Mercedes Russell – Lady Vols Forward / Credit: UT Athletics
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association have announced the 10 candidates for the 2018 Lisa Leslie Award, and Tennessee senior Mercedes Russell is among them.
Russell, a 6-foot-6 center from Springfield, Ore., is averaging 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and shooting 64.0 percent from the field, a mark that ranks No. 4 in the nation. She has scored in double figures in every game and posted a team-leading 10 double-doubles, bringing her career mark to 40. That total ranks No. 3 all-time in Lady Vol history.
The UT standout has helped the Lady Vols to a No. 12 national ranking and an 18-4 overall record heading into Sunday’s contest at Vanderbilt.
Named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year and a 2015 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the annual award in its inaugural year recognizes the top centers in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.
“Before Lisa Leslie became one of the most recognizable faces of the WNBA, she was a collegiate center unlike any other,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Her impact was immediate as the best freshman in the collegiate game and she continued to develop her skills each season. The ten women recognized as candidates for the award bearing Lisa’s name should be both proud and honored.”
The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalists to determine the Naismith Starting 5 at www.hoophallawards.com.
The winner of the 2018 Lisa Leslie Center Award will be announced during ESPN2’s telecast of the national semifinal games in the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, March 30. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award, as well as the Wade Trophy, the sport’s oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award which is presented annually by the WBCA’s community of coaches to the best player in college women’s basketball.
For more information on the 2018 Lisa Leslie Award, visit www.hoophallawards.com.
2018 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Kalani Brown — Baylor
Azura Stevens — Connecticut
Megan Gustafson — Iowa
Hallie Thome — Michigan
Teaira McCowan — Mississippi St.
Kaylee Jensen — Oklahoma St.
Marie Gulich — Oregon St.
A’ja Wilson — South Carolina Mercedes Russell — Tennessee
Monique Billings — UCLA
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2017-18 season*
About Lisa Leslie: Widely regarded as the best player in the country during her senior year of high school, Leslie decided to play basketball close to home at University of Southern California. While at USC, she set Pac-10 records for scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, earning All-Pac-10 honors each of her four seasons. In 1991, she was named national freshman of the year and went on to earn All-American Honors the following three seasons. In her senior season, she won multiple national player of the year awards, including the Naismith College Player of the Year and the WBCA Player of the Year. In the summer of 1997, the Women’s National Basketball Association was launched and with it, Lisa Leslie became a household name. The Los Angeles Sparks landed the hometown star, who would go on to help them win two world championships. As an eight-time All-Star and three-time MVP, Leslie became the face of the WNBA. In 2002, she became the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. Leslie retired as the all-time leading rebounder in WNBA history and was an eight-time First Team All-WNBA performer. Internationally, Leslie won four gold medals in Olympic competition. Since retiring from professional play, Leslie has worked as a sports commentator and analyst for several networks, while exploring fashion modeling and acting as well.
Alvin Kamara – Saints Running Back / Credit: UT Athletics
MINNEAPOLIS – Former Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara added to his growing list of awards on Saturday night at the seventh annual NFL Honors held at the University of Minnesota when he was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press.
Kamara joins Carl Pickens as the only Tennessee Volunteers to win the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Pickens won the award in 1992 as a standout wide receiver and punt returner for the Cincinnati Bengals. VFLs Jerod Mayo (2008, New England Patriots) and Dale Carter (1992, Kansas City Chiefs) are the only Vols to win the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honor.
In addition to winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Kamara was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year by a fan vote on Friday. Kamara also was selected for the Pro Bowl, named Pepsi Rookie of the Week seven times, collected Second Team All-Pro honors, grabbed Rookie of the Year accolades from the Sporting News and was tabbed the Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America.
Kamara, who played for the Vols in 2015 and 2016, helped lead the New Orleans Saints to the playoffs in 2017 by tallying 728 rushing yards, 81 receptions, 826 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns. He averaged 7.7 yards per touch to set an NFL record among players with at least 200 touches and led the league with 6.1 yards per carry. He joined Gale Sayers (1965) as the only rookies in NFL history to total five rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns and a kick return score.
He was selected in the third round (No. 67 overall) by the Saints in the 2017 NFL Draft following two standout seasons with the Volunteers. At UT, Kamara collected 1,294 rushing yards, 683 receiving yards and 300 yards on special teams. He reached the end zone 13 times in 2016 alone for a total of 24 touchdowns. Kamara also recorded four games of 100 rushing yards or more. He finished his career at Tennessee averaging 94.9 all-purpose yards per game.
Amiral Schofield – Vols Forward / Credit: UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 18 Tennessee never trailed on its way to capturing its fourth-straight SEC win, cruising by Ole Miss on Saturday night at Thompson-Boling Arena, 94-61.
The win was the Vols’ fifth-straight overall, giving them their longest winning streak of the season. Tennessee held its opponent to less than 65 points for the seventh-straight game, and led wire-to-wire for the third time this season.
Ole Miss (11-12, 4-6 SEC) threatened to take the lead early in the second half with a 7-0 run that cut Tennessee’s advantage to three points, but the Vols immediately answered with a 14-3 run to break away. Following that stretch, the Rebels never got closer than 12 points.
The Vols shot 71% in the second half. After missing their first two shots they went on to make 20 of their last 26 field goals.
Tennessee (17-5, 7-3 SEC) shot 53% for the game, including 13-for-29 from beyond the 3-point arc. The 13 made 3-pointers tied a season-high.
Turner was 5-for-6 from 3-point range, while Schofield notched a double-double with 12 rebounds to go along with his scoring production.
Bruce Stevens led Ole Miss with 17 points, and Terence Davis added 13. Deandre Burnett, who entered the game averaging 15.2 points per game, scored just seven points on 2-for-13 from the floor.
Ole Miss’ zone defense gave Tennessee fits for most of the first half, but the Vols never relinquished their lead and took a 35-25 lead into the break.
Williams and Alexander led Tennessee with eight points each in the opening stanza.
The Vols opened the game on a 12-3 run, capped off by 3-pointers from Yves Pons and James Daniel III, but the Rebels were able to cut that deficit all the way down to two at 17-15 with 7:52 remaining in the half.
From there, a 10-0 spurt helped Tennessee regain and maintain control for the rest of the first half.
UP NEXT: Tennessee looks to maintain sole possession of second place in the SEC as the Vols travel to Kentucky (Feb. 6) and to Alabama (Feb. 10). UT’s 7 p.m. tip against the Wildcats will be televised on ESPN as part of Super Tuesday.
TURNER OFF THE BENCH: For the third game in a row, Lamonté has come off the bench to score double-digit points for the Vols, dropping 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting Saturday night. The redshirt sophomore guard entered the contest as UT’s third-leading scorer on the year with 10.4 ppg.
ADMIRAL LEADING THE CHARGE: Schofield posted his second double-double of the season on Saturday with an impressive 15-point, 12-rebound performance.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Tennessee played shutdown defense Saturday, forcing 17 turnovers by the Rebels behind 11 steals and seven blocks. Ole Miss’ 61 points marks the seventh consecutive game in which UT has held its opponent to less than 65 points.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —No. 12/13 Tennessee (18-4, 6-3 SEC) heads to the mid-state for a Sunday matinee at Vanderbilt (6-17/2-7). Tipoff is slated for 1:02 p.m. CT (2:02 p.m. ET) at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville.
This will mark the second meeting this season between these teams. The (then) #7/7 Lady Vols held off Vanderbilt in Knoxville on Jan. 7 by a score of 86-73. That victory gave Tennessee a 15-0 record at that point.
UT has gone 3-4 since the last meeting, facing the most difficult part of its schedule. That stretch included consecutive tilts at #17/16 Texas A&M (L, 76-79 OT), at #9/8 South Carolina (W, 86-70), at #5/5 Notre Dame (L, 70-84) and vs. #3/3 Mississippi State (L, 52-71) as well as contests vs. Ole Miss (W, 75-66), at LSU (L, 59-70) and vs. #14/12 Texas A&M (W, 82-67).
The Big Orange and the Commodores will face off for the 80th time in the series, with UT holding a 70-9 advantage and winning the past eight encounters.
The Lady Vols have come out on top in two of their past three contests of late. On Thursday night in Knoxville, the Lady Vols avenged a loss earlier this season in College Station by turning the tables on the #14/12 Texas A&M Aggies in Knoxville, 82-67.
Vanderbilt enters having lost three of four and seven of its past nine. The Commodores, however, were victors in their last game, taking down Ole Miss in Oxford on Thursday night, 75-72.
Broadcast Information
Roy Philpott (play-by-play) and Brooke Weisbrod (analyst) will describe the action for the UT-Vanderbilt TV broadcast on ESPNU.
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.
UT’S UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Tennessee is in a stretch where it is playing three out of four games on the road, with the Vandy game serving as the second away date.
After facing Vanderbilt, UT next heads to Arkansas at 7 p.m. CT (8 ET) on Feb. 8. That game will be carried by SECN+.
UT is back at home on Feb. 11, when Georgia comes to Rocky Top for the annual “Live Pink, Bleed Orange” game at 3 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
In another scheduling note, UT’s Feb. 18 game at Missouri has been set for 1 p.m. CT (2 ET) on ESPNU.
RPI WATCH
Tennessee ranks No. 9 in the NCAA Women’s Basketball RPI, as of the Feb. 1 report.
Below are 17 teams (19 games when UT meets South Carolina for the second time) on UT’s schedule this season that are ranked in the top 100. The teams the Lady Vols already have played are underlined.
1. Notre Dame (L), 3. Mississippi State (L), 11. Texas (W), 12. Texas A&M (L & W), 15. Missouri, 17. Georgia, 19. South Carolina (W), 21. Marquette (W), 25. Stanford (W), 27. LSU (L), 59. Oklahoma State (W), 69. South Dakota (W), 85. Alabama, 90. James Madison (W), 97. Central Arkansas (W), 98. Kentucky (W), 100. Arkansas.
THE LATEST ON TENNESSEE
Mercedes Russell is 29 rebounds shy of 1,000 and 41 points short of 1,500 for her career.
She is on track to become only the sixth Lady Vol to reach 1,000 points and rebounds. The others in that club are Chamique Holdsclaw, Glory Johnson, Bashaara Graves, Sheila Frost and Tamika Catchings.
Evina Westbrook‘s 5.0 assists-per-game average ranks No. 1 all-time by a UT freshman.
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.
UT is 13-1 vs. unranked teams this season and had won 14 in a row vs. squads outside the top 25, including last year’s NCAA First Round win over Dayton, until LSU knocked off the Lady Vols on Jan. 28.
UT has led every game this season at the half except for two. UT trailed Mississippi State by 13 and was tied vs. Auburn.
UT’s roster features seven players 6-2 or taller, tying the 2004-05 team as the second tallest in Lady Vol history behind the 2014-15 unit that boasted eight.
Tennessee is 16-1 when it outrebounds its opponents and 1-3 when it doesn’t.
UT is 16-0 when leading with 5:00 left in the game and 1-4 when trailing at that point.
The Lady Vols have allowed only five opponents to score more than 71 points (Marquette – 99, Texas – 75, Vandy – 73, A&M – 79, Notre Dame – 84) and have allowed only five teams to shoot better than 41 percent from the field (Vanderbilt, .491; Texas A&M, .484 in Knoxville; Notre Dame, .478; Marquette, .437; and Miss. State, .418).
After turning the ball over 28 times vs. Notre Dame, UT has averaged 13.5 turnovers in its last four contests with point guard Evina Westbrook averaging only one per contest over the last three games after notching 3.9 over the first 19 outings this season.
It’s the longest Tennessee has opened a season with the same starting five since at least the 1977-78 season. Box scores that season and prior do not indicate who started.
In Lady Vol history, the most recent long streak for the same starting five reached 11 games in 2007-08, when Pat Summitt chose the same lineup of Candace Parker, Angie Bjorklund, Nicky Anosike, Shannon Bobbitt and Alexis Hornbuckle to report for the opening tip. UT went 10-1 in that span and went on to win the NCAA title with a 34-3 record and the SEC title with a 14-0 mark. In game 12, in the team’s visit to Chicago, Parker missed curfew and didn’t get the starting nod vs. DePaul on Jan. 2, 2008.
Tennessee is averaging 79.0 points and giving up 77.0 vs. ranked teams, and those numbers are 81.9 to 58.2 vs. unranked foes.
On the boards, the Lady Vols have 47.4 to 35.0 advantage vs. unranked teams but only a 41.2 to 39.8 edge vs. ranked programs.
UT is averaging 83.6 and allowing 60.8 in home games. On the road, it’s 75.3 to 69.1.
Tennessee has owned a double-digit advantage at the intermission in 11 contests.
Tennessee has outscored its opponents in the points-in-the-paint category in 15 of 22 games, averaging a 41.4 to 32.5 difference.
The Lady Vols bested their foes in second chance points 13 times and tied on three occasions.
Tennessee has won the points on fast break war in 16 games, averaging 13.0 per contest. In losses, that number is 9.8.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?
In SEC play, Mercedes Russell leads the team at 17.4 ppg. and 8.4 rpg. while shooting 64.4 percent (67-104).
Jaime Nared has hit 52 of 59 free throw attempts in SEC games for 88.1 percent.
In league games, Evina Westbrook has 50 assists vs. 33 turnovers while averaging 9.7 ppg.
UT is shooting 73.2 percent on free throws in SEC action, with Russell hitting 71.9 percent (23-32) as a career 61 percent shooter.
Over the past seven games, Tennessee is out-rebounding its opponents 181-159 on the defensive end, but foes hold a 100-77 advantage on the offensive glass.
Jaime Nared has averaged 20.6 ppg. vs. ranked opponents and 14.8 vs. unranked.
Mercedes Russell averages 10.4 rebounds vs. ranked opponents and 7.6 against unranked teams.
After a 71 to 58 assist-to-turnover comparison over the first 15 games, Evina Westbrook has a 40/20 balance over the final seven.
TENNESSEE NOTES VS. VANDERBILT
Tennessee holds a 70-9 all-time series record vs. Vanderbilt, dating back to Jan. 18, 1976.
Holly Warlick is 10-1 as head coach vs. Vanderbilt, including 6-0 in Knoxville and 4-1 in Nashville.
The Lady Vols are a perfect 33-0 in Knoxville, 27-7 vs. the Commodores in Nashville, and 10-2 at neutral sites, with those being postseason games.
These squads have been to overtime on one occasion, with Tennessee seizing a 92-79 decision in Nashville on Jan. 19, 1997.
Vandy has held Tennessee to 70 or fewer points in seven of the last nine visits to Memorial.
UT, however, has held Vandy to 63 points or fewer in seven of the last eight meetings and to 64 or fewer in eight of the last nine games in Knoxville.
In the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, UT held the Commodores to 49, 49, 49 and 51 point totals.
The first of those games came in Memorial Gym in Nashville, as the #7/9 Lady Vols held off Vanderbilt, 57-49, on Jan. 5, 2015.
That 49-point total by Vandy was the lowest scored by the Commodores in Nashville in the UT series since VU tallied 27 in a 96-27 loss in the first meeting on Jan. 18, 1976.
UT’s victorious 57-point sum in the 2015 meeting in Nashville, meanwhile, was the lowest ever by the Lady Vols in the series.
Warlick had a hand as a player in the #4 Lady Vols’ 77-53 road victory over Vanderbilt on Nov. 21, 1979.
The senior point guard dished out a game-high 10 assists and added four points and a rebound with only one turnover in 27 minutes of action in her only career contest vs. the Commodores.
The UT women are 241-60-1 all-time vs. four-year college teams from the Volunteer State.
LAST MEETING BETWEEN UT AND VU
Redshirt senior Mercedes Russell paced No. 7 Tennessee with a career-high 33 points, as the seventh-ranked Lady Volunteers pulled away from Vanderbilt in the fourth period to secure an 86-73 victory on Jan. 7 in Thompson-Boling Arena.
With the win, the Lady Vols improved to 15-0, 3-0 in Southeastern Conference play, and won their 11th consecutive home game dating back to last season. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, fell to 4-13, 0-3 SEC.
Redshirt junior Cheridene Green also had a career day for the Big Orange, pouring in 17 points and grabbing five rebounds. Senior Jaime Nared chipped in 15 points, five rebounds and six steals as the Lady Vols remained unbeaten through their first 15 games for the fourth time in school history.
Vanderbilt was led in scoring by Cierra Walker, who went 6-of-8 from behind the three-point arc and finished the day with 20 points and six assists. Christa Reed (16), Chelsie Hall (15) and Erin Whalen (10) also scored in double figures for the Commodores, who dropped their third straight game and seventh in their last eight.
LAST TIME IN NASHVILLE
All five Lady Vol starters scored in double digits to lead Tennessee to a 70-57 victory over Vanderbilt on Jan. 5, 2017, at Memorial Gym.
Redshirt junior Mercedes Russell posted another dominant performance, scoring 15 points to go along with 13 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season. She also tied a career-high in blocks with six to extend UT’s winning streak to six games.
Tennessee (10-4, 2-0 SEC) snapped a three-game losing skid on the road with the win over Vanderbilt (10-5, 0-2 SEC).
Redshirt junior Diamond DeShields filled up the stat sheet, producing 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals in 30 minutes of action. Senior Jordan Reynolds finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a block.
Junior Jaime Nared had 12 points and six rebounds, with five of those coming on the offensive end of the floor. She also had two assists, two steals and a block.
Sophomore Meme Jackson was the fifth Lady Vol to reach double digits, scoring 10 points on the night, which marked the third time in the last four games she has reached double-digit scoring.
Lealea Carter fueled the offense for the Commodores, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting and six rebounds.
VANDERBILT RESET
VU is coached by Stephanie White, who played at Purdue and who coached Lady Vol great Tamika Catchings while she was head coach of the Indiana Fever.
Associate head coach Carolyn Peck was an assistant at Tennessee from 1993-95. She is from Jefferson City in East Tennessee.
VU has been outscored by an average of 80.3 to 69.9 and outrebounded 36.7 to 29.6 in SEC play.
Vanderbilt has struggled with turnovers as well, committing 165 in nine SEC games (18.3).
Ten of 14 players are freshmen or sophomores.
Vandy was picked to finish 10th in the league by the coaches and 11th by the media.
VANDY LAST TIME OUT (VU 75, UM 72)
The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team (6-17, 2-7 SEC) led from start to finish and secured its first SEC road win of the season with a 75-72 win over Ole Miss (11-11, 1-8 SEC) on Thursday in Oxford. Mississippi native Christa Reed led the way with 20 points, her fifth consecutive game in double figures.
Christa Reed reached double figures for the fifth straight game with 20 points. It was her second 20-point outing this season.
Autumn Newby posted a team-best nine rebounds, just shy of her fifth game with double figures rebounds.
TENN. LAST TIME OUT (UT 82, A&M 67)
Senior Jaime Nared scored 23 points and No. 12/13 Tennessee allowed just eight points in the fourth quarter in an 82-67 win over No. 14/12 Texas A&M on Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Five players reached double figures for the Lady Vols (18-4, 6-3 SEC), who returned to the win column after dropping three of their previous four matchups. Mercedes Russell recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds to earn her 40th career double-double, while Anastasia Hayes netted 16 points, Rennia Davis scored 11 and Meme Jackson added 10.
UT showed a strong defensive effort in the second half, forcing 12 A&M turnovers and yielding no field goals over the final 3:21 of the game.
Chennedy Carter scored 25 points for the Aggies (17-7, 6-3 SEC), while Jasmine Lumpkin added 22 points and seven boards as the two teams split their regular-season series.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 18 Tennessee remains at home Saturday for a matchup with Ole Miss in Thompson-Boling Arena, where the Vols will look to extend their four-game winning streak. The game tips at 6 p.m. and will be televised live on SEC Network and streamed online via WatchESPN.
The Vols (16-5, 6-3 SEC) are coming off an 84-61 victory over LSU at home, marking UT’s second 23-point win in as many games. Tennessee’s recent success has been a result of stellar defensive play, as the Volunteers are holding opponents to just 58.7 points per game over the last six contests. The group ranks as the No. 7 team in the country for defensive efficiency according to KenPom.
Ole Miss (11-11, 4-5 SEC) had a slow start to the season but found its groove once starting SEC play, boasting wins over Alabama and Florida, both of which are in the top half of the league standings. Deandre Burnett, a preseason All-SEC first-team selection, has been the Rebels’ best player this year. He currently ranks 12th in the SEC in scoring (15.2 ppg) and fourth in assists (4.5 apg). The senior guard has been the team’s leading scorer in eight games this season, including UM’s last three contests.
After Saturday’s matchup, Tennessee prepares for its toughest stretch for the rest of the regular season, with roads games against Kentucky (Feb. 6) and Alabama (Feb. 10). UT’s 7 p.m. tip against the Wildcats will be televised on ESPN as part of Super Tuesday.
THE SERIES
• Overall: UT leads, 71-44
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 41-12
• In Oxford: Series tied, 25-25
• Neutral Sites: UM leads, 7-5
• Current Streak: Tennessee has won one
• Last Meeting: Tennessee won, 75-66, in Knoxville, 2/8/17
• Rick Barnes vs. Ole Miss: 1-2
• Rick Barnes vs. Andy Kennedy: Kennedy leads, 2-1
RIGHT NOW
• Tennessee ranks ninth nationally in average home attendance, having drawn 15,768 fans through 11 home games at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Tennessee has held its last six opponents to an average of 58.7 points per game.
• Per KenPom.com, Tennessee rates in the national top 30 in both offensive (27th) and defensive (7th) efficiency.
• The Vols are rated No. 12 in the NCAA RPI and own the nation’s third-rated SOS, per KenPom.com.
• Tennessee and Auburn share the SEC’s longest active win streak at four games.
A WIN WOULD…
• Give Tennessee a five-game overall win streak (its longest of the season) and a four-game win streak in SEC play.
• Extend the Vols’ home win streak to five games.
• Improve Tennessee’s record as a ranked team to 11-4 this season.
• Give Tennessee its 17th victory of the season. The Vols finished with 16 total wins a season ago.
ABOUT OLE MISS
• One of the longest-tenured coaches in the SEC, Andy Kennedy is in his 12th year at the helm in Oxford. Ole Miss (11-11, 4-5 SEC) had a slow start to the season, going just 7-5 before conference play.
• During their non-conference slate, the Rebels dropped three contests in overtime by four points or less. Since beginning the SEC schedule, Ole Miss has proved it can play with the anyone in the conference, boasting wins over Alabama and Florida, both of which are in the top half of the league standings.
• After a loss to Auburn on Tuesday night, the Rebels have lost four of their last five games. Against the Tigers, Ole Miss had four scorers in double-figures, led by Deandre Burnett’s 16 points in 36 minutes of action, but it wasn’t enough as Auburn held a 9-5 advantage from 3-point range, which proved to be the difference in the game.
• Burnett, a preseason All-SEC first-team selection, has been Ole Miss’s best player this year. He currently ranks 12th in the SEC in scoring (15.2 ppg) and fourth in assists (4.5 apg). The senior guard has been the team’s leading scorer in eight games this season, including UM’s last three contests.
• Junior guard Terence Davis, who is averaging 13.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg, stands as the team leader in rebounds (134) and blocks (22). Barnett and Davis are joined by Markel Crawford (10.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.0 spg) as the Rebels’ double-digit scorers.
• Like Tennessee, Ole Miss boasts a deep roster, with nine players averaging more than 15 minutes per game this season. Kennedy isn’t opposed to changing up the lineup either, using 11 different combinations for his starting five.
MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST OLE MISS
• Brandon Wharton scored 20 points, Rashard Lee added 17 and 10 rebounds, Isiah Victor poured in 16 points and C.J. Black totaled 15 and 13 rebounds as UT upset the 11th-ranked Rebels 77-67 in Knoxville on Jan. 17, 1998.
• Gene Tormohlen grabbed 31 rebounds at Ole Miss on Feb. 11, 1957, to lift UT to a 98-88 win in Oxford. The 31 boards still stand as the second-best single-game effort in school history.
• Carlus Groves went 11-for-12 (.917) from the floor, the fourth-best single-game average in UT annals, against the Rebels to lift Tennessee to a 98-86 win in Knoxville on Feb. 19, 1992.
• Jeronne Maymon grabbed an incredible 10 offensive rebounds as part of an 11-point, 17-rebound effort against Ole Miss in the 2012 SEC Tournament in Nashville. Despite 21 points from Trae Golden and 15 from Skylar McBee, the Vols fell in overtime, 77-72.
LAST MEETING WITH OLE MISS
• After going into the second half down by four and struggling to contain the Ole Miss Rebels, Tennessee turned around a close game to win, 75-66, on Feb. 8, 2017, in Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Tennessee took control of the game with 3:49 left, finishing on a 17-2 scoring run. Robert Hubbs III was the hero the Volunteers were looking for, as he ignited two major back-to-back plays under the basket, one of those being a layup that would give the Vols a 66-64 lead with 1:52 left, their first lead since the 5:54 mark of the first half. Jordan Bowden drained a huge 3-point dagger with under a minute to play. The Rebels were plagued by fouls in the second half, with 27 of their 46 coming in the closing half.
• Grant Williams led the way for the Vols with 18 points and seven rebounds. Three Vols found themselves in double-digit scoring in the win, including Hubbs with 18 points, while Bowden added 12.
• After a fast-scoring start by both teams, Tennessee enjoyed an 8-0 scoring run two minutes into the game that was sparked by a slam dunk from Kyle Alexander. The run left the Rebels struggling to score for four minutes. The Vols would find themselves holding their largest lead of the first half during that run at seven points.
• Ole Miss turned things around after spending a majority of the first half shooting less than 30 percent. The Rebels went on a 15-6 scoring run nearly halfway through the first, highlighted by three 3-pointers. Tennessee struggled from the free-throw line but made them when they were needed in the second half. After making all eight attempts in the first half, Tennessee was 16-of- 25 over the final 20 minutes. The Vols made eight of nine free throws in the final four minutes.
MISSISSIPPI LETTERMEN UNCOMMON
• Incredibly, Tennessee has had just one all-time letterman from the state of Mississippi. Sardis, Mississippi, native Torrey Harris played for the Vols from 1995-99.
TRENDING NOW
• In SEC play, Tennessee leads the league in assists per game (15.7) and 3-point percentage (.393)while ranking second in scoring offense (77.3 ppg), scoring margin (+5.7), field-goal percentage (.467), rebounding defense (32.6 rapg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.4).
• During SEC play, junior wing Admiral Schofield ranks third in the league in 3-point percentage (.452) and fifth in the league in steals per game (1.4).
• 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 15 blocks over UT’s last six games.
UT HAS MATCHED LAST SEASON’S WINS TOTAL
• Tennessee has already matched last season total of 16 wins, and the Vols have nine regular-season games remaining (plus at least one SEC Tournament game).
TWO BLOCKS OF GRANITE, A BIG CANADIAN & A PAIR OF JORDANS
• Tennessee has used the same starting five since Dec. 3 at Georgia Tech—a span of 15 games.
• Jordan Bone, Jordan Bowden, Admiral Schofield, Grant Williams and Kyle Alexander (the Canadian), have started 19 of UT’s 21 games this season.
• Tennessee is 14-5 when that unit starts.
ALEXANDER, WALKER DON’T MISS
• While neither player looks to score first, Tennessee forwards Kyle Alexander and Derrick Walker are taking—and making—extremely high-percentage shots during SEC play.
• The duo is combining to shoot .917 (33-of-36) from the field during league games.
• Alexander, the starter at the five, is 22-for-24 from the field in SEC play (.917).
• Walker, a true freshman whose minutes have increased since mid-January, is 11-for-12 from the field against SEC opponents (.917).
MORE MINUTES FOR WALKER
• True freshman forward Derrick Walker has significantly bolstered the Vols’ frontcourt depth over the last five games, playing an average of 14.8 minutes per game off the bench during that span.
• The Kansas, City, Missouri, native is averaging 4.8 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting .909 (10-of-11) from the field during that span.
• In Tennessee’s win at South Carolina on Jan. 20, Walker was 5-for-5 while finishing with a season-high 10 points, four rebounds and a block in a season-high 25 minutes.
TURNER PROVIDES HIGH-POWERED SCORING PUNCH OFF THE BENCH
• Vols sophomore Lamonté Turner has come off the bench to score 15 or more points six times this season, and he has scored 20 or more in two of UT;s last four games.
• He is the team’s third-leading scorer both overall (10.4 ppg) and in SEC play (11.8 ppg).
• Turner made a season-high six 3-pointers in last Saturday’s win at Iowa State while finishing with a team-high 20 points. It was the fifth time this season that he’s led the Vols in scoring.
• In addition to his hot shooting of late, he also is riding a streak of 106 consecutive minutes played without committing a turnover, dating to the first half at South Carolina on Jan. 20.
SCHOFIELD STUFFING STAT SHEET OVER LAST EIGHT GAMES
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said that junior wing Admiral Schofield had his best game as Vol when UT defeated Kentucky on Jan. 6. That win started a streak of stellar play for Schofield.
• Over the last eight contests, Schofield is averaging 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He is shooting .463 overall and .432 from 3-point range during that span.
New Orleans Saints running back ALVIN KAMARA has been named the 2017 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, Pepsi and the NFL announced today.
Kamara was recognized during Pepsi Super Bowl LII festivities in Minneapolis, as well as online at nfl.com/rookies.
New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara
Kamara, a 2018 Pro Bowl selection, led all rookies with 14 total touchdowns and ranked second with 1,554 scrimmage yards. He joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (1965) as the only rookies in NFL history to have at least five rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns and a kickoff-return touchdown. Kamara led all rookies with 81 receptions, the third-most by a rookie running back in NFL history.
Kamara was one of five finalists nominated to receive this honor. The other finalists were Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette and New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances throughout the 2017 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.
This is Pepsi’s 16th year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the 15th year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.
Below are the 2017 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR finalists.
2017 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Player Position Team
Alvin Kamara Running Back New Orleans Saints
Christian McCaffrey Running Back Carolina Panthers
Kareem Hunt Running Back Kansas City Chiefs
Leonard Fournette Running Back Jacksonville Jaguars
Marshon Lattimore Cornerback New Orleans Saints
# # #
About PepsiCo:
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2015, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our fundamental belief that the success of our company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us. We believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world is what enables PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.
Brantley Gilbert dropped a new video for his current single, “The Ones That Like Me.”
The bucolic black-and-white clip features Brantley hitting the open road on his motorcycle, hanging at the river and spending some time in the countryside.
Penned by Brantley, Blake Chaffin and Bobby Pinson, “The Ones That Like Me” is currently No. 23 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. The tune is the second single from Brantley’s 2017 album, The Devil Don’t Sleep.
Brantley Gilbert kicked off his Ones That Like Me 2018 Tour on Feb. 1.
“People tell you all kinds of things about marketing,” Brantley says of his tour’s name. “But I want to call it something that speaks to what this tour is: a chance for me to get together with all the people out there who get this music, who believe in these songs and live their lives just like the people back home do. We are all proud Americans, who try to stand up and do the right thing. That isn’t marketing, that’s life—and that’s what my music is made of.”
Micah Abernathy – Vols Safety / Credit: UT Athletics
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee rising senior defensive back Micah Abernathy was named to the SEC Football Leadership Council for 2018, and he will attend an annual meeting at the SEC office on Friday and Saturday.
Among the agenda items for the group this weekend is a review of NCAA and SEC legislative items, open discussion on topics submitted by members of the Council, and engagement with football officials on rules of the game and student-athlete/referee interaction. Marcus Spears, SEC Network analyst and former SEC football student-athlete, will also meet with the group to discuss leadership and career development
Recent legislation passed by representatives from Autonomy Conferences that increased the allowance provided to student-athletes who serve as hosts for visiting recruits was initially proposed by the SEC Football Student-Athlete Leadership Council last year.
Abernathy has been a leader on and off the field for the Vols during his career. He was selected to the VOLeaders Academy Class of 2016-17. He was honored as a game captain for the Vols’ 2017 season finale. Abernathy has made 22 starts at safety the last two seasons and appeared in 36 games overall since 2015. The Atlanta native finished third on the Vols with 81 tackles in 2017, including a career-high 13 stops at Missouri. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 12, 2016, after he set a school record with three fumble recoveries during Tennessee’s 45-24 victory over Virginia Tech in the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol. For his career, Abernathy has tallied 159 total tackles, eight pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
The Football Leadership Council is one of three components for the SEC Student-Athletic Leadership Council, joining the Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball Leadership Councils.
The student-athletes who comprise the SEC Football Leadership Council are: Josh Casher (Alabama), T.J. Smith (Arkansas), Derrick Brown (Auburn); Jeremiah Moon (Florida), Charlie Woerner (Georgia), Jordan Griffin (Kentucky), Blake Ferguson (LSU), Javon Patterson (Ole Miss), Gerri Green (Mississippi State), Damarea Crockett (Missouri), Bryson Allen-Williams (South Carolina), Micah Abernathy(Tennessee), Braden Mann (Texas A&M), Khari Blasingame (Vanderbilt), and Brandon Lee (Missouri – Autonomy Representative).
Lady Vols G Anastasia Hayes / Credit: UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Senior Jaime Nared scored 23 points and No. 12/13 Tennessee allowed just eight points in the fourth quarter in an 82-67 win over No. 14/12 Texas A&M on Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Five players reached double figures for the Lady Vols (18-4, 6-3 SEC), who returned to the win column after dropping three of their previous four matchups. Mercedes Russell recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds to earn her 40th career double-double, while Anastasia Hayes netted 16 points, Rennia Davis scored 11 and Meme Jackson added 10.
UT showed a strong defensive effort in the second half, forcing 12 A&M turnovers and yielding no field goals over the final 3:21 of the game.
Chennedy Carter scored 25 points for the Aggies (17-7, 6-3 SEC), while Jasmine Lumpkin added 22 points and seven boards as the two teams split their regular-season series.
After A&M converted a layup to grab a 59-57 edge at the end of the third quarter, the Lady Vols answered with an 8-2 run to reclaim the lead early in the fourth period. Tennessee shot 8-for-12 over the final 10 minutes, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the closing moments which put the game away.
The opening quarter featured efficient offensive play, with both teams shooting 52 percent from the field. Lumpkin netted 12 points in the period for A&M, while Nared and Davis scored seven apiece to lead UT to a two-point advantage at the end of the frame.
The scoring did not cease during the second quarter, as two players from each team reached the 10-point mark. Lumpkin continued to perform for the Aggies on the offensive end and finished the half with 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting. After a largely back-and-forth half that included 22 lead changes, the Lady Vols closed out the final minute with a 7-0 run to take a 45-41 lead into the intermission. Nared paced Tennessee at the half with 13 points.
Both squads upped the defensive intensity in the third period, with UT forcing six A&M turnovers and the Aggies holding the Lady Vols to 12 points. After each team went through scoring droughts for two-plus minute stretches, a Danni Williams layup broke the deadlock and gave the Aggies a two-point edge going into the fourth period.
Tennessee used a balanced effort on both ends of the floor throughout the fourth quarter to pull away from A&M. After taking a four-point lead by way of an early 8-2 run, UT locked in defensively and held the Aggies scoreless for a stretch that lasted 3:49. The Lady Vols were able to gain some separation at the free throw line, going 7-for-8 from the charity stripe in the quarter. With under two minutes remaining, a Hayes 3-pointer from the corner gave UT its first double-digit lead of the night.
Up Next: The Lady Vols travel to Vanderbilt on Sunday, playing at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT) on ESPNU.
Big Quarters: Tennessee’s 25 fourth-quarter points are the most Texas A&M has given up in any quarter to an SEC opponent this season. Prior to tonight, the greatest number of points the Aggies had conceded in any single quarter to an SEC team was 21 against both Auburn and Georgia, making UT’s 23 first-quarter points the second-most they’d allowed. Conversely, the Lady Vols held TAMU to only eight points in the fourth quarter, their lowest quarter total of the season.
Big Game Nared: Senior Jaime Nared scored 23 points on the night, putting her at eight 20+ points this season and 17 in her career. Of her eight 20+ games in the 2017-18 season, five have come against ranked teams.
Good Company: With 18 points and 13 rebounds against Texas A&M, Mercedes Russell joins Chamique Holdsclaw (57) and Candace Parker (45) as the only Lady Vols with 40 or more double-doubles. Tonight’s effort was her 10th of the season, ranking her sixth all-time among UT seniors.
Westbrook Dishing: Evina Westbrook has logged 13 assists over the course of the last two games and is averaging 5.0 assists per game on the season. That average ranks No. 1 all-time by a UT freshman.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Tennessee football program will be represented at Super Bowl LII as rookie defensive end Derek Barnett is expected to compete for the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s Big Game. The Super Bowl kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. The game will be broadcast live on NBC.
Overall, Tennessee has had 68 VFLs make the Super Bowl a total of 89 times. It’s the ninth straight year a Vol is on the roster of a Super Bowl participant.
Part of an aggressive four-man front for the Eagles, Barnett tallied 5.0 sacks, the third-most on the team, and 21 tackles during his rookie season. He is the first Tennessee rookie since Jamal Lewis to play in every game and earn a trip to the Super Bowl. The Nashville, Tenn., native is just the ninth Tennessee player to make the Big Game in his rookie campaign and the first defensive lineman to do so. Only two other VFLs, Steve Kiner in 1971 and Keith Delong in 1990, made the championship game as defensive rookies. Overall, Barnett is the 13th defensive lineman and the fifth defensive end from Tennessee to appear in the Super Bowl.
The 14th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Barnett is the only player to force a fumble in the postseason for the Eagles, a strip-sack that led to a 53-yard touchdown pass and the NFC title.
During his three seasons with the Volunteers, Barnett made 197 tackles, including 52.0 tackles for loss, and a program-record 33 sacks to surpass Hall of Famer Reggie White’s previous mark of 32.0. As a true freshman in 2014, Barnett accrued 10.0 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss, both records for a Tennessee freshman. He collected 10 sacks again in 2015 before notching an SEC-leading 13.0 sacks in his final season with the Orange and White in 2016.
