WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — After a slow start Saturday, the 21st-ranked Tennessee Volunteers rode a hot second half to defeat Wake Forest, 79-60, at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Vols (9-2) shot 59 percent (17-of-29) from the field in the second stanza as part of a 43-25 lopsided score over the Demon Deacons (7-5) in the period. Tennessee got its best production from its starters, as a group, this season, as all five reached double-digit scoring to get a much-needed road win heading into Southeastern Conference play.
Sophomore guard Jordan Bowden continued to have the hot hand, dropping a team-high 17 points behind a perfect 5-of-5 performance from deep. Admiral Schofield finished with 14 points and six boards in the contest.
Jordan Bone took over the game in the second half, using his elite speed and elusiveness to get to the basket or create open shots for his teammates. He tallied 12 points and five assists. Forwards Kyle Alexander and Grant Williams both posted 11 points each.
After making it a two-possession game with 6:40 left in the contest, UT used an 8-4 run over the next three minutes of play to take a 69-60 lead into the final media timeout.
Out of the break, the Vols got a huge stop on defense and responded with a Schofield trey from the top of the key to make it a 12-point advantage. The Vols ended the game on a 16-2 run to give the Big Orange their second road win of the season over an ACC opponent (also won at Georgia Tech on Dec. 3).
Despite a sloppy first half, Tennessee entered intermission with a 36-35 lead over the Demon Deacons behind 46-percent shooting from the floor. Alexander paved the way on offense with nine points — seven coming in the final six minutes of the half — to go along with three boards and a block in 14 minutes of action.
The Vols got in foul trouble early on in the game, picking up their seventh foul and sending Wake Forest to the free-throw line with over 14 minutes left in the first half. UT cleaned things up, though, holding the Deacs to only 11 trips to the charity stripe, converting on 10 of those attempts to keep the game close going into the break.
UP NEXT: The Vols begin SEC play with a trip to Arkansas next Saturday before hosting Auburn (Jan. 2) and Kentucky (Jan. 6) in back-to-back home games at Thompson-Boling Arena.
WITH THE WIN: Tennessee enters SEC play with two or fewer losses for the first time since 2009-10. The Volunteers now hold a 2-0 record in true road games this season, both at ACC venues. UT also earned its fourth victory away from home over a Power Five opponent this season.
NCD hosted more than 80 podcasts in 2017, including featuring a number of alum from CMT’s Next Women of Country franchise—a campaign to bring awareness to inspiring female vocalists in country music.
In addition to sharing their unique perspectives, many of the singer/songwriters talked about releasing new music, spreading their brand of country music, overcoming hardships they have faced and much more.
Check out our 2017 Best of CMT Next Women of Country podcasts, which included guests Kelleigh Bannen, Maggie Rose, Lindsay Ell, Carly Pearce and Danielle Bradbery.
A handful of country stars will help ring in the New Year with televised performances on Dec. 31.
Florida Georgia Line, Sugarland and Kane Brown will perform as part of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2018. Mariah Carey, Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas, Kelly Clarkson, Halsey, Imagine Dragons and Britney Spears will also perform. Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2018 starts at 8 p.m. ET on ABC on Dec. 31.
Zac Brown Band will perform at part of New Year’s Eve With Steve Harvey. Additional performances include Maroon 5, Backstreet Boys, Macklemore, Flo Rida, Celine Dion and Neil Diamond. New Year’s Eve With Steve Harvey starts at 8 p.m. ET on Fox on Dec. 31.
NCD hosted more than 80 podcasts in 2017, including featuring a handful of guests who are the proud sons of Texas: Aaron Watson, Pat Green, Josh Abbott, Granger Smith and Wade Bowen.
In addition to sharing their unique Lone Star State perspectives, the singer/songwriters talked about making their new albums, spreading their distinctive brand of Texas country music across the U.S. and much more.
Check out the Christmas greetings that some of your favorite country stars shared on social media today (Dec. 25), including Dolly Parton, Luke Bryan, Chris Young, Scotty McCreery, Kelsea Ballerini and more.
On Dec. 23, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and wife Hayley welcomed a baby girl, Olivia Rose.
Olivia Rose, who weighed 7 lbs., 13 oz,, is the couple’s first child.
“We love this little girl more than words can describe and it hasn’t even been 24 hours yet,” said Tyler in an Instagram post. “Our life has been forever been changed for the better.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –Friday’s signing announcement by Under Armour All-American Alontae Taylor gave head coach Jeremy Pruitt and the Tennessee football program 13 members in their 2018 Class. The Early Signing Period began on Wednesday and wraps up at the end of the day on Friday.
UT will add several more Vols during the traditional National Signing Day on Feb. 7.
Taylor starred at Coffee County Central High School and was named Offensive MVP of the 2017 Toyota East-West Tennessee All-Star Classic after totaling 180 yards of total offense and tossing the game-winning touchdown pass.
Including Taylor, the Vols have signed five of the state’s Top 10 football recruits, according to Rivals, with blue chip defensive end Greg Emerson (No. 3), Cordova High School teammates Jerome Carvin (No. 8) and Jeremy Banks (No. 9), and 2017 Tennessee Titans District II-A Mr. Football Brant Lawless (No. 10). Taylor (No. 4) rushed for 6,000 yards and scored 75 touchdowns during his prep career.
Tennessee announced the signing of City College of San Francisco defensive end Jordan Allen on Thursday. Allen is ESPN’s No. 9-rated overall junior college prospect in the country. He is expected to play linebacker for the Vols.
Before signing Allen and Taylor on Thursday and Friday, respectively, Tennessee inked 11 newcomers on Wednesday.
“We are very excited to welcome this group of outstanding young men who signed with us today,” Pruitt said on Wednesday night. “They are terrific football players, who also display exceptional character off the field. We appreciate the commitment they have made to the University of Tennessee. They will be the foundation for our first signing class here. We said we were going to build a fence around the state and this is a good start. We also know that Tennessee is a national brand, and it’s exciting that some of these players from across the country will be wearing the ‘T’ on their helmets. We hope to have a few more guys sign these next two days, too.
“We know we still have a lot of work to do on the recruiting trail, as we will sign several more players in February, but today is a great way to begin. We will get back to work when I return in January. I want to thank Vol Nation for all of the support these first two weeks on the job. I am honored and humbled to be your head coach, and I’m looking forward to devoting all of my time to our football team following the College Football Playoff.”
Overall, the Big Orange early signing class features eight members from the state of Tennessee, three Californians, one player from Florida and one South Carolina native.
Seven of the newest Vols have been selected for postseason high school all-star games, including U.S. Army All-American Bowl participant Emerson, a defensive end, and Under Armour All-America Game selections Paxton Brooks, the nation’s No. 2 punter, and Taylor.
The class also features a pair of Knoxville area stars in Gibbs offensive lineman Ollie Lane and Farragut tight end Jacob Warren.
California quarterback JT Shrout rocketed up recruiting boards this season and is ranked as the No. 14 pro-style quarterback in the nation, according to Rivals, while Dominick Wood-Anderson is the No. 1-rated junior college tight end prospect in the country.
Additionally, the Vols signed one of the Nashville area’s top recruits in offensive lineman Tanner Antonutti and national prep powerhouse IMG Academy defensive lineman Kingston Harris.
After being named head coach on Dec. 7, Pruitt had just 10 days to put together a signing class before the dead period began on Dec. 18, limiting contact with recruits. Pruitt, who was named 247Sports Recruiter of the Year in 2012, and members of his coaching staff worked tirelessly to secure the Early Signing Period class.
-UT Athletics
UT’s 2018 ESP Signing Class / Credit: UT Athletics
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The 21st-ranked Tennessee Volunteers hit the road again this weekend to face off against another ACC foe in Wake Forest at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The game will tip at 12:30 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN2 and streamed online via WatchESPN.
Tennessee (8-2) enters the matchup with a pair of victories over teams from the ACC (NC State, 67-58, and Georgia Tech, 77-70) already this season. UT fell to No. 7 North Carolina in a hard-fought battle in Thompson-Boling Arena last Sunday, marking the Vols’ first home loss of the year. On Wednesday, Tennessee bounced back to hold off a Furman team riding a five-game winning streak, 66-61.
Wake Forest (7-4) returns 11 of 16 players from last year’s roster that made the NCAA Tournament, including two starters in Bryant Crawford and Keyshawn Woods. The Demon Deacons enter the contest on a six-game winning streak and are playing their best ball of the season. Over the streak, WF is averaging 86.0 ppg while holding its opponents to 69.6 ppg.
After the game, the Vols begin conference play with a trip to Arkansas the following weekend before hosting Auburn and Kentucky in back-to-back home games at Thompson-Boling Arena.
THE SERIES
• Overall: UT leads, 8-2
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 6-0
• In Winston-Salem: Tied, 1-1
• Neutral Sites: Tied, 1-1
• Current Streak: UT has won three straight
• Last Meeting: UT won, 82-63, in the Bahamas, 11/30/13
• Rick Barnes vs. Wake Forest: 4-9
• Rick Barnes vs. Danny Manning: No meetings
RIGHT NOW
• Wake Forest is UT’s fourth ACC opponent in the last 30 days. This is the seventh ACC game the Vols have played in two-plus seasons under Rick Barnes.
• The Vols are rated No. 12 in the NCAA and ESPN InsideRPI, with the nation’s 10th-rated SOS.
• Tennessee’s two losses this season have come at the hands of the last two national champions.
A WIN WOULD…
• Improve UT’s all-time record against current members of the ACC to 109-99
• Ensure that the Vols enter SEC play with two or fewer losses for the first time since 2009-10
• Give the Vols a 2-0 record in true road games this season (both at ACC venues)
• Be UT’s fourth victory away from home over a Power Five opponent (fifth if you count the exhibition win at Clemson)
ABOUT WAKE FOREST
• Head coach Danny Manning is in his third season with the Demon Deacons.
• Last season, All-American and first team All-ACC performer John Collins (19.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg) led the Deacs to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2009-10 season. Collins chose to enter the NBA Draft after the season and was selected 19th overall by the Atlanta Hawks.
• Despite the loss of its star player, Wake Forest returns 11 of 16 players from last year’s roster, including two starters. Junior guard Bryant Crawford (16.2 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.8 rpg) started all 33 games for the Deacs and led the team in assists and steals last year. Redshirt junior guard Keyshawn Woods (12.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.5 apg) is the other returning starter.
• Crawford has picked up where he finished last season, averaging 16.4 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.7 rpg and 2.0 spg. He excels at drawing fouls and getting to the charity stripe, where he’s converting on 92 percent (58-of-63) of his attempts.
• Junior center Doral Moore, who had only one start in his career entering the season, has started every game for Wake and is reaching his potential as a top-100 prospect out of high school. So far, he’s posting 11.1 ppg on an impressive 85 percent (52-of-61) shooting from the floor. He is the team-leader in rebounds (7.9) and blocks (2.0) per game.
• Wake Forest enters the contest riding a six-game winning streak and is playing its best ball of the season. Over the streak, WF is averaging 86.0 ppg while holding its opponents to 69.6 ppg.
LAST MEETING WITH WAKE FOREST
• Tennessee throttled Wake Forest, 82-63, on Nov. 30, 2013, in the fifth-place game at the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
• Playing their third game in three days, the Vols were led by eventual NBA Draft pick Jarnell Stokes, who totaled 21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. It was his third double-double of the tournament.
• Freshman Darius Thompson had the best game of what would end up being a brief, one-year career (he transferred to Virginia following the season), making 9-of-9 shots at the free-throw line en route to a season-high 16 points. He also had three assists.
• Tennessee led by as many as 28 points in the second half.
• Tennessee led 43-32 at halftime. UT shot 53.2 percent in the game and outscored the Demon Deacons 40-26 in the paint.
• The Vols received 29 points off the bench.
• Wake Forest was led by Codi Miller-McIntyre and Travis McKie, who scored 17 and 15, respectively.
LITTLE RICKY FROM HICKORY
• A native of Hickory, North Carolina, Rick Barnes has lined Tennessee’s schedule with several opponents located in his home state over the last two-plus seasons.
• Saturday’s Wake Forest clash is UT’s seventh game against a North Carolina-based school during the Barnes era. The Vols are 4-2 vs. teams from his native state.
FIRST-HALF DEFENSE STIFLING
• Through its first 10 games, UT has held opponents to an average 25.6 points during the first half.
• Tennessee’s average lead at halftime this season is 14.1 points, and the Big Orange have yet to trail at the break all season (one tie).
J-BIRD REACHES 2K MILESTONE
• Graduate transfer James Daniel III is Division I’s active career scoring leader, and on Dec. 20 vs. Furman (his 100th career game played), he eclipsed the 2,000 career point milestone. He now has 2,006 total collegiate points.
• 90 of those games, and 1,933 of those points, were scored during Daniel’s standout career at Howard University.
Christmas may be the time for giving, but it’s also the time to give yourself a break from the hustle and bustle of holiday insanity. So pour yourself a stiff glass of eggnog, plop down on the couch for a few hours and enjoy one of your favorite festive flicks—or check out one of these recommendations from some of our favorite country stars.
BRETT ELDREDGE National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It’s set in Chicago, and I’m from Illinois, and I have an uncle exactly like Clark W. Griswold. He’s that guy. You know, up on the ladder stapling himself to the house with the lights.
JERROD NIEMANN Bad Santa—the director’s cut. Check it out sometime. You won’t believe it.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is definitely a standard around the holidays. It’s very quotable and fun.
DAN SMYERS of Dan + Shay It’s not necessarily a Christmas movie, but it’s got a Christmas theme: Home Alone. I don’t know. I’ve watched that movie so much. I can’t watch it enough. I grew up on that. Every Christmas I’ll put that on.
SHAY MOONEY of Dan + Shay There was always one movie that was on when I was growing up and it was like a claymation version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and I always used to watch that every year. I’ll probably be watching that again.
HILLARY SCOTT of Lady Antebellum National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I can pretty much quote it line-for-line. It’s amazing.
FRANKIE BALLARD It’s not thought of as a Christmas movie, but it is: Grumpy Old Men. They go through Thanksgiving and Christmas in the movie, so it’s seasonally accurate. But it’s always one that just feels like Christmas to me.
DUSTIN LYNCH
My favorite Christmas movie is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. My favorite scene from that movie is when Eddie and Clark are buying light bulbs. I didn’t notice this the first 70 or so times I watched it, but something is going on in Eddie’s pants. It’s absolutely hilarious. It’s one of those things you don’t catch at first.
DARIUS RUCKER Miracle on 34th Street is that movie that I’ll watch 10 times through the holidays and I’ll cry at the end every time, but for me, Elf. It’s a great idea, so well-written.
MADDIE MARLOW of Maddie & Tae
Maddie Marlow: Elf! What’s your favorite color? I could watch that in the summer and still love it.
TAE DYE of Maddie & Tae Elf, totally.
KIP MOORE Christmas Vacation. Chevy Chase, for sure.
CASSADEE POPE
I usually watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It brings me back to my childhood.
CRAIG CAMPBELL
My wife has always loved White Christmas with Bing Crosby. We watch that every year with the kids.
BILLY CURRINGTON Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I never watch a lot of TV, to be really honest with you. But that’s like my childhood memory. So I’d probably sit down and watch it again.
EASTON CORBIN A Christmas Story is hard to beat. You’ll shoot your eye out!
