No. 3 Kansas Ripped for Lackluster Performance in Upset Loss vs. No. 22 Tennessee
Nov 26, 2022
In a photo provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Kansas' Joseph Yesufu shoots against Tennessee during an NCAA college basketball game in the Battle 4 Atlantis at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
The No. 22 Tennessee Volunteers are Battle 4 Atlantis champions after upsetting the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks 64-50 on Friday night.
It was a tough loss for the Jayhawks, who struggled to get anything going offensively all night. Junior forward Jalen Wilson and junior guard Joseph Yesufu led Kansas with 14 points each, but the production was minimal beyond those two.
Freshman guard Gradey Dick, who entered Friday's game averaging 16.8 points, finished with just seven points. Senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr., who was averaging 10.2 points, finished with seven points.
It was an all-around disappointing performance by Kansas, which dropped to 6-1 on the season with the loss. College basketball fans on Twitter ripped the reigning national champions following the defeat:
Vols carved up the Jayhawks like Thanksgiving turkeys. That was enough to make me vomit up what I ate for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday! TENN 64, KAN 50, Final #TENNvsKAN#kubball#Battle4Atlantis
The Jayhawks looked awful tonight. Probably some of the worst basketball I’ve seen out of them. But there’s not wrong with a little adversity. They’ll bounce back
While it was a disappointing loss for the Jayhawks, there's still plenty of season left and no reason to panic just yet.
Kansas will be back in action on Monday against Texas Southern.
Duke, UConn Headline 2022 Jimmy V Men's and Women's Classic Field
Jul 14, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 03: Paige Bueckers #5 of the UConn Huskies handles the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the championship game of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center on April 3, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
The Duke Blue Devils men's squad and Connecticut Huskies women's team will headline the 2022 Jimmy V Classic in December.
Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, the Blue Devils will play Iowa, and Texas will square off against Illinois in the men's doubleheader at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 6.
The women's games will feature the Huskies taking on Notre Dame at the Joyce Center and Tennessee hosting Virginia Tech on Dec. 4.
The UConn-Notre Dame contest is a clash between two of the best women's programs in the nation.
ESPN's Charlie Creme had both teams ranked in the top 10 in his early top-25 list, which dropped in May. The Huskies came in at No. 2, behind defending national champion South Carolina.
Connecticut is bringing back Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Aaliyah Edwards and Dorka Juhasz.
Fighting Irish head coach Niele Ivey has had to replace a lot of talent from the 2021-22 squad. Sam Brunelle, Anaya Peoples, Abby Prohaska and Maya Dodson are all gone, though incoming transfers Lauren Ebo, Kylee Watson and Jenna Brown do help offset those losses.
Creme had Notre Dame ranked seventh in his top 25 coming off a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA tournament last season.
The Lady Volunteers came in just ahead of Notre Dame at No. 6 in Creme's ranking. Head coach Kellie Harper had her best season with the program in 2021-22 with a 25-9 record and a trip to the Sweet 16.
The Blue Devils figure to receive significant attention this season, especially early in the year. Jon Scheyer is taking over as head coach after Mike Krzyzewski retired at the end of last season.
Based on recruiting, there's no indication the Blue Devils will suffer without Coach K. They had the best recruiting class in the nation with seven commits, including four 5-stars, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
The class is headlined by three of the top four overall recruits, including top-ranked Dereck Lively II.
Iowa has won at least 20 games in each of the past four seasons under head coach Fran McCaffery.
Texas and Illinois are also coming off 20-win seasons in 2021-22. Both teams lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Jimmy V Classic was established in 1995 to raise money and awareness for cancer research. It's named after former college basketball head coach Jim Valvano, who died from complications from cancer in April 1993.
The UConn women's team has 10 wins in the Jimmy V Classic, most all-time among men's or women's programs.
5-Star SF Julian Phillips Commits to Tennessee After Decommitting from LSU
May 12, 2022
Link Academy's Julian Phillips #5 drives to the Basketball against Prolific Prep during a high school basketball game at the Hoophall Classic, Monday, January 17, 2022, in Springfield, MA. Link won the game. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Julian Phillips, a 5-star recruit who previously committed to play his college basketball at LSU before decommitting, committed to Tennessee on Thursday.
Per 247Sports' composite rankings, Phillips is one of the top prospects in the class of 2022, ranking 12th overall and fourth among small forwards.
Phillips committed to LSU in October and officially signed in November, but he had a change of heart March 18 after the Tigers made a head coaching change.
According to Joe Tipton of On3.com, Phillips released a statement on the matter, saying:
I would first like to say thank you to Coach [Will] Wade and the staff for giving me the opportunity to play at Louisiana State University. Thank you also to the fans and everyone along the way who gave their endless support. But due to the recent changes within the staff, I have been granted my release from the university and will be reopening my recruitment. I look forward to the journey of finding a new home.
LSU fired Wade on March 12 after the NCAA gave the school a notice of allegations that included five Level I violations.
Phillips, a 6'8" forward who starred at Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, was joined by 4-star recruit Devin Ree as LSU commits who reopened their recruiting.
With Phillips going back on the market, there was plenty of speculation regarding which schools would have a shot at him. USC, Florida State and Tennessee stood out as distinct possibilities since they were all previously finalists along with LSU, per Tipton.
Phillips has also received scholarship offers from Clemson, Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio State, Texas Tech and UCLA, among others, per 247Sports.
Jerry Meyer, the director of basketball scouting for 247Sports, called Phillips "long, lanky and athletic" and compared him to former University of Florida and NBA forward Corey Brewer.
Meyer sees Phillips eventually being a first-round pick in the NBA draft, and given his immense talent, he should make an instant impact with the Volunteers, one of the LSU's chief SEC rivals in Tennessee.
Under head coach Rick Barnes, the Volunteers have become perennial contenders, reaching the NCAA tournament each of the past four times it has been held and winning the SEC tournament in 2022.
With Phillips entering the fray, Tennessee should continue to be one of the SEC's top teams and possibly be in the mix for a national title.
Rick Barnes, Tennessee Agree to Contract Extension Through 2026-27 Season
Mar 24, 2022
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes watches the second half of a college basketball game against Michigan in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tennessee and men's basketball coach Rick Barnes agreed to a contract extension that will keep the 67-year-old with the program through at least the 2026-27 season.
"Rick has built an incredible culture within our men's basketball program that has spread throughout Vol Nation," director of athletics Danny White said in a statement. "I've had a blast watching the best fanbase in the country embrace this team and create the most electric environment in college basketball. Coach Barnes' leadership is steady, and his players exude high character. They take pride in representing our university and the state of Tennessee with class and an unrivaled competitive drive.
"Having played and coached the game, basketball has a special place in my heart. To that end, I can't overstate how fortunate we are to have Rick Barnes leading our program. I am unbelievably excited about our bright future as we chase future championships on the hardwood."
Barnes just finished his seventh season in Knoxville, leading the Volunteers to a 27-8 record and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. While the team fell short in a second-round loss to Michigan, Barnes has led the program to the tournament in four of the last five seasons (there was no postseason in 2020 because of COVID-19).
Before his arrival at Tennessee, Barnes spent 17 seasons leading the University of Texas. He led the Longhorns to 16 NCAA tournaments but was again defined by a lack of March success, making only one Final Four despite regularly having some of the best talent in the country.
Tennessee has become an increasingly strong recruiting power the past two seasons, ranking fifth in both 2020 and 2021 in 247Sports' composite rankings. The program had two first-round draft picks in 2021, Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer, and Kennedy Chandler projects as a first-rounder if he declares this season.
Adding major talent to the roster has made Tennessee a player in the SEC during the regular season, but expectations are going to continue rising for March if Barnes keeps landing top recruits.
No. 11 Michigan Upsets No. 3 Tennessee to Advance to Men's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Mar 20, 2022
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 19: Eli Brooks #55 of the Michigan Wolverines drives past Uros Plavsic #33 of the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 19, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The Michigan Wolverines' difficult regular-season schedule continues to pay off in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament, as they are moving on to the Sweet 16 after a 76-68victory over the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday.
Michigan's 14 losses during the regular season were the most by any team coming into the tournament.
Expectations were high for the Wolverines coming into the year when they were ranked No. 6 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll, but things never materialized because of injuries and poor performances.
Tennessee had been riding high coming into this matchup with 13 wins in its last 14 games dating back to Feb. 1. Its 32-point win over Longwood in the round of 64 was the program's biggest tournament victory since 2007 (121-86 over Long Beach State).
This contest was a tense back-and-forth affair that never looked like it was going in favor of either side.
Tennessee opened up a six-point lead late in the first half, but Michigan closed on a 15-4 run to go into the intermission with a five-point advantage. The Vols didn't trail in the second half until Eli Brooks' layup-and-1 with 3:21 remaining put the Wolverines up 65-62.
That moment proved to be critical, as the Wolverines closed the game on a 22-8 run to secure the win.
Tennessee made just two field goals in the final three minutes. Brooks, Hunter Dickinson and Moussa Diabate combined to make all six free-throw attempts they had in the final 37 seconds to prevent the Vols from being able to tie the score or take the lead.
Dickinson and Brooks were unstoppable for the Wolverines. They combined for 50 points on 17-of-27 shooting. Kennedy Chandler led the way for Tennessee with 19 points and nine assists in the loss.
Through the first two rounds, Dickinson has a strong argument as the best player in the tournament. The 7'1" sophomore scored 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting on Thursday in a 75-63 win over Colorado State.
Dickinson followed that up with his 10th double-double of the season against Tennessee. He's about as close to a sure thing in the paint as there is in college basketball right now.
With Dickinson taking care of business in the paint, Brooks was keeping up the pressure on Tennessee's defense away from the basket. The senior had his third 20-point game of the season.
How about Eli Brooks? Everyone on Michigan talks all the time about Brooks being the team’s heart and soul.
When it looked like Tennessee was going to take control, Brooks stepped up. The Vols opened up a 60-54 lead with 8:27 remaining. Brooks made back-to-back layups to get the deficit down to two.
In the final minute, after a Santiago Vescovi layup got Tennessee back within two points, Brooks made a hook shot to extend the lead to 72-68. The Vols didn't score again, sending Michigan into the Sweet 16.
This is the formula Michigan has to rely on for success. Dickinson and Brooks have been the team's best players all season. The No. 3 spot has been a revolving door. DeVante' Jones was the third-leading scorer during the regular season, but he only had two points and attempted three shots against Tennessee.
Diabate stepped up as the third option today with 13 points, six rebounds and three blocks. He only had 11 points in the previous two games combined.
As long as Dickinson and Brooks are playing up to their potential, the Wolverines are good enough to compete with anyone in the country.
Vols Collapse Down the Stretch in Loss
Chandler and Josiah-Jordan James put on a strong two-man performance that looked for much of the second half like it was going to be enough to lead their team to a win. They combined for nine of Tennessee's 11 points during an 11-4 run midway through the second half.
Chandler, in particular, did everything in his power to keep Tennessee going after the Wolverines came out of the gate strong. He gave the Vols their first lead of the game midway through the first half.
This has not changed. This Michigan game is basically going to be Kennedy Chandler’s NBA Draft tape to send to teams. Has completely and utterly taken over and is dictating the game. https://t.co/0ePH6aLrN9
While Chandler was doing a great job finishing at the basket, the defense was taking advantage of opportunities to keep the game close. They had sevensteals and forced Michigan to commit 15 turnovers.
It was in the final three minutes in the second half when everything fell apart. After Chandler's jumper put the Vols up 65-64 with 3:07 remaining, they went 2-of-8 from the field and missed their only free-throw attempt.
Another glaring issue in the loss was three-point shooting. Tennessee made just two of its 18 attempts from behind the arc, with both of its makes coming in the first half.
It's a disappointing way for the Vols to end a season in which they won 27 games, fourth-most in program history. Head coach Rick Barnes has built an outstanding foundation for long-term success at Tennessee, but this loss will sting because of the opportunities the team was unable to take advantage of.
What's Next?
Michigan will play the winner of Sunday's Ohio State-Villanova matchup in the Sweet 16 on March 24.
Tennessee Beats Texas A&M to Win 1st Men's SEC Tournament Championship Since 1979
Mar 13, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 13: Josiah-Jordan James #30 of the Tennessee Volunteers shoots in the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies in the Championship game of the SEC Men's Tournament at Amalie Arena on March 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Texas A&M had made quite the march through the SEC tournament. Tennessee had seen enough.
The No. 9 Volunteers ended any hopes the Aggies had of guaranteeing an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament, beating them 65-50 in the SEC tournament championship game Sunday.
It was Tennessee's first SEC tournament championship since 1979, and it'll head into the NCAA tournament as a legitimate title contender.
It was a stout defensive effort from Tennessee, which held Texas A&M to a woeful 31.4 percent shooting from the field while registering eight steals and forcing 12 turnovers. Tennessee also held Texas A&M to its lowest scoring output of the 2021-22 season.
That ended the Aggies' seven-game winning streak, which included triumphs over Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn. The Aggies were a bubble team before the SEC tournament, and they certainly helped their case.
Whether they did enough to punch their ticket to the Big Dance, however, remains to be seen.
Key Stats
Santiago Vescovi, TEN: 17 points, five assists
Kennedy Chandler, TEN: 14 points, seven assists
Josiah-Jordan James, TEN: 16 points, 10 rebounds
Quenton Jackson, TAM: Nine points
Tyrece Radford, TAM: 13 points, six rebounds
Henry Coleman III, TAM: 12 points, seven rebounds
The Chandler-Vescovi Duo Carried Tennessee Yet Again
All season long, Tennessee's offense ran through Chandler and Vescovi. So why would Sunday be any different?
Ben Howland said he’d be shocked if any SEC coach left Santiago Vescovi off of their All-SEC first team ballot.
If you pay attention to him during games, you see exactly why that’s the case. Just a pure basketball player who does a bit of everything, much like JoJo James.
When your leading offensive duo combines to shoot an efficient 9-of-18 from the field and chips in with 12 combined assists, good things are going to follow.
Add in a nice game from James, and most teams in the country would have had a tough time dealing with Tennessee on Sunday.
Jackson Went Cold for Texas A&M
During Texas A&M's seven-game winning streak Quenton Jackson was generally excellent, averaging 19.9 points and 3.1 steals per game. The Aggies moved him into the starting lineup down the stretch, and he thrived in the role.
But he has been prone to running a bit hot and cold throughout the season, and Sunday he veered toward cold, shooting just 3-of-9 from the field.
Still, the senior was a major reason Texas A&M got to the championship game in the first place. He just seemed to run out of steam against a tough Tennessee side.
What's Next?
Tennessee will await its seeding for the NCAA tournament, perhaps having done enough to earn a No. 2 seed.
I had Tennessee at No. 6 — i.e., as the second No. 2 seed -- in this morning’s Top 25 And 1. If the Vols win this game, they’ll have a resume featuring 11 Q1 wins and zero losses outside of Q1. That should definitely be worth a No. 2 seed, perhaps worth the best No. 2 seed. https://t.co/YQ40G8SHP5
Texas A&M, meanwhile, will be hoping it did enough to earn a berth.
Tennessee Raises over $235K for Zakai Zeigler After Family Home Destroyed by Fire
Mar 3, 2022
COLUMBIA, MO - FEBRUARY 22: Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) brings the ball up court in the second half of an SEC game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Missouri Tigers on Feb 22, 2022 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Tennessee Volunteers officially approved and promoted a GoFundMe fundraiser for freshman guard Zakai Zeigler after a fire destroyed his Queens home in New York City, according to Grant Ramey of 247Sports.com.
Just hours into the fundraiser, over $235,000 had already been raised for Zeigler's family.
"We have been absolutely blown away by the outpouring of support and generosity!" Zeigler wrote on the GoFundMe page. "Any contributions above and beyond our final losses/expenses will be donated to charity. Thank you to everyone who has given."
"Our administration did a terrific job," Tennessee men's basketball head coach Rick Barnes added on Tuesday night. "Once they got the news they jumped on it and got after it. Been doing what they have to do to get things in order so that we can help."
Rick Barnes on Tennessee Fans' 'Overrated' Chants: 'Don’t Demean What We Just Did'
Feb 27, 2022
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes yells to his players during an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
The better the opponent, the better the victory looks to the NCAA men's basketball tournament selection committee.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes understands that and wants his team's fans to as well.
"Wherever I have been, when fans start doing that, I am like, 'Stop,'" Barnes said while explaining why he signaled for fans to stop chanting "overrated" during the closing moments of Saturday's 67-62 win over No. 3 Auburn, per Mike Wilson of the Knoxville News Sentinel. "Give us credit. Don't demean what we just did. We just beat an outstanding basketball team."
He continued: "You just had a great, quality win against a team that first of all is not (overrated). Your fans are acting like you beat nobody. Well, we did. We just beat a top-five team."
The win was part of a wild day in college basketball when No. 23 Saint Mary's defeated No. 1 Gonzaga, Colorado beat No. 2 Arizona, Michigan State won against No. 4 Purdue, No. 10 Baylor toppled No. 5 Kansas, No. 18 Arkansas outlasted No. 6 Kentucky and TCU handled No. 9 Texas Tech.
Santiago Vescovi led the way for the Volunteers with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal.
They are now 7-1 in their last eight as they continue to play their way up the seed line with Selection Sunday approaching.
Tennessee guard Kennedy Chandler (1) runs a play against Arkansas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
The penultimate Saturday of regular-season action in college basketball turned into a day of upsets across the country.
No. 3 Auburn suffered its fourth loss of the season with a 67-62defeat at the hands of No. 17 Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Jabari Smith didn't have an efficient scoring day with 27 points on 9-of-21 shooting (3-of-9 behind the arc) from the field.
Four Tennessee players scored in double figures, led by Santiago Vescovi's 14 points. He only went 3-of-9 from the field but made all six of his free-throw attempts.
The Vols only shot 32.8 percent in the game, but they had a 21-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. John Fulkerson had six of those boards off the bench.
Head coach Bruce Pearl's team is limping to the finish line after being one of the best teams in the nation for most of the year. The Tigers have lost two of their last three games, including a 63-62 defeat against Florida on Feb. 19.
Saturday's loss leaves the door open for the SEC regular-season title. Auburn still leads the pack with a 13-3 record in conference games, but Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas are all tied for second at 12-4.
The Volunteers are 2-1 against those three teams, with all three games coming in the past 11 days. They beat Kentucky on Feb. 15, lost at Arkansas on Feb. 19 and now hold a win over Auburn.
Each of Auburn's four losses this season have come on the road or at a neutral site.
The Vols outscored Auburn 42-31 in the second half after trailing by six points at halftime.
After Smith made two free throws to put the Tigers ahead 41-39 with 12:21 remaining, Tennessee took the lead for good on Kennedy Chandler's layup two minutes later.
Tennessee did lead by as many as 10 points with 2:48 left in regulation, but Auburn went on a 9-2 run that cut the deficit to 63-60. Smith's four-point play was the exclamation point on that drive to put pressure back on the Vols.
Chandler responded on Tennessee's ensuing possession to get the lead back to 65-60. Wendell Green Jr.'s missed three-pointer for the Tigers, followed by Vescovi making two free throws, sealed the win.
Auburn is one of three teams ranked in the Top 10 of the current Associated Press Top 25 poll that lost Saturday afternoon. Unranked Michigan State upset No. 4 Purdue 68-65. No. 6 Kentucky lost 75-73 to No. 18 Arkansas.
Since a 107-79 loss to Kentucky on Jan. 15 that dropped its record to 11-5, Tennessee has won 10 of its last 12 games.
Auburn is just 3-3 in its past six games after winning 22 of its first 23 games to start the season.
The Vols will wrap up the regular season at Georgia on Tuesday before hosting No. 18 Arkansas on March 5. Auburn plays at Mississippi State on Wednesday and returns home to take on South Carolina on March 5.
No. 4 Kentucky Upset by No. 16 Tennessee Behind Santiago Vescovi's 18 Points
Feb 16, 2022
Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) shoots a layup past Kentucky guard Sahvir Wheelerand guard Kellan Grady (31) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
The No. 4 Kentucky men's basketball team suffered a 76-63 upset loss to No. 16 Tennessee on Tuesday. The Wildcats fell to 21-5 and 10-3 in the SEC after their six-game win streak came to an end.
The Volunteers earned their fifth straight victory to improve to 19-6 and 10-3 against conference opponents. They haven't lost to Kentucky twice in the same season since 2012.
Tennessee was led by junior guard Santiago Vescovi's 18 points. Kennedy Chandler added 17 points and six assists, while John Fulkerson and Zakai Zeigler scored 14 points apiece off the bench.
It was a combination of strong defense and efficient shooting that did the job for the Volunteers. Tennessee jumped out to a 46-32 lead at halftime and never looked back. When the Wildcats cut the lead to eight in the second half, Tennessee went on a 15-3 run to push its advantage to 20 and put the game away.
The Volunteers shot 47.1 percent from beyond the arc and played a clean game with just eight turnovers, a sharp improvement from their first meeting earlier this season. Meanwhile, Kentucky was held to 34.3 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from three-point range. The Wildcats also had a hard time taking care of the ball, posting 14 turnovers against 11 assists.
Thought two of the biggest keys tonight for Tennessee had to be turnovers and transition defense. 20 turnovers in first meeting; six tonight. Transition defense has been so much better, too. Kentucky consistently beat Tennessee down the floor last month; hasn’t happened tonight.
Oscar Tshiebwe led Kentucky with 13 points and 15 rebounds but shot 5-of-15 from the field. Jacob Toppin and Davion Mintz were the only other players on the team to score in double figures at 11 points apiece.
The Volunteers will go for another win against a ranked opponent when they travel to take on No. 23 Arkansas in a road matchup Saturday. The Wildcats will look to bounce back that same day at home against No. 25 Alabama.
