WACO, Texas – One day after receiving All-America accolades from the Football Writers Association of America, Tennessee senior offensive guard Trey Smith was tabbed a second-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the ones who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
Smith, a native of Jackson, Tennessee, is UT’s first AFCA All-American since Eric Berry captured first-team accolades in 2009.
In 2020, Smith started all 10 games at left guard and saw action on 664 offensive snaps. For his career, Smith started 41 of the 42 games he played in, including 22 consecutive starts. He tallied over 2,500 offensive snaps in his four years and allowed only one sack in his final two seasons.
Smith, who received his UT undergraduate degree earlier this month, has been selected to play in the 2021 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, on Jan. 30.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A dominant defensive effort and an efficient shooting mark of .500 (27-54) from the field pushed the seventh-ranked Tennessee basketball team past 12th-ranked Missouri, 73-53, to open SEC play Wednesday.
The Vols (7-0, 1-0 SEC) held Missouri (6-1, 0-1 SEC) to just .364 shooting from the field and forced 21 turnovers on the defensive end.
UT is also off to its best start since 2010-11, when that season’s squad also began the year 7-0.
Sophomore Santiago Vescovi led UT in scoring, pouring in a game-high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a 3-of-4 mark from 3-point range.
National Defensive Player of the Year candidate Yves Pons put on an impressive, versatile performance, totaling 13 points, six rebounds, a season-high four blocks and two steals.
Freshman Jaden Springer also scored 13 points while grabbing four rebounds and nabbing a season-high three steals off the bench for the Vols.
Senior John Fulkerson was the fourth Vol to reach double-figures, scoring 11 points and pulling down six rebounds.
Sophomore Josiah-Jordan James—despite scoring just two points—was all over the stat sheet, grabbing three offensive rebounds, dishing off a game-high four assists, tallying a career-high-tying three steals and recording a blocked shot. James posted a game-high-tying plus/minus rating of +25.
The Vols came roaring out of the gates, knocking down their first seven shot attempts en route to a commanding 21-4 lead at the under-12 media timeout.
Tennessee withstood each counter punch from the Tigers, extending its first-half lead to as many as 19, heading into the halftime break with a 38-25 advantage.
UT came out of the break with much of the same energy, continuing its stifling defensive effort and efficient night from the field on offense throughout the second half to walk away with the 20-point victory.
Le Century Mark: Yves Pons rejected a season-high four shot attempts, increasing his career blocks total to 101. The reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year is just six blocks away from breaking into the top 15 on Tennessee’s career blocks list.
Wins in CoMo Bookend Vol’s 2020: Wednesday night’s win, along with the Vols’ victory over Missouri on Jan. 7 of this year, mark the Orange & White’s first and final wins of 2020.
Up Next: The undefeated Volunteers return to Thompson-Boling Arena for a Saturday contest with Alabama. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Senior Rennia Davis turned in a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Tennessee to a 77-52 win over Lipscomb in Thompson-Boling Arena on Monday night.
Junior Rae Burrell finished with 10 points to join Davis in double figures for Tennessee (6-1), and senior Kasiyahna Kushkituah and sophomore Tamari Key each added nine. Every active player for the Lady Vols finished with at least two points.
Lipscomb (3-3) was led by senior Taylor Clark who had 14 points and four rebounds.
The game got off to a rocky start, as both teams struggled with turnovers in the opening minute and a half before Key hit a short jumper to get Tennessee on the board at the 8:18 mark. Dorie Harrison answered with a bucket of her own on the other end, but Davis countered with six quick points for UT, fueling an 8-0 UT run that put the Lady Vols up 10-2 with 6:14 left in the quarter. The Lady Bisons rallied back, cutting the deficit to four a minute and a half later, but Tennessee closed out the period with a 12-1 run, capped off by a Jordan Horston trey at the buzzer, to lead 26-11 heading into the second quarter.
Both teams fell into a bit of a scoring slump in the second frame with each squad managing just four points apiece over seven minutes of play, maintaining the 15-point spread until Tess Darby hit a 10-foot jumper with 2:22 left in the half and Emily Saunders followed it up with a bucket under the basket to stretch the lead to 34-15 with just over a minute remaining. Lipscomb scrapped back within four off a Casey Collier free throw and 3-pointer, but Davis hit two free throws in the final seconds to push the halftime score to 36-19.
The Lady Bisons opened up the second half with a 3-pointer by Taylor Clark, but Marta Suárez responded with a trey of her own on the next possession, spurring an 11-0 Tennessee run that put the Lady Vols up 47-22 by the 6:07 mark. Lipscomb responded with an 11-4 spurt of its own, pulling within 18 with 2:36 left in the quarter, but the Lady Vols closed out the period with six straight points to take a 60-36 lead into the final stanza.
Tennessee extended its run in the fourth, scoring nine unanswered points to stretch the run to 15-0 and build a 69-36 lead with 7:30 left to play. The Lady Bisons heated up from behind the arc in the closing minutes, pouring in 18 points to Tennessee’s eight and pulling within 25 points for a final score of 77-52.
Up Next: The Lady Vols begin SEC play on the road, traveling to Texas A&M for a 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET contest on Thursday. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Fast Start: The Lady Vols scored 26 first-quarter points, the highest they’ve totaled in a first quarter this season. Meanwhile, they held Lipscomb to just 19 first-half points, tying for the fewest first-half total by an opponent this season.
Davis Making Moves:Rennia Davis recorded her 32nd career double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds against Lipscomb, tying Tamika Catchings for sixth all-time in career double doubles at UT.
Dominating The Paint: The Lady Vols scored 46 points in the paint while holding the Lady Bisons to eight. Tennessee has now outscored all seven of its opponents in the paint by a margin of 326-112.
UT Defense Affecting Foes: Tennessee entered the game ranking 14th in the nation in field goal percentage defense at 31.7 percent. After limiting the Lady Bisons to 30.4 percent, the Lady Vols have held all seven opponents this year below 40 percent and six of seven to 32 percent or lower. During the Harper era, only eight of 38 opponents have reached 40 percent field goal shooting in a game.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The seventh-ranked Tennessee basketball team opens up conference play and leaves Knoxville for the first time this season when it travels to No. 12 Missouri for a Wednesday night bout. Tipoff from Mizzou 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 Jon 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, UT dominated USC Upstate, 80-60. Tennessee was led by junior Victor Bailey Jr. who poured in a season-high-tying 18 points on a career-high-tying eight made field goals. Bailey currently leads the Vols in scoring and his .500 (30-60) field goal percentage ranks ninth in the SEC heading into conference play.
A victory on Wednesday would give the Vols their third consecutive victory at Mizzou Arena and make UT 3-3 in SEC openers during the Rick Barnes era.
A victory would also leave coach Barnes just three wins shy of tying Phog Allen and Don Haskins for 20th on the all-time Division I wins list.
Up next, the Vols will return home for a Saturday showdown with Alabama. The opening tap from Thompson-Boling Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads its all-time series with Missouri 9-7, dating to 1961. The Tigers own a 5-3 advantage when the series is contested in Columbia.
• The Volunteers have won three straight games against Mizzou—their longest win streak of the series.
• Vols head coach Rick Barnes is 4-1 in head-to-head meetings against teams coached by Cuonzo Martin.
• Tennessee has never opened SEC play against Missouri.
A WIN WOULD…
• Give the Vols three straight victories at Mizzou Arena.
• Make the Vols 3-3 in SEC openers during the Barnes era.
• Leave Rick Barnes three wins shy of tying Phog Allen and Don Haskins for 20th on the all-time Division I wins list.
LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee has won 78 percent of its games as a ranked team during the Rick Barnes era (61-17).
• Tennessee leading scorer Victor Bailey Jr. is the son of a Mizzou gridiron great.
• Tennessee assistant coach Kim English was a 1,500-point scorer and an All-Big 12 performer during his collegiate playing career at Mizzou from 2008-12. The Tigers won 107 games during the NBA Draft pick’s career.
• Cuonzo Martin coached the Vols for three seasons from 2011-14.
• Tennessee’s starting lineup this season has featured five left-handers. A survey of all Division I SIDs yielded no other team that has started five southpaws this year.
• The Vols celebrated Christmas together on campus, as the athletics department assisted in bringing families to Knoxville.
DEFENSE WINS
• Tennessee is tied with Ole Miss for the NCAA lead in scoring defense, allowing just 52.7 points per game.
• According to KenPom, the Vols rank third nationally and first in the SEC in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing only 87.0 points per 100 possessions so far this season. College teams average close to 70 possessions per game.
• The Vols are forcing 17.7 turnovers per game while converting those turnovers into 19.7 points per game. Tennessee’s turnover margin stands at +7.5 (ninth nationally).
• Reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year Yves Pons has 80 blocks in his last 37 games.
• Only once this season has a team made at least five consecutive field goal attempts against the Vols (Cincinnati made five).
ABOUT MISSOURI
• Missouri is off to a perfect 6-0 start this season and ranked No. 12 in both major polls. The Tigers have claimed early-season victories over then-21st-ranked Oregon, 83-75, and then-sixth-ranked Illinois, 81-78. Mizzou’s most recent win was a tight, one-point home affair, as the Tigers took down Bradley, 54-53.
• Fourth-year head coach Cuonzo Martin has Missouri off to its best six-game start since his arrival in Columbia in 2017. Martin’s squad returns four of its five regular starters and its top seven scorers from last season, as Mizzou hopes to capitalize on its experience to push forward following back-to-back 15-win seasons.
• Thus far, junior Xavier Pinson has led the way for Missouri in the scoring category, averaging 14.3 points per game, with his two largest scoring outputs coming in those victories over Oregon (22 points) and Illinois (17 points). Pinson has also dished out a team-high 3.7 assists through six games.
• In the frontcourt, Jeremiah Tilmon has shined. The senior from East St. Louis, Illinois, ranks fourth on the team in scoring with 8.2 points per game, and his 7.8 rebounds per game not only leads Mizzou, but ranks eighth in the SEC.
• On the defensive end, Dru Smith has been extremely active, ranking second on the team in blocks (0.7 bpg) and first in steals (1.8 spg). His 1.8 steals per game also ranks sixth in the SEC heading into conference play.
• The University of Missouri offers more than 300 degree programs in 13 academic major divisions, but may be best known for its Missouri School of Journalism. The program was founded in 1908 by Walter Williams as the world’s first journalism school.
LAST MEETING WITH MISSOURI
• Six double-digit scorers, a career-high 11 points from junior Jalen Johnson and a gritty defensive effort led Tennessee past Missouri, 69-59, on Jan. 7, 2020, at Mizzou Arena.
• Johnson enjoyed his best performance of the season, scoring 11 points and knocking down a career-high three attempts from 3-point range.
• Jordan Bowden had a game-high 13 points and had four rebounds to cap several critical defensive stops.
• Junior John Fulkerson and Josiah-Jordan James each turned in quality nights, with both players scoring 11 points. James added a game-high-tying seven rebounds, while Fulkerson hauled in six.
• Freshman Santiago Vescovi, in his second appearance for the Vols, scored double-digit points for the second straight game, totaling 12 points, all in the second half, to help UT close out its first road victory of the season.
• Out of the break, 3-pointers from freshman James and junior Yves Pons increased the Tennessee lead to 38-28 less than two minutes into the second half.
• The Tigers responded with a 12-2 scoring run to knot the score at 40 apiece. During that five-minute stretch, Missouri forced two shot-clock violations to help hold UT scoreless for more than three minutes.
• Following the Tigers’ run, James knocked down two buckets in three possessions to match Missouri and keep the score even at 45-45 with 11:32 remaining.
• The back-and-forth action continued, with the teams trading baskets over the next five minutes. With the score tied at 53-53, Vescovi knocked down two clutch 3-pointers and made a layup on three straight possessions to give the Vols a 61-53 lead with just over four minutes remaining.
• In the game’s final moments, Tennessee used solid shooting from the foul line and some timely baskets to secure the victory.
VJ BAILEY HAS TIGER BLOODLINES
• Tennessee’s leading scorer, Victor Bailey Jr., is the son of one of the greatest football wide receivers ever to play at Mizzou.
• Victor Bailey (Sr.) was a star receiver for the Tigers from 1990-92 and finished his career as the school’s all-time receptions leader (128). His three-year Mizzou totals also included 2,116 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
• Bailey Sr. was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft, and he played three seasons for the Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
ENGLISH PART OF WINNINGEST CLASS IN MIZZOU PROGRAM HISTORY
• Vols assistant coach Kim English and two of his Missouri teammates were part of a program-record 107 collegiate wins during their careers as Tigers (2008-12).
• English was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 Big 12 Tournament after averaging 23.0 ppg.
MARTIN LED VOLS FOR THREE YEARS
• Fourth-year Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin was the head coach at Tennessee for three seasons from 2011-14.
• Martin led the Vols to a 63-41 (32-20 SEC) record and a memorable 2014 NCAA Tournament run that began in the First Four and ended in the Sweet Sixteen (one possession away from the program’s second all-time Elite Eight appearance).
• On April 15, 2014, it was announced that Martin had accepted the head coaching job at Cal, where he spent three seasons before transitioning to Mizzou.
MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST MISSOURI
• Knoxville native Rob Jones totaled 14 points, 11 rebounds, one assist and a team-high three blocks against the Tigers Dec. 10, 1984, in Columbia, but it wasn’t enough, as Missouri posted a 70-61 victory. Five Tigers scored in double figures in the win.
• Mizzou had no answer for the great Bernard King, as the legendary Vols forward recorded a double-double with 32 points and 18 rebounds in a 99-77 Tennessee triumph at the Big Sun Invitational on Dec. 21, 1974 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
• Two-time first-team All-SEC honoree Mike Edwards tallied a team-high 19 points against Missouri during a 67-57 loss to the 12th-ranked Tigers in the 1972 Volunteer Classic title game in Knoxville on Dec. 16, 1972.
ASTOUNDING OFFENSIVE BALANCE
• Only once this season has a Vol scored 20 or more points in a single game, as freshman Jaden Springer had 21 in the win over Tennessee Tech on Dec. 18.
• Tennessee has had six players score in double figures twice this season. And four different Vols have led the team in scoring.
• Four Vols are averaging 10+ points per game, with leading scorer Victor Bailey Jr. averaging 13.2 ppg.
• No Vol ranks among the top 20 scorers in the SEC.
• Tennessee ranks 39th nationally in assist percentage, assisting on 61.0 percent of their field goals.
Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes met with the media on Monday via Zoom to discuss the beginning of SEC play.
On going on the road for the first time this season to open conference play:
“It’s something I don’t think is ideal, which is why it was hard when we lost the game at Notre Dame and those neutral site games that would be different. This is not the way it usually is, it’s an unusual year as we all know. I’m sure it’s happened to some other teams, I don’t know because I haven’t looked around at everybody’s schedule nationally. It’s not the ideal thing we would have liked to had with the way our preseason went, but with that said, it is here and we have to be ready to go play against a very good Missouri basketball team.”
On changes to the traveling process this year for road games:
“We’ve talked about a lot of different things — a lot. In terms of did we want to turn it into traveling the day of the game or so many other scenarios with it, but we’re going to stick with what we have. Mary Carter (Eggert), Chad (Newman) and Garrett (Medenwald) have talked to people at hotels in terms of how we would like for things to be set up when we come in and eat our meals, our meeting rooms and all those type of things. Restriction wise, we’ve never really put a lot of restrictions on our guys, we think they know exactly what they’re supposed to do, they know what our standard is and they know what we expect in terms of how they conduct themselves. We have full confidence in them doing what we expect them to do, because one, when we get in, we’re pretty much out within 24 hours and it’s very much organized. They know what’s expected of their preparation, whether we’re playing here or on the road.”
On his evaluation of Missouri:
“They’re really good defensively, they’re a heavy gap team that does a great job of swarming in and wanting to break the ball loose and get out in transition. They’re playing at a much faster pace than they have probably since we’ve gone up against them with Cuonzo being there with them. So they’re different, but I think they’re a very well-coached team on both sides, I think they both know exactly how they want to play and who they want to play through. They know who they are, and they play to that.”
On the balance of inside and outside scoring so far this season:
“We really haven’t changed our attack from a year ago at the end of the year. We’ve always tried to be an inside-out team, and that’s not just throwing the ball in, it’s dribbling the ball in and all kinds of way to try to get it there. We do like those inside-out threes when they’re rhythm, step-in shots. We think we have guys that can make those shots. We also think we have guys that can drive the ball and create some offense. But most of our sets here are inside-out and that’s what we do and will continue to do.”
On where he feels like this team is heading into conference play compared with where he wants them to be:
“Well it’s not a normal year, so no one has been able to play their full allotment of games. Even with that said, no one this year has been allowed to play the number of non-league games that we’ve played in the past, so I’m not sure anybody could think that they’re where they want to be or where they should be, just because we haven’t played as many games and don’t have as much variety of teams that you’ve played against or you can seen in a normal non-league schedule. Whether we are or aren’t, we better be ready because we’re getting ready to play games that anybody on our schedule any given night could beat us, and we know that. So we better understand the importance of getting better right now. I think I would tell you that all the way up until the last game of the year because I think you can get better every time you go out and I hope we have the mindset that we’re not anywhere near what we can be. The question is, can we become who we want to be? It’ll be a commitment by everyone every day trying to improve.”
On what things he would like to see the team improve on entering SEC play:
“The key would be the C-word. Consistency. That’s with everyone. I don’t think we’ve had one guy that’s been absolutely consistent. I would say our most consistent player has been Josiah (Jordan James). Overall, him and Santi(ago Vescovi) are two guys who have been fairly consistent, but the other guys haven’t been as consistent as I know they have to be and what I think they will become. We also need to continue to take care of the ball at a high rate percentage wise and rebound the ball. If we do that—and try to keep playing good, solid defense.”
On if experienced teams will benefit early on in league play:
“It’s definitely a factor. When you think about it, as I’ve said before that when you stop and start, you would believe that the older guys can come back in a day or so. You feel like they should have it under control, but with the younger guys, like we’ve had this year with the shortened offseason and the stops in the normal academic year, those guys have taken much longer to get back to it. Their retention has not been what you want it to be. Their physical conditioning has not been what it ought to be when we’ve had to take those stops. So, there’s no question that the teams that are older and more experienced will not be hurt nearly as much as a younger group would be, because of the stoppages. The older guys know what you want and it doesn’t take as long to get back into it. The younger guys still don’t know what you want and it takes them a whole lot longer to get back into it.”
On if they’ve had discussions walking through how the road trip will go:
“With the exception of a couple of guys, these guys have been on the road. They know that we have a routine and our routine doesn’t change, whether we’re here or on the road. Our preparation doesn’t change. We prepare for Missouri in the same way we would prepare for Appalachian State, Tennessee Tech or Saint Joe’s. So, our guys know exactly what we expect. They know exactly how we go about our meetings. The difference is that we’re going to bus to an airport, get on a plane, fly there, get off, go to a hotel and do what we normally do. Whether we’re here or there, we try to keep a very regimented type of schedule.”
On how he would rate the freshmen and their ability to take a scout and execute it in the game:
“I would say overall they’ve been good, but I will also say that most of the breakdowns we’ve experienced this year have come from the younger guys. They understand that it’s a different game. They’re learning that the college game is different from what they’ve played in the past. They’re understanding how quickly you can get burnt if you don’t execute the game plan. They’re learning that a lot of guys don’t need much space and simply guarding a 3-point shooter. Instead of being outside the line, having a foot being inside the line. One foot makes all the difference in the world and not having your hands up ready to play. I think they’ve had to learn that, but with that being said it’s a constant reminder for our older players. Some days they have it and some days they don’t. I got to watch the end of the Kansas City Chiefs game yesterday and Patrick Mahomes said he didn’t play well. You would think the pros would play well every day, but they don’t. Sometimes you don’t have it as much as you want to have it. One thing that’s for certain is these guys want to do the right things, there’s no doubt about it. But, there’s a lot going on. The speed of the game. Coaches make adjustments. Players make adjustments and make reads. It’s a constant battle to stay alert, stay ready and communicate. The biggest thing would probably be communication especially in our ball screen coverage where we’re talking early and loud so guys can get to where they need to go.”
On what he wants to see from the players after coming back from break:
“They are excited about playing and they want to play basketball right now. We said it before the season started with practice, even though we didn’t practice as much as we normally would in terms of time, there is no doubt right now they are ready to get in the groove of playing and they know now if things go the way we hope they go, we will be playing two games a week and we will be in a routine. But there’s no doubt these guys are looking forward to playing and more importantly, they still understand that we have room for improvement.”
On what Josiah-Jordan James has done so far this season that he really likes and what he has done to improve from last year in his opinion:
“He has started to develop the game he needs and feels comfortable with. He’s improved more as a shooter and his decisions have been more consistent. He’s rebounding on both ends, and even his voice—he probably has a good of voice as there is on the team, because again you can have a voice when you have earned the respect of your teammates and with the work that he puts in every day, it is obvious his teammates respect him. But, he has been consistent in being able to take care of the scouting report and rebound the ball as well as do all of the things we ask him to do.”
On if he got to watch any of his former players on Christmas day during break, especially Kevin Durant after missing all of last year:
“I didn’t get to watch much on Christmas Day really at all, but I’m not surprised with Kevin coming back like that because he has a tremendous love and passion for the game. The last time I spoke to him, I asked him how he felt when they were still in the bubble, and he said ‘I am ready to go’ and we talked about how hard he had been working at it, which he doesn’t have to talk about that because I know how hard he works at it, but anything he does I am not surprised because of his tremendous respect for the game, and his respect for his ability and willingness to maximize what the good lord has given him.”
On how much he thinks Missouri having Tillman in their lineup has helped them so far this season:
“I think it helps a lot and If I’m not mistaken last year when we went up there it was the first game he missed and I don’t believe he missed one prior to that. So, they were learning obviously to play without him, but he’s a talent and they have done a nice job getting him to understand he’s gotten better and that’s a compliment to himself and his coaches.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee (5-1) closes out the pre-conference portion of the 2020-21 schedule with a Monday night home contest vs. in-state opponent Lipscomb University (3-2).
The Lady Vols and Lady Bisons will meet at 7:02 p.m. ET in Thompson-Boling Arena.
The contest features a battle between two players who had the privilege of playing for Pat Summitt at the University of Tennessee. Kellie (Jolly) Harper, of course, was a point guard who played at UT from 1995-99 and guided the Lady Vols to NCAA titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Second-year Lipscomb head coach Lauren (Avant) Sumski, meanwhile, spent one year as a Lady Vol (2010-11) guard before finishing her playing career at Rhodes College in her hometown of Memphis. Another former Lady Vol guard, Ariel Massengale (2011-15), is one of Sumski’s assistant coaches and serves as recruiting coordinator.
Both teams are coming off the holiday break, with UT (won vs. UNCG) and LU (lost vs. MTSU) last playing on Dec. 20.
Tennessee is 4-0 at home this season. Combined with a 2-0 record at T-BA at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, the Lady Vols are looking to claim their seventh straight contest on The Summitt and record their longest home win streak of the Harper era.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Monday night’s game will be streamed live by SECN+ with Bob Kesling (PxP) and VFL Steve Hamer (analyst) on the call.
SECN+ games are online broadcasts and are available only on WatchESPN via computers, smartphones and tablets.
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.
HOME SWEET HOME
This is the 34th season that the Tennessee women’s and men’s basketball teams have called Thompson-Boling Arena their home, and the Lady Vols own an incredible 469-48 mark (.907) in the venue.
The Lady Vols have built a combined 622-72 (.896) home record in contests played at Thompson-Boling Arena, Stokely Athletics Center and Alumni Gym.
Kellie Harper is 17-3 overall and 6-2 in SEC play in games played on The Summitt.
TENNESSEE VS. IN-STATE PROGRAMS
The Tennessee women now are 250-61-1 all-time vs. four-year college teams from the Volunteer State.
The Lady Vols are 1-0 in 2020-21, with a win over ETSU and games on the schedule vs. Lipscomb and Vanderbilt (twice) still to be played.
UT was 4-0 vs. teams from the state of Tennessee in 2019-20, beating ETSU, Tennessee State and Vanderbilt (home and away).
QUICK GLANCE AT THE LADY VOLS
UT is led in scoring by junior guard/forward Rae Burrell, who is putting up 17.7 ppg. and shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 46.4 percent on threes and 82.6 percent from the free-throw line. She averaged 10.5 ppg. and shot 41, 33 and 60 percent, respectively, a year ago in those categories.
A year ago after six games, Burrell had not yet started and was averaging 9.3 ppg.
Senior Rennia Davis, who is on all of the preseason awards watch lists (Wade, Wooden, Naismith, Cheryl Miller) and a projected All-SEC First Team pick by the coaches and players, is second in scoring (11.2 ppg.) and is first on the team in boards at 7.7 rpg.
Davis, who averaged 18.0 ppg. and 8.2 rpg. as a junior last season, had tough luck shooting and found herself in foul trouble in two of UT’s first four contests. A breakout game of 19 points and 15 rebounds vs. Indiana on Dec. 17, however, demonstrated that Davis has gotten her mojo back.
Sophomore Jordan Horston, an SEC All-Freshman performer a year ago is third on the team in scoring at 8.5 ppg. and is first in assists average (3.8) and tops in steals average (2.2). She has started the past two games after coming off the bench the first four.
The trio of Burrell, Davis and Horston has been described as Tennessee’s “three-headed monster” because of the abilities those three possess.
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 (7.0) and is fourth in scoring at 7.0 ppg. as well.
suárez has been a reliable rebounder, grabbing at least six caroms in every game.
Tennessee has 12 active players averaging better than 12 minutes of duty per game and 11 posting at least 3.0 points per contest.
Eight different players have scored in double figures thus far, led by Burrell doing so in five of six games.
UT is enjoying its most offensive productivity in the second quarter with 120 points (20.0) and is at its best defensively in the fourth frame, allowing 65 points (10.8).
Nine different Lady Vols have hit at least one three-pointer this season. The last season Tennessee had nine different players hit a trey was in 2011-12.
Tamari Key continues to own a gaudy field goal percentage, shooting 76.5 percent in five games, and is a disrupting force on the defensive end, averaging 2.0 blocks per contest and altering or discouraging many others.
RECAPPING UT’S LAST GAME
The Lady Vols picked up their fourth home win of the season on Dec. 20, toppling UNCG in Thompson-Boling Arena, 66-40.
Tennessee (5-1) was led by senior Kasiyahna Kushkituah, who finished with a season-high 13 points and four rebounds. Scoring and minutes were evenly spread amongst the Lady Vols with all 11 active players contributing at least two points to the victory and seven contributing five or more points.
Every UT player saw at least 13 minutes of playing time, with the reserves netting valuable experience with the SEC schedule approaching.
UNCG (1-7) was led by Tori Powell who logged 16 points and four rebounds. Lily Izundu and Excellanxt Greer each pitched in six points
WHAT’S NEXT
Tennessee has embarked on a week that includes three games, including two ranked teams, in seven days.
After welcoming Lipscomb, the Lady Vols will open SEC action at No. 9/9 Texas A&M on Thursday (6 p.m. CT/7 ET, ESPNU) and host No. 13/12 Kentucky on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Lipscomb, meanwhile, returns home to play host to Campbellsville-Harrodsburg at 4 p.m. CT on Tuesday before beginning Atlantic Sun Conference action with back-to-back games at Liberty on Saturday and Sunday. That makes four games this week for the Lady Bisons.
ABOUT LIPSCOMB
Lipscomb is led by head coach Lauren Sumski, who signed to play for Pat Summitt at Tennessee. Sumski, whose maiden name was Avant, played the 2010-11 season for the Big Orange before transferring to Rhodes College in her hometown of Memphis.
Like UT’s Kellie Harper is assisted by her husband, Jon, Sumski is aided by her spouse, Chris.
Sumski is 45-46 in her fourth year overall and is 10-25 during her second season of a rebuilding process at Lipscomb.
The Lady Bisons are led by Taylor Clark and Sydney Sheldon, who average 13.8 and 10.4 points per game, respectively.
Third-leading scorer Jalyn Holcomb (8.5 ppg.) was the ASUN Freshman of the Year in 2019-20.
UT-LIPSCOMB SERIES HISTORY
Tennessee is 2-0 all-time in games vs. Lipscomb University, including 1-0 at home and 1-0 on the road.
This will mark the first time Kellie Harper has faced Lipscomb as a head coach. She never faced the Lady Bisons as a player either.
In addition to former Lady Vol Lauren (Avant) Sumski serving as head coach of the Lady Bisons, there are three others with UT connections on the Lipscomb roster and staff.
Lipscomb assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Ariel Massengale played at Tennessee from 2011 to 2015 and is in her second season at the Nashville school. Massengale was a graduate assistant at Ole Miss for two seasons before joining Sumski’s staff.
LU sophomore guard Casey Collier is one of four daughters of LVFL Shelley (Sexton) Collier, the point guard on UT’s first national championship team in 1987. Shelley Sexton played in 112 games for Pat Summitt and averaged 8.5 ppg. from 1983-87. Casey’s older sister, Katie, played at MTSU.
Lady Bisons redshirt junior Dorie Harrison is the sister of LVFL Isabelle Harrison, a two-time All-America honorable mention selection at center for Tennessee from 2011-15 and a current member of the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. Dorie was at Kentucky before transferring to Lipscomb.
The Lady Vols are 12-0 all-time vs. current members of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
UT’s most recent meetings with a current member of the ASUN came in 2018 and 2019, as the Lady Vols defeated Stetson, 65-55, and 73-46, respectively.
RECAPPING THE LADY BISONS’ LAST GAME
The Lipscomb women’s basketball team closed out a busy stretch of action with an 84-64 loss at Middle Tennessee. The game was the Lady Bisons’ third in four days and fourth of the week.
Sydney Shelton paced Lipscomb with 15 points, the most she has scored in the Purple and Gold. Jalyn Holcomb added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Taylor Clark notched 12 points and five rebounds.
The Lady Bisons made just six of their 32 three-point attempts. Three of the six were from Shelton.
Lipscomb went 14 of 18 from the free-throw line, led by Holcomb and Clark’s 4-for-4 marks.
Lipscomb lost the rebounding battle by just one, 45-44. Kailey Rosenbaum grabbed six, while Jane Deason pulled down five.
THE LAST TIME UT AND LU MET
Tennessee’s 26-0 early first-half run kick-started an 85-51 romp over Lipscomb at Allen Arena in Nashville on Dec. 7, 2014.
Three Lady Vols finished in double figures on the afternoon, led by 16 points each from seniors Cierra Burdick and Isabelle Harrison. True freshman Alexa Middleton chipped in 12 points.
Burdick, who posted her second consecutive double-double with a team-high 10 rebounds, did her damage on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and 8-of-9 accuracy from the stripe. As a team, UT was 20-of-25 from the free-throw line — good for an even 80 percent — on its way to its first road victory of the season.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Another balanced offensive effort and timely stops on the defensive end pushed the eighth-ranked Tennessee basketball team past USC Upstate, 80-60, on Wednesday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Vols (6-0)—off to their best start since the 2010-11 squad opened the year 7-0—were powered by a balanced offensive effort during which every player who saw action scored, withstanding Upstate’s (0-8) efficient 9-of-18 shooting performance from 3-point range.
Junior Victor Bailey Jr. led Tennessee in scoring for the second consecutive game, pouring in 18 points, while knocking down a career-high-tying eight field goals.
On the boards, sophomore Josiah-Jordan James led the way with a game-high eight rebounds. James scored 11 points while shooting an efficient 3-of-5 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. He also added five assists and nabbed a career-high-tying three steals.
Classmate Santiago Vescovi scored nine points and dished off a career-high-tying eight assists.
John Fulkerson was the third Vol to reach double-figures, scoring 10 points and knocking down all six of his attempts from the foul line.
Sophomore Olivier Nkamhoua was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field Wednesday, while recording nine points, an assist, one steal and a block in 13 minutes of action off the bench.
The contest’s opening 12 minutes were defined by both squads holding firm on the defensive end. But the Vols shot a stellar .714 from the field while assisting on 9-of-10 field goals to take a 23-15 lead at the under-eight media break of the first half.
The programs exchanged punches over the final eight minutes of the period, with UT holding on to its advantage, edging the Spartans, 33-26, at the halftime horn.
The start of the second half saw much of the same action, with the sides trading blows and the Vols maintaining a 10-point lead at the under-12 media timeout.
Through the game’s final stages, Tennessee clamped down on defense and took advantage of a number of transition buckets, stretching its lead to as many as 22 before walking away with the 20-point victory.
You’ve Been Blocked: The Vols finished the night with seven blocks, marking the fourth consecutive game UT has tallied at least five team blocks. The Orange & White have rejected 30 shots this season, an average of five per game.
Up Next: Tennessee will take a week-long break before opening SEC play on the road against Missouri on Dec. 30. Tipoff from Columbia is set for 9 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee guard/forward Rennia Davis has been named SEC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week by both the Southeastern Conference office as well as College Sports Madness.
Davis broke out of an early-season shooting slump in a big way, scoring a season-high 19 points and pulling down a career-best 15 rebounds as the Lady Vols took down preseason Big Ten favorite #15/15 Indiana in Bloomington, 66-58, last week.
The 6-foot-2 senior from Jacksonville, Fla., scored 10 of UT’s 14 points in the fourth quarter to propel UT to its biggest win of the Kellie Harper era and help the Lady Vols overcome the loss of starting center Keyen Green, who went down two days before the Indiana game with a season-ending leg injury. Davis had a 5-of-6 shooting effort in the final frame and finished nine of 16 for the game for 56.3 percent.
Combined with a nine-point, six-rebound effort in only 15 minutes vs. UNCG on Sunday in a game devoted to providing maximum playing time to reserves, Davis averaged a double-double of 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds last week. She added 2.5 assists per contest and shot 59.1 percent from the field, including 66.7 percent from the three-point arc.
Davis also was instrumental in a Tennessee defensive effort that limited opponents to an average of 49.0 points as well as 30.1 percent (37 of 123) field-goal shooting and 17.5 percent (10 of 57) futility from the three-point arc last week.
The double-double vs. Indiana was her second of the season and 31st of her career, tying her for seventh all-time at Tennessee with Isabelle Harrison. Davis’ next double-double will tie her with 2021 Naismith Memorial and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Tamika Catchings at 32.
Davis and the Lady Vols (5-1) return to action on Dec. 28, as in-state foe Lipscomb University comes to Thompson-Boling Arena for a 7 p.m. contest. The game will be streamed on SECN+.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 8 Tennessee basketball suits up for its final contest before the start of SEC action, with a Wednesday night matchup with USC Upstate. Tipoff from Thompson-Boling Arena is slated for 5 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. Courtney Lyle and Daymeon Fishback 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, UT rolled past Saint Joseph’s, 102-66, marking just the fourth time in program history the Vols have scored 100-plus points in back-to-back games. The Orange & White were led by six double-digit scorers for the second consecutive game and a punishing 45-27 advantage on the boards.
A victory on Wednesday would give UT a perfect 26-0 record against current members of the Big South Conference and would leave head coach Rick Barnes just four wins shy of tying Phog Allen and Don Haskins for 20th on the all-time Division I wins list.
Up next, Tennessee opens up SEC play and takes its first road trip of its 2020-21 campaign when it travels west to take on Missouri in Columbia on Dec. 30. Tipoff from Mizzou Arena is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
THE SERIES
• Tennessee won its only previous meeting with USC Upstate, beating the Spartans 74-65 in Knoxville on Nov. 16, 2013.
• The Volunteers are a perfect 25-0 all-time against current members of the Big South Conference.
• Vols head coach Rick Barnes also has an unblemished career record against current Big South teams (21-0).
• Barnes and USC Upstate coach Dave Dickerson are both members of the Gary Williams coaching tree. Barnes was an assistant under Williams at Ohio State during the 1986-87 season. Dickerson was on Williams’ Maryland staff from 1996-2005. The Terrapins won the National Championship in 2002.
A WIN WOULD…
• Leave Rick Barnes four wins shy of tying Phog Allen and Don Haskins for 20th on the all-time Division I wins list.
LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee has won 78 percent of its games as a ranked team during the Rick Barnes era (60-17).
• Wednesday completes a nine-day span during which the Vols played four games.
• Seniors John Fulkerson and Yves Pons were both named to the Wooden Award preseason top-50 watch list. Pons also earned a spot on the preseason watch list for the Naismith Trophy College Player of the Year.
• Tennessee’s starting lineup this season has featured five left-handers. A survey of all Division I SIDs yielded no other teams that have started five southpaws this season.
• Undefeated Tennessee has been extremely balanced offensively this season. Only once thus far has a Vol scored more than 20 points, as reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Jaden Springer had 21 off the bench in the Dec. 18 win over Tennessee Tech.
DEFENSE WINS
• Tennessee leads the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing just 51.2 points per game.
• According to KenPom, the Vols rank third nationally and first in the SEC in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing only 86.4 points per 100 possessions so far this season. College teams average close to 70 possessions per game.
• The Vols are forcing 18.2 turnovers per game while converting those turnovers into 20.2 points per game. Tennessee’s turnover margin stands at +8.4 (seventh nationally).
• Reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year Yves Pons has 78 blocks in his last 36 games.
• Making three straight field goals against this Tennessee team has been a mighty task so far this season. No UT opponent has strung together more than five consecutive makes. See Page 3.
ABOUT USC UPSTATE
• Last season, USC Upstate was a youth-filled team featuring seven sophomores and seven freshmen. This season, second-year head coach Dave Dickerson returns all five starters from last year’s squad with things looking up for the future of the program.
• Through seven games, the Spartans still have yet to claim a win, holding an 0-7 overall record and an 0-2 mark in the Big South heading into Wednesday’s matchup with the Vols.
• Despite an 0-7 start to the year, sophomore Tommy Bruner has seen an impressive opening to his second year in Spartanburg. Through six games played, he’s averaging 14.5 points and an eye-popping 5.2 assists per contest, while also being a thorn on the defensive end with 1.7 steals per night.
• Classmate Khydarius Smith has played himself into a starting role. Through seven games, the Fort Mill, South Carolina, native is averaging 6.6 points per game and leads the team in both rebounds (4.7 rpg) and blocks (1.6 bpg). He rejected a career-high four shot attempts in the Spartans’ contest with Georgia Southern earlier this month.
• Upstate has also seen consistent production from one of the team’s seasoned veterans, junior Bryson Mozone. Mozone ranks second on the team in scoring (12.9 ppg), third in rebounding (3.9 rpg) and fourth in both assists (0.9 apg) and steals (0.6 spg).
• USC Upstate is a publicly funded university in the University of South Carolina system, founded in 1967. The school was originally founded as the University of South Carolina Spartanburg, before changing its name to USC Upstate in 2004.
LAST MEETING WITH USC UPSTATE
• The Vols won their 22nd consecutive home-opener, downing USC Upstate, 74-65, in front of 15,119 at Thompson-Boling Arena on Nov. 16, 2013.
• Tennessee committed just five turnovers in the win, marking its fewest in a game since February of 1992.
• The Vols overcame a 13-point deficit, thanks, in part, to a 15-2 run in the second half.
• Starting Tennessee forwards Jeronne Maymon (15 pts, 11 rebs) and Jarnell Stokes (17 pts, 18 rebs) each had a double-double for the first time as UT teammates.
• Grad transfer point guard Antonio Barton scored 13 points for the Vols, and Jordan McRae added 18.
• USC Upstate was led by Torrey Craig’s 20 points, while Knoxville native Ty Greene scored 15.
• That win set the tone for a season for a memorable Tennessee campaign that resulted in 24 victories and a Sweet Sixteen berth under head coach Cuonzo Martin—now the coach of Tennessee’s next opponent, Missouri.
KEON A DEFENSIVE JUGGERNAUT
• Five-star freshman guard Keon Johnson is performing like one of the best defenders in the nation early in his career as a Vol.
• He leads UT in steals (9), charges drawn (4) and floor burns/diving efforts (3). He also has four blocks.
• From The Rebound’s Rob Dauster: At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, he can guard anyone from point guards to wings. He’s incredible on the ball, having shown the ability to just eat up an opposing team’s best player multiple times already despite the season being so young. He can flip his hips and beat a driver to a spot. He can jump passing lanes. He never gets screened. He never seems to get tired.”
BAILEY HUNGRY TO CONTRIBUTE
• After transferring from Oregon in the summer of 2019, guard Victor Bailey Jr. sat out last season and now has two years of eligibility remaining.
• Bailey started each of the Vols’ first five games and is tied as the team’s leading scorer with 12.2 points per game. His 45 field-goal attempts are second-most on the team, trailing only John Fulkerson (48).
• Bailey played in 73 games in his two years at Oregon, including eight starts, and averaged 7.0 points in 17.9 minutes per game. As a sophomore in 2018-19, he scored in double figures 13 times and dropped a season-high 20 points on UCLA.
• Residents of Austin, Texas, the Bailey family is very familiar with Rick Barnes. Bailey’s mother, 1996 Olympic bronze medalist Tonja Buford-Bailey, was an assistant track coach at the University of Texas while Barnes was leading the Longhorns’ hoops program.
• Bailey Jr.’s father, Victor Bailey Sr., was a second-round NFL Draft pick out of Missouri in 1993 (wide receiver).
Following two consecutive lights-out shooting performances and his most complete game of the season in Tennessee’s victory over Tennessee Tech, freshman guard Jaden Springer has been named SEC Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday.
In UT’s wins over Appalachian State and Tennessee Tech last week, Springer averaged 16.5 points per game while shooting an impressive 14-of-18 (.778) from the field.
On Tuesday against App State, Springer scored 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting in just 22 minutes of action off the bench.
He followed that performance with a season-high 21-point outing Friday against the Golden Eagles, knocking down eight of his 10 attempts from the field, pulling in a season-high six rebounds and dishing out a season- and game-high six assists.
Springer finished both contests with no turnovers, upping his assist/turnover ratio to 2.33 on the year—an incredible mark for a true freshman with a high usage rate in his first action at the collegiate level.
Through four games, Springer—a Freshman All-America candidate—is averaging 12.5 points per game, while shooting a highly efficient .655 from the field (19-29) and .800 from 3-point range (4-5).
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native is the first Tennessee player to claim an SEC Freshman of the Week honor since current Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams did so on Feb. 13, 2017.
Tennessee players have now garnered 16 SEC weekly awards during the tenure of sixth-year head coach Rick Barnes.
Springer and the eighth-ranked Vols return to action Monday for a home bout with Saint Joseph’s at 6 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
