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.
“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.”
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.
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.
Billy Currington will hit the road this spring for a 16-date tour that will take him from California to New York.
Kicking off on March 30 in Wallingford, Conn., Billy’s tour will makes stops in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Boston and more. Locash will serve as support.
Billy Currington Tour
March 30 | Wallingford, CT | Toyota Oakdale Theatre
March 31 | Hampton Beach, NH | The Ballroom
April 19 | Northfield, OH | Hard Rock Live
April 20 | Mt. Pleasant, MI | Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
April 27 | Atlanta, GA | Coca Cola Roxy
May 12 | Sacramento, CA | KNCI Country in the Park
May 17 | Salt Lake City, UT | Union Event Center
May 18 | Henderson, NV | Sunset Station Outdoor Amphitheater
July 7 | Glen Allen, VA | Innsbrook After Hours – K95 Countryfest
July 26 | East Providence, RI | Bold Point Park
July 27 | Portland, ME | Maine State Pier
July 28 | Mount Pocono, PA | Mount Airy Casino Resort
August 16 | Asbury Park, NJ | Stone Pony Summerstage
August 17 | St. Leonard, MD | Bayside Toyota Pavilion
August 31 | Boston, MA | Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
September 1 | Farmingville, NY | Brookhaven Amphitheater
After giving fans the first taste of her upcoming sophomore album with the October 2017 release of lead single, “Diane,” Cam has dropped a new video for the tune.
The new video was filmed in L.A. by director Daniel Carberry, who also directed Cam’s video for “Mayday.”
Co-penned by Cam, Jeff Bhasker and Tyler Johnson—the same songwriting team behind “Burning House”—“Diane” is an uptempo tale of a love triangle in which the “other” woman apologetically breaks the news to Diane that her husband is having an affair.
“‘Diane’ is my response to Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene,’” says Cam. “It’s the apology so many spouses deserve, but never get. The other woman is coming forward to break the news to the wife about an affair, respecting her enough to have that hard conversation, once she realized he was married. Because everyone should be able to decide their own path in life, based on the truth. Women especially should do this for each other, since our self-worth can still be so wrapped up in our partners. And in true country fashion, I’ve set the whole raw story to upbeat music, so you can dance while you process it all.”
Garth Brooks is the first inductee into the newly formed Live Hall of Fame, which was created by Oak View Group, an investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries that acquired concert trade publication Pollstar in 2017.
“It’s a total shock and quite an honor,” said Garth. “I don’t think an entertainer is anything without other people who allow him to do this,” he said before thanking his co-manager Bob Doyle and longtime promoter Ben Farrell. “They have made my career possible.”
OVG CEO and co-founder Tim Leiweke says the Live Hall of Fame was created “as a place to honor artists who have made a huge impact on the live business.”
Garth, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, recently wrapped a three-year tour that sold more than 6.3 million tickets, making it the most successful North American tour by a solo artist.
Fayetteville, Ark. —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 Thursdaynight 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.
Tennessee had a strong effort on the glass throughout the first half, bringing down 12 offensive boards. Mercedes Russell secured six rebounds through the first 20 minutes to go along with six points as UT held a 43-36 lead at the break. Cosper netted 13 in the half for the Razorbacks.
The Lady Vols were in sync offensively in the third quarter and shot 66 percent from the field while only committing four turnovers. After a Taylah Thomas free throw cut the score to 64-57 in favor of UT, a Davis 3-pointer with five seconds remaining in the quarter gave Tennessee a 10-point edge going into the game’s final frame. Davis had 14 of UT’s 24 points in the period.
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.
Next Up: Tennessee returns home to host No. 18 Georgia on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the annual Live Pink, Bleed Orange game. The contest will be televised on the SEC Network.
Rennia’s Big Night: Freshman Rennia Davis posted the fifth double-double of her career against the Razorbacks with 33 points and 14 rebounds. Her 33 points and 14 rebounds each set new career highs, as did her three made three-pointers. Her performance earns a spot in the record book for the third highest point total by a Lady Vol freshman behind Tamika Catchings (35) and Candace Parker (34). Additionally, she recorded an SEC-high four assists.
Jackson For Threeeee!: Meme Jackson went 5-of-7 from behind the arc, tying her career high and setting a new SEC high in made three-pointers. She leads Tennessee in made three-pointers on the season with 39. Her 21 total points on the night set a new career high as well.
Mercedes 1,500/1,000 Watch:Mercedes Russell is 13 points and eight rebounds away from being just the sixth Lady Vol to reach 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.
KNOXVILLE – Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt officially announced the 10 members of his coaching staff and three football staff positions on Thursday.
The Vols’ 10 on-field assistant coaches bring a wealth of championship experience and a proven track record for preparing players for the NFL.
Collectively, the new Orange and White assistant coaches’ resume includes:
Seven national championships
21 conference championships
Over 50 NFL Draft Selections
Over 75 All-Americans
Over 50 years of experience in the SEC
It’s clear Pruitt has assembled one of the nation’s top staffs. The staff includes:
Kevin Sherrer, defensive coordinator/inside linebackers
Chris Rumph, co-defensive coordinator/outside linebackers
Charles Kelly, special teams coordinator/safeties coach
Terry Fair, cornerbacks coach
Tracy Rocker, defensive line coach
“As I said when I was introduced in December, I want good people on our staff, first and foremost, and that’s what these men are,” Pruitt said. “They will be teachers, leaders and mentors to our student-athletes. They bring Southeastern Conference, NFL and championship experience to our staff. I’m excited to have this staff in Knoxville with me.”
Additionally, Pruitt officially announced the hiring of three other members of his football staff:
Craig Fitzgerald, director of strength and conditioning
Drew Hughes, director of player personnel
Todd Watson, director of football operations
Quick Bios on Each Assistant Coach:
Offensive Assistant Coaches
Tyson Helton – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Helton joins the Tennessee staff after an impressive two years as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Southern California, where he developed Sam Darnold into an All-Pac-12 First Team honoree and prospective first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Helton helped lead the Trojans to victory in the 2016 Rose Bowl and a berth in the 2017 Cotton Bowl. Helton, the brother of Trojans’ head coach Clay Helton, played quarterback at Houston from 1996 to 1999 and got his start in coaching at Hawai’i as a graduate assistant and special teams coach before making stops at Memphis, UAB, Cincinnati and Western Kentucky. At UAB, he mentored quarterback Joe Webb – the NCAA’s first player to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. At WKU, he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2014-15, guiding a Hilltopper offense that ranked third in the nation in scoring and fourth in passing yards. He mentored two-time Conference USA MVP Brandon Doughty.
Will Friend – Offensive Line Coach
Friend comes to Rocky Top following a three-year stint as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Colorado State, where he led an offense that ranked 10th in the nation and first in the Mountain West in total offense (501.0 ypg) in 2017. Prior to his time at CSU, Friend served four years as the offensive line coach at Georgia, where he coached four NFL Draft picks on the Bulldogs’ line. Friend has also made coaching stops at UAB and Gardner-Webb, and was a graduate assistant at Georgia. He was a four-year starter and two-time All-SEC guard at Alabama from 1993 to 1997.
Robert Gillespie – Running Backs Coach
Gillespie will enter his sixth season on the Tennessee staff after joining the Vols in 2013 as the running backs coach before being promoted to recruiting coordinator and assistant head coach in 2015. Known as one the country’s top recruiters and running back developers, Gillespie coached John Kelly – who was the only Power 5 running back to lead their team in rushing yards and receptions, and Ty Chandler, who was named a third-team All-SEC selection by Phil Steele. Gillespie also coached NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Alvin Kamara with the Vols as well as 1,000-yard rushers Jalen Hurd and Rajion Neal. Before coming to Rocky Top, Gillespie made coaching stops at West Virginia, Oklahoma State and South Carolina after standout playing career at Florida.
David Johnson – Wide Receivers Coach
Johnson comes to Tennessee after helping guide one of the nation’s most prolific offenses at Memphis the past two years following nearly 20 years of experience as a high school and college coach in Louisiana and Mississippi. As Memphis’ passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2016-17, Johnson turned former walk-on wide receiver Anthony Miller into a consensus All-American and the Tigers’ all-time leading receiver. Johnson also has spent time as a college assistant at Tulane, where he guided running backs and tight ends, and Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. Johnson was the head coach at St. Augustine High School in Louisiana in 2009-10, winning back-to-back district titles at the prep powerhouse, while coaching future NFL All-Pro Tyron Mathieu.
Brian Niedermeyer – Tight Ends Coach
Niedermeyer joins Pruitt’s staff with the Volunteers after working closely with the new Tennessee coach at Alabama and Georgia. Niedermeyer served as the assistant director of recruiting operations with the Crimson Tide in 2017 after his role as a defensive graduate assistant in 2016. He also was a defensive graduate assistant coach, working under Pruitt, at Georgia in 2015. A native of Eagle River, Alaska, he was the wide receivers coach at East Texas Baptist University in 2014 and also worked on the staffs at Miami (Fla.) and Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Niedermeyer played tight at UAPB.
Defensive Assistant Coaches
Kevin Sherrer – Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach
Sherrer has spent the last four seasons as the outside linebackers coach at Georgia, where he helped lead the Bulldogs to the SEC Championship and College Football Playoff National Championship game this fall. Sherrer coached Roquan Smith, who was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and the Butkus Award winner in 2017. Prior to his time in Athens, Sherrer was the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at South Alabama in 2013 and served as the director of player development at Alabama from 2010-2012. Sherrer was three-year letterwinner at tight end at Alabama from 1993-95 and was an accomplished high school assistant coach in the state, including replacing Pruitt as defensive coordinator at prep powerhouse Hoover High School.
Chris Rumph – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach
Rumph, a four-year letterwinner at linebacker at South Carolina in the early 1990s, spent the last three years as the defensive line coach at Florida, serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2017. He has 15 years of experience as a defensive assistant at the FBS level, including stops at Texas, where he coached NFL first-round pick Malcom Brown, and Alabama, where he won back-to-back BCS National Championships as the defensive line coach from 2011 to 2013. Rumph also has coached at Clemson, Memphis and South Carolina State.
Charles Kelly – Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties Coach
Kelly joins Tennessee following five seasons at Florida State, including four as the Seminoles’ defensive coordinator. Kelly teamed with Pruitt at FSU in 2013, serving as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator during the undefeated national championship season. Kelly replaced Pruitt as defensive coordinator at Florida State in 2014 and helped lead the Noles to the College Football Playoff. Kelly’s defenses finished in the Top 25 in total defense the last three seasons and he coached several All-Americans and NFL Drack picks, including defensive backs Jalen Ramsey, Ronald Darby and Derwin James as well as defensive end DeMarcus Walker. Kelly also spent seven years as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech, serving as interim defensive coordinator in 2012 and coaching the defensive backs and special teams during his tenure.
Terry Fair – Cornerbacks Coach
Fair returns to his alma mater following a three-year stint as the cornerbacks coach at Colorado State. A first-round selection by the Detroit Lions in the 1998 NFL Draft, Fair led the NFL in kick return yards and was first-team All-NFL as a rookie. After playing six seasons in the NFL, Fair began coaching defensive backs at Phoenix College before joining the Volunteers’ staff as a defensive quality control assistant in 2013-14.
Tracy Rocker – Defensive Line Coach
A renowned defensive line coach in the SEC and the 1988 SEC Player of the Year, Rocker has found success at nearly every stop during his nearly 20-year collegiate and professional coaching career. Rocker has coached NFL first-round picks DeMarcus Ware, Jamaal Anderson, Nick Fairley and Peria Jerry, as well as future pros Greg Hardy and Osi Umenyiora in coaching stops at Auburn, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Troy. Rocker spent the 2014 through 2016 seasons as the defensive line coach at Georgia after spending three years with the Tennessee Titans. Rocker was a two-time All-American at Auburn, winning the 1988 Outland Trophy and Lombardi Trophy. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
