History

Never thought it would happen, but this was the year for it I guess.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Tennessee's title defense ended sooner than expected, wrapping up the worst season ever for Pat Summitt's vaunted program.

Ball State stunned the two-time defending national champions 71-55 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday night, snapping one of the more remarkable streaks in college basketball history.(link)

They had been to every Sweet Sixteen since the tournament started. Had to end sooner or later and congrats to Ball State for a great game.

Tags: Tennessee, Ball State, women's basketball

UK at Tennessee

I can't believe that UK made it through the first half with only 7 turnovers. Turnovers have been the biggest problem with this team all year. When they protect the ball and make good passes, they are a really good team. It was a all Meeks in the first half. Draining threes and creating plays. UT made a good effort in the last few minutes of the half to pull within 4.

Just curious, does everyone on the Tennessee squad wear headbands?

Second half. Meeks continues to produce. Gets his season average within the first few minutes of the half. But cools off a bit down the stretch. Kentucky seems like they are fouling UT every other time they come down the floor. That gets Patterson and Stevenson into foul trouble with a lot of clock left. Kentucky coughes up another 8 turnovers this half. UT starts hitting some free throws and manages to bring it to a single digit lead. Then Meeks decided that he wasn't going to let that happen. Final score UK 90 UT 72

Holy crap! Jodie Meeks sets a University of Kentucky record from outside the arch with 10 made. Scores a total of 54 points. That's the most points ever scored by a UK player in a single game. But I have to say, Issell did it without the 3-point shot. That's gotta sting just a wee bit, Nazh. I would have preferred that he'd had this game against Louisville but I'll take it against UT. ;)

Honestly though, how do you beat a team when just one player scores over 54 points?

Kiffin deaux

As good as the UT defense was this year; I have a feeling it will only get better.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin will be joining his son Lane at Tennessee, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

NFL.com Video

Al Davis reads the letter he sent to Lane Kiffin.

One of the stumbling blocks that led to the demise of Lane Kiffin in Oakland with Al Davis was that Kiffin wanted to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and hire his father Monte of the Bucs -- the highest paid defensive coordinator in the NFL.

Tennessee has reached an agreement with Lane Kiffin to take over as the Volunteers' next coach, with an announcement planned for Monday, barring any snags, according to multiple sources.

Sources confirm to ESPN that his 68-year-old father plans to join his son after the Bucs' season.

Kiffin once introduced a more aggressive national recruiting plan to USC and he recruited ex-Vols great Peyton Manning, who was consulted by his alma mater and signed off on Tennessee's hiring of Kiffin, sources told ESPN.

Great news for Vol fans.

Tags: Kiffin, Tennessee, sports, college football, Lord Nazh

24

It's not just a TV show anymore. In a season that saw the head coach ousted and the offense put the word offensive back into the football lexicon; Tennessee found a way to take the Kentucky game for the 24^th time.

Holding Kentucky to less than 200 yards while racking up that many on the ground. The defense set the tone and continued to hold the line the entire game (with the exception of a 'trash' touchdown late).

Final score 28-10; but it wasn't that close. Sorry EMB :)

Tennessee

The men's bball team beat up on G-town today 90-78 and ESPN (and the AP) are reporting that Lane Kiffin will be the next football coach.

Tags: Tennessee, Lane Kiffin

Tenn vs UTC

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tyler Smith had 21 points and five assists and No. 14 Tennessee defeated Chattanooga 114-75 on Saturday night.

Chattanooga's only lead came off two free throws by Khalil Hartwell to put the Mocs up 8-7 with 16:22 left in the first half.J.P. Prince, who was questionable for the game because of an injured shoulder, came off the bench to help ignite the Vols with a breakaway layup that gave Tennessee a 9-8 lead. The Vols went on a 12-0 run, helped by five points from Bobby Maze.Tennessee (1-0) entered halftime with a 60-37 lead.Tennessee freshman Scotty Hopson scored 17 points. Wayne Chism had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.Tennessee scored 35 points off 24 turnovers by the Mocs (0-1). The Vols outrebounded the Mocs 42-30 and scored 62 points in the paint.(link)

Unlike Kentucky, Tennessee was able to impose its' will on a lesser opponent. The defense was crisp, the offense was stroking and the score showed it.

This game doesn't tell us anything about the season, but it's always good to come out on fire.

Tags: college sports, Tennessee, Chattanooga, Lord Nazh, basketball

SEC Coach Of The Year

ukathletics.com GoVolsXtra.com
Billie Gillispie and Bruce Pearl were named SEC Co-Coach of the Year. Both coaches had a great year. A lot of Kentucky fans were writing off Gillispie during the first part of this season. However, once the team came together things really turned around. UK ended regular season conference play with a record of 12-4. They now have a first round bye in the SEC Tourney and will most likely make a 17 consecutive appearance to the NCAA National Championship Tournament.

The Vols were ranked #1 for their first time ever. They also won their first regular season SEC Championship in just over 40 years. They also stand (in my opinion) the best chance at winning the SEC Tournament Championship.

SEC

For the 1st time in 41 years, Tennessee is SEC champs in basketball.

Smith helps No. 4 Vols overcome big deficit to beat Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- After JaJuan Smith hit a second straight 3-pointer, he backpedaled to the other end of the court yelling, "They're done. They're done."

He was right about the game -- and maybe Florida's season.Smith scored 23 points, Chris Lofton added 21 and No. 4 Tennessee overcame a 16-point deficit to beat the Gators 89-86 on Wednesday night.

ESPN
They passed their record for most wins in a season (26 was the most) and still have 1 regular season game left (then the SEC tourney and the NCAA). Great year for Pearl and the squad no matter how it turns out.

tag: SEC basketball, Tennessee Vols, SEC Champs, Florida Gators, Verlin Martin, Lord Nazh

UT vs Miss St

All of ESPN picked Mississippi State to upset Tennessee (at home) tonight. After a furious comeback from 17 down to get within 2, the bulldogs couldn't get it done :)

UT is now 19-2 on the season, 6-1 in the conference and has Florida coming to Knoxville on Tuesday (I need to buy some vcr tapes since I bowl that night).

No recap at time of publication.

Box Score

tag: Tennessee, Mississippi State, SEC, basketball, college sports, Verlin Martin, Lord Nazh

UT vs AL

Tennessee wins at Alabama for the 2^nd time in the last 18. Hard fought game that up until the end could have went either way. Hot 3-point shooting and timely free throws were the difference in the end.


Around the Rim

tag: Tennessee, Alabama, SEC, basketball, college sports, Verlin Martin, Lord Nazh

Kentucky takes down #5 Tennessee

#5 ranked Tennessee Volunteers came into Rupp Arena tonight to take on a struggling University of Kentucky Wildcats.

I missed the first 10 minutes or so of the first half. But after I joined in UK was giving Tennessee a good game. Several times UT had a 10 point lead but never was able to put it away. UK would keep battling back but never could get the lead.

Until the second half. UK never did lay down and let a very tough Volunteer squad walk over them. Tennessee went cold and allowed UK to make a comeback, take the lead and hang onto a HUGE win in the SEC.

66 - 72 UK FTW!!!

I honestly didn't expect UK to play them close. Tennessee is a very good ball team. UK has not had a good season to say the least. However, since they started SEC play they have been a completely different team. They are hustling, fighting, and WANTING TO WIN. I am encouraged more and more when I see them playing like they have been since the start of 2008. They survived a previously unbeaten Vanderbilt in 2 overtimes. They lost a close game to Mississippi State. And an overtime loss to Florida. Then this big win against Tennessee.

Folks we are starting to see what Gillispie has been trying to tell us was coming. Their record now is 8- 9 overall and 2-2 in the SEC. Go Cats!

UT vs Ole Miss

Tennessee vs Mississippi in basketball.

Ole Miss is one of the 6 unbeatens in the country coming in (ranked #15) and UT only has 1 loss and is ranked #9/8 and it is at UT.

Ole Miss averages 86+ points a game and UT averages 87+ so it should be a great game (it was a great game).

Mississippi 83 at Tennessee 85

SEC Championship

Decent game, not a lot of production from UT's offense.

Ainge gave the game away and then gave away the comeback... [ESPN]

update: forgot the score (doh) 21-14 LSU ;(


tag: Tennessee, LSU, SEC, football, Blogpower, Lord Nazh

UT vs UK (III)

Great game (if you don't have a heart condition).

Kentucky should have won it in OT #2 but the field goal was blocked. In the 4th OT Tennessee scored and got the 2 point. Kentucky scored and missed the 2 point.

52-50 Tennessee! EMB: I tried to call you, was a great game, hope you got to watch it.

Tags:Kentucky, Tennessee, SEC, football, Blogpower, Lord Nazh

Home Cooking

Big game in the SEC tonight was Tennessee versus Florida in Knoxville.

Florida, the defending NCAA champions lost 2 in a row coming in and were 'angry' and focused for this one. Pat Summitt (UT women's coach, 940 career wins) came out as a cheerleader during the first TV timeout and cheered the men's team on.

Whatever it was, it worked. UT dominated the game, at one point were up 25 and if they could hit some free throws (20-31 I believe) they'd have walked out early. As it was, the gators went down 10 and saw their stock in the NCAA's slip. Tennessee's of course will go up and if they can close out on the road against Georgia this weekend, win at least one in the SEC tourney, then they may look at a 5 seed.

SEVENTH-LARGEST ARENA CROWN SEES VOLS DEFEAT NO. 5 FLORIDA, 86-76

Vols finish season undefeated at home with perfect 16-0 mark

Feb. 27, 2007

AP Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Chris Lofton scored 21 points, and Tennessee pulled away from No. 5 Florida in the first half and held on for an 86-76 victory Tuesday night.

The Gators (25-5, 12-3 Southeastern Conference) continued a troubling trend for the defending national champions, who have lost three of four after a 17-game winning streak. Their chances for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament are slipping away after easily wrapping up the SEC regular-season title last week.

But this was the Volunteers' night.

With Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt dressing as a cheerleader and singing "Rocky Top" and Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning watching his alma mater, Tennessee (21-9, 9-6) finished the season 16-0 at home. (link)

Also note the home record... last time perfect was the Bernie and Ernie show in '76.
__________
Reason to cheer!

Filed: NCAA, Tennessee Vols, Florida Gators, basketball, LordNazh