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.
Vols G Keon Johnson / Credit: UT Athletics
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.
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.
NOTABLE
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.
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.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A year to the day after not being able to take the court in the second round of the 2020 SEC Tournament, the Tennessee basketball team used a balanced offensive effort and a single-game, school-record nine blocks from senior Yves Pons to push past Florida, 78-66, Friday at Bridgestone Arena.
The win advanced Tennessee to the SEC Tournament semifinals for the third consecutive conference tournament.
The Vols were led by a stat-sheet-stuffing performance from back-to-back SEC All-Defensive Teamer Pons, who tallied 11 points, eight rebounds and nine blocks. His nine blocks not only set a Tennessee single game record, but also tied the SEC Tournament record (shared with Kentucky’s Andre Riddick, 1993).
Pons also finished the game with a team-high plus/minus rating of +15.
Sophomore Santiago Vescovi led Tennessee in scoring with 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting while dishing out five assists.
Classmate Josiah-Jordan James also authored a versatile individual effort, scoring 10 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out six assists with no turnovers.
SEC All-Freshman teamer Keon Johnson also scored in double-figures, logging 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Johnson added nine rebounds and six assists on the afternoon.
Fellow SEC All-Freshman honoree Jaden Springer scored 13 second-half points to help push the Vols through the game’s waning moments.
The opening 10 minutes of the game were defined by the Tennessee defense, which completely stifled Florida, holding the Gators to a 4-of-18 mark from the field to take an early 20-10 lead.
The programs went basket-for-basket in the final stages of the half, as Tennessee withstood a late Florida run to hold a 31-22 edge into the halftime break.
The second half began in much the same way the opening frame concluded, with UT holding on to a 10-point advantage as the contest approached its final minutes.
The Vols held off an explosive second half from Florida sophomore Tre Mann, who scored a game-high 30 points, and used a number of timely buckets to roll into Saturday’s semifinal round.
You’ve Been LeBlocked: Senior Yves Pons’ school-record-setting nine blocks also marked the 20th time in his career that Pons has rejected at least three shots and the ninth time he’s sent away at least four shots in a singles game.
Three’s Company: Yves Pons, Keon Johnson and Josiah-Jordan James all tallied double-digit points and brought down eight or more rebounds to help lead Tennessee past Florida for the second time in six days.
Up Next: Tennessee takes on sixth-ranked and top-seeded Alabama in Saturday afternoon’s semifinal round. Tipoff from Nashville is set for 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Tennessee basketball senior Yves Pons has been named a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Award.
The Lefty Driesell Award, given annually to the top defensive player in Division I basketball, is named in honor of the legendary former college head coach.
By earning finalist status, Pons also becomes a member of this year’s Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America Team. He is one of three SEC players to be named to the 30-man team, joined by Alabama’s Herb Jones and Missouri’s Dru Smith.
A Fuveau, France, native, Pons has the innate ability to effectively guard all five positions on the floor and makes the Vols virtually matchup-proof while he’s on the court.
A back-to-back SEC All-Defensive Team selection, Pons has blocked 36 shots as a senior, finishing the regular season fifth in the SEC with 1.6 blocks per game.
Pons currently sits in 11th place on UT’s all-time blocks list with 126 career rejections and has tallied 109 blocks in his last 54 games (2.0 per game) dating to the start of last season.
He has also recorded a career-best 16 steals this season while also ranking second on the team with nine charges drawn.
Leading into the 2021 SEC Tournament, Pons has been a beast on the boards, pulling in 7.4 rebounds per game in his last five outings (37 total) and grabbing eight or more in four of those contests.
The recipient of the 2021 Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Award will be announced on April 1.
Pons also is one of 10 national finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award, also presented in April.
