing 3D Tomo screenings from 1-3 p.m. outside the arena on Phillip Fulmer Way. For more info. or to schedule an appointment, call the UT Breast Health Outreach Program at 865-305-9753.
  • Fans are invited to snap free photos in the Knox Photo Booth at Section 129 on the concourse during pre-game, courtesy of United Healthcare.
  • Kids’ Day – every Sunday home game is Kids’ Day! Check out the fun at Kids’ Corner at Gate F!
  • Postgame lay-ups for kids every Sunday home game!
  • 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.
  • Spirit Day halftime performance.

UT’S UPCOMING SCHEDULE

  • Tennessee is in the midst of a very welcome two-game home stand, having played six of its last nine contests on the road and forging a 5-4 record.
  • The Lady Vols will welcome Alabama to The Summitt on Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. ET tip on the SEC Network.
  • UT’s Feb. 18 game at Missouri has been set for 1 p.m. CT (2 ET) on ESPNU.
  • The Feb. 25 home contest vs. South Carolina (Lady Vol Senior Day) has been set for a 4 p.m. ET tip on ESPN2.

42 STRAIGHT 20-WIN SEASONS!

  • UT achieved victory number 20 on Feb. 8, 2018, winning at Arkansas, 90-85.
  • The Lady Vols hit the 20-win mark for the 42nd consecutive season.
  • UT matched its victory total from last season’s 20-12 campaign. The Lady Vols won No. 20 last season in the NCAA First Round over Dayton on March 18 in Louisville, Ky.

BASKETBALL ROLLING AT ROCKY TOP

  • Both of Tennessee’s basketball teams are ranked among the top 15 in their respective AP Polls, with the Lady Vols standing 11th and the Vols ranked No. 15 in the men’s AP Poll.
  • The women are 20-4 and the guys are 18-5 (through Feb. 9), combining for a 38-9 overall mark, including 21-3 at home this season. The UT men play at Alabama on Saturday night.
  • Ohio State, Duke and Michigan also have both the men’s and women’s program’s ranked this week.

GETTING TO THE FREE THROW LINE

  • Tennessee ranks No. 1 in the NCAA in free throw attempts (586) and No. 2 in free throws made (417).
  • Jaime Nared ranks No. 6 nationally in free throws made (140) and No. 16 in free throw attempts (167).
  • Nared is 52nd in the NCAA and No. 4 in the SEC in free throw percentage (83.8).

ROOKIES ARE DISHING

  • Evina Westbrook‘s 5.0 assists-per-game average ranks No. 1 all-time by a UT freshman, 60th nationally and No. 3 nationally among freshmen.
  • Only five players in Lady Vol history have averaged 5.0 assists for a season, including Dawn Marsh (three times), Holly Warlick (twice), Ariel Massengale, Michelle Marciniak and Lea Henry.
  • Her 120 assists thus far rank as the fourth-best total ever by a Lady Vol freshman.

WORKING THE BOARDS

  • The Lady Vols have out-rebounded 20 of 24 opponents this season.
  • Tennessee is 18-1 when it outrebounds its opponents, 1-0 when it ties them and 1-3 when it has fewer boards than foes.
  • UT ranks No. 4 nationally in defensive rebounds per game (31.0), No. 6 in total rebounds (1,079), No. 6 in rebounds per game (44.96) and No. 15 in rebound margin (9.0).

UT-UGA SERIES NOTES

  • UT enters Sunday’s contest with a 50-16 advantage in the series, having won 17 of the last 19.
  • The Lady Vols are 14-9 vs. Georgia in Athens all-time, 21-4 in Knoxville and 15-3 at neutral sites.
  • Tennessee is 1-3 vs. UGA in overtime games.
  • The Lady Vols have a 14-3 postseason record against Georgia after winning in the 2015 SEC quarterfinals.
  • Holly Warlick is 6-1 vs. Georgia (1-1 vs. Joni Taylor) as head coach. She was 5-0 vs. Andy Landers.
  • These programs have met 53 times when both teams were ranked, 11 occasions when only one was ranked and twice with neither team ranked.
  • This is the first meeting with each team ranked since No. 5/7 UT beat #22/19 UGA, 59-51, in Knoxville on Jan. 25, 2015.
  • This marks the third year that neither Pat Summitt (UT) nor Andy Landers (UGA) are patrolling one of the sidelines after Landers retired after the 2014-15 campaign. Summitt retired following the 2011-12 season.
  • Tennessee and Georgia rank No. 1 and No. 2 in SEC regular season championships, with the Lady Vols owning 18 and the Lady Bulldogs having seven.
  • UT stands first in SEC tourney titles as well, collecting 17 while UGA is tied for third with Auburn at four, while Vandy is second with six.
  • Dawn Marsh dished out a Lady Vol record 18 assists vs. Georgia on March 6, 1988. She also had 12 vs. UGA on March 20, 1986, while Michelle Marciniak also posted 12 vs. the Lady Bulldogs on Feb. 25, 1996.
  • Tennessee and Georgia met in the 1996 NCAA Championship game in Charlotte, with the Lady Vols prevailing, 83-64, in the first of three straight national championship seasons.

LAST MEETING BETWEEN UT AND UGA

  • Despite a season-high 34 points from Diamond DeShields, #RV/25 Tennessee fell short in double overtime against Georgia, 81-78, at Stegeman Coliseum on Feb. 5, 2017.
  • The Lady Vols (15-8, 6-4 SEC) had two solid looks at the basket in the final seconds of the game, but a three-pointer from Jordan Reynoldsrimmed out as time expired.
  • DeShields’ 34 points marked the fifth time in her career she had eclipsed the 30-point margin. She added six rebounds and four steals on the night. Mercedes Russell posted a double-double with 24 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.
  • Caliya Robinson led the Lady Bulldogs (12-11, 4-6 SEC) with 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting from the field. Mackenzie Engram finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
  • Tennessee held the lead for most of the fourth quarter but couldn’t pull away. With two seconds remaining, UGA’s Haley Clark drove to the paint and hit a layup to tie the game at 59-all, forcing the first overtime game for UT this season.

LAST TIME IN KNOXVILLE

  • Diamond DeShields scored a game-high 22 points and Bashaara Graves recorded her 29th career double-double as Tennessee rolled past Georgia in the season finale, 80-60, at Thompson-Boling Arena.
  • With 80 total points, Tennessee (17-12, 8-8 SEC) notched its highest point total in SEC play this season and its most in any game this season since scoring 90 in a win over Stetson on Dec. 30.
  • Following DeShields’ 22 points, freshman Te’a Cooper logged just the third 20-point performance of her season on Sunday, finishing with 21 for the game. Graves, playing in front of the home faithful on Senior Day, rounded out UT’s double-digit scorers, notching 12 points to go along with her game-high 10 rebounds.
  • Caliya Robinson’s 17 points led the way for Georgia (21-9, 9-8 SEC), followed by 13 from Pachis Roberts and 12 for Tiaria Griffin.
  • UT’s only deficit came after the first basket of the game — a jumper from Georgia’s Halle Washington. The Lady Vols responded with a 12-0 run and never looked back, leading by as many as 25 midway through the third quarter.

ABOUT GEORGIA

  • Georgia returned three starters and eight total letterwinners from a squad that went 16-15 overall and 7-9 in the SEC last year to place eighth.
  • The Lady Bulldogs were picked to finish eighth in both the SEC Coaches and Media polls in 2017-18.
  • UGA also is bolstered by a top-10 recruiting class and the addition of a former five-star recruit Taja Cole, a Georgia native who originally signed with Louisville.
  • Head coach Joni Taylor is in her third season and has forged a 58-28 record thus far.
  • At 21-3, Georgia is off to its best start since 1999-2000.
  • Forwards Mackenzie Engram and Caliya Robinson pace the UGA attack inside, averaging 13.1 points and 6.2 rebounds, and 12.8 points and 7.6 rebounds, respectively.

GEORGIA LAST TIME OUT (UGA 67, VANDY 55)

  • A balanced scoring effort from 10 different Lady Bulldogs led the 18th-ranked Georgia basketball team past the Vanderbilt Commodores, 67-55, Thursdayevening at Stegeman Coliseum.
  • With its second win against Vanderbilt this season, Georgia improves to 21-3 on the year and 9-2 in the Southeastern Conference.
  • Three Lady Bulldogs supplied double-digit scoring efforts: redshirt sophomore guard Taja Cole (11), senior forward Mackenzie Engram (11) and freshman guard Que Morrison (10). Engram was honored before the game for reaching the 1,000-point milestone during the second quarter of the LSU game, becoming one of just 38 Lady Bulldogs on the all-time list.
  • Alongside Engram was Cole, who also scored  11 points, while adding a team-leading seven assists and a career-high five steals. The redshirt sophomore bested her average of 4.6 assists per game, which ranks fourth in the Southeastern Conference.

TENN. LAST TIME OUT (UT 90, ARK 85)

  • Rennia Davis recorded a career-high 33 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 11/11 Tennessee to a 90-85 win over Arkansas on Thursday night at Bud Walton Arena.
  • Davis connected on 13-of-18 shots from the floor, as the Lady Vols (20-4, 8-3 SEC) earned their 20th victory for the 42nd season in a row. Meme Jackson added 21 points with five 3-pointers, while Jaime Nared netted 16 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 10 seconds to put the game away.
  • Devin Cosper scored 29 points for the Razorbacks (6-18, 2-8 SEC), while Malica Monk went 4-for-4 from beyond the 3-point arc and finished with 25 points. Arkansas cut the deficit to two at multiple points late in the fourth quarter, but Tennessee was able to hold on down the stretch despite not recording a field goal over the last 3:37.
  • UT used a well-balanced attack that saw seven players reach the box score. The Lady Vols also recorded 24 assists on 31 baskets, led by a career-high tying nine from Anastasia Hayes.
  • Arkansas fought its way back in the early stages of the fourth, going on a quick 9-0 run to trim the deficit to one. With 5:42 remaining, a Jailyn Mason jumper gave the Razorbacks a 70-69 lead. Tennessee, however, was able to use timely defense late and relied on 15 fourth-quarter free throws to overcome three made field goals and pull away in the final seconds.

-UT Athletics

 

Hoops Preview: #15 Tennessee at Alabama

Hoops Preview: #15 Tennessee at Alabama

Posted on February 9, 2018
Vols G Lamonte Turner / Credit: UT Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Riding a six-game winning streak, No. 15 Tennessee is set for another tough road game Saturday against Alabama in Coleman Coliseum. The game will tip at 6 p.m. ET and will be televised live on SEC Network and streamed online via WatchESPN.

The Vols (18-5, 8-3 SEC) are coming off their first win in Rupp Arena since 2006, beating 24th-ranked Kentucky, 61-59, on Tuesday night. Lamonté Turner was the player of the game, draining the decisive go-ahead three with 26 seconds left in the game. He would finish with a game-high 16 points on four treys. The SEC Sixth Man of the Year candidate has scored in double figures in four straight games and five of the last six, averaging 16.2 ppg during the stretch.

Avery Johnson and the Crimson Tide (15-9, 6-5 SEC) are one of the league’s most dangerous teams. SEC Freshman of the Year candidate Collin Sexton can go off on any given night from anywhere on the floor. The first-year guard is third in the SEC in scoring with 18.6 ppg to go along with 3.8 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.1 spg. When playing in Coleman, Alabama is one of the toughest teams in the country to beat, boasting wins over current RPI Top-20 teams in Auburn, Oklahoma and Rhode Island.

After Saturday night’s matchup, the Vols return home for their second meeting with the South Carolina Gamecocks on Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. UT claimed the first meeting in Columbia, 70-63, led by 25 points from Turner. After that game, Tennessee will prepare for a 6 p.m. tip at Georgia on Feb. 17, the first of two meetings in the final five games of the regular season.

THE SERIES
• Overall: Alabama leads, 78-68
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 46-22
• In Tuscaloosa: UA leads, 44-18
• Neutral Sites: UA leads, 12-4
• Current Streak: UT has won one
• Last Meeting: Tennessee won, 59-54, in Tuscaloosa, 3/4/17
• Rick Barnes vs. Alabama: 1-2
• Rick Barnes vs. Avery Johnson: Tied, 1-1

RIGHT NOW
• Tennessee ranks eighth nationally in average home attendance, having drawn 15,981 fans through 12 home games at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• During its six-game win streak, Tennessee is allowing just 58.5 ppg and has not surrendered more than 63 points.
• Per KenPom.com, Tennessee rates in the national top 30 in both offensive (27th) and defensive (4th) efficiency.
• The Vols are rated No. 10 in the NCAA RPI and own the nation’s third-rated SOS, per KenPom.com.

A WIN WOULD…
• Give Tennessee a seven-game overall win streak (its longest since 2010-11) and a six-game win streak in SEC play (its longest since 2012-13).
• Give the Vols back-to-back victories over Alabama for the first time since 2009 and 2010.
• Give Tennessee seven true road wins in nine tries this season. The Vols haven’t won seven true road games since winning 10 in 2007-08.

ABOUT ALABAMA
• Under the direction of third-year head coach Avery Johnson, the Crimson Tide (15-9, 6-5 SEC) currently rank tied for fourth in the SEC standings and 42nd in the NCAA’s latest RPI listing.
• During the non-conference slate, Alabama earned wins over BYU, Lipscomb and Memphis in the first month of season. The Tide followed up its hot start with huge victories over current RPI top-20 teams in Rhode Island (#6) and Oklahoma (#19), both of which occurred in Coleman Coliseum.
• In SEC play, Alabama boasts a 4-1 record at home and snagged wins over Auburn, who is first in the standings, and an 18-point road win at Florida.
• SEC Freshman of the Year candidate Collin Sexton has been Alabama’s best player this season. The first-year guard is third in the SEC in scoring with 18.6 ppg to go along with 3.8 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.1 spg. Against Minnesota, Sexton dropped 40 points on 12-of-22 shooting for the conference’s highest scoring mark by an individual this season.
• Donta Hall is the team’s second-leading scorer at 10.8 ppg and anchors the defense with 7.0 rpg and 2.3 bpg to lead the Tide. Hall ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in both blocks (third) and rebounding (seventh).
• John Petty (10.7 ppg) and Dazon Ingram (10.3 ppg) round out the double-digit scorers for Alabama. Petty is the team’s leading shooter from beyond the arc, knocking down 61 treys on the year. Dazon averages 6.0 rpg and 2.8 apg.
• In its last outing, the Crimson Tide fell on the road at Mississippi State, 67-63. Sexton led the way with 18 points, but he and Petty combined to make just 1-of-14 from 3-point range. Despite making just 18 field goals the whole game, Alabama was able to stay within striking distance by going 24-of-30 from the charity stripe.
• Prior to arriving at Alabama, Johnson played 16 seasons in the NBA, winning an NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs, and subsequently served as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks from 2005-08 and the Brooklyn Nets from 2010-12. He earned NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2006.

LAST MEETING WITH ALABAMA
• Grant Williams recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Lew Evans added 13 points, and Tennessee surged in the second half to take a 59-54 win over Alabama in the Vols regular-season finale on March 4, 2017, in Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Despite offensive struggles in the first half, Tennessee came roaring back, outscoring Alabama 37-18 in the final period of play. Evans knocked down three of the team’s six second-half 3-pointers.
• Williams recorded his fourth double-double of the year. Evans scored 13 points on 4-7 shooting while grabbing five rebounds in his final regular-season game in Thompson-Boling Arena. Admiral Schofield scored seven of his 10 points in the second half, including an emphatic dunk that sealed the win with 10 seconds remaining.
• Tennessee’s Senior Day saw a slow offensive start for both the Vols and Alabama. UT was only behind 13-10 after a Schofield 3-pointer with 11:48 left in the period ended a five-minute streak without a made basket. The Tide’s Ar’Mond Davis then answered with a 3-pointer of his own, which sparked a 13-2 Alabama run to extend its lead to 26-12. The Tide led 36-22 heading into halftime. Alabama’s bench scored 23 during the first half.
• Three minutes after the intermission, Tennessee came charging back to flip the first half’s script. Evans knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing to start a 21-7 run for the Vols. The run came to a head as Williams hit a three as the shot clock expired from the right corner, giving UT a 48-47 lead with 8:35 remaining.
• Alabama regained the lead momentarily during a cold-shooting stretch by the Vols, who were 0-of-8 over the next five minutes. But UT rallied back behind a flurry of threes.

MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST ALABAMA
• Bill Hann dished an incredible school-record 19 assists against the Tide on Jan. 6, 1968, leading UT to an 82-63 win in Tuscaloosa.
• Grand Junction, Tennessee, native Steve Hamer posted a memorable 31-point, 21-rebound effort against the Tide in the 1996 SEC Tournament in New Orleans. The Vols won 77-65.
• The legendary Bernard King recorded 37 points and 18 rebounds against Alabama on Jan. 31, 1975, as ninth-ranked Tennessee downed No. 11 Alabama 80-74 in Knoxville.
• Dyron Nix holds UT’s single-game scoring record against Alabama, as he dropped 38 points on the Tide on March 2, 1988, in Knoxville.

BARNES WAS A BAMA ASSISTANT
• Rick Barnes spent the 1985-86 season as an assistant coach at Alabama under Wimp Sanderson. It was Barnes’ first taste of “major” college basketball.
• The Crimson Tide went 24-9 (13-5 SEC) that year and finished third in the conference. Bama earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament and defeated Xavier and Illinois before falling to Southeast No. 1 seed Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen.
• That Alabama team featured 15-year NBA veteran Derrick McKey, one-time Alabama head coach and current NC State head coach Mark Gottfried, five-year NBA veteran Jim Farmer and seven-year NBA veteran Buck Johnson (team’s top scorer).
• After Barnes’ lone season in Tuscaloosa, he moved on to Ohio State to work as an assistant coach under Gary Williams.
• As a head coach, Barnes is 5-6 against schools at which he once worked (he’s 1-2 vs. Alabama, 0-1 vs. Ohio State, 2-0 vs. Providence, 0-1 vs. Clemson, 2-2 vs. Tennessee).

UT HAS BESTED 2016-17 WINS TOTAL
• With 18 triumphs thus far, Tennessee has already exceeded last season’s total of 16 wins, and the Vols still have seven regular-season games remaining.

TENESSEE SHARES LEAGUE LEAD WITH EIGHT WINS AWAY FROM HOME
• Tennessee’s eight wins away from home are second-most among SEC teams this season (Auburn has nine). The Volunteers have six true road wins (in eight 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.
• The Vols have upcoming road game at Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

RIVALRY SWEEP
• Tennessee has swept traditional rivals Kentucky and Vanderbilt for the first time since the 1998-99 season.
• That 1998-99 squad, coached by Jerry Green, won the SEC Eastern Division title, reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finished with a record of 21-9 (12-4 SEC) to earn a year-end AP ranking of No. 20.

TRENDING NOW
• In SEC play, Tennessee leads the league in assists per game (16.2) and assist/turnover ratio (1.4) and rebounding defense (32.8 rapg) while ranking second in scoring offense (77.4 ppg), scoring margin (+7.8) and field-goal percentage (.470).
• The school record for 3-point percentage is .3912, set during the 1989-90 season (Allan Houston era). Tennessee’s current 3-point percentage is .3909.
• Excluding any postseason games, UT is on pace to total 524 assists during the regular season. That would stand as the seventh-highest single-season total in school history.
• The Vols also are on pace to finish the regular season with 155 blocked shots. That would rank as the sixth-highest single-season total in school history.
• Sophomore guard Lamonté Turner has made 20 consecutive free throws dating to Tennessee’s Jan. 6 win over Kentucky. In SEC play, his .949 free-throw percentage (37-of-39) leads the league.
• Junior forward Kyle Alexander has 21 blocks over UT’s last eight games (2.6 bpg).
• Daniel’s assist-turnover ratio this season is an impressive +2.56. That ranks fifth in the SEC and 49th nationally.

TENNESSEE SCORING AT HIGHEST RATE IN NINE YEARS
• Tennessee’s scoring average of 77.0 points per game stands as the program’s highest since the 2008-09 Volunteers averaged 78.4 ppg.
• During the coaching tenure of Rick Barnes (89 games), Tennessee averages 75.4 ppg.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?
• Most basketball fans prefer for their team to play a high-scoring brand of hoops. Hello, Big Orange.
• In 89 games under head coach Rick Barnes (spanning less than three full seasons), Tennessee has scored 80 or more points 33 times. That equates to 41.3 percent of UT’s total games under Barnes. And the Vols are 28-5 in those contests (.848).
• In the four full seasons prior to Barnes’ arrival on Rocky Top, Tennessee reached the 80-point mark a total of 24 times (in 136 games).
• Tennessee has scored 90 or more 11 times during the Barnes era, and the Vols have hit 100 once.

TURNER MAKING STRONG CASE FOR SEC SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
• Vols sophomore Lamonté Turner has not started a game this season, but he has come off the bench to score 15 or more points eight times. And he has scored 20 or more in two of UT’s last six games.
• Turner is the team’s third-leading scorer both overall (11.0 ppg) and in SEC play (12.6 ppg).
• The Alabama native has held or shared the team lead in scoring in seven times this season.
• Turner made a season-high six 3-pointers in UT’s Jan. 27 win at Iowa State, finishing with 20 points.
• His go-ahead 3-pointer at Kentucky on Feb. 6 with 26 seconds left in regulation secured the Vols’ first win at Kentucky on since 2006.
• Turner also recently authored a streak of 130+ consecutive minutes played without committing a turnover, dating from the first half at South Carolina on Jan. 20 to the first half of UT’s win at Kentucky on Feb. 6.

-UT Athletics

 

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