Lofton Named an SEC Legend
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Lofton Named an SEC Legend

Posted on February 29, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Former University of Tennessee men’s basketball star Chris Lofton is a member of the 2024 SEC Men’s Legends Presented by Allstate®, as announced Wednesday afternoon by the league office.

Lofton played at Tennessee from 2004-08, amassing 2,131 points to rank fourth in school history and No. 10 all-time in the SEC. No SEC player this century has scored more points than Lofton.

Across 128 collegiate outings, Lofton made 431 3-pointers to shatter the SEC record. That figure remains top-15 all-time at the Division I level nearly 16 years later.

The 2006-07 SEC Player of the Year, as named by the Associated Press, Lofton collected First Team All-SEC accolades in each of his final three seasons as a Volunteer. He was a three-time All-American, including notching Consensus Second Team All-America status in both 2006-07 and 2007-08.

A 6-foot-2, 200-pound guard, Lofton led the SEC in scoring in 2006-07 (20.8 points per game), in free-throw percentage in 2007-08 (84.2) and in 3-point percentage in 2004-05 (46.5). He also paced the league in made 3-pointers per contest in each of his first three seasons.

Lofton’s 91.7 free-throw percentage in 2005-06 still stands as the fourth-best mark (min. 50 attempts) ever by an SEC player, while his 118 made 3-pointers in 2007-08 place co-sixth and his 114 in 2005-06 sit No. 10.

A member of the 2004-05 SEC All-Freshman Team and the 2006-07 SEC Community Service Team, Lofton won seven SEC Player of the Week awards during his illustrious college career.

The Maysville, Ky., native led Tennessee to a 77-24 record over his final three seasons, from 2005-08. During that time, the Volunteers reached the NCAA Tournament each year and twice made the Sweet 16. They also finished in the AP top 25 each of those three campaigns, with a pair of top-20 positions, including the first top-five final ranking in program history in 2007-08.

Additionally, Lofton guided Tennessee to its first AP No. 1 ranking ever during the 2007-08 campaign, a season during which the team won the SEC regular season title. The Volunteers also claimed the SEC East crown in 2005-06.
Lofton’s No. 5 jersey joined the rafters at Food City Center on Jan. 14, 2023, as he became just the fifth player in program history to have his number or jersey retired.

All 14 SEC Legends will be honored at this year’s SEC Tournament, held March 13-17 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Each legend will be recognized during halftime of his team’s first game, while the group will be introduced at halftime of Saturday’s first semifinal matchup.

To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.

2024 SEC MEN’S LEGENDS Presented by Allstate®
Alabama – Richard Hendrix, Basketball
Arkansas – Derek Hood, Basketball
Auburn – Cliff Ellis, Basketball
Florida – Taurean Green, Basketball
Georgia – Rashad Wright, Basketball
Kentucky – Orlando “Tubby” Smith, Basketball
LSU – Darrel Mitchell, Basketball
Ole Miss – Dwayne Curtis, Basketball
Mississippi State – Timmy Bowers, Basketball
Missouri – Willie Smith, Basketball
South Carolina – Joe Rhett, Basketball
Tennessee – Chris Lofton, Basketball
Texas A&M – Elston Turner, Basketball
Vanderbilt – Frank Seckar, Basketball

Baseball Announces New Start Times for Friday & Saturday Games vs. Bowling Green
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Baseball Announces New Start Times for Friday & Saturday Games vs. Bowling Green

Posted on February 29, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee baseball announced new start times for its games this Friday and Saturday against Bowling Green.

Due to expected inclement weather and cold temperatures, the Vols and Falcons will now play at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Sunday’s series finale is still slated for a 1 p.m. start. All three game will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app and also feature a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app.

The Vols full 2024 schedule can be seen HERE.

KCSO: Former Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center Employee Arrested, Charged

KCSO: Former Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center Employee Arrested, Charged

Posted on February 28, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A former employee at the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center was arrested Tuesday, charged with bringing contraband into a penal facility.

Knox County Sheriff’s Office officials say 55-year-old Donald Ray Russell was charged after Superintendent Richard Bean told the sheriff’s office about the incident.

According to Bean, Russell took his phone inside the facility and let the juvenile detainees use it. The offense is a Class D felony.

KCSO says Russell was originally placed on leave without pay but has since resigned.

Pigeon Forge Police Department Looking for Missing Teen

Pigeon Forge Police Department Looking for Missing Teen

Posted on February 28, 2024

Pigeon Forge, TN (WOKI) The Pigeon Forge Police Department is looking for a missing 15-year-old girl.

PFPD officials say Makayla Pliss left her home Monday and was last seen near Honey Lane in Sevier County.

Pliss is described as white, 5′5″ tall and 115 pounds with blond hair and hazel eyes.

Police say she was last seen wearing a gray toboggan, headphones, a Gatlinburg hoodie and gray sweatpants.

Those with information are being asked to call the Pigeon Forge Police Department at 865-453-9063.

Crews Respond to Fire in Campbell County

Crews Respond to Fire in Campbell County

Posted on February 28, 2024

Campbell County, TN (WOKI) A brush fire in Campbell County is under control Wednesday morning.

Crews responding to that fire Tuesday night around 10:00 p.m. in the area of White Rock Road. Several homes were threatened for a time.

Officials report that crews have been scaled back on the fire, but extra support has been called in for trees downed in the area due to high winds.

Additional information, including the size of the fire, has not been released.

Amber Alert Issued for Missing Sumner County Teen

Amber Alert Issued for Missing Sumner County Teen

Posted on February 28, 2024

Nashville, TN (WOKI / WVLT / WSMV) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide Amber Alert Tuesday on behalf of the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office in middle Tennessee.

Authorities are looking for 15-year-old Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers. Sebastian is white, five feet five inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants.

Sebastian has a medical condition that may impair his ability to return safely without assistance. If you have seen Sebastian or have information regarding his whereabouts, you are asked to call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler Announces Cancer Diagnosis

Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler Announces Cancer Diagnosis

Posted on February 28, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday afternoon that Sheriff Tom Spangler has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

In an open letter from Spangler, he said he learned late last week that he had the disease. He said he is “grateful the cancer was caught early, and the prognosis is excellent.”

Letter from Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler

Spangler added that the day-to-day operation of the sheriff’s office will not be disrupted as he fights this battle but that treatments could cause him to miss events he would have otherwise attended.

Spangler has been sheriff of Knox County since 2018 after having served in the department in various roles before then. As a father and a grandfather, the sheriff is asking for your prayers but also for his family’s privacy.

“I covet your prayers, and as always, I am honored to serve as your Sheriff!” Spangler said.

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said, “It’s an honor to serve alongside Tom Spangler. Tom is a friend and he’s a great sheriff. I ask everyone to join Crystal and me in keeping Tom, his family, and everyone at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in our prayers.”

TEARS & VILLENEUVE’S CLUTCH HITTING LEADS #7/8 VOLS PAST HIGH POINT
Courtesy / UT Athletics

TEARS & VILLENEUVE’S CLUTCH HITTING LEADS #7/8 VOLS PAST HIGH POINT

Posted on February 28, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7/8 Tennessee remained perfect at home and extended its winning streak to seven games with a 7-4 victory over High Point on Tuesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Vols (8-1) started fast by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning and added another in the third to jump out to an early 3-0 lead.

Robin Villeneuve got the scoring started by roping a single to left field with the bases loaded to plate a pair of runs. The junior added another big RBI hit in the sixth inning and finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs to continue his impressive hitting early on this year.

Kavares Tears also had another big day offensively, tying a career high with three hits and setting a new career best with three runs scored to go along with his fourth home run of the year, a low screamer over the right-field wall that pierced through a stiff wind.

Billy Amick and Cannon Peebles also added two hits apiece and combined to drive in three runs. After High Point cut its deficit to two runs in the seventh, Amick hammered a 1-1 pitch down the left-field line over the porches for his fourth homer to bump the lead back up to three. Later in the inning, after a Tears single, Peebles made it 7-3 with an RBI double to score Tears and give UT some more breathing room.

Lefthander Chris Stamos notched his second win of the year after striking out a pair in a scoreless inning of relief. Fellow veteran lefty Kirby Connell was also effective out of the bullpen in his most extended outing of the season, holding the Panthers to one run while recording two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.

Flame thrower Nate Snead pitched the final 2.1 innings to slam the door and earn his first save of the year. The sophomore righthander racked up five strikeouts and allowed just two hits while topping 100 mph on the radar gun multiple times.

Shortstop Adam Stuart led the offensive charge for the Panthers (2-7) with three hits and two RBIs. Starting pitcher Dalton Olsovsky fell to 0-2 on the year after giving up two runs on two hits and two walks in two innings of work.

UP NEXT: Tennessee hosts Bowling Green for a three-game set this weekend in Knoxville, starting on Friday. All three games will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

STAT OF THE DAY: With a pair of long balls on Tuesday, UT continued its home run streak to start the season, having hit at least one in all nine games so far. Tears took the team lead with four homers after his solo shot in the third inning before Amick joined him with his fourth of the year, a 409-foot blast in the eighth inning.

KPD: West High School Student Seriously Injured after Pedestrian Crash

KPD: West High School Student Seriously Injured after Pedestrian Crash

Posted on February 27, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A 16-year-old West High School student is taken to UT Medical Center Tuesday morning after being hit by a car.

Knoxville Police Department officials say the student was crossing Sutherland Avenue around 8:00 a.m. when she was hit by a Toyota 4Runner.

KPD says the driver of the SUV was attempting to turn left from Tobler Lane onto Sutherland when they hit the student.

The teen was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Police say the driver stayed on the scene and was not charged.

TBI Issues Silver Alert for Claiborne County Man

TBI Issues Silver Alert for Claiborne County Man

Posted on February 27, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issues a Silver Alert Tuesday afternoon for a missing 86-year-old man out of Claiborne County.

TBI officials say Curtis Mason was last seen on Monday in Harrogate near the Parks Circle area. They say Mason may be driving a silver Pontiac Montana van with license number 40870PD, and he could be in the Cumberland Gap area near the Kentucky border.

Curtis Mason, 86 (Courtesy: TBI)

TBI adds that Mason also has a medical condition.

Those with information are being asked to call the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office at 423-626-3000 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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