Hoops Preview: Tennessee vs. Ole Miss in SEC Tournament

Hoops Preview: Tennessee vs. Ole Miss in SEC Tournament

Posted on March 14, 2023

Fifth-seeded Tennessee begins SEC Tournament play Thursday in Nashville, taking on No. 13 seed Ole Miss at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET.
 
Fans can catch Thursday’s game on SEC Network 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 (22-9) enters the week looking to defend its 2022 SEC Tournament title. A year ago in Tampa, the Vols defeated Mississippi State, Kentucky and Texas A&M in a three-day span to capture the program’s first SEC Tournament title in 43 years.
 
Saturday marks the second meeting this season between Tennessee and Ole Miss. The Vols defeated the Rebels in Oxford on Dec. 28, 63-59, and have won seven of the past eight meetings overall.
 
With a win Thursday, Tennessee would advance to face No. 4 seed Missouri in Friday’s quarterfinals at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET.
 
THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads its all-time series with Ole Miss, 77-45, dating to 1924.
• Tennessee has won seven of the last eight meetings.
• The SEC opener back on Dec. 28 was the only meeting between these teams this season. The Vols triumphed, 63-59, in Oxford.
• When these programs meet in the SEC Tournament, Ole Miss owns a 7-5 advantage. The most recent SEC Tournament clash was an overtime win for the Rebels in New Orleans in 2012, 77-72.
• Tennessee is 4-1 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 10-10 all-time at Bridgestone Arena.
• Since 2018, Tennessee is 8-3 in SEC Tournament games (.727), with three championship game appearances.
 
SCOUTING REPORT
• Tennessee won last season’s SEC Tournament in Tampa.
• Tennessee is No. 3 in the NCAA’s NET ratings and hasn’t dropped below No. 4 all season. The Vols have racked up seven Quad 1 wins.
• Tennessee and Baylor remain the only teams in the country that own at least three wins over teams currently ranked in the top 10 of the NET ratings.
• During regular-season SEC play, the Vols led the league in assists per game (16.72) and assist/turnover ratio (1.55).
• Santiago Vescovi has repeated as an All-SEC first-team selection, while Zakai Zeigler earned All-SEC second-team and All-Defensive Team honors. Julian Phillips was named to the All-Freshman Team.
• The Vols haven’t played with the rotation fully healthy since Feb. 8.
• Lang Wiseman (1989-93) will be honored as Tennessee’s SEC Legend this week.
 
THE NATION’S BEST DEFENSE
• For the 15th straight week, the Volunteers own the best adjusted defensive efficiency in the country per KenPom, allowing only 87.8 points per 100 possessions.
• Tennessee owns Division I’s best field-goal percentage defense (.364) and 3-point defense (.255), as well as the nation’s third-best scoring defense (57.5 ppg).
• 12 times this season, the Vols have held their opponents to 50 points or less. No other Division I team has more than 10 such performances.
• Only five teams have reached the 70-point mark against these Vols.
• Only nine opposing players have scored 20 or more points against the Vols this season.
• In its five neutral-site games this season, Tennessee is allowing only 58.4 points per game with a +5.2 rebounding margin and a +2.6 turnover margin. Its opponents are shooting just .229 from 3-point range (25 for 109).
 
ABOUT OLE MISS
• Ole Miss (11-20, 3-15 SEC) finished 13th in the SEC and enters Thursday’s game coming off a win over No. 12 seed South Carolina during Wednesday night’s opening session of games.
• On Feb. 24, Ole Miss announced a change in leadership of the men’s basketball program, mutually parting ways with fifth-year head coach Kermit Davis. Assistant coach Win Case has served as Ole Miss’ acting head coach for the past four games, posting a 2-2 record.
• During the teams’ Dec. 28 meeting, Tennessee held Ole Miss leading scorer Matthew Murrell to his second-lowest scoring output of the season. Murrell, who averaged 14.9 ppg during the regular season, was 1-for-9 from the field and scored five points.
• Ole Miss’ second-leading scorer, Jaemyn Brakefield, finished 17th in the SEC in scoring during conference play (13.1 ppg) and 11th in rebounding (6.2 rpg).
 
LAST CLASH WITH OLE MISS
• Lockdown defense in the second half and an explosive offensive effort from Santiago Vescovi proved to be the difference as No. 7 Tennessee escaped with a win at Ole Miss on Dec. 28 in both teams’ SEC opener, 63-59.
• The Volunteers fell behind by as many as 10 points in the first half and trailed for nearly 22 minutes of game time but were able to secure their first true road win of the season
• Vescovi led the way offensively for Tennessee with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
• Jonas Aidoo had a standout performance on the boards for Tennessee with a career-high 13 rebounds—six offensive—and eight points in a career-high 29 minutes.
• Zakai Zeigler was the second Vol in double figures, shooting just 2-for-9 from the field but chipping in 13 points—thanks to a 9-for-10 performance at the free-throw line.
• Defensively, Tennessee held Ole Miss’ leading scorer—Matthew Murrell, who entered the game averaging 15.6 points per game—to just five points on 1-for-11 shooting. Murrell was defended primarily by Jahmai Mashack, who finished the game with a team-high plus/minus rating of +12 in 22 impactful minutes.
• After the Vols trailed by six points at halftime and had played from behind for almost the entirety of the first half, Tennessee’s defense put on the clamps coming out of the break—forcing Ole Miss to misfire on seven of its first eight field goal attempts of the period.
• The Vols’ shutdown defense allowed the offense to catch up on the scoreboard, as Tennessee outscored Ole Miss 8-2 in the opening 6:16 of the second half to knot the score up at 36.
• As a team, Ole Miss shot just 28 percent in the second half, compared to 46 percent in the first half.
 
TENNESSEE LEADS SEC IN TOTAL CONFERENCE WINS LAST SIX YEARS
• Tennessee captured 80 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 eight SEC Tournament wins
• Only Auburn (142) has more overall victories than Tennessee (141) spanning the last six seasons.
 
TENNESSEE OWNS SEC’s SECOND-MOST QUAD 1 VICTORIES
• Tennessee’s seven Quad 1 wins this season are second-most in the SEC, trailing only Alabama’s nine.
• The Vols’ 13 games against Quad 1 opponents tie for third-most among SEC teams. Alabama and Florida both have played 14.
 
SANTI REPEATS AS SEC’s TOP 3FG SHOOTER DURING LEAGUE PLAY
• For the second straight season, Santiago Vescovi led the SEC in 3-point percentage during league games (.387). He also ranked second in 3-point makes per game (2.71) during SEC play.
• As a junior last season, Vescovi shot a league-best .445 during SEC play while making a league-leading 3.17 triples per game.
• In three career games at Bridgestone Arena, Vescovi is shooting .346 from 3-point range (9 for 26).
 
PHILLIPS’ FIELD-GOAL PERCENTAGE IMPROVED DURING SEC PLAY
• Prior to SEC play, freshman forward Julian Phillips was shooting .347 from the field. But in conference games, he boosted that shooting percentage to an efficient .500.
• Overall this season, Phillips is giving the Vols 9.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He has attempted a team-high 111 free throws—making them at an .820 clip.

-UT Athletics

Vols G-F Josiah-Jordan James / Credit: UT Athletics
Stats/Story: No. 2/3 Vols Drop Back-and-Forth Midweek Battle with Boston College

Stats/Story: No. 2/3 Vols Drop Back-and-Forth Midweek Battle with Boston College

Posted on March 14, 2023

PDF Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 2/3 Tennessee came up just short in a wild, back-and-forth affair against Boston College on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, falling 7-6 in 10 innings.

The game featured four ties and five lead changes as the two teams traded blows throughout the night before the Eagles (9-1) were able to hold on for the win in the 10th inning to extend their winning streak to nine games and end the Vols’ streak of consecutive victories at 11.

The two teams combined to use 13 different pitchers and score in eight of the 10 innings played. Christian Moore led the offensive charge for the Big Orange (11-3), going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, including game-tying hits in the seventh and ninth innings.

Maui Ahuna, Blake Burke and Griffin Merritt also drove in runs for UT on the night, but mistakes in the field and on the base paths cost the Vols on multiple occasions an proved to be the difference.

Joe Vetrano led the Eagles at the dish with three hits, three runs scored and a pair of solo homers. Cameron Leary was also big for BC, finishing with a pair of hits, including the eventual game-winning solo home run in the top of the 10th inning, one of four long balls for the Eagles in the game.

Matthew Nunan picked up the win for Boston College after tossing 1.2 perfect innings of relief in the ninth and 10th innings. Seth Halvorsen was stuck with the loss for Tennessee after allowing two runs on three hits in two innings of work.

Andrew Lindsey was a bright spot for the Orange and White out of the pen, striking out three batters while allowing just one hit over two scoreless innings.

UP NEXT: The Vols will look to rebound with another home series this weekend when they host Morehead State starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. All three games can be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

-UT Athletics

Vols RHP Seth Halvorsen / Credit: UT Athletics
UT Police Say a Man is Charged after Alleged Break-In at Campus Fraternity House

UT Police Say a Man is Charged after Alleged Break-In at Campus Fraternity House

Posted on March 14, 2023

University of Tennessee Police say a man is charged after breaking into a Fraternity House on campus.

WVLT reporting Justin Hopkins was reportedly charged with reckless threatening an act of mass violence on school property, aggravated burglary, carrying a weapon on school property and aggravated criminal trespass after UT Police responded to a break-in call Friday where Hopkins reportedly told the two victims not to call the police or it will be a blood bath.

He left before police arrived and was taken into custody at the Greyhound Bus station on Church Avenue.

Hopkins has been arrested four times in the last six months for criminal trespass on UT property and also has a history of drug-related charges dating back to 2002.

Knoxville Fire Department Responding to Two South Knoxville Fires with Common Causes with a Warning on One

Knoxville Fire Department Responding to Two South Knoxville Fires with Common Causes with a Warning on One

Posted on March 14, 2023

The Knoxville Fire department says an improper heating device inside a home is the cause of a house fire in South Knoxville that causes moderate damage to the home.

Crews called to Skyline Drive yesterday not long after responding to another fire in the area. They found the fire in the living room and say it was caused by a gas grill propane gas tank being used inside for heating purposes.

KFD says this is an extremely dangerous because not only can it cause a fire the CO emitted can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. The home did not have working smoke detectors.

One man lives in the home and the American Red Cross is assisting him.

No injuries were reported.

The Knoxville Fire Department says the cause of a South Knoxville house fire is unattended cooking equipment.

Crews called to a basement fire on Plymouth Road and found light smoke coming from the basement and they were told everyone was out of the home.

The home sustained moderate damage to a basement kitchen area.

Three adults live in the home.

No injuries reported. The American Red Cross is assisting residents.

KFD says unattended cooking is the leading cause of residential fires in the United States.

The Search is on for a Suspect after a Stolen Truck is Pulled From the Holston River

The Search is on for a Suspect after a Stolen Truck is Pulled From the Holston River

Posted on March 14, 2023

Update: Knoxville Police say the truck pulled out of the Holston River was reported stolen and they are still searching for a suspect.

Knoxville Fire Department crews and KPD responded to Holston River Park in East Knoxville yesterday to remove the truck from the river and no one was found in the vehicle.

KPD says the owner of the truck parked it outside his house on Churchwell Avenue Monday night but found it gone when he was leaving for work at 2 a.m. yesterday morning.

Original story: The Knoxville Fire Department and Knoxville Police investigating after a truck is found submerged in Holston River Park in East Knoxville.

KFD was called yesterday to remove the truck from the river and say no one was in the vehicle. KPD was also called to the scene and are looking into the circumstances that truck ended up in the water.

Tennessee Lawmakers to Vote on Several Bills Including Some They Expect Wil Keep Children Safe

Tennessee Lawmakers to Vote on Several Bills Including Some They Expect Wil Keep Children Safe

Posted on March 14, 2023

Tennessee lawmakers looking at many bills this session they expect will help keep children and the community safe.

Many bills involve more driving regulations for distracted drivers, harsher penalties for suspects accused of harming children and a new approach to informing youth about voting.

Some of those include:

Bill: SB0531

Goal: Requires the Department of Children’s Services to maintain staffing to allow case managers to have no more than 20 open social work cases.

Bill: SB1316

Goal: Increase the penalty for the offense of possession of a used, detached catalytic converter.

Bill: SB0445

Goal: To increase the penalty, from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor, for educational neglect of a child who is in poor academic standing

Bill: SB0193

Goal: To increase the penalty to a Class B felony with a fine of up to $100,000 for drug offenses involving 0.5 grams or more of fentanyl.

Bill: SB0378

Goal: To regulate the production and sale of hemp-derived cannabinoids, including products known as delta-8 and delta-10.

Bill: SB0983

Goal: Limits the offense of criminal abortion to only apply to elective abortions.

Bill: SB0022

Goal: To require each local law enforcement agency to assemble, by January 1, 2024, an adult sexual assault response team to assist in responding to incidents of sexual assault.

Bill: SB0346

Goal: To require each high school to inform each high school senior that upon reaching the age of 18 the student may be eligible to vote and provide information from the secretary of state about voter eligibility and how to register to vote.

Bill: SB0589

Goal: To enact the “Eddie Conrad Act,” which establishes the number of points to be charged to a person’s driving record for violations of driving while using a wireless telecommunications device.

Bill: SB0552

Goal: To enact the “Sergeant Chris Jenkins Law”; which requires loose items being transported in open beds or trailers to be secured.

TBI Human Trafficking Unit and Bristol Police Arrest Eleven Men Accused of Seeking Illicit Sex from Minors

TBI Human Trafficking Unit and Bristol Police Arrest Eleven Men Accused of Seeking Illicit Sex from Minors

Posted on March 13, 2023

A two-day undercover operation by special agents with the TBI Human Trafficking Unit, the Bristol Police Department, the 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the 2nd Judicial District Attorney General’s Office has resulted in the arrest of eleven men accused of seeking illicit sex from minors.

Over a two-day period beginning March 9th, as part of an undercover investigation aimed at addressing human trafficking in Northeast Tennessee, authorities placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex cases. The focus of the operation was to identify individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors. As a result of the operation, authorities arrested eleven men. All were booked into the Sullivan County Jail on the following charges:

Johnathan Michael Campbell (DOB: 11/2/92), Johnson City: Two counts of Solicitation of a Minor, two counts of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor and one count of Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia. $50,000 bond.
James Stephen Samples (DOB: 9/28/72), Hurricane, WV: Two counts of Solicitation of a Minor and two counts of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor. $50,000 bond.
Isaac Darko Addo (DOB: 11/26/84), Johnson City: One count of Solicitation of a Minor and one count of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor. $50,000 bond.
George Chavez Lopez (DOB: 3/10/94), Morristown: Two counts of Solicitation of a Minor and two counts of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor. $50,000 bond.
Casey Aaron Miller (DOB: 6/4/88), Boone, NC: One count of Solicitation of a Minor, one count of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor and one count of Simple Possession/Casual Exchange. $50,000 bond.
Adonius Deondre Fields (DOB: 1/17/98), Johnson City: One count of Solicitation of a Minor and one count of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor. $50,000 bond.
Stacy Ray Harrington (DOB: 3/18/74), Blountville: One count of Solicitation of a Minor and one count of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor. $50,000 bond.
Ismael Villa Arzate (DOB: 6/17/90), Weaverville, NC: One count of Solicitation of a Minor and one count of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor. $50,000 bond.
Paul Brandon Alley (DOB: 9/29/80), Hellier, KY: Two counts of Solicitation of a Minor and two counts of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor. $50,000 bond.
Carlos Perez-Jose (DOB: 2/11/93), Johnson City: Two counts of Solicitation of a Minor and two counts of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor. $50,000 bond.
Bruce M. Byrd (DOB: 3/12/83), Spartanburg, SC: Two counts of Solicitation of a Minor and two counts of Patronizing Prostitution of a Minor. $50,000 bond.

“Because of the hard work and determination of the officers involved in this investigation and others like them who serve our community, the predators driving the demand for human trafficking can no longer hide in the shadows of the internet,” said Bristol Tennessee Police Department Chief, Matt Austin. “This operation sends the strong message that we remain vigilant and committed to the safety of our children. Be assured that the Bristol Tennessee Police Department will continue to commit its full resources to protecting our children and making sure those who harm or exploit them are held accountable.”

Information about human trafficking and law enforcement’s actions to address the issue in Tennessee can be found online at https://www.ithastostop.com/.

Knoxville Police are Searching for Two People Wanted to Questioning in Western Heights Fatal Shooting

Knoxville Police are Searching for Two People Wanted to Questioning in Western Heights Fatal Shooting

Posted on March 13, 2023

Knoxville Police are searching for two people in connection to a fatal shooting in Western Heights.

Police asking for help to find 26 year-old Ronald Rogers and 28 year-old Carissa Rogers for questioning in the shooting death of a 25 year-old victim of Detroit, Michigan.

The victim was found Saturday afternoon outside of an apartment complex on Reed Street, he died at the hospital.

Anyone with information is asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a cash reward.

Knoxville Police Make More Suspected Fentanyl Arrest as Part of 313 Initiative

Knoxville Police Make More Suspected Fentanyl Arrest as Part of 313 Initiative

Posted on March 13, 2023

The 313 initiative leads Knoxville Police to more fentanyl arrests in the on-going operation to stop drugs believed to be coming from Detroit to Knoxville.

KPD officers stopped a car with expired Illinois tags on Martin Luther King Drive Friday which led to the seizure of over 80 grams of suspected fentanyl packaged for resale, a loaded firearm and the arrest of convicted felon out of Detroit on numerous charges.

Back in February, district attorneys from across East Tennessee announced the new ‘313 Initiative.’ It’s a joint effort by five DA’s, TBI, the DEA, and several other law enforcement agencies to crack down on deadly drugs coming into East Tennessee.

Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen says cleaning up drugs in East Tennessee could also lead to the reduction of several other violent crimes since they’re often connected.

A Man Wanted in Connection to a Jefferson County Missing Person Case is Found

A Man Wanted in Connection to a Jefferson County Missing Person Case is Found

Posted on March 9, 2023

A man wanted for questioning in a missing person case by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is found.

Investigators say Lee Denton, who was wanted for questioning connection to the March 1 disappearance of a missing man, was found in Hamblen County after being arrested there on an unrelated charge.

The missing person investigation is still underway.

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