Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright spoke to the media in the postgame after the Vols dominated the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, 56-0.
WATCH: Jaylen Wright postgame after UT’s 56-0 win at Vanderbilt
WATCH: Wesley Walker postgame after UT’s 56-0 win at Vanderbilt
Tennessee defensive back Wesley Walker spoke to the media in the postgame after the Vols dominated the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, 56-0.
WATCH: Josh Heupel postgame after 56-0 won at Vanderbilt
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel spoke to the media in the postgame after the Vols dominated the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, 56-0.
Jimmy’s blog: Vols overcome key injuries to rout Vanderbilt
By Jimmy Hyams
Hendon Hooker could do little more than wave a towel.
The same could said for receiver Cedric Tillman.
Offensive lineman Gerald Mincey couldn’t play and he was joined on the sideline by two other linemen – JJ Crawford and Jerome Carvin – after kickoff.
Five defensive backs were ruled out.
“We’re a MASH unit everywhere,’’ said Tennessee coach Josh Heupel.
It didn’t matter. Tennessee ran over, around and through Vanderbilt’s defense, and a Vols defense that was historically bad against South Carolina pitched an improbable shutout as UT routed its in-state rival 56-0 on a rainy night in Nashville.
“They don’t put an asterisk on who played and who didn’t,’’ Heupel said after his team destroyed Vandy to record the program’s first 10-win regular season since 2003.
They also don’t put an asterisk on bounce-back wins.
No one was quite sure how Tennessee would react after getting blown out 63-38 by South Carolina the week before (the most points UT has allowed since 1893). It ended UT’s hopes of making the four-team College Football Playoff. And the Vols were without Hooker. And Tillman. And three starters from a weak secondary.
True to its next-man-up mentality, Tennessee looked every bit the part of a CFP team.
It had four touchdown runs of at least 50 yards and averaged a stunning 11.7 yards per carry (362 yards on 31 attempts. It had a 73-yard punt return. It had a 61-yard pass play on the game’s first possession.
And to think Tennessee did this to a team that won at Kentucky two weeks ago and upset Florida 31-24 last week.
Tennessee did it to a team that had won five of the previous 10 matchups in this series.
But this was no contest.
Tennessee needed a fast start to erase the sour taste of losing at Carolina. It got just what the chef ordered.
The Vols scored on two of their first three possessions, then Dee Williams returned a punt 73 yards to make it 21-0.
Vanderbilt, which was entertaining hopes of a bowl eligibility, never challenged.
In the second half, Tennessee scored on a 52-yard run by Jabari Small, 50- and 83-yard runs by Jaylen Wright and an 80-yard by freshman Dylan Sampson. Wright finished with 160 yards and two touchdowns on five carries.
Joe Milton, possessor of a cannon for an arm, filled in for Hooker and did OK. He hit the 61-yard pass on the first drive, fired a 7-yard scoring pass to Walker Merrill, and ended up 11 of 21 for 147 yards and a touchdown. He wasn’t accurate on many deep throws, but he didn’t have to be, not with his running backs going the distance from long range four times.
Tennessee gained 513 yards in just 16 minutes, 15 seconds time of possession.
It took Vanderbilt’s woeful offense 43 minutes and 45 seconds to gain 254 yards.
Tennessee, whose run defense ranked 16th in the nation, knew Vandy would focus on the run. Vandy managed just 147 yards on 47 carries. Ray Davis, who had three consecutive 100-yard games, was limited to 60 yards on 21 carries.
Vandy quarterback Mike Wright looked like a deer in headlights in the passing game, hitting just 7 of 13 throws for 28 yards. This was the same guy that had three touchdown tosses against Florida.
Any resemblance to the Vandy team that beat Florida last week was not found amidst the rainy conditions.
While it’s hard to quantify the absence of emotional leader Jeremy Banks in the defensive collapse at Carolina, the linebacker’s presence was certainly felt against the Commodores.
Maybe not having Banks against the Gamecocks was, indeed, a huge deal. That doesn’t mean UT would have won in Columbia. It does mean UT’s defense is much better with Banks on the field.
Now that Tennessee has won 10 regular-season games for the first time since 2003, it will be interesting to see what happens in the CFP rankings and the bowl scene.
Tennessee should climb from No. 10 to No. 7 on the CFP rankings, ahead of three teams that lost: LSU, Oregon, Clemson. You could argue the Vols should be ahead of a team it defeated head to head: Alabama.
And Tennessee has put itself in position to be in a New Year’s Six bowl, whether that’s the Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl or Orange Bowl.
Nobody saw that coming two years ago.
Nobody saw that coming entering this season.
And not many saw it coming entering October.
Heupel couldn’t help but reflect on what, to date, has been a marvelous journey for UT football.
“Two years ago when I took the job,’’ Heupel said, “to think we’d be here with 10 wins ….
“I’ll got to battle with these guys every day.’’
He’s got one more battle to fight with his team.
The destination will be determined next week.
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
Football Preview: #10 Vols Cap Regular Season at Vandy in Battle for Volunteer State Supremacy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 10 Tennessee will look to conclude its regular season on a high note when it travels to the midstate for a rivalry game against Vanderbilt at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville on Saturday night.
The Vols will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss on the road at South Carolina last Saturday and knock of a confident Commodores team that is coming off back-to-back SEC wins for the first time since 2018.
BROADCAST INFO
Saturday’s in-state showdown will be televised on the SEC Network as Tom Hart (PxP), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline analyst) will have the call. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Fans can listen to Tennessee’s official radio broadcast on the Vol Network (Local: WIVK-FM 107.7/WNML-FM 99.1) over 64 stations across the state of Tennessee and the southeast, SiriusXM (Ch. 81) and the SiriusXM app (Ch. 81), as well as the Varsity App. A live audio stream of the broadcast will also be available on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics App.
Bob Kesling (PxP), Pat Ryan (analyst) and Brent Hubbs (analyst) will call the action, with VFL Jayson Swain handling sideline duties for the Vol Network radio broadcast. The Big Orange Countdown pregame show begins at 5:30 p.m. ET.
GAMEDAY INFO
For Tennessee fans making the trip to Nashville, the most up-to-date information on Vanderbilt’s gameday policies can be found at the Vanderbilt football gameday information page.
NEED TO KNOW
What’s at Stake?
The Vols have a chance to lock up their first 10-win season since 2007 and the program’s first season with 10 regular-season victories since 2003. A win on Saturday night would also put the Big Orange in prime position to play in their first New Year’s Six bowl game since defeating Texas A&M in the 2004 Cotton Bowl.
Vanderbilt, on the other hand, will be looking to secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. The Commodores enter the contest at 5-6 following back-to-back upset victories over Kentucky and Florida.
Nation’s Top Offense Resides on Rocky Top
Tennessee’s high-powered attack ranks No. 1 in the nation in total offense (540.4), scoring offense (46.5) and passing efficiency (184.81). The Vols are second in passing offense (348.8), third in first downs (294) and fifth in completion percentage (69.6). The Big Orange have amassed a school-record and nation-best 512 points, surpassing last year’s record of 511. UT leads the SEC in eight different offensive categories: scoring offense, total offense, passing offense, completion percentage, first downs, fewest interceptions (3), passing efficiency and passing yards per completion (14.81).
It’s Joe Time
Redshirt senior Joe Milton III is set to take over as the starting quarterback for the Volunteers this weekend after Hendon Hooker suffered an unfortunate season-ending knee injury in last Saturday’s loss to South Carolina. Milton opened the 2021 season as UT’s starting quarterback before sustaining an injury in the second game of the season. Saturday will mark his third start as a Vol and the eighth of his collegiate career after starting five games at Michigan from 2018-20.
The Florida native is one of the nation’s most talented backups and has been lights out in limited action this season, showcasing his incredible arm talent and athleticism. In seven games played this year, Milton has completed 23 of 33 pass attempts for 573 yards (24.9 yards per completion), six touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also rushed seven times for 72 yards.
Record Watch for Hyatt
Jalin Hyatt is within reach of Tennessee’s single season record for receiving yards entering Saturday’s rivalry game against the Commodores. The junior wideout ranks second in UT single-season annals with 1,181 receiving yards and needs 118 more to break Robert Meachem’s program record of 1,298 yards set back in 2006.
Hyatt has had a breakout season in which he’s already set program marks for single-season receiving touchdowns (15) and single-game receiving touchdowns (five vs. Alabama on Oct. 15). The South Carolina native is among the favorites for the Biletnikoff Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top pass catcher.
Keepin’ It 100
Rocky Top has become a go-to destination for wide receivers since head coach Josh Heupel arrived. Over the past two seasons, UT ranks seventh nationally with 18 individual 100-yard receiving performances. The Vols have had 10 individual 100-plus yard receiving games this season, which is tied for fourth nationally and leads the SEC. Four different Tennessee pass catchers have eclipsed the 100-yard mark at least once this year (Hyatt – 5, Bru McCoy – 3, Cedric Tillman – 1, Squirrel White – 1).
SERIES HISTORY
Tennessee leads, 78-32-5
The Vols will be looking to win their fourth straight over the Commodores after winning each of the last three meetings by at least 18 points. UT is 38-20-4 all-time against Vandy in Nashville, including a 42-17 victory the last time the two teams met in the state capital back in 2020.
The Tennessee-Vanderbilt series dates all the way back to 1892 and the two teams have played every year since 1945. The Vols and Dores are meeting in the final week of the season for the 63rd time. UT is 53-8-1 in those contests.
ABOUT VANDERBILT
Vanderbilt is led by second-year head coach Clark Lea, who has the program one win away from bowl eligibility after struggling to a 2-10 record last season. The Commodores are flying high after consecutive SEC victories over Kentucky and Florida the past two weeks. The win over the Wildcats snapped a 26-game conference losing streak while last week’s win against the Gators was Vandy’s first home victory in the series since 1988.
Quarterback Mike Wright leads the offense and is coming off an efficient performance in the win over Florida last week, completing 10 of 16 passes for 108 yards and three touchdowns. The junior signal caller is also dangerous with his legs, amassing 467 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 63 carries this season, including a pair of 100-yard efforts on the ground in wins over Hawaii and Kentucky.
The Dores top receiving threat is junior wideout Will Sheppard, who leads the team in receptions (54), receiving yards (728) and touchdown catches (nine). Vandy boasts five players with multiple receiving scores this season. Senior running back Ray Davis is closing in on 1,000 yards rushing for the year after three straight performances with over 100 yards on the ground. The California native enters the game with 982 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively, Vanderbilt is paced by senior linebacker Anfernee Orji, who leads the SEC with 102 tackles and also ranks first on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles to go along with a pair of sacks and an interception. Junior safety De’Rickey Wright leads the secondary with 50 tackles, six pass breakups and three picks.
-UT Athletics
Postgame/Stats/Story: No. 22 Vols Take Down No. 3 Kansas, Win Battle 4 Atlantis Championship
PDF BOX SCORE | VIDEO: BARNES, ZEIGLER & VESCOVI POSTGAME
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – No. 22 Tennessee led from start to finish and captured the Battle 4 Atlantis title Friday, taking down No. 3 Kansas, 64-50.
The win marks the Vols’ fifth straight win over an AP top-10 team and fourth over a top-five team. It also snapped a 17-game win streak dating to last season for the defending national champion Jayhawks and gave Tennessee its first holiday tournament title since 2010.
Santiago Vescovi, who was named Tournament MVP, scored a game-high 20 points with six made 3-pointers. Zakai Zeigler added 14 with three made 3-pointers, while Tyreke Key was Tennessee’s third double-figure scorer with 10 points.
Defensively, Tennessee held Kansas’ duo of Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick, who entered Friday’s game averaging a combined 41.1 points per game—to just 21 points on 5-for-23 (.217) shooting.
Tennessee held Kansas to 32 percent shooting as a team.
After Tennessee led by eight points at halftime, the Vols and Jayhawks played back-and-forth for the opening eight minutes of the second half before an 11-0 Tennessee run—with eight of the 11 points scored by Zeigler—put the Vols in control and in front by 18.
Kansas briefly threatened with a quick 7-0 run to cut the lead down to 11, but a three from Zeigler put the game back in Tennessee’s hands with 4:42 remaining. The Jayhawks did not draw closer than 13 the rest of the way.
In the opening minutes of the game, Tennessee stormed out of the gates and controlled the contest for the vast majority of the first half, taking a 33-25 lead into the halftime break.
The Vols raced out to a 12-3 lead over the course of the first seven minutes of the game, with a different player scoring each of their five baskets during that stretch. Defensively, Tennessee held Kansas to just 1-for-8 shooting from the floor during its opening run.
Kansas climbed back into the game during a few first-half spurts, narrowing the lead to as little as one point after back-to-back 3-pointers from Joseph Yesufu and Jalen Wilson at the 7:03 mark.
Tennessee quickly responded to that threat with back-to-back threes from Key and Vescovi to quiet the majority-Kansas crowd.
The Jayhawks again cut into the Tennessee lead with just more than two minutes left in the opening period, to which the Vols responded with five straight points to end the half—including a 3-pointer from Nkamhoua in the closing seconds.
Tennessee shot 44 percent (12-for-27) from the field during the first half compared to Kansas’ 29 percent (8-for-28).
UP NEXT: Tennessee returns to Knoxville for a three-game homestand, beginning with a meeting with McNeese State on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Tickets are available at AllVols.com.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Santiago Vescovi was named Tournament MVP and a member of the All-Tournament team, while Julian Phillips also earned a spot on the five-man All-Tournament team.
Vescovi averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists during the tournament, while Phillips averaged 13.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
2022 Battle 4 Atlantis All-Tournament Team
Santiago Vescovi, Tennessee
Julian Phillips, Tennessee
Jalen Wilson, Kansas
Boogie Ellis, USC
Tyler Wahl, Wisconsin
MVP
Santiago Vescovi, Tennessee
VOLS CAPTURE A HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT TITLE: Tennessee’s Battle 4 Atlantis championship marks its first holiday tournament title since November 2010, when Scotty Hopson and current 76ers star Tobias Harris fueled the Vols to the NIT Season Tip-Off championship, defeating VCU and No. 7 Villanova at Madison Square Garden.
ANOTHER TOP-FIVE TAKEDOWN: Including last month’s exhibition win over No. 2 Gonzaga, Tennessee has now won five straight games over AP top-five opponents.
The Vols defeated No. 4 Kentucky, No. 3 Auburn and No. 5 Kentucky (SEC Tournament) last season before taking down No. 2 Gonzaga and No. 3 Kansas in the past month.
Tennessee has now logged nine AP top-five wins in total during the Barnes era.
-UT Athletics
Highlights/Postgame/Photos/Stats/Story: No. 23/24 Lady Vols Stampede Buffs, 69-51
Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Harper Presser | Jackson/Hollingshead/Horston Presser | Postgame Quotes | Photo Gallery
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Keeping control throughout the game, the No. 23/24-ranked Tennessee Lady Volunteers got back in the win column in their return to Rocky Top, defeating Colorado 69-51 Friday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
It was a masterful showing on the offensive end for Jordan Horston and Rickea Jackson on their home court. The duo scored 23 and 20, respectively, shooting a combined 18-of-25 (72 percent) from the floor. Horston was UT’s leading rebounder, securing eight boards, followed closely by Jackson who had four. Horston also tied for the team high in assists with Jasmine Powell, dishing out four vs. the Buffaloes.
As a team, the Lady Vols fired at a 48.1 percent clip, going 26-of-54, and were ruthless on the defensive side, swiping away 15 total steals. Jackson and Horston accounted for four each. Karoline Striplin was a force in the fourth quarter, swatting away three Colorado (4-2) shots in the final period alone. Tennessee did a superb job turning takeaways into points, as the Big Orange outscored CU 24-8 in fast break points and owned the paint to the tune of a 34-22 advantage.
The Orange & White never trailed in the game, building a lead as large as 24 points in the third quarter. Its stifling defense showed up in the box score, as the Buffaloes put up just 14 points in the first 20 minutes of action.
Colorado finished with three double-digit scorers, led by Kindyll Wetta with 13. Jaylyn Sherrod totaled 11, while Aaronette Vonleh netted 10. Its leading scorer for the season at 17.2 ppg., Quay Miller, was held to only three by the Big Orange.
The night started quietly, but the Lady Vols picked up the pressure as the first quarter came to a close. Shortly after the media timeout, Tennessee rattled off a 9-2 run for the final 2:47 of the frame, highlighted by six Horston points and an emphatic tip-in with just two ticks left on the clock. After 10 minutes of play, the Big Orange led 17-9, thanks to 50 percent shooting from the floor (8-of-16) and 11 boards to Colorado’s four.
Tennessee put the clamps on the Buffs in the second. CU would shoot just 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from the field, scoring just five points in the quarter, tying for the ninth-fewest opponent points in a quarter in program history. On the offensive side, Jackson found her rhythm, cashing in six points and pulling down four boards. Tennessee entered the locker room at halftime holding a 30-14 lead.
Both offenses erupted in the third quarter, as the Lady Vols won the stanza, 27-21. Three UT players accounted for 25 of those points, as Horston had 10, complemented by eight from Jackson, who made all three shots from the field in the third, and seven from Jillian Hollingshead. Tennessee owned a 22-point advantage, 57-35, after three periods of play.
Colorado seemed to get it started on the offensive end, but Tennessee shut down any inklings of a rally quickly, swatting away five Buffalo shots and swiping another five in the final 10 minutes of play. Jordan Walker helped salt away the finish, getting to the line and knocking down four free throws. Tennessee allowed no field goals in the last 3:21 and forced the Buffs into four turnovers during that time frame, finishing off the victory back on Rocky Top.
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will play game two of a six-game homestand on Sunday, hosting Eastern Kentucky in a 2 p.m. ET contest that will be streamed on SECN+.
DEFENSE STARTING STRONG: The Lady Vols limited the Buffaloes to just nine first-quarter points and five second-quarter points. It was the first time this season the Buffaloes scored less than 12 points in an opening period and marked their fewest first-half point total. It was also the first time Tennessee had held an opponent to single-digit scoring in a first quarter this season and the fewest points they’ve given up in a first half this season as well as a second quarter.
BACK ON THE BOARDS: UT won the battle of the boards against the Buffaloes, out-rebounding them 38-33 on the night. The Lady Vols have now won the rebounding battle four times on the season and in three of the last four contests.
TAKING CHARGE: Graduate Jordan Walker took a charge in the first quarter against the Buffaloes, logging her fifth of the season to lead the team in charges drawn.
DYNAMIC DUO: Seniors Jordan Horston and Rickea Jackson led Tennessee in scoring for the fourth straight game, marking the first game of the season in which UT has had two players with 20 or more points. Horston has scored in double figures in every game in which she’s been active and completed the contest, and Jackson has tallied 14 or more in every game except the opener against Ohio State. The duo has combined for 216 points on the season, just over 42 percent of Tennessee’s 514 total points.
-UT Athletics
Hoops Preview: #22 Tennessee vs. #3 Kansas
The 22nd-ranked Tennessee men’s basketball team is set to play for the Battle 4 Atlantis championship Friday in the Bahamas, taking on the defending national champion, third-ranked Kansas Jayhawks at approximately 7:30 p.m. ET.
Fans can catch Friday’s game on ESPN and online or on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. Jon Sciambi (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Brian Rice and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
Tennessee (4-1) defeated USC in overtime Thursday in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals, 73-66. Freshman Julian Phillips had a breakout performance for the Vols, scoring a season-high 25 points and pulling down a season-high eight rebounds, while Olivier Nkamhoua finished in double-figure scoring with 12 points and six rebounds.
Kansas (6-0) advanced to Friday’s championship game by defeating Wisconsin on a buzzer-beating game-winner in overtime, 69-68. The Jayhawks defeated NC State in their opening game in the Bahamas on Wednesday, 80-74.
Friday’s matchup marks the fourth time in the past five seasons that Tennessee has faced Kansas. The Jayhawks hold a 2-1 edge in the three most recent matchups, but the Vols won the last meeting on Jan. 30, 2021, in Knoxville, 80-61.
Following Friday’s Battle 4 Atlantis championship game, Tennessee will return to Knoxville for a three-game homestand, beginning with a meeting with McNeese State on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Tickets are available at AllVols.com.
THE SERIES
• Tennessee trails its all-time series with Kansas, 2-4, dating to 2009. The programs have met three times during the Barnes era at Tennessee. Most recently, each team won on its home floor in consecutive SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchups in 2020 and 2021.
• Tennessee’s first-ever triumph over Kansas came on Jan. 10, 2010, when the Volunteers shocked the top-ranked and unbeaten Jayhawks, 76-68, in Knoxville.
• A victory on Friday would give the Vols their 22nd win over a ranked opponent during the Barnes era, and their 10th top-10 triumph during that span.
• Counting last month’s exhibition win over No. 2 Gonzaga, Tennessee is riding a five-game win streak against AP top-10 opponents.
• Tennessee has logged eight AP top-five wins during the Barnes era.
SCOUTING REPORT
• Five-star freshman Julian Phillips has been Tennessee’s top performer this week, leading the Vols in both scoring (18.0 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg). He erupted for 25 and eight in Thursday’s win over USC—both season-highs.
• Senior wing and Tennessee’s leading scorer Josiah-Jordan James is shooting an SEC-best .526 from 3-point range this season (10 of 19), but he has been inactive this week due to left knee soreness.
• Less than one month ago, the Vols beat then-No. 2 Gonzaga in a neutral-site exhibition in Frisco, Texas, with James inactive.
• According to KenPom, the Vols rank second in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing only 85.0 points per 100 possessions.
• The rims at Imperial Arena haven’t been kind to the Vols’ shooters this week, as Tennessee is shooting .242 from 3-point range (8 for 33).
• Tennessee this week is forcing 21.5 turnovers per game and converting those turnovers into 21.5 points per game.
LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee is chasing its first holiday tournament title since November 2010, when Scotty Hopson and current 76ers star Tobias Harris fueled the Vols to the NIT Season Tip-Off championship, defeating VCU and No. 7 Villanova at Madison Square Garden.
• The last time Tennessee played three games in three days, the Vols went a perfect 3-0 to capture the 2022 SEC Tournament championship in Tampa back in March.
• Tennessee now owns a 6-2 all-time record through three appearances at the Battle 4 Atlantis (2013, 2017, 2022).
• Among Division I teams, only Virginia, Xavier and Utah State have a higher assist rate than Tennessee’s 69.0 percent this season.
ABOUT KANSAS
• Kansas (6-0) enters Friday’s Battle 4 Atlantis championship game against Tennessee coming off a 69-68 overtime win over Wisconsin on Thursday in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals.
• The third-ranked Jayhawks defeated NC State on Wednesday in their opening game of the Battle 4 Atlantis, 80-74.
• Kansas head coach Bill Self is in his 20th season as head coach at KU and 30th overall. Self has posted a 562-124 (.819) record at Kansas.
• Dating to last season, the defending national champion Jayhawks have won 17 straight games.
• Redshirt junior forward Jalen Wilson, who had 29 points and 14 rebounds during Kansas’ semifinal win over Wisconsin, is the Jayhawks’ leading scorer (24.3 ppg) and rebounder (10.3 rpg).
• Wilson was a starter on last season’s Kansas national championship team, averaging 11.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and being named a All-Big 12 third-team selection.
• Kansas was picked to finish second in the Big 12 by the league’s coaches during the preseason, while Wilson and redshirt senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. were named preseason All-Big 12 by the league’s coaches.
• The Jayhawks second-leading scorer is freshman Gradey Dick—the 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2022 McDonald’s All-American. Dick is averaging 16.8 ppg so far this season and has recorded two 20-point games.
• McCullar Jr., a Texas Tech transfer, is averaging 10.3 points and 7.3 rebounds through six games. McCullar Jr. posted an 18-point, nine-rebound effort on Thursday against Wisconsin. He had eight points and 10 rebounds during Texas Tech’s win over Tennessee last season in New York City.
PHILLIPS, DICK MET AS PREP HOOPERS EARLIER THIS YEAR
• On Feb. 11, 2022, national No. 1 Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan). took a major step toward securing the top seed in the GEICO National Championships by defeating No. 3 Link Academy (Mo.), 74-65, at the Heartland Hoops Classic.
• That game featured current UT freshman Julian Phillips (Link Academy) and KU freshman Gradey Dick (Sunrise).
• Phillips and Dick later faced off in the 2022 McDonald’s All-American Game, in which Phillips scored nine points and Dick logged three. Current Jayhawks Earnest Udeh and M.J. Rice also played in that game and were teammates with Phillips.
• Interestingly, Vols assistant coach Rod Clark was an assistant at Sunrise Christian Academy, which is located in Bel Aire, Kansas, from 2017-19. And 2022 SEC Tournament MVP and NBA Draft pick Kennedy Chandler attended Sunrise Christian shortly after Clark transitioned to the coaching at the collegiate level.
VOLS OVERWHELMED #2 ZAGS
• In a neutral-site charity exhibition on Oct. 28, Tennessee overwhelmed preseason No. 2 Gonzaga, 99-80, in Frisco, Texas. And that was without preseason All-SEC wing Josiah-Jordan James, who did not dress.
• Playing in a game setting, in front of fans, for the first time in nearly 20 months, grad transfer Tyreke Key led the way with a game-high 26 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 4-for-7 from deep.
LAST MEETING WITH KANSAS
• A 53 percent shooting performance and a dominant rebounding effort pushed the 18th-ranked Tennessee basketball team past No. 15 Kansas, 80-61, on Jan. 30, 2021, at Thompson-Boling Arena. The victory clinched the 2021 SEC/Big 12 Challenge for the SEC, 5-4.
• The Volunteers ripped down 38 rebounds, out-rebounding the Jayhawks by 15 and holding Kansas to zero second-chance points.
• Tennessee was also lights out from both 3-point range (8 of 13) and the foul line (16 of 17).
• Naismith Defensive Player of the Year candidate Yves Pons dropped in a team-high 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while draining both of his attempts from 3-point range and pulling in five rebounds to help spark UT at multiple key moments.
• John Fulkerson scored 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting, pulled down six rebounds and dished off three assists.
• In his first start since returning from injury, Tennessee freshman Jaden Springer tallied 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Springer was also a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe.
• The Vols’ reliable stat-sheet stuffer, Josiah-Jordan James, totaled nine points while logging a game-high 11 rebounds, dishing out four assists and adding one block.
• Off the bench, junior Victor Bailey Jr. scored 11 second-half points to help the Vols extend their lead after halftime. Bailey also finished the night with four assists, a pair of rebounds and a steal.
• Tennessee dominated for large stretches of the night’s opening 12 minutes, using a 12-4 run over a five-minute stretch to take a 21-12 lead with under eight minutes to play in the opening half.
• The Vols continued to pour it on as the half concluded, stretching their lead to as many as 16 before taking a 40-26 advantage into the break.
• It was more of the same in the second half, as Tennessee extended its lead to 21 in the frame’s first five minutes, knocking down six of nine shot attempts.
-UT Athletics
Postgame/Stats/Story: No. 22 Vols Get Past USC in OT, Advance to Battle 4 Atlantis Championship
PDF BOX SCORE | VIDEO: BARNES, PHILLIPS & NKAMHOUA POSTGAME
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – No. 22 Tennessee came out on top in a back-and-forth affair Thursday in the Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals, outlasting USC in overtime, 73-66.
Tennessee and USC played back and forth for the first three minutes of the overtime period, as Trojan guard Boogie Ellis’ baseline jumper knotted the score at 66 with 2:09 remaining in OT.
On the ensuing trip down the court, Santiago Vescovi drained a 3-pointer from the wing as the shot clock wound down to give the Vols a 69-66 lead.
From there, Tennessee (4-1) forced three straight USC turnovers and Zakai Zeigler was 4-for-4 at the line to seal the win.
Freshman Julian Phillips paced the Vols offensively all game, finishing with a career-high and game-high 25 points on 7-for-13 shooting. He also pulled down eight rebounds and was 10-for-12 at the free-throw line.
Olivier Nkamhoua also scored in double figures for the Vols, registering a 12-point, six-rebound performance on 5-for-8 shooting.
With Tennessee trailing 62-60 with just over a minute to play in regulation, Phillips found Nkamhoua on the block for a contested layup that tied the game.
On the subsequent possession, the Vols forced a missed USC 3-pointer and Phillips gathered the rebound with 34 seconds remaining. Tennessee had a shot to win the game in the closing seconds, but Vescovi’s 3-point attempt was off the mark.
After Tennessee took a three-point lead into the halftime break, USC threatened to pull away out of the gates in the second half—outscoring the Vols 11-4 in the opening five minutes of the period to pull in front by four points at 45-41.
As he did many times over the course of the game, Phillips had an answer for the Vols—getting to the rim for an and-one layup that kicked off a 10-0 Tennessee run and put the Vols back in control.
After USC ended that Tennessee run with a jumper from Kijani Wright, the two teams played the remainder of regulation in an eight-point window—with neither team leading by more than four points.
Tennessee led for nearly the entirety of the first half and took a 37-34 lead into the halftime break.
The Vols extended their lead to as many as eight points with 1:13 to go in the opening period when Mashack stole a USC inbounds pass, took the ball the length of the floor and threw down an and-one slam to put Tennessee ahead, 37-29.
USC responded however, scoring the half’s final five points—including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Boogie Ellis to bring the Trojans within three points.
After a slow offensive start to Wednesday’s opening game in the Bahamas against Butler, Tennessee was much quicker out of the gates Thursday—shooting 42 percent from the field during the first half.
Phillips, who recorded a career-high-tying 11 points against Butler on Wednesday, achieved a career-high in scoring during the first half alone with 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting.
UP NEXT: With the win, Tennessee advances to Friday’s Battle 4 Atlantis championship game against No. 3 Kansas, who defeated Wisconsin on Thursday in overtime, 69-68. Tip-off is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
-UT Athletics
Week 13 SEC score predictions straight-up and spread; No. 10 Tennessee at Vanderbilt; final regular season games
By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports
Here’s a look at my Week 13 SEC football game predictions.
Check back on my “Vince’s View” blog page for future posts including weekly SEC football and NFL game predictions. Bookmark my blog page and check back often.
2022 Week 12 Straight-Up Record: 7-3 (7%)
2022 Week 12 Spread Record: 4-6 (40%)
2022 Season Straight-Up Record: 79-20 (80%)
2022 Season Spread Record: 56-43 (57%)
2021 Season Straight-Up Record: 92-34 (73%)
2021 Season Spread Record: 63-63 (50%)
RIVALRY WEEK IN THE SEC
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Mississippi State (7-4, 3-4 SEC) at No. 20 Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 SEC)
Series: UM leads, 64-46-6
7 p.m. ET • ESPN
Last: UM, 31-21 (2021 at Starkville)
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
SiriusXM: 192 – 84
Line: Ole Miss -2.5
Pick vs. Spread: Ole Miss -2.5
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 34 Miss State 28
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25
Arkansas (6-5, 3-4 SEC) at Missouri (5-6, 2-5 SEC)
Series: MIZ leads, 9-4
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS
Last: ARK, 34-17 (2021 at Fayetteville)
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621)
SiriusXM: 387 – 133/190
Line: Arkansas -3.5
Pick vs. Spread: Arkansas -3.5
Score Prediction: Arkansas 35 Missouri 24
Florida (6-5, 3-5 SEC) at No. 16 Florida State (8-3)
Series: UF leads, 37-26-2
7:30 p.m. ET • ABC
Last: UF, 24-21 (2021 at Gainesville)
Tallahassee, Fla. • Doak S. Campbell Stadium (79,560)
SiriusXM: 133/190
Line: FSU -9.5
Pick vs. Spread: FSU -9.5
Score Prediction: FSU 38 Florida 27
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Georgia Tech (5-6) at No. 1 Georgia (11-0, 8-0 SEC)
Series: UGA leads, 69-39-5
Noon ET • ESPN
Last: UGA, 45-0 (2021 at Atlanta)
Athens, Ga. • Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (92,746)
SiriusXM: 81
Line: Georgia -36.5
Pick vs. Spread: Georgia -36.5
Score Prediction: Georgia 49 Georgia Tech 10
South Carolina (7-4, 4-4 SEC) at No. 8 Clemson (10-1)
Series: CU leads, 72-42-4
Noon ET • ABC
Last: CU, 30-0 (2021 at Columbia)
Clemson, S.C. • Clemson Memorial Stadium (81,500)
SiriusXM: 133/190
Line: Clemson -14.5
Pick vs. Spread: South Carolina +14.5
Score Prediction: Clemson 30 South Carolina 20
No. 25 Louisville (7-4) at Kentucky (6-5, 3-5 SEC)
Series: UK leads, 18-15
3 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Last: UK, 52-21 (2021 at Louisville)
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
SiriusXM: 133/190
Line: Kentucky -2.5
Pick vs. Spread: Louisville +2.5
Score Prediction: Louisville 24 Kentucky 23
Auburn (5-6, 2-5 SEC) at No. 7 Alabama (9-2, 5-2 SEC)
Series: UA leads, 48-37-1
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS
Last: UA, 24-22 [4 OT] (2021 at Auburn)
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (100,077)
SiriusXM: 108/191 – 81
Line: Alabama -22.5
Pick vs. Spread: Auburn +22.5
Score Prediction: Alabama 31 Auburn 21
No. 5 LSU (9-2, 6-1 SEC) at Texas A&M (4-7, 1-6 SEC)
Series: LSU leads, 35-22-3
7 p.m. ET • ESPN
LSU, 27-24 (2021 at Baton Rouge)
Bryan-College Station, Texas • Kyle Field (102,733)
SiriusXM: 108/191 – 133/190
Line: LSU -9.5
Pick vs. Spread: LSU -9.5
Score Prediction: LSU 28 Texas A&M 6
No. 16 Tennessee (9-2, 5-2 SEC) at Vanderbilt (5-6, 2-5 SEC)
Series: UT leads, 78-33-5
7:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Last: UT, 45-21 (2021 at Knoxville)
Nashville, Tenn. • FirstBank Stadium (40,350)
SiriusXM: 81 – 146/192
Line: Tennessee -13.5
Pick vs. Spread: Vanderbilt +13.5
Score Prediction: Tennessee 42 Vanderbilt 31
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