Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. spoke to the media in the postgame after the Vols lost at home to the Florida Gators 31-19.
WATCH: Jones Jr. “Execution. I feel like that’s where we’re lacking, but it’s not effort at all.”
WATCH: Gray on Bailey “Did a great job today. Short reps that he got this week.”
Tennessee running back Eric Gray spoke to the media in the postgame after the Vols lost at home to the Florida Gators 31-19.
WATCH: Pruitt after 31-19 loss to UF “There’s probably not much difference in the team in this locker room and the team in the other locker room”
Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt held his postgame press conference after the Florida game at Neyland Stadium.
Basketball Vols to Host Colorado Tuesday
As the popular saying goes: The sixth time is the charm.
After five game cancellations over the last two weeks, the 13th-ranked Tennessee basketball team now aims to open its season Tuesday, welcoming Colorado for a 6 p.m. ET tipoff at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Tennessee is 2-0 all-time against Colorado, picking up wins in Knoxville and Boulder in 1980 and 1981, respectively. Vols head coach Rick Barnes is 13-4 as a head coach against CU.
The Vols are 19-11 all-time against current members of the Pac 12. Tennessee’s most recent action against a Pac 12 opponent resulted in a 75-62 win over 20th-ranked Washington at last season’s James Naismith Classic in Toronto.
The Buffaloes will be the first Pac 12 opponent to visit Thompson-Boling Arena since Southern Cal in December 2010.
Colorado opened this season with a home victory over South Dakota before improving to 2-0 with a road win at Kansas State. Buffs head coach Tad Boyle was Tennessee’s director of basketball operations under head coach Jerry Green during the 1997-98 season.
Second-year Tennessee assistant coach Kim English was an assistant at Colorado before coming to Rocky Top and helped recruit multiple players on the current CU roster.
Tennessee ticket holders will receive pertinent ticket and gameday information via email. Fans should note that the Colorado game is taking place one day earlier than the canceled game against UT Martin that it is replacing (Tuesday instead of Wednesday).
-UT Athletics
Jimmy’s blog: Vols not quite up to task of stopping Trask
By Jimmy Hyams
Tennessee wasn’t up to the task against Kyle Trask and the Florida Gators, but at least the Vols showed some fight in the second half and provided enough silver linings to put in a playbook.
Trask registered some gaudy numbers: 35 of 49 for 433 yards and four touchdowns, giving him a nation’s-best 38 on the season.
If there is such a thing as a quiet 433, Trask provided it Saturday as the 6th-ranked Gators (8-1) turned back Tennessee (2-6) 31-19 to record a 15th win in 16 tries against the Vols (or Vowels, if you listen to the TV commentators).
Tennessee has now lost six games in a row for the first time since 1988.
Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt sounded encouraged (if you listened closely) by the 12-point defeat.
“There’s probably not as much difference in the team in this locker room and the other locker room, except obviously the record,’’ Pruitt said.
Pruitt said his team needs to discern how much difference there is in the two teams and “let’s figure out how we can get’’ to Florida’s level.
Pruitt was particularly proud of the way UT hung tough in the second half, outscoring Florida 12-7 in the fourth quarter and marching 94 and 96 yards for touchdowns.
“We don’t have an effort problem,’’ Pruitt said. “We don’t have a toughness problem. We have an execution problem.’’
Pruitt lamented the many times UT was playing inside man-to-man pass coverage, only to let Gator receivers maneuver inside and make first-down catches.
After losing by 23 to Georgia and 31 to Alabama, Pruitt was asked if there was a different feeling after this defeat because the closer margin.
“No,’’ Pruitt said. “I came to this stadium to win the game. Thats’ the only goal. … No — that’s the answer.’’
As expected, Tennessee started true freshman Harrison Bailey at quarterback, then went with JT Shrout in the fourth quarterback.
Pruitt said Jarrett Guarantano didn’t play because he had not practiced in 13 days. Guarantano was among about 16 Vols who missed at least a week of work due to contact tracing or having COVID-19.
SEC athletic directors voted Thursday to adopt CDC guidelines which limited isolation to 7 to 10 days, rather than 14. Pruitt said that cleared only three Vols to play.
Pruitt said several Vols who were limited in practice wanted to play despite missing time. But that could have been to their detriment.
“If you don’t shoot any free throws or shoot the ball for a couple of weeks,’’ Pruitt said. “It’s hard to make them in a game. When you don’t guard for a couple of weeks, it’s hard to guard No. 84 (Pitts).’’
It’s hard to guard No. 84 regardless.
“To me, he’s really hard to guard when he’s at wide receiver,’’ Pruitt said. “He’s got wiggle like a wide receiver, but he weighs 240 pounds. He’s a tough cover.’’
Bailey did a respectable job in his first career start, completing 14 of 21 passes for 111 yards and one touchdown.
After UT failed to score on its first four possessions of the second half, Pruitt turned to Shrout, who injured his right labrum at practice Wednesday, but said the soreness in his throwing arm didn’t impact his play.
Shrout directed the two late scoring drives and hit 12 of 14 passes for 121 yards and a score.
Pruitt said he felt both quarterbacks did a “pretty good job,’’ but he bristled a bit when asked about the quarterback competition going forward.
“Every week, so you never have to ask me this again, we’ll see who competes in practice,’’ Pruitt said. “And whoever does the best job and affects the players around him (will start).’’
In addition to the long scoring drives, the Vols did a terrific job of shutting down Florida’s run game, holding the Gators to 19 yards on 17 rushes (although two were sacks).
“I didn’t realize they ran the ball, to be honest,’’ Pruitt said with tongue in cheek.
Tennessee also held Florida without points after the Gators took possession on the UT 30-, 47- and 43-yard lines.
Pruitt sounded like a coach who thinks his team is close to playing at high level if it can eliminate mistakes.
“This game was similar to a lot of games we’ve played,’’ Pruitt said. “About 90 percent of the plays are winning football, maybe top tier in this league.
“But unfortunately you’ve got to count all the plays.’’
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
WATCH: Eric Cain & Vince Ferrara UT/UF Final Thoughts
99.1 The Sports Animal hosts Vince Ferrara and Eric Cain filed this final on-site preview of Florida at Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.
Week 11 SEC football score predictions; Vols back at Neyland for first time in 42 days vs. hated Gators
By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports
Each week, I share my predictions and info on SEC football games.
Below is broadcast info and analysis for Week 11 in the SEC.
These are straight-up winners only. The point spread is just as a barometer for how big of a favorite or underdog each team is.
Last week was my 4th straight undefeated week of predictions. I’ve predicted 23 straight SEC winners correctly. The last missed pick was the Auburn win over LSU on Halloween.
I’m 6-1 in predicting the Vols this season. My one miss was the shocking Kentucky home blowout loss for UT.
2020 SEC Week 10 Game Prediction Record: 6-0 (100%)
2020 SEC Season Prediction Record: 46-9 (85%)
2019 SEC Game Prediction Record: 103-20 (84%)
SEC WEEK 11 – RARE DECEMBER SCHEDULE OPENS IN SEC
SATURDAY, December 5
Arkansas (3-5, 3-5 SEC) at Missouri (4-3, 4-3 SEC)
12 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621)
Series: MIZ leads, 8-3
Last: MIZ, 24-14 (2019 in Fayetteville)
Sirius: 137 • XM: 380/190
Point Spread: Missouri -3
Vince’s View: I’ve been leaning on going with a Razorbacks upset win on the road, but Mizzou has won four straight in the series and Tigers QB Connor Bazelak has been so solid (no INTs at home, 70% completion on the season) that I have to go Missouri’s way. Arkansas RB Rakeem Boyd opting out hurts the weapons available for Feleipe Franks, who’s had a solid season as well (68% completion) as the veteran Arkansas QB. Even though the schedule hasn’t played out as tough as looked entering the season for Mizzou, but what this team has done is impressive.
Score Prediction: Missouri 27 Arkansas 26
#5 Texas A&M (6-1, 6-1 SEC) at Auburn (5-3, 5-3 SEC)
12 p.m. ET • ESPN
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
Series: Tied, 5-5
Last: AU, 28-20 (2019 in College Station)
Sirius: 106/98 • XM: 191/192
Point Spread: Texas A&M -5 ½
Vince’s View: The Aggies offense left something to be desired against LSU last week. Kellen Mond’s inconsistency is why I don’t trust the Aggies as the biggest SEC playoff threat after Alabama. I think that’s Florida. The Aggies are best when they run the ball with talented tailback Isaiah Spiller. Auburn has had big issues stopping the run. The Tigers tend to be sleepy in Noon games as well.
Score Prediction: Texas A&M 31 Auburn 17
#6 Florida (7-1, 7-1 SEC) at Tennessee (2-5, 2-5 SEC)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (102,455)
Series: UF leads, 29-20
Last: UF, 34-3 (2019 in Gainesville)
Sirius: 81/106 • XM: 81/191
Point Spread: Florida -17 ½
Vince’s View: Florida is not perfect. Tennessee has not been void of positive moments. Those moments have been in the first half only the last 5 games as UT has been outscored 108-14 in the second half during this losing streak. However, it is hard to imagine UT keeping up with UF offensively. If Dan Mullen can keep adding points and pile up stats for Kyle Trask’s Heisman hopes, I’d expect he’d keep doing that.
Yes, Eric Gray has run the ball well the last two weeks for Tennessee, but the Vols can’t turn those yards into points. Tennessee has the league’s worst 3rd down conversion margin in the league, by far, at -18%. So, who slows down TE Kyle Pitts from Florida on that Vols defense that has coverage busts and can’t pressure the quarterback? UT also has a huge issue with opponents making in-game and halftime adjustments and UT having no counters. Plus, if UF jumps out big, UT will either have to abandon the run or they will just keep running to keep the margin of victory down and/or protect the quarterback.
Our Jimmy Hyams reported that Jarrett Guarantano was the Vols QB that was in quarantine last week and this week, but he is back and available. Will Pruitt start him with little to no practice time over the fans’ choice, true freshman QB Harrison Bailey? Even if it is Bailey, we don’t know what to expect from him, so it’s hard to think he’ll be spectacular and upset the #6 team in the country.
On top of all the matchup and personnel issues for the Vols in this matchup, are the ugly numbers under Jeremy Pruitt, especially in big rivalry games. The first two Pruitt vs. Mullen meetings were 47-21 and last season’s previous rock bottom under Pruitt in Gainesville 34-3. Pruitt is 0-8 vs. Florida, Georgia and Alabama. The average score against those big three rivals has been 43-15. 12 of Jeremy Pruitt’s 17 losses have been by 21 points or more. Oh, and beyond Pruitt, the Gators have won 14 of the last 15 games in the series. There are more less than stellar stats, but we’ll spare you.
Those that were excited for a December matchup with the Gators in Knoxville because of the cold or chance for snow that the warm weather rivals would have to deal with, are only getting cool temps and colder hopes of an upset.
Score Prediction: Florida 45 Tennessee 20
South Carolina (2-7, 2-7 SEC) at Kentucky (3-6, 3-6 SEC)
7:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
Series: SC leads, 18-12-1
Last: SC, 24-7 (2019 in Columbia)
Sirius: 137 • XM: 380/190
Point Spread: Kentucky -11 ½
Vince’s View: South Carolina has been decimated with a disappointing start, a coaching change, injuries and opt-outs. The Gamecocks have shown fight, but the team is undermanned. More was expected of Kentucky, but the offense, especially the passing game has been brutal. UK should South Carolina over a bunch and maybe even score on defense to pull away. Take the under with 46 ½, if you care about that stuff.
Score Prediction: Kentucky 24 South Carolina 10
#1 Alabama (8-0, 8-0 SEC) at LSU (3-4, 3-4 SEC)
8 p.m. ET • CBS
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (102,321)
Series: UA, 53-26-5
Last: LSU, 46-41 (2019 in Tuscaloosa)
Sirius: 84/81 XM: 84/81
Point Spread: Alabama -29 1/2
Vince’s View: There’s not much to say about this one once you look at LSU’s 121st ranked pass defense being tasked to try and stop one of the nation’s most prolific passing and overall offenses in the country. It’s staggering how much LSU has fallen off from last year’s national championship. LSU is almost 30 point home underdogs. Per VegasInsider, tha last time LSU was this big of a home dog was vs. FSU in 1991. Also, LSU is the biggest underdog by a defending national champion in the last 40 years.
Score Prediction: Alabama 52 LSU 17
Open: Ole Miss (4-4, 4-4 SEC); Mississippi State (2-6, 2-6 SEC) Vanderbilt (0-8, 0-8 SEC) #8 Georgia (6-2, 6-2 SEC)
The last two weekends of games are far from set even though the SEC has a plan. There’s a chance that the final two Tennessee games could be lost as well. With Vanderbilt having COVID-19 issues preventing them from playing at Georgia this week, that could extend into next week. The league also said that if Texas A&M had already clinched a spot in the SEC title game that the game would be canceled and considered a no-contest, since that game is on the same day as the SEC Championship. That would be the case for the rescheduled Vanderbilt/Georgia game December 19, if Georgia has clinched the East.
See the SEC’s full release, including the schedule the next two weeks below.
SEC ANNOUNCES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER 12 AND 19
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (December 4, 2020) – The Southeastern Conference has announced a schedule for football games to be played on December 12 and December 19 as a result of game postponements during the 2020 season due to the impact of COVID-19.
This rescheduling of games allows for the continued opportunity for all 14 SEC teams to each play ten games in the 2020 season. The revised schedule is contingent on the absence of additional postponements prior to December 12.
Prior to the 2020 season, December 12 was designated as an open date for all schools in order to reschedule postponements that developed during the season due to the impact of COVID-19. December 19 is the date of the SEC Football Championship Game to be played in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Teams that do not qualify for the championship game are eligible to play rescheduled games on December 19.
Schedule of SEC Football Games for December 12:
LSU at Florida (rescheduled from October 17)
Auburn at Mississippi State (rescheduled from November 14)
Georgia at Missouri (rescheduled from November 14)
Ole Miss at Texas A&M (rescheduled from November 21)
Tennessee at Vanderbilt (rescheduled from November 28)
Alabama at Arkansas (rescheduled from December 5)
Schedule of SEC Football games for December 19:
Texas A&M at Tennessee (rescheduled from November 14)*
Ole Miss at LSU (rescheduled from December 5)
Missouri at Mississippi State (rescheduled from December 5)
Vanderbilt at Georgia (rescheduled from December 5)#
SEC Football Championship, Atlanta, 8 pm ET/7 pm CT
*Should Texas A&M qualify for the SEC Championship Game on December 19, the Texas A&M at Tennessee game would be declared a no-contest and Texas A&M would represent the Western Division in the SEC title game.
#Should Georgia qualify for the SEC Championship Game on December 19, the Vanderbilt at Georgia game would be declared a no-contest and Georgia would represent the Eastern Division in the SEC title game.
The SEC’s COVID-19 management requirements, as developed by the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force, are available on SECsports.com. (full report).
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Find more of my broadcasting work at VinceSports.net.
PHOTO GALLERY: Tennessee Basketball Practice
Here are some images, courtesy of UT Athletics and released today, of recent UT men’s basketball practices. You can click on any image and click through to see all of them. Go to our Photo Galleries under the Vols tab to see all our football and basketball galleries.
Vols Basketball Preseason Practice
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 04, 2020 - Guard/Forward Yves Pons #35 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 04, 2020 - Guard Keon Johnson #45 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 04, 2020 - Guard Jaden Springer #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 04, 2020 - Forward E.J. Anosike #55 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 04, 2020 - Guard Victor Bailey Jr. #12 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
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- KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 04, 2020 - Guard Santiago Vescovi #25 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Hoops Preview: Lady Vols at West Virginia
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — #RV/RV Tennessee (2-0) hits the road for the first time during the 2020-21 campaign, as the Lady Vols make their way to Morgantown to face the West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0) in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday at 14,000-seat WVU Coliseum.
The venue will be eerily quiet, however, as WVU, state and local officials are prohibiting spectators from attending indoor athletic events for the entire month of December due to recent spikes in positive cases of COVID-19. Only essential game operations personnel and families of players and staff will be admitted.
UT opened the campaign with back-to-back home victories over Western Kentucky (87-47) on Nov. 28 and ETSU (67-50) on Dec. 2. WVU, meanwhile, went 3-0 by defeating Fresno State (83-62) and LSU (62-42) at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout in Las Vegas on Nov. 27-28 before returning home to take care of North Alabama, 80-51, on Thursday evening.
This is Tennessee’s first trip to Morgantown since the Lady Vols claimed a 74-58 victory over West Virginia there on Jan. 4, 1986.
It also marks UT’s first travel to the state of West Virginia since it met WVU in Charleston on Nov. 21, 2007. Tennessee won that meeting, 67-49, in a game scheduled as a homecoming for South Charleston High School grad and Lady Vol Alexis Hornbuckle.
This meeting will provide a return home for UT sophomore Emily Saunders, who hails from Mullens, W. Va., and starred at Wyoming East High School.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
- Sunday’s game will be live streamed by Big 12 Now/ESPN+ with Lanny Frattare (PxP), Meg Bulger (Analyst) and Angelica Trinone (sideline) on the call.
- Bulger had seven points and seven rebounds the last time these teams played in 2007.
- 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.
A QUICK GLANCE AT THE LADY VOLS
- UT enters game three with 11 players averaging better than 12 minutes of duty per game, thanks to a pair of comfortable wins over Western Kentucky and ETSU.
- Senior Rennia Davis is on all the preseason watch lists and a projected All-SEC First Team pick by the coaches and players, but it has been junior Rae Burrell who has put up big numbers in the first two games.
- Burrell has paced UT in scoring in both contests, hitting for 18 vs. Western Kentucky and 20 vs. ETSU to carry a 19.0 ppg. average into Sunday’s game. She is hitting 50 percent from the field.
- Davis is second in scoring (12.5 ppg.) and leads UT in rebounding at 7.5 rpg. She is connecting on 53 percent of her field goal attempts.
- Three newcomers have held down starting spots the first two games: freshman Marta Suárez and graduate transfers Jordan Walker and Keyen Green.
- UT is surrendering only 48.5 points per game and allowing opponents to shoot only 28.8 percent from the field. Those rank 15th and 17th nationally.
- Tennessee is out-rebounding foes 50.0 to 31.5 for a margin of +18.5. that margin is 11th in the NCAA.
- The Lady Vols are averaging 14.5 steals per game thus far after putting up only 5.5 a year ago, ranking No. 8 nationally.
UT ADDS GAME VS. FURMAN ON DEC. 10
- UT announced on Friday that it is adding a home game vs. Furman at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 10.
- The game will be streamed live on SECN+.
LAST TIME WE PLAYED
- The Lady Vols held off a scrappy ETSU team on Tuesday night, taking a 67-50 victory at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.
- Tennessee (2-0) was led in scoring by Rae Burrell, who finished with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Rennia Davis and Jordan Horston were also in double figures with 15 and 12, respectively.
- Jakhyia Davis was the high scorer for the Buccaneers (1-1), finishing with 11 points and six rebounds.
ABOUT WVU
- The Mountaineers returned four starters and seven letterwinners from last season’s squad that went 17-12 overall and 7-11 in league play to finish sixth in the Big 12 Conference.
- Kysre Gondrezick, a 5-foot-9 redshirt senior guard leads WVU, averaging 21.7 ppg and hitting 59 percent from three-point range (9-16).
- Sophomore Esmery Martinez puts up a double-double average of 12.0 ppg. and 15.3 rpg.
- Kirsten Deans, a 5-8 sophomore guard is the third Mountaineer in double figures at 10.7 ppg. She shoots 90 percent from the free throw line.
- WVU is led by head coach Mike Carey, who is in his 20th season at the helm in Morgantown and 33rd year as a head coach. He is 413-217 leading the Mountaineers and 701-319 overall.
- Associate head coach Bett Shelby spent the 2001-02 season at Tennessee as a manager for the basketball program.
RECAPPING THE MOUNTAINEERS’ LAST GAME
- Led by a double-double from sophomore forward Esmery Martinez, West Virginia began its home slate with an 80-51 victory over North Alabama, on Thursday night in Morgantown.
- With her second double-double of the season, Martinez posted 17 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to become the first Mountaineer to record 15-plus points and 20-plus rebounds in a game since Donna Abbott did so against Rhode Island on Feb. 15, 1992.
- Redshirt senior guard Kysre Gondrezick paced WVU’s scoring efforts with 20 points, while junior guard Madisen Smith also dished out eight assists in the contest.
THE LAST TIME UT AND WVU MET
- The Lady Vols and Mountaineers last met on Nov. 21, 2007, playing in West Virginia at the Charleston Civic Center as a homecoming game for UT’s Alexis Hornbuckle, a graduate of South Charleston High School.
- Candace Parker was sensational that evening, posting a 29-point, 13-rebound double-double on 11-of-19 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 accuracy from the free throw line. She also added three blocks, an assist and a steal.
- Hornbuckle was UT’s second-leading scorer and rebounder, tallying 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals vs. WVU.
UT/WVU SERIES HISTORY
- Tennessee leads the all-time series with the Mountaineers, 6-0.
- UT is 3-0 at home in the series and 3-0 in the state of West Virginia in those match-ups.
- The Big Orange are 9-0 vs. all schools from W. Va., standing 3-0 vs. Marshall in three meetings taking place in Knoxville.
- There have been four players from the Mountain State on UT’s roster through the years: Mary Ostrowski (Parkersburg) from 1980-84, Amy Gamble (Glendale) in 1983-84, Alexis Hornbuckle (Charleston) from 2004-08 and Emily Saunders (Mullens) from 2019-present.
- The Lady Vols won in Parkerburg in a Mary Ostrowski homecoming game in 1983, in Morgantown in 1986 and in Charleston in an Alexis Hornbuckle homecoming game in 2007.
- This season marks a return home for Saunders, who played at Wyoming East High School in New Richmond. Saunders led Wyoming East to three Class AA state championship game appearances, winning a title in 2016 and finishing second in 2018 and 2019.
- The last time these teams met, on Nov. 21, 2007, Tennessee was ranked No. 1 and WVU was rated No. 15/17. The Lady Vols prevailed, 67-49, and went on to win the 2008 NCAA Championship in Tampa that season.
- Like the last meeting between these programs, both teams enter this game undefeated. Both schools entered 3-0 back in 2007, while this season sees WVU come in at 3-0 and UT at 2-0.
- UT’s record against schools currently in the Big 12 Conference stands at 58-23.
- The Lady Vols are in the midst of a scheduled two-game run of Big 12 opponents. They’ll play at Texas next Sunday at 4 CT/5 ET in a contest slated for ESPN.
-UT Athletics
Transcript: Kellie Harper West Virginia game preview avail
Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper met with members of the media on Zoom on Friday to talk about the Lady Vols’ upcoming game vs. West Virginia.
#RV/RV Tennessee (2-0) and the Mountaineers (3-0) meet on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET at WVU Coliseum. The game will be live streamed on Big 12 Now/ESPN+ (fee may be required).
Head Coach Kellie Harper
On how much better Jordan Horston is when she lets the game come to her:
“She’s really talented. I think she’s talented when she’s free, when she can play and she’s not stressing or pressing. I felt like she’s had some really good practices and then we get to that first game and I thought she was really tied up. That was my message to her. I wanted her to just let loose and play – not worry so much about the outcomes. And do so with a big smile on her face. I did add that. I thought that was important too. I thought she looked much more comfortable, much more relaxed. Again, the same thing, I thought she had a good practice on Tuesday. It was a complete carry over. That’s been a message in the past. We’ll just keep reiterating it and try to give her ways that she can feel confident and comfortable on the court.”
On what stands out about West Virginia on film:
“First off, you start with their transition offense. They are very athletic and aggressive. They get a lot of opportunities in their transition. If you’re not quick and you’re not alert getting back, you’re going to give up a lot of easy buckets. They’re going to go get them. The other thing that stands out to me with them is that they can really shoot the 3 and they can really get to the basket. I think their athleticism really lends itself to getting some penetration, drives and getting themselves to the free throw line. They shoot a lot of free throws, but you can’t just back up because they can knock down the open shot. This is a pretty well-balanced offense and an aggressive offensive attack. That is going to be a huge focus for us today. They keep that aggressiveness at the defensive end as well. They’re pretty physical and athletic. We’re going to see the pressure. We’re going to see them denying and getting out in the passing lanes. That’s going to be an area where we have to take care of the basketball.”
On how odd the atmosphere at games has been due to reduced capacities as a result of COVID-19 protocols:
“The atmosphere at home is very different. We’re used to a big crowd here. The background noise is usually louder. We’re used to having a little bit more emotion with our fans. We make a good play and we start feeling (the energy) from our fans. On the road, that doesn’t always happen. On the road, it’s sometimes low attendance, low energy crowds. For our returners, it won’t be completely new to see a low attendance game. I do think you have to, in those games, build your own energy and work together to get that emotion and that energy going. That will definitely be the case on Sunday.”
On what three things the team needs to do to get a win at West Virginia on Sunday:
“Transition defense, taking care of the basketball and doing a good job on the boards on each end. That will help us get up more shots than them, and I think that’s important.
-UT Athletics
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