Hoops Preview: #17 Tennessee vs. #18 North Carolina

Hoops Preview: #17 Tennessee vs. #18 North Carolina

Posted on November 22, 2021

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The 17th-ranked Tennessee men’s basketball team plays its second game of the weekend at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament on Sunday, taking on No. 18 North Carolina at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun Resort.

Fans can catch Sunday’s game on ESPN and online or on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. Jon Sciambi (play-by-play) and Fran Fraschilla (analysis) will have the call.
 
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear John Wilkerson and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.

Tennessee Volunteers / Credit: UT Athletics

In its opening game of the weekend in Connecticut, Tennessee fell to No. 5 Villanova, 71-53 on Saturday. Junior guard Santiago Vescovi tied a career high in scoring with 23 points, but the Vols shot 33.3 percent from the field as a team and were unable to overcome a 20-point halftime deficit.
 
Sunday’s matchup is the 12th all-time between Tennessee and North Carolina and the third of the Rick Barnes era. The Vols and Tar Heels played a tightly-contested home-and-home series during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. The Tar Heels won the first game, 73-71, in Chapel Hill, as well as the return trip to Knoxville the following season, 78-73.
 
After concluding the weekend in Connecticut, Tennessee heads back to Knoxville for a pair of home contests, starting with a matchup against Tennessee Tech on Friday. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
 
THE SERIES
• Tennessee trails its all-time series with North Carolina, 1-10, dating to 1911.
• The Vols’ lone win over the Tar Heels was an 84-56 victory in Knoxville on Jan. 3, 1949.
• Spanning the last two meetings—in 2016 and 2017—Tennessee has led for 68:02 of 80:00 total minutes (85 percent). But the Vols lost both contests, with an average margin of 3.5 points.
• North Carolina has been ranked for each of the last four meetings.
• This will be the sixth time these programs have met at a neutral site. The series has been contested in Atlanta (twice), Austin, Maui and New York City.
• A native of Hickory, North Carolina, Rick Barnes owns a 73-75 head coaching record against current members of the ACC, and he is 6-12 in his career vs. UNC.
 
SCOUTING REPORT
• After tying his career-high with 23 points Saturday against Villanova, junior guard Santiago Vescovi is now Tennessee’s leading scorer this season, averaging 16.7 ppg.
• In his first year as a starter, junior forward Olivier Nkamhoua is nearly averaging a double-double with 11.3 points and 9.3 rebounds.
• 43 percent of Tennessee’s points this season have been scored by first-year Vols (101 of 237).
• Auburn transfer Justin Powell has given the Vols a solid scoring punch off the bench. He is shooting .500 from 3-point range and is the team’s fourth-leading scorer with 9.7 ppg.
• Tennessee’s 15 first-half points Saturday against No. 5 Villanova stands as UT’s lowest points total in any half during the Barnes era.
• First-year Tennessee assistant coach Justin Gainey regularly faced North Carolina during his collegiate playing career at NC State from 1996-2000.
 
LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee and its fanbase are quite familiar with all three opposing teams in this Hall of Fame Tipoff field. The Vols played Purdue in 2017 and 2019, faced North Carolina in 2016 and 2017, and clashed with Villanova in 2017.
• This weekend’s games mark just the second and third contests the Vols have ever played in the state of Connecticut. UT’s only previous appearance in The Constitution State was a 72-61 loss to eighth-ranked UConn in Hartford on Jan. 22, 2011.
 
A WIN WOULD…
• Stand as Tennessee’s 15th win over an AP top-25 opponent during the Rick Barnes era.
• Prevent the Vols from owning a win percentage at or below .500 for the first time since the end of the 2016-17 season (16-16).
 
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA
• North Carolina enters Sunday’s matchup with Tennessee coming off of a 93-84 loss to No. 6 Purdue on Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena.
• Prior to Saturday’s loss to Purdue, North Carolina had racked up wins over Loyola Maryland, Brown and College of Charleston.
• In Roy Williams’ final season as head coach in 2020-21, North Carolina posted an 18-11 (10-6 ACC) record, earning a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
• Former Tar Heel player (1988-92) and assistant coach (2012-21) Hubert Davis was selected to replace Williams at the helm of the North Carolina program.
• Like Tennessee, North Carolina has experienced a major roster shift this season, welcoming seven new players to its team.
• Three of those seven new players are Division I transfers—grad student Brady Manek (Oklahoma), sophomore Dawson Garcia (Marquette) and junior Justin McKay (Virginia).
• Manek made 235 threes and scored 1,459 points in four seasons at Oklahoma, while Garcia averaged 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds an earned Freshman All-Big East Conference honors last season at Marquette.
• Three returning players—junior forward Armando Bacot and sophomore guards RJ Davis and Caleb Love—are North Carolina’s captains. Bacot (first team) and Love (second team) were both preseason All-ACC selections.
• Tennessee and North Carolina played a tightly-contested home-and-home series during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. The Tar Heels won the first game, 73-71, in Chapel Hill, as well as the return trip to Knoxville the following season, 78-73.
 
LAST MEETING WITH UNC
•  20th-ranked Tennessee came up short against No. 7 North Carolina, 78-73, before a sold-out crowd of 21,678 at Thompson-Boling Arena on Dec. 17, 2017.
•  The Volunteers led for 37:10 of the contest, but a late 11-3 scoring run pushed the defending national champion Tar Heels to the win.
•  Eventual (2019) NBA Draft pick Grant Williams led five Vols in double-figure scoring with 15 points. James Daniel III finished with 15, Jordan Bowden had 12 and Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone chipped in 10 points each.
•  After a turnover with 1:25 left, Schofield hustled to force a crucial turnover on the inbounds play by UNC. Tennessee took possession, and Williams got the ball near the free-throw line and drove to the paint for a basket with 1:09 left to give UT a 70-67 lead.
•  North Carolina responded by getting to the foul line, converting both free throws and then forcing a UT turnover on the ensuing inbounds attempt. Kenny Williams dropped a massive 3-pointer for the Tar Heels with 32.7 seconds left to give UNC a 72-70 advantage.
•  The Vols struggled to find a basket in the second half, shooting just 30 percent (11-36) from the floor. Bowden hit a three to with six seconds remaining to make it a one-possession game, but North Carolina drained a pair of free throws in the final moments to put the game away.
•  The Vols had active hands on defense in the opening half, nabbing six steals and forcing 12 turnovers that led to 15 points. Tennessee went into halftime with a 38-32 lead.
•  Guard Lamonté Turner led the Vols’ rebounding efforts with a career-high nine boards.
 
FULKERSON SHINED AT UNC AS A FRESHMAN IN 2016
•  Then a true freshman, John Fulkerson shined during Tennessee’s heartbreaking 73-71 loss at seventh-ranked North Carolina on Dec. 11, 2016.
•  Making his fourth career start (in his eighth collegiate game), Fulkerson scored eight points on 4-of-4 shooting with four rebounds, one assist, one block and a pair of steals in 24 productive minutes.
•  The Vols outshot the Tar Heels (.519 to .397), held an eight-point lead at halftime and led for 30:52.
•  Four days later, Fulkerson suffered a season-ending injury (dislocated elbow and fractured right wrist) while attempting to take a charge against Lipscomb. He was later awarded a medical redshirt.
•  Fulkerson, played his high school ball at The Christ School in Arden, North Carolina, near Asheville.
 
BARNES, SMITH SHARED TENSE MOMENT AT 1995 ACC TOURNEY
• Rick Barnes and legendary UNC head coach Dean Smith were central figures in a tense and memorable moment in ACC Tournament history on March 10, 1995.
• During an ACC Tournament quarterfinal game at Greensboro Coliseum, Tar Heels star Jerry Stackhouse was fouled by Clemson’s Iker Iturbe while attempting a layup with 3:10 left to play.
• Smith then pointed at Iturbe and yelled something at him. Barnes, the Clemson head coach at the time, immediately charged toward Smith and had to be restrained by officials. Barnes received a technical.
• Carolina went on to defeat Clemson, 78-62.
• Asked after the game what he said to the officials that led to his technical foul, Barnes said. “‘I want you to bring him down here. I want you to hear what I’m going to say to him.’ I told him, ‘You coach your team and I’ll coach my team. You don’t have any right talking to my players.'”
• Said Smith after the game: “Where I was wrong was to point a finger at a player. I’ve done that three times in my career, but in each instance, I don’t want my player getting hurt because of a hard foul.”
 
BOOST FROM THE BENCH
• Through three contests, Tennessee’s bench is averaging 27.3 points per game. The Vols’ reserves are outscoring the opponents’ reserves by 16.3 points per game.
• Justin Powell has scored in double figures off the bench in two of UT’s three games.

-UT Athletics

Quotes/Notes/Stats/Story: Quick-Strike Vols Race Past Jaguars, 60-14

Quotes/Notes/Stats/Story: Quick-Strike Vols Race Past Jaguars, 60-14

Posted on November 22, 2021

Final Book (PDF) | Postgame Notes (PDF) | Postgame Quotes (PDF)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee scored in all three phases of the game and put up points in lightning-quick fashion, racing past South Alabama, 60-14, on a chilly Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
 
With the win, the Vols (6-5, 3-4 SEC) secured bowl eligibility for the 54th time in program history. That feat ranks as the fifth-most nationally in college football history.
 
UT needed only 14:59 of possession time to score its first 56 points vs. the Jaguars (5-6, 2-5 Sun Belt). The Big Orange didn’t punt until the 8:17 mark in the fourth quarter and forced USA to punt on six of its 13 possessions, including six of its first eight. It also ended two Jaguar drives on downs and two more via safeties. In total, South Alabama had a 1-for-16 night on third-down conversions, marking the best effort of the season for the Big Orange defense.

Vols WR-RS Velus Jones Jr / Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee’s 60-point effort on offense was its highest since rolling up a 63-7 result vs. Missouri in Knoxville on Nov. 19, 2016. The Big Orange accumulated 561 yards of total offense (311 passing/250 rushing) vs. USA, averaging 7.8 yards per play and generating 28 first downs.
 
Redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker was laser sharp, completing 17 of 20 pass attempts for 273 yards and two touchdowns and added 21 yards and a score on the ground. It marked the 10th straight game he passed for a TD.
 
Redshirt senior Velus Jones Jr. had a stellar evening, grabbing six passes for 103 yards and returning a kick 96 yards for a score. He finished with a career-high 246 all-purpose yards, including 96 on kickoff returns and 47 on punt returns to go along with his receiving total.
 
The return was Jones’ second-career kickoff return for a touchdown and his first at Tennessee. His only other previous kickoff return touchdown came while he was playing at Southern Cal (100 yards vs. Fresno State, Aug. 31, 2019).
 
Redshirt junior Cedric Tillman joined Jones Jr. in the 100-yard receiving club, hitting the century mark on the nose via five catches. A second-quarter scoring catch gave the redshirt junior wideout a touchdown in his fifth straight game.
 
Defensively, redshirt junior linebacker Jeremy Banks led the Vols with seven tackles. Senior defensive back Theo Jackson, junior defensive end Roman Harrison and senior defensive tackle Matthew Butler had six stops each and registered two, 1.5 and one tackle for a loss, respectively. They contributed to a total of 13 Big Orange TFLs on the night, marking the fifth time this season the team has had 10 or more, which is the first time achieving that feat since the 1996 season.
 
After forcing a three-and-out on South Alabama’s game-opening drive, Tennessee’s offense needed only two minutes to find the end zone. Hooker connected with three different receivers for 37 yards, and sophomore running back Jabari Small racked up 25 on the ground, including a burst for 10 yards leaving him just short of the goal-line and then the scoring plunge one play later. Senior Chase McGrath’s extra point kick put the Vols up 7-0 with 11:13 left in the first quarter.
 
Another UT defensive stop, and the Vols were back in the end zone even quicker on their second series, taking only 1:57 off the clock. This time it was freshman running back Jaylen Wright rambling in from 17 yards out. McGrath’s PAT made it 14-0 Big Orange with 6:14 to go in the opening stanza.
 
The Jaguars were within striking distance early in the second period, but the Tennessee defense kept USA out of the end zone on four plays from the 10 and inside it. Senior safety Trevon Flowers came up with big plays on third and fourth down, getting a quarterback hurry to rush a potential touchdown toss and then his first-career sack, taking down Desmond Trotter to end the threat.
 
After taking over at their own 13, the Vols marched 87 yards in eight plays, taking 2:38 to go up 21-0. Hooker completed four passes for 62 yards on the drive, including a 27-yard scoring strike to Tillman. He is the first Vol with a TD reception in five consecutive contests since Josh Malone did so over the last five games of 2016. McGrath booted the PAT to make it 21-0 with 10:37 remaining in the second frame.
 
After Tennessee forced South Alabama to punt for the third time, Jones Jr. set the Vols up for another score with an exciting 33-yard return. UT changed the digits on the scoreboard again in only three plays and 55 total seconds. The decisive blow was a 24-yard toss across the middle to redshirt senior tight end Princeton Fant for six. It was the longest reception of his career and marked his first touchdown of the season and second of his UT tenure. McGrath’s PAT made it 28-0 with 6:41 left in the half.
 
The Jaguars finally got on the board with 1:36 to go before the half. Tight end Lincoln Sefcik hauled in a three-yard pass from Trotter to cap a 10-play, 75-yard drive and cut the deficit to 28-7 with Diego Guajardo’s PAT tacked on.
 
UT restored its 28-point advantage in a hurry, though, as Jones Jr. electrified fans by cradling the ensuing kickoff and weaving his way 96 yards to the end zone. McGrath’s extra point made it 35-7 Vols with 1:18 left before intermission. The house call was the first by a Big Orange return man since Ty Chandler took one back 91 yards vs. Indiana State on Sept. 9, 2017.
 
Small hit pay-dirt for the second time of the evening with 12:06 left in the third.  After Tillman hauled in a 43-yard pass from Hooker to move Tennessee into the red zone, the sophomore running back bulldozed the pile three yards into the end zone two plays later. McGrath’s PAT boosted his squad’s lead to 42-7.
 
The Vols struck again with 7:29 to go in the third period. With the eight-play, 64-yard drive aided by an outstanding 41-yard catch by Jones Jr., Hooker called his own number and scored from six yards out. McGrath’s PAT boosted the lead to 49-7.
 
Joe Milton III came on at quarterback in the fourth quarter and the Vol offense continued its scoring precision. The redshirt junior marched UT 80 yards in six plays, taking only 2:06 off the clock, with redshirt freshman running back Len’Neth Whitehead bursting into the checkerboard from five yards out. McGrath’s kick pushed the count to 56-7.
 
USA put its second touchdown on the board with 11:02 left in the contest. Trotter hit Jalen Tolbert with a short pass, and the wide receiver spun around and outraced defenders 62 yards to the end zone. Guajardo added the extra point to cut the gap to 56-14.
 
Tennessee’s defense completed a home team trifecta with 6:37 remaining, giving the Big Orange points on offense, special teams and defense. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Kurott Garland chased down and collared Trotter in the end zone for a safety and his first-career sack to make the score 58-14.
 
The Vols halted South Alabama on the next drive and earned points via another safety. The snap to the Jaguar punter sailed over his head and out the back of the end zone with 2:43 remaining for the game’s final points, making it 60-14 UT.
 
The Vols close out the 2021 regular season next Saturday, as they welcome the Vanderbilt Commodores to Shields-Watkins Field. Kickoff is slated for 3:45 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised by SEC Network and available via the Vol Network statewide on the radio and worldwide through streaming on UTSports.com.

-UT Athletics

Highlights/Postgame/Stats/Story: Rough start in CT, #17 Vols lose to #5 Villanova, 71-53

Highlights/Postgame/Stats/Story: Rough start in CT, #17 Vols lose to #5 Villanova, 71-53

Posted on November 22, 2021

Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | VIDEO: Barnes & Vescovi Postgame

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The 17th-ranked Tennessee basketball team struggled early offensively and never found its rhythm, falling 71-53 to No. 5 Villanova Saturday at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.

Tennessee shot 19-for-57 (.333) from the field on Saturday. Santiago Vescovi was the lone Vol in double figures, tying his career high with 23 points.

Out of the gates, Villanova jumped out to a 17-5 lead, aided by Tennessee’s 2-for-12 shooting start. The Vols cut the Wildcats’ lead to eight at 19-11, but Villanova answered by ending the half on a 16-4 run to take a 35-15 lead into the halftime break.

Santiago Vescovi – Vols G / Credit: UT Athletics

Overall for the first half, Tennessee shot 5-for-22 (.227) from the field.

The Vols and Wildcats battled even in the second half, but Tennessee was never able to draw closer than 15 points.

Villanova was led by Jermaine Samuels, who logged 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Collin Gillespie and Brandon Slater also scored 14 in a balanced effort for the Wildcats.

UP NEXT: Tennessee is set to face 18th-ranked North Carolina on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.

-UT Athletics

Hoops Preview: #16/12 Lady Vols vs. #12/21 Texas

Hoops Preview: #16/12 Lady Vols vs. #12/21 Texas

Posted on November 22, 2021

No. 16/12 Tennessee (3-0) faces its second straight ranked team, as No. 12/21 Texas (3-0) comes to Thompson-Boling Arena for a top-20 showdown of undefeated squads on Sunday at 1:02 p.m. ET.

After opening the season with three games in a span of six days, including a road contest sandwiched in the middle, the Lady Vols had from Tuesday on to recover and focus on the Longhorns. 
Sunday’s affair marks the third of three consecutive tilts vs. 2021 NCAA Tournament teams for the Big Orange. UCF, South Florida and Texas advanced to the first, second and Elite 8 rounds, respectively, of last year’s event in the San Antonio area. 

Texas also represents the opening of a three-game set vs. Big 12 opponents, as the Lady Vols are eyeing upcoming neutral site battles next week vs. Kansas and Oklahoma State at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout in Las Vegas.

The duel with OSU will actually increase UT’s load to four 2021 NCAA Tournament teams in a five-game stretch, dating to the UCF contest.

Tamari Key – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics

UT enters game four after overcoming some adversity and finding a way to forge a 3-0 record. The squad did so despite losing sophomore forward and returning starter Marta Suárez for the season to injury and then seeing senior guard/forward and All-America candidate Rae Burrell sidelined indefinitely after going down during the opener vs. Southern Illinois. Both medical setbacks have been termed lower extremity injuries.

UT’s defense has carried the load while everyone adjusts to new roles offensively, holding Southern Illinois, UCF and No. 23/22 South Florida all to 49 points or fewer over the first three tests. UT outscored USF 14-5 in the fourth quarter to prevail on Monday night, 52-49.

Texas enters allowing the same 46.3 ppg. defensive average as Tennessee, but it’s scoring 93.3 ppg. after boosting its number with a 131-36 win over New Orleans in the opener. Most noteworthy, though, was the Longhorns’ 61-56 triumph on the road at No. 2/3 and defending NCAA champion Stanford on Nov. 14. Texas is coming off an 88-47 victory over Southeast Missouri on Wednesday.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Stephanie White (analyst) will be on the call for the ESPN broadcast.
  • All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
  • The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network radio stations and by audio stream, with Mickey Dearstone behind the microphone. 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.

GAME PROMOTIONS

  • Tennessee welcomes back to Rocky Top Tamika Catchings and fellow Lady Vol alums, as Big Orange Nation celebrates her 2021 induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Sunday, she’ll be saluted at halftime of the Lady Vols’ game with Texas, and she’ll also receive recognition during Saturday night’s football game vs. South Alabama.
  • 12K in TBA – Tennessee is aiming for a crowd of 12,000 or better on Sunday. There are several specials geared toward attracting fans to Thompson-Boling Arena.
  • Football/Basketball Offer – Fans can get in free to the Tennessee-Texas game when they show their football ticket from Saturday’s UT-South Alabama game. 
  • Salute to Service – Current military members and veterans who present their Military ID or DD 214 at the Fan Experience tents outside Gates C & E receive complimentary admission for themselves & immediate family members on Sunday.
  • In addition to complimentary admission for active military and veterans, free parking and shuttle service is available for Lady Vol basketball games from UT’s Ag Campus.
  • This year’s week-long celebration of Tennessee’s ultimate Volunteers includes special recognitions, ceremonies, celebrations and opportunities for veteran and military families to attend a football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball game free of charge. Since the introduction of the week-long recognition in 2018, Tennessee Athletics has welcomed thousands of military and veterans from across the southeast to numerous athletics events as part of Salute to Service Week.
  • UT Faculty/Staff Special – All UT Knoxville faculty and staff receive two complimentary tickets and free popcorn, plus an offer to purchase additional tickets at a discounted rate.
  • Spark The Summitt – There are $5 tickets for all price zones (excluding courtside) available in advance or on game day, plus $1 tickets for kids 12 & under. 
  • For more information about promotions, parking and fan information, please visit the Fans tab on UTSports.com and go to the Fan Experience page.

NEXT UP: HEADED TO VEGAS

  • After facing Texas, Tennessee turns its attention to two more Big 12 foes it will meet at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Nov. 26 and 27.
  • The Lady Vols face Kansas at 3:30 p.m. PT (6:30 ET) on Friday, Nov. 26.
  • They follow that with another 3:30 p.m PT (6:30 ET) match-up against Oklahoma State on Saturday, Nov. 27.
  • UT is slated to travel to Nevada on Tuesday evening and return on Sunday afternoon.
  • The game marks the return of Rae Burrell to her home city. She is a graduate of Liberty High School.

LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST GAME

  • Overcoming a six-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, the No. 16/12 Lady Vols took down No. 23/22 South Florida at Thompson-Boling Arena, 52-49, on Monday night. With the win, Tennessee improved to 3-0 on the season.
  • Jordan Horston led the furious fourth-quarter comeback, scoring 12 of the 14 points for UT. The junior tied a career high with 24 points, adding nine rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals. Her offensive prowess was complemented by Tamari Key’s dominance in the paint. Key pulled down 10 rebounds, five in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points and blocking six shots. She posted the fifth double-double of her career and first this season.
  • The program secured its 489th win over a ranked opponent. In the current polls, the Lady Vols have five remaining ranked opponents on their schedule, including the next matchup with No. 12/21 Texas on Sunday.

NOTABLES FROM OUR LAST GAME

  • TAKING ON CHAMPS: The South Florida squad is the reigning AAC champion. The match-up was the first of four UT contests in which the Lady Vols will square off with conference champions during the 2021-22 campaign. Other conference champions on the schedule are South Carolina (SEC), Stanford (PAC-12) and UConn (BIG EAST).  
  • SHOT SWATTING: Tamari Key recorded a season-high six blocks on the night to surpass Nicky Anosike (161), landing at seventh on UT’s all-tie career blocks list with 167. She is now 27 shy of catching Michelle Snow for sixth all-time at 194.  
  • FIRST QUARTER D: Tennessee held USF to just nine first-quarter points. Coming into the contest, the Bulls were averaging 22 points in the opening period.  
  • HOLDING THEM TO FIVE: The Lady Vols limited South Florida to five fourth-quarter points (on 2-of -16 FG/ 1-of-8 3FG shooting), marking the second time this season UT has held a foe to five or fewer in a frame. Tennessee allowed only five to UCF in the second period on Nov. 12 in Orlando.

TRACKING THE LADY VOLS

  • Tennessee started a season 3-0 for the eighth time in nine years and will attempt to improve to 4-0 for the fourth occasion in five campaigns. UT dropped a road game in overtime at West Virginia in game three of the 2020-21 campaign. 
  • The Lady Vols enter Sunday’s contest ranked No. 22 nationally in scoring defense, allowing 46.3 points per game.
  • Tennessee is up to No. 27 nationally in field goal percentage defense, a stat that Kellie Harper teams are known for. UT is allowing opponents only 30.3 percent from the field through three games.
  • Following her career-high-tying 24-point effort vs. South Florida, Jordan Horston has scored in double figures in six of her last seven games, including four of the last five contests in 2020-21.
  • Graduate transfer Alexus Dye, who averaged 12.6 rebounds per game last season at Troy, is pulling down 9.3 rpg. this season. She is second behind Jordan Horston (10.0 rpg.) in that category and is third in minutes per contest (27.7) and first in steals per game (1.3).
  • The Big Orange women have had three different players register double-doubles in their first three games this season, including Alexus Dye (12 pts./13 rebs.) vs. Southern Illinois, Jordan Horston (14/11) vs. UCF and Tamari Key (10/10) vs. South Florida.  • Freshman Brooklynn Miles is leading the team (29.3) in minutes played and has recorded six assists in three games while committing only three turnovers. She ranks second in assists per game (2.0) and is third in steals per contest (1.0).
  • UT went 0-8 last season in games in which it trailed entering the final five minutes. Tennessee has earned wins vs. Southern Illinois and South Florida in 2021 after entering that territory down. Conversely, UT was 17-0 a year ago when leading while heading into the final five minutes.
  • Senior forward Keyen Green is averaging one charge taken per game to lead Tennessee. Fellow graduate Jordan Walker has taken two thus far.
  • UT scored 59 points vs. SIU, 49 vs. UCF and 52 vs. South Florida and yet came away with a win vs. both teams, thanks to its defense. A year ago, the Lady Vols were 0-4 when scoring fewer than 59. 
  • Winning the rebounding battle vs. South Florida Tennessee now has claimed 49 of 59 board battles during the Harper era, while falling short seven times and tying twice. UT is 3-0 this season and was 22-2-1 (W-L-T on board advantages) last year and 24-6-1 in 2019-20.

UT-TEXAS SERIES HISTORY

  • Tennessee leads the series with Texas, 25-16, and has a 12-7 edge in Knoxville, an 11-8 record in Austin and a 2-1 mark at neutral sites.
  • The Lady Vols have won seven of the last 11 in the series, but are 2-4 since 2014. UT, though, is 6-2 in its last eight played in Knoxville.
  • While the first meeting in the series was on Dec. 8, 1978 (Tennessee 84, Texas 60), this marks the 39th-consecutive season these programs have met. The UTs played twice in 1986-87 and 1991-92 in regular-season tourney match-ups in addition to the regularly-scheduled games.
  • Tennessee was supposed to play in the Erwin Center one last time on Dec. 13, 2020, but COVID contact tracing forced a cancellation just before the Lady Vols departed the hotel for the game. 
  • Lady Vol Head Coach Kellie Harper was 4-0 vs. Texas as a Tennessee player from 1995-96 to 1998-99 and is 0-1 vs. the Longhorns as a head coach, falling 66-60 on Dec. 8, 2019, in Knoxville.
  • Tennessee is 58-24 all-time vs. schools currently in the Big 12 after falling at West Virginia in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Dec. 6 last season.
  • Two of women’s college basketball’s most successful coaches put these programs on the map: Tennessee’s Pat Summitt (1,098-208, 8 NCAA titles) and Texas’ Jody Conradt (900-307, 1 NCAA title).
  • Popular Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes, whose Vols are ranked No. 17 nationally, previously coached at Texas from 1998 to 2015.

ABOUT TEXAS

  • Texas was picked to finish in a tie for second in the 2021-22 Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll.
  • The Longhorns posted a 21-10 mark and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight during head coach Vic Schaefer’s first season in Austin in 2020-21. 
  • Three Longhorns were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Awards teams. Aaliyah Moore was the Preseason Freshman of the Year, senior Joanne Allen-Taylor was on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, and freshman Rori Harmon was named Preseason Honorable Mention All-Big 12.
  • Aliyah Matharu, a transfer from Ole Miss, leads Texas in scoring at 15.3 ppg. Also in double figures are freshman guards Kyndall Hunter (13.5) and Rori Harmon (13.0) and senior guard Joanne Allen-Taylor (11.3). 
  • The Longhorns knocked off No. 3/2 Stanford, 61-56, last Sunday at the Cardinal’s Maples Pavilion.

ABOUT THE HEAD COACH

  • Vic Schaefer is in his second season at Texas and owns a 24-10 record in Austin and stands 325-182 in his 17th year as a head coach.
  • Schaefer was a three-time SEC Coach of the Year and a two-time national coach of the year while at Mississippi State from 2011-20, leading the Bulldogs to a 221-62 record.
  • They made five NCAA Tournament berths, including two NCAA Championship Game appearances during his time in Starkville.
  • During his tenure, MSU won the program’s first SEC regular-season championship and SEC Tournament championship and made five consecutive appearances in the tourney title game.

THE LAST TIME THE LONGHORNS PLAYED

  • Four Longhorns posted double-figure scoring outings Wednesday afternoon as No. 12/21 Texas (3-0) took care of Southeast Missouri (1-2), 88-48, in a nonconference tilt inside the Frank Erwin Center.
  • Senior guard Joanne Allen-Taylor led the team in scoring with 13 points. Drawing her first start of the year, senior forward Lauren Ebo notched a double-double performance with 11 points to go along with a team-best 10 rebounds. Aliyah Matharu (11) and Rori Harmon (11) were the other Longhorns to finish in double digits.
  • Texas finished the game shooting an even 50 percent (37-of-74) from the floor and out-rebounded the Redhawks, 41-35. The Longhorns won the turnover battle, 27-11. 

-UT Athletics

Football Preview: Vols Wrap Up Non-Conference Play Against South Alabama

Football Preview: Vols Wrap Up Non-Conference Play Against South Alabama

Posted on November 22, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee continues its three-game homestand to finish the regular season with a matchup against South Alabama on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

Both teams enter the game with identical 5-5 records and will be looking to secure bowl eligibility with a win on Saturday night.

Vols DE Byron Young & LB Jeremy Banks / Credit: UT Athletics

BROADCAST INFO

The game will be televised on ESPNU with Clay Matvick (PxP) and Rocky Boiman (analyst) on the call. Kickoff is slated for 7:32 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. 137, XM Ch. 190, Internet Ch. 961). 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 6 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 5:30 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 5:15 p.m.) and the Band March is just across from Circle Park. The Toyota Vol Village on Nov. 20 will feature musical guest Gabe Burdulis, face painting, tailgate games and Salute to Service activities, including a flight simulator and military vehicles! Fans can stop by from 4-7 p.m.

Truly’s Tailgate: Truly’s Tailgate, located outside Gate 9 will open at 4:30 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.

In-Game Recognitions: Former Lady Vol great Tamika Catchings will be recognized on the field in the first quarter for her recent induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and her 2020 induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Catchings is the 10th Tennessee player to be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She followed in the footsteps of her head coach at UT, the late Pat Summitt, who was the first and only other person associated with the Lady Vol program to be welcomed into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

WBB Ticket Promo: Anyone who attends Saturday’s football game is eligible to receive free admission to Sunday’s women’s basketball game vs. No. 12 Texas by showing their football ticket at the Thompson-Boling Arena ticket window before the game.

NEED TO KNOW

Salute to Service Game
Saturday will serve as Tennessee’s “Salute to Service” game. There will be a C-17 flyover for the Vol Walk. During halftime, there will be a Joint Contracting Ceremony with Army and Air Force ROTC Cadets and the Pride of the Southland Band will perform a Salute to Service patriotic themed halftime show, which will include a live performance by country music singer-songwriter Lee Greenwood.

Points Aplenty
With 361 points, Tennessee has already eclipsed its final point total from the four previous seasons. That tally is the most through the first 10 games of a season at UT since the 1995 team (26 years ago) scored 399 through its first 10 games.
 
The Vols’ 344 points rank 17th in the FBS and third in the SEC. UT is averaging 36.1 points per game, good for 17th in the FBS and fourth in the SEC. In SEC-only games, the Vols are putting up 33.3 ppg, which is second in the SEC. Josh Heupel coached teams have scored at least 14 points in every game (46 games) and scored at least 20 points in 44 of 46 games.

Tillman on a Tear
Redshirt junior wideout Cedric Tillman has emerged as one of the SEC’s top receivers this season, ranking fifth in the conference with a team-high 725 receiving yards, tied for seventh with six touchdown catches and tied for ninth with 46 receptions. In conference-only games, Tillman ranks second in the SEC in receiving yards per game (93.9), second in TD catches (5) and second in receiving yards (657). He is tied for the SEC lead in SEC-only games in 20+ yard catches (10), 30+ yard catches (5), 40+ yard catches (3) and 50+ yard catches (3).
 
In last week’s loss to top-ranked Georgia, Tillman set career highs with 10 catches for 200 yards and a touchdown. It was the ninth 200-yard receiving game in Tennessee history and the first since Cordarrelle Patterson had 219 vs. Troy on Nov. 3, 2012. It was the first 200-yard receiving game by a Vol in an SEC game since Denarius Moore had 205 vs. Kentucky on Nov. 27, 2010.
 
Tillman has recorded at least six catches in five straight games, becoming the first Vol to achieve that feat since Cedrick Wilson did it the first five games of the 1999 season. The Las Vegas native has thrived in games against ranked teams, as well. Against current Top 25 teams, he is third in the nation in yards (456), ninth in the nation in catches (25) and fourth in the nation in TD catches (3).

Banks a Tackling Machine
Redshirt junior linebacker Jeremy Banks is having a breakout season for the Big Orange. The Cordova, Tennessee, native leads the team and ranks third in the SEC with a career-high 89 tackles and has posted double-digit stops in four straight games, including a career-best tying 15 last Saturday against No. 1 Georgia. Banks is also tied for seventh in the SEC with 9.0 tackles for loss and is tied for the team lead in sacks with 4.5.

SERIES HISTORY

Vols lead series, 1-0
Saturday will be just the second ever meeting between the two programs. Tennessee won the only previous meeting, 31-24, in 2013. Rajion Neal ran for a career-high 169 yards and a touchdown while quarterback Justin Worley threw for 204 yards and a pair of scores.

ABOUT SOUTH ALABAMA

The Jaguars are led by first-year head coach Kane Wommack, who was one of five finalists for the Broyles Award last season while serving as the defensive coordinator at Indiana. South Alabama and Tennessee have one common opponent this season in Bowling Green, who the Vols defeated 38-6 in their season opener. The Jaguars defeated the Falcons 22-19 the following week.

Quarterback Jake Bentley, who spent four seasons as South Carolina’s starting quarterback, was having a solid season before getting injured in the Jaguars loss at Troy two weeks ago. Taking over for Bentley has been sophomore Desmond Trotter, who has passed for 380 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in four games played. Junior wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has been USA’s top weapon on offense, leading the team with 65 receptions and six touchdowns. He ranks fourth nationally with 1,140 receiving yards, averaging 114.0 per game.

Defensively, South Alabama has been susceptible to the big play but has also been successful at creating turnovers, ranking fifth in the FBS with 14 interceptions on the year. Eight different players have picked off a pass this season for the Jags. Defensive backs Darrell Luter Jr. (4) and Tre Young (3) have combined for seven interceptions.

-UT Athletics

Walker Hayes Gets “Fancy Like” on CBS Sunday Morning

Walker Hayes Gets “Fancy Like” on CBS Sunday Morning

Posted on November 22, 2021

Did you catch Walker Hayes on CBS Sunday Morning?

Walker talked with Lee Cowan about his number-one hit “Fancy Like” along with the twists and turns of his career, while Walker’s daughter shared that her dad had a hard time with the dance that would relaunch the Applebee’s Oreo Shake…

Watch the segment here…

Check out the music video for “Fancy Like” here…

Following up the success of his double platinum hit, Walker has released his next single, “AA”

Photo Credit: Robert Chavers

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