Highlights/Postgame/Photos/Stats/Story: James’ 22, Zeigler’s double-double lead Vols to win at LSU, 77-56

Highlights/Postgame/Photos/Stats/Story: James’ 22, Zeigler’s double-double lead Vols to win at LSU, 77-56

Posted on January 21, 2023

BOX SCORE  |  HIGHLIGHTS  |  PHOTOS  |  JAMES ON ESPN  |  BARNES POSTGAME  |  ZEIGLER POSTGAME  |  JAMES POSTGAME

BATON ROUGE, La. – A season-high 22 points from Josiah-Jordan James and a second-career double-double from Zakai Zeigler spearheaded No. 9 Tennessee’s blowout road win Saturday, as the Vols cruised by LSU, 77-56.

After leading by 17 points at halftime, Tennessee never led by fewer than 15 in the second half and built its lead to as many 27.

As a team, Tennessee scored 33 points off of turnovers, while LSU had just seven. The Vols also hit 12 3-pointers—tied for a team-high in SEC play—while limiting the Tigers to just four makes from beyond the arc.

On a day in which Tennessee had four players score in double figures, James led the way with a season-high and game-high 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting with four made threes. It marked his third-career game of 20 or more points. The senior also recorded a team-high-tying seven rebounds and three steals.

Zeigler, the SEC’s assists leader in conference play, compiled a 12-point, 10-assist performance while making his second consecutive start.

Julian Phillips and Tyreke Key each scored 10 points and both hit a pair of threes. Key also pulled down a season-high seven rebounds.

In 20 minutes off the bench, Jonas Aidoo scored eight points and had seven rebounds.

Tennessee took control of Saturday’s game early on and never ceased control. In a first half where it shot just 39 percent from the field, the Vols still took a 17-point lead into the break at 39-22.

After LSU made its first three shot attempts and took a 7-6 lead less than two minutes into the game, the Vols held the Tigers without a field goal for more than nine minutes of game time—pulling in front 16-9 in the process.

LSU briefly pulled within three points at 16-13 after scoring on back-to-back possessions, but then Tennessee took a stranglehold on the game with a quick 11-4 run that featured threes from Santiago Vescovi, Phillips and James.

The Tigers stopped the bleeding with a 3-pointer—one of just four on the day for LSU—but the Vols answered with another run to close out the half, this time a 12-2 spurt capped by a mid-range jumper from James six seconds before halftime.

Tennessee made a total of 13 shots in the first half—eight of which were 3-point baskets.

James led the way for Tennessee in the first half with 10 points and two made threes, while Phillips also made two threes and had eight points despite playing just seven minutes in the opening period. Zeigler had six assist and no turnovers to go along with five points.

UP NEXT: Tennessee is back inside Thompson-Boling Arena for a pair of home games next week—first against Georgia on Wednesday. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

SUCCESS WHILE SHORTHANDED: Tennessee owns an .842 winning percentage and is rated No. 2 nationally in most analytics-based metrics despite being regularly shorthanded this season. At least one scholarship rotation player has been unavailable for 13 of UT’s 19 games, with five Vols combining to miss 15 games.

STREAK SNAPPED: Saturday’s win in Pete Maravich Assembly Center marked Tennessee’s first win in Baton Rouge since 2015. The Vols had previously lost four straight games at LSU.

NEW LOOK STARTING FIVE: For the first time this season, Tennessee trotted out a starting lineup of Zakai Zeigler, Santiago Vescovi, Julian Phillips, Josiah-Jordan James and Olivier Nkamhoua.

-UT Athletics

Vols G Zakai Zeigler / Credit: UT Athletics
Vols to Host ESPN College GameDay at Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday

Vols to Host ESPN College GameDay at Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday

Posted on January 21, 2023

ARENA GATES MAP  |  CAMPUS PARKING MAP

ESPN has announced that College GameDay Covered by State Farm® will originate live from Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday in advance of Tennessee’s sold-out SEC/Big 12 Challenge clash with Texas.

The show—featuring hosts Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, LaPhonso Ellis and Seth Greenberg—airs live on ESPN from 11-noon ET. Live hits also will take place in the morning advance of the show.

Fans can begin lining up to be part of the live audience starting at 7 a.m. ET. UT students are asked to lineup at the student gate, while general fans will enter at Gate D. Both gates will open at 9:30 a.m. ET, and game tickets are not required to take part in Saturday morning’s in-arena festivities. Free parking will be available in the G10 garage, directly east of the arena. Vehicles must be cleared from the garage by 1 p.m. ET, with digital parking permits required for re-entry.

“We can’t wait for Vol Nation to show up and show out for College GameDay,” Vols senior Josiah-Jordan James said. “We already know Tennessee has the best fanbase on the planet. Saturday is going to be an awesome opportunity to showcase that.”

The arena will be cleared when College GameDay signs off to prepare for the 6:05 p.m. ET tipoff against Texas. The game also will air on ESPN, with Dave O’Brien, Dick Vitale and Kris Budden calling the action. A sold-out crowd of 21,678 is expected for what projects to be a top-10 showdown.

In a unique twist, the women’s hoops edition of College GameDay is broadcasting from Thompson-Boling Arena two days earlier to highlight the Lady Vols’ clash with UConn Thursday. The show begins at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the game at 8 p.m. ET—both on ESPN.

Tennessee is the only school to have hosted ESPN College GameDay for football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball.

@Vol_Football – Hosted 11 times
@Vol_Hoops – Hosted three times (after Saturday)
@LadyVol_Hoops – Hosted two times (after Thursday)

Tennessee previously hosted College GameDay basketball shows on Jan. 31, 2009 (79-63 win over Florida) and Jan. 15, 2011 (67-64 win over Vanderbilt). The 2011 show preceded a Vols/Lady Vols doubleheader—both games wins over Vanderbilt.

The Volunteers are 3-3 all-time in basketball games for which College GameDay is on-site, having played in four featured road games (at Memphis, at Kentucky twice and at Kansas).

This past fall, Tennessee twice hosted College GameDay’s football show on the Ayres Hall lawn outside of Neyland Stadium.

-UT Athletics

ESPN College GameDay / Credit: UT Athletics
Vols to Host ESPN College GameDay at Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday

Vols to Host ESPN College GameDay at Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday

Posted on January 21, 2023

ARENA GATES MAP  |  CAMPUS PARKING MAP

ESPN has announced that College GameDay Covered by State Farm® will originate live from Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday in advance of Tennessee’s sold-out SEC/Big 12 Challenge clash with Texas.

The show—featuring hosts Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, LaPhonso Ellis and Seth Greenberg—airs live on ESPN from 11-noon ET. Live hits also will take place in the morning advance of the show.

Fans can begin lining up to be part of the live audience starting at 7 a.m. ET. UT students are asked to lineup at the student gate, while general fans will enter at Gate D. Both gates will open at 9:30 a.m. ET, and game tickets are not required to take part in Saturday morning’s in-arena festivities. Free parking will be available in the G10 garage, directly east of the arena. Vehicles must be cleared from the garage by 1 p.m. ET, with digital parking permits required for re-entry.

“We can’t wait for Vol Nation to show up and show out for College GameDay,” Vols senior Josiah-Jordan James said. “We already know Tennessee has the best fanbase on the planet. Saturday is going to be an awesome opportunity to showcase that.”

The arena will be cleared when College GameDay signs off to prepare for the 6:05 p.m. ET tipoff against Texas. The game also will air on ESPN, with Dave O’Brien, Dick Vitale and Kris Budden calling the action. A sold-out crowd of 21,678 is expected for what projects to be a top-10 showdown.

In a unique twist, the women’s hoops edition of College GameDay is broadcasting from Thompson-Boling Arena two days earlier to highlight the Lady Vols’ clash with UConn Thursday. The show begins at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the game at 8 p.m. ET—both on ESPN.

Tennessee is the only school to have hosted ESPN College GameDay for football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball.

@Vol_Football – Hosted 11 times
@Vol_Hoops – Hosted three times (after Saturday)
@LadyVol_Hoops – Hosted two times (after Thursday)

Tennessee previously hosted College GameDay basketball shows on Jan. 31, 2009 (79-63 win over Florida) and Jan. 15, 2011 (67-64 win over Vanderbilt). The 2011 show preceded a Vols/Lady Vols doubleheader—both games wins over Vanderbilt.

The Volunteers are 3-3 all-time in basketball games for which College GameDay is on-site, having played in four featured road games (at Memphis, at Kentucky twice and at Kansas).

This past fall, Tennessee twice hosted College GameDay’s football show on the Ayres Hall lawn outside of Neyland Stadium.

-UT Athletics

ESPN College GameDay / Credit: UT Athletics
Hoops Preview: Lady Vols at Missouri

Hoops Preview: Lady Vols at Missouri

Posted on January 20, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Having hosted its own “We Back Pat” game on Thursday evening in Knoxville, RV/RV Tennessee (15-6, 7-0 SEC) will travel to Columbia to face off at 2:02 p.m. CT (3:02 p.m. ET) on Sunday vs. Missouri (14-5, 3-3 SEC) in the Tigers’ home event during the SEC’s 12th celebration of “We Back Pat” Week.

UT and MU will meet for the 17th time in a series that dates back to 1978, with the Lady Vols holding a 13-3 advantage and winning the past five meetings between the programs.

Through seven games, UT remains tied atop the SEC standings along with South Carolina and LSU, while Missouri is tied for seventh with Mississippi State. Kellie Harper‘s squad enters on an eight-game winning streak and has been victorious in 13 of its past 15 contests, with its only two losses coming vs. (then) No. 9/9 Virginia Tech (59-56) on Dec. 4 and at No. 2/2 Stanford on Dec. 18 (77-70).

A UT win vs. MU would push the Big Orange to 8-0 in league play and stand alone as the best league start since the Lady Vols opened at 13-0 in 2014-15 en route to a 15-1 league record and regular-season title. The current 7-0 start matches last year’s opening run.

On Thursday in Knoxville, Tennessee remained perfect in SEC play by defeating Florida by 18, 74-58, with the dynamic duo of Rickea Jackson (16 pts, 7 rebs.) and Jordan Horston (14 pts., 10 rebs.) leading the charge. UT outscored UF 18-4 in points off turnovers, 44-26 in the paint, 42-5 in bench points and 20-11 in second-chance points to improve to 11-2 at home this season, including 4-0 in league games.

Following an 11-1 start this season in non-conference action, Missouri has lost three in a row and four of its last seven games, with the losses all coming against ranked teams (#21/23 Illinois, RV/22 Arkansas, #3/4 LSU, #1/1 South Carolina). The Tigers had the night off on Thursday after falling last Sunday to No. 1 South Carolina, 81-50, in front of 15,444 fans at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C.

We Back Pat Week

  • The 12th annual “We Back Pat” Week, a week-long initiative focused on bringing awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation, a fund of East Tennessee Foundation, and its fight against Alzheimer’s disease is set for Jan. 19-26.
  • SEC member institutions will support The Pat Summitt Foundation during their home basketball games. During the women’s games slated for the week, various efforts will be made to increase awareness of The Pat Summitt Foundation.
  • The Lady Vols are slated to wear their “We Back Pat” edition uniforms for the Florida game at home and the Missouri contest on the road.

Broadcast Information

  • Sunday’s game will be streamed on SECN+, with Max Thoma (PxP) and Jordan Roundtree (Analyst) on the call.
  • All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
  • The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network stations and by audio stream, with Brian Rice on the call and Andy Brock serving as studio host. 
  • A link to the live audio stream can be found on the Hoops Central page or the schedule on UTSports.com.
  • For a list of Lady Vol Network affiliates, please click on the Fans tab at the top of UTSports.com, select Vol Network and then click on the Vol Network Affiliates tab.
  • Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
  • The Lady Vol Network broadcast also can be heard frequently on satellite radio via SiriusXM and the SXM App. but will not be available this game.

Looking Back At The Florida Game

  • Tennessee used a 26-16 third-quarter burst to pull away and claim a 74-56 victory over Florida in Thompson-Boling Arena on Thursday night to remain undefeated in SEC play.
  • The Lady Vols won their eighth straight game and opened 7-0 in SEC play for the second year in a row. Those league starts are the best by UT since opening 13-0 in 2014-15.
  • Seniors Rickea Jackson and Jordan Horston led UT (15-6, 7-0 SEC), with Jackson turning in a game-high 16 points and Horston logging a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
  • UF (12-7, 1-5 SEC) was led by Ra Shaya Kyle and Kirsten Deans with 13 points each. Alberte Rimdal, who had 21 points the last time these squads met, was limited to 10 this time around.

Heating Up After Half

  • The Lady Vols poured in 26 points in the third quarter against Florida to turn a six-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage by the start of the fourth.
  • Over the last 11 contests, Tennessee has outscored its opponents in the third in all but one game and is averaging 24.7 third-quarter points.
  • Against SEC foes, the Big Orange is averaging 23.0 ppg. in the third stanza.

Closing In On 1K

  • In 15 minutes of action, Jasmine Franklin racked up six boards vs. Florida, pulling her career total to 997 rebounds.

Double-Double For Jordy

  • Jordan Horston recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds against Florida to log her fifth double-double of the season and 18th of her career.

Flipping The Script On Turnovers

  • In Gainesville on Dec. 29, Tennessee committed 23 turnovers and surrendered 27 Florida points off turnovers in a 77-67 Lady Vol victory.
  • On Thursday night in Knoxville, the Lady Vols handled Florida’s aggression much better, committing only six miscues and giving up only four points off turnovers.
  • That total of four points tied for the second fewest allowed this season.
  • The six turnovers also tied for the second fewest.

Taking Advantage Of Second Chances

  • Tennessee tallied 20 second-chance points vs. the Gators, marking the fourth time in seven SEC games the Lady Vols have hit that mark.
  • They had scored 20 or more points off the boards only twice in non-conference play.

Getting Tougher Defensively 

  • After holding Florida to 56 points and 32.8 percent shooting, the Lady Vols have now held their last three foes to those numbers and below. 
  • UT previously limited Texas A&M to 50 and 30.2, while holding Georgia to 55 and 30.2.

Defense Setting The Tone Early 

  • Six times this season Tennessee has held an opponent to a single-digit point total in the first quarter, including three times in SEC play.
  • UT did so vs. Vanderbilt (9), Texas A&M (7) and Georgia (8) in three straight games from Jan. 8-15
  • In the Georgia game, the Big Orange didn’t allow the Lady Bulldogs to score a field goal until the 2:59 mark.
  • The other single digit quarters by opponents came from Colorado (9), Chattanooga (8) and Wofford (4).
  • The opening-frame tally by Wofford on Dec. 27 tied the four third-quarter points by Rutgers on Nov. 19 for the lowest by any opponent this season.
  • The four by Wofford also ties for the fewest UT has ever allowed in an opening frame (Georgia, 2/28/16) and ties for the fifth-fewest surrendered in any quarter by a foe.

A Look At The Tigers

  • Missouri is led in scoring by seniors Lauren Hansen (14.1 ppg.) and Hayley Frank (13.9 ppg.), while junior Sara-Rose Smith is the top rebounder (7.3 rpg.).
  • The Tigers started the year 7-0 and were 12-2 entering SEC play, with the only non-conf. losses coming to Virginia Tech (73-57) and Illinois (76-66).
  • MU began league action at 3-0 but has lost its last three to Arkansas, LSU and South Carolina.
  • As usual, the Tigers are a constant threat from deep, with Hansen (44), Frank (42), Haley Troup (26) and Ashton Judd (14) leading on three-pointers.

Missouri’s Last Game

  • Missouri (14-5, 3-3 SEC) trailed only 19-17 after one quarter, but No. 1 South Carolina (18-0, 6-0) used a 28-11 second-frame edge to pull away en route to an 81-50 victory on Jan. 15 at Colonial Life Arena.
  • Senior guard Lauren Hansen paced the Tigers as the only double-figure scorer, tallying 14 points.
  • USC dominated MU on the glass, 52-22, generating 29 second-chance points via 23 offensive rebounds.

Tennessee/Mizzou Notes

  • The Lady Vols hold a 13-3 all-time record vs. Missouri, standing 6-1 in games played in Knoxville, 5-2 in Columbia and 2-0 at neutral sites.
  • UT owns an 10-3 mark against Mizzou since the Tigers joined the SEC. Robin Pingeton has been the head coach in Columbia that entire time, and this is Kellie Harper‘s fourth season leading the Lady Vols.
  • Harper has a 4-0 mark vs. MU as UT’s head coach.
  • Harper is 6-4 vs. Missouri all-time, with the first two wins coming while leading Missouri State (2-4 vs. MU) from 2013-19.
  • Harper is 3-2 in home games, 1-2 away and 2-0 at neutral sites vs. the Tigers.

Last Meeting Between UT, MU

  • Bouncing back into the win column, the No. 13/10 Tennessee women’s basketball team raced to a 58-33 lead after the first three quarters and coasted to victory over Missouri, 76-62, on Feb. 10, 2022, at Thompson-Boling Arena.
  • The Lady Vols (20-4/9-2 SEC) grabbed their 20th win of the season, the 44th time in 48 years that the program has reached that total. Missouri fell to 16-8, 5-6 in league play, as Kellie Harper‘s squad moved to 4-0 over the Tigers under her leadership.
  • UT spread the scoring around on offense with four players finishing in double figures. Junior Jordan Horston led the Big Orange attack with 21 points, followed by sophomore Tess Darby with 12 points and graduate Alexus Dye and senior Rae Burrell adding 11 each.
  • Horston was all over the floor, notching her 11th double-double of the season by adding 13 rebounds along with five assists.

Last Visit To Columbia

  • Rennia Davis scored all 26 of her points in the second half, including 20 in the fourth-quarter, leading No. 20/21 Tennessee to a 78-73 win over Missouri at Mizzou Arena on Feb. 24, 2021.
  • Rae Burrell added 23 points and eight rebounds, while Jordan Walker was the top rebounder for UT (14-6, 8-4 SEC) with 10 boards.
  • Haley Troup and Aijha Blackwell led MU with 16 each.

Upcoming Games

  • The Lady Vols return home to host No. 5 UConn on Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, followed by a Jan. 30 game at No. 3/4 LSU on ESPN2 (6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET).

ESPN College Gameday At UT Next Thursday

  • ESPN’s College GameDay Covered by State Farm travels to Knoxville on Thurs., Jan. 26, for its first of three women’s college basketball shows this season. The one-hour program will air at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, preceding the storied rivalry of No. 5 UConn and Tennessee that tips at 8 ET.
  • Elle Duncan will host the show from inside Thompson-Boling Arena, alongside women’s college basketball commentators Andraya Carter, Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck and Holly Rowe. Lobo and Rowe will join play-by-play voice Ryan Ruocco on the call for the game. Carter played for the Lady Vols from 2012-16, Lobo starred at UConn from 1991-95 and Peck was an assistant coach under Summitt from 1993-95.
  • This will mark the third consecutive time Tennessee has been involved in the four occasions where ESPN’s College GameDay has been on site for a women’s basketball game and the second time the show has visited The Summitt for a Lady Vol contest. Both of those occurrences are the most of any school.
  • On Feb. 20, 2022, College GameDay visited Columbia, S.C., as South Carolina hosted the Big Orange. The previous visit to a campus for women’s hoops came on Jan. 15, 2011, when Rocky Top was the site for GameDay as Tennessee hosted Vanderbilt on a day in which the Vols and Lady Vols played at noon and 8 p.m., respectively. It marked the first men’s and women’s doubleheader show for the network. The year before, ESPN was on hand for the Notre Dame at UConn game in Storrs, Conn., for the inaugural women’s GameDay on Jan. 16, 2010.

-UT Athletics

Lady Vols at Missouri / Credit: UT Athletics
A Domestic Incident Leads to the Shooting Death of a Talbott Woman

A Domestic Incident Leads to the Shooting Death of a Talbott Woman

Posted on January 20, 2023

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal shooting in Talbott.

Deputies were called to Ingram Road after a man called 911 saying he had shot his wife Wednesday night.

52 year-old Kenneth Belcher was found inside pickup in the rear parking lot of a school on E. Dumplin Valley Road. A weapon was laying on the passenger seat of the truck.

Police arrived at the home on Ingram Road and found 41 year-old Jennifer Belcher dead.

Investigators say that Kenneth had shot his wife following a domestic dispute. He was arrested for 1st Degree Murder.

Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel Recaps His First Seven Months on the Job

Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel Recaps His First Seven Months on the Job

Posted on January 20, 2023
Photo courtesy of WVLT

Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel recapped his first seven months on the job Thursday.

Paul Noel was announced as the new chief at the end of April 2022. He is a 25-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department and replaced former-Chief Eve Thomas.

In a press briefing, Noel recapped the changes he made and the initiatives he started to improve the department. Included in that was a major department restructuring, an review that revealed employee complaints of internal discrimination and strides to improve transparency and ethical policing.

What Happened in 2022

Early on, Noel said the New Orleans department was previously known for its corruption, now, however, it is a bastion for policing ethics. That passion for transparency and ethical policing is something Noel has tried to bring to Knoxville.

Early into his tenure, Noel had the department join the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project. KPD was the first agency in Tennessee to join ABLE, and training is set to be implemented in 2023.

Another addition was the establishment of the Use of Force Review Board. The board will review serious instances of use of force from a policy, procedural and training perspective. That board also makes recommendations to improve policy and training concerning use of force. The Use of Force Review Board isn’t the only new body in KPD, however.

The Crash Review Board is another new body, which is aimed at making discipline and corrective action recommendations surrounding crashes involving KPD vehicles. That board is also designed to make recommendations on policy and training.

Internally, Noel moved the internal affairs department under the day-to-day supervision of the assistant chief. After that move, several internal affairs cases that were opened during Thomas’ administration, most notably, a case investigating racist behavior among officers.

Additionally, Noel has initiated the development of a new position: the deputy chief of professional standards. The position is set to be a non-sworn, executive level job that will focus on police, practices and procedures. That same person would also be in charge of the department’s efforts to increase diversity, equity and inclusion.

That change came after Noel initiated an internal evaluation by 21CP Solutions. In that evaluation, KPD officers and employees voiced concerns about fairness, racism and sexist discrimination within the department.

Noel also oversaw one of the largest reorganizations in the department’s history. That restructuring re-established the Central District, increasing police districts from two to three.

Another change was the establishment of a Next of Kin program that meets quarterly with the families of homicide victims. The goal of the meetings is to improve communications with the families and offer grief support.

KPD is looking to grow under Noel as well. Under the new chief, the department has started a recruitment campaign including advertisements and changes to the hiring process aimed at increasing applicants and removing barriers to employment.

Under Noel, the department is also working with the City of Knoxville and the Violence Reduction Center. Led by national violence reduction expert Thomas Abt out of the University of Maryland, the partnership is aimed at involving community-members in the reduction of violent crime, like gun violence.

Looking Toward 2023

Noel said KPD is planning to enhance recruiting efforts with a focus on improving diversity. KPD is also planning to work with Fulton High School’s criminal justice program to fill out cadet ranks.

Additionally, Noel set a department goal of reducing murders by 10% in 2023. This as part of an initiative to reduce violent crime in Knoxville. As part of the crim-reduction initiative, Noel said that KPD plans to improve its data analytics capabilities. That includes making public dashboards available to the Knoxville community.

Finally, Noel also said he wants to improve KPD’s technological infrastructure. That will include a new records management system.

Story courtesy of WVLT

Jimmy’s blog: Tennessee makes near miraculous football turnaround in less than 2 years

Jimmy’s blog: Tennessee makes near miraculous football turnaround in less than 2 years

Posted on January 20, 2023

By Jimmy Hyams

Danny White stood on the make-shift stage on the field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

The Tennessee athletics director was celebrating the Vols’ Orange Bowl win with coach Josh Heupel, bowl MVP Joe Milton, Chancellor Donde Plowman and others.

The field was littered with several hundred Tennessee fans, enjoying the aftermath of UT’s 31-14 victory over Clemson.

You could not have imagined this scene 23 months ago.

In January of 2021, Tennessee’s football fortunes were an unfortunate mess. The Vols fired coach Jeremy Pruitt for multiple recruiting violations, nudged athletic director Phillip Fulmer into retirement, and braced to face a battle with the NCAA over embarrassing compliance issues.

Into that firestorm walked Danny White, the successful athletic director at Central Florida who was willing to accept a monumental challenge.

After interviewing several candidates, White hired Heupel to rebuild a once proud program. Heupel would be without 45 players who left over a six-month period to enter the transfer portal, retire or get released from their National Letter of Intent.

Less than two years later, with regular-season victories over Pitt, Florida, Alabama and LSU, Tennessee was the toast of the town in Miami on the night of Dec. 30.

It capped one of the most remarkable college football turnarounds ever.

And it was one of the most satisfying nights in Tennessee football in over 20 years.

“It was a special experience,’’ White said earlier this week during an interview on SportsTalk 99.1 The Sports Animal. “It was a really cool moment.

“Our fan base was so great and so supportive. It didn’t surprise me at all that so many found their way on the field to celebrate with the team. … I think it was a proud moment for a lot of people.’’

White and UT hope to parlay that 11-2 record and No. 6 ranking into increased season-ticket sales.

Deadline for season-ticket renewals is Feb. 24. In the past, it was April 30. An earlier deadline gives fans more time frame to make payments.

“I’ll be surprised if we’re not sold out on a season-ticket basis for next season,’’ White said. “We’re tracking really well; don’t have many tickets left to sell. Obviously, we still have to go through renewals. We’re expecting our renewal rate to be incredibly high with the momentum we have and how well the team played this year and the direction the program is going under Josh’s leadership.

“I really can’t wait to make that announcement, that we’ve sold out Neyland for the season. And I expect we’ll be in position to do that.

“It speaks to the power of the fan base.’’

White said he marvels at how “passionate’’ and “powerful’’ the UT fan base is.

“So many (athletic directors) in my position across the country are talking about reducing the size of their stadium and struggling to fill it,’’ White said. “And we’re sitting here with one of biggest stadiums in America and we’re talking about selling it out. … We have a phenomenal, phenomenal fan base.’’

Tennessee sold 61,407 season tickets last year. The typical renewal rate is 90% but that figure figures to increase based on UT’s success last season.

The maximum number of season tickets UT can see is about 68,000. It used to be about 72,500 but stadium renovation, student allotment, opposing ticket allotment, campus groups and recruiting tickets have reduced that number.

Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all

The Victim in a Deadly Drag Racing Accident on Magnolia Avenue is Identified

The Victim in a Deadly Drag Racing Accident on Magnolia Avenue is Identified

Posted on January 20, 2023

The victim from the fatal drag racing crash on Magnolia Avenue is identified.

65 year-old Michael Williams of New Market died as a result of his injuries in Tuesday’s crash. His two grandchildren, aged 5 and 11, remain in critical but stable condition according to officials with the Knoxville Police Department.

The two suspects are charged with felony reckless endangerment and drag racing.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

Highlights/Photos/Postgame/Stats/Story: Lady Vols Win Big Over Gators, 74-56

Highlights/Photos/Postgame/Stats/Story: Lady Vols Win Big Over Gators, 74-56

Posted on January 19, 2023

Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Harper Presser | Horston/Jackson/Franklin Presser | Postgame Quotes | Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee used a 26-16 third-quarter burst to pull away and claim a 74-56 victory over Florida in Thompson-Boling Arena on Thursday night to remain undefeated in Southeastern Conference women’s basketball play.
 
The Lady Vols won their eighth straight game and opened 7-0 in SEC play for the second year in a row. Those league starts are the best by UT since opening 13-0 in 2014-15.

Seniors Rickea Jackson and Jordan Horston led UT (15-6, 7-0 SEC), with Jackson turning in a game-high 16 points and Horston logging a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
UF (12-7, 1-5 SEC) was led by Ra Shaya Kyle and Kirsten Deans with 13 points each. Alberte Rimdal, who had 21 points the last time these squads met, was limited to 10 this time around.
 
Tennessee picked up two offensive rebounds on its first possession before Horston converted on a short jumper to get the Big Orange on the board 45 seconds into the game. A minute later, Florida took its first lead off a layup by Faith Dut. The Lady Vols tied it up twice before Florida went on a 7-2 run to lead 15-10 with under a minute left in the first. Jasmine Franklin hit a pair of free throws to cut it to two, and Jasmine Powell got off a three at the buzzer with a chance to tie the game, but the shot missed long, and the Gators took a 15-12 lead into the second quarter.
 
Jackson hit a layup and Jordan Walker followed it with another on UT’s next possession to give the Lady Vols a one-point advantage just over a minute into the second period. The Gators reclaimed the lead once more before Tennessee launched into a 9-0 run set off by a Darby trey that put the Lady Vols on top by a margin of eight with 2:32 left in the half. Deans pulled the Gators within five with a long-range 3-pointer at the 1:40 mark, and she would trim the deficit down to four on UF’s next possession with an old-fashioned three-point play. Darby scored the last points of the half with a layup off an entry pass from Horston to set the halftime score with UT leading 31-25.    
 
The Gators opened the second half with a 5-2 run over the first minute and a half to pull within three, but Horston scored on consecutive plays to jump start a 9-0 run that had the Lady Vols ahead by 12 at the 6:28 mark. UF cut it back to single digits twice over the next three minutes, but eight unanswered points had Tennessee up 16 at the 2:09 mark. Kyle ended the drought for UF with a layup, but UT responded with back-to-back buckets by Jackson and Powell to lead by 18 with a minute left in the quarter. Dut converted on a pair of free throws before the horn sounded, and the game went into the final frame with Tennessee leading 57-41.
 
The Lady Vols opened the fourth with an 8-2 run to lead by 22 with 6:07 left in the game. Nina Rickards hit a trey a minute later to pull the Gators within 19, but a pair of free throws by Franklin had UT back up by 21 in less than 30 seconds. Florida strung together four straight points from the free-throw line, but a pair of buckets by Justine Pissott in the closing minutes moved the score to 74-54 with 1:24 to play. The Gators logged the last points of the game on a jumper by Rimdal, bringing the final score to 74-56.
 
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will travel to Missouri for a 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) contest on Sunday. The game will be streamed on SECN+.
 
HEATING UP AFTER HALF: The Lady Vols poured in 26 points in the third quarter against Florida to turn a six-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage by the start of the fourth. Over the last 11 contests, Tennessee has outscored its opponents in the third in all but one game and is averaging 24.7 third-quarter points. Against SEC foes, the Big Orange is averaging 23.0 ppg. in the third stanza.
 
CLOSING IN ON 1K: In 15 minutes of action, Jasmine Franklin racked up six boards, pulling her career total to 997 rebounds.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR JORDY: Jordan Horston recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds against Florida to log her fifth double-double of the season and 18th of her career.
 
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT ON TURNOVERS: In Gainesville on Dec. 29, Tennessee committed 23 turnovers and surrendered 27 Florida points off turnovers. On Thursday night in Knoxville, the Lady Vols handled Florida’s aggression much better, committing only six miscues and giving up only four points off turnovers. That total of four tied for the second fewest allowed this season. The six turnovers also tied for the second fewest of the year.
 
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SECOND CHANCES: Tennessee tallied 20 second-chance points vs. the Gators, marking the fourth time in seven SEC games the Lady Vols have hit that mark. They had scored 20 or more points off the boards only twice in non-conference play.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: After holding Florida to 56 points and 32.8 percent shooting, the Lady Vols have now held their last three foes to those numbers and below.  UT previously limited Texas A&M to 50 and 30.2, while holding Georgia to 55 and 30.2.

-UT Athletics

Jordan Horston – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics
Highlights/Photos/Postgame/Stats/Story: Lady Vols Win Big Over Gators, 74-56

Highlights/Photos/Postgame/Stats/Story: Lady Vols Win Big Over Gators, 74-56

Posted on January 19, 2023

Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Harper Presser | Horston/Jackson/Franklin Presser | Postgame Quotes | Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee used a 26-16 third-quarter burst to pull away and claim a 74-56 victory over Florida in Thompson-Boling Arena on Thursday night to remain undefeated in Southeastern Conference women’s basketball play.
 
The Lady Vols won their eighth straight game and opened 7-0 in SEC play for the second year in a row. Those league starts are the best by UT since opening 13-0 in 2014-15.

Seniors Rickea Jackson and Jordan Horston led UT (15-6, 7-0 SEC), with Jackson turning in a game-high 16 points and Horston logging a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
UF (12-7, 1-5 SEC) was led by Ra Shaya Kyle and Kirsten Deans with 13 points each. Alberte Rimdal, who had 21 points the last time these squads met, was limited to 10 this time around.
 
Tennessee picked up two offensive rebounds on its first possession before Horston converted on a short jumper to get the Big Orange on the board 45 seconds into the game. A minute later, Florida took its first lead off a layup by Faith Dut. The Lady Vols tied it up twice before Florida went on a 7-2 run to lead 15-10 with under a minute left in the first. Jasmine Franklin hit a pair of free throws to cut it to two, and Jasmine Powell got off a three at the buzzer with a chance to tie the game, but the shot missed long, and the Gators took a 15-12 lead into the second quarter.
 
Jackson hit a layup and Jordan Walker followed it with another on UT’s next possession to give the Lady Vols a one-point advantage just over a minute into the second period. The Gators reclaimed the lead once more before Tennessee launched into a 9-0 run set off by a Darby trey that put the Lady Vols on top by a margin of eight with 2:32 left in the half. Deans pulled the Gators within five with a long-range 3-pointer at the 1:40 mark, and she would trim the deficit down to four on UF’s next possession with an old-fashioned three-point play. Darby scored the last points of the half with a layup off an entry pass from Horston to set the halftime score with UT leading 31-25.    
 
The Gators opened the second half with a 5-2 run over the first minute and a half to pull within three, but Horston scored on consecutive plays to jump start a 9-0 run that had the Lady Vols ahead by 12 at the 6:28 mark. UF cut it back to single digits twice over the next three minutes, but eight unanswered points had Tennessee up 16 at the 2:09 mark. Kyle ended the drought for UF with a layup, but UT responded with back-to-back buckets by Jackson and Powell to lead by 18 with a minute left in the quarter. Dut converted on a pair of free throws before the horn sounded, and the game went into the final frame with Tennessee leading 57-41.
 
The Lady Vols opened the fourth with an 8-2 run to lead by 22 with 6:07 left in the game. Nina Rickards hit a trey a minute later to pull the Gators within 19, but a pair of free throws by Franklin had UT back up by 21 in less than 30 seconds. Florida strung together four straight points from the free-throw line, but a pair of buckets by Justine Pissott in the closing minutes moved the score to 74-54 with 1:24 to play. The Gators logged the last points of the game on a jumper by Rimdal, bringing the final score to 74-56.
 
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will travel to Missouri for a 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) contest on Sunday. The game will be streamed on SECN+.
 
HEATING UP AFTER HALF: The Lady Vols poured in 26 points in the third quarter against Florida to turn a six-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage by the start of the fourth. Over the last 11 contests, Tennessee has outscored its opponents in the third in all but one game and is averaging 24.7 third-quarter points. Against SEC foes, the Big Orange is averaging 23.0 ppg. in the third stanza.
 
CLOSING IN ON 1K: In 15 minutes of action, Jasmine Franklin racked up six boards, pulling her career total to 997 rebounds.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR JORDY: Jordan Horston recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds against Florida to log her fifth double-double of the season and 18th of her career.
 
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT ON TURNOVERS: In Gainesville on Dec. 29, Tennessee committed 23 turnovers and surrendered 27 Florida points off turnovers. On Thursday night in Knoxville, the Lady Vols handled Florida’s aggression much better, committing only six miscues and giving up only four points off turnovers. That total of four tied for the second fewest allowed this season. The six turnovers also tied for the second fewest of the year.
 
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SECOND CHANCES: Tennessee tallied 20 second-chance points vs. the Gators, marking the fourth time in seven SEC games the Lady Vols have hit that mark. They had scored 20 or more points off the boards only twice in non-conference play.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: After holding Florida to 56 points and 32.8 percent shooting, the Lady Vols have now held their last three foes to those numbers and below.  UT previously limited Texas A&M to 50 and 30.2, while holding Georgia to 55 and 30.2.

-UT Athletics

Jordan Horston – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics

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