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Hoops Preview: #11/10 Lady Vols vs. Oklahoma State

Posted on November 27, 2021

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — No. 11/10 Tennessee (5-0) plays its second of two games at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout, facing Oklahoma State (3-2) on Saturday. The contest will tip off at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time (6:30 p.m. ET) at South Point Arena.

The game marks the third straight battle against a Big 12 foe, as the Lady Vols toppled No. 12/21 Texas in overtime, 74-70, on Sunday afternoon in Knoxville and then defeated Kansas, 68-58, on Friday in Las Vegas.

This is the second-ever trip for the Lady Vols to “Sin City,” with their only other Vegas visit coming during the 1979-80 season on Dec. 18 and 19 vs. Long Beach State and UNLV at the Nike Tournament of Champions.

OSU will mark the first game this season where Tennessee doesn’t have to face a team with a loss. UT’s previous five opponents had combined for a 10-0 mark prior to meeting the Big Orange.

Tennessee opened the 2021-22 campaign with Southern Illinois (0-0) and followed with UCF (1-0), No. 23/22 South Florida (2-0), No. 12/21 Texas (3-0) and then Kansas (4-0).

UT overcame some shooting struggles at times and continued to play stingy defense to top Kansas, 68-58, on Friday and remain unbeaten. KU had come into the contest shooting 50.2 from the field, 42.9 on threes and 75.9 from the free-throw line, and suffered through efforts of 30.8, 30.0 and 66.7, respectively, vs. Tennessee.

Oklahoma State dug itself an 18-point hole vs. Green Bay on Friday, and its second-half rally came up short in a 57-54 loss.

The Cowgirls have struggled with their shooting (34.8 FG/23.8 3FG/56.0 FT) this season and did so vs. GB (28.1/22.7/68.4). Their defense, though, has held opponents to 31.3 percent accuracy from the field and only 50.0 points per contest.

Lady Vols vs. Oklahoma State / Credit: UT Athletics

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Trey Bender (play-by-play) will be on the call Saturday for the FloHoops live stream (subscription required) from the South Point Shootout in Las Vegas.
The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network radio stations and by audio stream, with Mickey Dearstone behind the microphone. Now calling the action for his 23rd season, Dearstone is 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 in the black bar at the top of the page.
Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.

VEGAS CONNECTIONS

Tennessee senior guard/forward Rae Burrell, who is currently sidelined by an injury, hails from Las Vegas and graduated from Liberty High School.
Former UT player (1990-94), G.A. (1998-99) and assistant (2002-08) Nikki (Caldwell) Fargas is the president of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.

NEXT UP: SIX OF SEVEN AT HOME IN DECEMBER

After facing Kansas and Oklahoma State, Tennessee will enter a stretch where it plays six of seven games at home during the month of December.
The first assignment will be Tennessee Tech in Knoxville on Dec. 1 (6:30 p.m. ET/SECN+), followed by Virginia Tech on the road on Dec. 5 (2 p.m. ET/ACC Network).

LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST GAME

No. 11/10 Tennessee picked up its fifth straight win to start the 2021-22 campaign on Friday, defeating Kansas at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout in Las Vegas, 68-58.
Tennessee (5-0) was led by junior Jordan Horston, who turned in a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while graduate Keyen Green and sophomore Tess Darby each tallied 11 and graduate Jordan Walker added 10.
Holly Kersgieter was the top scorer for KU (4-1), knocking down a season-high 19 points and collecting eight rebounds.
UT pushed its lead to double digits on a couple of occasions, but Kansas wouldn’t go away. The Lady Vols held off the Jayhawks, though, with a game-high 21 points in the final period.
Tennessee’s defense and rebounding continued to be its strong points, as the Big Orange held a strong-shooting KU lineup to only 30.8 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Jayhawks, 55-38. UT tallied 19 second-change points and had 32 of its 68 points in the paint.

NOTABLES FROM OUR LAST GAME

DOLING OUT LOSSES: Like the rest of UT’s opponents thus far, Kansas entered the match undefeated on the season. Tennessee’s opponents have faced UT with a combined record of 10-0 before all suffering their first loss of the season.
DARBY BREAKOUT: Sophomore Tess Darby tied her career high of eight points in the first half against Kansas, going on to score a career-best 11 points while shooting 4-of-8 from the field and 3-of-6 from behind the arc.
BALANCED ATTACK: Four Lady Vols turned in double-digit scoring (Green, Darby, Horston, Walker) while six players managed eight or more points on the night.
HOT START HORSTON: Junior Jordan Horston followed up a career-high 28 points and 15 rebounds against #12/21 Texas with her third double-double of the season against Kansas, notching 14 points and 11 rebounds. She’s currently averaging a double-double on the season at 20.0 ppg. and 11.5 rpg. and has paced UT in scoring in each of the past four contests.
BATTLE OF THE BENCH: Tennessee’s bench turned in a season-best 21 points on the night, while KU only got 10 from its reserves. It’s the fourth time this season UT’s bench has outscored its opponents. Through five games, Tennessee is averaging 14.8 points off the bench per game.

TRACKING THE LADY VOLS

Tennessee has started a season 5-0 for the fourth time in five years and the ninth time in the past 15 seasons. It will attempt to improve to 6-0 for the fifth occasion in 10 campaigns and the eighth in 15. The best opening of the Kellie Harper UT era here was 7-0 in 2019-20.
The Lady Vols posted their most bench points with 21 vs. Kansas on Friday.
UT has posted three straight highs for fast break points, generating 14 vs. the Jayhawks in the last game.
The Big Orange women are 11-4 in games decided by five points or fewer.
Tamari Key ranks No. 2 in the NCAA and No. 1 in SEC play with 22 total blocks, and she is No. 3 in the NCAA and No. 1 in the SEC in blocks per game at 4.4.
Key’s team is No. 9 in blocked shots per game a (6.8) and No. 15 in total blocks (34).
Tennessee is up to No. 16 nationally in field goal percentage defense, a stat that Kellie Harper teams are known for. UT is allowing opponents only 30.7 percent from the field through five games.
Following her career-high 14-point effort vs. Kansas, Jordan Horston has scored in double figures in eight of her last nine games, including four of the last five contests in 2020-21 and all four in 2021-22.
Horston has three double-doubles in four outings in 2021-22, ranking second among SEC players.
Alexus Dye leads the SEC among active players with 33 career double-doubles, including one this year.
Horston’s 28 points vs. Texas stands as the highest scoring total this season by an SEC player.
UT is averaging 33.0 points in the paint per game, compared to 20.0 for opponents.
The Lady Vols rank No. 5 in home attendance average at 7,143 after welcoming the nation’s number two crowd this season with 9,460 on hand for the Texas game.

UT-OSU SERIES HISTORY

Tennessee is 3-0 vs. Oklahoma State, including 2-0 at neutral sites and 1-0 on the road.
UT is 60-24 vs. schools currently in the Big 12 Conference after beating Texas on Nov. 21 and Kansas on Nov. 26.
Harper is 6-10 all-time vs. schools currently in the Big 12 and 2-2 while head coach of the Big Orange.
The Lady Vols and Cowgirls last played on Dec. 2, 2018, when a No. 11/11 UT squad went into Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater and emerged with a 76-63 victory, improving to 6-0 on the season. UT will try to match that season-opening record on Saturday afternoon.
Rae Burrell is the only member of the current Tennessee team who was on the roster the last time these programs faced off. She saw nine minutes of action and scored four points while grabbing five rebounds and adding an assist as UT overcame a 43-40 halftime deficit with a 21-5 third-quarter blitz.
OSU’s Abbie Wincheser and Kassidy De Lapp also saw duty in that match-up, carding two points and six rebounds, respectively, in six and 20 minutes of action.
This marks Kellie Harper‘s third meeting with Oklahoma State as a head coach but her first while leading the Lady Volunteers.
While at Missouri State, her squads met OSU twice, falling 74-55 on Nov. 23, 2015, in Springfield and dropping a 77-36 decision in Stillwater on Nov. 22, 2014.

ABOUT THE COWGIRLS

Oklahoma State comes into the game with a 3-2 record after falling to Green Bay, claiming victories over SMU, Missouri State and Rice after opening the year with a setback vs. Colorado.
The Cowgirls finished 19-9 overall and 13-5 in the Big 12 a year ago, placing second in the league standings and advancing to the NCAA Second Round. They return three starters and 11 total letterwinners from that squad.
Lauren Fields is the only OSU player scoring in double figures, putting up 12.8 per outing. She also leads the team in steals with 12.
Through five games, Oklahoma State is holding opponents to only 50.0 points per contest, and has not allowed any team to score more than 57 points in a contest.

ABOUT THE HEAD COACH

Jim Littell is in his 11th season leading Oklahoma State and his 31st year overall as a head coach, compiling records of 198-121 and 711-222, respectively.
Littell has twice been named BIg 12 Conference Coach of the Year, including last season.
He guided the Cowgirls to a second place league finish a year ago and to the sixth NCAA appearance under his watch.

THE LAST TIME OSU PLAYED

Oklahoma State’s women’s basketball team could not overcome a 16-point halftime deficit on its way to a 57-54 loss to Green Bay on Friday afternoon at the South Point Shootout.
The loss snapped OSU’s three-game winning streak and dropped the Cowgirls to 3-2 on the year.
N’Yah Boyd was one of three Cowgirls to finish in double digits with 13 points. Lauren Fields and Neferatali Notoa each added 11 apiece in the contest, while Fields pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.
Oklahoma State trailed 18-8 after the first period and took a 33-17 deficit into the locker room before storming back in the second half. The Cowgirls outscored Green Bay 15-8 in the third frame and had a 22-16 advantage in the final stanza to come up three points short.
OSU turned the ball over 17 times, but it forced the Phoenix into 24 miscues
The Cowgirls gathered up 20 offensive boards, resulting in a 14-1 edge in second-chance points.

-UT Athletics

Stats/Story: Lady Vols Take Down Jayhawks, 68-58

Posted on November 27, 2021

Box Score (PDF)

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – No. 11/10 Tennessee picked up its fifth straight win to start the 2021-22 campaign on Friday, defeating Kansas at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout in Las Vegas, 68-58.

Tennessee (5-0) was led by junior Jordan Horston, who turned in a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while graduate Keyen Green and sophomore Tess Darby each tallied 11, and graduate Jordan Walker added 10.

Holly Kersgieter was the top scorer for KU (4-1), knocking down a season-high 19 points and collecting eight rebounds.

Horston was the first to score, hitting a jumper 20 seconds into play to give the Lady Vols their first lead of the game. Kersgieter responded with two points for Kansas before Walker kicked off an 11-1 run that put Tennessee up 13-3 by the 3:08 mark. Zakiyah Franklin and Mia Vuksic hit back-to-back treys for the Jayhawks as KU closed out the period with an 8-0 run of its own to cut the deficit to 13-11 by the start of the second quarter.

Kansas continued the run in the next stanza, opening with four straight points to take its first lead of the game at 15-13 with 8:47 left in the half. Darby ended the UT drought, knocking down a 10-foot jumper to tie the score at 15-all by the 7:15 mark, and then giving Tennessee the lead with a three on the next possession. The Lady Vols built on that advantage through the 3:57 mark to lead 24-15 before Kansas answered with another set of threes to cut it to 24-21 with 2:41 to go before intermission. Sara Puckett answered with a second-chance layup, and the teams traded buckets through the end of the period to make the halftime score 28-25 in favor of the Big Orange.

Alexus Dye stretched the lead to 30-25 just 11 seconds into the third, but Kersgieter hit a bucket and got the steal on the next play to fuel a 4-0 Jayhawk run that made the score 30-29 by the 9:13 mark. Darby knocked down her third trey of the game 10 seconds later, setting off a 10-3 UT run that saw the Lady Vols up 40-32 by the media timeout. Horston found the basket following the break, expanding the lead to 42-34 before Franklin hit a layup to cut the deficit to single digits with 3:41 left in the period. Jackson and Vuksic combined for four points to pull the Jayhawks within four, but Walker answered with a jumper and a trey on back-to-back possession to put UT back on top by nine. Kersgieter nailed a jumper with 35 seconds remaining to make it a seven-point game, and UT got a couple looks in the closing seconds but couldn’t convert, sending the game into the final stanza with the Lady Vols leading 47-40.

Taiyanna Jackson kicked off the fourth with a layup to pull KU within five, but Green led an 8-0 UT run, scoring five of the eight points herself, to give the Lady Vols their largest lead of the night at 55-42 with 6:37 to play. The Jayhawks rallied back within five by the 3:20 mark off a 10-2 run, but the Lady Vols came back with three straight layups by Green, Puckett and Tamari Key while holding KU to a single free throw to take a 10-point lead with less than a minute to go in the game. Vuksic hit a trey with 44 seconds on the clock, but the Lady Vols were able to knock down free throws to take a 10-point victory in Vegas.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will be back in action in the Silver State at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) Saturday, squaring off with Oklahoma State. The contest will be available for streaming via FloHoops.

DOLING OUT LOSSES: Like the rest of UT’s opponents thus far, Kansas entered the match undefeated on the season. Tennessee’s opponents have faced UT with a combined record of 10-0 before all suffering their first loss of the season.

DARBY BREAKOUT: Sophomore Tess Darby tied her career high of eight points in the first half against Kansas, going on to score a career-best 11 points while shooting 4-of-8 from the field and 3-of-6 from behind the arc.

BALANCED ATTACK: Four Lady Vols turned in double-digit scoring (Green, Darby, Horston, Walker) while six players managed eight or more points on the night.

HOT START HORSTON: Junior Jordan Horston followed up a career-high 28 points and 15 rebounds against #12/21 Texas with her third double-double of the season against Kansas, notching 14 points and 11 rebounds. She’s currently averaging a double-double on the season at 20.0 ppg. and 11.5 rpg. and has paced UT in scoring in each of the past four contests.

BATTLE OF THE BENCH: Tennessee’s bench turned in a season-best 21 points on the night, while KU only got 10 from its reserves. It’s the fourth time this season UT’s bench has outscored its opponents. Through five games, Tennessee is averaging 14.8 points off the bench per game.

-UT Athletics

Highlights/Postgame/Photos/Story: Second Half Surge Pushes #15 Vols Past Tennessee Tech, 80-69

Posted on November 27, 2021

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee’s offense surged in the second half, as the 15th-ranked Vols took down Tennessee Tech, 80-69, Friday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Vols (4-1) shot 17-of-28 (.607) in the second half, including 4-of-8 (.500) from deep to propel themselves to victory. Olivier Nkamhoua was a perfect 6-for-6 in the second half and 8-for-8 for the game. Of his team-high 18 points, 13 came in the second half. Santiago Vescovi joined him in double-digits for the second half, scoring 11 of his 13 points in the final stanza.

Kennedy Chandler, John Fulkerson and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield also scored in double figures for the game with 15, 14 and 12, respectively. Huntley-Hatfield’s 12 points marked a career-high by way of 6-for-7 shooting.

Vols F Brandon Huntley-Hatfield / Credit: UT Athletics

Chandler jolted energy into the crowd of 16,909 at Thompson-Boling Arena, throwing down a pair of breakaway dunks in the second half—the latter of which gave Tennessee its largest lead of the game at the time at 64-51. The Vols jumped ahead by way of a 15-4 run spanning 7:38 in the middle portion of the second half. Huntley-Hatfield accounted for seven of those points.

After trailing at halftime, the Tennessee offense came out firing in the second half, courtesy of a pair of Vescovi 3-pointers. UT struggled from deep in the first half, making only 2-of-15 (.133) from beyond the arc.

The Vols utilized a relentless scoring effort close to the basket to jump ahead, as Tennessee outscored the Golden Eagles, 48-32, in the paint.

The Vols forced TTU into 19 turnovers and had 11 steals. Chandler posted five steals and has totaled eight in his last two games at Thompson-Boling Arena, while Vescovi added three and has four straight games with multiple steals. Tennessee has already recorded three games this season with double-digit steals after having just eight total in each of the last two seasons combined. Around the glass, Huntley-Hatfield tallied two blocks, while Chandler and Fulkerson each notched one.

After the teams battled back and forth during the first half, Tennessee Tech took a 35-34 lead into halftime on a Jr. Clay 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Vols led by as many as seven points, but were unable to pull away.

Clay was Tech’s leading scorer, finishing with a game-high 19 points.

UP NEXT: Tennessee will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 30, as it hosts Presbyterian at Thompson-Boling Arena with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are available at AllVols.com.

NKAMHOUA SHOWING RANGE: Olivier Nkamhoua shot 2-for-2 from 3-point range on Friday, improving his season total to 6-for-8 from long range. Nkamhoua entered this season just 1-for-5 in his Tennessee career from beyond the arc.

VESS-CO-VEE FOR THREE: With three 3-pointers during the win, Santiago Vescovi has now made three or more 3-pointers in 20 of his 51 career games as a Vol. Vescovi is shooting .370 from beyond the arc this season.

-UT Athletics

Football Preview: Vols Set for In-State Showdown vs. Vanderbilt

Posted on November 27, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee concludes its regular season with an in-state rivalry game against Vanderbilt at 3:45 p.m. Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

The game will also serve as Senior Day for the Vols, whose seniors will be recognized before the game.

Tennessee defensive players / Credit: UT Athletics

BROADCAST INFO

Saturday’s contest will be televised on the SEC Network with Dave Neal (PxP), Deuce McAllister (analyst) and LVFL Andraya Carter (reporter) on the call. Kickoff is slated for 3:48 p.m. ET.

Fans can listen to Tennessee’s official radio broadcast on the Vol Network (WIVK-FM 107.7/WNML-FM 99.1) and satellite radio (Sirius Ch. 135, XM Ch. 191, Internet Ch. 962). A live audio stream of the broadcast will also be available on UTSports.com and the Official Gameday App.

Bob Kesling (PxP), Pat Ryan (analyst) and Brent Hubbs (analyst) will call the action, with Kasey Funderburg handling sideline duties. Big Orange Countdown begins at 2:15 p.m. ET.

GAMEDAY INFO

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee’s 2021 gameday policies, please visit the Tennessee Football Gameday Information page on UTSports.com. Some important information is also listed below.

Tickets and Parking
Tickets for Saturday’s game that can be purchased at AllVols.com.

While Tennessee Athletics does not control prices of any tickets obtained via the secondary market, Vol fans are reminded that Vivid Seats is the only secondary marketplace with a 100 percent buyer guarantee on the validity of tickets for Tennessee home games.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early. Gates to Neyland Stadium open at 1:45 p.m. Fans with digital tickets are strongly encouraged to download them to their mobile devices before arriving on campus. Those with a parking permit, either printed or mobile, are asked to have their permit ready to display upon entering their parking lot.

To expedite entry into the stadium, it is recommended that each individual hold their own ticket to optimize scanning procedures. All tickets will be electronically scanned to verify authenticity. Tickets will be scanned as patrons enter the stadium, and once a ticket has been scanned, it cannot be reused by another guest.

For more information on electronic tickets, view the Mobile Tickets Video or visit our Mobile Delivery FAQ page.

Tennessee Athletics App
Fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app, which now houses the Coca-Cola GBO Zone, allowing fans to play trivia, take part in a light show and much more. Search “Tennessee Athletics” in the Apple or Google Play Store or use this link to download: http://utsports.com/app

GAMEDAY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Fan Experience Upgrades
With this year being the 100th season at Neyland Stadium, Shield-Watkins Field, Tennessee Athletics has unveiled several new, exciting fan experience enhancements for the 2021 football season. Among the new gameday enhancements are new LED stadium lights, ungraded fireworks and “I Will Give My All” signs throughout the stadium.

More info on all of the new gameday enhancements can be found HERE.

LED Lights: A vibrant, state-of-the-art LED lighting system has been installed inside Neyland Stadium. A dramatic LED light show will accentuate pregame and in-game festivities.

Fireworks: The traditional fireworks show is moving and now bigger than ever. Fireworks will now be showcased from the roof of the north end zone and the east and west skybox rooftops during pregame and following UT touchdowns and victories.

“I Will Give My All”: As fans make their way to their seats, they can participate in a similar tradition as the Volunteers who take the field. “I Will Give My All” signs have been installed above the portals entering each section of Neyland Stadium. Just as the team is reminded to “Give My All” before running through the T pregame, each fan entering the stadium is encouraged to do the same.

Vol Village: Make sure you visit Vol Village presented by Toyota for a whole new fan experience. It’s FREE for all fans with or without a game ticket. There will be live music, activities for everyone of all ages, food trucks, and more. Vol Village, located in a great spot to see the Vol Walk (begins at 1:30 p.m.) and the Band March is just across from Circle Park. The Toyota Vol Village on Nov. 27 will feature musical guest Hayden Coffman, axe throwing, face painting, tailgate games and more! Fans can stop by from 12:15-3:15 p.m.

Truly’s Tailgate: Truly’s Tailgate, located outside Gate 9 will open at 12:45 p.m. and stay open through the end of the third quarter. Any fans with tickets to the game can stop by for food and drinks during that time.

Halftime Show: The Pride of the Southland Band will before a holiday themed halftime show on Saturday.

NEED TO KNOW

Senior Day
Fans are encouraged to arrive and get to their seats early as Saturday will serve as Tennessee’s Senior Day. The Vols’ senior class will be honored before the game with the ceremony slated to begin approximately 25 minutes prior to kickoff.

Last Time Out
Tennessee scored touchdowns on its first four possessions as it dominated South Alabama by a score of 60-14 last Saturday night in Neyland Stadium. Hendon Hooker finished 17-of-20 for 273 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, while adding a 6-yard rushing score. His 85 percent completion percentage was a career high. The Vols didn’t punt until the 8:17 mark in the fourth quarter and forced USA to punt on six of its first eight possessions. It also ended two Jaguar drives on downs and two more via safeties, a first for the program since 1989. The Vols held USA to 1-of-16 on third down. Velus Jones Jr. returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter, representing UT’s first since 2017. Jones (103) and Cedric Tillman (100) each went over 100 yards receiving. Defensively, linebacker Jeremy Banks led all tacklers with seven.

We’re Going Bowling!
For the 54th time in program history, UT will take part in a postseason bowl game after securing bowl eligibility with their victory over the Jaguars last Saturday. The Vols will learn their bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 5. Tennessee’s 54 all-time bowl appearances would rank fifth nationally behind Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Oklahoma.

Playing Fast
A Josh Heupel specialty, Tennessee leads the nation in offensive plays per minute at 2.95. Ole Miss is second at 2.88. By comparison, the Vols averaged 2.36 a year ago, which was 58th in the FBS. UT averages 1.58 points per minute, which ranks second in the FBS (Ohio State – 1.60) and tops in the SEC. From 2018-20, Heupel’s UCF teams averaged a nation-high 3.04 plays per minute.

Tillman Nearing the 1,000-Yard Mark
Redshirt junior wideout Cedric Tillman has emerged as one of the SEC’s top receivers this season, ranking sixth in the conference with a team-high 825 receiving yards, tied for seventh with seven touchdown catches and seventh in yards per reception (16.18). He is aiming to become just the eighth player in program history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in a season and the first since Justin Hunter (1,083) in 2012.

Tillman has recorded at least five catches in six straight games and has also caught at least one touchdown pass in five consecutive games, becoming the first Vol to achieve that feat since Josh Malone did so in the last five games of the 2016 season.

SERIES HISTORY

Vols lead series, 77-32-5
Tennessee has dominated the all-time series against Vanderbilt with a 77-32-5 record. The two teams are meeting for the 115th time in a series that dates back to 1892. They have played every year since 1945. UT has won 32 of the last 38 meetings, including the last two after a 42-17 victory in Nashville last season. The Vols’ 77 wins over the Commodores mark the second most in program history over one opponent, behind only Kentucky (82).

ABOUT VANDERBILT

The Commodores are led by first-year head coach Clark Lea, who took over the program following a successful three-year stint as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, where he helped lead the Fighting Irish to two College Football Playoff appearances. Vanderbilt enters Saturday’s game having lost six straight following a 31-17 defeat to Ole Miss last weekend.

Sophomore quarterbacks Mike Wright and Ken Seals have split time behind center this season, but Wright has taken over starting duties as of late. The Fayetteville, Georgia, native has passed for 844 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He is also a threat on the ground, ranking second on the team with 366 rushing yards this season. The wide receiver trio of Chris Piece (609 yards, 2 TDs), Will Sheppard (479 yards, 3 TDs) and Cam Johnson (307 yards, 4 TDs) have combined for nine of the teams 12 touchdown catches this year. Sophomore running back Rocko Griffin leads the team with 413 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, Vanderbilt is paced by junior linebacker Anfernee Orji, who leads the team with 82 tackles and is tied for ninth in the SEC with 10.5 tackles for loss. Defensive back Deshaun Jerkins and linebacker Ethan Barr have both picked off three passes this season. The Commodores are tied for 18th nationally and rank second in the SEC with 13 interceptions on the year. Seven players that have record an interception this season for Vandy.

-UT Athletics

Hoops Preview: #15 Tennessee vs. Tennessee Tech

Posted on November 25, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 15th-ranked Tennessee men’s basketball team returns home for another in-state battle, as the Vols are set to take on Tennessee Tech Friday at 3 p.m. ET at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Friday’s game can streamed online through SEC Network+/WatchESPN. Visit espn.com/watch or download the ESPN app to view the game on a computer or mobile device. Andy Brock (play-by-play), Steve Hamer (analyst) and Kasey Funderburg (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.

Tennessee is coming off of a two-game weekend in Connecticut at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off in which it split contests with No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina. The Vols fell to Villanova on Saturday, 71-53, before defeating North Carolina on Sunday, 89-72.

Four Vols scored in double figures during the win over the Tar Heels, led by freshman Zakai Zeigler, who exploded for a career-high 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting—including 3-for-5 from 3-point range. Zeigler also had five assists and did not commit a turnover in 28 minutes of action. After standout performances on both Saturday and Sunday, junior guard Santiago Vescovi was named to the 2021 Hall of Fame Tip-Off All-Tournament Team after averaging 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and hitting seven total 3-pointers in UT’s two games at Mohegan Sun.

Sunday’s matchup is the 26th all-time between Tennessee and Tennessee Tech and the fourth of the Rick Barnes era. The Vols have claimed wins over the Golden Eagles in 2016, 2018 and 2020 under Barnes.

Up next, Tennessee is back at Thompson-Boling Arena for another home contest—taking on Presbyterian on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on SEC Network.

THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads its all-time series against Tennessee Tech 25-1, dating to 1939. All but one of those meetings took place in Knoxville. The Vols beat TTU in an NIT game in Cookeville in 1985.
• Tech’s lone win against UT came on Dec. 4, 1996.
• Tennessee owns a 62-2 record against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
• Vols head coach Rick Barnes is 3-0 in his career against Tennessee Tech (all three meetings coming during his tenure on Rocky Top). Barnes is 7-0 as a head coach against OVC opposition.
• Tennessee Tech sophomore CJ Gettelfinger is a Knoxville native who graduated from Grace Christian Academy.
• Golden Eagles junior Jr. Clay hails from Chattanooga, where he attended The McCallie School.

SCOUTING REPORT
• UT’s backcourt duo of Kennedy Chandler and Santiago Vescovi is averaging 30.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game while shooting .458 from 3-point range.
• According to KenPom, Tennessee boasts the nation’s fourth-best defensive efficiency, allowing only 88.0 points per 100 possessions.
• Four different Vols have led or shared the team lead in scoring through four games.
• 45 percent of Tennessee’s points this season have been scored by first-year Vols (147 of 326).
• Tennessee ranks 15th nationally in offensive rebounds per game, pulling down 15.5 per game.
• The Vols’ 18.5 assists per game rank 25th nationally. Tennessee’s 28 assists in the win over North Carolina tied a Barnes-era high.
• With an appearance Friday, John Fulkerson will tie VFL and current Boston Celtics guard Josh Richardson for third place on UT’s all-time games played list (136).
• Friday will be Tennessee’s 100th game as a ranked team under Rick Barnes. To date, the Vols are 74-25 as an AP Top 25 team under Barnes’ direction.
• Tennessee is riding a three-game home winning streak, dating to last season.
• In all four games this season, the Vols have totaled more second-chance points than their opponent.

A WIN WOULD…
• Extend Tennessee’s win streak over in-state opponents to eight games.
• Push the Vols’ record against in-state foes during the Barnes era to 23-5.

ABOUT TENNESSEE TECH
• Tennessee Tech is off to a 2-3 start through five games this season, having already faced three teams from the state of Tennessee—Memphis, Chattanooga and Lipscomb.
• Just under 50 percent of the Golden Eagles’ scoring this season has come from three players—Keishawn Davidson (13.4 ppg), Mamoudou Diarra (12.2 ppg) and Jr. Clay (10.6 ppg).
• Clay, a Preseason All-OVC selection, was second in the OVC in scoring last season with a 17.3 points per game average. He ranks 17th in TTU program history with 1,300 career points.
• The Golden Eagles’ 2021-22 roster features five newcomer transfers from Division I schools—Diante Wood (Jacksonville/Alabama), Daniel Ramsey (Xavier), Mamoudou Diarra (Cincinnati), Caleb Christopher (Arizona State), and John Pettway (South Alabama).
• Two of Tennessee Tech’s four full-time coaches played basketball in the SEC—head coach John Pelphrey at Kentucky (1988-92) and assistant coach Andrew Steele (2008-13) at Alabama. The Golden Eagles’ other two assistant coaches, Alex Fain and Blake Gray, served as student managers at Alabama before moving into full-time roles on the Crimson Tide’s staff.
• Pelphrey also boasts a wealth of coaching experience in the SEC, having served as the head coach at Arkansas (2007-11), as well as an assistant coach at both Florida (1996-2002; 2011-15) and Alabama (2016-19).

LAST MEETING WITH TENNESSEE TECH
• Six double-figure scorers and a lights-out shooting night led the 10th-ranked Tennessee basketball team to a resounding, 103-49 victory over Tennessee Tech on Dec. 18, 2020, at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• The 54-point win was Tennessee’s eighth-largest margin of victory in program history.
• The Volunteers finished the night shooting .583 from the field (42-72), along with a highly efficient .474 (9-19) mark from 3-point range. Tennessee also tallied a 4.0 assist/turnover ratio on the night (28 assists, seven turnovers).
• Freshman Jaden Springer was UT’s leading scorer, dropping 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field while pulling in six rebounds and dishing off a season-high six assists. Springer did all of this in just 22 minutes of action, logging nearly one point per minute.
• Sophomore Josiah-Jordan James and senior John Fulkerson also enjoyed impactful outings, with James tallying 15 points and six rebounds and Fulkerson totaling 13 points and six boards.
• Victor Bailey Jr. was the third Vol to pour in at least 15 points, scoring his 15 on 5-of-8 shooting and draining both of his attempts from beyond the 3-point arc.
• Freshman Keon Johnson and senior Yves Pons were the fifth and sixth Vols to reach double-digit points, scoring 13 and 10, respectively.
• As the opening half wore on, the Vols asserted themselves on the offensive end, finishing the half with a .583 shooting percentage (21-36) and taking a 49-22 advantage into the break.
• Tennessee extended its lead to as many as 58 in the second half.

PELPHREY KEEPS SHOWING UP
• Third-year Tennessee Tech head coach John Pelphrey starred as a player at rival Kentucky from 1988-92. He was 6-2 against the Vols as a player.
• Tech is the third program he’s faced Tennessee with as a head coach. His coaching record against UT stands at 2-6.
• Pelphrey’s first clash against Tennessee as a head coach came on Jan. 4, 2006, when the Vols defeated his South Alabama squad, 87-69, in Knoxville.
• Pelphrey joined the SEC head coaching ranks when he was tabbed to lead the Arkansas program prior to the 2007-08 campaign. During his four years with the Razorbacks, he went 2-4 against Tennessee.
• He also encountered the Vols numerous times during two separate stints as an assistant coach at Florida under Billy Donovan—first before he was hired at South Alabama, and again after he was dismissed at Arkansas.
• Pelphrey worked as a TV color analyst for the SEC Network during the 2015-16 season. He called six UT games, with the Vols going 2-4 in those contests.
• Prior to the 2016-17 season, Pelphrey joined Avery Johnson’s Alabama coaching staff. Tennessee owned a 2-1 advantage in that series during Pelphrey’s tenure with the Tide.
• In total, Tennessee owns a 17-24 record when Pelphrey is in the building.

VOLS SUCCESSFUL ON THE IN-STATE CIRCUIT
• Tennessee has won its last seven games against in-state opponents and is 22-5 vs. in-state foes under coach Rick Barnes.
• Those 22 wins include triumphs over Vanderbilt (10x), Tennessee Tech (3x), ETSU (3x), Lipscomb (twice), Chattanooga, Memphis, Tennessee State and UT Martin.

VOLS’ THREE-PG LINEUP STIFLED UNC
• Rick Barnes deployed a new lineup that featured three point guards during Tennessee’s convincing dismantling of North Carolina on Nov. 21.
• The lineup featured Kennedy Chandler, Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi along with a combination of five different forwards all 6-8 or taller.
• Chandler, Zeigler and Vescovi shared the court simultaneously for 16:50 of game time. The most effective forward combo to join the trio was John Fulkerson and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. That lineup was +7 in 8:54 together.
• Barnes: “I thought the three guard line-up was very effective for us today—the tempo, the speed. One thing we’ve said all year is that we want to play at a very high tempo. We got that today with all three guys, because any one of the three can bring it, which they did. I thought they did a terrific job of taking care of the basketball, probing… then when we went to our sets, they did a good job getting us into those.”

BARNES’ VOLS PIN ANOTHER BLUE-BLOOD PELT TO THE WALL
• Tennessee under head coach Rick Barnes has logged several wins over traditional college basketball “blue bloods.”
• The list of highly-successful programs that have suffered losses to the Vols dating to 2015-16 includes Kentucky (eight times), Kansas, Louisville, Gonzaga, Purdue and North Carolina.
• This season’s win over the ranked Tar Heels was an emphatic, 17-point triumph. It was just the second time in program history that Tennessee defeated North Carolina.

-UT Athletics

Hoops Preview: #11/10 Lady Vols vs. Kansas in Las Vegas

Posted on November 25, 2021

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — No. 11/10 Tennessee (4-0) will be in Las Vegas this week for the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout, facing Kansas (4-0) on Friday and Oklahoma State (3-1) on Saturday.

Both contests will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. Pacific) at South Point Arena.

The set of games marks the second and third straight contests against Big 12 foes, as the Lady Vols toppled No. 12/21 Texas in overtime, 74-70, on Sunday afternoon in Knoxville to begin the sequence.

This will be the second appearance for the Lady Vols in the Entertainment Capital of the World, with their previous Vegas visit coming during the 1979-80 season on Dec. 18 and 19 vs. Long Beach State and UNLV at the Nike Tournament of Champions.

UT has not faced a team with a loss yet, with its first five opponents combining for a 10-0 mark prior to meeting the Big Orange. Tennessee opened the 2021-22 campaign with Southern Illinois (0-0) and followed with UCF (1-0), No. 23/22 South Florida (2-0), No. 12/21 Texas (3-0) and now Kansas (4-0). Saturday’s foe, Oklahoma State, is 3-1 entering the tournament.

The Lady Vols have trailed in all four games and been behind entering the final five minutes in three of those four contests before emerging victorious. The 2021-22 squad has shown a resilience that wasn’t reflected a year ago when the team was 0-8 when heading into the final five minutes on the short end of the score.

Kansas has had blowout wins in each of its four contests (Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Tennessee State, Omaha and Saint Louis) and outscored those foes, 85.3 to 57.0. The Jayhawks are shooting lights out, connecting on percentages of 50.2 on field goals, 42.9 on threes and 75.9 on free throws.

Oklahoma State, which plays Green Bay on Friday before meeting Kellie Harper‘s squad, has victories over SMU, Missouri State and Rice after dropping the opener to Colorado. The Cowgirls have struggled with their shooting (36.6 FG/24.2 3FG/51.8 FT), averaging only 56.0 points per game, but their defense has held opponents to 29.9 percent accuracy from the field and only 48.3 points per contest.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Ben Wilson (play-by-play) on Friday and Trey Bender (play-by-play) on Saturday will be on the call for the FloHoops live stream (subscription required) from the South Point Shootout in Las Vegas.
The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network radio stations and by audio stream, with Mickey Dearstone behind the microphone. Now calling the action for his 23rd season, Dearstone is joined by studio host Bobby Rader.
SiriusXM Ch. SEC Radio (374) will pick up the call.
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 in the black bar at the top of the page.
Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.

VEGAS CONNECTIONS

Tennessee senior guard/forward Rae Burrell, who is currently sidelined by an injury, hails from Las Vegas and graduated from Liberty High School.
Former UT player (1990-94), G.A. (1998-99) and assistant (2002-08) Nikki (Caldwell) Fargas is the president of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.

NEXT UP: SIX OF SEVEN AT HOME IN DECEMBER

After facing Kansas and Oklahoma State, Tennessee will enter a stretch where it plays six of seven games at home during the month of December.
The first assignment will be Tennessee Tech in Knoxville on Dec. 1 (6:30 p.m. ET/SECN+), followed by Virginia Tech on the road on Dec. 5 (2 p.m. ET/ACC Network).

LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST GAME

Tying a program-record 15 blocks in a game and overcoming an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit, the No. 16/12 Tennessee women’s basketball team took down No. 12/21 Texas, 74-70, in overtime in front of a raucous crowd of 9,460 on Sunday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Junior Tamari Key’s career day resulted in the fifth triple-double in program history, while classmate Jordan Horston led the offensive charge in the Lady Volunteers’ comeback win.
Key, a 6-foot-6 center, posted the fifth triple-double in program history, scoring 10 points and adding 18 rebounds and 10 blocks in 39 minutes of play. Her rebound total breezed past her previous career high of 12 and she matched her best for blocks, tying for the second-highest tally in UT annals. Key now has two triple-doubles and is the only player in Tennessee’s illustrious history with more than one. She posted her first last season vs. Florida (23 pts., 10 rebs., 10 blks.) on Jan. 31, 2021.
Horston was masterful on the offensive end for the second consecutive game, posting another banner day. The 6-2 guard led all Lady Vol scorers with 28 points, a career high. She also pulled down a career-best 15 rebounds en route to her second double-double of the season and third of her career. Horston is averaging 22 points per game and 11.7 rebounds per contest thus far. After missing the first contest due to injury, Horston has led Tennessee in scoring in the last three outings.
Graduate Alexus Dye came through in the clutch, sinking critical free throws late in the contest and securing 13 points. The 6-0 forward swatted away four shots, a career best in blocks. Graduate guard Jordan Walker also added 13 points and a team-leading five assists.

NOTABLES FROM OUR LAST GAME

DEFENSIVE PROWESS: Tennessee has held each of its opponent this season under 40 percent shooting, including three under 32 percent. Under Harper, the Lady Vols have only allowed 16 teams to shoot better than 40 percent in the 60 games under her coaching.
DOING THAT BOARD WORK: UT out-rebounded Texas by 15, 56-41, claiming an advantage in its fourth straight game this season. It was the third by double digits. During the Kellie Harper era, Tennessee has won the battle of the boards in 50 of 60 contests.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE: The Lady Vols have registered at least one double-double in each game this season (Horston – 2, Key – 2 (1 a triple-double), Dye – 1).
NEVER GIVE UP: Tennessee has staged a fourth quarter comeback in three of its games this season. The 12-point third-quarter deficit was the largest the Lady Vols have erased in a win since a 13-point gap against Missouri on Mar. 5, 2020, at the SEC Tournament.
OUR TIME, OVERTIME: Harper earned her first win in overtime as the Lady Vols’ head coach. It was also the first overtime game in Thompson-Boling Arena since Feb. 23, 2012, when Tennessee bested Middle Tennessee, 88-81. The Lady Volunteers improved to 33-21 in overtime games in program history.

TRACKING THE LADY VOLS

Tennessee started a season 4-0 for the fourth time in five years and will attempt to improve to 5-0 for the sixth occasion in 10 campaigns. The best opening of the Kellie Harper era here was 7-0 in 2019-20.
The Lady Vols rank No. 5 in home attendance average at 7,143 after welcoming the nation’s number two crowd this season with 9,460 on hand for the Texas game.
The Big Orange women are 11-4 in games decided by five points or fewer.
Tamari Key ranks No. 2 in the NCAA and No. 1 in SEC play with 19 total blocks, and she is No. 3 in the NCAA and No. 1 in the SEC in blocks per game at 4.75.
Key’s team is No. 9 in blocked shots per game a (7.2) and No. 15 in total blocks (29).
Tennessee is up to No. 16 nationally in field goal percentage defense, a stat that Kellie Harper teams are known for. UT is allowing opponents only 30.6 percent from the field through four games.
Following her career-high 28-point effort vs. Texas, Jordan Horston has scored in double figures in seven of her last eight games, including four of the last five contests in 2020-21 and all three in 2021-22.
Horston is averaging 26.0 ppg. and 12.0 rpg. vs. ranked teams, while Tamari Key is putting up 10.0 ppg. and 14.0 rpg. while blocking eight shots per contest.
Horston is No. 7 nationally and No. 2 in the league in defensive rebounds per game at 9.0. She is No. 15 in the NCAA for the season (No. 1 SEC) ppg. at 22.0 and No. 16 (No. 2 SEC) for rpg. at 11.7.
The 28 points by Horston vs. Texas stands as the highest scoring total this season by an SEC player.
Alexus Dye leads the SEC among active players with 33 career double-doubles, including one this year.
Tennessee posted its best points-in-the-paint totals (40) of the year vs. both South Florida and Texas.
UT is averaging 33.5 points in the paint per game, compared to 20.0 for opponents.

UT-KU SERIES HISTORY

Tennessee is 3-0 all-time vs. the Jayhawks, including 2-0 at neutral sites and 1-0 in Knoxville.
The Lady Vols are 59-24 all-time vs. schools currently in the Big 12 Conference after defeating Texas, 74-70, in overtime on Sunday.
Kellie Harper is 1-0 vs. Kansas during her head coaching career, defeating that school, 87-64, on Nov. 13, 2016, in Lawrence while serving as head coach at Missouri State.
Tennessee last faced Kansas on March 24, 2012, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, in the NCAA Sweet 16, prevailing 84-73 in Pat Summitt’s penultimate game as head coach of the Lady Vols.
The Lady Vols faced KU twice when Kellie Harper was a player at UT, going 2-0.
The teams met on Nov. 17, 1996, with the Big Orange prevailing, 79-60, as part of the Women’s Preseason National Invitational Tournament games in Knoxville. Harper (maiden name Kellie Jolly) didn’t play in that contest due to an injury that sidelined her for much of the season).
They also played the previous spring in the NCAA Sweet 16 at Charlottesville, Va., with the Lady Vols taking a 92-71 victory on March 23, 1996. Harper (Jolly) had seven points on 3-of-3 shooting, and tallied six assists, two rebounds and a steal in 15 minutes off the bench.
Kansas guard Erica Haynes-Overton was a thorn in Tennessee’s side in Harper’s first game as head coach of the Lady Vols while the standout was at East Tennessee State. Haynes-Overton scored 41 points and tallied 10 rebounds and seven assists, as the Lady Vol escaped Freedom Hall with a 72-68 victory over the Buccaneers despite that individual effort.

ABOUT THE JAYHAWKS

Kansas, 4-0 thus far, returns four starters and nine total letterwinners from last season’s squad that went 7-18 overall and 3-15 in Big 12 play to finish ninth.
KU is led by a trio of returning starters, with senior guard Aniya Thomas (14.8), sophomore forward Ioanna Chatzileonti (11.5) and junior guard Zakiyah Franklin (11.5) all averaging double figures in points through four games.
Junior guard Holly Kersgieter was last year’s leading scorer at 17.0 ppg., and she has started three games this season and is putting up 7.8 ppg.
The Jayhawks have shot the ball well, posting percentages of 50.2 from the field, 42.9 from the arc and 75.9 from the free-throw line.
KU is averaging 6.8 blocks per game, led by 6-5 center Taiyanna Jackson with nine.
Kansas is outscoring foes by +28.3, 85.3 to 57.0.
The wins have come against SIU Edwardsville, Tennessee State, Omaha and Saint Louis.

ABOUT THE HEAD COACH

Brandon Schneider is in his seventh season at the helm of the Kansas women’s basketball program.
He is 65-115 in his seventh year at Kansas but is 466-253 in his 24th season as a head coach, coming to Lawrence after stints at Emporia State (1998-2010) and Stephen F. Austin (2010-15).

THE LAST TIME KANSAS PLAYED

Behind a career-high 19 points from Ioanna Chatzileonti, the Kansas Women’s Basketball team topped Saint Louis, 79-50, Sunday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.
The win moved the Jayhawks to 4-0 on the season, while the Billikens fell to 1-3. It marked the 16th time in program history and fourth under head coach Brandon Schneider where the Jayhawks have been undefeated through the first four games of the season.
Chatzileonti led the Jayhawks with 19 points, which included 15 points in the second half. Three other Jayhawks scored in double-digits including Mia Vuksic with 12, Zakiyah Franklin with 11 and Taiyanna Jackson with her new career high of 10.
Coming out of the break was when the Jayhawks really started to pull ahead. Kansas scored 28 points in the third quarter and shot 68.8 (11-of-16) from the field. Saint Louis had its highest-scoring quarter thus far with 16, but was still unable to keep up with the Jayhawks.

-UT Athletics

Quotes: Rick Barnes and Santiago Vescovi Preview Tennessee Tech

Posted on November 25, 2021

On what he’s thankful for and his favorite Thanksgiving foods…
“Well, I’m thankful for a lot of things. I’ve been blessed. I thank God for bringing so many wonderful people in my life. Certainly the sacrifice He made for me is the greatest thing I can be grateful for. You know, Thanksgiving, it’s hard to pick one (food) because I like it all. I like turkey, I like ham, I like pecan pie, I like pumpkin pie, I like great gravy. So that’s a tough one to answer, because I like it all.”

On how Kennedy Chandler and Zakai Zeigler played together against North Carolina…
“I’m not sure how I thought it would go, other than the fact that I do watch them go at each other every day in practice. They do complement each other in different ways. But having the three of them (Chandler, Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi) out there together (in practice), we don’t get to do much because we need them competing against each other in practice. Not only is it what Zakai and Kennedy did, but Santi. The way he rebounded the ball was phenomenal. I mean, he gave us as much rebounding from that third spot as you could ask. But we don’t get to see them together a lot in practice like that because one of them is going to run the other team for the most part, when we’re really competing. But it’s good to see the way they all did mesh.”

Vols HC Rick Barnes / Credit: UT Athletics

On the status of Josiah-Jordan James…
“We’re still waiting to see. Chad (Newman) is still doing some work with them. Of course, Jo, nobody is more diligent and resilient in terms of trying to do what he does to get ready. But we’re still not really sure where he is.”

On Victor Bailey Jr. not playing as much against North Carolina…
“It was the fact that I think that’s going to be our team this year a lot. There are going to be nights when some guys have a little bit more than others. That’s what we’ll ride that night. VJ, again, he’s such a hard worker. He’ll come back and he did, like you would expect, he was a great teammate. Pulled for those guys and will continue to do that. But he came back to practice and does what he does every day. I’ve said before, no one is going to put any more work in than VJ does. But it really was the fact that those three guys had it going. And we just knew that’s what we needed to do that particular day. Every game is going to have its different personality. Every game does. So based on what that personality brings from that game, that’s who we’ll be playing.”

On Justin Powell starting against North Carolina with Josiah-Jordan James out…
“We wanted to make sure we still had some length out there. That was really the reason there. We felt like we needed to have some more length on the floor at that time.”

On what he’s seen from Justin Powell through four games…
“He did play his best game defensively since he’s been here (against North Carolina). He has improved there. And he will continue to improve. Justin is just getting going. We need him to really get himself in position on the defensive end to make good defensive plays, especially without the ball. He does know what we’re doing. He’s a terrific passer. But I would say for most of our guys, what we’re looking at is to get the consistency on the defensive end.”

On Brandon Huntley-Hatfield against North Carolina…
“It was a different game. Again, you go back to the Villanova game and that’s a hard game for big guys, especially a young big guy, to play against a team that’s got a lot of experience coming back from a year ago. And a team that is pretty much in midseason form. Whereas you go up against North Carolina, they’re playing traditionally bigger players. We told Brandon the night before the (North Carolina) game, this is a good game for you. We’re going to find out a lot about what you need to do. I do feel like, and we feel like, he was comfortable playing in that game because of where he was able to stay on the court, with who he was defending most of the time.”

On how good it was to have those games…
“I think it was really good. I do think that is why these early season games are important. Obviously, disappointed in the way we started the game against Villanova. But you have to give them credit. I think they came out, they were locked and loaded and ready to play. I think we were, too. I think in some ways, we were a little overhyped there. We couldn’t make a shot. Then we got to where we weren’t even trying to play basketball. We were just hoping we’d make a shot. That was the big takeaway from that game. We came back against North Carolina and we really did do a lot of the things that we work on every day. It was a different team. Every game has a different personality. We did look more like how we practice every day against North Carolina.”

On what he learned in Tennessee’s games against Villanova and North Carolina…
“One of the biggest things I think was after the loss to Villanova, we went back in and obviously the first part of that day was based on us and what we didn’t do and why we got ourselves in the position we got ourselves in. A little bit on North Carolina the day before the game. When we walked in on Sunday morning, the focus with our guys was phenomenal. With the walkthrough, we just simply go in the ballroom and take down the court. The coaches do their job with the scouting report and the way those guys were locked in and with the questions they were asking, it was impressive, especially because it wasn’t just the older guys. We knew at that point in time that Josiah wasn’t going to play. Josiah is normally one of those guys that leads in those questions. Santi and some of the younger guys, you could tell they were really locked in, which was impressed.”

On Uros Plavsic’s tendency to foul…
“You guys watch us practice some. He is trying too hard. There is no doubt he is wanting to do the right thing. He lets his emotions get the best of him some. It is only out of a good spirit to do the job that we ask him to do. You would like to think the more he plays that he is going to figure it out. If he doesn’t, all the work he puts in, he is not going to get to use it because he is going to be on the bench because of fouls.”

On Tennessee’s coaching staff turnover…
“I think they have done a great job with that. You tell me that and I don’t feel like it at all. You feel like the new guys have been here because they came right in. When they asked me and we talked about roles might be, I said be who you are. We have done our background checks on you. We know you can coach basketball. You have something to add, bring it up and add it. They have all done a terrific job. Our scouting has been very consistent for our players. That is a tribute to them. They have sat down with Mike (Schwartz) and the guys that have been here because we want it consistent across the board. From the scouting standpoint, coaching standpoint, I would tell you it feels like we have been together for a long time.”

Santiago Vescovi

On the pronunciation of his last name…
“Since I’ve been here, people have called me Vescovi (Vess-CO-vee) and I’ve always rolled with it. I don’t really care either way. I think that’s just easier for English people to pronounce it. Back home it would be Vescovi (VESS-co-vee) with an emphasis on the first ‘e’ instead of the ‘o’, like people say here. But I don’t really care, I can go either one. Since I’ve gotten here, everyone has called me Vescovi (Vess-CO-vee) and I’m totally cool with it. So just to clarify that, I don’t really care. I had a lot of people reaching out to me asking me how to pronounce my last name. And I’m like, I really don’t care. Just especially for the people who are closer to me, I was like, just call me Santi. That’s it.”

On how confident he is in his play after this past weekend…
“I mean, I’m confident with the whole team. I know my teammates have my back every single time we’re out there. That’s what gives me the most confidence. Knowing that I’m there for them too, I think that’s just the thing we have. We’re a family here with each other. We all have the same goal.”

On rebounding from Saturday’s loss to get ready for Sunday’s game this past weekend…
“I was definitely for sure happy about the way we responded on Sunday. I think it was super fun to play in Sunday, just being back to being us again. That film on Saturday I think was what we needed. We watched a little bit of the first half of the Villanova game. Of course, coach called us out on what we had to do better. We had a big talking. I think the most important thing was that when you that the changes had to be on us. It mattered, going forward to UNC looking like scout and all that kind of stuff, but I think it was more important, our attitude and how we were going to react to that response. So I think that just I was super happy with the outcome we had.”

On playing in a three-guard lineup…
It’s been a long time, probably since I was 14 or 15. But I like it. I think Kennedy and Zakai are both great players, they both super dynamic, they can guard the ball, they can run, they can do everything, they can shoot it. So I think it’s really fun playing with them.”

On the pronunciation of his last name…
“Since I’ve been here, people have called me Vescovi (Vess-CO-vee) and I’ve always rolled with it. I don’t really care either way. I think that’s just easier for English people to pronounce it. Back home it would be Vescovi (VESS-co-vee) with an emphasis on the first ‘e’ instead of the ‘o’, like people say here. But I don’t really care, I can go either one. Since I’ve gotten here, everyone has called me Vescovi (Vess-CO-vee) and I’m totally cool with it. So just to clarify that, I don’t really care. I had a lot of people reaching out to me asking me how to pronounce my last name. And I’m like, I really don’t care. Just especially for the people who are closer to me, I was like, just call me Santi. That’s it.”

On how confident he is in his play after this past weekend…
“I mean, I’m confident with the whole team. I know my teammates have my back every single time we’re out there. That’s what gives me the most confidence. Knowing that I’m there for them too, I think that’s just the thing we have. We’re a family here with each other. We all have the same goal.”

On rebounding from Saturday’s loss to get ready for Sunday’s game this past weekend…
“I was definitely for sure happy about the way we responded on Sunday. I think it was super fun to play in Sunday, just being back to being us again. That film on Saturday I think was what we needed. We watched a little bit of the first half of the Villanova game. Of course, coach called us out on what we had to do better. We had a big talking. I think the most important thing was that when you that the changes had to be on us. It mattered, going forward to UNC looking like scout and all that kind of stuff, but I think it was more important, our attitude and how we were going to react to that response. So I think that just I was super happy with the outcome we had.”

On playing in a three-guard lineup…
It’s been a long time, probably since I was 14 or 15. But I like it. I think Kennedy and Zakai are both great players, they both super dynamic, they can guard the ball, they can run, they can do everything, they can shoot it. So I think it’s really fun playing with them.”

-UT Athletics

Vince’s View: SEC Week 13 score predictions with 9 games including Vols vs. Commodores

Posted on November 25, 2021

By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports

Below are my Week 13 SEC football predictions.

This season, I’m sharing my picks both against the spread and straight-up.

Check back on my “Vince’s View” blog page for future posts including weekly SEC football and NFL game predictions. Bookmark my blog page and check back often.

Week 12 Straight-Up Record: 9-1 (90%)
Week 12 vs. Spread Record: 5-5 (50%)
2021 Season Straight-Up Record: 79-24 (77%)
2021 Season Spread Record: 46-47 (49%)
2020 SEC Season Prediction Record Straight-Up: 66-12 (85%)

KNOXVILLE, TN – November 20, 2021 – Wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the South Alabama Jaguars and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

RIVALRY WEEK IN THE SEC – NOVEMBER 25-27

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25
9 Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2 SEC) at Mississippi State (7-4, 4-3 SEC)
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (61,337)
7:30 ET • ESPN
Series: UM leads, 63-46-6
Last: UM, 31-24 (2020 at Oxford)
Sirius: 84/138 • XM: 84/191
ESPN: Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy, Katie George
Point Spread: Miss State -2
Vince’s Pick vs. the line: Ole Miss +2
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 24 Miss State 20

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Missouri (6-5, 3-4 SEC) at #25 Arkansas (7-4, 3-4 SEC)
Fayetteville, Ark. • Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS
Series: MIZ leads, 9-3
Last: MIZ, 50-48 (2020 at Columbia)
Sirius: 84 • XM: 192/84
CBS: Noah Eagle, Aaron Murray, Rick Neuheisel, Jenny Dell
Point Spread: Arkansas -14.5
Vince’s Pick vs. the line: Arkansas -14.5
Score Prediction: Arkansas 38 Missouri 17

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27
Florida State (5-6) at Florida (5-6, 2-6 SEC)
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Spurrier-Florida Field (88,548) Noon ET • ESPN
Series: UF leads, 36-26-2
Last: UF, 40-17 (2019 at Gainesville)
Sirius: 137 • XM: 190
ESPN: Mark Jones, Robert Griffin III, Quint Kessenich
Point Spread: Florida -2.5
Vince’s Pick vs. the line: FSU +2.5
Score Prediction: FSU 17 Florida 14

1 Georgia (11-0, 8-0 SEC) at Georgia Tech (3-8)
Atlanta, Ga. • Bobby Dodd Stadium (55,000)
Noon ET • ABC
Series: UGA leads, 68-41-5
Last: UGA, 52-7 (2019 at Atlanta)
Sirius: 81 • XM: 81
ABC: Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Kris Budden
Point Spread: Georgia -35
Vince’s Pick vs. the line: Georgia -35
Score Prediction: Georgia 38 Georgia Tech 0

3 Alabama (10-1, 6-1 SEC) at Auburn (6-5, 3-4 SEC)
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS
Series: ALA leads, 47-37-1
Last: ALA, 42-13 (2020 at Tuscaloosa)
Sirius: 81/137 • XM: 81/190
CBS: Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, Jamie Erdahl
Touchdown Radio: J.P. Shadrick, Gino Torretta
Point Spread: Alabama -19.5
Vince’s Pick vs. the line: Alabama -19.5
Score Prediction: Alabama 35 Auburn 7

Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7 SEC) at Tennessee (6-5, 3-4 SEC)
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (102,455)
3:45 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Series: UT leads, 77-33-5
Last: UT, 42-17 (2020 at Nashville)
Sirius: 136/135 • XM: 192/191
SECN: Bob Kesling, Pat Ryan, Brent Hubbs, Kasey Funderburg
Point Spread: Tennessee -32
Vince’s Pick vs. the line: Tennessee -32
Score Prediction: Tennessee 52 Vanderbilt 10

15 Texas A&M (8-3, 4-3 SEC) at LSU (5-6, 2-5 SEC)
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (102,321)
7 p.m. ET • ESPN
Series: LSU leads, 34-22-3
Last: TAMU, 20-7 (2020 at College Station)
Sirius: 81/136 • XM: 81/192
ESPN: Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic
ESPN Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones, Ian Fitzsimmons
Point Spread: Texas A&M -6.5
Vince’s Pick vs. the line: Texas A&M -6.5
Score Prediction: Texas A&M 28 LSU 17

23 Clemson (8-3) at South Carolina (6-5, 3-5 SEC)
Columbia, S.C. • Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559)
7:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Series: CU leads, 71-42-4
Last: CU, 38-3 (2019 at Columbia)
Sirius: 137 • XM: 190
SECN: Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, Alyssa Lang
Point Spread: Clemson -11.5
Vince’s Pick vs. the line: Clemson -11.5
Score Prediction: Clemson 28 South Carolina 14

Kentucky (8-3, 5-3 SEC) at Louisville (6-5)
Louisville, Ky. • Cardinal Stadium (65,000)
7:30 p.m. ET • ESPN2
Series: UK leads, 17-15
Last: UK, 45-13 (2019 at Lexington)
Sirius: 135 • XM: 191
ESPN2: Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Jalyn Johnson
Point Spread: Louisville -3
Vince’s Pick vs. the line: Kentucky +3
Score Prediction: Kentucky 31 Louisville 27

Banks & Seniors Quotes: Vols Reflect On 2021 Campaign As Senior Day Approaches

Posted on November 25, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With Tennessee football set to round out its 2021 regular season on Saturday against Vanderbilt, the Vols took Haslam Field Tuesday morning to begin implementing preparations to face the Commodores.

Defensive coordinator Tim Banks and three Tennessee super seniors—defensive back Theo Jackson, defensive lineman Matthew Butler and defensive lineman Caleb Tremblay—met with members of the media to preview the in-state rivalry. UT will honor its seniors with a pregame ceremony and looks to send the class out victorious in its final game at Neyland Stadium this season.

“These seniors have been tremendous,” Banks said. “Obviously, we’re a new staff coming in. These guys have done everything we’ve asked them to do. They’ve really honestly been a pleasure to work with. We really wish we could get those guys back.

Vols DB Theo Jackson / Credit: UT Athletics

“It’s always special, senior night or senior day. As we tell those guys, football is unique. You’re not playing pick-up tackle football. For some of these guys, this will be the last time they play. If they’re blessed and fortunate enough, they’ll play some more years, but you only get one senior night in college. This thing goes by fast, so we’re going to enjoy it and do everything we can to send those guys out a winner.”

Jackson elected to return for a fifth year of eligibility this season and has had his most productive campaign in 2021. The Nashville native has shined on the defensive side of the ball with 69 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 10 pass breakups in his last year of college football. He will make his final run through the T on Saturday and spoke to the emotions surrounding that moment with local media on Tuesday.

“Right now, it’s bittersweet,” Jackson said. “I’ve been here for a while. I’ve enjoyed my time but also, I feel like I haven’t done enough still. Running through the T for the last time is going to be fun, but it’s also going to be a little bit of emotion. It will be alright.”

Tremblay enters Senior Day with a different perspective, having transferred to Rocky Top for his final year of eligibility after graduating from Southern Cal last year. The defensive end has earned starts in back-to-back games and reflected on his last five months at Tennessee and the impact his teammates and coaches have made on his football career.

“I’ve learned so much as a player from a lot of the seniors,” Tremblay said. “A lot of those guys do things the right way. They are great leaders and great players. I feel like I’ve elevated my game by just being around those guys in that room. Coach G (Rodney Garner) too, he’s brought my game to another level.

“This is the first time, I would think, in a while where I’ve really felt my growth as a player and been proud of it. I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries the last two years. This is the first year I’ve felt my growth as an individual. A lot of that has to do with a lot of those guys and seeing the right way and how they work.”

Tennessee (6-5, 3-4) and Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7) will square off at 3:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Tickets are available at AllVols.com.

A full transcript from Banks’ media availability can be viewed below, along with select quotes from Jackson, Butler and Tremblay.

Defensive Coordinator Tim Banks

On the defense’s focus in the South Alabama game…
“I was definitely proud of their approach. You talk a lot about one-game mentality, one-snap mentality, and sometimes it just becomes lip service, but I really thought our kids bought into it. They understand that in this day and age, anybody can be beat. Everybody has good players. To have an opportunity to play in Neyland one last time in the evening, or at night, we really wanted to give ourselves the best opportunity to be successful. Those guys did it with their preparation and obviously how well they played on Saturday night.”

On how he evaluates junior college or transfer portal prospects in recruiting…
“I would say it’s still the same (as evaluating high school players). Obviously when they’re in high school, you’re projecting. Depending on what year he is with his current university, if it’s year two or year three for him, there are certain expectations in terms of size and weight at that point. We obviously have a particular size metric, and if they fit it, that’s great because you can kind of see them doing it. When they’re in high school, you’ve got to project—will they get big enough, and then will they be able to handle the size difference to be able to still play with speed and pace? Obviously, a guy that’s already done it at the size that you want is super attractive, but so is developing a young kid. It’s kind of either or, to be quite honest with you.”

On what this year’s senior class has meant to him in his first season at Tennessee…
“These seniors have been tremendous. Obviously, we’re a new staff coming in. These guys have done everything we’ve asked them to do. They’ve really honestly been a pleasure to work with. We really wish we could get those guys back. It’s always special, senior night or senior day. As we tell those guys, football is unique. You’re not playing pick-up tackle football. For some of these guys, this will be the last time they play. If they’re blessed and fortunate enough, they’ll play some more years, but you only get one senior night in college. This thing goes by fast, so we’re going to enjoy it and do everything we can to send those guys out a winner.”

On Theo Jackson’s impressive TFL in the South Alabama game…
“In relation to Theo and the play he made, it’s just Theo being Theo. He’s worked really hard all year, and he’s obviously had a tremendous season for us. He’s shown a lot of grit, a lot of determination, being able to strain and get off the block. One guy’s blocking him, and he’s still able to make that tackle. I wish I could tell you I was surprised, but that’s what he does in practice all the time as well. He’ll be missed.”

On the technique he teaches cornerbacks to use when defending the deep ball…
“Everybody’s a little bit different. I guess I can give you layman’s terms. Obviously, if we feel like we’re in phase and have the receiver under control, we want to get our eyes back and be able to play the football. If we feel like we’re losing control and we’re trailing, then at that point you obviously want to play their hands and try to deflect the ball at that point. We talk a lot about having tools within your toolbox, because every play is different. Sometimes you’re in phase and in what we consider an alpha position, sometimes you’re not. But ultimately, if we’re in an alpha position, we want to be able to get our eyes back, and we want to be able to challenge the receiver and make a play on the football.”

On the savviness of his defensive unit and how it has developed throughout the season…
“As coaches, you’re never satisfied. It’s always more that we can do to be better, but I think if you’re just comparing where we started and where we’re at, it’s like 10,000 miles ahead of where we were in the spring and obviously in the fall. Am I happy? No, but I understand that these kids have worked extremely hard to put themselves in a position to be the best versions of themselves. I know it’s not lack of effort. I don’t think it’s a lack of detail, in terms of their studying. I just think the more you do it, the better it’ll become. They’ve done that, but we still obviously have work to be done.”

On what has led to Theo Jackson blossoming into a playmaker in the secondary…
“I didn’t study these guys last year. I made a conscious effort to just evaluate them based on what we saw during practice and in our daily meetings. All I can tell you, we did the best we could to put him in the positions that we felt would give him a chance to be successful, and all he’s done is answer the bell. He may have a better answer for you, if his preparation was different or his mindset was different, but the Theo that we inherited was a guy that was very much attention to detail, was very much invested in his teammates and making sure he’s bringing it each and every day. That’s why to me, that’s why you saw him play at the level that he’s played at all season.”

On what Alontae Taylor has meant to the defensive unit…
“Tae’s been great. Tae will probably be like the President of the United States at some point. He’s just that type of guy, you know? He’s very sharp, he’s very charismatic. Once again, no different than all the seniors. I felt like there was a tremendous amount of buy-in. They were just hungry. They obviously had some success, and Tae was right at the front beating the drum, ‘If we work hard, coach, do you think we have a chance to be successful?’ Once you tell them that, the rest was up to those guys. They worked their tails off, and like I said, Tae was a big part of that in terms of being up front and really preaching our gospel.”

On the development of young cornerbacks such as Warren Burrell…
“Warren’s coming along. Obviously, it’s plays that he knows he could play better, but I think ultimately that he’s had a solid season. I feel like his best football is probably still ahead of him as he continues to get stronger, but from a skill set perspective—he’s quick, he can run, he’s long. We don’t play a lot of guys at this point where we are. We think that obviously in the future, you’d like to be able to create some more depth there. Losing Alontae (Taylor) will be something that obviously could impact some decisions we make in terms of recruiting. That’s an area, to be quite honest with you, we want to continue to build some depth and continue to develop some more guys.”

On what he is thankful for this holiday season…
“That’s a tremendous question. I’m thankful for my family first and foremost. I get an opportunity to see them this weekend. And then, my football family. My players, these players have been awesome. Our football staff. We spend more time with our players and with the staff than we do with our actual families. I tell young coaches this all the time, I’m in a point in my career where I just want to be with good people. Life is short, your football career is even shorter, so I want to spend it with people I genuinely enjoy coming to work with. I can honestly say, from Coach Heupel to the defensive staff to our players, it’s been tremendous, even with the highs and then obviously the lows. It’s just been a great opportunity to be here, and I’m very thankful for it.”

On what Matthew Butler has meant to the defensive line position group…
“Matt’s been everything. I talked about Alontae (Taylor) being very vocal. Matt’s not real vocal, but if you come out there and you watch him practice, we might as well be playing one of the top SEC teams in practice because he goes 100 miles an hour. He’s very about details, every rep asking, ‘Hey coach, how did I do? Was that right? Was that wrong?’ Here’s a guy who’s a senior that has played a lot of football. Here’s a guy that is having great success. Even in practice today, he’s trying to get immediate feedback on his technique and fundamentals. He’s been tremendous in that way, that our young guys can watch, how to me, what a true pro looks like. He just goes about his business every single day. He doesn’t have to say it, because he walks it every day. Again, I’d love to have him back. We’re going to miss him, but somebody’s going to be very fortunate to get that guy on their roster.”

On what he’s seen from Vanderbilt’s offense…
“The quarterback (Mike Wright) has really been a tremendous difference in my mind. He’s given those guys a chance to extend a lot of plays. They’re running option a bunch, which puts a lot of stress on a defense, and that vaunted quarterback draw that everybody seems to be running this year. Any time the quarterback is a live wire and able to extend plays is always an issue. And then you combine that with them just having a pretty good surrounding cast of receivers that are long (and) physical, backs that aren’t necessarily real big but have some twitch and can get vertical on you. It’ll be a great challenge for us. I don’t think their record really speaks to how well those guys have really played. They’ve been in a lot of games, so our guys understand that for us to be successful we’re going to have to be playing at a high level.”

On if its hard to step back and see the overall improvement of the defense from the start of the year to now…
“Honestly, you don’t, at least I don’t. I have no idea where we’re ranked or any of that stuff. We kind of live and die with next game, next play. Obviously, once the season is over, we’ll have a deep dive and celebrate some of the victories and figure out how we can be better in some of the defeats. At this point, it’s really just a next game mentality, next play mentality, and hopefully when this thing is all said and done there will be more things to be proud of than not.”

On if there are any stats that he really believes are important when it comes to winning…
“Well, you already answered it to be honest, the biggest stat that I look at, did we win or lose? I know that sounds corny, but that’s the truth. I’ve been involved in games where we’ve given up a ton of yards and we’ve still won, and I’ve been a part of games where statistically you shut them down and you still lost. When I was younger, everything was because it was perception, they must be playing well because if they’re only giving this up. It’s a lot of things that go into winning and losing, as you guys know. Field position, how many snaps did you play? Where were you? Turnovers. If there was one metric everybody would use it to be successful. But, if I’m being honest, probably the biggest one that we talk about is explosive plays and being able to minimize them because you feel like the more explosive plays you give up, the more opportunities those guys have to be successful. And then vice versa, the more you can limit the explosive plays, our odds of winning go through the roof. So, if there’s one metric that we talk about, that’s probably the one. But to be honest with you, our thing is, what does it take to win? That’s based on snap to snap, game to game (and) at the end of the day when we look up at that scoreboard it’s our job to make sure that the offense has one more point than they have, whatever that is.”

Matthew Butler – DL – Senior

On finishing in a full stadium…
“That’s so major. 2020, I wasn’t sure last year, I think y’all even asked me before the Texas A&M game. Is it going to be your last game? I don’t know and I didn’t know. Obviously going into Neyland last year, it was obviously some good emotions and stuff like that, but it wasn’t a packed stadium. It wasn’t like that last year. Vol Nation is going to bring out all 102,455 for this game, sell it out. That would mean the world to me. That would mean the world to these seniors, just having the place packed out for this last game in Neyland. Going out and putting on a show.”

On the drive to still get better…
“I don’t mean to sound like self-serving, but I’m not good enough. There’s no part of my game that’s good enough. Even if I were the best player in the SEC by far and projected to go No. 1 in next year’s draft, it’s not good enough. I’m very, very thankful for Coach (Tim) Banks and Coach G (Rodney Garner) especially just staying on me. Even though I have that mindset and I’ve always had it, it’s easy sometimes to get lost in the shuffle. That’s another thing I’m really thankful for is Coach G. He won’t believe I said it, but I’m really thankful that he just stays on me, and he just keeps me going and doesn’t let me slack off on the details. If I do something wrong, I’m going to hear it and if I do something right, I’m going to hear it. It’s easy to kind of continue and sustain that mindset when your coach is the exact same way. Obviously, I have dreams, goals and aspirations, and I want everybody around me to achieve their dreams, goals and aspirations as well, so I have to set an example on top of those two things. That’s just what kind of keeps me going.”

On his relationship with Theo Jackson…
“I mean, we are the 2017 class. I don’t know how long you have been covering University of Tennessee football, but we are the 2017 class. There’s a lot that comes with that name. There’s very few of us left, I could count on both my hands. I tried to name them all in an interview before, I missed somebody. Obviously me, Theo, Bruzza (Cheyenne Labruzza), SP (Solon Page III), see I’m about to forget somebody already. We’ve been here for so long. Then you have Blake (Ja’Quain Blakely), who’s 2016 class. He’s the last of the Mohicans, that class. We’re just really thankful for each other. We’ve been around each other through the very, very thick and the very, very thin. There’s that sense of comradery that I think is going to be for the rest of our lives. We are one of, I guess probably eight people, if I’m counting correctly, who just stuck around from 2017 till now. I mean, we are real close in a lot of ways.”

Theo Jackson – DB – Senior

On Saturday being his last game in Neyland Stadium…
“Right now, it’s bittersweet. I’ve been here for a while. I’ve enjoyed my time but also, I feel like I haven’t done enough still. Running through the T for the last time is going to be fun, but it’s also going to be a little bit of emotion. It will be alright.”

On what he’s thankful for this Thanksgiving season and the play from Saturday where he fought off a block to make a tackle…
“I’m thankful for family. Everybody has someone, so I’m just thankful for the people that I have in my life. I’m thankful for this University because without it, I wouldn’t even be here. For the first question, I kind of knew the play was coming. As you all know, I watch a lot of film. Once I saw that the guy who was trying to block me was ineligible, I knew he was running a bubble. I just had to beat him and make a good play.”

On why his game has improved so much this season…
“Really just playing more physical and using my hands. Coach (Willie) Martinez does a great job of teaching us different techniques on how to beat blocks or tackling better. I just took everything that he’s taught me and I’m going out there and applying it.”

Caleb Tremblay – DL – Redshirt Senior

On what his Tennessee experience has meant to him…
“It’s honestly been a blessing. It went by way faster than I thought it was going to go. It kind of comes up on you really quickly. The experience has been unbelievable. Coming from USC and comparing it to that, it’s been an unbelievable experience. The fans here are amazing. It’s just been a blessing.”

On if his plans after Tennessee include pursuing the NFL…
“That’s my goal and my dream. I’m going to do the best I possibly can to make it. Whatever the path is to the next level, I don’t even care. Even if it’s a UDFA guy, I’m going to do whatever. That’s really my goal and my dream for sure.”

On how some of Tennessee’s other seniors impacted him…
“I’ve learned so much as a player from a lot of the seniors. A lot of those guys do things the right way. They are great leaders and great players. I feel like I’ve elevated my game by just being around those guys in that room. Coach G (Rodney Garner) too, he’s brought my game to another level. This is the first time, I would think, in a while where I’ve really felt my growth as a player and been proud of it. I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries the last two years. This is the first year I’ve felt my growth as an individual. A lot of that has to do with a lot of those guys and seeing the right way and how they work.”

-UT Athletics

Luke Combs To Kickoff the Red Kettle Campaign with a Thanksgiving Day Half-Time Performance

Posted on November 25, 2021

People watching the Dallas Cowboys – Las Vegas Raiders game on Thanksgiving will get a halt-time treat as Luke Combs will be performing as a part of The Salvation Army’s 25th Annual Red Kettle Kickoff.

The game starts at 4:30 PM EST (3:30 PM CST) on CBS TV

Luke shares, “I’m excited to announce that I’ll be teaming up with the Salvation Army and the Dallas Cowboys and I’m ready for game day. So tune in to watch my live Halftime performance, to kick off the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign on Thanksgiving Day. Together we can can make sure hope marches on for millions of families in need this Holiday season. See you there.”

One of the songs that fans will probably get to hear on the half-time show is Luke’s “Cold As You” – which is the number-one song in country music this week.

With a long list of personal and professional accomplishments to be thankful for in 2021 – hearing his name said by Alan Jackson – twice! – probably ranks up there pretty high…

Photo Credit: Zach Massey

Hoops Preview: #11/10 Lady Vols vs. Oklahoma State

Stats/Story: Lady Vols Take Down Jayhawks, 68-58

Highlights/Postgame/Photos/Story: Second Half Surge Pushes #15 Vols Past Tennessee Tech, 80-69

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BROADCAST INFO

GAMEDAY INFO

GAMEDAY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

NEED TO KNOW

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ABOUT VANDERBILT

Hoops Preview: #15 Tennessee vs. Tennessee Tech

Hoops Preview: #11/10 Lady Vols vs. Kansas in Las Vegas

Quotes: Rick Barnes and Santiago Vescovi Preview Tennessee Tech

Vince’s View: SEC Week 13 score predictions with 9 games including Vols vs. Commodores

Banks & Seniors Quotes: Vols Reflect On 2021 Campaign As Senior Day Approaches

Defensive Coordinator Tim Banks

Matthew Butler – DL – Senior

Theo Jackson – DB – Senior

Caleb Tremblay – DL – Redshirt Senior

Luke Combs To Kickoff the Red Kettle Campaign with a Thanksgiving Day Half-Time Performance

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