Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes spoke to the media Monday to review the loss to LSU and preview the next game vs. South Carolina.
WATCH: Barnes discusses improvements needed, says issues are fixable and previews Gamecocks
Jimmy’s blog: Dale Jones would love shot at being UT D-coordinator
(This interview with Dale Jones was conducted before reports that UT has hired a defensive coordinator)
By Jimmy Hyams
Tennessee has had trouble hiring a defensive coordinator, but there is one coach with ties to Tennessee that would love the job.
“No question, I want it,’’ said Dale Jones, a former star player at Tennessee who is now defensive coordinator at Appalachian State. “I would love to come back.’’
As of early Monday afternoon, Jones had not been interviewed for the defensive coordinator’s job at Tennessee. The Vols have reached out to at least half a dozen coaches who have declined.
Jones, 57, would welcome the chance to talk with UT’s new head coach, Josh Heupel.
“I want a shot to present my case to show what my defense could do,’’ said Jones, who helped UT win the 1985 SEC Championship with an iconic interception against Alabama.
“The key to the scheme is you don’t have to have a bunch of five stars. You’ve got to have 11 guys playing together. You’ve got to have decent talent, but it’s simple to teach.’’
Jones said his multiple 3-4 defense is effective against option teams and the run-pass option, which is the rage in college football nowadays. The Mountaineers defense allowed about 17 points per game last year (not counting points allowed by Appy State’s special teams and offensive). It led the nation in opponents’ completion percentage (48%) and ranked fourth in pass-defense efficiency.
Jones mentioned the defense almost pulled a stunning upset against his alma mater Sept. 1, 2016, when the ninth-ranked Vols needed overtime to beat Appy State 20-13. That was a UT team with quarterback Josh Dobbs and running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara.
While Jones was at Appy State, the Mountaineers upset No. 5 Michigan in 2007 and nearly upset No. 10 Penn State in 2018 before losing in overtime.
“We’ve done this with lesser players,’’ Jones said. “If you get better players, the kind Tennessee gets, look out.’’
Jones worked at Appy State in a variety of roles from 1996-2018. He was named national special teams coach of the year in 2002. He worked as ASU’s defensive coordinator from 2010-12 before Scott Satterfield replaced Jerry Moore and Jones moved to a position coach.
Jones joined Scott Satterfield at Louisville in 2019 before returning to Appy State as defensive coordinator in 2020.
Jones has never hidden his affinity for Tennessee.
“I’m loyal,’’ Jones said. “I know the game. I want the job.
“It’s not the money. I want to bring Tennessee back. It’s shame how far it’s fallen. It needs to be great again. And I don’t think it would take that long.’’
Louisville defensive coordinator Brian Brown, who worked eight years with Jones, said Jones would be the perfect fit as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator.
“Absolutely,’’ Brown said today. “I think Dale would do a tremendous job. And he bleeds orange and white til the cows come home.
“He understands what opposing offenses are trying to do in the run game and the pass game. His defense is aggressive, kids play hard and make plays. Appalachian State was one of the top defenses in the country last year and he does an awesome job. He gets guys to play hard and downhill. And he gets the most out of his talent.
“Appy State established a culture there and a tradition of hard-nosed football and blue-collar football.’’
Jones said that Brown and former Vol Kacy Rodgers, who also talked to UT about the defensive coordinator’s job, both said they would want Jones on their staff if they went to UT.
Brown declined to discuss the UT job, but did say of Jones: “I would hire him any place, anywhere that I’m at.’’
When Rodgers was defensive coordinator for the New York Jets, in the spring of 2018 the Jets had LSU, Tennessee, Georgia and Appy State coaches visit to discuss how to defend the run-pass option, which was become more prevalent in the NFL.
“Appy State was extremely efficient in defending the RPO and the tempo offense, and his execution was really top notch,’’ Rodgers said of Jones. “He was very knowledgeable on how to defend it.’’
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
WATCH: Highlights, Postgame, Boxscore, Story as No. 16/19 UT Falls To No. 6/5 Texas A&M 80-70
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 16/19 Tennessee pulled within one late in the fourth but couldn’t overcome a No. 6/5 Texas A&M team that shot 63 percent from the floor in the final quarter and also hit 17 of 22 free throws in that period, falling 80-70 in Reed Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Senior Rennia Davis led Tennessee (12-5, 6-3 SEC) with 25 points and added four rebounds, marking her fourth game this season and 17th of her career with 20 or more points. Sophomore Tamari Key turned in her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Rae Burrell was also in double figures in points with 18 points and five rebounds, while Kasiyahna Kushkituah added 10 boards and eight points.
Destiny Pitts was the high scorer for Texas A&M (19-1, 10-1 SEC) with 18 points, and Jordan Nixon was close behind with 15. Aaliyah Wilson and Kayla Wells turned in 13 points apiece, and Ciera Johnson added 10.
The Aggies got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 6-0 lead before Key got UT on the board with a layup, setting off an 11-0 run contributed to by four different Lady Vols that put Tennessee up five by the 5:00 mark. TAMU was held without a field goal for 6:03 before Wells and Pitts combined for two treys and a jumper in the final two minutes while limiting UT to a layup by Key, sending the game into the second period tied at 15-all.
The Aggies were again the first to score, reclaiming the lead off a layup by McKinzie Green. The teams then traded baskets, tying the score up on three separate occasions in the first two minutes before Wells hit a jumper to set off a 6-0 run that put Texas A&M up 27-21 by the 6:45 mark. Tennessee rallied back, getting the ball in the paint to Key and Kushkituah to pull back within two points just over a minute later. Wilson stretched TAMU’s lead back to four before the media timeout, but Davis put in a layup to cut it to two. Burrell and Marta Suárez combined for five points in the final minute of the half, and the Aggies were limited to just a layup, sending the game to the half tied 32-32.
Texas A&M jumped out to a five-point lead in the third off quick buckets by Wilson and Nixon, but a trey by Burrell and a layup by Kushkituah tied it at 37 by the 8:13 mark. Key hit a pair of free throws to again tie it up at 39-all before Burrell added a layup and Suárez hit her second three of the game to give UT the lead at 44-39 with 6:39 left in the quarter. The Lady Vols carried a four-point lead into the media timeout, but the Aggies cut it down to one with just over four minutes to go in the quarter. Davis responded with a driving layup, but then UT went cold from the floor as TAMU closed out the quarter with a 6-1 run to send Tennessee into the final stanza down two at 51-49.
Burrell knocked down a pair of free throws in the first minute of the fourth to tie it up at 51. The teams swapped baskets over the next four possessions before Johnson and Pitts scored on back-to-back plays to put Texas A&M up by four with 7:06 left in the game. Burrell cut it to two on the next play, but Nixon converted on four-straight free throws to stretch the Aggie lead to 63-57 a minute and a half later. Davis bounced back with a trey before Wilson scored on a fast break layup to make the deficit five for UT. Davis and Burrell then added two free throws each, pulling Tennessee within one point with 2:11 to play. Pitts knocked down a trey on the next possession, and Davis answered with a jumper, but a foul behind the arc on the other end gave Pitts three free throws, all of which she hit, to put TAMU up by five at the 1:21 mark and force Tennessee to foul. Davis added two more points for UT, but the Aggies were able to convert on their free throws, taking an 80-70 victory.
Up Next: The Lady Vols continue their three-game road swing, facing off against Mississippi State on Tuesday in a 5 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. CT contest that will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Re Making Moves: Senior Rennia Davis turned in 25 points at Texas A&M, moving her career points total to 1,642. She now ranks 15th all-time on the Lady Vols scoring list and is just one point shy of catching No. 14 Glory Johnson.
TK Heating Up: Sophomore Tamari Key turned in her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Texas A&M. After opening the season with eight games in single digits, she has now scored in double figures in seven of the last nine games.
Owning The Glass: The Lady Vols outrebounded the Aggies 40-29 and turned those boards into 19 second-chance points. They have now outworked every opponent this season on the glass, with an overall margin of +17.5 rpg.
Horston Dishing: Sophomore Jordan Horston doled out seven assists against TAMU. Her current career average of 4.5 apg. would stand at fourth all-time among Lady Vols.
Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Harper Presser
-UT Athletics
Boxscores/Stories: Lady Vols Show No Love to Colonels in VDay Season Opener with 2 wins
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Day one of the 2021 season for No. RV/23/24 Tennessee softball is finally in the books and the Lady Vols made the program’s first-ever home season opener a positive note.
A doubleheader day against Eastern Kentucky on Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee decisively favored the Orange and White as they opened with a quick 10-0, five-inning victory before closing things out in a 3-2 comeback win.
UT was originally scheduled to play a five-game, Friday-Sunday slate at the Kickin’ Chicken Classic in Conway, S.C., but never saw the field at St. John Stadium due to continuous rainfall that eventually led to the tournament’s cancellation.
While heading back from Conway, Tennessee’s coaching staff and administrators were able to confirm Sunday’s outings with the Colonels on Saturday afternoon and the Lady Vols took the field at SPL 342 days after their final game of the abridged 2020 season.
Game 1 saw the return of junior ace Ashley Rogers who went the distance as the Lady Vols dominated the Colonels and clipped their 18-game win streak, which was the longest active streak in the nation.
Rogers returned to the circle for the first time in 631 days after missing all of the 2020 season. She was temporarily sidelined by an injury, but was due to return the weekend the season was postponed and ultimately canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Athens, Tenn., native came back in form and fanned 13, matching her career high. Rogers retired eight of EKU’s first nine batters and pitched a perfect game through three innings, giving up two walks in the top of the fourth and one hit in the fifth.
Offensively, the Lady Vols let their bats talk and after so much quiet time, they spoke loudly. Four different players went yard for UT, which ties for seventh in program history for home runs in a game and marks the 16th occasion the feat was accomplished. Additionally, eight different players scored runs in the first game of the day.
Ally Shipman batted 1.000 (3-for-3) and opened scoring for UT with a long shot to left center in the top of the second, before Josie Willingham made her way around the bases after some small ball.
The Lady Vols took off in the following inning, collecting eight runs in the bottom of the third. Kiki Milloy (2-for-3) found the plate twice after leading off the frame with a single, stealing second and coming home off of the bat of Shipman.
Ahead 3-0, senior first baseman Ashley Morgan (1-for-2) belted a no-doubter right through center field to bring in Chelsea Seggern (0-for-2) and Shipman and give the Orange and White a six-run advantage. Moments later newcomer and senior Ivy Davis (1-for-1) knocked a long shot through center field with one out and Cailin Hannon (0-for-2) at first base.
Milloy made her way back to the plate and this time went yard to bring in Kaitlin Parsons from third and keep the game out of reach. The opening victory marks the 11th consecutive season UT has started a season in the win column.
UT 3, EKU 2 (Game 2)
The Colonels struck quickly in the second game of the day recording a two-run homer in the opening half to put the Lady Vols on their heels and move ahead 2-0.
UT was able to cut the lead in half in their first offensive outing with an RBI single from Seggern (2-for-4) that brought in leadoff hitter Amanda Ayala (1-for-3). Ayala recorded her lone hit of the day with a big double to get some early momentum.
However, the Lady Vols were not able to get much going despite outhitting the Colonels 7-2. UT went scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Shipman (1-for-4) came through again with a big at-bat, going yard for the second time of the day to knot things 2-2.
A single from Hannon (2-for-3) and a couple of walks jammed the bags with Lady Vols with two outs. Freshman Rylie West stepped in to pinch hit for Parsons and was tagged at the base to get the RBI and bring in KK McCrary (0-for-2) from the hot corner for the go-ahead run and the 3-2 win.
Freshman Bailey McCachren got her first start in the circle and picked up the win. She gave up a pair of hits, runs and walks in 5.0 innings of work and retired three batters.
Rogers picked up the save after coming in to start the sixth inning and struck out five batters to clinch the day.
Fun fact: The Valentine’s Day start is the latest the Lady Vols have opened a season since 1999 when they began the year on Feb. 19 against Miami (OH) in Tampa, Fla.
Next up: Tennessee hosts a pair of double headers on Saturday and Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee. The Lady Vols host SEMO on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by Miami (OH) at 3 p.m. The matchups flip on Sunday with Miami (OH) at 12:30 p.m., followed by SEMO at 3 p.m.
Fans and media will be admitted for home contests moving forward in a limited capacity to comply with pandemic-related guidelines and requirements.
Box Score Game 1 (PDF) | Box Score Game 2 (PDF)
-UT Athletics
Account Executive Mark Fricke
Mark started in radio as an on-air personality in 1979, but has spent the last 26 years as a leading developer of broadcast and digital marketing plans.
Mark returns to the South after many years “up North”. In his spare time Mark is an avid sports enthusiast and memorabilia collector as well as a musician.
Contact me so I can help your business. 269-598-7785 or [email protected]!
WATCH: Highlights, interviews, boxscore, story of Vols loss at LSU 78-65
BATON ROUGE, La. – A tough day from the field and 20-point outputs from Cam Thomas and Javonte Smart were too much for the No. 16 Tennessee basketball team to overcome Saturday, as it fell to LSU, 78-65, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Vols (14-5, 7-5 SEC) shot just 35 percent from the field, while the Tigers (13-6, 8-4 SEC) shot the ball at a highly efficient clip of 52 percent.
Freshman Jaden Springer led the Vols in scoring, finishing with 21 points and eclipsing the 20-point mark for the third consecutive game. Springer also concluded the afternoon with six rebounds and a season-high seven assists with just one turnover.
Classmate Keon Johnson finished with 10 points, three rebounds and a pair of steals.
Sophomore Santiago Vescovi was the third Vol to score in double-figures, as he dropped in 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
Fellow sophomore Olivier Nkamhoua was effective in seven minutes off the bench, scoring four points and pulling in three rebounds.
Yet again, sophomore guard Josiah-Jordan James was all over the stat sheet, recording nine points, six rebounds, two steals and a block.
LSU controlled the majority of the opening half, using a 16-4 run through the middle portions of the period to build a lead as a large as 12.
Over the final five minutes, the Vols used a 10-3 run of their own to cut their deficit to five, as the Tigers took a slim, 31-26 lead into the break.
LSU continued to hold the edge as the contest reached its latter stages, taking a 59-49 lead into the final 7:44 of the afternoon.
The Tigers held off the Vols during the final stretches of the contest to cement the final score.
Up Next: Tennessee returns home for a showdown with South Carolina Tuesday. The opening tip from Thompson-Boling Arena is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
PDF Box Score | Barnes Postgame Presser | James Postgame Presser | Highlights | Postgame Quotes
-UT Athletics
WATCH: Barnes after loss to LSU “You need some dogs that are just going to bite you. They’re not going to bark. They’re going to bite.”
Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes spoke with the media after the Vols lost at the LSU Tigers Saturday 78-65.
WATCH: James after loss to LSU “It’s definitely very frustrating. To get where we want to go, the maturity level has to come up.”
Tennessee guard/forward Josiah-Jordan James spoke to the media after the Vols lost at the LSU Tigers Saturday afternoon, 78-65.
Lady Vols Host EKU in Sunday Matchup
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Opening day for No. RV/23/24 Tennessee softball has been rescheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14, with the Lady Vols now set to host Eastern Kentucky at noon ET, with the potential for a doubleheader if time permits, at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Fans will not be permitted to Sunday’s contest(s).
Broadcast Info
Brian Rice will call all of the action during the weekend on UTSports.com. No live stream will be available.
Updated Schedule
The Lady Vols were originally slated to play five games at the Kickin’ Chicken Classic in Conway, S.C., starting yesterday, but never got a chance to step on the field due to continuous rain. The tournament was ultimately canceled with inclement weather forecasted the remainder of the weekend.
Quick Hits
The Shipman is Sailing
Junior catcher Ally Shipman has garnered significant recognition during the preseason, collecting a pair of preseason All-America honors (D1Softball and Softball America – both second team) and also ranking 13th among juniors in the nation by Softball America. The outlet also pegged Shipman the No. 37 overall player in the country. Shipman was off to a momentous start in 2020, after coming off of a season-ending injury suffered midway through her 2019 campaign. The Valencia, Calif., native co-led the Lady Vols with a .403 batting average, seven doubles and a pair of triples alongside redshirt-senior Chelsea Seggern. Shipman also added 16 RBIs and a pair of home runs after starting all 23 games last season.
Rogers Return
After missing the shortened 2020 season due to a short-term injury, Ashley Rogers returns to the circle as the Lady Vols ace. The junior was scheduled to make her first appearance during UT’s SEC opener at Texas A&M last season, but moments before the team got on the plane on March 12 the season was postponed and then ultimately cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, Rogers’ play in the circle during her freshman year (2019), which earned her first-team NFCA All-Region and All-SEC honors, made a lasting impression and the Athens, Tenn., native found herself among the members of this season’s Preseason All-SEC Team along with Chelsea Seggern. She recorded a 1.94 ERA in her first collegiate season, finishing with a 21-7 win-los record that included seven shutouts.
A Score of Success
The 2021 season marks the 20th season that co-head coaches Ralph Weekly and Karen Weekly have managed the Lady Vol ball club. The NFCA Hall of Famers (Ralph was inducted in 2011, Karen was inducted in 2018) boast an overall record of 1,408-466-2 at Tennessee. In their time on Rocky Top, the program transformed into a national powerhouse, with 18 consecutive seasons in the top 25 polls. Since 2001, the Weekly’s have guided players to 36 All-America selections, 64 NFCA All-Region nods, five SEC Player of the Year honors, three SEC Pitcher of the Year titles, 60 All-SEC selections and a deluge of distinguished recognitions. Some of the sports’ most respected names once sported the Orange and White, including Olympian Monica Abbott, considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time, India Chiles, Ivy Renfroe, Rainey Gaffin, Madison Shipman, Sarah Fekete, Raven Chavanne and Aubrey Leach, to name a few. The Weekly’s, who also were co-heads at Chattanooga, have led the Lady Vols to seven WCWS appearances and were SEC Co-Coaches of the Year in 2004 and 2007.
Rhodes Back in Rocky Top
Tennessee fans will see a familiar face around the dugout this season with the return of former Lady Vol pitcher Megan Rhodes Smith as an assistant. Rhodes-Smith will manage the bullpen. A standout pitcher for UT from 2005-08, she spent her previous year as the head coach at Belmont in her hometown of Nashville. Prior to her time with the Bruins, Smith spent six seasons focusing on the development of pitchers and catchers at Lipscomb University, and served as the program’s associate head coach from 2018-19. With the Lady Vols, Smith, now a mom of two young girls, leads a talented group with a diverse skillset including Ashley Rogers (1.94 ERA, 21-7 win-loss record in 2019), Callie Turner (2.67 ERA, 8-7 W/L in 2020), Samantha Bender (2.68 ERA, 5-1 W/L in 2020), Anna Hazlewood and newcomer Bailey McCachren.
Tightening the Tennessee Borders
UT’s roster has gotten a boost from in-state talent once again. The 2021 members include nine Lady Vols from the state of Tennessee: Kaylan Cole (Newport), Anna Fox (Columbia), Cailin Hannon (Franklin), Anna Hazlewood (Martin), KK McCrary (Murfreesboro), Treasu
Scouting Report
EKU
2020 record: 22-2, 0-0 OVC
Series record: Lady Vols lead 10-0
Last outing: A 19th-ranked Tennessee run-ruled the Colonels 10-1 in five innings on April 4, 2017 in Knoxville.
Key player/stat: The Colonels return their top offensive threat in redshirt junior Sammi Miller, a transfer from Virginia Tech. Miller appeared and started in all 24 games during the shortened season and recorded a team-high .427 batting average, eight doubles and three triples. She also posted a team-best five stolen bases to go with 13 RBIs and ranked in the top five of the OVC in hits, runs scored, doubles, triples, and total bases.
-UT Athletics
Blake Shelton’s Music Video for “Minimum Wage” Is Out Now!
Blake Shelton music video for “Minimum Wage” is available to watch now!
Blake is no stranger to making music videos, but he does admit that the process to get this one done was a first, “We had a lot of COVID protocol in place for this video.”
Blake explains his vision for the “Minimum Wage” video, “I really felt like the video needed to be a live performance, so we had a few fans at Ole Red in Tishomingo. Of course, everyone had to be pre-tested and re-tested and temperature checks and social distance. I’m still amazed by the camerawork and how it looks like Ole Red is packed with people knowing there were just a handful of people actually on site.”
Blake shares that he also had a very special director for this project, “Gwen’s brother Todd captured exactly what I wanted to it to be.”
Watch Blake Shelton’s music video for “Minimum Wage” — directed by Todd Stefani, right here…
Photo Courtesy of Warne Music Nashville
Country News
Margo Price Praises Tyler Childers Ahead Of Their New Collaboration, “Love Me Like You Used To”
“Backup Plan” Producer Austin Shawn Reflects On Creating Bailey Zimmerman’s Hit Collaboration With Luke Combs
Weather
- Forecast
- Currents
- Planner
