Did you see the CMT Presents: Next Women of Country Class of 2021 special?
Lauren Alaina, along with Caylee Hammack, and Rissi Palmer hosted the program that featured performances from Tenille Arts, Priscilla Block, Ashland Craft, Brittney Spencer, Sacha, Mackenzie Porter, Harper Grae, Reyna Roberts, Hannah Dasher, and Chapel Hart.
The show also features previous Next Women of Country class members like Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, Cassadee Pope, Maggie Rose, Maren Morris, Mickey Guyton, and many others.
One of the original women of country music also appears in the special–Tanya Tucker.
The woman behind the Next Women of Country, Leslie Fram, also appears in the special to shared the story behind why the list was started, and how the members become part of a supportive community that is built with the mission for creating success for everyone involved. Leslie also admitted that even as the 2021 class was just announced they are already looking for the 2022 class members because she and the other people involved are continually searching for and are surround by so many talented female artists.
Check out the Next Women of Country Class of 2021 special right here…
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 20/22 Tennessee (10-3, 4-1 SEC) continues its four-game home stand with a Thursday conference match-up vs. Ole Miss (7-5/1-5 SEC) at Thompson-Boling Arena.
UT, which is third in the league and stands as one of only three SEC teams with one loss or fewer in league play (along with South Carolina and Texas A&M), tips it off on The Summitt against the Rebels at 7:02 p.m. ET.
The Lady Vols come into the match-up after a strong showing last week vs. No. 3/5 UConn (L, 67-61) on Thursday night and a dominant victory over No. 12/12 Kentucky, 70-53, on Sunday.
Tennessee pushed its lead to as many as 26 points in the fourth quarter vs. the Wildcats before pulling its starters in a game where UT out-rebounded UK, 56-25, and held the visitors to 28.6 percent shooting. In the UConn game, there were 17 lead changes and 12 ties in a battle the Huskies led by two with only 26 seconds remaining. A three-pointer just prior to the shot clock expiring at that point was the difference-maker for UConn.
Ole Miss is much improved this season, adding transfers Shakira Austin (Maryland) and Donnetta Johnson (Georgia) and a heralded signing class led by Madison Scott. Incidentally, that trio stands as the Rebels’ top three scorers with all three putting up double-digit averages.
The Rebels are coming off a 10-point home loss to Florida (78-68) on Sunday and have lost five of six SEC games after opening the season 6-0. Proof of their improvement, however, comes in a four-point loss to a ranked Mississippi State team and an overtime setback to LSU.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday’s game will be streamed live via SECN+ with Michael Wottreng (PxP) and Steve Hamer (analyst) on the call.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Single game tickets are on sale, starting at just $5. Go to AllVols.com to purchase.
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.
The Lady Vols have done so starting a freshman (Marta Suárez), two sophomores (Jordan Horston, Tamari Key), a junior (Rae Burrell) and senior (Rennia Davis). They have played together as a quintet for nine total games, with Key and Horston being inserted into the starting lineup for the contest at Indiana.
UT is led in scoring in all games by junior Rae Burrell (16.5 ppg.) and senior Rennia Davis (14.0 ppg.), with sophomore Tamari Key contributing 8.6 and classmate Jordan Horston chipping in 8.4.
In SEC play, three Tennessee players are scoring in double figures, including Davis (17.0 ppg.), Burrell (16.2) and Key (12.4). Horston is at 9.8 ppg.
Davis leads the team with a 9.2 rebound average for the season, but she has raised that to 10.8 rpg. in league play to average a double-double vs. SEC foes.
Senior Rennia Davis, who is on all of the preseason awards watch lists (Wade, Wooden, Naismith, Cheryl Miller), the Wooden Midseason List and a projected All-SEC First Team pick by the coaches and players, is averaging 17.8 ppg. and 13.8 ppg. vs. ranked teams in four games this season.
Davis has climbed to 17th on UT’s all-time scoring list with 1,582 points, surpassing Nikki McCray (18th, 1,572) and Debbie Groover (17th, 1,580). She is 15 back of Mercedes Russell (16th, 1,597) and 39 behind Dana Johnson (15th, 1,621).
On the all-time rebounding list, Davis stands in 17th place with 855. She is three behind Daedra Charles (16th, 858) and 29 behind Dana Johnson (15th, 884).
Sophomore Tamari Key has scored in double figures the past five contests (12/14/15/10/19). That career-best 19-point effort vs. Kentucky pushed her scoring average over the last five games to 14.0 ppg. along with 6.2 rpg. Both marks rank second on the team during that span. She also is hitting 70.5 percent from the field.
Tennessee has had four players finish a game scoring in double figures the past three contests, marking the first streak of that this season. They also accomplished that feat vs. Arkansas and in the season opener vs. Western Kentucky.
Sophomore Jordan Horston has dished out seven steals in two of her past three games. She leads Tennessee in all games (4.2 apg.) and is tied for fourth among league performers in SEC games with a 4.8 per game average.
Freshman guard/forward Marta Suárez, joining Burrell and Davis as UT’s only starters in every game this season, is second on the Lady Vols in rebound average (5.6) and is fifth in scoring at 6.4 ppg. after averaging 8.0 ppg. and 5.0 rpg. last week.
Reserve senior center Kasiyahna Kushkituah (6.2 ppg., 4.6 rpg.) and redshirt junior guard Jordan Walker (5.4 ppg., 3.3 rpg., 2.5 apg.) continue to be consistent contributors off the bench. Freshman Destiny Salary (2.7 ppg., 3.3 rpg., 1.3 apg.) also is supplying quality minutes at the guard position.
Tennessee drew an NCAA women’s basketball season high in attendance when 3,553 were on hand for the UConn game on Jan. 21. That total surpassed the max crowd that South Carolina is hosting this season due to COVID-19 safety measures.
RECAPPING UT’S LAST GAME
The No. 25 Lady Vols rolled to a commanding victory over No. 12 Kentucky on Sunday, winning 70-53 in Thompson-Boling Arena.
The win was UT’s third victory over a top-15 team this season, its highest number of wins over ranked opponents since the 2017-18 season.
Tennessee (10-3, 4-1 SEC) was led in scoring by sophomore Tamari Key, who posted a career-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Senior Rennia Davis turned in a double-double with 15 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Junior Rae Burrell and senior Kasiyahna Kushkituah were also in double digits with 13 and 11, respectively.
Chasity Patterson was the high scorer for Kentucky (11-4, 4-3 SEC) with 15 points, and Rhyne Howard was close behind with 14, though UT’s stifling defense relegated the 2020 SEC Player of the Year to a 3-for-16 shooting day from the field.
RANKINGS TALK
Tennessee has climbed to a season-best NCAA NET Ranking of 13th through games of Jan. 25.
That rating is second highest in the SEC (South Carolina is No. 3).
Tennessee has climbed 15 spots since Jan. 4, when the first-ever ranking was released. The rating tool replaces the previous RPI formula that was used for helping determine NCAA Tournament invitations and seeding.
The Lady Vols have wins over NET No. 8 Indiana, No. 20 Kentucky, No. 24 Arkansas and No. 28 Alabama.
UT has three close losses, including to No. 1 UConn, No. 14 Georgia and No. 22 West Virginia.
UT will face top-60 NET foes in No. 3 South Carolina, No. 14 Georgia (in Athens), No. 16 Texas A&M (possibly twice), No. 20 Kentucky (in Lexington), No. 35 Mississippi State (in Starkville), No. 47 Missouri (in Columbia) and No. 58 Ole Miss in the coming weeks.
UT has ascended to season highs of No. 20 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the USA TODAY Coaches poll.
Interestingly enough, the Lady Vols still find themselves ranked below No. 15/14 Kentucky (11-4), No. 16/15 Indiana (9-3) and No. 19/18 Arkansas (11-5), teams Tennessee defeated, including Indiana on the road by eight and Kentucky and Arkansas by margins of 17 and 15.
The Lady Vols didn’t debut in either top 25 until the eighth polls (Jan. 11/12) had them at No. 23/24.
Tennessee was No. 25/RV last week (Jan. 18-19).
The Lady Vols also have risen to their highest position in Charlie Creme’s Bracketology, holding down a projected No. 4 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament as of Jan. 26.
UT is slotted in Region 4, with a first-round match-up vs. No. 13 UT Martin and a potential second-round encounter with No. 5 Gonzaga or No. 12 Bucknell.
NC State is the No. 1 seed in that region, with Stanford and Indiana (a team UT defeated) filling the two and three seeds.
ABOUT OLE MISS
The Rebels feature three players averaging double figures in scoring, including junior Shakira Austin (17.3), redshirt sophomore Donnetta Johnson (12.7) and freshman Madison Scott (11.3.).
Austin is a transfer from Maryland and is joined by former Terps assistant Shay Robinson in making the move to the Magnolia State for 2020-21.
Johnson is a transfer from Georgia, and Scott was the No. 13-ranked recruit in the U.S. by ESPN.
Ole Miss is led by Yolett McPhee-McCuin, who is in her third year in Oxford (23-50) and eighth season overall as a head coach (117-113).
Ole Miss started out 6-0 before losing five of its last six contests in SEC play to LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Georgia and Florida. The loss to #14 MSU was by four points. UM beat Auburn.
RECAPPING THE REBELS’ LAST GAME
Ole Miss entered the break in good position after a blistering second quarter, but a slow start in the back half proved to be the difference as Florida pulled ahead for a 78-68 win over the Rebels at The Pavilion on Sunday.
UM received four double-digit performances, led by senior Valerie Nesbitt with a team-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Nesbitt, in her third start of the year at point guard, also led with a career-high seven assists.
Other Rebels in double-digits included Madison Scott (14), Snudda Collins (11) and Shakira Austin (10).
Florida’s Kiara Smith (25 points) and Lavender Briggs (16 points) combined for 41 points on the day, 28 of which came in the second half and 20 of which came in a 25-12 third quarter for the Gators.
UT-OLE MISS SERIES NOTES
UT enters the 57th meeting in the series with a 48-8 edge, including a 22-2 record in games played in Knoxville, a 21-4 mark in Oxford and a 5-2 slate at neutral sites.
Tennessee has won 32 of the last 33 meetings with Ole Miss, with the only setback in that sequence coming in Oxford, 67-62, on Jan. 12, 2017.
The Lady Vols have won 19 straight over the Rebels in Knoxville, with the last Ole Miss victory (69-65) coming on Jan. 31, 1987, in Stokely Athletics Center.
The Big Orange, which have allowed Ole Miss to surpass 70 points only once since 1997, will face a Rebels squad that comes in averaging 75.1 ppg.
On Jan. 9, 2020, Tennessee held Ole Miss to 28 points, which tied for the third fewest UT has allowed in a game and the fewest by an SEC foe.
The Rebels scored only 14 points in the second half of that game, which was the sixth fewest ever tallied in the final 20 minutes by a UT opponent. Ole Miss’ two fourth-quarter points tied for second fewest ever in a quarter by a Big Orange foe.
Tennessee junior Rennia Davis has played very well against Ole Miss in four contests, averaging 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds vs. the Rebels.
Tamari Key averaged 13.0 ppg. and 8.5 rpg. in two games vs. the Rebels as a freshman in 2019-20.
UT Head Coach Kellie Harper is 3-0 vs. Ole Miss as a head coach. Harper took Missouri State to Oxford on Nov. 19, 2015, and came away with a 91-78 victory over the (then) Matt Insell-coached Rebels. Her first UT unit claimed an 84-28 triumph in Oxford on Jan. 9, 2020, and a 77-66 win in Knoxville on Feb. 27, 2020.
Harper was 6-1 vs. Ole Miss during her playing days at Tennessee from 1995-99.
THE LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET
The Lady Vols prevailed over an upset-minded Ole Miss team on Feb. 27, 2020, taking a 77-66 win on Senior Night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Junior Rennia Davis was Tennessee’s (19-9, 9-6 SEC) high scorer, recording her 28th career double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Tamari Key and sophomore Rae Burrell were also in double figures, with Key scoring a career high of 17 points and Burrell finishing with 14 in the final regular-season home game of the 2019-20 campaign.
Ole Miss (7-21, 0-15 SEC) was led by Deja Cage and Mimi Reid, who posted 22 and 21 points, respectively.
WHAT’S NEXT
Tennessee closes out its four-game home stand on Sunday with a 2 p.m. ET matinee vs. Florida. The game will be televised by ESPNU.
Ole Miss, meanwhile, travels to LSU on Sunday for a 1 p.m. CT contest streamed by SECN+.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kellie Harper took questions from the media on Tuesday afternoon in a Zoom interview session that covered the Lady Vols’ upcoming home games vs. Ole Miss (7-5/1-5 SEC) and Florida (9-6, 2-5 SEC).
UT (10-3, 4-1 SEC), which has ascended to season-high rankings of No. 20 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the USA TODAY Coaches poll, will play host to the Rebels at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday (SECN+) at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Lady Vols will then welcome the Gators to The Summitt on Sunday in a 2 p.m. contest slated for ESPNU.
On the next game against Ole Miss and the challenge of keeping her team focused on the scout for this week:
“I think one of the things that we have been able to do throughout the season is focus in on us and really try to get better as a team. In addition, we really try to keep our scouting reports very consistent, so our routine does not look different when we are playing UConn or when we are playing Ole Miss. I think that helps the mindset of our players so they understand that all games are equally important. In terms of Ole Miss and what they do well, first off, they play really hard. They have a lot of really unique and really good schemes, offensively. And I think that they have a couple of dynamic guards that are really doing a good job scoring. And then Shakira Austin is a talented player that poses some problems in her position. So, I have said before, if you think you just walk out and win, you don’t. That’s not how this works, and it is important that our players go out and understand that we need to play well.”
On what she feels is the biggest improvement of this year’s team compared to teams of the past:
“You know, for me, I think that it is probably the defensive end and the numbers where we have been more consistent. We have been more consistent with the rebounding numbers. We have trended up offensively, so those are all really good stats. In terms of finding one of those numbers that I am most proud of or most happy with is very hard, because I think they have all meant a lot. Probably the thing I am most proud of is not the numbers, but actually our mindset and our attitude and our growth of understanding what needs to happen. And (having) a little bit more maturity in understanding how we need to play and what it needs to look like for us to be a good basketball team and our ability to bounce back after losses. So to me, we have grown in so many areas, but sometimes the one that you cannot quantify has been the one that is the most important.”
On whether her team is starting to turn into the vision that she had when she accepted this job:
“Yes, I think that we (the coaches) have been able to see it prior to the wins, and now I think that everybody else gets to see it. We have been watching this happen. And sometimes growth is so small, and it does not come up in numbers, and it sometimes doesn’t come out with a win. But we are seeing that growth, and we have been seeing that. So, now I am so happy for our team more than anything. I am so happy for our team because they listened, and they bought in, and they really tried, and they have been rewarded with some really good wins. And that is so fun to see. It is very rewarding as a coach to see your team’s success when they buy in as mine has done. So, are we there yet? No, we are not. We have not gotten exactly where we want to go, but there is a lot of basketball left. I mean, there’s a lot of basketball left to play, and there’s still room for growth, and there’s room for ups and downs the rest of the way. But in terms of where we are from the start of the season to where we are now, I am so proud of them, and I am so happy for them.”
On Rennia Davis getting 20 rebounds against Kentucky:
“She was dialed in. I found out after the game, she had a buddy challenge her that she couldn’t get 15 rebounds. So, she was pretty locked in and when she does that, when she has specific goals, she’s pretty darn good. She has a really good ability to go get the ball and with her athleticism and her size, she has an advantage on the boards. I think the more mobile she is and the more we move her around offensively, the harder it is for defenses to keep her off the boards. So, I think it was just a really good combination. She was dialed in, and she was going to go get those boards. I’ll be honest with you, the team knew it. They were tracking it; they were really excited for her.”
On what it looks like to be a good basketball team:
“For us, I’m going to start with something basic, and that is getting the shot up. That means taking care of the basketball and getting a shot up. Offensively, when we are clicking, we are getting the ball inside to our post players, and we’re getting paint touches as well. We’re not settling. I think defensively when we are our best, we are just really locked in. Everyone is alert. I think sometimes it’s easier to be alert on the ball, and it’s easier to relax off the ball, but when we are at our best, everybody is really tuned in to the offense and what they are trying to do. Then for us, just cleaning up the boards on both ends.”
On Rennia Davis’ success despite being the main focus for opposing teams:
“Well, I think she’s so versatile and can do so many things. Some of the things that she does well are just really hard to guard. She makes a lot of plays off the ball, and a lot of that is her (being) savvy. When you have to account for Rae Burrell, Jordan Horston, and Tamari Key, you’re guarding so many people on the court. Rennia, who is away from the basketball, can get missed sometimes. I think that’s when she really plays well. She can really get out in transition and score. She’s doing a good job of taking care of the basketball. She’s very careful with it, she can pass to the post, she can do so many things. She really understands now she doesn’t have to be knocking down shots for her to have a really good game. That has just, honestly, taken her game to another level. Her average, I don’t think it is as much as it was last year, but I think she’s better. I think she can play through a poor shooting night and still have success. I am so proud of her for that.”
On how she sees the newcomers (freshmen) adapting this season:
“I think they have really settled in now. They’re feeling pretty good about what they need to do. Marta (Suárez), in particular, she’s letting the game come to her a little bit better now. Her plus-minus the past two games has been the highest on the team, so she’s making a lot of plays. Having her out there has helped our spacing a lot of the time. Destiny Salary, I was really excited about her play in the UConn game. I’m really proud of her. She plays hard. We’ve seen a lot of growth from her defensively, and we are really excited about her future. Tess Darby had some early injuries and did not get the playing time early. She’s practicing terrific, and sometimes you talk to the players that don’t get any minutes. We’re really excited about how she’s progressing in practice. It’s not leading to minutes now, but you never know what’s going to happen down the road.”
On the importance of the next two home games on our home court:
“My bags will stay packed in February, I think. I think these games are really important. It is an opportunity for us to show some maturity and come out and play, get better, and enjoy being at home. You don’t get these stretches that often where you’re at home for four in a row, so hopefully, our team will be locked in. I think we have to be to get wins, I really do. The SEC is so competitive this year; you look at the scores every single night and man, it’s just competitive. And if you take a night off, you’re not going to be in the winning column. I think that’s going to be the message to the team and to take advantage of the opportunity to be at home two more dates.”
On whether this week’s performance is the closest she’s gotten to where she spoke about taking this program when she was hired:
“So, I might be wrong on this, but I feel like our three best games that we have played all year were Alabama, UConn, and Kentucky – our last three games. And that’s exciting for me that we’re trending there now. I think a lot of that had to do with the defensive effort in those games, and a lot of that had to do with our focus and our mentality. Offensive execution and whatnot were pretty good in the majority of those games. We’re not perfect, but I do think, just thinking back, I do feel like we’re trending up the last three games, to be honest with you. So, it’s important that we don’t just kick our feet up and say, ‘Yay! Good job, we had three good games.’ No, that’s not what this is about. I do think the teams that are top-5 or top-10, they deal with this every night. People gunning for you because you are a top-5 team and whatnot. We get that a little bit because we wear orange, but I also think we’re getting it now because of how we’ve played. I think people are looking at us, and this team is playing well, so we have to really get up for them. So, I think it’s a little bit different for our team than it has been the last couple of years, but it will be a great opportunity for us.”
On whether she remembers speaking to the team about Kobe Bryant’s death this time a year ago:
“Some of us were actually talking about it a few minutes ago, and how it went down as well as how hard it was on our team to hear that. We had just won a big game and beaten LSU on the court, and the girls were so excited coming in to the locker room, and we literally could not enjoy the win. It was very difficult to hear that news, and it just didn’t seem real. It still doesn’t seem real and unfortunately, it’s just a reminder that our time is short, and there are no guarantees. It’s not about basketball; it’s about living your life every day, because you don’t know what tomorrow holds. You have no idea. You don’t want those reminders, but that’s what we tried to look at it as — it’s just a reminder to go out and be the best you can be and live and enjoy life, because it’s just too short.”
On what has been the key to their rebounding efficiency:
“Well, we finally have some habits and some positive habits. A shot goes up, and we actually look to box people out. We’re not great at it 100 percent of the time, but we are so much better. We keep people off the boards better than we have in the past. Offensively, I feel like we really bought into that being important, and our team understands that’s where we can really separate ourselves.”
On what point in her head coaching career she figured out what the team needed to do after a game in order to get a good performance the following game:
“Well, it’s been a unique challenge. Every team is different. Early on in my career, I had it pretty good. I was young, as I was a 26-year-old head coach, so I felt like I knew what the team needed, and as I got older and more removed from their age, I’ve had to lean on my assistants and learn and ask more questions. It’s something I spend more time with – doing different things to be able to know what the team needs. Sometimes you get it right, but sometimes you don’t. I think that is an important piece of what we do as coaches.”
Scotty McCreery is a country music making hit maker these days, but 10 years ago he was a flip-flop wearing teenager auditioning for American Idol.
Standing in front Season 10 judges, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson, Scotty wowed them with covers of songs by Josh Turner and Travis Tritt. The audition made J-Lo smile, got Randy to say “yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,” and Steven blurted out a compliment in an explicit phrase that surprised everyone in the room.
After receiving three “yes” votes, Scotty was off and running on the show that he would eventually win.
Looking back on it today Scotty shares, “Can’t believe its been a DECADE since my Idol audition aired!”
Little did he know on that day what his future had in store for him. Scotty says, “10 years ago started me on the most insane journey I could ever dream of. Thanks for being there with me every step of the way! Here’s to another 10 years yall! Much love”
While he’s climbing the country music airplay charts with his new song “You Time” — check out that American Idol audition that changed everything for Scotty McCreery.
Ten years later, check out the music video for Scotty’s new song “You Time”
Not only is her song “Somebody Like That” in the Top 20 on the country music airplay charts, it also just entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and Tenille was named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country for 2021.
On top of all of that, this past weekend Tenille walked away with three trophies at the Saskatchewan Music Awards.
The SMAs are intended to honor excellence and celebrate the achievements of the Saskatchewan music industry members over the past year.
At this year’s ceremony Tenille was awarded Single of the Year for “Somebody Like That,” Album of the Year for Love, Heartbreak & Everything In Between, and Country Artist of the Year.
You can see Tenille Arts accept the Album of the Year award right here…
Tenille’s Single of the Year speech is here…
And Tenille accepting the SMA for Country Artist of the Year can be seen here…
When Russell Dickerson’s sophomore album, Southern Symphony, arrived this past December in stores and online, fans could check out the music on the project in a cool new way with Southern Symphony – An Album Experience.
It’s an eight-minute video that features all 10 tracks on the album, with each having its own storyline weaving in and out of the lives of the guests at the Southern Symphony Motel.
Check it out here…
Now you can get a little insight on what went into the making of Southern Symphony – An Album Experience as Russell and the project’s director Spencer Combs share how the idea for the mini-movie came up, and some of the ins-and-outs of the production…including a very cold pool scene.
Check out the Behind the Scenes video part 1…
And you don’t have to wait long for Part 2…here it is now…
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Marta Suárez, one of only three Lady Vols to start every game this season, continues to be a consistent contributor and “glue” player for Tennessee in 2020-21. On Tuesday, she was recognized for her efforts by being announced as the SEC Freshman of the Week.
The rookie’s steady play last week helped Tennessee improve to 10-3 overall and 4-1 in the SEC, remain third in the league standings and climb to No. 20 in the AP poll. She averaged 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 63.6 percent from the field through a pair of games against national-caliber competition.
The 6-foot-2 freshman guard/forward scored in double figures for the second time this season, tossing in 10 points and pulling down six rebounds in a narrow loss to No. 3/5 UConn. She hit four of seven attempts from the field, including a couple of big threes that helped the Lady Vols battle through 17 lead changes and 12 ties vs. the Huskies in a game that wasn’t decided until the final 25 seconds.
In the runaway win over No. 12/12 Kentucky, Suárez tallied six points on three-of-four shooting while grabbing four boards in UT’s 56 to 25 dominant advantage on the glass.
Defensively, Suárez was part of a Lady Vol effort that severely limited the output of last week’s opponents. UConn and Kentucky entered their games with the Big Orange averaging 89.0 and 77.7 points per game, respectively, and she played a role in Tennessee’s team effort that held the Huskies to 22 points below their average and the Cats to 22.7 below theirs.
The native of Oviedo, Spain, who is averaging 6.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists through 13 contests, will return to action on Thursday with her teammates. The Ole Miss Rebels come to town for a 7 p.m. contest at Thompson-Boling Arena, with the game being streamed live on SECN+.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball found itself back in the preseason top 25 for the 18th consecutive year, ranking 23rd on the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll, announced by the organization on Tuesday.
The SEC is again the most represented league in the top 25 chart, tabbing 10 teams on the poll with LSU ranked the highest at No. 5.
Last season, the Lady Vols finished 14-9 and fell out of the rankings during the shortened 2020 season after a competitive nonconference slate that pitted them against six Power-5 programs including a then No. 5 Arizona, No. 6 Texas and No. 22 Arizona State.
However, with the return of ace and 2019 NFCA All-Region and All-SEC first teamer Ashley Rogers, among the 17 total returnees for UT, the Lady Vols are poised to be compete among the nation’s best teams.
Additionally, having a healthy Ally Shipman, who was ranked the No. 13 best junior in the nation and No. 37th overall best player in the country by Softball America, provides a competitive spark for the Lady Vols as well. Shipman co-led Tennessee in 2020 with .403 batting average, 25 hits and seven doubles along with returning redshirt senior Chelsea Seggern.
Tennessee, which is receiving votes on the USA Today/NFCA DI Coaches poll, opens its season on Feb. 12 in Conway, S.C., in a first-time matchup with UConn. The Lady Vols will also play host-team Coast Carolina and Akron during the three-day tournament.
We are officially on Day 5 of the Tennessee football coaching search and things are getting weird.
Or normal. We’ve been down this road before.
Fans are tracking planes and clinging to anything the rumor mill provides. The phrase ‘inside sources’ has never been more prevalent from your friend at the gym or your brother-in-law’s classmate who works at the university. Oh, and message boards are KING.
It’s truly a fun time for Tennessee fans. Also, a nerve wracking time. Nonetheless, fans are used to it.
There’s been four head coaching changes since Phillip Fulmer’s departure nearly a decade and a half ago. To say this process has been overplayed would be an understatement.
But that’s the world we’re living in here in Knoxville this week. We’ve heard names from Clemson’s Tony Elliot to Minnesota’s PJ Fleck. SMU’s Sonny Dykes to Penn State’s James Franklin and all the names in between.
But this time it is a little different.
How? Danny White.
The new Director of Athletics, who was introduced Friday in a press conference setting, has no ties to Tennessee. No one knows him – not even his staff at the moment. He’s been on the job for a little more than 72 hours. He’s using The Parker Search firm to help with the process and the search has been airtight.
Credit: Sam Forman / WNML Photos
Journalists are good at their jobs and this field is so close-knit that information will be leaked out. Some has already been leaked as multiple outlets have reported there’s been conversations held with Elliot and Franklin.
The Minneapolis Tribune reported Monday night that Fleck was not interested in the gig through conversations.
But this coaching search for the most part has been closed. Not a whole lot of information has been leaked and most are not as informed as they would have been with prior regimes – regimes that have Tennessee ties, thus Tennessee sources.
That’s a good thing for Vol fans. It appears this is a one-man show as White and the Parker group are going about this themselves.
But eventually, there will be a hire made and it won’t appease everyone. No hire does. And with the sanctions looming around the program with a reported 50 violations potentially – it’s likely to not be a slap on the wrist.
So, why would a sitting head coach (or recently fired coach) at the Power 5 level want to come here? Can you win a national championship at Tennessee? Sure. But with a potential multi-year bowl band and loss of scholarships (maybe even for two years), is a raise really worth it?
I say no.
Let’s be real. Tennessee reaching a bowl game in 2021 is no lock – even with a weak nonconference schedule. Missing out on the Gator or Music City Bowl is not the end of the world. But say Tennessee is sanctioned with the loss of four scholarships for the Class of 2022. Say that extends over to the Class of 2023.
Bad news.
I’m not saying that’s what happens, but recruiting is currency for college coaches. You take some spots away from a rebuilding program – it makes it that much tougher.
In a perfect world, Tennessee offers Matt Campbell 7 million + and makes him say no. But Matt Campbell likely doesn’t have interest in the headache that is Knoxville. Why would Gus Malzahn forfeit some of that $21 million dollar buyout to go through the ringer here at Tennessee right now?
More so, why would a rising coordinator at the Power 5 level want this to be their big break? I think Tony Elliot is a great play-caller and Tennessee would be in good shape to hire him away from Dabo Sweeney. But he’d likely begin his tenure behind the eight-ball here.
We can knit pick all day as to why or why not a coach should take the Tennessee job. As I wrote last week, this program has unbelievable support, both financially and from the fans. The Vols will land on a head coach at some point – likely this week.
But it won’t be who everyone believes is a slam dunk. It never is. One thing is for sure though – whoever it is will have their work cut out for them.
Tennessee is once again seeking a head football coach. The process, however agonizing or fun it might be for you, is still underway.
So, grab some popcorn and continue doom scrolling. Or grab some binoculars and aid in the plane tracking. It’s entertaining, nonetheless.
