GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 7/7 Tennessee couldn’t overcome a hot-handed Florida squad that shot a season-best 53.2 percent Thursday night, falling 84-59 in Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Graduate Alexus Dye led UT (19-3, 8-2 SEC) with 10 points and six rebounds. Senior Rae Burrell and sophomore Tess Darby each finished with nine points, and junior Tamari Key had eight points and eight rebounds.
Kiara Smith was the high scorer for Florida (16-6, 6-3 SEC), turning in 25 points. Nina Rickards was the Gators’ second-leading scorer with 16, and Jordyn Merritt posted 13.
Tess Darby – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics
Jordan Horston scored the first points of the contest, knocking down a trey 16 seconds into play, but Florida scrapped back with high-pressure defense, converting Tennessee turnovers into nine straight points to lead 9-3 by the 6:54 mark. Burrell ended the run with a short jumper, but six more points by the Gators gave UF a 10-point lead a minute and a half later. Dye cut it to eight with a layup just before the media timeout, and Key followed it up with another following the break to pull the Lady Vols within six with 3:35 left in the first. A 3-pointer by Tess Darby cut it to three 30 seconds later, but Florida closed out the quarter with a 10-6 run in the final two minutes to lead 25-18 at the end of the first.
The Gators opened the second with a 7-2 run to lead by as many as 12 before Dye hit a short jumper to cut the deficit to 32-22 with 6:48 left in the half. Both teams were held scoreless for more than three minutes before Smith ended the drought with a layup at the 3:29 mark. Key hit a pair of free throws and Darby followed it up with another 3-pointer to give the Lady Vols some momentum, and UT closed out the half on a 7-2 run to cut the gap to seven by halftime at 36-29.
The Gators came out of the locker room hot, hitting a scorching 69.2 percent of their shots on 9-of-13 marksmanship from the floor in the third quarter. Back-to-back buckets by Smith once again moved the Gators out front by double digits in the opening minute of the second half, but Dye answered with a layup and Burrell followed it up with a jumper to pull UT within seven by the 6:30 mark. The Gators rallied back, launching into a 12-2 run fueled by six quick points by Rickards to lead 52-35 before Sara Puckett ended the skid with a layup. UF extended its lead to 21 before four straight points by Jordan Walker sent the game into the fourth quarter with a score of 59-41.
Florida continued to shoot with precision in the final period, hitting three of its first four shots, including two treys to build its lead to 22 points with 8:02 left in the game. A 3-pointer by Darby on the next possession gave UT some life, setting off an 8-2 run that cut the deficit to 16 just over a minute later. An old-fashioned three-point play by Burrell pulled the Lady Vols within 15 with just under six minutes to play, but that was as close as UT would get. Florida closed out the game with an 11-1 run to win 84-59.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will continue its stint on the road, traveling to No. 10/9 UConn for a noon match-up on Sunday. The game will be televised on FOX.
DARBY FROM DISTANCE: Tess Darby drained three treys on the night, going three of four from behind the arc. She has hit 32 threes on the season, and in SEC play she is averaging a smooth 45.7 percent from long range.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee baseball will start the season ranked 16th in the USA Today Sports Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll, which was released on Thursday.
UT’s No. 16 ranking is its highest of any preseason poll that has been released. The Vols are also ranked among the top 25 in the Baseball America Preseason Poll (No. 17), D1Baseball.com Preseason Poll (No. 19) and the Perfect Game Preseason Poll (No. 21).
Vols Baseball / Credit: UT Athletics
The Southeastern Conference led all leagues with eight teams ranked in the USA Today poll, including six in the top 10. The full USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll can be seen HERE.
UT is coming off one of its best seasons in program history, posting a 50-18 record and advancing to the College World Series for the first time since 2005. Tennessee was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation in 2021 – its highest ranking in program history – and finished the season ranked No. 5 in the final USA Today poll.
The Vols hosted a regional for the first time since 2005 and hosted a super regional for the first time ever, posting a perfect 5-0 record in the NCAA tournament’s first two rounds before making the program’s fifth trip to Omaha. UT reached the 50-win mark for just the third time in program history and finished the season tied for the most wins in Division I college baseball.
Tennessee also posted its best finish in conference play since 1995, going 20-10 in league games to win the SEC Eastern Division for the first time since 1997. UT carried that success into the postseason, advancing to the SEC Tournament Championship game for the first time since 1995. The Vols also had a program record five players earn postseason All-America honors in 2021.
Tennessee returns 24 letterwinners from last season’s Omaha team, including “Super Seniors” in Evan Russell, Luc Lipcius and Redmond Walsh. The Big Orange also added a handful of marquee transfers and welcomed the nation’s No. 5 ranked signing class according to Baseball America and Perfect Game. Russell, sophomore pitcher Blade Tidwell and junior outfielder Jordan Beck have garnered preseason All-America honors for this coming year.
UT begins its 2022 campaign at home on the weekend of Feb. 18-20 against Georgia Southern. The Vols’ home slate features 37 home games, including SEC series against South Carolina (March 18-20), Missouri (April 8-10), Alabama (April 15-17), Auburn (April 29-May 1) and Georgia (May 13-15). UT’s full 2022 schedule can be seen HERE.
For season ticket information, visit AllVols.com or call the Tennessee Athletics ticket office at (865) 656-1200 or 1 (800) 332-VOLS.
The 22nd-ranked Tennessee basketball team is set to face off with South Carolina for the second time this season, taking on the Gamecocks on the road in Columbia on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
Fans can catch Saturday’s game on CBS and online or on any mobile device through the CBS Sports app. Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Jim Spanarkel (analysis) 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. The broadcast is also available on channel 138 on Sirius, channel 190 on SiriusXM and channel 961 on the SiriusXM app.
Josiah-Jordan James – Vols / Credit: UT Athletics
On Tuesday, Tennessee (15-6, 6-3 SEC) defeated Texas A&M at home, 90-80. The Vols had a standout night offensively, shooting 51 percent from the floor and 42 percent from 3-point range.
Five Vols scored in double figures, led by Kennedy Chandler’s 16 points. Chandler also dished out seven assists and had three steals. Olivier Nkamhoua tallied 15 points and had three blocks, while Josiah-Jordan James and Zakai Zeigler each posted 14 points. Santiago Vescovi finished with 13 points while shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range.
Saturday marks the second regular season matchup between Tennessee and South Carolina this season. The Vols defeated the Gamecocks in Knoxville on Jan. 11, 66-46. Since 2018, Rick Barnes and his staff have guided the Volunteers to a 15-5 record in regular-season rematch games (SEC Tournament games not included).
Up next, Tennessee is on the road for a second consecutive game, heading to Starkville, Mississippi to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.
THE SERIES • Tennessee leads the all-time series with South Carolina, 49-28, dating to 1927. The Vols have won seven of their last eight games against the Gamecocks. • With a win on Saturday, Tennessee could even the series at 17-17 when it is contested in Columbia. • For a recap of UT’s 66-46 home win over South Carolina last month, see Page 4. • Tuesday marks the 20th head-to-head meeting between good friends Rick Barnes and Frank Martin. See “Former Big 12 Rivals” note below. • In three career games against South Carolina, Charleston native Josiah-Jordan James averages 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting .476 from the field and .667 (6 of 9) from 3-point range. • This matchup has not been featured on CBS since Feb. 22, 1997, when the ninth-ranked Gamecocks beat the unranked Vols, 69-58, in Knoxville.
LAYUP LINES – TEAM • The Volunteers are riding a four-game win streak in SEC play. • Tennessee stands at No. 13 in the NCAA’s latest NET ratings. Each of UT’s six losses are Quad 1. • Tennessee ranks 18th nationally on the NCAA’s official “toughest schedule” metric. • The Vols rank among the Division I top 12 in steals per game (10.0, eighth), turnover margin (+4.7, ninth) and turnovers forced per game (17.6, 12th). • According to KenPom, the Vols rank eighth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing only 88.1 points per 100 possessions. • Despite the Vols’ overall defensive prowess, opponents are shooting .491 and averaging 79.8 points in UT’s four SEC road games. • Tennessee averages an SEC-best 16.0 assists per game during league play (144 assists on 216 FGs).
LAYUP LINES – PLAYERS • All-SEC candidate Santiago Vescovi has increased his team-leading 14.0 ppg scoring average to 16.0 ppg in SEC play. His 3.67 3-point makes per game during SEC play rank second in the league. • Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and Bob Cousy Award candidate Kennedy Chandler’s 2.3 steals per game rank 13th nationally and second among all Division I true freshmen. • Chandler has scored (267) or assisted (233) on 32 percent of Tennessee’s total points this season (500 of 1,559). • Chandler’s 46 steals are the most by any Vol since Josh Richardson (now with the Boston Celtics) totaled 67 steals in 32 games in 2014-15. • Over Tennessee’s last five games, true freshman and SEC Sixth Man of the Year candidate Zakai Zeigler is averaging 10.6 points and has attempted a team-high 21 free throws (19 for 21, .905). • The SEC record for career games played is 152, held by Kentucky’s Darius Miller (2008-12). John Fulkerson is closing in, having now appeared in a Tennessee-record 151 career games.
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA • After starting SEC play with a 1-4 record in conference, South Carolina (13-8, 4-5 SEC) has won three of its last four games. The Gamecocks defeated Georgia and Vanderbilt at home and Texas A&M on the road before falling at Mississippi State on Tuesday. • The Gamecocks are 9-2 at Colonial Life Arena this season, only dropping contests to the current No. 1 team in the nation, Auburn, and Florida. • South Carolina ranks 30th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing 93.0 points per 100 possessions. The Gamecocks rank 219th in adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 100.1 points per 100 possessions. • James Reese V, who had a game-high 15 points in the first meeting with Tennessee on Jan. 11, is South Carolina’s second-leading scorer with an overall average of 10.9 points per game. Over South Carolina’s last three games, Reese is averaging 18.0 points per game. • The Gamecocks’ leading scorer, senior guard Erik Stevenson, is averaging 17.0 points in SEC home games, compared to just 7.2 points per game in conference road games. • The Gamecocks rank 13th in the nation and second in the SEC with 13.4 offensive rebounds per game. • South Carolina is also holding its opponents to shooting 40.1 percent from the field, a mark that ranks 40th in the nation and third in the SEC. • Tennessee freshman guard Zakai Zeigler has a history playing against a pair of players on the Gamecocks’ roster. Zeigler played against South Carolina sophomore forward Josh Gray when they both attended high school in Long Island. And he played against freshman forward Ta’Quan Woodley in various AAU tournaments and camps.
LAST MEETING WITH SOUTH CAROLINA • A balanced offensive effort, coupled with stout defense, led No. 22 Tennessee past South Carolina, 66-46, on Jan. 11 at Thompson-Boling Arena. • Charleston, South Carolina, native Josiah-Jordan James provided the spark for Tennessee (11-4, 2-2 SEC), sinking a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the first half. That gave the Vols’ offense confidence and momentum to start the second period. James finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds for his second career double-double. He also had a pair of assists, one block and a steal. • Zakai Zeigler brought an energetic presence to the floor when he checked in. The freshman guard logged the Volunteers’ first bucket of the game and posted four points, a rebound, an assist and two steals his first rotation in the game. He finished with 11 points, four steals and four assists. • In total, four Vols scored in double figures, as Santiago Vescovi led the team with 14 points. John Fulkerson added 10 and blocked two shots. • South Carolina (10-5, 1-2 SEC) was led by James Reese V, who notched 15 points on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. • The Gamecocks were stifled in the paint as the Volunteers did not allow either starting forward for Carolina to make a field goal. South Carolina was only 11-of-30 (36.7 percent) on 2-point field-goal attempts, as the Vols made it tough to get shots up around the rim. • The offenses battled in the first half, both jockeying to sustain a lead. As the first period wound to a close, 3-pointers from Zeigler and Kennedy Chandler helped the Big Orange build a lead, but it was James’ trey as the buzzer sounded that extended Tennessee’s lead to a 30-24 lead, and the Vols would never look back. • The Vols rode the offensive momentum to start the second half, starting on a 9-2 run for the first four and a half minutes. Tennessee held the Gamecocks to 8-of-25 (32 percent) shooting from the floor after the break. UT caused 12 turnovers in the first half, seven coming on steals, and carried that success over to the second half, forcing 11 more turnovers. • Tennessee held South Carolina to just 0.667 points per possession.
FORMER BIG 12 RIVALS BARNES, MARTIN NOW UNDER SEC BANNER • Tennessee coach Rick Barnes and South Carolina headman Frank Martin meet for the 20th time as conference rivals Saturday and the 13th time under the SEC banner. • The two squared off seven times as coaches in the Big 12 Conference, when Barnes was with Texas and Martin was at Kansas State. • Barnes holds an 11-8 edge in head-to-head meetings.
FULKERSON SET TO TIE SEC’s CAREER GAMES PLAYED RECORD • After taking advantage of a sixth (COVID) year this season, John Fulkerson has seized Tennessee’s program record for career games played. His record-breaking 143rd appearance was the Jan. 5 overtime win over Ole Miss. • Fulkerson on Saturday will tie the SEC games played record:
RANK PLAYER, YEARS SCHOOL GP 1 Darius Miller, 2008-12 Kentucky 152 2 John Fulkerson, 2016-pres. Tennessee 151 Wayne Turner, 1995-99 Kentucky 151 Walter Hodge, 2005-09 Florida 151 5 Patric Young, 2010-14 Florida 150 6 Jamaal Magloire, 1996-2000 Kentucky 145 Kenny Boynton, 2009-13 Florida 145
SECOND TIME’S A CHARM • Since 2018, Rick Barnes and his staff have guided the Volunteers to a 15-5 record in regular-season rematch games (SEC Tournament games not included).
VOLS EIGHTH NATIONALLY IN STEALS • Tennessee is logging steals at its highest rate of the Barnes era, averaging 10.0 per game. That ranks eighth among Division I teams. • Through Barnes’ first six seasons on Rocky Top, Tennessee averaged just 6.0 steals per game. And UT’s highest per-game average during that span was 7.3 steals per game last season (with two first-round NBA Draft picks manning the wings). • This year’s team is flirting with the Tennessee single-season record for steals per game:
SANTI SEEING A BIG RIM • With 63 made 3-pointers this season, Santiago Vescovi is on pace to finish the season with the fifth-most made threes in program history (93). • Vescovi is averaging 3.0 made threes per game. • It took Vescovi only 18 games this season to surpass his total of 53 3-pointers in 27 games last year.
CHANDLER UP FOR MULTIPLE NATIONAL HONORS • True freshman point guard Kennedy Chandler is one of 15 names on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list. He is also among 10 finalists for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award.
While we still have to wait to see who’s nominated and who will win at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards – we do know who will be hosting the event…Dolly Parton!
Dolly says, “I am so excited to be hosting the ACM Awards on March 7 from Vegas. Watch for us because we’re going to have some fun!”
While Dolly last hosted the show in 2000, her history with the ACM Awards goes back to her first nomination in 1970 for Top Female Vocalist.
In 1978 Dolly walked away with the biggest award of the night as she was named ACM Entertainer Of The Year.
In 2017, Dolly was just one of the many artists awarded Video Of The Year for the super-star laced production of “Forever Country” that celebrated the long and rich history of country music.
Parton has also received special honors including the Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award (2016), the Jim Reeves International Award (2008), and the Cliff Stone Pioneer Award (2006).
Overall Dolly has been nominated at the ACM Awards 45 times.
Now she’ll be helping hand out the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards on March 7th as fans watch the ceremony on Prime Video.
Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music, says, “There is no one better than Dolly to represent the ACM Awards brand and country music on a global scale as we move to streaming and show the world that ‘this is how we country’ by delivering one of the most exhilarating and innovative shows in our history to audiences worldwide.”
Head of Amazon Studios, Jennifer Salke, says “Dolly Parton’s status as a beloved and inspirational icon is a testament to her ongoing impact as an artist, philanthropist, and human being. As we bring the Academy of Country Music Awards to our Prime Video customers worldwide for the first time, we are thrilled to showcase the power of Amazon in creating these impactful global entertainment moments with an icon like Dolly as host, as well as must-see performances and collaborations. Amazon is excited to create 360-degree entertainment experiences and engagement with fans that continue beyond the credits rolling in what is sure to be the most fan-centric event of the year.”
The 57th Annual ACM Awards will be handed out March 7th 2022 on Prime Video – hosted by Dolly Parton.
As Joe Nichols is getting ready to release his next album, Good Day For Living, on February 11th – he also announced dates for a tour of the same name…
Along with fan favorites Joe will be bring music from his new album to the crowds at his shows – including the title track, and his current single at country radio, “Good Day For Living.”
Did you catch Faith Hill‘s recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert?
Faith stopped by to talk to Stephen Colbert about her role as “Margaret Dutton” on 1883 – the prequel series to Yellowstone that streams on Paramount Plus.
The conversation included talking about the period costumes, working with husband Tim McGraw, and what it’s like to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.
As she shared with Stephen about singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, Faith declared that she’s a huge fan of Mickey Guyton – who is singing the Anthem at this year’s big game.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football received the National Letter of Intent from defensive lineman Jayson Jenkins of Bordentown, New Jersey, as head coach Josh Heupel ended the first day of the regular signing period with a top 15 recruiting class.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the #eVOLution22 class was ranked No. 12 by Rivals.com, No. 15 by 247Sports.com and No. 15 by On3.com. The class comes one year after the arrival of Heupel, who guided the Volunteers on a remarkable turnaround with seven victories and eight school team records last fall.
Evolution 2022 / Credit: UT Athletics
Jenkins, out of Notre Dame High School in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, was a three-star defensive end prospect and considered one of the state’s top 20 overall players. He is one of five defensive linemen as part of the 2022 class, joining a promising list that includes five-star James Pearce of Charlotte, North Carolina; four-star Tyre West of Tifton, Georgia, four-star Joshua Josephs of Kennesaw, Georgia and three-star Jordan Phillips of Orlando, Florida.
The Volunteers turn their attention to February workouts. Spring practice dates will be announced at a later date. Tennessee opens the second year of the Heupel era on Sept. 3 against Ball State in Neyland Stadium.
Existing season ticket holders can renew their tickets for the 2022 campaign now by visiting AllVols.com. Fans wishing to purchase new season tickets can do so as well at AllVols.com or by contacting the UT Athletic Ticket Office at (865) 946-7000.
DALLAS – Tennessee’s Blade Tidwell and Jordan Beck earned more preseason recognition after being named to the preseason All-America teams by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
Tidwell earned his third first-team preseason All-America selection and fourth overall (see list below), while Beck garnered his third preseason All-America nod.
The SEC led all conferences with 16 All-America selections, followed by the Big 12 with 12 and the ACC with nine.
Vols RHP Blade Tidwell & OF Jordan Beck / Credit: UT Athletics
Tidwell and Beck both played major roles in helping lead the Vols to an historic season in 2021, which included the program’s first SEC eastern division title since 1997 and culminated with UT’s fifth trip to the College World Series and first appearance in Omaha since 2005.
After an impressive debut season on Rocky Top, Tidwell earned freshman All-America honors last year after posting a 10-3 record in 18 starts with a 3.74 ERA and 90 strikeouts. Tidwell’s 10 victories are tied for the second most in program history by a freshman. The Loretto, Tennessee, native is draft eligible following this season and is a potential first-round pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft.
Beck enters his junior season with high expectations after a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him lead the team with 15 home runs and 64 runs batted in. The Alabama native is regarded as one of the most talented players in the country and is another potential first-round draft pick for the Vols.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association’s official website, www.ncbwa.com. The preseason All-America squads are considered the first step toward the eventual selection of the 2021 Dick Howser Trophy presented by the Game Headwear and voted upon for 24 seasons by members of the NCBWA.
To view the complete NCBWA Preseason All-America Teams, click HERE.
The Vols open their 2022 campaign by hosting Georgia Southern for a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium from Feb. 18-20.
Tennessee Baseball 2022 Preseason Honors
RHP Blade Tidwell Baseball America Preseason All-American – First Team NCBWA Preseason All-American – First Team Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American – First Team Perfect Game Preseason All-American – Second Team
OF Jordan Beck NCBWA Preseason All-American – Second Team Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American – Second Team Baseball America Preseason All-American – Third Team
C Evan Russell Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American – Third Team
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After a one-game stay at home, No. 7/7 Tennessee (19-2/8-1 SEC) hits the road for Gainesville to take on a greatly-improved Florida squad (15-6/5-3 SEC/receiving votes in both polls) at 6:02 p.m. ET on Thursday in Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
The match-up marks UT’s second of three games this week and the fifth of what will be six road tilts in the past eight contests once Kellie Harper‘s squad meets No. 10/9 UConn in Hartford at noon on Sunday.
Thursday’s battle will mark the 59th all-time meeting between the Lady Vols and Gators, with the Big Orange possessing a 54-4 mark vs. UF in a series that dates back to 1980.
Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics
Tennessee heads to Gainesville tied for first in the SEC standings with No. 1/1 South Carolina, thanks to a come-from-behind win over Arkansas on Monday night at Thompson-Boling Arena. Jordan Horston and Rae Burrell had 24 and 21 points, respectively, as the Lady Vols wiped out a 13-point third-quarter deficit to send the game to overtime and prevail in the extra frame, 86-83. The turnaround was the biggest comeback of the season for Tennessee and tied for the second best of the Harper era behind last year’s erasure of a 16-point South Carolina advantage en route to victory over the Gamecocks.
Speaking of USC, Dawn Staley’s team built a comfortable early advantage but had to work for its victory over Florida in the Gators’ most recent game. UF held the nation’s top-ranked team to a 62-50 margin in Gainesville on Sunday. Kiara “Kiki” Smith led all scorers with 22 points on as many field goal attempts and helped force the Gamecocks into 21 turnovers.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Kyle Crooks (play-by-play) and former Florida standout Brittany Davis (analyst) are on the call for the SECN+ live stream.
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 John Wilkerson filling in for Mickey Dearstone behind the microphone. 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 Vol Network Affiliates.
Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
TENNESSEE IN SEC PLAY
UT is 423-89 (.826) in SEC regular-season games through Arkansas, winning 18 regular-season championships and capturing 17 SEC tourney titles.
Tennessee Head Coach Kellie Harper is 27-11 in SEC games in her third year on Rocky Top, including 8-1 in 2021-22, and is 2-2 in SEC Tournament play.
UT tied for third in 2019-20 and finished third outright in 2020-21, marking its best back-to-back outcomes in league play since taking second in 2013-14 and first in 2014-15.
The Lady Vols were picked second in the 2021-22 SEC Preseason Media Poll and No. 3 in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll, marking their best positions since 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively.
UT NO. 7/7 IN POLLS
After opening the year ranked No. 15/12, the Lady Vols climbed to No. 4 in the Jan. 24 AP Poll and hit a best of No. 5 in the Jan. 25 USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Poll. This week, they stand at No. 7 in both polls as of Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
The No. 4/5 plateau was the highest combination of rankings since the Lady Vols were No. 4/5 in the Nov. 23 and 24 polls of the 2015-16 campaign.
UT began that 2015-16 season at No. 4 in each poll and stayed there for two more weeks in the AP Top 25 but was relegated to No. 5 in the coaches poll the following two polling periods.
LADY VOLS PROJECTED FOR NO. 2 SEED
In his Bracketology update on Feb. 1, ESPN’s Charlie Creme has Tennessee as a No. 2 seed in the Wichita Region. The Lady Vols are shown hosting No. 15 Mercer in the first round, with the winner facing No. 7 Ohio State or No. 10 Missouri State in the second round.
ESPN has the Big Orange at No. 6 in its Jan. 31 Women’s College Basketball Power Rankings.
The NCAA NET Rankings show UT ranked No. 8 through Jan. 31, while the NCAA Toughest Schedule report had the Lady Vols at No. 13 (cumulative opposition).
RealTimeRPI.com has UT at No. 4 in RPI as of Feb. 1 with a calculation of .6903 and No. 6 in strength of schedule.
ABOUT THE LADY VOLS
The Lady Vols continue to be one of the nation’s most surprising stories of 2021-22, opening up at 19-2, tied atop the SEC standings and climbing to No. 4 in the AP Poll (currently No. 7) against one of the NCAA’s toughest schedules despite losing returning starter Marta Suárez for the season to a lower leg injury and playing without top returning scorer Rae Burrell for 12 games (leg injury) and this year’s leading scorer and rebounder Jordan Horston for three (lower leg injury/illness).
Burrell and Horston are back in form, but the Lady Vols lost another player for the season on Jan. 23, when key reserve Keyen Green suffered a left knee injury vs. Georgia.
Tennessee picked up its fifth victory over a ranked team this season on Jan. 23, as the Lady Vols came from nine down to defeat No. 13/13 Georgia in Athens, 63-55. UT recorded four wins over ranked foes the entire 2020-21 campaign and had only one ranked win in 2019-20.
The Big Orange women also have victories over No. 23/22 South Florida (52-49), No. 12/21 Texas (74-70 OT), No. 25/23 Texas A&M (73-45) and No. 19/20 Kentucky (84-58) to their credit and beat RV/RV Virginia Tech (64-58) and RV/RV Ole Miss (70-58) on the road this season.
Tennessee is led by Jordan Horston, a dynamic 6-2 junior guard, who paces the team in scoring (16.2 ppg.), rebounding (9.7), assists (3.9 apg.) and steals (1.6) in a breakout season for the five-star player who came out of high school ranked No. 2 overall and the No. 1 guard in the 2019 espnW HoopGurlz 100.
Horston leads the Lady Vols with 10 double-doubles and has topped UT in scoring 12 times, including double-doubles in five of her last seven games.
Senior All-SEC First Team preseason pick Rae Burrell (10.2 ppg., 3.1 rpg.) has seen action the past eight games after missing the previous 12 contests due to a leg injury suffered in the opener vs. Southern Illinois. She has hit double figures in four of the past five games, hitting 10+ for the first time since Nov. 10, tallying 11 at Vanderbilt, 14 vs. Kentucky, 13 vs. Georgia and a season-high 21 vs. Arkansas on Monday night.
Over that five-game span, Burrell is putting up 13.4 ppg. and 4.4 rpg. and shooting 41 percent from the field, 54 percent on threes and 82 percent from the free-throw line.
Tamari Key, a 6-6 junior center, is putting up 10.1 ppg. and 8.4 rpg. to go along with 3.8 bpg. She had a triple-double of 10 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocks in UT’s 74-70 OT victory over No. 12/21 Texas.
Key, rated No. 47 as a prep by espnW, is second on the team with seven double-doubles thus far and has scored in double figures in 12 of 21 games for the Lady Vols. She leads the nation in blocked shots (80) and is second in bpg. (3.81), sitting in UT’s single-season top 10 for the third time at No. 7 with 80 swats in 21 contests. She also ranks fifth (86, 2019-20, 31 games) and ninth (72, 2020-21, 25 games) on that list.
Alexus Dye, a 6-0 forward, is third among active UT players in scoring at 9.2 ppg. She is third in rebounding at 7.7 rpg and has three double-doubles, including a 13/10 effort vs. Arkansas most recently. The graduate transfer from Troy has scored in double figures nine times.
Graduate guard Jordan Walker, who had 17 points vs. Auburn, is Tennessee’s fifth-highest scorer, putting up 7.8 ppg., while tallying 3.9 rpg. and 3.2 apg. to rank fourth and second for UT in those categories.
Freshman guard/forward Sara Puckett is UT’s sixth-leading scorer. The No. 43 espnW prospect coming out of high school is putting up 7.4 ppg. and is shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 35.3 percent on threes and 77.8 percent on free throws and has scored in double figures six times, including a critical 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in the win over Arkansas on Jan. 31.
Sophomore Tess Darby has emerged this season as Tennessee’s leading long-distance threat, connecting on 29 of 81 attempts (35.8 pct.). Jordan Walker (33.9) and Sara Puckett (35.3) have hit 19 and 18 treys, respectively.
The Lady Vols have limited unranked opponents to 31.1 field goal percentage this season, including 24.1 from the three-point arc, and have given up only 55.9 points per contest.
The Big Orange are averaging 73.1 ppg. and shooting 43.9 percent vs. unranked foes.
UT is out-rebounding unranked foes by 18.7 this season, 50.5 to 31.8.
Tennessee pulled down 60 rebounds vs. Arkansas on Jan. 31, marking the third 60+ effort of the season and the 12th game with 50 or more boards.
Over its last four games, Tennessee is shooting 75.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Jordan Walker is averaging 10.0 ppg. and shooting 45.5 percent from the field over the past four games.
Rae Burrell is seven for 13 from the three-point arc over the past five contests.
TENNESSEE NOTES DURING SEC PLAY
Kellie Harper‘s squad is tied atop the SEC standings with No. 1/1 South Carolina at 8-1.
UT is scoring 70.4 ppg. and allowing 58.7 ppg., while shooting 41.9 percent from the field and holding opponents to only 32.4 percent on field goals.
Tennessee is out-rebounding SEC teams 50.0 to 36.0 for a +14.0 margin.
The Lady Vols have limited foes to shooting only 22.0 percent from the three-point arc, including games vs. noted three-ball teams Arkansas (twice) and Texas A&M.
UT has worked to elevate its free-throw shooting. It shot 59.2 vs. non-conference foes and has raised it to 70.2 percent in nine SEC games.
Jordan Horston (17.6 ppg., 10.1 rpg. and 4.0 apg.), Rae Burrell (10.0 ppg., 3.3 rpg.), Tamari Key (10.0 ppg., 7.2 rpg.) Jordan Walker (9.6 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 3.2 apg.) and Alexus Dye (7.9 ppg., 6.7 rpg.) have led Tennessee in its first nine conference games.
Key is shooting 60.4 percent from the floor and has blocked 37 shots already.
Also worth noting, Tess Darby (5.4 ppg.) is 13 of 31 on threes (41.9) during league play, while Rae Burrell is eight of 20 (40.0) and Jordan Walker is eight of 22 (36.4).
Alexus Dye (87.5) and Jordan Walker (78.3) have been much improved at the charity stripe during league play.
Freshmen Brooklynn Miles (17.9) and Sara Puckett (19.7) are seeing significant minutes per game in SEC play for Tennessee.
LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST GAME
Battling back from a 13-point deficit, the No. 7/5 Lady Vols defeated Arkansas 86-83 in overtime Monday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tennessee (19-2, 8-1 SEC) found key offense from a number of contributors. Jordan Horston scored 24 points to lead the Big Orange, while Rae Burrell was clutch down the stretch, sinking 17 of her 21 points in the second half and overtime. Tamari Key got it done at the line, making a career-best eight free throws in a 14-point night.
Horston’s energy showed on both ends of the floor, as she also pulled down 11 rebounds and tallied 40 minutes on the floor, a career high. It was Horston’s 10th double-double of the year. Entering Monday night’s games, only 26 players in Division I had 10 or more double-doubles and only eight play at Power 5 programs.
Another big night came from Sara Puckett off the bench. The freshman logged 10 points and a career-high 10 boards, with nine coming on the defensive end for her first career double-double. The 6-foot-2 freshman blocked two shots, her first game with multiple swats on Rocky Top.
Tennessee kicked into gear in the fourth quarter, taking its first lead of the game with 7:46 left in the frame. The Razorbacks (14-7, 4-4 SEC) hung around as the teams went back-and-forth with six lead changes and four ties in the final period of regulation.
The Lady Vols owned the boards on the evening, pulling down 60. Monday night’s contest marked the first SEC game with 60 rebounds or more since the Lady Vols had 62 against Ole Miss on Feb. 6, 2003. It also marked the first time since the 2013-14 season the Lady Vols had three games with 60 or more boards.
Arkansas’ offense was powered by Amber Ramirez who scored 29 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.
NOTABLES FROM OUR LAST GAME
MOVING ON UP: Tamari Key swatted four shots against the Razorbacks, moving her season total to 80 and career total to 238. She passes Sheila Frost (77) to rank seventh in single-season blocks and creeps within 11 of Frost’s career total of 249 that ranks second all-time among Lady Vols.
SARA SETTLING IN: Freshman Sara Puckett put up 10 points and 10 rebounds for her first career double-double against UA, finding her way into double digits for the first time since dropping a career-high 19 against ETSU on Dec. 20. It’s her sixth performance with 10 or more points this season and the first against an SEC opponent.
THAT GIRL IS ON FIRE: Junior Jordan Horston recorded her 10th double-double and fifth 20+-point game of the season against Arkansas. Five of those double-doubles and three of her 20+ point performances have come in SEC play. She currently averages 17.6 ppg., 10.1 rpg. and 4.3 apg. against conference foes.
OWNING THE PAINT: The Lady Vols out-rebounded UA 60-40, marking the third game of the season in which they’ve pulled down 60 or more boards. Twenty of those boards were on the offensive end, translating into season-high-tying 27 second-chance points. Tennessee held Arkansas to just six second-chance points, the third-lowest allowed this season, and it’s the third time over the last four games that UT has secured 20+ offensive rebounds.
CARDIAC KIDS: Tennessee overcame its largest deficit of the season against the Razorbacks, erasing a 13-point third-quarter deficit to claim its second overtime win and 18th come-from-behind win of the season.
UT-UF SERIES NOTES
Tennessee holds a 54-4 all-time record vs. Florida, dating back to Feb. 8, 1980, winning six straight and 17 of the past 18 meetings.
UT is 24-2 vs. UF in games played in Knoxville, 8-0 at neutral sites and 3-1 in overtime contests vs the Gators, including 3-0 in Gainesville in those extra-frame affairs.
UT is 22-2 all-time in games played in Gainesville, winning the past seven trips there and in 13 of the past 14 visits, including 78-50 on Jan. 16, 2020.
Kellie Harper is 2-1 vs. the Gators, suffering a 66-64 neutral site loss as North Carolina State’s head coach on Nov, 23, 2012, and starting her UT career, 2-0, with wins in Gainesville (2020) and Knoxville (2021).
Tennessee has managed to hold Florida to 50 points or fewer in three of the past four meetings, including exactly 50 in two of the past three seasons.
UT’s record for most free throws made in a game (40-46) came at Florida on Feb. 3, 2005.
Tamari Key’s 10 blocks vs. Florida in Knoxville on Jan. 31, 2021, as part of a triple-double rank as the second-most ever swatted in a game by a Lady Vol. Key matched that mark on Nov. 21, 2021, in Knoxville vs. Texas.
ABOUT FLORIDA
Florida is led in scoring by graduate guard Kiara “Kiki” Smith at 14.7 ppg., with sophomore forward Jordyn Merritt also in double figures at 10.7 ppg.
In SEC play, Smith is putting up 19.3 ppg., followed by Zipporah Broughton (14.3) and Merritt (10.8).
UF’s (then) leading scorer (Lavender Briggs, 12.5 ppg.) went into the transfer portal after 14 games.
ABOUT THE HEAD COACH
Kelly Rae Finley is Florida’s interim head coach after Cameron Neubauer’s resignation in July.
She leads one of the SEC’s surprise teams this season, featuring a 15-6 record, including a 5-3 mark that currently ties the Gators for fourth place.
LAST TIME THE GATORS PLAYED
Florida’s five-game win streak came to an end on Sunday after a Gators’ comeback attempt fell short against No. 1 South Carolina, 62-50, in Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Kiara Smith led the Gators (15-6, 5-3 SEC) with 22 points, while Zippy Broughton also scored in double figures, tallying 11. For the game, Florida shot 20-of-65 (30.8%) from the field and 2-of-11 (18.2%) from three-point range.
The Florida defense made the Gamecocks (20-1, 8-1 SEC) uncomfortable as well, holding the opposition to 20-of-56 (35.7%) from the field and 3-of-13 (23.1%) from deep.
The Orange & Blue also forced South Carolina into 21 turnovers, their second highest number of the season, led by Jordyn Merritt and Nina Rickards with three steals each.
WHEN UT AND UF LAST MET
Sophomore Tamari Key turned in a triple-double to lead No. 20/22 Tennessee to a 79-65 win over Florida in Thompson-Boling Arena on Jan. 31, 2021.
Key totaled 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks, setting career highs in both points and blocks. It marks just the fourth triple-double in Lady Vol history, and the first since Jordan Reynolds notched one against UNCW on Dec. 29, 2016. Junior Rae Burrell also eclipsed the 20-point scoring mark for Tennessee (12-3, 6-1 SEC) with 21, while senior Rennia Davis finished with 14.
Florida (9-8, 2-7 SEC) was led by Kiara Smith and Lavender Briggs who each had 23. Smith added 10 rebounds to her point total to record a double-double.
UP NEXT: IN HARTFORD VS. UCONN
After playing at Florida on Thursday night, Tennessee will turn its attention toward a noon Sunday battle with No. 10/9 UConn in Hartford. FOX, which is new as a broadcasting entity in women’s college basketball, will have the telecast.
The match-up with the Huskies will be UT’s final non-conference tilt before the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Vols will return to SEC play, hosting Missouri next Thursday (SEC Network, 6:30 p.m. ET) and Vanderbilt on Sunday (SEC Network, Noon, Play4Kay Game).
