Did you catch LANCO on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at the end of last week?
The band was on the popular late night talk show performing their brand new song “Near Mrs.” and afterwards the guys shared, “Pretty cool one to mark off the bucket list!”
Check out their performance right here…
Photo Courtesy of Sony Music Nashville
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper and senior forward Rennia Davis participated in a Zoom media availability on Saturday in advance of Sunday’s NCAA First Round game vs. Middle Tennessee.
The No. 3 Lady Vols and No. 14 seed Lady Raiders will meet at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin at 2 p.m. ET (1 CT). The contest will be televised by ABC and carried on the Lady Vol Radio Network.
Opening Statement:
“This game feels like it is a long time coming. We’ve been off for a long time and have been down here in San Antonio for a few days now. So, we are excited to be getting closer to game day and game time, and our team is looking forward to it. We’ve got a tough opponent that knows how to win, and they’ll be very disciplined and have a game plan that they’ll come out and execute. So, we have to be locked in. You don’t just walk out here and win, you have to walk out and be a really good basketball team to continue to advance.”
On what her reaction is to the NCAA tournament differences between the men’s and women’s as far as swag bags, weights, etc., and how does she make sure her team is focused for what takes place tomorrow on the court:
“Well, I think there is a lot there. On the way down, we didn’t know what it would look like. We talked to the team about handling whatever it is. It’s not going to look normal, and we knew it wouldn’t look normal. It’s not been perfect. There have been some things, obviously, that we would like to change, but our players have really handled everything well. They have moved from event to event very well, they’ve been flexible, and for us, we’re handling things. It is disappointing when you see the pictures and you see the discrepancies between the two tournaments. I think it’s really disappointing. But when you’re around our team here, they’ve been grateful. They have been wonderful to deal with, and I think they are just excited to play basketball.”
On what life has looked like inside the NCAA tournament bubble:
“Well, the practice times have been a bit all over the map, in terms of what times they have been. You might have an early one, and you have a practice then a COVID test. With the COVID test, you’re allowed an hour-and-a-half to two hours from door to door to get that finished and finalized. So, that has taken up quite a bit of time. Once we were out of quarantine, we were able to move into a meeting space, where we can kind of watch film, the players can come do treatment and they can have study halls. Meals have been, basically for the most part, delivered, so they come in boxes and you’re having meals in your room by yourself. We did have to travel over to Austin to practice on Friday, and we had to leave here at 6:30 in the morning on Friday to go over and practice. So, that was after coming off a late-night practice, and we walked off the court at 9 p.m. on Thursday night. So, logistically, things haven’t been the easiest, but we’ve handled it.”
On what she has seen from MT in preparing for them this week, and what is at the top of her priority list for this game:
“Well, there are a couple things, obviously. Annie (Anastasia) Hayes is a terrific and dynamic scorer for them. She does a great job getting to the basket and getting herself to the free-throw line. Their system is set up for her to do that, because they are putting four shooters behind the three-point line and they are going to spread you out. Basically, it is saying, pick what you want to do. Do you want to help off on to her, and she’ll kick to threes, or do you want to let her go one on one, and she’s a 26-point scorer going one on one? So, I think that is where they present a challenge to anybody they are playing, and you’ve got to decide how you’re going to guard. I think, defensively, they’ve got some players that’ll get after you, and they’ll try to pressure the ball a bit and try to deny some passes. Then they are going to play hard, they are going to be very well disciplined, and they’re going to play hard and not back down.”
On how big this match-up is for the state and her program for the high-profile nature of it:
“Well, I think you’re right, and Coach Insell has meant a lot to girls’ basketball in the state of Tennessee, and obviously women’s basketball on a national scale as well. Growing up in the state in the time he was coaching a powerhouse in Shelbyville, you knew who he was, and you know he was consistently producing All-Americans and national championship teams. I had an opportunity to play for him in AAU for a few summers, I loved playing for him, and he does a great job motivating his players. I really have a lot of respect for him in how he coaches and what he’s been able to do. So, I think it’s such a winning program, and he has a lot of respect in our community. I think that it is a big game for the state of Tennessee.”
On how much she thinks her team will try to play to their strengths in this game Sunday, with how they can use their board play to their advantage from Coach Insell’s comments on their rebounding strengths:
“Well, the good thing is, we are not going into this game saying, ‘Let’s get the offensive boards, we haven’t done that this year, so let’s try that.’ We’re going in to do what we’ve done all year long, and I think that’s important. 100 percent, I think I could’ve answered that question for him, and I would’ve known that’s what he would say, just because of size and stats to be honest with you. But they’ll be disciplined, they’ll box out, and we will have to be really good on the boards to be able to continue to outrebound our opponents.”
On navigating freshmen and sophomores through the tournament for the first time:
“It’s going to be tough but attainable. I feel like I haven’t competed in a tournament since my freshman year because that was the last time it felt like we got far enough, so this is new for all of us. We’re all going to have to help each other out, and we have coaches that have been there, so we need to listen to what they say, adjust on the fly and be ready all the time.”
On how important it is to go far in the tournament:
“It’s important and attainable for us, because we believe we can do it. That’s the most important aspect of it is believing that we can do it and having confidence in ourselves that we can make a run in this tournament. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing against, we’re going to do whatever it takes to win the game, and I think we’re going to get it done.”
On what needs to be done to beat MT:
“Limiting threes is the biggest thing I’ve seen on film. To put it in perspective, one of our coaches said that they shoot six more (per game) than Arkansas, who we’ve played against, and they shoot a lot of threes. That’s going to be a big thing for us, guarding the three, making them put the ball on the floor, and also use our size on the offensive end.”
On whether she will attack the basket on Sunday:
“I want to attack the basket, get to the free-throw line and create easier opportunities for my teammates, especially in the post. I know we have an advantage in size, so I just want to drive when the defense collapses and get some easy assists. I’m going to do whatever my team needs me to do and not settle for the three.”
On avoiding the upset:
“I always have the same mindset. I know we have the higher seed, but I still feel like we’re the underdogs in this tournament. Not a lot of people think we’re going to get much done after this first game, but we have a lot to prove, and I want to come out with the mentality as if we were the lower seed.”
On the team’s focus, while being mostly isolated while they’ve been down in Texas:
“I can only speak for myself on this, but I enjoy the isolation and the time I have to myself to recharge. I get to do certain stuff alone that I don’t get to do around large groups, so I enjoy and need this time for me so when tomorrow comes I’ll be ready to play.”
Harper Presser | Davis Presser
-UT Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A difficult day at the dish with runners in scoring position and a number of timely hits from No. 3 Alabama, was too much for the No. 21 Tennessee softball team to overcome in a 7-1 loss on Saturday at Rhoads Stadium.
The result evened the series between UT (21-4, 2-3 SEC) and Alabama (23-2, 4-1 SEC), setting up a rubber match on Sunday afternoon.
The Orange & White struggled with runners on base, finishing the afternoon, 0-for-13, when there was a runner anywhere around the diamond.
Alabama also capitalized on each of its opportunities, scoring in each of the days final four innings.
Senior Amanda Ayala, was the lone Lady Vol to finish the day with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate. Ayala is now 5-for-8 in the series heading into Sunday’s showdown.
Sophomore Kiki Milloy went 1-for-2 and scored Tennessee’s only run following a bit of effective base running.
The Lady Vols opened the scoring in the second with a run manufactured by Milloy. The Woodinville, Washington native reached on an infield single, stole second during the ensuing at-bat. Advanced to third on a groundout from Ally Shipman and later scored on a wild pitch while Madison Webber was at the dish.
Over an inning later, the Crimson Tide knotted things up at 1-1 on an RBI single from Kaylee Tow.
Bama added a pair of runs in the fourth after loading the bases and Bailey Hemphill delivered a solo shot in the fifth to put the Tide up 4-1 heading into the final two innings of the afternoon.
The Crimson Tide plated a trio of runs in the home half of the sixth, before ending the Lady Vols final comeback bid in the seventh to close the afternoon.
UP NEXT
Alabama and Tennessee conclude the weekend series with a 2 p.m. ET first pitch from Rhoads Stadium tomorrow afternoon. All the action can be seen on ESPNU.
PDF Box Score | Updated Overall Stats PDF | Series Stats
-UT Athletics
ATHENS, Ga. — No. 10 Tennessee was unable to hang on to a late lead, falling 5-4 to No. 7 Georgia on Saturday afternoon at Foley Field in Athens.
A walk-off two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth gave the Bulldogs their first SEC win of the year and evened the series at one game apiece. Tate drove in three of UGA’s five runs for the game.
Liam Spence was once again the Vols’ top hitter with two hits and two runs scored. Jake Rucker led the team with two RBI after hitting a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the seventh.
Senior pitcher Will Heflin got the start and gave Tennessee 3.1 solid innings before turning it over to the bullpen. Heflin allowed one run and had two strikeouts on the day.
For the second day in a row, the Vols (16-4 // 1-1 SEC) struck first with a pair of runs in the first inning. Spence reached on an error to start the game and Pete Derkay followed with a double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Drew Gilbert singled two batters later to score Spence before Derkay came in to score on a walk by Luc Lipcius to make it 2-0.
The Bulldogs (14-4 // 1-1 SEC) pulled within one on a sacrifice fly from Tate in the third that scored Shane Marshall, who led off the inning with a single.
After a missed opportunity for the Vols to add to their lead in the fifth, Georgia put together a two-out rally to score two runs in the sixth and take its first lead off the series.
Tennessee responded immediately with two runs of its own in the seventh to retake the lead. Spence continued his big weekend with a single to lead things off before Rucker hit a two-run blast to left field to put the Vols ahead 4-3. It was the second homer of the series for Rucker after hitting a grand slam in Friday’s 11-6 win.
Closer Redmond Walsh was able to strand the tying run on base to end the eighth but surrendered two unearned runs in the ninth to pick up his first loss of the year.
Georgia’s first two batters reached base to start the inning after an infield single and a throwing error by Walsh on a sacrifice bunt attempt. A groundout by Marshall advanced both runners into scoring position, but Ben Anderson popped up for out No. 2. However, Tate’s single one batter later scored both runners to end the game.
The Vols will look to win the series in tomorrow’s rubber game. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on SEC Network Plus.
Another Big Hit for Jake: During his three seasons with UT, junior third baseman Jake Rucker has shown a propensity for coming up with the big hit. The Greenbrier, Tennessee, native came up clutch once again on Saturday with a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh right after Georgia had taken a one run lead an inning earlier. It was the second home run of the series for Rucker and his third of the season.
Spence Keeps Hitting: With two more hits on Saturday, senior shortstop Liam Spence extended his on-base streak to 23 consecutive games. The Australian has a hit in 11 of his last 13 contests and is 5-for-9 with five runs, a homer, two walks and four RBI so far in the series.
Box Score (PDF) | Vitello Postgame Interview
-UT Athletics
ATHENS, Ga. — Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello earned career win No. 100 as the 10th-ranked Volunteers jumped out to a big early lead to take down No. 7 Georgia, 11-6, in Friday night’s SEC opener at Foley Field in Athens.
The Vols (16-3 // 1-0 SEC) led 9-0 after four innings and never looked back to open conference play with a win for the second time in three SEC seasons under Vitello.
Liam Spence and Jake Rucker combined to drive in nine of the team’s 11 runs while Evan Russell and Jordan Beck also had multi-hit performances. Spence was the driving force behind the Vols offensive onslaught with three hits, three runs, two walks and four RBI, all of which tied career highs.
Playing in his first-career SEC game, the senior shortstop started the night with a bang as he homered to left field to lead off the game. It was the first leadoff homer by UT since Justin Ammons hit one at Vanderbilt on March 29, 2019.
Tennessee keep the pressure on with two more runs in the third on RBI singles from Rucker and Beck to make it 3-0 before exploding for six runs in the fourth to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
Russell led off the fourth with a triple before Georgia pitcher Liam Sullivan walked four straight batters to allow two more runs to cross the plate. Rucker made a bad inning even worse for Sullivan with a grand slam to put the Vols up by nine. The Greenbrier, Tennessee, native finished with a career-best five runs batted in on the night.
UT starter Chad Dallas cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit, but ran into trouble in the fifth and sixth, allowing five runs between the two innings. The junior right hander improved to 3-0 on the year despite giving up six runs on nine hits. He did tie a career high with nine strikeouts and pitched much better than his final stat line indicates.
The Bulldogs (13-4 // 0-1 SEC) broke up the shutout with two runs in the bottom of the fifth after loading the bases with one out. A single by Fernando Gonzalez and an RBI groundout by Ben Anderson cut the deficit to seven runs before Dallas struck out Cole Tate to strand two runners on base and end the inning.
After a bases-loaded walk by Spence in the top of the sixth made it 10-2, Georgia responded with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning that featured RBI hits from Riley King and Parks Harber. The Bulldogs plated three runs in the inning to make it a 10-5 ball game.
The Dawgs scratched another run across in the seventh to cut its deficit to four. Cole Tate singled with one out and worked his way around the bases before scoring on a wild pitch to make it a 10-6 game. UT reliever Sean Hunley got Josh McAllister to strike out swinging to end the inning and limit the damage to just a single run.
Spence kept his big night going with another RBI in the top of the eighth to put the Vols back ahead by five. After an error extended the inning, Spence doubled to the corner in right field to score Connor Pavolony from second and make it 11-6.
Hunley took it home from there, retiring the Bulldogs in order in the final two innings to crush any hope of a late comeback. The senior right hander did not allow a hit and struck out four batters in 2.2 innings of relief.
The Vols will look to secure a series win tomorrow afternoon in Game 2 of the series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on SEC Network Plus.
Vitello Becomes Fastest to 100 Wins: Fourth-year skipper Tony Vitello became the fastest head coach in program history to win 100 career games with the Vols, overtaking legendary coach Rod Delmonico’s mark of 163 games. Vitello needed just 153 games to accomplish the feat.
Offense Continues to Roll: UT’s bats stayed hot in Friday’s series opener in Athens finishing with 11 runs on 11 hits for the night. The Vols have now scored nine or more runs in their last four games while finishing with double-digit hits in four of their last five contests.
Four players had multi-hit games and seven Vols scored at least one run, led by Spence and Connor Pavolony, who both scored three to tie career highs. Tennessee drew 12 walks on Friday night, their second most in a game this season.
Spence Leadoff Jack: Tennessee literally wasted no time getting the scoring started, as Liam Spence led off the game with a home run. The Australian’s blast was the first leadoff homer by a Vol since Justin Ammons left the yard to start the game at Vanderbilt on March 29, 2019. Spence’s homer was also the first leadoff home run given up by Georgia since May 24, 2018 against Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament.
Grand Slam No. 3: The Vols hit their third grand slam of the year in their six-run fourth inning on Friday night. Jake Rucker went opposite field for his first-career grand slam to give UT a 9-0 lead. All the grand slams this season have been hit by different players.
Box Score (PDF) | Vitello Postgame Interview (Download)
-UT Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A dominant effort in the circle from junior Ashley Rogers and timely hitting, propelled the 21st-ranked Tennessee softball team past No. 3 Alabama, 4-3, on Friday night at Rhoads Stadium.
The win was the Lady Vols (21-3, 2-2 SEC) third victory over the Tide (22-2, 3-1 SEC) in Tuscaloosa in its last four tries.
Rogers’ dominant effort was highlighted by a streak of 16 consecutive retired batters spanning the first five and a third innings. The streak began after allowing two runs on a pair of hits to open the evening’s affairs.
At the dish, UT was led by graduate student Cailin Hannon who finished the night 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs that gave the Vols their first lead and some extra insurance that would turn out to be the winning run.
Senior Amanda Ayala was consistent all night, going 3-for-4 at the plate, while batting in a run and scoring the go-ahead run in the fourth inning.
Bama struck first on a throwing error on a steal that plated two runs, giving the Tide an early 2-0 lead before the conclusion of the opening inning.
After two and a half scoreless innings, the Lady Vol bats awakened, plating three runs in the top half of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead heading into the nights’ latter stages.
Shipman opened the scoring as she ripped a double to left center, scoring pinch runner Anna Fox.
Two batters later, Ayala brought home Kaitlin Parsons on an RBI single to left to tie things up at two apiece, before Hannon allowed Ayala to score on a single to center to give UT its first lead of the night.
The Orange & White added an insurance run in the sixth, as Hannon placed a single right back to the pitchers’ circle with the bases loaded to increase the Tennessee lead to 4-2.
Alabama’s Bailey Dowling went yard to lead off the seventh, cutting the Tennessee lead in half, but only before Rogers slammed the door to send Tennessee back to the hotel with a win in the weekend opener.
HITTING IN THE CLUTCH
Friday’s tying run and go-ahead runs in the fourth inning, both came with two outs, capping off a huge three-run inning for the Lady Vols that propelled them to the series opening victory.
ROGERS STELLAR…AGAIN
Ashley Rogers threw seven full innings, giving up just one earned run on three hits and three walks, while fanning and sending 16 consecutive batters back to the dugout with nothing to show for their efforts.
UP NEXT
Tennessee returns to action tomorrow afternoon for a 3 p.m. first pitch in game two with Alabama. Saturday’s game can be seen on SEC Network+.
PDF Box Score | Updated Overall Stats
-UT Athletics
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes spoke in the postgame press conference Friday after the Vols lost to Oregon State 70-56 in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament. Video is approved for use from the NCAA Digital Media Hub.
Tennessee sophomore guard/forward Josiah-Jordan James spoke in the postgame press conference Friday after the Vols lost to Oregon State 70-56 in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament. Video is approved for use from the NCAA Digital Media Hub.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Offensive struggles in the opening half plagued the Tennessee basketball team Friday, as it fell to Oregon State, 70-56, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The loss ended the Volunteers’ season, while Oregon State (18-12) advances to face the winner of Oklahoma State and Liberty in Sunday’s second round.
Tennessee (18-9) was led in scoring by freshman Keon Johnson who totaled 14 points. Johnson also finished the day with six rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists.
Fellow freshman Jaden Springer and sophomore Santiago Vescovi also scored in double figures, adding 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Sophomore guard Josiah-Jordan James, added five points and was a beast on the boards, pulling in 13 rebounds, with four coming on the offensive glass.
His performance tied for the fifth-most rebounds ever by a Vol in the NCAA Tournament, tying Jarnell Stokes, who reeled in 13 in Tennessee’s First Four victory over Iowa on March 19, 2014.
Oregon State dealt the game’s opening strikes with multiple buckets from 3-point range and a stifling defensive effort that gave the Beavers an 18-7 lead with close to 10 minutes to play in the first half.
The Beavers continued to put it on the Vols, extending their lead to as many as 19, but a Bailey 3-pointer and a transition layup from Johnson at the buzzer sent the Vols into the locker room with a bit of momentum, despite trailing 33-19.
Out of the break, Oregon State remained in control, never letting its lead dip below double-digits across the first 10 minutes of the second half.
In the contest’s final stages, the Beavers held off Tennessee’s late flurry to cement the contest’s final score.
PDF Box Score | Highlights | Postgame Quotes
-UT Athletics
Here are some photos taken by the NCAA’s pool photographers from Tennessee’s 70-56 loss to Oregon State in the 1st Round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
