Lady Volunteers Secure 41st Straight NCAA Bid, Earn Right To Host As No. 4 Seed; Printable Bracket

Lady Volunteers Secure 41st Straight NCAA Bid, Earn Right To Host As No. 4 Seed; Printable Bracket

Posted on March 14, 2023

Printable Bracket

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The only program to appear in every NCAA Tournament, the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team received confirmation that it had earned its 41st consecutive postseason bid Sunday night when the bracket was revealed on ESPN.
 
UT also learned it will serve as a host for the NCAA First and Second Rounds for the second year in a row. This will mark the 19th occasion the Lady Vols have hosted the NCAA First and Second Rounds since that format was instituted in 1994. Tickets are available at AllVols.com.

The Lady Vols (23-11) are seeded No. 4 in the Seattle 3 Region. UT will face No. 13 seed St. Louis University (17-17) in the first round on Saturday in Thompson-Boling Arena. Tip time and TV info. will be announced later. This will mark the second meeting between these programs, with UT defeating the Billikens, 75-40, on Dec. 2, 2002, in the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico.
 
No. 5 seed Iowa State (22-9) will meet No. 12 seed Toledo (28-4) in the other first-round contest in Knoxville on Saturday. The winners of the first-round matchups will face off on Monday. Time and TV info. for that contest will be announced later as well.
 
The Lady Vols, who are 128-32 all-time in NCAA play, are the only school to appear in all 41 tournaments, winning eight national championships. They also have recorded the most games played (160) and second most victories (128) in tournament history.
 
SLU, meanwhile, is making its initial NCAA appearance. The Billikens, who are coached by first-year skipper Rebecca Tillett, earned the Atlantic 10 Conference’s automatic NCAA bid by winning the A-10 tournament.
 
The Lady Vols are 32-2 in NCAA First-Round games. The only blemishes are opening-round losses to Ball State (71-55) in Bowling Green, Ky., on March 22, 2009, and to UCLA (89-77) in College Park, Md., on March 23, 2019. UT is 24-0 all-time when playing first-round contests in Knoxville. 
 
Tennessee is making its third NCAA appearance under fourth-year head coach Kellie Harper. The 1999 UT graduate and LVFL is making her eighth trip to the tourney as the leader of a program. She would have added another UT and overall appearance in 2020 had the tournament not been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Harper is one of only two coaches to lead four women’s programs to the NCAA Division I Tournament. She did so at Western Carolina, NC State and Missouri State before checking that box in Knoxville two seasons ago. Harper joined Jim Foster (St. Joseph’s, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Chattanooga) in that rare company, but she was the first to do so at her alma mater.
 
Tennessee, ranked No. 23/RV this week, was the third-place finisher in the SEC during the regular season at 13-3 and advanced to the finals of the SEC Tournament before falling to No. 1/1 South Carolina. UT’s conference record was its best since 2014-15, and the Big Orange logged a third-place finish for the fourth straight campaign.
 
St. Louis tied for third in the A-10 in 2022-23 at 10-6 before winning the league tourney over UMass, 91-85 in overtime. UT is 25-0 all-time vs. schools currently in that league, defeating league co-champ UMass, 74-66, on Nov. 10, this season.
 
Tennessee played 15 of the 68 teams (including South Carolina, LSU and Mississippi State twice each) in the 2023 NCAA Tournament field this season and owns a 7-11 record vs. those squads.  UT captured victories over LSU, Colorado, Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia, Mississippi State and Chattanooga, and it fell to South Carolina (twice), Indiana, Virginia Tech, Stanford, UConn, LSU, Ohio State, Gonzaga, UCLA and Mississippi State.

-UT Athletics

Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics
Vols Earn No. 4 Seed in NCAA Tournament, will Face Louisiana; Printable Bracket

Vols Earn No. 4 Seed in NCAA Tournament, will Face Louisiana; Printable Bracket

Posted on March 14, 2023

Printable Bracket

The Tennessee basketball program has earned a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and gathered as a team on Selection Sunday to learn its draw.

The Volunteers (23-10) earned a No. 4 seed for the fourth time in program history (also in 1981, 1999 and 2000) and will travel to Orlando, Florida.

Tennessee’s first-round opponent in East Region action is 13th-seed Louisiana on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 9:40 p.m. ET on CBS. Two days later, the winner of that game will then face the winner of the first-round matchup between five-seed Duke and 12-seed Oral Roberts.

Fans can purchase tickets HERE.

Louisiana (26-7), led by head coach Bob Marlin, won the Sun Belt Conference championship this season. 

The Vols are 9-1 all-time against Louisiana (formerly Louisiana-Lafayette), with the most recent meeting coming in Knoxville in 2018—an 87-65 UT victory.

These programs have met twice previously in the NCAA Tournament, with the Vols winning both games. Tennessee posted a 61-57 triumph in the first round (then the round of 48) in 1982 in Indianapolis, and later beat the Cajuns in the round of 64 in 2000, 63-58, in Birmingham.

This is Tennessee’s 25th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, while Vols head coach Rick Barnes is making his 27th appearance as a head coach and his fifth leading the Big Orange.

Tennessee has never previously played an NCAA Tournament game in the state of Florida, but the Vols’ most recent postseason appearance in The Sunshine State resulted in last year’s SEC Tournament championship in Tampa.

Big 10 Conference champion Purdue (29-5) is the No. 1 seed in the East Region.

University of Tennessee students can purchase NCAA Tournament tickets starting Monday, March 13 at 9 a.m. ET via BigOrangeTix.com.

-UT Athletics

Vols F Julian Phillips / Credit: UT Athletics
Photos/Stats/Story: No. 4/7 Lady Vols Softball Wins Twice Saturday, Sweep Ole Miss

Photos/Stats/Story: No. 4/7 Lady Vols Softball Wins Twice Saturday, Sweep Ole Miss

Posted on March 14, 2023

Box Score Game One | Box Score Game Two | Series Stats | Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fourth-ranked Lady Vols softball team picked up two wins over Ole Miss on Saturday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, sweeping the Rebels to begin SEC play 3-0. UT won game one 8-2 before taking the series finale 1-0.
 
Tennessee (20-1, 3-0 SEC) has now won 15 consecutive games – its longest win streak since 2018. It is also the second year in a row the Lady Vols have opened SEC play with a series victory.
 
Pitching has played a key role in the current run of form for Tennessee and continued to play a big part in both wins on Saturday. Senior Payton Gottshall started game one and tossed a complete game, allowing just two runs on three hits, while striking out 10. With the win, the Massillon, Ohio, native is now 6-0 on the year.
 
In game two, true freshman Karlyn Pickens got the ball and threw a one-hit complete-game shutout. The righty struck out eight on the night as she picked up her fourth victory of the year.
 
Game One: #4 Tennessee 8, Ole Miss 2
After getting no-hit on Friday night, Ole Miss struck immediately on Saturday with a first-inning two-run home run off the bat of Jalia Lassiter to open the scoring. With its two runs, the Rebels are just the second team this season to score first on UT and the first team Tennessee has allowed to score in the first inning.
 
The lead did not last long as Tennessee hit back in the bottom of the first with three runs of its own. Shortstop Mackenzie Donihoo cranked her second home run of the year to right center to lead off the bottom half of the inning.
 
After a pair of walks drawn by Kiki Milloy and Rylie West, Giulia Koutsoyanopulos knocked a single to left to plate both runners and give UT the lead at 3-2.
 
Sophomore McKenna Gibson drove in a pair of runs in the second, extending Tennessee’s lead to 5-2.
 
In the fourth, Milloy launched a three-run homer – her 13th of the year – off the scoreboard in left field to give UT its final margin of victory at 8-2.
 
Game Two: #4 Tennessee 1, Ole Miss 0
Saturday’s second game and the final game of the series was tight as Tennessee and Ole Miss combined for just three hits.
 
Pickens worked out of several jams during the game, beginning in the first inning with a runner on third and just one out. The Weaverville, North Carolina, native proceeded to strike out the final two batters in the frame to leave the Rebel runner standing on third.
 
With the score knotted at 0-0 in the fifth, Ole Miss put the pressure on Pickens as it loaded up the bases with one out. The freshman rose to the occasion by striking out the Rebels’ leadoff hitter Tate Whitley before getting Lassiter to pop out to short to end the inning and escape the bases-loaded jam.
 
In the home half of the fifth, Donihoo lined her second home run of the day and third of the year over the wall in right to provide the game’s only run.
 
Pickens returned to the circle in the sixth and seventh, shutting down the Ole Miss offense to preserve the lead and the win.
 
GOING THE DISTANCE
In all four of Karlyn Pickens’ wins this season she has thrown a complete-game shutout. In her starts, Pickens has allowed just seven hits and stuck out 25. She surrendered the first three walks of her career in Saturday’s win over Ole Miss. The freshman pitched 26.2 innings before allowing a walk.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols head out for an extended spring break road trip, making a stop in Columbia, Tennessee, for the Mid-State Classic against Austin Peay on March 15. Tennessee then visits Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a three-game set at LSU March 17-19.

-UT Athletics

Kiki Milloy – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics
Stats/Story: No. 2/3 Tennessee Homers Six Times in Doubleheader Sweep of Morehead State

Stats/Story: No. 2/3 Tennessee Homers Six Times in Doubleheader Sweep of Morehead State

Posted on March 14, 2023

G1 Box Score (PDF) | G2 Box Score (PDF) | Series Stats (PDF)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the eighth straight time, Tennessee swept a regular-season non-conference series after winning both games of Saturday’s doubleheader against Morehead State at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The No. 2/3 Volunteers (14-3) hit six combined home runs on the day, giving them 13 for total for the series against the Eagles (9-7), who had allowed just six over their first 13 games entering the series.

Recaps from each of Saturdays’ game can be found below.  

GAME 1: Vols 6, Eagles 0

Led by a stellar outing on the mound by Chase Burns, the Vols secured another series win with a 6-0 shutout over Morehead State in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader.

The sophomore right hander gave up just three hits in 6.2 scoreless innings while striking out a career-best 13 batters to improve to 2-0 on the year.

For the fifth time in six games, the Big Orange blasted multiple home runs, finishing with three solo shots off the bats of Blake Burke, Griffin Merritt and Dylan Dreiling. UT scored a single run in six of the eight innings it batted in after scoring in seven of the eight innings it came to the plate during Friday’s series opener.

Burke had the best all-around game at the dish, breaking out of a mini slump with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBIs. Merritt (2-for-4) and Kavares Tears (2-for-3) also finished with multiple hits as the Vols totaled 10 base knocks for the game.

Andrew Lindsey did not allow a runner to reach base in 1.2 innings of relief before making way for Camden Sewell with one out in the ninth inning. Sewell, who was making his season debut, entered to a loud ovation from the home fans and preceded to strike out both batters he faced to end the game and lock up Tennessee’s fourth shutout of the year.
 

GAME 2: Vols 6, Eagles 3

Three two-run homers accounted for all of Tennessee’s offense in game two of Saturday’s twin billing, including a pair from graduate transfer outfielder Griffin Merritt, as the Big Orange completed the series sweep over Morehead State.

Merritt finished with three total homers during Saturday’s doubleheader to increase his season tally to six, which ranks second on the team behind Blake Burke.

Maui Ahuna drove in the other two runs for UT with a two-run shot of his own that just cleared the wall in right field in the fifth inning, which proved to be the difference in the game.

Christian Moore, Burke, Jared Dickey, Dylan Dreiling, Hunter Ensley and Charlie Taylor also all recorded base hits for the Vols in the win.

Sophomore right hander Drew Beam got the start and the win to improve to 3-0 on the year after producing another quality start. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native gave up three runs on six hits over 5.2 innings and finished with nine strikeouts, one off his career high.

Kirby Connell tossed 0.2 scoreless innings in relief of Beam before handing the ball off to Seth Halvorsen, who slammed the door for his second save of the year with three strikeouts in 2.2 perfect innings.

UP NEXT: The Vols welcome in-state foe Lipscomb for a midweek contest on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. before hitting the road to open SEC play at Missouri next weekend.

-UT Athletics

Vols Baseball / Credit: UT Athletics
Highlights/Photos/Postgame/Stats/Story: Mizzou hot shooting in 2nd half does in Vols in SEC Tournament Quarterfinals, 79-71

Highlights/Photos/Postgame/Stats/Story: Mizzou hot shooting in 2nd half does in Vols in SEC Tournament Quarterfinals, 79-71

Posted on March 14, 2023

BOX SCORE  |  HIGHLIGHTS  |  PHOTOS  |  POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

NASHVILLE – Despite five double-figure scorers and 10 made threes, No. 5 seed Tennessee came up just short Friday in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, falling late to No. 4 seed Missouri, 79-71.
 
After Jahmai Mashack tied the game with 2:06 remaining with a driving reverse layup in what had been a back-and-forth second half, Missouri rattled home back-to-back threes from Nick Honor and D’Moi Hodge to pull in front with 1:25 to go, 75-69.
 
Those back-to-back threes kicked off a 10-2 Missouri run to end the game.
 
Santiago Vescovi led the way for the Vols (23-10) with 17 points on five made 3-pointers, while Tyreke Key added 16 with a pair of threes.
 
Mashack had 14 points and four assists, Olivier Nkamhoua recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Julian Phillips had 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
Hodge and Kobe Brown scored 26 and 24 for Missouri (24-8), respectively—combining for 50 of the Tigers’ 79 points.
 
Tennessee rattled off five straight quick points to start the second half to take an eight-point lead at 38-30, but after Missouri quickly answered with a 9-1 run of its own, neither team led by more than four points for the next 16:35 of regulation.
 
That set the stage for Missouri to take control late with the back-to-back threes that secured the win for the Tigers.
 
Thanks to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from just inside half court from Mashack, Tennessee took a 33-30 lead into halftime.
 
Tennessee threatened to pull away midway through the opening period, leading by as many as seven points at 16-9, but foul trouble for the Vols aided Missouri in keeping the first half closely contested.
 
Tennessee played the final 8:27 of the first half without James and the final 5:20 without Vescovi, who both picked up two first-half fouls. Missouri was able to fight its way back into the game with James and Vescovi on the bench, but the Vols capped off the half with a quick 8-3 spurt over the final 1:01 of the period—capped by Mashack’s deep three.
 
UP NEXT: Tennessee awaits Selection Sunday to learn its seeding and matchup for the NCAA Tournament. The Selection Show airs on CBS this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.

-UT Athletics

Vols G Jahmai Mashack / Credit: UT Athletics
Stats/Story: Denton Hits for the Cycle as #2/3 Vols Hammer Morehead State

Stats/Story: Denton Hits for the Cycle as #2/3 Vols Hammer Morehead State

Posted on March 14, 2023

PDF Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fifth cycle in Tennessee baseball history and a record-tying seven home runs helped the second-ranked Volunteers bounce back from Tuesday’s midweek loss in emphatic fashion with a 23-4 victory over Morehead State in Friday night’s series opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Senior third baseman Zane Denton led the offensive explosion with a career high four hits and six RBIs while becoming just the fifth player in program history to hit for the cycle, joining Trey Lipscomb (Feb. 25, 2022), Jordan Rodgers (April 1, 2016), Matt Duffy (March 9, 2011) and Chris Burke (May 11, 2001).

Denton got UT (12-3) on the board with an RBI double to open the scoring in the first inning before homering in his second at-bat with a solo blast in the bottom of the third. The Brentwood, Tennessee, native drove in two more runs with a single in the fifth before completing the cycle with a two-run triple to left center in the bottom of the sixth.

The Vols scored in each of the first seven innings that they came to the plate, including a five-run fifth that featured four home runs to break the game wide open. Eight different players had at least one RBI in the game for Tennessee, including seven Vols with multiple runs batted in.

Maui Ahuna, Jared Dickey and Kavares Tears also had big nights at the dish for the Big Orange, as all three hit home runs while tallying multiple hits and RBIs. Dylan Dreiling and Christian Scott both hit their first long balls of the season, as well, to help the Vols tie the single-game program record for homers.

Ahuna had his best game as a Vol, reaching base in all six of his plate appearances. The junior shortstop recorded his first-career multi-homer game while setting a career high with five runs scored and tying a career best with five RBIs.

Tears got the chance to make his first career start and made the most of the opportunity, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI to go along with a mammoth 420 blast in third inning, his first four bagger at the collegiate level.

Chase Dollander put together another quality start on the mound to earn his third straight victory and improve to 3-1 on the year. The junior right hander struck out 11 in 5.2 innings while allowing two runs on three hits and three walks. Dollander has recorded double-digit strikeouts in each of his last three starts, marking the first time in his career that he’s done so.

Nick Gooden drove in two of the Eagles’ four runs on the night with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. MSU (9-5) starting pitcher Luke Helton fell to 2-2 on the year after allowing 10 runs on eight hits in just 2.1 innings pitched.

UP NEXT: The Vols will look to secure the series on Saturday, which will now feature a doubleheader due to projected inclement weather throughout the day on Sunday.

Game 1 of Saturday’s twin billing will begin at 2 p.m. ET with game two scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. Gates for Saturday’s doubleheader will open one hour prior to first pitch (1 p.m.) instead of the normal two hours before.

Ticket Info: Tickets for Saturday’s originally scheduled game will be good for Game 1 of the doubleheader while tickets for Sunday’s originally scheduled game will be valid for Game 2 of the doubleheader. 

-UT Athletics

Vols 3B Zane Denton / Credit: UT Athletics
Hoops Preview: Tennessee vs. Missouri in SEC Tournament

Hoops Preview: Tennessee vs. Missouri in SEC Tournament

Posted on March 14, 2023

Fifth-seeded Tennessee continues SEC Tournament play Friday in Nashville with a quarterfinal matchup, taking on No. 4 seed Missouri at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET. 

Fans can catch Friday’s game on ESPN and online or on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Jimmy Dykes (analyst) and Marty Smith (reporter) will have the call.
 
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
 
Tennessee (23-9) enters Friday’s quarterfinal matchup coming off a 70-55 win over No. 13 seed Ole Miss in its SEC Tournament opener on Thursday. Josiah-Jordan James led the Vols with 20 points, while Santiago Vescovi added 15. The duo combined for seven made 3-pointers.
 
Friday marks the second meeting this season between Tennessee and Missouri. The Tigers defeated the Vols in Knoxville on Feb. 11, 86-85, hitting a deep 3-pointer as time expired. Tennessee and Missouri have never previously faced off in the SEC Tournament.
 
With a win Friday, Tennessee would advance to face the winner between No. 9 seed Mississippi State and No. 1 seed Alabama in Saturday’s semifinals at 1 p.m. ET.
 
THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads its all-time series with Missouri, 11-9, dating to 1961.
• The Vols and Tigers have never previously met in the SEC Tournament. Tennessee won the series’ lone neutral-site clash, posting a 99-77 victory at the 1974 Big Sun Invitational in St. Petersburg, Florida.
• Mizzou is the only program UT has never faced in SEC Tournament action.
• As a junior at Cal, current Mizzou head coach Dennis Gates lost to Rick Barnes‘ Texas squad in the Preseason NIT.
• Tennessee is 5-1 this season in neutral-site games. The lone loss came against Colorado at Bridgestone Arena in UT’s second game of the season.
• The Volunteers are 11-10 all-time at Bridgestone Arena.
• Since 2018, Tennessee is 9-3 in SEC Tournament games (.750), with three championship game appearances.
• Dating to November 2021, the Vols are riding a five-game win streak when they are coming off a game the previous day. That streak features wins over North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Southern California and Kansas.
 
ABOUT MISSOURI
• Missouri (23-8, 11-7 SEC) finished fourth in the SEC, earning a double bye in the SEC Tournament. The Tigers finished with an identical record to Tennessee, but by way of the buzzer-beating head-to-head win over the Vols on Feb. 11, owned the tiebreaker.
• Senior Kobe Brown finished conference play as the SEC’s third-leading scorer with 16.7 ppg during league games. Brown ranked fourth in the conference in field-goal percentage (.511) and 12th in rebounding (6.2 rpg).
• Brown was named first-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches, as well as being selected as the SEC’s Scholar Athlete of the Year.
• Graduate guard D’Moi Hodge finished the season as the SEC’s steals leader with 2.7 steals per game during conference play. Hodge was also third in the league with 2.4 made 3-pointers per game.
 
LAST CLASH WITH MISSOURI
• For the second time in four days, a buzzer-beating 3-pointer defeated sixth-ranked Tennessee, as Missouri edged the Vols, 86-85, on Feb. 11 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Tennessee mounted a 17-point second-half comeback and had the lead for the final third of the second half, but off a late inbound, DeAndre Gholston chucked up a 3-point shot from just inside the halfcourt line that found the bottom of the net with 0.0 remaining on the clock, giving Missouri a one-point victory.
• Despite the loss, Tennessee graduate student Tyreke Key starred in the second half, scoring 21 of his season-high 23 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. He also knocked down all six attempts from the free-throw line.
• Aiding Key with a big second half was Santiago Vescovi, who drained 13 points and a trio of 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes. Vescovi scored 16 points in total.
• The second-half scoring total of 53 marked the Vols’ largest scoring effort in any half this season. The Big Orange connected on half of its 3-pointers, hitting 9-of-18 after halftime.
• Missouri shot lights-out all game long, hitting 30-of-57 (52.6 percent) from the field and an impressive 14-of-26 (53.8 percent) from beyond the arc. In both the first and second halves, Mizzou made more than half of its threes, and four players combined to contribute 70 of the Tigers’ 86 points.
• Kobe Brown led MU in scoring, posting 21 points. He was complemented by Gholston’s 18 points, and 4-of-5 3-point shooting, Sean East II’s 17 points and D’Moi Hodge’s 14 points.
• Zakai Zeigler provided the offensive spark for Tennessee early and finished the game with 11 points and 10 assists.
 
NKAMHOUA ON VERGE OF UNIQUE (AND VERSATILE) ACHIEVEMENT
• Senior Olivier Nkamhoua is tantalizingly close to a multi-faceted statistical achievement only five Vols have ever accomplished: averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists for a full season.
• Nkamhoua currently averages 10.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
• The five Vols who have pulled off the 10/5/2 combo are All-Americans Bernard King, Ernie Grunfeld and Grant Williams as well as Vincent Yarbrough and Tyler Smith.
 
WORKING ON THE RÉSUMÉ
• Tennessee’s postseason résumé thus far is highlighted by a decisive win over Kansas in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game and home triumphs over both Alabama and Texas.
• UT boasts seven total Quad 1 wins.
• Alabama was ranked No. 1 when the Vols beat the Tide by holding them to a season-low 17 field goals.
• And when the Vols beat then-No. 3 Kansas on a neutral floor, UT held the Jayhawks to just 50 points. That still stands as KU’s season-low.
• In a Dec. 17 true road game at Arizona, UT held what was then the nation’s highest-scoring offense 17 points below its average in a five-point loss without senior standout Josiah-Jordan James (knee injury).
• James also was inactive for three other UT losses.
 
TENNESSEE LEADS SEC IN TOTAL CONFERENCE WINS LAST SIX YEARS
• Through Thursday, Tennessee has captured 81 total wins over SEC opponents (regular season and SEC Tournament) over the last six seasons—more than any other program.
• Kentucky ranks second during that span with 79 total SEC wins, while Auburn ranks third with 72.
• During that same time frame, the Vols also are the most successful league school in the SEC Tournament, recording a conference-best nine SEC Tournament wins
• Tennessee and Auburn are tied for the most overall victories over the last six years (142).

-UT Athletics

Vols F Jonas Aidoo / Credit: UT Athletics
Highlights/Postgame/Stats/Story: James’ 20 Boost Tennessee to Win Over Ole Miss in SEC Tournament Opener, 70-55

Highlights/Postgame/Stats/Story: James’ 20 Boost Tennessee to Win Over Ole Miss in SEC Tournament Opener, 70-55

Posted on March 14, 2023

BOX SCORE  |  HIGHLIGHTS  |  BARNES ON SEC NETWORK  |  JAMES & VESCOVI ON SEC NETWORK  |  POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

NASHVILLE – Tennessee opened SEC Tournament play with a win Thursday, pulling away from Ole Miss in the second half to secure a 70-55 victory and move on to the quarterfinals.
 
With the win, the Vols advance to face No. 4 seed Missouri in Friday’s quarterfinal round. Tipoff is set for approximately 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
 
Josiah-Jordan James led the way for Tennessee offensively Thursday with 20 points on a season-high-tying four made threes, as well as pulling down a game-high seven rebounds.
 
All-SEC first-teamer Santiago Vescovi was Tennessee’s only other double-figure scorer, with 15 points and three made 3-pointers. Vescovi also recorded six rebounds.
 
As a team, Tennessee made a 10 3-pointers—seven of which came from James and Vescovi.
 
After a closely-contested first half, Tennessee quickly created some distance early in the second half—pulling in front by 11, 44-33, less than one minute into the period after five points from James to start the half. Including his buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first half, James rattled off an 8-0 run by himself to seize control of the game for Tennessee.
 
Ole Miss briefly threatened to get back into the game with a 7-0 run that cut the Vols’ lead to just four at 50-46 with 12:22 to go, but after the teams traded layups, Tennessee rattled off a 12-2 run to pull in front by 14 points with 7:39 remaining and take control of the game.
 
The Rebels drew no closer than nine points the rest of the way, as Tennessee forced Ole Miss to misfire on nine of its final 10 shot attempts.
 
After its hot start from beyond the arc in which it made five of its first seven 3-pointers, Ole Miss made just two of its final 13 attempts from beyond the arc.
 
Following a back-and-forth first half that featured eight ties and eight lead changes, Tennessee took a 39-33 lead into halftime after James hit a three from the corner at the buzzer that gave the Vols their largest lead of the day at that point.
 
Ole Miss was hot out of the gates, making each of its first four 3-point attempts and building a 25-19 lead midway through the first half.
 
Tennessee outscored the Rebels 20-8 the rest of the way in the first half, including a 10-2 run to close the period—highlighted by five points from Vescovi on a baseline fadeaway jumper and a deep three and James’ buzzer-beating corner three.
 
UP NEXT: Tennessee advances to face No. 4 seed Missouri in Friday’s SEC Tournament quarterfinals at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
 
SUSTAINED SEC TOURNAMENT SUCCESS: With Thursday’s win, Tennessee has now won nine of its last 12 SEC Tournament games dating to 2018 with three championship game appearances during that span.
 
TENNESSEE CLASSIC UNIFORMS ANOTHER APPEARANCE: For the fourth time this season, the Vols sported their “Tennessee Classic” uniforms and improved to 4-0 while doing so.
 
The Big Orange also wore the Tennessee Classic uniforms against No. 10 Texas on Jan. 28, No. 1 Alabama on Feb. 15 and Arkansas on Feb. 28.

-UT Athletics

Vols G-F Josiah-Jordan James / Credit: UT Athletics
Softball Preview: #4/7 Tennessee Opens SEC Play Against Ole Miss

Softball Preview: #4/7 Tennessee Opens SEC Play Against Ole Miss

Posted on March 14, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Conference play begins in earnest for the fourth-ranked Lady Vols softball team as they are set to play host to Ole Miss Friday through Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
 
Tennessee (17-1) enters the weekend on a 12-game win streak – its longest since winning 12 in a row between Feb. 22-March 7, 2021. In their last time out, the Lady Vols trounced Tennessee Tech, 19-0.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Friday and Saturday’s games will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Zack Nelson (play-by-play) and Jill Jelnick (analyst) will call the action for games 1 and 2. Sunday’s series finale will air on SEC Network with Eric Frede (play-by-play) and Madison Shipman (analyst) describing the action.
 
Voice of the Lady Vols softball team Brian Rice will host an audio broadcast for all three games, available for listening on UTSports.com. Links for the audio broadcast can be found on the Tennessee softball schedule page and will be shared on @Vol_Softball social media accounts.
 
DOMINATION IN THE CIRCLE
Tennessee’s pitching staff has been among the nation’s best this season. After 18 games, the staff ERA is tops in the country at 0.58 with only eight extra bases hits allowed. The group has totaled 139 strikeouts over 108 innings pitched.
 
CROOKED NUMBERS
Tennessee’s offense has proven it can strike for a big inning at any time. Over the last six games, the Lady Vols have scored four-plus runs in an inning on nine occasions.
 
Additionally, UT leads the nation and the SEC in scoring, averaging 9.33 runs per game and has scored six or more runs 13 times this season.
 
Through 18 games, Tennessee is out-scoring its opponents 168-10.
 
THE BIG DOUBLE MACHINE
Tennessee is one of the top teams in the nation when it comes to hitting doubles. The Lady Vols average 2.17 doubles per game – ranking third in the nation and first in the SEC through the first month of the season. In total doubles, UT has knocked 39 in 18 games which is the fourth-most in the country.
 
The program record for doubles in a season stands at 142 – set in 1996 – the first season in team history.
 
GOTTA EARN IT
UT notched nine consecutive shutouts during its current win streak – Feb. 24 – March 5 – and it has not allowed an earned run in 64 straight innings and counting.
 
SCOUTING OLE MISS
Last year, Ole Miss and Tennessee faced off in Oxford, where the Rebels took the series two games to one. They are also coming off a 4-2 weekend at the Ole Miss Classic, tossing three shutouts and scoring 23 runs.
 
Head Coach (Record at OM): Jamie Trachsel (90-49)
 
2023 Record: 13-8
 
Series Record: Tennessee leads 49-12
 
Last Meeting: L, 1-3 on 5/2/23 in Oxford, Mississippi
 
Key Stat: The Rebel defense is among the best in the SEC and the nation as they lead the league in fielding percentage at .981 – ranking 11th-best nationally. Ole Miss is also averaging 0.62 double plays per game, tops in the conference and sixth-most in the country.
 
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols head out for an extended spring break road trip, making a stop in Columbia, Tennessee, for the Mid-State Classic against Austin Peay on March 15. Tennessee then visits Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a three-game set at LSU March 17-19.

-UT Athletics

Lady Vols Softball / Credit: UT Athletics
Baseball Preview: #2/3 Vols Close Nonconference Slate with Morehead State

Baseball Preview: #2/3 Vols Close Nonconference Slate with Morehead State

Posted on March 14, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ready to for its final weekend series of the nonconference slate, the No. 2/3 Tennessee Volunteers host Morehead State for a three-game set beginning Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Volunteers (11-3) look to bounce back after an extra-innings defeat against Boston College in the midweek. Tennessee battled back-and-forth with the Eagles all night long, but couldn’t get ahead in the ballgame, falling, 7-6, in 10 innings.

Now, with a new challenge on the horizon, the Big Orange looks to continue the success of the homestand where it has won 10 of 11 games.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE/PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS

Game 1 – Friday, March 10 (6:30 p.m.)
RHP Chase Dollander (2-1, 2.20 ERA) vs. RHP Luke Helton (2-1, 5.28 ERA)

Game 2 – Saturday, March 11 (6 p.m.)
RHP Chase Burns (1-0, 2.60 ERA) vs. RHP Grant Herron (2-0, 3.00 ERA)

Game 3 – Sunday, March 12 (1 p.m.)
RHP Drew Beam (2-0, 1.76 ERA) vs. LHP John Bakke (1-0, 1.23 ERA)

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the games are available in very limited quantities at AllVols.com.

BROADCAST INFO

All three games of the weekend series will stream on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app with Andy Brock (PxP) and Cody Hawn (Analyst) on the call. The online broadcast can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.

Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball, John Wilkerson, and Vince Ferrara call the action for all three games on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) or via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App. 

SERIES HISTORY

Overall: Tennessee leads, 35-4
in Knoxville: 35-4
in Morehead: 0-0
at Neutral Sites: 0-0
Last Meeting: W, 3-1 (April 16, 2019, in Knoxville)

NOTABLE

BOUNCING BACK
Tennessee will be looking to rebound from a rare midweek loss on Tuesday vs. Boston College. The Vols are 25-4 coming off a loss since the start of the 2020 season.

NON-CON DOMINATION
Tennessee has been extremely successful against non-conference opponents since the start of the 2019 season, posting a 105-20 record in that span. The Vols have not lost a regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020 (Wright State) and have swept 10 of their 12 regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020. In 2022 and 2021, the Vols posted a 53-10 record against out-of-conference opponents, going 28-4 a season ago after posting a 25-6 non-conference record in 2021.
 
WELCOME BACK TO THE WEEKEND
Tennessee and Morehead State were common opponents in weekend series during the mid-2000s but have not faced each other in a three-game weekend series since 2008. The Vols are 14-1 when facing the Eagles during a three-game series.

OPPONENT SCOUT

Morehead State Eagles

  • 2023 Record: 9-4 (0-0 OVC)
  • 2022 Record: 27-27 (14-10 ACC)
  • 2022 Postseason: –
  • 2023 OVC Preseason Poll: 2nd (2 first-place votes)
  • Head Coach: Mik Aoki (Fourth season)
  • Preseason Conference Awards
    • OVC Player of the Year: Jackson Feltner
    • OVC Pitcher of the Year: John Bakke
  • Preseason All-OVC Team
    • Jackson Feltner (1B), Nick Gooden (2B), John Bakke (SP)
  • Stat Leaders:
    • Average: Jackson Feltner (.381)
    • OBP: Jackson Feltner (.518)
    • SLG: Jackson Feltner (.786)
    • Hits: Jackson Feltner (16)
    • Runs: Ryley Preece (13)
    • RBIs: Jackson Feltner (16)
    • Doubles: Jackson Feltner, Colton Becker (3)
    • Triples: Ryley Preece (2)
    • Home Runs: Ryley Preece (5)
    • ERA: John Bakke (1.23)
    • WHIP: Riley Bradshaw (1.00)
    • BAA: Jarrett Miller (.100)
    • Innings Pitched: Luke Helton (15.1)
    • Strikeouts: Grant Herron (19)
    • Wins: Joe Rotkis (3)
    • Saves: Jarrett Miller (3)

ON DECK

Tennessee finishes its homestand, welcoming Lipscomb to Rocky Top for midweek action on Tuesday, March 14, at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game marks UT’s final contest before the start of Southeastern Conference play next weekend.

Tickets for non-conference home games can be purchased at AllVols.com.

-UT Athletics

Vols 3B Zane Denton / Credit: UT Athletics

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