5-seed in the Midwest Region Tennessee will open the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis Friday vs. 12-seed Oregon State. Vols head coach Rick Barnes spoke to the media Sunday night about UT’s preparation for the tournament.
By Jimmy Hyams
A Tennessee team that you couldn’t trust for six weeks has become more reliable.
It wasn’t enough to upset No. 1 seed Alabama in the SEC Tournament semifinals Saturday in Nashville, but it gave the Vol Nation more hope that it has had since the Vols went 6-6 over a 12-game span.
In the past two weeks, Tennessee rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat Florida by 11, gigged the Gators by a dozen in a rematch, then led Alabama 48-33 a few minutes into the second half before collapsing.
As least the Vols (18-8) looked like a Final Four caliber team for 23 minutes against No. 6 Alabama.
At least coach Rick Barnes can feel more comfort heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee will find out it’s NCAA seeding and opponent tonight.
Then the fun begins.
“I like where our team is right now,’’ Barnes said after the Alabama defeat. “I am not afraid to play whoever we have to play because I know what this team is going to do. They are going to play their hearts out. They are going to go at it and that is all you can ask from them.’’
Tennessee was terrific in building a 15-point lead against Alabama, which the day before destroyed Mississippi State 85-48. The Vols were crisp on offense, active on defense, and intense.
When the early-second-half lead went to 15, the Vols fumbled and bumbled Alabama right back into the game, thanks to a 14-0 run. Several problems that plagued the Vols over a 12-game stretch reared their ugly head.
Tennessee had six turnovers in a 3:12 span, several on charges. They had no inside scoring presence, not with John Fulkerson sidelined by a concussion and facial fracture. And the lack of a true point guard was apparent.
The latter is one reason Barnes was two possessions late calling a timeout while the Crimson Tide was cutting UT’s lead to a single point. Without a point guard, Barnes can’t expect his team to play through adversity. It needs more help from the sideline.
Barnes was more timely to call a timeout during an Alabama run in the first half – and it worked. He wasn’t as prompt in the second half.
During Alabama’s run, the Tide got some friendly whistles. A ball clearly off the hands of Herbert Jones was awarded to Bama and Jones then scored on a 3-point play.
And when UT put Devonte Gaines on Jones in the final minute, Jones walked before missing a shot, then fouling Gaines. If the travel had been called, Gaines doesn’t get fouled and doesn’t miss two key free throws in the final 25 seconds.
The outcome also could have been different if UT wasn’t so sloppy with its ballhandling. It had 11 turnovers – several on charges – during the first 11:24 of the first half.
Freshman Keon Johnson is a gifted athlete who did some great things against Alabama – 20 points, nine rebounds – but his ballhandling is shaky. He had five turnovers.
Freshman Jaden Springer also had five turnovers as he too often drives his way into trouble. Still, he had 18 points.
Yet, even without Fulkerson, Tennessee had a great chance to beat Bama, thanks in part to a stingy defense that held Alabama to 37.3% shooting from the field and 7 of 28 from 3-point range.
“I think we guarded them as well as they’ve been guarded all year,’’ Barnes said.
Which is another reason Barnes isn’t afraid to play anyone in the NCAA Tournament.
“The competitiveness that we’re playing with and the determination and the prep in the last really two weeks has really gone to a level that we’re excited about,’’ Barnes said.
FULKERSON INJURY: Fulkerson might not be available for the NCAA Tournament, thanks to catching two elbows from Florida’s Omar Payne, which resulted in a Flagrant 2 foul and ejection.
While Payne apologized to Fulkerson, Yves Pons called it a “dirty play.’’
Payne is apparently a repeat offender based on comments from his coach, Mike White, who said Payne must show “more maturity’’ and greater “sportsmanship’’ that to throw two elbows at an opponent. White said Payne has had issues with that in the past.
Payne should be forced to miss as many games as Fulkerson, which could mean the entire NCAA Tournament.
SO YOU’RE A FAVORITE: Tennessee is 18-7 as a favorite this season. It was picked to win every game this season until the SEC tourney semifinals. Alabama was a 3-point favorite.
Alabama is 21-5 as a favorite.
Vanderbilt was a perfect 5-0 when favored. Two SEC teams lost only once as a favorite: LSU (13-1) and Texas A&M (7-1). Arkansas was 19-2.
Two teams had a losing record as a favorite: Kentucky (7-8) and South Carolina (4-5).
The others: Auburn (10-2) Georgia (6-2) Florida (11-4) Missouri (10-5) Mississippi State (9-5) Ole Miss (11-7).
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The bats were red hot in No. 14 Tennessee’s 14-9 victory over UNC Greensboro on Saturday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium as the Big Orange finished with a season-high 20 hits to clinch another series win.
The Volunteers (13-3) battled back from three- and four-run deficits early on before pulling away in the sixth and seventh innings.
Nine players had hits and seven drove in runs for UT on Saturday, led by senior Pete Derkay, who tied a career high with four base knocks. The Georgia native also walked, scored three runs and had two RBI on the night.
Liam Spence (3-for-5), Jake Rucker (3-for-4) and Luc Lipcius (3-for-5) also tied their career highs in hits and combined to score seven runs.
Sophomore pitcher Mark McLaughlin picked up his first win of the season after tossing five solid innings in relief. The right hander tied a career high with six strikeouts and allowed just one hit in five scoreless innings before giving up a pair of hits and runs in the ninth.
Tennessee entered the bottom of the sixth trailing 7-4 but exploded for six runs on four hits in the inning to jump out to a 11-7 lead. Max Ferguson, Jackson Greer, Drew Gilbert, Jordan Beck and Lipcius all drove in runs for the Big Orange in the inning. The Vols added three more runs in the seventh to take a commanding 14-7 lead and put the game away.
Despite the success at the plate for Tennessee, it was the Spartans (10-4) who jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the top of the second inning. Jake Madole opened the scoring with a two-run homer and Dallas Callahan singled to bring in another run a few batters later.
The Vols answered right back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the second. A sac fly from Greer, RBI triple from Spence and RBI single from Derkay tied the game at three before UNCG took the lead right back with four tuns in the third inning.
A leadoff solo home run off the bat of Lipcius cut UT’s deficit to three in the fourth inning. The redshirt senior slugger hammered the first pitch he saw over the wall in right field for his third home run of the year to give the Vols some momentum before their offensive explosion in the sixth and seventh innings.
Hogan Windish and Madole led UNCG’s offensive attack with a home run and three RBI each. Price King got the loss after giving up three runs in just 0.1 innings pitched.
UT will look to sweep its second straight weekend series in tomorrow’s finale, which is slated to begin at 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.
LOTS OF OFFENSE: Tennessee’s bats have woken up this weekend after being shut out in Tuesday’s midweek loss at Charlotte. The Vols finished with a season-high 20 hits in Saturday’s win with nine different players recording at least one hit and six players finishing with multiple hits on the night.
For the series, UT is batting .417 as a team and has recorded 30 total hits, 10 of which have gone for extra bases.
SUPER SENIORS: The Vols’ senior duo of Pete Derkay and Luc Lipcius had a night to remember as both players tied career highs in hits with four and three, respectively. Derkay also tied a career high with three runs scored and reached base five times. Lipcius pulled into a tie for the team lead in home runs after hitting his third of the year and finished with a team-high three RBI on the night.
BIG INNINGS FROM McLAUGHLIN: Mark McLaughlin came up big for the Vols on a night where senior starter Will Heflin struggled and was pulled early on. The sophomore right hander was able to keep the hot-hitting Spartans at bay and allow time for UT’s offense to rally.
McLaughlin allowed just one hit in five consecutive scoreless innings from the fourth to the eighth and tied a career high with six strikeouts to earn his first win of the year.
Box Score (PDF) | DOWNLOAD: Postgame Media Videos (Vitello, Derkay, McLaughlin)
-UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After over a year of waiting, the No. 22 Tennessee softball team opened up SEC play with a split doubleheader with No. 12 LSU on Saturday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
LSU (14-7, 1-1 SEC) took game one, 2-1, in eight innings, before Tennessee (18-2, 1-1 SEC) responded with a win in game two, 4-3, also in eight innings.
Junior standout, Ashley Rogers was stellar in the circle once again, tossing nine total innings, finishing the day with 11 strikeouts and no walks.
Senior third baseman Chelsea Seggern was consistent at the dish, finishing the day, 4-for-7, with a home run and a pair of RBI’s.
Classmate Ivy Davis finished 3-for-7 finishing the day with the all-important game-winning blast to give the ORange & White the victory in the second game of the day.
Game 1 Tennessee 1 LSU 2 F/8
Despite a stellar effort from Rogers, the Lady Vols were unable to manufacture the needed runs to walk away with a victory in the opening game of the series.
Rogers gave up just four hits and two earned runs in a complete game eight inning effort, while fanning 11 batters. Her performance marked her fifth game with double-digit strikeouts in just 10 starts.
She was slightly outdueled by the combined effort of Shelbi Sunseri and Ali Kilponen.
The opening four innings saw little action at the dish, with those in the circle controlling the opening contests ebbs and flows.
In the top half of the fifth, LSU struck first on a dribbler down the first base line. The runner on second found her way home on a tough throwing error from Rogers.
In the home half of the sixth, Cailin Hannon smashed a solo rope over the centerfield wall to even the score at 1-1.
The contest eventually went to extras and in the top of the eighth, LSU’s Taylor Pleasants belted one into the stands in left to give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.
Kilponen held off the Lady Vols final comeback bid to cement the game one final score.
Game 2 Tennessee 4 LSU 3 F/8
Tennessee pitched by committee, giving up just three runs on four hits in eight innings of work.
The Lady Vol bats opened game two with vigor. After Ayala walked, Seggern took matters into her own bat and sent one into the left field bleachers to give UT an instant 2-0 lead.
Two innings later, LSU cut the Lady Vol lead in half on throwing error from Callie Turner that allowed Aliyah Andrews to score.
In the fifth inning, the Tigers took their first lead of the days second contest on a one out triple from Andrews to tie it, before the centerfielder scored on a ground out on the ensuing at-bat.
Entering the nights final regulation inning, trailing 3-2, the Lady Vols manufactured the tying run to send a second consecutive contest to extras.
Madison Webber opened the inning with a single to right. Freshman Rylie West came in to pinch hit and ripped a double to center to put runners on second and third with no outs.
One batter later, Hannon grounded out to first, scoring pinch runner Hanna Fox to knot things up.
After Rogers came in and shut things down in the top of the eight, Davis went yard on the second pitch of her at-bat, ending the marathon day.
UP NEXT
Tennessee returns for the rubber match of the its SEC opening series with LSU tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
Game One PDF Box | Game Two PDF Box | Karen Weekly and Ivy Davis Postgame |
-UT Athletics
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Productive offensive outings from freshmen Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer were not enough Saturday, as Tennessee fell to No. 6 Alabama in the SEC Tournament semifinals at Bridgestone Arena, 73-68.
Tennessee’s SEC All-Freshman Team duo of Johnson and Springer led the way offensively for the Vols (18-8) with 20 and 18 points, respectively. Santiago Vescovi added 11 points with three made 3-pointers.
SEC Player of the Year Herbert Jones led the way for the Tide (23-6), pouring in 21 points—15 of which came in the second half—and grabbing 13 rebounds. Jahvon Quinerly contributed 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting.
After jumping out to an early lead, Tennessee was in control for much of the first half and built its lead to as many as 15 points early in the second half at 48-33 on a Vescovi three-pointer.
Facing its largest deficit of the game, Alabama responded immediately with a 14-0 run that cut the Vols’ lead to one. The teams went back and forth until Alabama took its first lead since the opening minute of the game at the 5:26 mark.
Trailing by four points with less than a minute to go, a three from Yves Pons brought Tennessee back within one point at 69-68. On the ensuing possession, Davonte Gaines blocked Jones’ shot at the rim, got the rebound and was fouled, but was unable to convert on his two free throw attempts.
The Tide closed out the game with free throws from Quinerly and Keon Ellis on the other end.
After shooting 47.1 percent from the field and forcing 12 Alabama turnovers in the first half, Tennessee took a 40-31 lead into halftime. Johnson was the story of the first half, totaling 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting.
After the Tide scored the game’s opening basket, Tennessee went on a 13-2 run to build an early nine-point lead. Alabama cut the lead down to as few as two points at 23-21, but the Vols immediately responded with a 13-3 run that put them in control heading into the second half.
Up Next: Tennessee will learn its NCAA Tournament seeding Sunday evening. The NCAA Tournament Selection Show airs Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.
-UT Athletics
Vols HC Rick Barnes spoke with media after a 73-68 loss to Alabama in the SEC Tournament Semifinals.
Vols G Keon Johnson spoke with media after a 73-68 loss to Alabama in the SEC Tournament Semifinals.
Vols G Santiago Vescovi spoke with media after a 73-68 loss to Alabama in the SEC Tournament Semifinals.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 14 Tennessee used a complete performance in all phases to earn a 6-2 victory over UNC Greensboro in Friday’s series opener on a damp night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Chad Dallas made his return to the mound after missing last weekend’s series with oblique soreness and was fantastic in 5.1 innings of work. The junior right hander retired the first 11 batters of the game, six via strikeout, and did not allow a hit until he gave up a solo home run in the top of the sixth. Dallas finished with seven strikeouts and two walks on the night en route to his second win of the season.
Eight of UT’s nine starters recorded a hit on the night as the Vols racked up 10 total hits, marking the fourth time this year that they finished with double-digit base knocks.
Junior second baseman Max Ferguson had a solid night at the plate with two extra-base hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Jordan Beck also broke out of his recent slump with a two-run double to open the scoring in the fourth inning and finished the game with a team-high three runs batted in.
After three scoreless innings for both teams to start the game, the Vols were able to break the deadlock with a pair of runs in the fourth. Beck ripped a two-run double into left center to score Jake Rucker and Pete Derkay, who led off the inning with a double of his own.
Tennessee (12-3) increased its lead to 3-0 with another run in the fifth. Ferguson led off the frame with a double and came around to score on an RBI single by Connor Pavolony.
UNCG (10-3) cut its deficit to one with a pair of solo home runs in the top of the sixth. Corey Rosier hit his fifth of the year to make it 3-1 and prompt a pitching change. Two batters later, Pres Cavenaugh made it a 3-2 game with a no-doubter to right field.
Ferguson continued his big night with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the seventh, leading off the inning with a rocket that cleared the videoboard in right center to put the Vols back ahead by two. It was the second homer of the year for Ferguson and his second extra-base hit of the night.
Beck drove in his third run of the night with a sacrifice fly to give UT a three-run lead before Evan Russell added another insurance run with an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 6-2 heading into the ninth inning.
Redshirt senior closer Redmond Walsh pitched the final 1.2 innings to slam the door and earn his third save of the year, giving him sole possession of third place on UT’s career saves list with 14. The local product allowed just one hit and recorded all five of his outs via strikeout, tying a career high in the process.
Spartans’ starting pitcher Austin Koehn fell to 1-1 on the year after allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings of work.
First pitch for Game 2 of this weekend’s series is scheduled 6 p.m. on Saturday evening. Senior left hander Will Heflin is slated to get the start for UT. The game will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.
WALSH CONTINUES TO DOMINATE: Tennessee closer Redmond Walsh continued his dominant start to the season with another impressive performance on Friday night. The redshirt senior left hander struck out five of the six batters he faced in 1.2 shutout innings to record his third save of the season, moving him into sole possession of third on the Vols’ career saves list. He needs four more saves to tie Sean Watson, who had 18 from 2004-06, for second all-time at UT.
With another scoreless outing on Friday, Walsh has now gone 12 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run, a span of 24.1 innings pitched. The last earned run Walsh allowed was against Liberty on June 2, 2019 in the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional.
DALLAS DAZZLES IN RETURN: After missing his scheduled start last Friday due to soreness, junior right hander Chad Dallas looked sharp in his return to the mound against the Spartans. Dallas retired the first 11 batters he faced and did not allow a hit until the final batter he faced hit a solo home run in the sixth inning. It marked the second time this season that Dallas carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning or later after throwing 6.1 innings of no-hit ball in UT’s season opener at Georgia Southern on Feb. 19.
Box Score (PDF) | DOWNLOAD: Postgame Media Videos (Vitello, Dallas, Ferguson)
-UT Athletics
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee basketball team returns to action for a semifinal date with top-seeded Alabama on Saturday afternoon with a trip to the SEC Championship on the line. Tipoff from Bridgestone Arena is slated for 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Fans can catch Saturday’s game on ESPN and online or on any mobile device through WatchESPN on the ESPN App. WatchESPN can also be accessed online at espn.com/watch. Karl Ravech and Dick Vitale will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertlekamp describing the action.
Last time out, Tennessee downed Florida for a second consecutive time on the back of an 11-point, eight rebound and school record nine block performance from senior Yves Pons. Freshman Josiah-Jordan James added in 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists with no turnovers.
A win on Saturday would advance Tennessee to its third consecutive SEC Tournament Championship game, excluding the canceled 2020 edition.
Up next, the Vols will advance to the SEC Championship game against the winner of Saturday’s second semifinal game. Tipoff on Sunday from Bridgestone Arena is set for 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
THE SERIES
• Tennessee trails its all-time series with Alabama, 70-80, dating to 1914.
• In SEC Tournament matchups, the Tide own a 10-5 edge on the Vols.
• Alabama defeated the Vols, 71-63, in Knoxville on Jan. 2. It was UT’s first loss of the season.
• In that loss, Jaden Springer played only 5:11 before leaving the game with an ankle injury. And Yves Pons blocked five shots.
A WIN WOULD…
• Make the Vols 11-8 in SEC Tournament games played at Bridgestone Arena.
• Give Tennessee three straight appearances in the SEC Tournament championship game.
• Give the Vols a 7-4 record in SEC Tournament games under head coach Rick Barnes.
• Stand as Tennessee’s eighth Quad 1 victory of the season.
LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee has advanced to the championship game in each of the last two (fully contested) SEC Tournaments.
• The Volunteers last won the SEC Tournament in 1979.
• The Volunteers are 18-9 all-time at Bridgestone Arena, including a 10-8 mark in SEC Tournament games.
• The freshman duo of Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer have accounted for 31.0 points per game over Tennessee’s last nine games.
• During SEC play, Tennessee led the league in turnover margin (+2.6) and assist/turnover ratio (1.1) from start to finish.
DEFENSE WINS
• According to KenPom, the Vols rank fourth in the NCAA in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing only 87.5 points per 100 possessions. College teams typically average close to 70 possessions per game.
• Tennessee ranks 27th in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing just 62.8 points per game.
• Only once this season has a Tennessee opponent scored 80 or more points. That was Georgia, in a game the Vols won, 89-81, on Feb. 10.
• The Vols are forcing 15.7 turnovers per game and converting those turnovers into 17.0 points per game.
• Tennessee has forced 19 of 25 opponents to turn the ball over on 20 percent or more of their possessions. The Vols are forcing opponents to turn it over 22.9 percent of the time this season.
• Yves Pons has at least one block in each of UT’s last eight games. Since the start of last season, he has 118 blocks in 56 games.
ABOUT ALABAMA
• The No. 1 seed in this year’s SEC Tournament, Alabama enters Saturday’s matchup with Tennessee coming off an 85-48 win over ninth-seeded Mississippi State in the quarterfinal round. The Crimson Tide is now 22-6 overall and finished the regular season with a 16-2 record in conference play.
• Alabama’s regular-season SEC title was its first conference title since 2002. The Crimson Tide finished 2.5 games ahead of second-place Arkansas in the final SEC standings.
• Alabama claimed its 16 regular-season SEC wins by an average of 14.4 points per game. The Tide and Vols met on Jan. 2, in Knoxville, and it resulted in a 71-63 win for Alabama.
• In addition to its regular-season title, Alabama was well-represented in the SEC coaches postseason honors. Nate Oats was awarded SEC Coach of the Year, while senior Herbert Jones was named SEC Player of the Year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
• As reflected in the SEC awards, Jones has been a do-it-all type of player for the Crimson Tide this season. Jones finished the season ranked second in the SEC in steals (46) and eighth in the conference in assists (85), while averaging 10.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
• Sophomore guard Jaden Shackelford, a second-team All-SEC selection, leads the Tide in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game. Alabama’s first-team All-SEC selection, senior guard John Petty Jr., ranks second on the team with 12.7 points per game.
• Until the year 1847, Tuscaloosa was the capital of the state of Alabama.
SEC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• Tennessee is 70-55 (.560) in 62 all-time SEC Tournament appearances.
• The Vols own the third-best SEC Tournament winning percentage among league schools, trailing only Kentucky (.832) and Alabama (.562).
• Since the tournament was renewed in 1979, the Vols are 35-40 (.467).
• Tennessee has won the SEC Tournament four times, tying Florida for third-most among league schools. The Vols won the event in 1936, 1941, 1943 and 1979.
• UT has reached the title game 12 times (third-most among league schools), most recently back-to-back in 2018 (St. Louis) and 2019 (Nashville).
• Tennessee has been the No. 4 seed three times previously (1980, 1990, 2014).
• This is the 12th time Nashville has hosted the SEC Tournament. UT is 14-10 in the tournament when it takes place in “The Music City.”
• Tennessee’s SEC Tournament record at Bridgestone Arena is 10-8.
-UT Athletics
