Warren Tabbed to the SEC Community Service Team

Warren Tabbed to the SEC Community Service Team

Posted on December 5, 2022

SEC Release

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jacob Warren was named to the 2022 Southeastern Conference Community Service Team, the conference announced Wednesday morning.

Warren, a redshirt-senior tight end, has given much of his time to better the Knoxville area and most recently was instrumental in the planning, promotion and logistics of the Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) Coats for the Cold drive that provides thousands of people in need with cold-weather gear for the upcoming winter. Warren, along with his teammates, set out to get 10,000 coats for the upcoming winter.

The homegrown Knoxville native also has bettered his community through work with the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, the Wesley House Community Center and Love Kitchen, where he organized various types of food, sorted donations and cleaned floors, stairs and seats in their auditorium.

He is also heavily involved with his church, regularly volunteering his time at church events and other activities. Warren volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club through a church program, led Bible studies and engaged with kids by playing sports and doing crafts.

Not only is he a leader in the community but he also demonstrates leadership every day on the team and in the classroom. A second-generation Volunteer, he is a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, doing so in 2019, 2020 and 2021. He has received academic recognition from the conference all four years he has been at UT, garnering First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll acclaim in 2018.

Warren, who earned his undergraduate degree in August 2021, is on track to complete his master’s degree in agricultural leadership, education and communication this December and has maintained a 4.0 postgraduate GPA throughout his time in the program.

-UT Athletics

Vols TE Jacob Warren / Credit: UT Athletics
Warren Tabbed to the SEC Community Service Team

Warren Tabbed to the SEC Community Service Team

Posted on December 5, 2022

SEC Release

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jacob Warren was named to the 2022 Southeastern Conference Community Service Team, the conference announced Wednesday morning.

Warren, a redshirt-senior tight end, has given much of his time to better the Knoxville area and most recently was instrumental in the planning, promotion and logistics of the Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) Coats for the Cold drive that provides thousands of people in need with cold-weather gear for the upcoming winter. Warren, along with his teammates, set out to get 10,000 coats for the upcoming winter.

The homegrown Knoxville native also has bettered his community through work with the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, the Wesley House Community Center and Love Kitchen, where he organized various types of food, sorted donations and cleaned floors, stairs and seats in their auditorium.

He is also heavily involved with his church, regularly volunteering his time at church events and other activities. Warren volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club through a church program, led Bible studies and engaged with kids by playing sports and doing crafts.

Not only is he a leader in the community but he also demonstrates leadership every day on the team and in the classroom. A second-generation Volunteer, he is a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, doing so in 2019, 2020 and 2021. He has received academic recognition from the conference all four years he has been at UT, garnering First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll acclaim in 2018.

Warren, who earned his undergraduate degree in August 2021, is on track to complete his master’s degree in agricultural leadership, education and communication this December and has maintained a 4.0 postgraduate GPA throughout his time in the program.

-UT Athletics

Vols TE Jacob Warren / Credit: UT Athletics
Hooker, Hyatt Named National Award Finalists

Hooker, Hyatt Named National Award Finalists

Posted on December 5, 2022

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The nation’s most electrifying quarterback-wide receiver duo was recognized Tuesday morning as finalists for a pair of national awards. Tennessee redshirt-senior quarterback Hendon Hooker was selected as one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award, while junior receiver Jalin Hyatt was tabbed one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award.
 
Presented by the Maxwell Football Club, the Maxwell Award annually recognizes the best player in college football. Hooker is up for one of the nation’s top honors alongside Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud and Southern Cal signal caller Caleb Williams, and he is Tennessee’s first finalist for the Maxwell Award since College and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning won it in 1997.
 
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., annually presents the Biletnikoff Award to the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver, regardless of position. Hyatt is UT’s first Biletnikoff finalist in program history and joins Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson on this year’s ballot.
 
A sixth-year senior and captain of the nation’s No. 1 offense, Hooker led the Vols to their first 10-win regular season in nearly two decades and displayed a confident resilience throughout the 2022 campaign. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native produced 3,565 yards of total offense, completing 229-of-329 passes (69.6 percent) for 3,135 yards with 27 touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing 104 times for 430 yards and five scores on the ground.
 
Hooker’s 175.51 passer efficiency rating ranks second in the Power Five and was achieved against a schedule ranked the seventh-toughest in the nation by ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). He claimed five wins over opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of meeting, combining for 1,817 yards of total offense and 16 touchdowns in those games. Hooker touts two victories over current top-11 opponents as the Vols took down LSU, 40-17, in Baton Rouge and defeated Alabama at home, 52-49, in back-to-back weeks.
 
The 24-year-old leads the nation with 9.53 yards per pass attempt while also ranking atop the Southeastern Conference in completion percentage, passing efficiency and total offense (324.1 yards per game). Hooker’s two interceptions are the fewest of the 24 FBS QBs who have thrown 25 or more touchdowns this season, and his 27:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio leads the Power Five.
 
Hooker has garnered a wealth of national attention this fall, being named a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien Award and Jason Witten Man of the Year. A first team midseason All-American by multiple outlets, he has been named SEC Offensive Player of the Week three times this year and received national player of the week acclaim from the Davey O’Brien Foundation and Maxwell Football Club for his efforts against Alabama and Florida, respectively.
 
Hyatt put together a remarkable regular season in his third year on Rocky Top and is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most explosive playmakers. His school-record 15 receiving touchdowns lead the FBS, while his 1,267 receiving yards and 105.6 yards per game are tops in the Power Five. Long plays from scrimmage have become second nature for Hyatt as he leads the country in plays of 30-plus yards (15), 40-plus yards (11), 50-plus yards (7) and 60-plus yards (5) this season.
 
The Irmo, South Carolina, product has recorded five games with multiple touchdowns catches this fall, which ties for first in the FBS and leads the Power Five outright. Against teams currently in the AP Top 25, Hyatt sits atop the country with seven touchdowns while ranking eighth nationally with 398 yards across four contests against current ranked foes.
 
With three catches for 86 yards in the regular season finale at Vanderbilt, Hyatt is 31 yards shy of Marcus Nash’s program record for receiving yards in a single season. His SEC-leading 67 receptions this year are tied for the seventh-most in program annals and the most by a Vol since Justin Hunter had 73 catches in 2012.
 
Hyatt has also reeled in national recognition this fall, being tabbed a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year and a midseason All-American by ESPN, the Associated Press and The Athletic.
 
The Volunteer tandem combined for a historic performance in one of Tennessee’s most memorable victories as the Vols took down then-No. 3 Alabama in a thrilling, 52-49 win on Oct. 15. Hooker passed for a career-high 385 yards and five touchdowns, finding No. 11 in Orange on all five passing scores. Hyatt’s five touchdown receptions tied the SEC single-game record, and he finished the contest with six catches for 207 yards to register the 10th 200-yard receiving performance in Tennessee history. With the game tied at 49 with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Hooker heroically connected on passes of 18 yards and 27 yards to set up a 40-yard field goal try, and the rest is history.
 
The 2022 Maxwell Award and Biletnikoff Award winners will be unveiled as part of the 2022 Home Depot College Football Awards Show, broadcasted live on ESPN on Dec. 8, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET.

-UT Athletics

Vols QB Hendon Hooker & WR Jalin Hyatt / Credit: UT Athletics
Hoops Preview: #13 Tennessee vs. McNeese State

Hoops Preview: #13 Tennessee vs. McNeese State

Posted on December 5, 2022

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 13th-ranked Tennessee men’s basketball returns home Wednesday for the first of three straight home games, hosting McNeese State at Thompson-Boling Arena at 7:15 p.m.

Fans can catch Wednesday’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. Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Dane Bradshaw (analyst) 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 (5-1) is coming off a trip to the Bahamas in which it captured the Battle 4 Atlantis championship by winning three games in three days—taking down Butler, USC and No. 3 Kansas. Santiago Vescovi was named Tournament MVP for his standout showings over the course of the week, while Julian Phillips earned All-Tournament honors.
 
The Vols and McNeese State (2-5) have never met on the hardwood, and Tennessee has only faced a Southland Conference member two times in program history—last in 2018 against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi.
 
Wednesday’s game marks the first of a three-game homestand, which continues Sunday against Alcorn State at 6 p.m. inside Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will air on SEC Network+. Tickets remain available on AllVols.com.
 
TICKETS AND PARKING
Tickets and parking passes to all Tennessee Athletics events, including men’s basketball, are now digital and can be accessed through a mobile device to improve security and reduce the risk of ticket fraud as well as make the process more convenient for fans.
 
Fans will gain admission into Thompson-Boling Arena via a unique QR code which will be scanned directly from a mobile device. For quick and easy entry into Tennessee Athletics venues, fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app from the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android).
 
Your mobile device is the ticket on gameday. All valid digital tickets will display a moving barcode or a hold near reader (tap-and-go) icon. PLEASE NOTE: SCREENSHOTS OF TICKETS WILL NOT SCAN AT THE GATE AND WILL NOT ALLOW ENTRY!
 
Printed PDF tickets will no longer be issued or accepted for entry at any Tennessee Athletics venue.
 
The only authorized sources for tickets to Tennessee Athletics events are the Tennessee Athletics Ticket Office, AllVols.com, the venue box office where the athletic event is taking place and Ticketmaster.
 
A complete step-by-step guide on how to best access and use your digital tickets and parking passes, including diagrams and FAQ is available here.
 
TENNESSEE ATHLETICS APP
Fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app, which now houses the Coca-Cola GBO Zone. Search “Tennessee Athletics” in the Apple or Google Play Store or use this link to download: utsports.com/app.
 
THE SERIES
• Tennessee has never previously faced McNeese State on the hardwood, and Wednesday’s clash mark’s only the third time in UT’s program history that the Vols will meet a current member of the Southland Conference.
• Tennessee is unbeaten against Southland opponents, defeating Southeastern Louisiana in 1985 and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 2018—both at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• In those victories over Southland teams, Tennessee has allowed an average of 54.5 points per game. This year’s Vols are holding foes to 55.3 points per game.
• A Vols victory Wednesday would extend UT’s home win streak to 20 games overall and to 17 games against non-conference foes (dating to a loss to Wisconsin on Dec. 28, 2019).
• Gonzaga All-American Drew Timme’s younger brother, Walker Timme, is a 6-7 freshman forward at McNeese. The Vols defeated Gonzaga and the elder Timme in a charity exhibition on Oct. 28.
 
SCOUTING REPORT
• Tennessee is entering a three-game homestand, its longest of the season.
• Reigning SEC Player of the Week Santiago Vescovi is 28 points shy of becoming the 54th Vol ever to reach the 1,000-point milestone.
• Preseason All-SEC selection Josiah-Jordan James sat out Tennessee’s last three games due to left knee soreness. There is no timetable on his return.
• Excluding James, who averages a team-best 13.7 ppg, four other Vols average 10 or more points. That includes sophomore guard Zakai Zeigler, who gives the Vols 10.0 points and 2.2 steals off the bench.
• The Volunteers own the best adjusted defensive efficiency in the country, allowing only 83.7 points per 100 possessions. For more, see “fierce defense” note below.
• With Zakai Zeigler as the primary defender, opponents this season are shooting 12-for-42 (.286). That equates to .691 points per possession.
• Tennessee has yet to trail at the half this season and is outscoring its opponents 32.1 ppg to 25.0 ppg (+7.1 ppg) in first-half action.
 
BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS CHAMPS
• Twice this calendar year, the Vols have won three games in three days to capture tournament titles. In March, Tennessee won the SEC Tournament in Tampa. And last week, the Big Orange earned the trophy at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.
• In its victories over Butler, USC and No. 3 Kansas, Tennessee posted a +15.7 ppg scoring margin and a +9.0 rpg rebounding margin.
• Senior guard Santiago Vescovi won the Battle 4 Atlantis MVP award and was joined on the five-man All-Tournament Team by true freshman wing Julian Phillips, who scored a season-high 25 in the semifinal triumph over USC.
• Tennessee has won each of its last five games against AP top-10 opponents. That’s the longest such streak in the nation; in fact, no other program has an active streak longer than two.
 
ABOUT McNEESE STATE
• McNeese State (2-5) enters Wednesday’s game at Tennessee coming off a loss at UT Martin on Monday, 86-83.
• The Cowboys have faced two major conference opponents this season, falling at Tulane on Nov. 11, 75-58, and at Baylor on Nov. 23, 89-60.
• McNeese State is coached by John Aiken, who is in his second season at the helm of the program. Aiken was the Cowboys’ Associate Head Coach for three seasons prior to taking the head coaching reigns. Former head coach Heath Schroyer stepped down to focus fully on being the school’s athletic director.
• The Cowboys finished 11-22 (4-10 Southland) last season in Aiken’s first season as head coach. McNeese State has hit the 15-win mark just once in the past seven seasons and has averaged 11.3 wins per season over the last 10 seasons.
• McNeese State’s roster includes six Division I transfers, including leading scorer and rebounder Christian Shumate, who is in his second season as a Cowboy after transferring from Tulsa. Shumate, a preseason first-team All-Southland selection, is averaging 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
• Shumate’s 10.6 rebounds per game rank eighth in the nation amongst Division I players. His three double-doubles so far this season rank 12th in the nation.
• As a team, the Cowboys rank 33rd in the nation and lead the Southland with 13.3 offensive rebounds per game.
• McNeese State Associate AD for Communications and Digital Media Matthew Bonnette is the brother of LSU Associate AD for Communications Michael Bonnette. Matthew and Michael’s father, Louis Bonnette, retired after serving 46 years as McNeese State’s Sports Information Director and is a member of the CoSIDA Hall of Fame.
 
VOLUNTEERS RIDING 19-GAME HOME WIN STREAK
• Dating to their final home game of the 2020-21 campaign, the Vols are riding an active 19-game home win streak (tied for seventh-longest active streak in the country).
• Last season’s perfect record at home included five wins over top-15 teams, including three top-10 opponents—No. 14 Arkansas, No. 13 LSU, No. 6 Arizona, No. 4 Kentucky and No. 3 Auburn. Tennessee was one of only five major-conference programs to post a perfect record at home last season, joining Arizona, Auburn, Kentucky and Texas Tech.
• The Vols’ 2022-23 home slate features five games against 2022 NCAA Tournament teams (Kentucky, Texas, Auburn, Alabama and Arkansas).
 
DESPITE LOSING SCHWARTZ, VOLS DEFENSE STILL FIERCE
• Over the last five seasons, with Michael Schwartz serving as the program’s “defensive coordinator,” Tennessee established an identity as one of the nation’s elite defensive programs.
• When Schwartz departed following last season to take the head coach job at East Carolina, Rick Barnes promoted Justin Gainey to associate head coach, and Gainey also assumed the defensive coordinator role.
• Six games into the 2022-23 campaign, the Vols achieved the best defensive efficiency rating in the history of analytics guru Ken Pomeroy’s website, KenPom.com (first published for the 2001-02 season), at 83.7. That topped the previous best, which was Texas Tech’s rating of 84.1 in 2018-19.
• In the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game triumph over No. 3 Kansas, the Vols held the Jayhawks to their lowest point total (50) since November of 2014. The Vols also limited Kansas to a .310 field-goal percentage (18 of 58).
• UT held Kansas’ duo of Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick, who entered the game averaging a combined 41.1 ppg—to just 21 points on 5-for-23 (.217) shooting.
• Tennessee’s scoring defense of 55.3 ppg ranks second in the SEC and 14th nationally.
• The Vols are averaging 34.0 deflections and 19.8 points off turnovers per game.
 
NOT STARTING? NO PROBLEM. ZEIGLER EXCELS IN BENCH ROLE
• Although he comes off the bench, sophomore guard Zakai Zeigler averages the second-most minutes among this year’s Vols. In fact, his 30.8 minutes per game are 12th-most among all SEC players.
• A legit Sixth Man of the Year candidate, Zeigler brings an invaluable element of fire and toughness when he enters the game. Rick Barnes will tell you that Zeigler has a knack for impacting the game outside of just scoring.
• His 3.5 assists per game lead the team and rank tied for 10th in the SEC.
• His 2.2 steals per game also rank second on the team and eighth among SEC players.
• During Tennessee’s three-game run to the Battle 4 Atlantis title, Zeigler led the Vols with 11 assists and nine steals while also adding 10.0 ppg and shooting .833 from the free-throw line (10 for 12).
 
PHILLIPS FINDING HIS RHYTHM, STEADILY GAINING CONFIDENCE
• Tennessee senior Josiah-Jordan James in November of 2018 became the first McDonald’s All-American to sign with the Vols under head coach Rick Barnes. That kickstarted an annual streak of McDonald’s All-American signings for Tennessee that was recently extended to four straight years with the addition of freshman Julian Phillips, who has started every game.
• Gaining confidence with each passing week, Phillips is giving the Vols 10.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. His 36 free-throw attempts lead the team, and he is making them at an .806 clip.
• A stat sure to please Barnes: Phillips owns a 1.67 assist/turnover ratio.
• Phillips also has drawn a team-high four charges.
• Phillips is one of seven five-star prospects to sign with the Vols during the Barnes era. Three of the seven—James, Phillips and forward Jonas Aidoo—are on this year’s roster.
 
JAMES’ BATTLING NAGGING KNEE
• Senior wing and preseason All-SEC selection Josiah-Jordan James sat out all three of Tennessee’s games at the Battle 4 Atlantis due to left knee soreness.
• James had previously missed multiple weeks of the preseason while working his way back to full speed following a procedure on that knee in the spring.
• It is unclear when James—who has played in three games and averaged 13.7 points and shot .526 from 3-point range (10 of 19)—will return to action.
 
AIDOO HAS ARRIVED
• Sophomore big man Jonas Aidoo enjoyed a breakout week at the Battle 4 Atlantis while helping fuel the Vols to the tournament championship.
• Aidoo averaged 24+ minutes off the bench in UT’s three wins and made his presence felt in the paint.
• He led the team in rebounds (7.0 rpg) and blocks (3.3 bpg) while also averaging 5.0 points and 2.3 steals.
• Aidoo came up clutch with three steals, two blocks and a game-high nine rebounds in the title-game win over Kansas.
 
MAJOR TESTS REMAINING ON VOLS’ NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
• With a decisive win over Kansas already on Tennessee’s résumé, several more seed-line-shifting opportunities remain on the Vols’ non-conference schedule.
• Three teams in this week’s AP Top 25 await the Big Orange in non-conference play.
• The Vols play No. 22 Maryland (6-0) in New York City on Dec. 11. Tennessee then has a true road test at No. 4 Arizona (6-0) on Dec. 17.
• Finally, on Jan. 18, Tennessee hosts No. 2 Texas (5-0) as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
 
NEW LEAGUE CHALLENGE ON DECK
• ESPN in November announced the formation of an annual SEC/ACC Challenge, set to begin next season.
• That means this is the final year of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, which dates to 2013-14.
• Tennessee under Rick Barnes (2015-present) has logged victories over ACC foes Georgia Tech (3x), NC State, Wake Forest (2x), Louisville and North Carolina.
• Barnes, born and raised in ACC country (Hickory, N.C.), coached at Clemson from 1994-98.

-UT Athletics

Vols G Kent Gilbert / Credit: UT Athletics
Hoops Preview: #13 Tennessee vs. McNeese State

Hoops Preview: #13 Tennessee vs. McNeese State

Posted on December 5, 2022

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 13th-ranked Tennessee men’s basketball returns home Wednesday for the first of three straight home games, hosting McNeese State at Thompson-Boling Arena at 7:15 p.m.

Fans can catch Wednesday’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. Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Dane Bradshaw (analyst) 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 (5-1) is coming off a trip to the Bahamas in which it captured the Battle 4 Atlantis championship by winning three games in three days—taking down Butler, USC and No. 3 Kansas. Santiago Vescovi was named Tournament MVP for his standout showings over the course of the week, while Julian Phillips earned All-Tournament honors.
 
The Vols and McNeese State (2-5) have never met on the hardwood, and Tennessee has only faced a Southland Conference member two times in program history—last in 2018 against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi.
 
Wednesday’s game marks the first of a three-game homestand, which continues Sunday against Alcorn State at 6 p.m. inside Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will air on SEC Network+. Tickets remain available on AllVols.com.
 
TICKETS AND PARKING
Tickets and parking passes to all Tennessee Athletics events, including men’s basketball, are now digital and can be accessed through a mobile device to improve security and reduce the risk of ticket fraud as well as make the process more convenient for fans.
 
Fans will gain admission into Thompson-Boling Arena via a unique QR code which will be scanned directly from a mobile device. For quick and easy entry into Tennessee Athletics venues, fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app from the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android).
 
Your mobile device is the ticket on gameday. All valid digital tickets will display a moving barcode or a hold near reader (tap-and-go) icon. PLEASE NOTE: SCREENSHOTS OF TICKETS WILL NOT SCAN AT THE GATE AND WILL NOT ALLOW ENTRY!
 
Printed PDF tickets will no longer be issued or accepted for entry at any Tennessee Athletics venue.
 
The only authorized sources for tickets to Tennessee Athletics events are the Tennessee Athletics Ticket Office, AllVols.com, the venue box office where the athletic event is taking place and Ticketmaster.
 
A complete step-by-step guide on how to best access and use your digital tickets and parking passes, including diagrams and FAQ is available here.
 
TENNESSEE ATHLETICS APP
Fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app, which now houses the Coca-Cola GBO Zone. Search “Tennessee Athletics” in the Apple or Google Play Store or use this link to download: utsports.com/app.
 
THE SERIES
• Tennessee has never previously faced McNeese State on the hardwood, and Wednesday’s clash mark’s only the third time in UT’s program history that the Vols will meet a current member of the Southland Conference.
• Tennessee is unbeaten against Southland opponents, defeating Southeastern Louisiana in 1985 and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 2018—both at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• In those victories over Southland teams, Tennessee has allowed an average of 54.5 points per game. This year’s Vols are holding foes to 55.3 points per game.
• A Vols victory Wednesday would extend UT’s home win streak to 20 games overall and to 17 games against non-conference foes (dating to a loss to Wisconsin on Dec. 28, 2019).
• Gonzaga All-American Drew Timme’s younger brother, Walker Timme, is a 6-7 freshman forward at McNeese. The Vols defeated Gonzaga and the elder Timme in a charity exhibition on Oct. 28.
 
SCOUTING REPORT
• Tennessee is entering a three-game homestand, its longest of the season.
• Reigning SEC Player of the Week Santiago Vescovi is 28 points shy of becoming the 54th Vol ever to reach the 1,000-point milestone.
• Preseason All-SEC selection Josiah-Jordan James sat out Tennessee’s last three games due to left knee soreness. There is no timetable on his return.
• Excluding James, who averages a team-best 13.7 ppg, four other Vols average 10 or more points. That includes sophomore guard Zakai Zeigler, who gives the Vols 10.0 points and 2.2 steals off the bench.
• The Volunteers own the best adjusted defensive efficiency in the country, allowing only 83.7 points per 100 possessions. For more, see “fierce defense” note below.
• With Zakai Zeigler as the primary defender, opponents this season are shooting 12-for-42 (.286). That equates to .691 points per possession.
• Tennessee has yet to trail at the half this season and is outscoring its opponents 32.1 ppg to 25.0 ppg (+7.1 ppg) in first-half action.
 
BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS CHAMPS
• Twice this calendar year, the Vols have won three games in three days to capture tournament titles. In March, Tennessee won the SEC Tournament in Tampa. And last week, the Big Orange earned the trophy at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.
• In its victories over Butler, USC and No. 3 Kansas, Tennessee posted a +15.7 ppg scoring margin and a +9.0 rpg rebounding margin.
• Senior guard Santiago Vescovi won the Battle 4 Atlantis MVP award and was joined on the five-man All-Tournament Team by true freshman wing Julian Phillips, who scored a season-high 25 in the semifinal triumph over USC.
• Tennessee has won each of its last five games against AP top-10 opponents. That’s the longest such streak in the nation; in fact, no other program has an active streak longer than two.
 
ABOUT McNEESE STATE
• McNeese State (2-5) enters Wednesday’s game at Tennessee coming off a loss at UT Martin on Monday, 86-83.
• The Cowboys have faced two major conference opponents this season, falling at Tulane on Nov. 11, 75-58, and at Baylor on Nov. 23, 89-60.
• McNeese State is coached by John Aiken, who is in his second season at the helm of the program. Aiken was the Cowboys’ Associate Head Coach for three seasons prior to taking the head coaching reigns. Former head coach Heath Schroyer stepped down to focus fully on being the school’s athletic director.
• The Cowboys finished 11-22 (4-10 Southland) last season in Aiken’s first season as head coach. McNeese State has hit the 15-win mark just once in the past seven seasons and has averaged 11.3 wins per season over the last 10 seasons.
• McNeese State’s roster includes six Division I transfers, including leading scorer and rebounder Christian Shumate, who is in his second season as a Cowboy after transferring from Tulsa. Shumate, a preseason first-team All-Southland selection, is averaging 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
• Shumate’s 10.6 rebounds per game rank eighth in the nation amongst Division I players. His three double-doubles so far this season rank 12th in the nation.
• As a team, the Cowboys rank 33rd in the nation and lead the Southland with 13.3 offensive rebounds per game.
• McNeese State Associate AD for Communications and Digital Media Matthew Bonnette is the brother of LSU Associate AD for Communications Michael Bonnette. Matthew and Michael’s father, Louis Bonnette, retired after serving 46 years as McNeese State’s Sports Information Director and is a member of the CoSIDA Hall of Fame.
 
VOLUNTEERS RIDING 19-GAME HOME WIN STREAK
• Dating to their final home game of the 2020-21 campaign, the Vols are riding an active 19-game home win streak (tied for seventh-longest active streak in the country).
• Last season’s perfect record at home included five wins over top-15 teams, including three top-10 opponents—No. 14 Arkansas, No. 13 LSU, No. 6 Arizona, No. 4 Kentucky and No. 3 Auburn. Tennessee was one of only five major-conference programs to post a perfect record at home last season, joining Arizona, Auburn, Kentucky and Texas Tech.
• The Vols’ 2022-23 home slate features five games against 2022 NCAA Tournament teams (Kentucky, Texas, Auburn, Alabama and Arkansas).
 
DESPITE LOSING SCHWARTZ, VOLS DEFENSE STILL FIERCE
• Over the last five seasons, with Michael Schwartz serving as the program’s “defensive coordinator,” Tennessee established an identity as one of the nation’s elite defensive programs.
• When Schwartz departed following last season to take the head coach job at East Carolina, Rick Barnes promoted Justin Gainey to associate head coach, and Gainey also assumed the defensive coordinator role.
• Six games into the 2022-23 campaign, the Vols achieved the best defensive efficiency rating in the history of analytics guru Ken Pomeroy’s website, KenPom.com (first published for the 2001-02 season), at 83.7. That topped the previous best, which was Texas Tech’s rating of 84.1 in 2018-19.
• In the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game triumph over No. 3 Kansas, the Vols held the Jayhawks to their lowest point total (50) since November of 2014. The Vols also limited Kansas to a .310 field-goal percentage (18 of 58).
• UT held Kansas’ duo of Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick, who entered the game averaging a combined 41.1 ppg—to just 21 points on 5-for-23 (.217) shooting.
• Tennessee’s scoring defense of 55.3 ppg ranks second in the SEC and 14th nationally.
• The Vols are averaging 34.0 deflections and 19.8 points off turnovers per game.
 
NOT STARTING? NO PROBLEM. ZEIGLER EXCELS IN BENCH ROLE
• Although he comes off the bench, sophomore guard Zakai Zeigler averages the second-most minutes among this year’s Vols. In fact, his 30.8 minutes per game are 12th-most among all SEC players.
• A legit Sixth Man of the Year candidate, Zeigler brings an invaluable element of fire and toughness when he enters the game. Rick Barnes will tell you that Zeigler has a knack for impacting the game outside of just scoring.
• His 3.5 assists per game lead the team and rank tied for 10th in the SEC.
• His 2.2 steals per game also rank second on the team and eighth among SEC players.
• During Tennessee’s three-game run to the Battle 4 Atlantis title, Zeigler led the Vols with 11 assists and nine steals while also adding 10.0 ppg and shooting .833 from the free-throw line (10 for 12).
 
PHILLIPS FINDING HIS RHYTHM, STEADILY GAINING CONFIDENCE
• Tennessee senior Josiah-Jordan James in November of 2018 became the first McDonald’s All-American to sign with the Vols under head coach Rick Barnes. That kickstarted an annual streak of McDonald’s All-American signings for Tennessee that was recently extended to four straight years with the addition of freshman Julian Phillips, who has started every game.
• Gaining confidence with each passing week, Phillips is giving the Vols 10.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. His 36 free-throw attempts lead the team, and he is making them at an .806 clip.
• A stat sure to please Barnes: Phillips owns a 1.67 assist/turnover ratio.
• Phillips also has drawn a team-high four charges.
• Phillips is one of seven five-star prospects to sign with the Vols during the Barnes era. Three of the seven—James, Phillips and forward Jonas Aidoo—are on this year’s roster.
 
JAMES’ BATTLING NAGGING KNEE
• Senior wing and preseason All-SEC selection Josiah-Jordan James sat out all three of Tennessee’s games at the Battle 4 Atlantis due to left knee soreness.
• James had previously missed multiple weeks of the preseason while working his way back to full speed following a procedure on that knee in the spring.
• It is unclear when James—who has played in three games and averaged 13.7 points and shot .526 from 3-point range (10 of 19)—will return to action.
 
AIDOO HAS ARRIVED
• Sophomore big man Jonas Aidoo enjoyed a breakout week at the Battle 4 Atlantis while helping fuel the Vols to the tournament championship.
• Aidoo averaged 24+ minutes off the bench in UT’s three wins and made his presence felt in the paint.
• He led the team in rebounds (7.0 rpg) and blocks (3.3 bpg) while also averaging 5.0 points and 2.3 steals.
• Aidoo came up clutch with three steals, two blocks and a game-high nine rebounds in the title-game win over Kansas.
 
MAJOR TESTS REMAINING ON VOLS’ NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
• With a decisive win over Kansas already on Tennessee’s résumé, several more seed-line-shifting opportunities remain on the Vols’ non-conference schedule.
• Three teams in this week’s AP Top 25 await the Big Orange in non-conference play.
• The Vols play No. 22 Maryland (6-0) in New York City on Dec. 11. Tennessee then has a true road test at No. 4 Arizona (6-0) on Dec. 17.
• Finally, on Jan. 18, Tennessee hosts No. 2 Texas (5-0) as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
 
NEW LEAGUE CHALLENGE ON DECK
• ESPN in November announced the formation of an annual SEC/ACC Challenge, set to begin next season.
• That means this is the final year of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, which dates to 2013-14.
• Tennessee under Rick Barnes (2015-present) has logged victories over ACC foes Georgia Tech (3x), NC State, Wake Forest (2x), Louisville and North Carolina.
• Barnes, born and raised in ACC country (Hickory, N.C.), coached at Clemson from 1994-98.

-UT Athletics

Vols G Kent Gilbert / Credit: UT Athletics
Jimmy’s blog: Odds favor Tennessee playing in Orange Bowl

Jimmy’s blog: Odds favor Tennessee playing in Orange Bowl

Posted on November 29, 2022

By Jimmy Hyams

Odds suggest Tennessee will play in the Orange Bowl.

But don’t take that to the bank.

Odds suggested South Carolina would lose to Tennessee and Clemson.

Odds suggested Ohio State would beat Michigan.

Odds suggested LSU would beat Texas A&M.

Odds favor Tennessee going to Miami for a Dec. 30 bowl game because of the formula that determines bowl participants.

The College Football Playoff committee assigns matchups. Based on what we think the standings will be tonight, No. 1 seed Georgia will play No. 4 seed USC in the Peach Bowl and No. 2 seed Michigan will play No. 3 seed TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

If the standings stay true to last week’s form, Alabama will represent the SEC in the Sugar Bowl as the highest ranked SEC team not in the four-team CFP.

Tennessee, projected to be ranked No. 7, would then be assigned to the Orange Bowl against the ACC champion (Clemson or North Carolina).

The Cotton Bowl would then likely get Penn State and the highest ranked Group of Five team.

But as college football has displayed week after week, there are no guarantees, no matter what the Vegas odds suggest.

And there is a chance Tennessee could wind up in one of three bowls: the Sugar, Orange or Cotton.

Here’s a deeper dive.

Tonight’s CFP rankings could give us some insight into future matchups.

If the CFP puts Penn State ahead of Tennessee, and it stays that way Sunday, Penn State would go to the Orange Bowl and Tennessee to the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2.

Since Penn State played in the Cotton Bowl in 2019 against Memphis, would the CFP manipulate the rankings to allow the Nittany Lions to avoid a second trip to the Dallas area in four years?

How could Tennessee make it to the New Orleans?

If TCU and USC lose their conference championship games, Alabama could jump them and move from sixth to fourth in the CFP rankings. That would put Alabama in the four-team playoff.

And that would put Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl as the highest ranked SEC team not in the CFP.

Tennessee will be in the Orange Bowl if Alabama is higher ranked, isn’t in the CFP and Tennessee remains ahead of Penn State in the CFP standings.

Tennessee will be in the Cotton Bowl if Penn State jumps the Vols in the CFP rankings.

Could Tennessee make the CFP?

Yes, but odds – there’s that word again – don’t favor it.

If TCU and USC lose conference title games – and that’s not a long shot – both could fall behind Alabama and Tennessee.

Then the CFP committee, which had Alabama ranked ahead of UT in last week’s reveal, could vault the Vols over Alabama based on UT beating Bama head to head.

That seems unlikely, since the committee has made it clear it penalizes a bad loss more than a good win. And Tennessee suffered a bad loss at South Carolina.

The committee could also argue that Alabama lost two games on the road to top 15 teams on the last play of the game.

And it could argue that Tennessee isn’t as good without quarterback Hendon Hooker, although the Vols scored 56 points against Vanderbilt with backup Joe Milton.

You will get a clue about where Tennessee is headed based on where the committee ranks Alabama and Penn State tonight.

But don’t book a flight to Miami or New Orleans or Dallas just yet.

Odds suggest you shouldn’t.

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

Golesh Among Five Finalists for 2022 Broyles Award

Golesh Among Five Finalists for 2022 Broyles Award

Posted on November 28, 2022

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – After leading the nation’s top-ranked offense during the 2022 regular season, Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh has been named one of five finalists for the Frank Broyles Award, as announced by the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation on Monday.

The Broyles Award is presented annually to the top assistant coach in the country by a selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters and members representing the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Golesh is just the second Tennessee assistant to ever be tabbed a finalist for the prestigious award, joining former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach David Cutcliffe, who was a finalist in 1997 before winning the award in 1998.

In his second season with the program, Golesh has taken UT’s offense to new heights while helping lead the Volunteers to their first 10-win regular season since 2003. Tennessee has scored 30-plus points in 11 of its 12 games and has eclipsed 500 yards of total offense nine times this season.

Through the conclusion of the regular season, the Vols lead the FBS in scoring at 47.3 points per game, nearly a full three points ahead of second-place Ohio State (44.5). The Big Orange also rank No. 1 nationally in total offense, averaging an incredible 538.1 yards per game, nearly 16 yards more than second-place Washington (522.2). They lead the country in yards per play (7.35), passing efficiency rating (181.59) and rushing touchdowns (39), as well.

UT also ranks in the top 20 nationally in the following offensive categories: passing yards per attempt (2nd – 10.1), passing yards per game (3rd – 332.3), completion percentage (5th – 68.8), red zone conversions (5th – 93.7%) and rushing yards per game (18th – 205.8).

A staple of the Vols’ high-powered attack is big plays, exemplified by their 77 plays of 20 yards or more this year, which is tied for sixth most in the FBS. Golesh’s offense leads the country in plays of 30-plus (50), 40-plus (33), 50-plus (18) and 60-plus (11) yards this season.

The impact of Golesh’s up-tempo offense over the last two seasons has been remarkable for a program that ranked 108th in the FBS in scoring (21.5 ppg) and 102nd in the FBS in total offense (346.2 ypg) a year prior to his and head coach Josh Heupel‘s arrivals.

One season after setting eight team single-season records, the Vols have already shattered program records for total points (568) and touchdowns (75) with a bowl game still left to play and are on pace to set a handful of other records this season.

Golesh is in his 19th season at the collegiate level having enjoyed success at every stop of his career. Prior to spending the 2020 season as the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at UCF, he served as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Iowa State from 2016-19 on Matt Campbell’s staff.

Golesh grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State in 2006. He got his start in the coaching profession as a student assistant with the Buckeyes.

The five finalists will travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, where the winner will be announced at the Broyles Award ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Statehouse Convention Center. Georgia offensive coordinator/QBs coach Todd Monken, Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and TCU offensive coordinator/QBs coach Garrett Riley are the other four finalists for this year’s award.

-UT Athletics

Vols OC Alex Golesh / Credit: UT Athletics
Harrison, Sampson Bring Home SEC Player of the Week Honors

Harrison, Sampson Bring Home SEC Player of the Week Honors

Posted on November 28, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After a dominating 56-0 victory in the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt, Roman Harrison and Dylan Sampson garnered Southeastern Conference Player of the Week acclaim for their outstanding efforts Saturday night.

The victory featured savvy play on both sides of the ball as the rushing offense dashed through the Nashville rain to the tune of 375 yards and six touchdowns on 31 carries. The defense pitched its first SEC shutout since 2003, helping guide Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC) to its first 10-win regular-season since that year. Vanderbilt was stopped in the backfield 13 times and lost 53 total yards in the process.

Sampson’s night played a big part in the impressive effort on the ground. The young running back earned his first career SEC honor, taking home freshman of the week recognition. Sampson ran for 131 yards on 12 carries and ripped off an 80-yard score for the Vols’ final touchdown of the night. That 80-yard dash is the second-longest rush by a freshman in school history. The showing also gave the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native his first career 100-yard game. 

Harrison anchored the Volunteer defense at FirstBank Stadium. The senior was named defensive lineman of the week after tallying a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks on the night. Earning his first career weekly award, the edge rusher led the squad in both sacks and TFLs while recording his first collegiate multi-sack game. Harrison’s effort helped the Vols pitch their first shutout of the season and the second of the Heupel Era.

With the regular season coming to a close, Tennessee finished with 15 SEC weekly award winners, the highest total in the conference, beating out Georgia (12), LSU (11), Arkansas (10) and Ole Miss (10). That tally marks the most weekly honors a UT team has finished with in a single season in program history, surpassing the previous high of 11, which came back in 2011.

Harrison, Sampson and the rest of the Vols await their bowl destination, which will be announced Sunday, Dec. 4.

The full list of Tennessee Volunteers earning SEC Player of the Week honors can be found below.

SEC Player of the Week Honorees
Week 2
Hendon Hooker, QB – Offense
Byron Young, DL/LB – Defensive Lineman

Week 4
Hendon Hooker, QB – Offensive
Javontez Spraggins, OL – Offensive Lineman

Week 6
Chase McGrath, K – Special Teams
Byron Young, DL/LB – Defensive Lineman

Week 7
Jalin Hyatt, WR – Offensive
Chase McGrath, K – Special Teams
Darnell Wright, OL – Offensive Lineman

Week 8
Jerome Carvin, OL – Offensive Lineman

Week 9
Darnell Wright, OL – Offensive Lineman

Week 11
Hendon Hooker, QB – Offensive
Cooper Mays, OL – Offensive Lineman

Week 13
Roman Harrison, DL/LB – Defensive Lineman
Dylan Sampson, RB – Freshman

-UT Athletics

Vols RB Dylan Sampson & DE-OLB Roman Harrison / Credit: UT Athletics
Vescovi Named SEC Player of the Week Following Standout Showing in Bahamas

Vescovi Named SEC Player of the Week Following Standout Showing in Bahamas

Posted on November 28, 2022

Fresh off being named Tournament MVP at the Battle 4 Atlantis, Tennessee senior guard Santiago Vescovi has been named SEC Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.

During Tennessee’s three wins in the Bahamas, Vescovi averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game—highlighted by a 20-point performance in the Vols’ championship game victory over No. 3 Kansas, in which he made five threes and pulled down six rebounds.

Vescovi also led the Vols in scoring during Wednesday’s win over Butler, chipping in 13 points—all in the second half—while also contributing three assists and three steals.

On Thursday against USC, Vescovi had a game-high five assists along with seven points and four rebounds—while also hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer during overtime.

For the season, the preseason first-team All-SEC selection is averaging 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. His 2.7 steals per game rank 18th amongst Division I players.

Vescovi enters Wednesday’s game against McNeese State just 28 points shy of the 1,000-point mark for his Tennessee career.

For tickets to Wednesday’s game, or any other upcoming Tennessee home game, visit AllVols.com.

-UT Athletics

Vols G Santiago Vescovi / Credit: UT Athletics

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