Cole Swindell is no stranger to making music videos, but the process to create one for his song “Single Saturday Night” was a bit different due to quarantining and social distancing.
Cole shares the basic instructions he got going into the video shoot, “It was pretty much, ‘Hey, get in front of a green screen and have fun.’”
Talking about the concept of the video Cole says, “We turned it into pretty much, me falling asleep on the couch, and kind of like going into this weird dream, which is what it was. A lot of the places…and it turned out to be, and we didn’t even plan it but a lot of places were my favorite places – the golf course, Braves game, Preds game…whatever it is. Just having those memories at the beginning of the video with the fans and all that, I just think it represented everybody’s 2020, just wanting to escape a little bit. Then I wake up at the end like ‘What in the world just happened’…maybe that’s kind of…when this is over, that’s what we’re all gonna do.”
If you’ve seen the video you know Cole is wearing some interesting clothing choices…well, he admits that wasn’t a wardrobe department, that stuff just came out of his own closet.
Yup–everything he wears in the video…he owns.
But in the end Cole, his band and his team created one of the most fun music videos of the year with “Single Saturday Night,” and Cole says “We did have a good time.”
When it comes to the song, Cole knew it was one that he had to sing because not only could he relate to it, but he thought everyone else could too, “I knew the first time I heard ‘Single Saturday Night’ that I had to record it. It could be for anybody. For anybody in a relationship…already had their last single Saturday night, or maybe for somebody looking for that special someone, heading out on the weekend looking to change it all”
If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Cole Swindell’s music video for “Single Saturday Night” right here…
Gabby Barrett is climbing the country music airplay charts with her song “The Good Ones,” and last year, she achieved major success with her number-one hit “I Hope.”
One’s a love song, and one is definitely not.
So, is it easier to write a love song, or one about heartbreak? Gabby thanks that the key is…if the emotion of “love” is triggered, whatever direction it goes in, it can create powerful results.
She says, “I mean, I think you could be a good songwriter either way, because there’s emotions in both…very strong emotions in both, because love is the strongest of everything, the strongest emotion possible…that can change everything for you. So, falling in, or out, in my opinion, it would be even because there’s experiences in both.”
There’s plenty of love in Gabby’s life these days as she’s at home with her husband Cade Foehner, and their baby daughter who arrived last month.
Hopefully you found yourself a “good one” like Gabby Barrett did…check out her music video for “The Good Ones”…
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 21/21 Tennessee (12-5, 6-3 SEC) is happily back at home on Thursday following an adventure-filled road trip to Texas. The Lady Vols will play host to No. 2/3 South Carolina (17-2/12-0) at 7:02 p.m. ET in Thompson-Boling Arena.
Thursday’s contest is the annual Live Pink, Bleed Orange game, which brings attention to the fight against breast cancer and provides recognition to the fighters and survivors of the disease.
UT is in the midst of a rigorous stretch of facing four ranked opponents in a span of 11 days, including three on the road. The Lady Vols played at No. 20/18 Kentucky on Thursday, drove home on icy roads and played at No. 6/5 Texas A&M on Sunday. They were slated to play at Mississippi State on Tuesday night in a make-up game, but a Winter Storm Uri stranded the UT travel party in Houston following the game in College Station, and Starkville itself was shut down by winter precipitation from the same storm system. Making the schedule even more challenging was the fact that UK and A&M had open dates prior to playing Tennessee. MSU would have had the same edge.
UT (6-3) is tied for third place in the league standings in winning percentage (.667) with Georgia (8-4) and Kentucky (8-4) and is one of only three SEC teams with three losses or fewer in conference play (along with first-place South Carolina [12-0] and second-place Texas A&M [10-1]).
Tennessee enters Thursday’s contest on the heels of an 80-70 loss at No. 6/5 Texas A&M on Sunday afternoon. It was a one-point game with 2:11 to go, but the Aggies were able to draw fouls and close out the game by making their free throws. The Aggies hit 17 of 22 charity tries alone in the fourth quarter and 25 of 34 for the game.
The Gamecocks suffered a 63-59 overtime loss at UConn on Feb. 8, but they have responded with back-to-back SEC wins over Missouri (77-62) and LSU (63-59) on Feb. 11 and 14 to get back on track. South Carolina’s only other loss came on Dec. 3 in a 54-46 setback to No. 8/6 NC State.
USC has ranked wins over No. 21/20 Gonzaga, No. 23/18 Iowa State, No. 10/8 Kentucky, No. 15/16 Arkansas, No. 22/23 Georgia and No. 21/19 Mississippi State.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday night’s game will be televised by SEC Network with Courtney Lyle (PxP) and Carolyn Peck (Analyst) on the call. All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) and the SEC Network 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.
Institutions also can produce for SEC Network+ (SECN+) any conference and non-conference games that are not otherwise televised. Those are available on the ESPN app and SECSports.com.
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 22nd season, Dearstone is joined by studio host Bobby Rader.
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.
The game also will be carried on SiriusXM SEC Radio (Channel 374).
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.
RESERVE LIVE PINK/FIGHTER CUTOUTS
During the pandemic, it is understandable that many of those who are battling or have battled cancer are unable to attend this year’s Live Pink, Bleed Orange game. The Lady Vols want to continue to honor fighters, survivors, and remember those who fought to the end.
This year, fans can nominate a survivor or fighter to receive their very own “Fighter CutOut” for the Lady Vols’ Live Pink, Bleed Orange game.
Fighter CutOuts will be placed courtside with recognition during a timeout. One lucky nominee also will win a game-worn, pink Lady Vols jersey. CutOuts will be available for socially distant pick-up at a later date.
LADY VOLS A NO. 4 SEED IN FIRST NCAA COMMITTEE REVEAL
The first Women’s NCAA Selection Committee Top 16 Reveal of 2020-21 was announced during ESPN’s Big Monday game on Feb. 15, and Tennessee was listed as the No. 13 overall seed.
In that position, the Lady Vols would stand as one of four No. 4 seeds at this point in the season.
BRACKETOLOGY
The Lady Vols reached their highest position in Charlie Creme’s Bracketology, holding down a projected No. 4 seed for the 2021 NCAA Tournament as of Feb. 8 and are back at No. 4 as of Feb. 16.
UT was slotted in Region 1, with a projected first-round match-up vs. No. 13 Delaware and a potential second-round encounter with No. 5 Georgia Tech or No. 12 Bowling Green.
UConn is the No. 1 seed in that region, with Arizona and Baylor filling the two and three seeds.
QUICK GLANCE AT THE LADY VOLS
Tennessee has posted three victories over ranked teams (No. 13/13 Arkansas, No. 15/15 Indiana, No. 12/12 Kentucky), marking the most by the program in a season since 2017-18 when it had seven.
UT also suffered setbacks to three squads ranked at the time it played them: No. 3/5 UConn (67-61), No. 20/18 Kentucky (71-56) and No. 6/5 Texas A&M (80-70), with Rennia Davis missing the UK game due to medical reasons.
Tennessee’s other two losses are to a pair of teams who are now ranked: No. 19/24 West Virginia (79-73 OT) and No. 22/23 Georgia (67-66).
Due to injuries and illness, the Lady Vols have sent three different starting lineups out to the jump circle in three of their last four games vs. Ole Miss, Florida and Kentucky after having the same quintet in games five through 14.
The line-up of Key, Kushkituah, Davis, Burrell and Horston returned for the Texas A&M game for that quintet’s 15th start together and pushed the one-loss Aggies to the brink before coming up short.
Junior guard Rae Burrell is the only Lady Vol to start in every game this season.
UT is paced in scoring in all games by Burrell (17.2 ppg.) and senior forward Rennia Davis (15.1 ppg.), with sophomore center Tamari Key chipping in 9.5 ppg. and 5.4 rpg., and sophomore point guard Jordan Horston contributing 8.1 ppg. and 4.2 apg.
In SEC play, three Tennessee players are scoring in double figures, including Davis (18.1 ppg.), Burrell (17.7) and Key (12.3).
Against ranked foes, Burrell and Davis are putting up 19.2 ppg.
Burrell tallied 22 points vs. Kentucky last Thursday night, marking her team-best eighth time leading UT in scoring in 2020-21 and fifth game this season with 20 or more points. It was the eighth 20+ game of her career.
Davis had 25 vs. Texas A&M, marking her fourth 20+ scoring game of the season and 17th of her career, which ranks her seventh all-time at UT.
UT has had 20+ scorers in its last four games, including Rennia Davis vs. Ole Miss (21), Tamari Key vs. Florida (23), Rae Burrell vs. Kentucky (22) and Rennia Davis vs. Texas A&M (25).
Davis now stands 15th on UT’s all-time scoring list with 1,642 points and is 16th on the rebounding list with 873.
Sophomore Tamari Key needs one blocked shot to move into a tie with Isabelle Harrison in Tennessee’s career top 10 with 131 swats.
Kasiyahna Kushkituah has posted double-figure rebounding totals in two of her last three games, including 12 vs. Florida and 10 vs. Texas A&M.
Over her last three games, Jordan Horston has dished out 14 assists compared to only three turnovers.
For the season, Horston has 71 assists vs. 46 turnovers, with her ratio there also much improved.
RECAPPING UT’S LAST GAME
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 and had 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.
Senior Rennia Davis moved 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.
Sophomore Tamari Key carded 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.
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.
Sophomore Jordan Horston doled out seven assists against Texas A&M. Her current career average of 4.46 apg. would stand fourth all-time among Lady Vols.
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks are balanced but led by the trio of Zia Cooke (15.7 ppg.), Aliyah Boston (13.6 ppg., 11.6 rpg.) and Destanni Henderson (12.0, 5.5 apg.).
South Carolina is undefeated in SEC play, but it won a close call at LSU, 69-65, on Jan. 24 and beat the Tigers by seven, 66-59, on Feb. 14.
USC’s only losses were to No. 8/6 NC State, 54-46, on Dec. 3, and at No. 2/5 UConn, 63-59, on Feb. 8.
UT-USC SERIES NOTES
UT enters Thursday’s contest with a 50-9 advantage in the series, including 21-3 in Columbia, 22-3 in Knoxville and 7-3 at neutral sites.
Tennessee is 5-3 vs. USC during the postseason and is 1-0 in overtime, taking a 79-73 extra-frame decision over the Gamecocks in the Palmetto State on Feb. 15, 1996. UT is 3-2 vs. USC in the SEC Tourney.
Since 2012, the series has been very streaky. UT won three straight, then USC took three in a row. After the Lady Vols claimed three consecutive wins, South Carolina made it three in a row. To continue the trend, it’s UT’s time to claim a “W.”
Kellie Harper has a 1-4 record vs. South Carolina as a head coach. She was 0-1 while at Western Carolina, and 1-2 while at NC State, beating the Gamecocks, 55-53, in Raleigh on Dec. 4, 2011. Round one as UT’s coach saw the decision go to Dawn Staley.
In the other two contests, both on the road, NC State suffered a 74-71 setback on Dec. 13, 2009, and a 77-63 loss on Dec. 12, 2010.
Harper was 5-0 vs. USC as a player, participating in the only overtime game between these schools in 1996.
Since 2010, USC has won five and UT four SEC regular-season titles, with UT winning or sharing in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015 and USC doing so in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020.
After defeating South Carolina, the regular season SEC champs at 14-2, the 13-3 Lady Vols went on to claim the 2014 SEC Tournament title in Duluth, Ga.
Tennessee lost to South Carolina, 64-60, on Feb. 2, 2012, in Knoxville, but rebounded to defeat USC in the 2012 SEC Tournament semifinals in Nashville, 74-58, en route to its 16th SEC postseason championship.
RECAPPING THE GAMECOCKS’ LAST GAME
Destanni Henderson scored 19 points and Aliyah Boston added 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks, as No. 1 South Carolina beat LSU 66-59 on Sunday for its 31st straight Southeastern Conference victory.
The Gamecocks (17-2, 12-0 SEC) haven’t lost in league play since falling to Arkansas in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals in March 2019.
Boston finished with her 10th double-double this season and 23rd of her career as South Carolina won its 12th straight over LSU. Zia Cooke added 13 points for the Gamecocks
THE LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET
The No. 22/22 Lady Vols couldn’t overcome the high-powered offense of No. 1/2 South Carolina, falling, 69-48, in Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 2, 2020.
Tennessee (17-5, 7-2 SEC) was led by junior Rennia Davis, who posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Tamari Key blocked a career-high nine shots to set a new Lady Vol freshman single-game record.
Zia Cooke led USC (21-1, 8-1 SEC) with 20 points. Destanni Henderson and Aliyah Boston were also in double figures, finishing with 12 and 10, respectively.
LAST TIME IN KNOXVILLE
A combined 18 second-half points from the sophomore duo of Rennia Davis and Evina Westbrook was not enough for the Lady Vols to complete a frantic comeback against No. 13-ranked South Carolina, which notched an 82-67 win at Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 24, 2019.
Tennessee (17-10, 6-8 SEC) cut the Gamecocks’ lead down to seven points twice in the second half despite a 16-point deficit at the half.
In the loss, four Lady Vols recorded double-digit points on the afternoon: Davis (15), Zaay Green (12), Cheridene Green (11) and Westbrook (10).
WHAT’S NEXT
After facing South Carolina, Tennessee hits the road for the third time in four games with a noon contest on Sunday at Georgia (SEC Network). It marks UT’s fourth straight ranked foe and a chance to avenge a one-point home loss to the Bulldogs on Jan. 14.
South Carolina, meanwhile, plays host to Kentucky on Sunday at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 2021 baseball season is just three days away and leading up to opening day, UTSports.com is previewing each position group for this year’s team.
The final installment of the series will focus on Tennessee’s pitching staff. Read up on UT’s outfielders HERE and infielders/catchers HERE.
The Vols bring back the majority of their pitching staff from last season, returning 81% of their total innings pitched and 79% of their strikeouts from last year. Returners also accounted for 14 of Tennessee’s 15 victories in 2020.
The Big Orange will have to replace three players that are now in the professional ranks. Hard-throwing lefty Garrett Crochet was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox and went on to have an immediate impact for the franchise, becoming the first player to go from the draft to the big leagues without playing in the minors since Mike Leake in 2010. Crochet made six appearances for the White Sox during the 2020 season, including one postseason outing. In those six games, he did not allow a single run and gave up just three hits while racking up 10 strikeouts in 6.2 innings of relief.
UT will also have to replace right handers Chase Wallace and Kody Davidson, who signed free agent contracts with the Royals and Mets, respectively.
A two-way player for the Vols who is likely to be one of the team’s starting outfielders, as well, Gilbert proved to be an effective relief option for UT as a true freshman. The lefty allowed just one run in his first three outings, including an impressive performance against No. 25 Stanford at the Round Rock Classic. Gilbert gave up just one run and had three strikeouts in 4.1 innings of relief to earn his first-career win and help the Vols cap a perfect 3-0 weekend at the tournament. The Stillwater, Minnesota, native will look to be a reliable option out of the bullpen this season.
Heflin returns for his final season with the Vols after missing all of last year while rehabbing from an offseason knee injury. The local product from Morristown was set to make his return when the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Heflin was coming off the best season of his career in 2019, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.20 ERA in 26 appearances. He was one of the Vols’ top relief pitchers during that season and could be one of the Vols’ top options out of the bullpen this year if he’s able to regain his 2019 form. The experienced left hander has also started six games during his career and can be used in a number of different roles.
Sewell had a great debut season in 2019 with a 4-1 record and 2.18 ERA, which was the lowest by a true freshman in program history. The Cleveland, Tennessee, native made just one appearance in 2020 after missing the first month of the season with a minor injury. Sewell returned and made his lone appearance in what turned out to be the Vols’ final game of the season, getting the start in UT’s 17-5 win over ETSU on March 10.
Now healthy, Sewell will have a chance to earn a starting spot for the Big Orange and could also be a valuable asset to the Vols’ bullpen. Either way, the talented right hander should have a significant role on Tennessee’s staff this season.
Housley will look to log his first action at the collegiate level in 2021 after not making any appearances as a true freshman last season. The Georgia native was a 17th round pick by the Texas Rangers out of high school, but decided to forgo a professional career and join the Vols. Housley was rated as a Top 500 recruit nationally by Perfect Game and was named to the site’s 2019 Preseason All-America and All-Region teams. The hard-throwing right hander tossed four complete games and had 65 strikeouts in just 41.0 innings of work as a senior at Sandy Creek High School in 2019.
Delashmit was off to a fantastic start to his collegiate career in 2020, posting a 3-0 record and 0.77 ERA in five appearances. He was one of UT’s primarily midweek pitchers as a true freshman, making four relief appearances and one start. In that start, Delashmit threw 4.2 scoreless innings and struck out seven in a 15-1 victory over Northern Kentucky. The Covington, Tennessee, native did not allow a single run and issued just two walks over his final four appearances (10.2 innings).
#26 Jason Rackers – RS-Junior – RHP – 6-7 / 225 – Jefferson City, Mo.
Rackers is set to make his Tennessee debut in 2021 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the 2020 season. The imposing right hander joined the Vols after two impressive seasons at JUCO powerhouse Jefferson College, where he helped lead the Vikings to 101 wins during his stint with the program. Rackers went 8-3 with a 3.97 ERA, two complete games and 82 strikeouts in 65.2 innings pitched in 2019. He earned NJCAA All-Region XVI second team honors after an impressive freshman campaign in 2018. The Missouri native was 11-1 on the year with a 2.63 ERA and tossed four complete games to help Jefferson College reach the NJCAA Division I College World Series. He also racked up 103 strikeouts and issued just 23 walks in 82.0 innings of work. A healthy Rackers could play an important role as a starter or reliever for the Vols this season.
Pleasants will look to take the next step in his progression this season after showing flashes of his potential during his first two years on Rocky Top. The lanky right hander is one of a handful of pitchers battling for spots in the Vols’ weekend rotation this season. Pleasants was off to a solid start in 2020, going 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in seven appearances (two starts). The junior from Clarksville will look to carry his momentum from a solid offseason into the 2021 campaign.
With Crochet sidelined for the majority of the year, Leath was arguably Tennessee’s top pitcher during the shortened 2020 season. The powerful right hander split time as a starter and reliever but led the team with a 4-0 record and 29 strikeouts. His four wins ranked first in the SEC and tied for second in the nation while his 13.98 strikeouts per nine innings ranked sixth in the conference.
Leath was named to the Round Rock Classic All-Tournament Team thanks to an eight-strikeout performance over 4.2 innings of relief in a win over Houston. The Texas native enters his senior season with some lofty expectations after being named a preseason second-team All-American by Baseball America. Leath’s versatility will be a valuable weapon for UT this season, as he possesses the ability to start or fill multiple roles out of the bullpen.
Since stepping on campus as a freshman in 2018, Hunley has been one of Tennessee’s most valuable and effective pitchers. The Mount Juliet native enters the 2021 season as the team’s active leader in games started, victories and innings pitched. He is one of just three pitchers in the SEC that enters this season with a sub-3.00 ERA and more than 100 innings pitched. Described as a swiss army knife by UT’s coaching staff, Hunley has proven to be effective in any role he’s been asked to perform during his career.
Hunley was a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American in 2018 after starting 14 games and posting a 7-3 record and 2.64 ERA. As a sophomore, Hunley served more in a relief role, but was just as effective with a perfect 4-0 record and 2.60 ERA in 45.0 innings of work. The senior right hander was nearly unhittable in six appearances (one start) last year, posting a 0.54 ERA and a team-leading three saves in 16.2 innings. Whatever role he’s asked to fill, there’s no doubt that Hunley will be a key factor for Tennessee’s pitching staff once again in 2021.
#33 Mark McLaughlin – Sophomore – RHP – 6-3 / 220 – Johns Creek, Ga. Career Stats (1 Season): 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 5 APP, 1 GS, 10.0 IP, 12 K, 1 BB, 0.60 WHIP, .147 OPP AVG
McLaughlin was another freshman that shined during the shortened 2020 season. Similar to Delashmit, the majority of McLaughlin’s work came during midweek action. The Georgia native posted an impressive strikeout to walk ratio of 12-to-1 and did not allow a run in four of his five appearances. In his most impressive outing of the year, McLaughlin allowed just one hit and struck out five over five scoreless innings against UNC Asheville to earn his first-career win.
Aside from one bad outing, Connell was very effective in his limited opportunities out of the bullpen last season. He allowed just two hits and did not give up a single run in his first three appearances. In his first-career game, Connell pitched two shutout innings and had two strikeouts against Northern Kentucky. The South Carolina native will look to carve out a role in the Vols’ bullpen this season.
Dallas was one of Tennessee’s most impressive pitchers during the shortened 2020 season. After being thrust into the starting rotation due to injuries to Crochet and Sewell early in the year, he took full advantage of the opportunity by going 3-0 in his four starts and leading the team in innings pitched. Dallas got the starting nod on opening day and responded by giving up just one hit in five scoreless innings to lead UT to a 3-0 win over Western Illinois. One week later, in his home state of Texas, Dallas was incredible in the Vols’ upset of No. 1 Texas Tech at the Round Rock Classic, striking out a career-high eight batters in five innings of work. The junior right hander will once again be in the mix for a starting spot in Tennessee’s weekend rotation this season.
Mabrey is another one of UT’s plethora of lefty relievers. The Cookeville native fared well in limited action as a true freshman, allowing just two hits and one run in five appearances. Mabrey has had a solid offseason and could see an increased role in the bullpen this season.
One of the most experienced relievers in the SEC, Walsh figures to be a staple at the back end of the Vols’ bullpen once again in 2021. The crafty lefty enters the year tied for fourth in program history with 11 saves, nine of which came during the 2019 season when he took over the role as UT’s primary closer. Walsh looked to be in for another impressive year in 2020, as he led the staff with a 0.00 ERA and had two saves in six appearances while holding opposing batters to a .125 batting average. The Louisville, Tennessee, native will likely see as much action as any pitcher on the Vols’ staff this season.
Newcomers
Tennessee has added a solid crop of newcomers to compliment its experienced group of returning pitchers. Highlighting the group are a pair of talented freshmen in RHP Blade Tidwell and LHP Jake Fitzgibbons. Both Tidwell and Fitzgibbons have been impressive this offseason and have a chance to make an immediate impact this year.
Tidwell was the No. 71 overall recruit in the nation according to Perfect Game and has the potential to be an immediate impact player for the Orange and White. An explosive right hander with a fastball that has been clocked in the upper 90s, Tidwell came in at No. 20 on D1Baseball.com’s preseason list for SEC impact freshmen.
Fitzgibbons was the 19th ranked player in the state of Tennessee out of Mount Juliet High School in the Nashville area. He was a Perfect Game Preseason All-America selection and helped lead his club team to the Perfect Game 18U World Series championship in 2020.
The following pitchers will also join the Vols this season and look to push UT’s returners for innings:
Listed Alphabetically: LHP Colin Ahearn, RHP Charez Butcher, RHP Hollis Fanning, RHP Brock Lucas, LHP Shawn Scott and LHP Zander Sechrist.
“I am excited about the staff we are assembling as we build a program Volunteer fans can be proud of,” Heupel said. “We have an experienced and established group joining us, all of whom are passionate about Tennessee. Together with our coaching staff, they will play a vital role in creating a successful culture and structure for our student-athletes.”
Altizer, Lawson, Brummett, Johnson and High all have previous ties to Tennessee, while Lawson, Brummett and High all served on Heupel’s UCF staff. The group has more than 30 combined years of Southeastern Conference experience.
A 20-year UT veteran, Altizer returns to Knoxville after serving as the Deputy Athletics Director at Chattanooga. Lawson, who worked in the Tennessee recruiting department from 2010-14, was previously the director of player personnel at UCF. Brummett, a 2018 Tennessee graduate, was the Knights’ director of on-campus recruiting.
Breske, the former director of recruiting at Missouri, reunites with Heupel after the two worked together from 2016-17 in Columbia. Smith-Walker joins Rocky Top as the first Black woman lead creative director in the SEC. She spent the last two years as NC State’s director of creative media and was a graphic designer for the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Johnson, a Tennessee graduate and recruiting staff member from 2013-16, most recently served as the director of scouting and recruiting strategy at Southern Cal, a role he was promoted to in 2018 after serving as the assistant director of player personnel. High, a Knoxville native and UT graduate, was a recruiting assistant at UCF the past season.
With more than six years of experience, Stinger comes to Knoxville after stints as the director of recruiting at Colorado State and the director of on-campus recruiting at Nebraska. She owns previous experience at Middle Tennessee, where she earned her master’s degree in 2019.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following a slight schedule adjustment, the 19th-ranked Tennessee basketball team will return to action with a Wednesday night home contest with South Carolina. Tipoff from Thompson-Boling Arena is slated for 9 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Fans can catch Wednesday’s game on SEC Network and online or on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. Tom Hart and John Sundvoid 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 fell on the road to LSU, 78-65. The Vols were led in scoring by a third consecutive 20-plus point output from freshman Jaden Springer who finished the afternoon with 21 points.
A victory on Wednesday extend the Vols home win streak to four games and give UT a 12-2 record at TBA this season.
Up next, the Orange & White remain in Knoxville for a Saturday afternoon rematch with Kentucky. The opening tap from Thompson-Boling Arena is slated for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads the all-time series with South Carolina, 47-28, dating to 1927. The Vols have won five of their last six games against the Gamecocks.
• The Volunteers own a 28-9 lead when this series is contested in Knoxville and have won three straight over the Gamecocks at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Wednesday marks the 18th head-to-head meeting between good friends Rick Barnes and Frank Martin.
A WIN WOULD…
• Extend Tennessee’s home win streak to four games while giving the Vols a 12-2 record at Thompson-Boling Arena this season.
• Make the Vols 6-1 in their last seven games against South Carolina.
LAYUP LINES
• The Volunteers have spent the duration of the season ranked in the top 20 of the Associated Press Top-25 poll and are ranked No. 19 this week.
• Tennessee is No. 12 in the latest NCAA NET ratings, with four wins over teams in the top 40.
• The NCAA revealed its preliminary list of the top 16 seeds for the NCAA Tournament Saturday, and the Vols landed at No. 11 overall (third No. 3 seed).
• The true freshman duo of Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer have accounted for 52.5 percent of Tennessee’s scoring over the last three games.
• Meanwhile, the senior tandem of John Fulkerson and Yves Pons is struggling offensively, combining for 5.7 points over the last three games on 24 total shot attempts.
• Pons is a top-10 finalist for the Julius Erving Award and one of 15 candidates for the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year.
DEFENSE WINS
• According to KenPom, the Vols rank third in the NCAA in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing only 87.3 points per 100 possessions. College teams typically average close to 70 possessions per game.
• Tennessee ranks 15th in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing just 61.7 points per game.
• The Vols are forcing 15.8 turnovers per game while converting those turnovers into 17.3 points per game. Tennessee’s turnover margin stands at +4.0 (14th nationally).
• Tennessee has forced 14 of 19 opponents to turn the ball over on 20 percent or more of their possessions. The Vols are forcing opponents to turn it over 23.1 percent of the time this season.
• Only one time 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.
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA
• After dealing with a number of COVID-19 issues during the early and middle stages of the season that canceled or postponed nine games, South Carolina has finally been able to get into a weekly routine. The team has played its last nine scheduled games.
• The Gamecocks have won just two of those contests and enter Tuesday’s game on a three-game losing streak. Through 14 games played, South Carolina is 5-9 overall and 3-7 in SEC play.
• Despite the struggles, the constant presence for the Gamecocks has been junior guard AJ Lawson, who leads the team and ranks third in the SEC in scoring with 17.9 points per game. In 14 starts, Lawson has scored in double figures 12 times with eight 20-point performances.
• In the frontcourt, redshirt junior forward Justin Minaya has led the way on the boards, pulling in 6.9 rebounds per game, which lead the Gamecocks and ranks seventh in the SEC. He’s also been a consistent facilitator from the post for Carolina, dishing out 1.9 assists per game.
• Off the bench, junior forward Keyshawn Bryant has provided much-needed production for the Gamecocks. In 12 appearances, Bryant ranks second on the team in scoring (14.1 ppg), rebounding (5.3 rpg) and blocks (1.0 bpg). He also leads the team in field-goal percentage, converting his attempts at a clip of 52 percent (68-of-132). Bryant’s scoring average also ranks 15th in the SEC.
• The visible stars that can been seen on the South Carolina state house in Columbia represent where cannon balls hit the building as Union troops used it for firing practice during the Civil War.
LAST MEETING WITH SOUTH CAROLINA
• A then-career-high 25 points from junior John Fulkerson wasn’t enough to lead Tennessee past South Carolina, as the Vols fell, 63-61, inside Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 15, 2020.
• Tennessee’s 20 turnovers proved costly. The loss was the first for UT against South Carolina since the 2016-17 season.
• Fulkerson’s 25 points came on a career-high eight made field goals. He also added a game-high nine rebounds.
• SEC Defensive Player of the Year Yves Pons added 13 points, seven boards and three blocks.
• South Carolina held a 30-29 advantage at halftime.
• Out of the break, two quick 3-pointers from the Gamecocks increased their lead to 36-29 less than two minutes in to the second half. The Vols followed up those two possessions with an 11-0 run over a 3:15 stretch, with five of those points coming from Fulkerson, to take back the lead to the tune of a 40-36 score line.
• South Carolina responded with a few timely baskets to knot the score at 44-44, before the Vols reeled off a 10-3 run to take their largest lead of the contest to that point, holding a 54-47 advantage.
• In the game’s final eight minutes, the Gamecocks battled back and used multiple timely baskets and defensive stops to close out the victory.
MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST SOUTH CAROLINA
• On Dec. 6, 1969, unranked Tennessee strolled into Columbia and upset the No. 1-ranked Gamecocks, 55-54, thanks to 20 points from Jimmy England, and double-doubles by Don Johnson (18 pts, 12 rebs) and Bobby Croft (12 pts, 13 rebs).
• A two-overtime thriller in Columbia saw South Carolina pull out a 111-107 win on Feb. 10, 1993, despite 20-point efforts from Allan Houston (29), Lang Wiseman (26) and Corey Allen (22).
• Wayne Chism scored 23 points, JaJuan Smith added 19 and Tyler Smith had 13, but it was Chris Lofton’s 25-footer with 12.0 seconds remaining that lifted the Vols to an 89-87 win over South Carolina in the 2008 SEC Tournament in Atlanta on March 14, 2008.
• 2011 first-team All-SEC guard Scotty Hopson had a bright career against South Carolina, owning a sterling 6-0 record vs. the Cocks. Hopson threw down a posterizing dunk in the 2011 Knoxville win that placed fourth in the CBS Dunk of the Year Contest.
FORMER BIG 12 RIVALS BARNES, MARTIN NOW UNDER SEC BANNER
• Tennessee coach Rick Barnes and South Carolina headman Frank Martin meet for the 18th time as conference rivals Tuesday and the 11th time under the SEC banner.
• The two squared off seven times as coaches in the Big 12 Conference, when Barnes was with Texas and Martin was at Kansas State.
• Barnes holds a 9-8 edge in head-to-head meetings.
• Martin went 117-54 in five seasons at Kansas State, taking his 2009-10 squad to the Elite Eight and winning the Big 12 Coach of the Year award that same season. Barnes also was one of the top coaches in the Big 12 during his 17-year tenure at Texas, winning four Big 12 Coach of the Year awards.
• Martin accepted the head coaching position at South Carolina in the spring of 2012. Barnes was hired at Tennessee in the spring of 2015.
THE SWITCH HAS BEEN FLIPPED
• Five-star freshmen Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer were solid role players through Tennessee’s first nine SEC games. But over the last three SEC outings, the duo has taken control of the Vols’ offense.
• The duo went from accounting for 24.4 percent of Tennessee’s scoring in its first nine SEC games to providing 52.5 of the team’s scoring in the last three league games.
