One of the concert events that music fans look forward to every year is the Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival which is held in Manchester, Tennessee.
This year’s line-up includes artists from all different genres of music.
Lainey Wilson will be taking the Bonnaroo stage Wednesday June 16th – where she’ll be bringing festival fans her ACM Song Of The Year award winning “Things A Man Oughta Know”
Bonnarro is held from Wednesday June 15th to Sunday June 19th, and Lainey is just one of the artists that will be representing country music – a list that also includes Tenille Townes, Robyn Ottolini, Maggie Rose and more.
Just about a month after her appearance at Bonnaroo, Lainey and Hailey Whitters will be on the road opening for Jon Pardi on his Ain’t Always The Cowboy tour.
Check out the schedule for the Ain’t Always The Cowboy tour
Fans who make the trek to Manchester or the Ain’t Always The Cowboy tour might see Lainey break out her smash hit with Cole Swindell, “Never Say Never.”
INDIANAPOLIS – Using hot shooting from start to finish, No. 3 seed Tennessee cruised by No. 14 seed Longwood Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 88-56, to advance to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
Tennessee shot a season-high 60 percent from the field on Thursday (33-for-55), including 58 percent on 3-pointers (14-for-24). The performance set a program record for field-goal percentage in an NCAA Tournament game.
Vols G Santiago Vescovi / Credit: UT Athletics
Santiago Vescovi was one of five double-figure scorers for Tennessee, pouring in a team-high 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting from 3-point range. Vescovi also had a team-high seven assists and a team-high-tying four steals.
Vescovi’s six made 3-pointers tied for the most ever by a Vol in an NCAA Tournament game. Vescovi also set the Tennessee program record for best 3-point percentage in an NCAA Tournament game (.750).
Josiah-Jordan James scored 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting—including 15 in the first half—and grabbed nine rebounds. John Fulkerson had his highest scoring total since December with 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting, scoring 11 of Tennessee’s first 17 points Thursday.
Kennedy Chandler had an impactful all-around performance with 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Zakai Zeigler scored 10 points and had six assists.
After Longwood kept pace in the opening minutes, Tennessee took control of the game. Holding just a one point lead at 16-15 nearly nine minutes into the game, the Vols strung together a quick 13-2 run to take control—building a lead that would never be less than 10 for the remainder of the game.
The Vols further extended their lead to close the half—finishing on a 13-0 run in the final 3:13. Between Vescovi and James, the Vols made seven 3-pointers in the final 5:48 of the half on just eight attempts.
Tennessee took a 54-29 lead into halftime, setting a season-high for first-half scoring. The Vols shot 67 percent from the field (20-for-30) before the break. Tennessee had 18 assists on those 20 made field goals in the first half.
Defensively, the Vols forced 12 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes and committed just two themselves.
Three Vols scored in double figures during the first half—James with 15, Fulkerson with 13 and Vescovi with 12. That trio was a combined 15-for-20 shooting in the opening period.
UP NEXT: Tennessee advances to face No. 11 seed Michigan on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, who defeated No. 6 seed Colorado State on Thursday. Tipoff time and TV network will be announced late Thursday night.
VOLS NOTCH W NUMBER 27: Thursday marked Tennessee’s 27th win of the season, which stands as the fourth-most wins in a single-season in program history. Tennessee has won 27 or more games four times in program history. Two of those four seasons have come under the direction of seventh-year head coach Rick Barnes.
VESCOVI MOVING UP SINGLE-SEASON 3-POINTERS LIST: With six made 3-pointers during Thursday’s win, Santiago Vescovi moved into fourth place on Tennessee’s all-time single-season made 3-pointers list. Vescovi has 101 made threes in 34 games this season.
CHANDLER ASCENDING SINGLE-SEASON STEALS LIST: With four steals Thursday, Kennedy Chandler brought his season total to 72—moving him into sole possession of third place on Tennessee’s all-time single-season steals list. The program record for steals in a season is 78.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 2 Tennessee begins its SEC slate this Friday night as the Volunteers host eastern division foe South Carolina to kick off a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols enter SEC play on an eight-game winning streak after going 5-0 last week and starting this week with a 7-1 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday.
Vols LHP Redmond Walsh / Credit: UT Athletics
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
For the most updated gameday information related to Tennessee baseball, please visit our Gameday Central page by clicking HERE. The baseball Gameday Central page contains info in regard to tickets, parking, stadium policies and more.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets and single-game tickets for all SEC contests are SOLD OUT. Single-game tickets for all remaining non-conference home games can be purchased at AllVols.com or by calling the Tennessee Athletic ticket office at 865-656-1200.
Single-game tickets for all games can also be purchased through Vivid Seats, the exclusive resale marketplace for Tennessee Athletics, by clicking HERE.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to either transfer your tickets to someone else (Instructions HERE).
BROADCAST INFO
Friday and Sunday’s games will be streamed live on SEC Network+ with Andy Brock (PxP) and Charlie Puleo (color) calling the action. Saturday’s game will be broadcast on the SEC Network with John Schriffen (PxP) and VFL Chris Burke (color) on the call.
The online broadcast can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson call the games on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) as well as UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics App.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE/PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1 – Friday, March 18 (6:30 p.m.) RHP Chase Burns (3-0, 0.45 ERA) vs. RHP Noah Hall (0-2, 9.42 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday, March 19 (12 p.m.) RHP Chase Dollander (2-0, 3.79 ERA) vs. RHP Will Sanders (3-0, 2.52 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday, March 20 (1 p.m.) RHP Drew Beam (3-0, 1.59 ERA) vs. LHP Matthew Becker (1-0, 2.25 ERA)
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: South Carolina leads, 66-40 In Knoxville: South Carolina leads, 24-22 In Columbia: South Carolina leads, 39-16 Neutral Sites: South Carolina leads, 3-2 Last Meeting: W, 5-4 (May 22, 2021)
After playing each other to close the regular season in 2021, the Vols and Gamecocks will meet to open SEC play this year. After getting swept in three straight series from 2016-18, Tennessee has won its series against Carolina in each of the past two years.
NOTABLE
Climbing in the Polls The Vols continued their climb in the rankings after going 5-0 last week. Tennessee is ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation this week by Collegiate Baseball News and is a consensus top 10 team overall. UT’s No. 2 ranking is tied for the highest ever in program history.
SEC Opening Weekend For the first time under head coach Tony Vitello and the first time since 2017, Tennessee opens SEC play at home. The Vols also opened conference play against South Carolina in that 2017 season. The Big Orange will be looking to notch their second straight series win on SEC Opening Weekend after taking two of three at Georgia last season.
The Vols are 5-8 in SEC openers at home since 1980 and 32-45 all-time in SEC openers. They will be looking for their first victory in an SEC opener against the Gamecocks (0-2).
Strikeout Kings Tennessee’s pitching staff has been racking up the strikeouts so far this season. Vols’ pitchers totaled 60 strikeouts over their five games last week, including 15 in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader against Rhode Island. UT’s pitching staff has recorded double-digit strikeouts in 13 of its 17 games this season and ranks fifth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (12.2).
Knoxville Cleaning Service After its series sweep over Rhode Island last weekend, UT has swept three opponents already this season. Since Vitello took over as head coach in 2018, Tennessee has swept 15 weekend series (not including tournaments).
Series Sweeps by Year Under Vitello 2022: 3 | 2021: 5 | 2020: 2 | 2019: 3 | 2018: 2
KNOCKSville Bomb Squad The Vols hit 13 more home runs last week and three on Tuesday to increase their NCAA-leading total to 46. Tennessee tied its single-game program record with seven long balls in last Wednesday’s 10-2 victory over James Madison. Those seven homers came from six different players.
The Big Orange have homered at least once in 15 of its 17 games this season and have hit multiple home runs 11 times already this year. In total, 13 different players have gone deep this season and 12 of those players have hit multiple homers.
OPPONENT SCOUT
South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 10-6 (0-0 SEC)
2021 Postseason: NCAA Columbia Regional (1-2)
2022 SEC Preseason Poll: 5th in Eastern Division
Head Coach: Mark Kingston (5th Season)
Preseason Honors:
RHP Will Sanders (Preseason All-SEC)
Stat Leaders:
Batting Avg: Michael Braswell (.429)
Runs: Michael Braswell (17)
Hits: Michael Braswell (27)
Home Runs: Andrew Eyster/Kevin Madden (3)
RBI: Andrew Eyster (23)
Stolen Bases: Braylen Wimmer (5)
Wins: Aidan Hunter/Will Sanders (3)
Saves: Michael Braswell (3)
ERA (min. 1 IP/G): John Gilreath (0.84)
Innings Pitched: Will Sanders (25.0)
Strikeouts: Will Sanders (28)
GAME PROMOTIONS
Gameday promotions for all Tennessee athletics home events can be found on the UT Fan Experience page by clicking HERE.
Fans are encouraged to download the My All App for their phones and devices this season. The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and will allow fans to participate in in-game trivia, the custom filter selfie cam and more throughout the year.
NEW TO LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM
With a palpable excitement surrounding the program, Lindsey Nelson Stadium has added some new and improved seating areas and fan amenities to increase capacity and provide a better fan experience this season.
One of the first things fans will see upon arriving is an additional deck of porches behind the left-field wall as well as new chair-back bleacher seating down the left-field line.
All porches for the 2022 season are sold out, however, the left-field bleachers will be sold as general admission seating. Additional food and beverage options will be located next to the new bleachers throughout the year. For SEC games, a VolShop location and food trucks will be located in that area, as well.
UT has removed the playground down the right-field line and re-branded the area as “The Deck”, which will feature a standing room only area for UT’s students while also providing additional concessions options to help negate congestion throughout the main concourse. In order to enhance the gameday experience, a Petro’s Chili & Chips, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Gameday Sausage kiosk and a new beer kiosk have been added to the deck area.
Vol fans can look for Coca-Cola, popcorn and beer at kiosks on the Plaza located down the first-base line. The VolShop will have hats and merchandise available on the Plaza, as well. The Fan Experience Hub, your one-stop shop for game programs, posters, schedule cards, contest info and more, will also be located in the Plaza area.
Tennessee’s MVP season-ticket holders will also be greeted with a brand new, completely renovated MVP Room this season.
Friday SEC Block Parties Starting with Friday’s SEC opener, an exciting new area will be in place for fans this season. Friday SEC Block Parties will take place for ticketed fans on Pat Head Summitt Street for every Friday SEC contest (weather permitting). The area will only be accessible for fans with tickets to Friday’s game.
Friday’s SEC Block Parties will feature music, giveaways, face painting, food/beverage options, VolShop sales locations and Vol Network sponsor activations. Additionally, VFL Sterl the Pearl will join various SEC weekend games to add to the electricity in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Food, drink, and anything else acquired at the block party can be brought inside the stadium. Gates 10A and 11 will be open for fans to use to enter the stadium. Fans may come and go from stadium to the block party as they please.
ON DECK
The Vols finish their 10-game homestand with a midweek matchup against Butler on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting AllVols.com.
No. 18/17 Tennessee (23-8), which remained perfect in NCAA Tournament participation by earning the program’s 40th-straight invitation to March Madness, will play host to the NCAA First and Second Rounds on March 19 and 21.
UT is hosting the NCAA First and Second Rounds for the first time since the 2018 tournament.
Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics
The Lady Vols were selected as a No. 4 seed in the Wichita Region and will meet No. 13 seed Buffalo (25-8) in the NCAA First Round on Saturday in Knoxville. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. ET at Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will be televised by ABC and carried by the Lady Vol Radio Network and on SiriusXM.
In the other Knoxville first-round game in the bracket opposite UT and UB on Saturday, No. 5 seed Oregon (20-11) meets No. 12 seed Belmont (22-7) at 5:30 p.m.
The winner of those games will advance to the NCAA Second Round and play on Monday at the same venue. Tip time and TV information will be announced after Saturday’s NCAA games are completed.
Louisville is the No. 1 seed in the Wichita Region, while Baylor and Michigan hold down the No. 2 and 3 seeds.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Eric Frede (play-by-play) and Tamika Catchings (analyst) will have the call for ABC.
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 radio stations and by audio stream, with Mickey Dearstone behind the microphone for his final regular-season home game. He will be joined by studio host Bobby Rader.
A link to the live audio stream can be found on each game’s Hoops Central page or the Lady Vol 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 contest also will be available on satellite radio on SiriusXM channel 133 or 201 and on the SXM app on channel 964.
GET YOUR TICKETS
Tickets to the NCAA First and Second Rounds in Knoxville may be purchased at AllVols.com.
Current UT students will receive a free ticket for the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA Women’s Tournament for the session(s) in which UT is playing. Students must show a current UT ID at the Gate B Ticket Office window starting two hours prior to tip-off.
Free parking and shuttle from the Ag Campus in parking area CF (across from Brehm and Food Science).
Fans with a current valid accessible placard or license plate may park on the Ag Campus in lot CF (across from Brehm and Food Science) and take the shuttle, which is fully accessible for those with disabilities (purple star).
Limited $10 parking is available in G-10 (Neyland Drive or Phillip Fulmer Way entrances), G3, G4, G5-30 and Staff 30-A (Peyton Manning Pass entrance).
TENNESSEE’S NCAA TOURNEY HISTORY
As mentioned, the Lady Vols are making their 40th appearance in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, and UT is the only program to appear in all 40 tournaments.
Tennessee was an at-large qualifier for the NCAA Tournament field, finishing third in the Southeastern Conference regular season for the third-straight season and bowing out in the semifinal round of the league tourney to No. 7 seed Kentucky, the eventual champion.
UT earned a No. 4 seed for only the second time ever and has a 3-1 record in that role after defeating Iowa, Georgia and LSU before falling to USC in the NCAA Final Four semifinals in 1986 in Lexington, Ky.
The Lady Vols are 126-31 in NCAA Tournament play, and they rank first in games played (157) and victories (126) in NCAA tourney history.
Tennessee is second behind UConn in winning percentage at .803 in tourney play.
UT is 1-1 in NCAA play under Kellie Harper, making its first appearance with her at the helm in 2021 after the tourney was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) global health pandemic.
Tennessee has advanced to the NCAA regional round on 34 occasions, posting a 28-6 record in the Sweet 16.
The only seasons UT did not make the regional level were in 2009 and from 2017 to 2021. UT lost its opening round contest as a No. 5 seed to No. 12 Ball State in Bowling Green, Ky., in 2009. No. 5 seed UT lost its second-round game at No. 4 seed Louisville in 2017. No. 3 seed UT lost its second-round game to No. 6 seed Oregon State in Knoxville in 2018. No. 11 seed Tennessee fell to No. 6 seed UCLA in the first round at College Park, Md., in 2019. No. 3 seed UT dropped a 70-55 second-round decision to No. 6 seed Michigan in 2021.
UT has made the Elite Eight 28 times and in five of the past 10 tournaments, posting an 18-10 record in that round.
The Lady Vols have seen their season ended in the regional championship game in five of the past 10 years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016).
UT has advanced to 18 NCAA Final Fours and won eight of them (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008), ranking second to UConn.
Tennessee has finished second in the nation five times and third on five more occasions.
In drawing Buffalo, UT will be playing its 89th different opponent during all rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
UT IN FIRST & SECOND ROUNDS
Tennessee is making its 40th appearance in the NCAA First/Second Rounds, and it owns a 59-5 record during games played in those rounds.
The Lady Vols are 31-2 all-time in the NCAA First Round and 28-3 in the NCAA Second Round.
The only blemishes are a first-round loss to Ball State, 71-55, in Bowling Green, Ky., on March 22, 2009, a second-round setback to Louisville, 75-64, in Louisville, Ky. on March 20, 2017, a second-round loss to Oregon State, 66-59, in Knoxville, on March 18, 2018, a first-round ouster by UCLA, 89-77, on March 23, 2019, in College Park, Md., and a second-round loss to Michigan, 70-55, in San Antonio, Texas, on March 23, 2021.
In NCAA First/Second Round play, Tennessee is 45-1 at home, 4-2 away and 10-2 at neutral sites.
The breakdown for that is 23-0 home/0-1 away/8-1 neutral for the first round and 22-1 home/4-1 away/2-1 neutral for the second round.
UT VS. THE NCAA FIELD
Tennessee has played 16 games vs. 14 different teams in the 2022 NCAA Tournament field.
The Lady Vols are 10-6 vs. those opponents.
Tennessee was 5-2 vs. non-conference NCAA Tournament-qualifying foes this season, defeating Kansas, South Florida, Texas, UCF and Virginia Tech and falling to Stanford and UConn.
The Big Orange had a 5-4 record vs. SEC teams that made the NCAA Tournament, defeating Arkansas (twice), Georgia, Kentucky and Ole Miss, while falling to Florida, Kentucky, LSU and South Carolina.
The SEC placed eight teams in the tournament, which tied for the most of any league (with the ACC).
The SEC’s teams going dancing in 2022 include Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss South Carolina and Tennessee.
LADY VOL NCAA EXPERIENCE
As opposed to last season, when only three Tennessee players possessed NCAA Tournament experience entering the Big Dance, nine members of this year’s roster have played in NCAA contests.
Burrell averaged 16.5 ppg. and 6.0 rpg. in 2021 and has put up 11.0 ppg. and 4.0 rpg. for her career.
Walker averaged 10.5 rpg. last season after pulling down 14 caroms vs. Middle Tennessee.
Jordan Horston, who has been out due to injury, possesses two as well, while Keyen Green (out for the season) played in one while at Liberty.
Alexus Dye, who tallied 26 points and 11 rebounds for Troy last year vs. Texas A&M, has one tourney game to her credit. So do Jessie Rennie and Emily Saunders.
RECAPPING THE LAST GAME
Graduate Alexus Dye put up a game-high 26 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a Kentucky team that hit six first-quarter treys as No. 18/15 Tennessee fell on March 5 in the semifinals of the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, 83-74.
Dye managed her second straight double-double with a season-high 26 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Rae Burrell also was in double figures for third-seeded Tennessee (23-8) with 16 points on the day.
Rhyne Howard led seventh-seeded Kentucky (18-11) in scoring with 24 points, while Robyn Benton and Jada Walker each turned in 16.
NOTABLES FROM OUR LAST CONTEST
KEY IS QUEEN: Tamari Key took sole possession of Tennessee’s single-season blocks record, swatting two shots against Kentucky to move her season total to 115. She trails Candace Parker (275), UT’s leader in career blocks, by only two.
HAVE A DAY, DYE: Graduate Alexus Dye put up a season-high 26 points against UK while grabbing 10 boards to turn in her second straight double-double.
WALKER DISHING: Graduate Jordan Walker doled out a career-high 10 assists against the Wildcats. Her previous high of nine came at Western Michiganagainst Akron on Jan. 25, 2020. Prior to tonight, her high against an SEC opponent was seven, set against MSU on Feb. 24.
DYE PICKING UP THE SLACK: In the five contests since Tennessee lost Jordan Horston, its leading rebounder, Dye has picked up her activity on the boards, averaging 10.0 rpg. over that stretch.
UT-BUFFALO SERIES NOTES
While Buffalo and Tennessee have never met in women’s hoops, the Lady Vols are 8-1 vs. schools in the Mid-American Conference.
UT is 0-1 vs. MAC schools in the NCAA Tournament, with the only loss ever to that league occurring on March 22, 2009, when Ball State toppled the Lady Vols, 71-55, in Bowling Green, Ky., in the NCAA First Round.
That was UT’s first-ever loss in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
UB’s Dominique Camp and Tennessee’s Alexus Dye were teammates last season at Troy and helped the Trojans to the NCAA Tournament.
Bulls freshman forward Laney Bone is from Chattanooga and attended Silverdale Baptist Academy.
Buffalo senior guard Jazmine Young is a transfer from Tennessee State.
Young started and played 19 minutes for TSU against the Lady Vols on The Summitt on Nov. 14, 2019, tallying three rebounds, two assists and a steal with no points.
A LOOK AT THE BULLS
The University at Buffalo is led by dynamic 5-foot-5 junior guard Dyaisha Fair, who averages 23.4 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 4.3 apg. and 2.1 spg. while hitting 88 three-pointers on the season.
She is joined by fellow standouts in 6-0 freshman guard Georgia Woolley (14.6 ppg., 48 3FGs) and 6-1 graduate forward Summer Hemphill (13.1 ppg., 10.4 rpg.).
The Bulls have won their last nine contests and 14 of their past 15 since a three-game skid from Jan. 22-26.
UB played South Carolina, Oklahoma and Syracuse back-to-back-back at the Battle 4 Atlantis, falling 88-60 and 93-72, respectively, to the first two foes before taking down the Orange, 88-79.
Syracuse happens to be the alma mater of Buffalo head coach Felisha Legette-Jack.
ABOUT THE HEAD COACH
Felisha Legette-Jack is in her 10th season as the head coach at Buffalo.
Legette-Jack is 202-115 during her tenure with the Bulls and is 343-278 overall in 19 years as a head coach.
She also directed programs at Hofstra (2002-06) and Indiana (2006-12).
Legette-Jack was hired in 2012 by her (then) athletics director at UB, Danny White. On Saturday, she’ll be facing White’s current employer, which happens to be the University of Tennessee.
UB’S LAST GAME
The University at Buffalo women’s basketball team held off Ball State, 79-75, to claim the 2022 Mid-American Conference Championship at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on March 12.
Dyaisha Fair (30) and Georgia Woolley (29) combined to score 59 of the team’s 79 points to help the Bulls win their third MAC title in six years.
Buffalo held a 53-50 lead entering the fourth quarter, and that’s when Fair and Woolley took over. The pair combined to score all 26 fourth-quarter points for the Bulls. With the game tied, 53-53, Woolley drained a three from the top of the key to put UB ahead for good.
Fair was named the MAC Tournament MVP and became UB’s all-time leading scorer as well as the first player in program history to surpass 2,000 career points.
Vols’ HC Rick Barnes, G Santiago Vescovi, G Josiah-Jordan James, F John Fulkerson, & G Kennedy Chandler spoke with media following the 88-56 win over Longwood in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee guards Santiago Vescovi and Kennedy Chandler have been selected to the USBWA All-District IV team, the organization announced.
District IV includes schools in the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The USBWA has selected All-District teams since the 1956-57 season, its founding year.
Vols guards Santiago Vescovi & Kennedy Chandler / Credit: UT Athletics
A first-team All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Team selection, Vescovi has compiled his best season as a Volunteer. Entering the NCAA Tournament, Vescovi boasts career-best averages in scoring (13.4 ppg), rebounding (4.5 rpg), steals (1.7 spg) and 3-point percentage (.396).
Entering the NCAA Tournament, Vescovi has 95 made 3-pointers this season, which currently stands as the fifth-most made threes by a Vol in a single season.
Vescovi was also named NABC second-team All-District 20 on Tuesday. NABC All-District honors are voted on by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I.
Chandler burst onto the scene during his freshman season on Rocky Top, earning second-team All-SEC honors and being named SEC Tournament MVP. Entering the NCAA Tournament, Chandler is averaging 13.8 points, 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 37.2 percent from 3-point range.
The Memphis native has also recorded 68 steals, which ranks third on Tennessee’s all-time single-season steals list and is the most in program history by a freshman.
Vescovi, Chandler and the No. 3 seed Vols begin NCAA Tournament action Thursday in Indianapolis, taking on No. 14 seed Longwood at 2:45 p.m. ET on CBS.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Athletics’ popular “Big Orange Caravan” presented by RJV Equipment makes its triumphant return in April and May and will be headlined by Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White, head football coach Josh Heupel, men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes and women’s basketball coach Kellie Harper.
A collaborative fan appreciation tour hosted by Tennessee Athletics and the UT Knoxville Office of Alumni Affairs, “Big Orange Caravan” will make stops in Chattanooga (April 19), Atlanta (April 20), the Tri-Cities (April 21), Nashville (April 28) and Memphis (May 3). Details on each venue will be announced soon.
Big Orange Caravan / Credit: UT Athletics
Tickets for each tour stop cost $20 and include light food options. A total of $5 of every ticket sold will benefit the local UT Alumni chapter. Tickets are available now at AllVols.com.
Doors to each event open at 5 p.m. local time followed by a meet and greet with the headliners from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. A cash bar, as well as light food and appetizers, will be available. Each program begins at 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by “The Voice of the Vols” Bob Kesling, the program will feature fun stories, insight and a Q & A with White and the coaches. The UT Spirit Squads and Smokey will also be in attendance.
In addition, season tickets for the 2022 football season are on sale now at AllVols.com or by contacting the UT Athletic Ticket Office at (865) 946-7000. Existing season ticket holders have until May 1 to renew their tickets.
After Tennessee won its first SEC Tournament title since 1979, Coach Rick Barnes declared during the celebration in Tampa: “Four more.’’
One down, three more to go.
Thanks to a brilliant shooting effort and balanced scoring, third-seed Tennessee (27-7) routed No. 14 seed Longwood (26-7) 88-56 Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Four more, of course, means a trip to the Final Four.
For Tennessee’s program, the Final Four is the Holy Grail.
It’s not for Duke or Kentucky or North Carolina or Kansas or UCLA.
Those blue bloods have combined for 86 Final Four appearances.
Kentucky (17) has more Final Fours than the rest of the SEC combined (14). (Arkansas has made two Final Fours as an SEC school, six overall.)
But for a UT program that has never tasted Final Four success, making it to New Orleans would be a crowning achievement.
Tennessee, an 18-point favorite, was terrific against the Lancers.
After taking a slim 16-14 lead, Tennessee went on a 13-2 run and claimed a 54-29 halftime lead. John Fulkerson keyed the early start with 11 points off the bench in the first 9 minutes.
The Vols led by as much as 36 against the outmanned Lancers.
Tennessee shot a blistering 67% in the first half, and had 18 assists to three turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
For the game, UT shot 60% and made 14 of 24 3-point tries.
Santiago Vescovi led the Vols with 18 points on 6 of 8 from 3-point range. He tied Chris Lofton’s record for most 3s in an NCAA tournament game. Vescovi added seven assists and four steals.
Josiah-Jordan James chipped in with 17 points and 9 rebounds.
Fulkerson had 15, 13 in the first half.
Kennedy Chandler added 13 points, five assists, five rebounds and four steals.
Tennessee set several school NCAA tournament records: Most assists (29), most steals (13) and best field-goal percentage. The 32-point margin of victory was the second most ever.
Tennessee advances to face Michigan (18-14) in the second round Saturday. The 11th-seed Wolverines overcame a 15-point first half deficit to beat Colorado State 75-63 behind 54.2% shooting. Michigan also won the battle of the boards, 36-25.
It’s worth noting that Barnes, who has made one Final Four as a coach, told his team four more wins in Tampa.
It takes six to win a national championship.
If UT makes it to the Superdome, you can bet Barnes will change is goal.
The No. 3 seed Tennessee basketball team begins NCAA Tournament play Thursday in Indianapolis, taking on No. 14 seed Longwood as part of the South Region at 2:45 p.m. ET inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Fans can catch Thursday’s game on CBS and online or on any mobile device through the CBS Sports app. Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analysis) and Jamie Erdahl (reporter) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp calling the action. A national radio broadcast is also available on channel 135 on Sirius and channel 202 SiriusXM.
Vols F Brandon Huntley-Hatfield / Credit: UT Athletics
On Sunday, Tennessee (26-7) claimed its first SEC Tournament championship since 1979 with a 65-50 win over Texas A&M. Santiago Vescovi led Tennessee on Sunday with 17 points on four made 3-pointers. Josiah-Jordan James contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds for his third career double-double, while Kennedy Chandler had 14 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
Super senior John Fulkerson scored eight points and had a career-high-tying 12 rebounds.
For his performances in Tennessee’s wins over Mississippi State, Kentucky and Texas A&M, Chandler was named SEC Tournament MVP, while James and Vescovi received SEC All-Tournament Honors. Chandler averaged 14.7 points and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range (6-for-12) and sporting a 5.0 assist/turnover ratio during the tournament.
In total, Tennessee trailed for just 68 seconds during its three SEC Tournament games en route to the conference title.
Tennessee’s inclusion in this year’s NCAA Tournament marks the fourth straight NCAA Tournament that the Vols have made. Tennessee has never previously faced Longwood (26-6)—winners of this year’s Big South Conference Tournament.
With a win Thursday, Tennessee would advance to face the winner of No. 6 seed Colorado State (25-5) and No. 11 seed Michigan (17-14) on Saturday. Time and television network for Saturday will be determined following Thursday’s games.
THURSDAY’S MATCHUP • Founded in 1839, Longwood University is a public college located in Farmville, Virginia. With an enrollment of 4,800, the Lancers are members of the Big South Conference. • Tennessee has never previously faced Longwood, but the Vols are 28-0 all-time vs. current members of the Big South Conference. • Rick Barnes also has never faced Longwood as a head coach, but he, too, is unbeaten against Big South teams (23-0). • Longwood is riding the nation’s fifth-longest active win streak—eight games. • The Vols and Lancers have two common opponents this season. Tennessee won home games against Presbyterian and USC Upstate. Longwood also was perfect against those intraconference foes, beating Presbyterian once and USC Upstate twice.
STORYLINES • Tennessee is riding a seven-game win streak and has won 12 of its last 13 contests. • The Volunteers captured their first SEC Tournament championship since 1979 last weekend in Tampa. • True freshman Kennedy Chandler was named SEC Tournament MVP. • The Vols played an NCAA-best (tied) 18 Quad 1 games this season, winning 11. Only Kansas has more Quad 1 wins (12). • Tennessee stood at No. 7 in the NCAA’s selection NET ratings. Each of UT’s seven losses are Quad 1. • According to KenPom, the Vols rank third in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing only 86.2 points per 100 possessions. • Tennessee’s scoring defense of 66.4 ppg in SEC play was the best in the league. The Vols have held 10 of their last 12 opponents to fewer than 65 points. • The Vols are 7-7 against this year’s field of 68. See Page 3 for more.
SATURDAY SCENARIOS • Tennessee has never faced Colorado State. The Vols are 12-3 all-time against current members of the Mountain West Conference. • Rick Barnes is 3-1 as a head coach against Mountain West opposition, with no meetings against the Rams. • Tennessee’s all-time series with Michigan is tied, 5-5. That includes two NCAA Tournament clashes, both won by the Wolverines (2011 and 2014). The 2014 meeting took place in the Sweet Sixteen at Indy’s Lucas Oil Stadium. • Barnes has faced Michigan only once as a head coach, as his Texas squad fell to the Wolverines in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee. • Barnes is 30-31 all-time against current members of the Big Ten. • Tennessee owns a 7-8 record in NCAA Tournament second-round games. • Barnes is 9-6 in the second round.
TENNESSEE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT • The Vols are making their 24th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Big Orange own a 22-24 (.478) NCAA Tournament record. • The Vols are 1-0 in the First Four, 13-7 in first-round games, 7-8 in second-round games, 1-0 in third-round action, 1-7 in regional semifinals, 0-1 in regional finals and 0-1 in the now-defunct regional consolation round. • This is the program’s fourth NCAA berth under seventh-year head coach Rick Barnes. • Tennessee’s 24 NCAA Tournament berths tie LSU for fourth-most among SEC teams. • Since 2010, among SEC programs, only Kentucky (31) and Florida (19) have won more NCAA Tournament games than Tennessee (10).
VOLS vs. THE FIELD OF 68 • Prior to the tournament, the Vols played 14 games against 10 different teams comprising the field of 68, going 7-7 in those contests. • The wins came against Arizona (1), Auburn (2), Kentucky (2), Arkansas (4), LSU (6), and North Carolina (8). • The average margin of victory in those seven wins was 9.1 points.
UT HOOPS HISTORY IN INDIANA • Tennessee’s first collegiate basketball appearance in the state of Indiana came on Dec. 20, 1958, when the fifth-ranked Vols suffered an 81-66 loss to Butler at Butler Fieldhouse (now Hinkle Fieldhouse). • The Vols own a 3-9 all-time record in Indiana: 1-5 in Indianapolis, 2-3 in Evansville and 0-1 in West Lafayette. • Tennessee has played six NCAA Tournament games in Indiana, going 2-4 (1-3 in Indy). • In the 1982 NCAA Tournament, Tennessee defeated Southwestern Louisiana (the Ragin’ Cajuns) before losing to Virginia at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. Then in the 1983 NCAA Tournament, Tennessee beat Marquette before falling to Louisville at Roberts Municipal Stadium in Evansville. In the 2014 Sweet Sixteen, UT dropped a 73-71 contest to Michigan at Indy’s Lucas Oil Stadium. The attendance of 41,072 at Lucas Oil stands as the largest crowd ever for a Tennessee basketball game. And most recently, the Vols fell to Oregon State in a first-round matchup last year at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indy. • Rick Barnes‘ previous NCAA Tournament head coaching experience in Indiana occurred in 2005 —when his eighth-seeded Texas Longhorns fell to ninth-seeded Nevada at Indy’s RCA Dome—and last year’s Oregon State first-round game.
TENNESSEE AS A NO. 3 SEED • Tennessee is competing as a No. 3 seed for just the second time in program history. • Tennessee went 1-1 as a No. 3 seed in 2018. The Vols defeated Wright State before falling to Loyola Chicago at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
VOLS IN THE SOUTH REGION • This is the fifth time UT has competed in the South Region (2000, 2007, 2018 and 2019). • The Vols reached the Sweet Sixteen in three of those NCAA Tournaments, competing as the No. 4 seed in 2000, the No. 2 seed in 2007 and the No. 2 seed in 2019.
BARNES’ NCAA RÉSUMÉ IMPRESSIVE • Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes has guided four different programs to a total of 26 berths in The Big Dance. He led Providence and Clemson to three berths each before guiding Texas to 16 tournament appearances in 17 years. This is his fourth appearance with the Vols. • Barnes in 2018 became the 13th head coach ever to lead four different programs to the Division I NCAA Tournament. • Barnes has led his teams to seven Sweet Sixteens, three Elite Eights and one Final Four, in 2003. • In Tennessee’s 112-year hardwood history, the Volunteers have made just 24 NCAA Tournament appearances (two fewer than Barnes). • From 1995 through 2016, every player Barnes coached for four years made at least three trips to the NCAA Tournament.
VOLS-LANCERS CONNECTIONS • What are the odds that Tennessee and Longwood both would feature players from Helsinki, Finland? Oddly enough, Volunteers junior Olivier Nkamhoua (injured) and Lancers sophomore Jesper Granlund both hail from Finland’s capital. • The Freshman of the Year in Longwood’s conference (Big South) is the son of first-year Tennessee assistant coach Justin Gainey. Jordan Gainey scored 16 and 13 points in USC Upstate’s two losses to Longwood this season.
TRIO HONORED BY SEC COACHES • Three Vols garnered SEC postseason honors from the league’s head coaches, announced March 8. • Junior guard Santiago Vescovi earned a spot on the All-SEC first team, while freshman point guard Kennedy Chandler was a second-team selection. • For the second straight season, two Vols landed on the SEC All-Freshman Team, as Chandler and Zakai Zeigler made the eight-man squad. • Zeigler also was selected to the five-man SEC All-Defensive Team, becoming only the fourth Vol ever to earn that honor.
ALL-TOURNAMENT ACCLAIM • Three Vols were voted to the five-man SEC Tournament All-Tournament Team in Tampa, Florida. • True freshman point guard Kennedy Chandler was named Tournament MVP after averaging 14.7 points and 5.0 assists with a 5.0 assist/turnover ratio. • Junior wings Josiah-Jordan James (14.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Santiago Vescovi (12.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.0 spg) also earned All-Tournament acclaim.
On not receiving a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament… “Well, you know, I think it is what it is. We can discuss it and talk about it – I told Tom – I’m here today to talk about this and what I do. I do believe that after Selection Sunday that the chairman or people of the committee should have to have a national day of press conferences so that (the media) can ask questions, not just for two or three minutes, from people that really cover college basketball throughout (the season). When you look at it, to answer your question, everybody said that we were a 3-seed going into the SEC Tournament, so it doesn’t look like the tournament helped us. Certainly, I don’t understand how a team in the SEC that wins 12 games like Texas A&M, and is playing great basketball at the end (of the season), not being in the tournament. It just baffles me, it really does. If that’s the way it’s going to be, if the conference tournament doesn’t mean anything and the teams that are already slotted in the tournament cannot improve their seeding, we should stay at home and let the teams that are trying to get into the tournament fight for that one bid; that gives our league a chance to get more. So, those are the questions I really think should be asked and answered. There’s people out there much more thorough than I am, in terms of looking at résumés and all that. From a coaches standpoint, this is what we have and we’re going to go from here, but on a national level and for our game, maybe a press conference where tough questions have to be answered helps people going forward. If it’s scheduling people are doing, they can take care of that themselves. Like I said, it is what it is. We’ve got to go play basketball and I’m proud of our guys for their effort that they’ve put in all year long and to have the chance to be a part of this is what we work for.”
Vols HC Rick Barnes / Credit: UT Athletics
On the SEC Tournament being evidence of playing their best basketball at the end of the season… “Yeah, I do think we did some good things. Each game had its own challenges, but we did a lot of good things. I thought, especially yesterday, we knew we were going to have to do a good job of knowing – we had a couple of games playing our traditional big lineup, subbing two guys at a time – with A&M playing a small lineup we would play that lineup as long as we could and then size down to our small lineup. I thought the guys did a really good job against a team that was playing as well as any team in the country and should be in the tournament. We guarded the ball well and certainly they had four days where they just fought like crazy and they fought yesterday till the very end. I thought our guys really did do a good job of perimeter defense and trying to really guard the basketball.”
On the four-guard-plus-Fulkerson lineup used at the end of games… “When Fulky (John Fulkerson) is really locked in and playing well and doing the things that he can do, we can get him the ball around the elbow area, guys cut off of him. Our movement has been good, we’ve become a team that is moving and cutting, moving those parts around. That’s when we are playing our best basketball and he, and our post guys really in general, they all know basketball pretty well. Knowing that they were playing the matchup zone they were in, doing the different things, and we finally got settled down and we were really just trying to keep our movement going. But, he was good in that area. We like it when he can get some space there to work with.”
On his first conference title since 1994… “Well, one, I think it is extremely hard to win a regular season championship, it’s hard to win conference tournaments. All leagues are different, I mean I can sit and talk about all the different ways that things play out through the years. Honestly, when you get to be my age and you look around and have a group of guys like we have – and I have had so many wonderful, I mean just unbelievable players – I know how hard they work. Now I will tell you, and I’ve said it before, I made the mistake many, many years ago of making it about me and I was wrong, dead wrong, in that. But now, it truly is about the players. I guess I’ve matured, I’ve grown up with them. I love it, I love the way those guys celebrated because they deserve it. A lot of emotion came out there because this year, we weren’t perfect. We had ups and downs within our program that we had to deal with, but when you see it coming together and the effort that these guys put in it and the respect that they really do have for each other. This group will someday be brought back here, I won’t be here, but they’ll be brought back and be honored for many, many years to come and that’s something that they will be remembered (for). They will be conference champions for forever. There will be a bond there that they will look back one day and, when they children and grandchildren, it will mean even more to them.”
On Josiah-Jordan James’ performance during the tournament… “He’s played good, Josiah and Santi (Santiago Vescovi), both of those guys don’t get the credit for what they do on the defensive end. What they do, I mean Josiah’s block there was an incredible block. What Santi had to do guarding (Quenton) Jackson yesterday, I mean that kid played an incredible tournament. Santi, we were going back-and-forth about putting Santi on him with how important he is to us. Both of those guys just went at it with each other. So many people look at steals and things like that when they talk about defense, but it’s the fix-it plays that Jo did, even when he’s not making shots. But when he’s starting to play at all three levels like he is, that’s the player that we know he can be. I think he’s just getting started for how good of a basketball player he can be.”
On playing an unfamiliar opponent in the NCAA Tournament… “I think, looking at it, I don’t know a lot about them right now, but Longwood is a guard-heavy team with experienced players. I know how hard it is to go through a league when you only lose, what, one game and win a championship. We all know how the transfer portal works, too. Every game is going to be a hard game, the scouting report and all three games this past weekend were different. Our guys have learned how to adapt to that quickly, but we will get busy with it tomorrow. I wish our tournament would end on Saturday. You think about it, we end on Sunday, late, get back here. We were flying back through the selection show, then we turn around and get put in an early afternoon game, but that’s the way it is. That’s why I wish, as a league, we would look at moving our tournament (championship) to Saturday, which will be hard to do because it has been brought up so many times. I think everybody in our league, certainly coaches, would like it to be that way.”
On the off the court reason the Vols have been successful this year… “I think anytime you win and you’re successful, it’s leadership. I talked a lot about it yesterday, when we ended last season, the first thing we talked about was leadership. I said ‘we can’t move forward until we get more from within the program and you guys are willing to lead each other and some days talk to each other in a way you don’t know how to do.’ It’s hard to be a leader, it’s hard to be a team where you are willing to, not in a bad way, but be able to say to someone ‘man, that’s a tough shot. Take care of the basketball.’ Those kind of things ‘hey, you’ve got to block out,’ because often times when you deal with young players they’re like ‘hey, worry about you’ or whatever. So, we ended our season talking about it, and we started this year during the summer talking about the same thing. Then, as you go through a year, injuries creep in, outside voices that these guys hear from their different camps that they deal with. The leadership is what brought us to it, and it did come from within, it really did. We went through, like every team and I think every team goes through it, thinking of Josiah and Santi and they lead in different ways. Uros (Plavsic)’s voice became a big voice. I can go down the line with so many different guys. Zakai (Zeigler), the way he came in and brought something that we didn’t know all about it, his DNA has had a tremendous effect on this team and, certainly, Kennedy (Chandler) and the way he has continued to grow. Victor Bailey Jr., you can’t ask for a better teammate than him. For a guy that certainly has been a big part of our program, I’d be disappointed if he and the other guys on the bench didn’t want to play for us, because they want to play, but for them to encourage their teammates… I walked into the locker room last night, right before the team went out there on the floor and VJ Bailey had Uros in a corner just saying ‘hey man, you got to get every rebound, do you understand?’ I mean VJ was telling him. When you get that kind of interaction with a team, that’s when you know you’ve got something special.”
On the idea that late in the season is all about guard play… “There’s a lot more, I mean you’ve got to have terrific guard play. You’ve got to be able to defend the 3-point line, you’ve got to take care of the basketball. I mean it’s a team sport and because of that, I mean, everybody is valuable. When you go up against a team that’s got all guards and you run into a matchup where the other team is really big, either they’ve got to size down to you or if you don’t have big guys, what do you do? So, I think it’s all important and I think the mindset of continuing to get better, like tomorrow is an important day for us. It’s a big day of preparation and we wanted these guys to enjoy what they accomplished yesterday, but they know and I know what our ultimate goal has been. The fact we are there with a chance to go after it is where we want to be.”
On how his role changes when he is playing with another post player versus being the only post player on the floor… “I guess it’s really just going from the 4 to the 5. I guess my role really is the same, just a different position. I think the biggest change with that, whether I’m playing with Josiah (James) or Uros (Plavsic), is probably on the defensive end. When you ask that question, the thing that comes to mind is rebounding on both ends of the floor at the 4 and the 5, I think that’s the most important thing.”
On how Sunday’s SEC championship compares to winning the SEC regular season title in 2018… “As bad as I hate to say it, it felt a lot sweeter yesterday. And that’s no discredit to the championship that we had in 2017-18 and those teammates. But this one was a lot sweeter and I was a lot more emotional I think maybe because I have a bigger role on this team compared to that team, but it was great. Both of them were really good.”
On if he thinks this past weekend was Tennessee’s best basketball and why he thinks Tennessee has continued to improve all season… “I would say we’re definitely playing some of our best basketball right now and we’re really meshing and playing well together. As far as us getting better, I would say first of all, credit to our coaches for pushing us. That’s what coach Barnes says a lot, is just getting better, getting better, getting better. I think that kind of goes to us as players and listening to what they say, but also just buying in. Everyone buying into their role, having each other’s backs and knowing what all we can accomplish if we play together and try to get better every day.”
