Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is looking for the parents of a girl officers say was found wandering alone in a parking lot.
Officers say they found the young girl at an apartment complex at 4506 Fennel Rd.
KPD officials say the girl is safe and unharmed, but it is unknown where she lives. They say officers are actively canvassing the area.
Those with information are asked to call 911.
Nashville, TN (WOKI) Ten people are facing felony charges after more than a dozen victims are identified in a large-scale operation to target child exploitation and sextortion in Tennessee.
From October through December, the TBI conducted “Operation Autumn Shield,” resulting in 19 victims being identified and 10 people being arrested on various internet crimes against children.
The operation included an instance where a suspect was using AI technology to turn an image of his minor daughter into a nude photograph which he then shared online.
An online extremist group called “101″ was also identified to be founded by a 14-year-old male. The group “extorts minors into self-harm and producing child sexual abuse material,” the TBI said.
TBI officials added that “most of the victims were on social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat.”
The TBI arrested the following:
TBI agents are still working to identify and locate eight more children who are believed to be victims of sextortion. TBI reports the victim’s ages are between 12-17 years old.
More arrests are expected as the investigation continues into seized electronic devices.
Anyone with information about these cases or others of the same nature is asked to contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With game week prep well underway on Rocky Top, both Tennessee football coordinators and four impact players were available to media on Tuesday to preview the Vols’ trip to Columbus, Ohio, this weekend to take on the No. 8 seed and sixth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Tennessee’s College Football Playoff debut is set for 8 p.m. ET Saturday and will air nationally on ABC and ESPN.
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks, a 2024 Broyles Award finalist who leads one of the top units in college football, stressed the importance of sticking to the same routine that paid dividends during the regular season – which saw Tennessee secure 10 wins for the second time in three years.
“Our routine is our routine,” Banks said. “The way we get ready, or our process so to speak, is our process. Kids are always excited to play the game, and I think that’s what I love about this team. They just want to play. They want to put the ball down and have an opportunity … It starts with Ohio State this weekend and it’s going to be a good challenge for us. Just the way those guys have approached this game has been very consistent with who we have been all year.”
Second-year offensive coordinator Joey Halzle has engineered the Vols to producing the top rushing attack in the SEC for the second year in a row, coupled with a top-10 total offense in the FBS. As the Vols prepare for the Buckeyes, the focus remains keeping the ‘main thing’ at the forefront during a busy month in the college football calendar.
“Talking with Coach (Josh Heupel), you recruit at a high level to go to the playoff and try to win a championship,” Halzle said. “Well, we are in this thing, so we can’t stop forgetting what the main thing is – which is going these next four weeks, playing at a high level and giving ourselves a chance to win … The mentality from this whole staff is that we are here for a reason, and that reason is to go win the game on Saturday night.”
Redshirt senior defensive back Will Brooks and redshirt senior wide receivers Bru McCoy echoed those sentiments of their respective coordinators during Tuesday’s media session.
“We all kind of try to treat it as a normal game,” Brooks explained. “It’s in the back of our head, we know it’s a playoff game, but doing the ordinary at a really high level is going to be why we see success in this game, so that’s where our focus is at.”
“Absolutely, really excited,” McCoy added. “We play a lot of big games throughout the season. I think this one with the implications of everything – you still try to treat it just like any other game, but just heighten your level of understanding that this is the College Football Playoff.”
Full transcripts from both coordinators can be viewed below, along with select quotes from players.
On what stands out about Ohio State’s offense…
“I think it’s the skill. They have really good skill. Traditionally, they have always had really good wideouts. Schematically, they put you in a lot of situations to try to put stress on the defense. So, they have good coaches and good players. They are an Ohio State team. Some of these teams I have seen in the past, they’re very similar to that.”
On how Michigan was able to have success defensively against Ohio State and how that impacts what they are able to do…
“I think it’s just like anything, it was a rivalry game. Those guys played extremely hard against each other and Michigan did a lot of good things. For us, we look at those guys just like I said, a lot of great skill from their running backs to the receivers. Obviously, they’ve got a lot of pride up front how they go about their business. I just think anytime you play in a rivalry game, anything can happen. Obviously, Michigan was very fortunate that day.”
On what he has learned about this program during the time he has been here and the success they have had…
“The fan base, I think it starts there. They are very passionate about the University of Tennessee and rightfully so. It’s a lot of truth to this program in terms of what they’ve done in the past. We felt like given the right environment, you could have a chance to be very successful. So, I think it just starts with the guys we have been able to recruit, the guys we have been able to keep here in the program, and again, just the fan base. We’ve been very fortunate to be able to win a lot of games here. I think, again, just starts with the passion the fans have, the way we play at Neyland Stadium because of the energy those guys bring week in and week out. It’s been very exciting to say the least. I just think this is a very passionate fanbase, a very passionate university that wants to win. We’re just extremely grateful to be a part of it.”
On Tennessee fans being eager to travel to Ohio State to support the team…
“I’m not on the internet very often, but I would assume it just again speaks volumes to who these guys are. They want to support us no matter where we’ve been. We’ve been in a lot of venues and it’s always great to be able to look up there and see that orange and white. Hopefully this game will be no different. We’ll get those guys in there and they’ll be cheering for us.”
On Edwin Spillman being ready to step into a bigger role…
“We were fortunate enough to get Edwin (Spillman) back in the Vanderbilt game, which was great for us. We’re excited about him, we really are. He’s definitely going to play a role in this game. He played a role in the Vandy game. We thought a lot of him when we recruited him. He hasn’t disappointed. It was obviously tough losing him for the amount of time that we did, but we’re excited to have him. It’ll be good. It will definitely be a bigger role for him. Can’t wait to watch him play.”
On how much pressure Ohio State’s trio of wide receivers put on a secondary…
“I think it will be a great challenge for our guys. The way they run the ball to set up the play action pass and things of that nature – we’re going to have to do a really good job of helping our guys on the back end. Our DNA is, we want to be able to stop the run. It’s going to be a great challenge. Our guys are eager for that challenge. They’ve worked this whole season to be in these type of venues and have these type of opportunities. They’ll be very excited for it.”
On where he has seen Arion Carter grow the most this year…
“I think losing KP (Keenan Pili) early in the year was devastating for all of us, but I thought the way those guys have stepped up, AC (Arion Carter) included, from a verbal perspective, being a lot more vocal with what is going on in terms of our play calling. I just think the leadership. I know he’s always had it in him. He was kind of forced into it when we lost KP, but he’s definitely stepped up his game as far as leadership.”
On having corners like Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III playing well this season and what that allows him to do as a defensive coordinator…
“We have a lot of trust in those guys. Obviously, you breed confidence by your play. Those guys have played extremely well all year. Anytime you’ve got good corners it takes some stress off other positions and allows us to do other things schematically. But, we’re going to need everybody. We’re going to need the corners, we’re going to need the front and the linebackers to be successful in this game. Like I said earlier, having those guys on those edges is definitely a help sake for us.”
On the amount of defensive linemen that have played this year and the how fresh they are due to depth…
“I don’t know if you can say fresh, but it’s definitely great to have that many, to be able to rotate those guys as much as we have has been awesome. And we’re going to need them all to be successful this weekend. I think when you build a defense, you always want to build it from the front to the back and, obviously, on the perimeter. We’ve been very blessed to have enough depth up front to be able to rotate those guys and still keep the standard the standard.”
On how Omari Thomas has helped keep the team focused especially during this game week…
“Big O (Omari Thomas) has very consistent, particularly these last couple of years in terms of just being a positive role model for those guys. He’s doing his job. O (Omari Thomas), he speaks when he needs to speak, but I think everybody can look to him in terms of how he practices every week, week in and week out no matter the opponent. It’s been big. He’s got a ton of experience and all those guys look up to him.”
On why this defense has been better in the red zone than in previous years…
“I just think they’re playing with a lot of confidence. We play a lot of guys up front, so I think we’re fresh, particularly in those moments. I think a lot of it has to do with the backend and the high level those guys are playing at. We obviously concentrated on it coming into the season and just like anything, you love to see the fruits of your labor. Those guys worked really hard at it and it’s great to see those guys that play well at it.”
On if the team has treated this like a normal week or if things are amped up a notch…
“Our routine is our routine. The way we get ready, our process so to speak, is our process. The kids are always excited to play the game, and I think that’s what I love about this team. They just want to play. They want to put the ball down and have an opportunity. Hopefully we’ll get four opportunities at this thing. It starts with Ohio State this weekend and it’s going to be a great challenge for us. Just the way those guys have approached this game has been very consistent with who we’ve been all year.”
On where he thinks Nico Iamaleava has improved the most with decisiveness and reads…
“Just for any young quarterback, getting unscouted looks each and every week, he’s reacting to them quicker and quicker as it’s going on. I think that’s why you’ve seen on the back half of the season that he’s completing passes at almost a 70 percent clip. Hitting a bunch of big plays down the field. He’s made a bunch of huge plays for us in these last couple games that we needed to get going and to go get in this playoff right here. His attention to detail has never wavered. It’s been the same since preseason into season. There’s just nothing like game reps. There’s absolutely nothing like it. You can try to create it as much as you want, as much scrimmage, but man, it’s just a different animal when there’s live bullets going out there and you’re getting completely different looks. You got the play clock and everything going like that. So, just him settling into all of that, it’s been really cool to see. Really bright future for him, so we’re excited about that.”
On if he thinks Mike Matthews can contribute if he plays and if he will play based on injuries to other guys…
“We fully intend on Mike being a big part of everything we’re doing. It’s the same thing now. If this goes the way you want it to go, you’ve got four games left. You’ve got a quarter of a season left to play right here. All those guys that are here and going, we expect them to play at high level. We feel comfortable throwing anybody out there. Our guys are prepared and ready to play, and they’re dang good players. Anybody that’s called upon, we expect that they go out and they play at a high level. We expect to see that here every week.”
On Nico Iamaleava’s biggest growth over the last four to five games of the regular season…
“The way he was able to get to that is he doesn’t blink. And I said that from the very beginning, the kid has a very even heart rate. His decision making, and more than anything, his getting rid of the first read into the second and into the third, he was getting all the way through stuff really quickly. That’s why you were seeing, like you brought up the Georgia game, early in that game, we’re going 1-2-3 and that guy is getting the ball out and we’re hitting big plays all over the field. You’re just seeing him being able to make his decision making, which was always good, he’s even taken it to a higher level, so we’re looking forward for that to keep growing for him.”
On Nico Iamaleava driving the team down the field to score after going down 14-0 against Vanderbilt and it showing his growth this season…
“One hundred percent, for him and really the whole offense. We got the ball, not the first time, we had two snaps and we had the turnover, so our third snap of the game it’s 14-0. I asked on headset because I’m up top, ‘how do we looked down there?’ And to a man, every coach was like, ‘we’re good, nobody is blinking, nobody is worried. They all know what’s about to happen.’ We go down, drive, score, get a stop, score and then roll from there. That drive was huge, and what I loved about what he did in that drive is he didn’t fall into himself. He didn’t start thinking, ‘I don’t want to mess anything up. I don’t want to have anything bad happen because something bad had already happened.’ Nope. It was, ‘that’s the ball right there. I’ve got Tay (Dont’e Thornton Jr.), and I’m driving this thing down the field for a touchdown.’ That was a very good representation of where we’re at as an offense, and where he’s at as a quarterback.”
On how he’s managing his time right now with several important things going on at the same time…
“That’s the fight right there. With stuff being open right now and recruiting, official visits and all that type of stuff, you can’t stop doing it. Talking with coach Heupel, you recruit at a high level to go to the playoff and try to win a championship. Well, we’re in this thing, so we can’t stop forgetting what the main thing is which is going these next four weeks and playing at a high level giving ourselves a chance to win. With that, the other thing can’t take a backburner, but the mentality from this whole staff is that we are here for a reason, that reason is reason is to go win this game on Saturday night.”
On what makes Ohio State’s defense so effective…
“For starters, they have really good players across the board. They roll out there, they play an extremely aggressive brand of defense. They pressure a bunch. They’ll come, they’ll press their corners, they’ll press their safeties (and) their nickel. They let their defensive linemen change up their rush techniques. Everything they do is designed to try and create negatives and to try and take the will of an offense. They present a very unique challenge. They’re a really good defense. That’s why, as you said, their numbers are at the top if not the top of every defensive category. It’s a unique challenge. We feel like our guys are ready for it, and they’re looking forward to what that challenge is going to be Saturday night.”
On how the 12-personnel brings a different element to the offense…
“It’s a bunch. In the passing game, too, created a bunch of individual matchups for us out wide and the 12-personnel passing game. When people were playing wide, it created big holes inside, so it’s been a really good addition for us. The tight end room led us to be able to do that because we have some really good players in there. I think there’s a lot of times, when you get big, it’s to run the ball, but when we get big and have the wideouts out there that can run the way our guys can, it creates one-on-ones. We’ve had a bunch of big, explosive plays in the 12-personnel passing game. It’s been a huge addition to what we did. It was something we knew we wanted to grow starting in February, and we committed to it. We’re seeing the fruits of that here in the season.”
On the risk and reward of going slow on third downs to allow the guys to get ready for the play on the road versus allowing time for the crowd to become a factor…
“It’s what is the actual situation that’s going on right here? Are you in a good situation, bad situation, what’s the momentum, what’s the feel of the game? The most important thing – people talk about our tempo and all that stuff – is running good, efficient football plays. That is what it is and that’s what it comes down to. If we have to sacrifice the tempo to get everything communicated and get on the same page, we’ll do that. If we can play with our tempo, we’ll do that. If we want to sub and move bodies around to get people in the right spot to try to create an advantageous matchup, we’ll do that. There’s not really one way to do this thing, and especially when you go into a hostile environment, the most important thing is always going to be running good football plays efficiently. Everything else takes a back seat to that.”
On the pressure that Ohio State’s defensive ends will put on the tackles and Nico Iamaleava…
“It’s picking your times to push it down the field without being reckless about it. They try to talk you out of pushing the ball down the field. They try to talk you out of playing aggressively. We have to not allow that to be something that we say we are going to play in a box. Like I said, they have really good players, and they let them turn loose and go play. That’s the challenge with these guys. Our tackles know. Our quarterbacks know. Our whole offense knows what this is going to be on Saturday night. It’s going to be a fight for 60 minutes. We are looking forward to that opportunity and a chance to mix it up with these guys.”
On how the adversity that the offense faced earlier in the year helps them going into Saturday night…
“What I was talking about, that the offense doesn’t really blink. This team hasn’t blinked when we’ve had tough situations. Start off the season, and everyone’s lighting the world on fire. The biggest thing for us as we were working through our first half struggles was, ‘Man, it was us.’ Which was a positive thing as we were talking to guys. Like, if it’s us, if we’re the issue, we can solve it. There was never an issue of being stopped. We were driving down the field, and something would happen. The biggest thing that we would talk about is we don’t get to take our turn. Let’s all make a concerted effort not to take our turn. It’s not going to be me on this one. If we’re all playing like that, then we’re not going to have the self-inflicted wounds that end drives. Whether it was a turnover, whether it was a penalty, whether it was a (missed assignment), whatever it may be, just don’t take your turn. You don’t have to play stressed. You don’t have to play uptight. Play according to your fundamentals. Play according to your teaching, and everything else takes care of itself. That’s what you’ve seen on the back half is we’re just not getting in our own way as we get drives going anymore. You don’t get your own way. It’s helpful. These defenses are too good. If you help them, it’s really hard to stay on the field.”
On not letting the weather affect the Tennessee offense
“The simple question to that one is you don’t. It will be cold out there. We’ve played cold games before. It was snowing here last week. You go out there, it’s cold in pregame, and then you start playing, and man, you don’t feel it anymore. You go out and you play at a high level. Should be good field conditions. It’s not going to be like a wet track or anything like that. That is not something that we’re harping on. Like, ‘hey, it’s going to be cold. You better be ready.’ Let’s throw and catch the ball. Let’s handle it well. Let’s do good with our exchanges quarterback center and quarterback running back. It’s the playoffs. It’s going to be cold there. Let’s go play. That isn’t going to be a thing that slows us down now.”
On how Nico Iamaleava responds to the scouting report against Ohio State compared to other teams…
“There’s not a difference in it. It’s always what’s the game plan? What are we attacking? What do we see? What do we want to do? How are we going to go win this ballgame? Like that’s just what it is. It must be. Coach Heupel has said it from the very beginning since we got here. Every week is a nameless, faceless opponent. Like that’s what it is, that has to be the mentality. That’s how you go on the road and win; that’s how you win at home. That’s how you don’t have your slip up games. It’s a nameless, faceless opponent; you show up, you respect every opponent, and you respect them by preparing at a high level, then you go out and cut the thing loose; you don’t play with any kind of reservations. That is what it takes to go against a good football team. So, they’re very good on defense. Man, let’s go attack and see what happens.”
On how they prepare the footballs to be useable in the weather they are supposed to play in against Ohio State…
“Yeah, our equipment managers do a great job. We got everything under the sun as far as what you’re allowed to have down there to keep the guys’ hands warm, the balls warm to keep it as good as possible. They do a great job of mudding them up and all that stuff. Don’t think that’s going to be an issue. We’ll try not to sub the ball as much as possible because when you sub the ball, you must slow down. So, we’ll try to do that as little as possible, but if it calls for it Nico [Iamaleava] always knows that anything weatherwise happens that he doesn’t like the ball, he’ll signal call for a new one. So, like I said, it’s not something we have had a bunch of focus on from our end. That’s what our equipment guys they are stressing about, so I’ll let them handle that. We feel like we should be able to go handle this well and go play at a high level.”
On how he feels the focus has been this week…
“We all kind of try to treat it as a normal game. It’s in the back of our head, we know it’s a playoff game, but doing the ordinary at a really high level is going to be what leads to success in this game, so that’s where our focus is at.”
On how gratifying this season has been…
“It’s a great feeling to know that we have the opportunity to play for a national championship. That was our goal when we started off the season, to get to that point, so it just means a whole lot to us. We know we have to take advantage of this opportunity.”
On what he thinks has been the biggest reason for the defensive success this season…
“I would say just playing as one, playing as a whole unit. Just working together with our guys and communicating at a really high level. We’ve just got to continue to do that to be successful.”
On how they are preparing for Ohio State’s offensive line…
“Just looking more so at the team’s scheme, and what they do and what type of run plays they like to do and what types of runs they like to do. We are just majority focused on what they like to do and not who is doing it. Focusing on the scheme, and, simple as that, just focus on the scheme and what we have to take care of. That’s really about it. We aren’t really focused on who is in and who is not.”
On what has led to the success of this year over the past years…
“It’s because Coach Heupel, the staff, the coaches and everybody in the building has done a great job of setting goals and the mission for us. I feel like the leaders on the team have done a great job of just reiterating it to all the guys and things like that. Everyone has just dived in, ready to complete the mission and attack the mission, and we have seen how far we have come. Why stop? You know what I am saying. We are just excited and diving into everything. They have faith installed into us, since January 1st.”
On what it means to reach the playoffs…
“Man, it means everything. Being in college and playing in a College Football Playoffs when it is one of the new things with the 12-team expansion, so it’s a blessing. I feel like every guy on the team and in the building is excited. We are looking at this opportunity like, you know it’s the best opportunity is the next one. I feel like all of the guys are excited and ready to go. We are ready to play some football because it’s been a long two weeks.”
On what his mindset is going into the game on Saturday…
“Continue to finish our prep out. Once we get out there on the field, it’s go time. We’ve got to go play football for four quarters and execute what our coaches got for us.”
On if there has been a difference in him as a player the last three to four games of the season…
“I think just game by game we continue to get better. With every rep I take, just learning from every rep I take and learning from those reps. We’ve been able to pull out some wins on the back end of the season and look forward to going into this next game.”
On if being the starting quarterback has been harder or easier than expected…
“It’s been what I expected. I had two great mentors in front of me, Hendon (Hooker) and Joe (Milton), and they laid down the foundation for me. It was cool for me to come and pick up right where they left off.”
On how much a defense like Ohio State’s impacts his internal clock…
“My internal clock is always there. I’ve got full trust in my O-line and protection piece to pick all of that up. We’ll be prepared when that time comes.”
On how eager the team is to play in this game…
“Absolutely, really excited. We play a lot of big games throughout the season. I think this one with the implications everything you still try and treat it just like any other game, but heighten your level of understanding like this is the college football playoff.”
On what stands out about Ohio State’s defense…
“What I have seen on film is not a lot of busted coverages. They’ve got veteran guys on the backend, one young guy they kind of let play free. But really, I’ve just seen them play smart, play good fundamentals. They get a good bit of holding calls trying to minimize big plays down the field. Play a lot of Cover One, a lot of man four down front. As a receiver on the perimeter that’s an opportunity you want, you might get a lot of one-on-one opportunities but on the backend, I just think they play smart football. You’ve just got to take advantage of what they are giving up.”
On how proud he was of Mike Matthews’ performance in the Vanderbilt game…
“Extremely, it’s tough being on the sideline, but the silver lining to it all is being able to see guys step up and make big plays. Especially guys that you spend a lot of time with. Kind of more or less mentoring, just talking to kind of help him come along as fast as he can so he can have a ton of success. It makes me super happy. So, seeing him score at Vandy was awesome. Should have had two, honestly.”
Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | December 17, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team recorded a dominant defensive performance in an 84-36 victory Tuesday night against Western Carolina at Food City Center.
Playing a home game as the No. 1 team in the nation for the first time since Feb. 13, 2019, top-ranked Tennessee (11-0) led by 40-plus for the final 6:22 and got a game/team-high 19 points from fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler finished an assist shy of a triple-double.
Western Carolina (3-7) scored the first six points en route to a 9-3 edge through three-and-a-half minutes, but the Volunteers quickly took a lead they never gave back. A 15-0 burst in just 3:44, featuring three straight 3-pointers in 57 seconds, put Tennessee ahead by nine, 18-9, with 12:42 on the first-half timer. The surge came during a stretch in which the home team did not allow a point for 4:23.
The Volunteers pushed their margin higher and higher as the half continued. They held the Catamounts without a point for the final 7:56 of the half, as they missed 14 straight field-goal attempts and committed five turnovers. Meanwhile, Tennessee logged a 16-0 run in 6:23, extending their lead to 38-15 with 1:23 to go in the frame, with the score holding steady entering the intermission.
After allowing their opponents a 3-of-6 start from the floor, the Volunteers held Western Carolina to 2-of-31 shooting the rest of the session, as the visitors went into the locker room with a 5-of-37 (13.5 percent) clip, including a 5-of-28 (17.9 percent) mark from deep, as it went 0-of-9 inside the arc.
The Volunteers scored the first three points after the break to make it a 19-0 run, plus forced misses on the Catamounts’ first two field-goal attempts to up the tally to 16 in a row. They snapped the skid with 17:40 remaining after 10:16 without a point.
Tennessee scored eight straight points in just 85 seconds to go ahead by 32, 49-17, with 15:52 to play. The lead never dipped below 30 in the final 15:57, reached 40 with 6:22 left and extended to 45 with 5:04 to play. It reached a game-best 48, 82-34, with 1:49 remaining after a 7-0 spurt in 1:27 and stayed at 48 at the final horn.
For the Volunteers, it marked their seventh-largest margin of victory of the last 50 seasons (1975-2025), including their third-largest in the last 15 seasons (2010-25). Their 36 points allowed tied their second-fewest over that same 50-year span, behind only the 35 conceded 20 days ago.
Lanier, who shot 3-of-7 from 3-point range, added four assists and four steals to his game-best point total. Both marks set or tied season highs and put him one shy of his career best.
Senior guard Jordan Gainey posted 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, adding a career-high-tying five steals and a co-career-best two blocks. Fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar notched a season-high 13 points on a 5-of-8 field-goal clip, while junior forward Felix Okpara had nine points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Jahami Mashack, who was plus-45 in his 30 minutes of action, posted a career-best five steals, giving Tennessee a trio of players with at least four for the first time since Nov. 27, 2007.
Zeigler turned in a dazzling all-around performance, logging 10 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and nine assists, the latter two marks both game bests. The Long Island, N.Y., native pulled down all 10 of his boards in the first half after previously eclipsing six in a full game just once, en route to his 10th-career double-double and second in the last three games.
Senior forward Bernard Pelote scored a team-high 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting for the Catamounts. No other player on the team eclipsed eight points in the setback.
Tennessee held Western Carolina to 21.9 percent (14-of-64) shooting, including a 7-of-47 (14.9 percent) ledger through 38-plus minutes. It marked the lowest field-goal percentage allowed by the Volunteers since Nov. 6, 2018, and the lowest total versus a Division I opponent in at least the last 20 seasons (2005-25).
The Catamounts tallied a 15.4 percent (6-of-39) ledger from long range and added just two points from the free-throw line, where they shot 50.0 percent (2-of-4).
The Volunteers, who committed only eight fouls, did not allow a single point off turnovers or on the fast break, amassing 32-0 and 22-0 margins, respectively. They also had a 44-14 margin in paint points and 37-14 tally off the bench, as their reserves outscored Western Carolina’s entire team.
Tennessee is back on the Food City Center hardwood Monday at 7 p.m. when it hosts Middle Tennessee State, live on SEC Network.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES
• Tuesday marked the 13th game in program history with Tennessee ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, as it improved to 11-2, including 10-1 in head coach Rick Barnes‘ tenure.
• Tennessee last played a home game as the top-ranked team in the AP Poll on Feb. 13, 2019, when it beat South Carolina, 85-73, while its lone such prior game versus a non-conference team was on Jan. 26, 2019, an 83-66 victory over West Virginia.
• The Volunteers also upped their record to 25-4 all-time while ranked top-three in the AP Poll, including 21-2 under Barnes.
• Tennessee remained one of the only five undefeated teams in the country and the lone school unbeaten in both men’s and women’s basketball.
• Barnes increased his career win total to 817, eclipsing Rollie Massimino for sole possession of No. 12 on the all-time wins list (min. 10 years at Division I level).
• Barnes improved to 25-1 in his career versus the current SoCon membership, his most wins without multiple defeats against any league.
• Tennessee improved to 8-1 all-time against Western Carolina, its sixth-most wins against any school without multiple losses, with the eight triumphs by an average of 27.1 points per game, including all of them by at least 12, with six by 18-plus, four by 26-plus and three by 38-plus.
• The Volunteers moved to 11-0 to begin a season for the fourth time in program history, alongside 1999-2000 (11-0), 1922-23 (14-0) and 1915-16 (finished 12-0).
• Tennessee now has its ninth winning streak of at least 11 games program history, including its seventh in a single season and first since 2018-19 when it claimed a program-best 19 consecutive victories.
• The Volunteers now have 30 wins by at least 20 points over the last three seasons (2022-25), including 23 by 25-plus, 18 by 30-plus, 14 by 35-plus and six by 40-plus.
• Only six times in the last 50 seasons (1975-2025) has Tennessee won by greater than 48 points: 124-49 versus UNC Asheville (Nov. 17, 2009), 109-40 versus Middle Tennessee State (Nov. 20, 2007), 101-44 versus Division II Arkansas-Monticello (Nov. 14, 2007), 94-40 versus Alcorn State (Dec. 4, 2022) and 99-49 versus The Citadel (Dec. 17, 2003).
• Just twice prior in the last 50 seasons, including once within the last three weeks, has Tennessee allowed 36 or fewer points in a game, with both in the Barnes era: 35 against UT Martin (Nov. 27, 2024) and 36 against UNC Greensboro (Dec. 11, 2021).
• The last Tennessee opponent to shoot four or fewer free throws was Presbyterian, which went 1-of-3 at the line one Nov. 30, 2021, with that one of just three previous occurrences in the past 14 seasons (2011-25).
• Presbyterian was also the last Tennessee foe to make two or fewer free throws, with that one of only three prior occurrences in the last 14 seasons (2011-25).
• The only team to shoot a lower field-goal percentage against Tennessee in the last 20 seasons was Lenoir-Rhyne, a Division II school, on Nov. 6, 2018, in a 14-of-67 (20.9 percent) showing.
• Tennessee’s 17 steals tied for their most over the last 15 seasons (2010-25), equaling the totals it posted on both Jan. 5, 2022, in an overtime affair against Ole Miss and on Nov. 7, 2022, versus Tennessee Tech.
• After facing an early six-point deficit, 9-3, Tennessee went on an extended 32-6 run to close the half, turning it into a 23-point lead through 20 minutes.
• Between a 1-of-22 close to the first half and a 0-of-2 start to the second half, Western Carolina posted an extended stretch during when it went 1-of-24 from the floor.
• In two of the last three games, Tennessee has shut out its opponent for at least the final 7:56 of the first half, as it allowed zero points to Miami over the last 7:57 of the opening session Dec. 10 in New York.
• Western Carolina’s scoreless drought of 10:20 marked the longest such mark by a Tennessee foe this season, eclipsing the 8:10 ledger by Miami.
• Tuesday marked the second time this season a Tennessee foe has shot under 15.0 percent in a half, as UT Martin posted a 14.8 percent (4-of-27) clip after the break Nov. 27.
• The same second-half outing by UT Martin was the last time the Volunteers gave up 15 or fewer points in a session, as they allowed exactly 15 in that frame, as well.
• Western Carolina’s 15 first-half points marked the first time Tennessee allowed fewer than 20 before the intermission since March 23, 2024, when it conceded 19 to Texas in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 in Charlotte, N.C.
• The last time Tennessee had a trio of players with at least four steals was Nov. 27, 2007, when Chris Lofton (five), Tyler Smith (four) and Josh Tabb (four) achieved the feat against North Carolina A&T.
• Tennessee last had two players with five steals on Feb. 9, 2022, when Zeigler and Kennedy Chandler each hit that number, with that the lone other occurrence in the last 17 seasons (2008-25).
• Tuesday marked the fourth time in 11 outings this season the Volunteers have allowed just one opposing player to score nine-plus points, as they also did so against UT Martin (Josué Grullon) on Nov. 27, versus Virginia (Dai Dai Ames) on Nov. 21 in Nassau, Bahamas, and against Montana (Money Williams) on Nov. 13.
• The Volunteers have led for 385:16 of a possible 440 minutes thus far in 2024-25, while trailing for only 34:59.
• After not facing a deficit greater than three in any of its first nine outings, Tennessee has conceded at least the first six points of each of its past two games.
• Tennessee has held a lead of 18-plus points in 10 of its 11 contests this season, including by 26 in all but two, and still has not faced a deficit larger than eight.
• Ten of Tennessee’s 11 wins thus far are by 13-plus points, with seven by at least 22, four by at least 35 and two by 40-plus.
• The Volunteers have held a halftime advantage in all 11 of their outings this season, including a margin of nine-plus points nine times, double digits eight times, 12-plus six times, 14-plus five times and 23-plus thrice.
• Tennessee has conceded 35 or fewer points in every first half this season, including 29 or fewer in seven and 22 or fewer in four.
• Zeigler is the 40th player in program history to record 10-plus double-doubles, with each of his first nine points/assists combinations.
• The only other time Zeigler has grabbed even seven-plus rebounds in a game was Feb. 24, 2024, when he pulled down nine versus Texas A&M.
• Zeigler became the third SEC player in the last 17 seasons (2008-25) to post 10-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and exactly nine assists, alongside Alabama’s Aaron Estrada (Dec. 30, 2023, versus Liberty in Birmingham, Ala.), Vanderbilt’s Wade Baldwin IV (March 20, 2015, against South Dakota State).
• Gainey owns three prior five-steal performances, all of which came during his two seasons at USC Upstate, with the most recent such outing Jan. 28, 2023, versus Radford.
• Gainey is the third Volunteer in nearly 14 years with at least 17 points, five steals and two blocks in a game, as Tobias Harris was the last to do so Dec. 23, 2010, versus Belmont.
• Lanier has 17-plus points in each of the last seven contests, posting a team-best total in six of them, and is averaging 21.9 points per game over that stretch.
• Lanier’s prior four-assist performance this season was Nov. 13 versus Montana, while his four-steal showing was Nov. 17 against Austin Peay.
• Mashack’s previous career-best steal total was four, registered on six occasions, including thrice this year and most recently in the team’s last outing, Dec. 14 at Illinois.
• The plus-45 mark for Mashack set a new season best for Tennessee, as the prior top tally was 43 by Zeigler in a Nov. 17 game against Austin Peay.
• Dubar’s five made field goals set a season high, as his prior top mark was three on Nov. 27 against UT Martin.
• Freshman guard Campbell Duncan scored his first collegiate points on a basket with 39.7 seconds remaining.
Pigeon Forge, TN (WOKI) In preparation for a busy 40th anniversary season, Dollywood has scheduled several hiring events in and around Sevier County.
All available positions will be posted on the park’s website by December 30, ahead of the very first hiring event scheduled for January 18 at Sevier County High School.
All hiring events will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except for the event at the Newport Community Center, which will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
Park officials say there are abundant opportunities at all of its properties with positions ranging from part-time for students to full-time careers with advancement opportunities.
Some of the positions with openings across all of Dollywood’s properties include culinary and merchandise teams, park operations positions including ride operators, ticketing, transportation, house and grounds, lifeguards, food and beverage, front desk, bell/valet and housekeeping.
Perks for working at Dollywood include 100% free tuition, competitive wages and free lunch, officials said.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville teen is indicted by a grand jury after making a threat against Austin-East High School back in October.
According to court records, a victim told an SRO at Austin East that 19-year-old Orenthro Hylton had assaulted her on October 2.
An investigation into the report revealed that Hylton made threats on social media against Austin East, including statements that he “might just shoot someone up there to prove a point” and threatening to shoot during homecoming, court records say.
He was indicted by a Knox County Grand Jury and charged with recklessly threatening an act of mass violence on school property.
Arraignment is scheduled for January 8, 2025.
Sevierville, TN (WOKI) A former Sevier County golf coach who worked at Northview Academy in Kodak pleaded guilty to multiple counts of statutory rape.
Jennifer Paige Blanchard was arrested in November 2023 on the charges, which stemmed from her time working at the school.
Police said at the time of Blanchard’s arrest that the victim, who is now an adult, reported that she sexually assaulted them when they were a student in 2017.
Blanchard pleaded guilty to three counts of statutory rape and was sentenced to six years of probation. She is also permanently banned from teaching or coaching children and must remain on the sex offender registry while on probation.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Cooper Mays, Jermod McCoy and Dylan Sampson garnered All-America honors from multiple outlets this week as organizations continue rolling out their postseason honors.
Mays received first-team honors from Sports Illustrated and USA Today, while McCoy was honored as a second-teamer by the Associated Press and SI.
Sampson was honored by all three outlets and the Football Writers Association of America, garnering second-team accolades from the FWAA, USA Today and Sports Illustrated with third-team recognition coming from the Associated Press.
During the Josh Heupel era (2021-present), Tennessee has produced seven All-Americans – its most in a four-year span since 2006-09.
Cooper Mays (C) – All-America First Team (USA Today, Sports Illustrated)
In his fourth straight season as the starting center, Mays anchored UT’s offensive line that helped the Vols finish with a top-10 rushing offense and total offense in the country. The Kingston, Tennessee, native, played a team-high 816 offensive snaps according to PFF and did not allow a sack or quarterback hit throughout the entire 2024 campaign. He carries a streak of 26 consecutive games without allowing a sack into next week’s CFP first-round contest against the Ohio State Buckeyes, which dates back to the 2022 season.
Mays led an offensive line unit that paved the way for the top rushing attack in the SEC for the second year in row. Tennessee’s 232.0 rushing yards per game ranked first in the conference and ninth in the FBS, while its 462.9 yards of total offense per game were second in the league and eighth nationally. For their efforts, UT’s offensive line was recognized as Joe Moore Award semifinalists for the third-straight season, joining Oregon as the only schools in the country to accomplish that feat.
Jermod McCoy (DB) – All-America Second Team (Associated Press, Sports Illustrated)
McCoy has emerged as one of the nation’s top cornerbacks this season after transferring to Tennessee following his true freshman year at Oregon State.
During the regular season, the sophomore standout finished tied for second in the SEC with four interceptions and was third in the conference with 13 passes defended, a mark that ranked No. 2 in the FBS among underclassmen. McCoy also was the Vols’ third-leading tackler with 39 stops on the year.
The Whitehouse, Texas, native, has posted a 90.3 coverage grade according to PFF, which ranks fifth nationally and second in the SEC among cornerbacks.
Dylan Sampson (RB) – All-America Second Team (FWAA, USA Today, Sports Illustrated); Third Team (Associated Press)
Sampson, who was also tabbed the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year by both the league’s coaches and the AP, has had a record-setting season for the Big Orange while helping lead Tennessee to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
Sampson finished the regular season as the SEC’s leader in carries (256), rushing yards (1,485), rushing yards per game (123.8) and rushing touchdowns (22), setting UT single-season records for rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns along the way. In total, Sampson leads the SEC in 11 different categories and is tied for first among Power Four players (third nationally) in rushing scores, with his 22 touchdowns on the ground ranking tied for the fifth most in SEC single-season history.
The junior workhorse became the second player in Tennessee history with 10 100-yard rushing games in a single season, joining Jay Graham, who had 11 in 1995. He also leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally in all-purpose yards with 1,620 entering the Vols’ CFP first-round contest at No. 6 Ohio State on Dec. 21.
Sampson has been a point-scoring machine in 2024, leading the conference and ranking fifth in the FBS with a program-record 132 points scored. His 11 straight games with a touchdown earlier this season was also a single-season school record.
2024 Tennessee Postseason Award Honors as of Dec. 17
DC Tim Banks
Broyles Award Finalist
DB Will Brooks
Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
DB Boo Carter
Freshman All-SEC
TE Ethan Davis
Freshman All-SEC
QB Nico Iamaleava
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Finalist
OL Cooper Mays
Rimington Trophy Finalist
All-America First Team (USA Today, SI)
All-America Second Team (AFCA, The Athletic)
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Second Team (AP)
WR Bru McCoy
Witten Award Semifinalist
Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalist
SEC Community Service Team
DB Jermod McCoy
Thorpe Award Semifinalist
All-America Second Team (AP, SI)
All-SEC First Team (AP)
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
DE James Pearce Jr.
Bednarik Award Semifinalist
Lombardi Award Semifinalist
Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Second Team (AP)
LB Keenan Pili
NFF Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
DL Jordan Ross
Freshman All-SEC
RB Dylan Sampson
SEC Offensive Player of the Year (AP, Coaches)
USA Today SEC Player of the Year
All-America Second Team (The Athletic, Walter Camp, FWAA, USA Today, SI)
All-America Third Team (AP)
Maxwell Award Semifinalist
Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
All-SEC First Team (AP, Coaches)
LB Jalen Smith
Freshman All-SEC
OL Javontez Spraggins
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
KOS Josh Turbyville
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
Offensive Line
Joe Moore Award Semifinalist
FootballDecember 16, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following two open weeks to get healthy and prep for its highly-anticipated showdown at No. 6 Ohio State this Saturday night in Columbus, game week has finally arrived for No. 7 Tennessee as it eagerly awaits its trip to Ohio Stadium to face off against one of the nation’s premier teams in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
“Great opportunity this week, playing a big game against a great opponent,” head coach Josh Heupel said to open his Monday press conference. “A lot of work has gone on to get to this point. The guys started back in January, staff and players together. They’ve earned the right to play in a game like this.”
Junior running back Dylan Sampson echoed his head coach’s thoughts when asked about the importance of getting Tennessee to the CFP and playing in such a big game at this point in the season.
“This is everything we worked for in the offseason,” the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year said. “This was what we expected. This is what we grinded for and it doesn’t stop now.”
The Volunteers know a stiff challenge awaits them on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET in Columbus when they square off against a stout Ohio State team that features one of the most talented rosters in college football.
“You look at Ohio State, and defensively they lead almost every category in the country,” Heupel said. “Offensively, they have elite players on that side of the ball. They tie it together well with special teams. So, it is a huge challenge for us, but one we are really excited about. Preparation has been good. We have to continue that this week and get ready to go play our best football when we get up to Columbus.”
As Tennessee continues its reemergence as a college football power under Heupel, taking each step forward as a program has been a major focus throughout his tenure, and now, the opportunity to take the next big step is right in front of the Vols as they prepare for their first ever playoff game this weekend.
“It happens because of your staff and your players all buying in to a vision, competing towards that every single day,” Heupel said. “We’ve continued to take steps. Really proud of everybody that’s involved in that, but this is the next step that we had to take as a program.
“It’s a great opportunity, but now it’s about, ‘what are you going to do with the opportunity?’ It starts long before you get to kickoff. It’s preparation and practice the right way to give yourself a chance to go play elite football.”
Opening statement…
“Great opportunity this week, playing a big game against a great opponent. A lot of work has gone on to get to this point. The guys started back in January, staff and players together. They’ve earned the right to play in a game like this. A great opponent, great venue. You look at Ohio State, and defensively they lead almost every category in the country. Offensively, they have elite players on that side of the ball. They tie it together well with special teams. So, it is a huge challenge for us, but one we are really excited about. Preparation has been good. We have to continue that this week and get ready to go play our best football when we get up to Columbus. (It is) a great opportunity. I hope we see a bunch of our fans showing up as well.”
On how important is for the program to be playing such a meaningful game this time of year…
“Absolutely. One of the goals for our program is to earn the right to get into this tournament. I am proud of what our guys have done in the first week of this preparation. We have gotten a lot of young-guy work. We have been intentional with that throughout the course of the season as well and have tried to continue that as we have shifted our focus to Ohio State. All the work and energy that you put into it, this is where you want to be.”
On Dylan Sampson trusting in the vision he had before he had anything to point to, and what it means to be in the College Football Playoff…
“Absolutely. (It is) the next step for us as a program. Two years ago, I think we finished sixth in the country. There are a lot of guys that have been a part of building this. You look at the senior class; a guy like Dylan (Sampson) that bought into the vision before there was tangible proof on the field of who we are, what we are about and how we are going to go play together. It only happens because of the guys inside that locker room. It’s a room filled with guys that care about the guys around them. They are elite competitors. (I am) really proud of what they’ve done again to restamp this program.”
On what it is like to compete for championships after reestablishing the program…
“Again, it happens because of your staff and your players all buying in to a vision, competing towards that every single day. We’ve continued to take steps. Really proud of everybody that’s involved in that, but this is the next step that we had to take as a program. It’s a great opportunity, but now it’s about, ‘What are you going to do with the opportunity?’ It starts long before you get to kickoff. It’s preparation and practice the right way to give yourself a chance to go play elite football.”
On if he feels like his roster is set for Saturday, as well as the timing of the football calendar in December…
“Yes. Obviously, the calendar, the way that it is set up, it’s unique. This might be the only sport that operates this way. The transfer portal, free agency, whatever you want to call it, is right in the middle of your postseason play. We do feel like the roster is set. This group is ready to go compete and ready to prepare the right way. They have had really good energy and focus. Last week as we knew who our opponent was going to be, we could start our preparation and had great energy today as well.”
On if Tennessee fans being enthusiastic and buying tickets for the game in Columbus is surprising…
“Not with this fanbase. It’s a nice short drive up there. Christmas is right around the corner. It’s a great Christmas present.”
On the weather forecast this weekend in Columbus…
“It’s a June day in South Dakota. It’s going to be great football weather. A couple of weeks ago, we played in 30-degree weather. We practice in the morning and feel a chill: as cold as it will be around this area. At the end of the day, you get between the white lines and weather doesn’t matter; the temperature doesn’t. We’ll be ready to go play, and it will be a lot of fun.”
On the narrative that Tennessee is just happy to be in the College Football Playoff…
“If you’re just happy to be there, it’s going to be a quick cup of coffee. The mindset of this team is to get ready to go play our best football. We understand the opponent that we’re playing; they have an elite roster, really good coaches, prestigious program. We have to go play good football. It doesn’t take anything extraordinary at the same time. It starts with doing the ordinary things at a really high level consistently for 60 minutes. Looking forward to continuing our prep to get ready to go play.”
On getting a few weeks of rest after having a banged up roster and the importance of being more physical than Ohio State on Saturday…
“That typically happens in this league as you go through all of those games. Every football team in this league is going to be banged up. Having a couple of extra weeks to heal up, I feel like we’ll have everybody ready to roll when we get up there. The line of scrimmage is going to be important in this one; it always is in big football games. We have to be able to run the football on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, you have to control the line of scrimmage; it’s your first and second level and your safeties in particular. The line of scrimmage will matter. We want to get people into predictable third downs and then be able to rush the passer and get off the field.”
On if the team believes in the mindset of the program more this year compared to two years ago…
“I don’t think anybody in the locker room had whiplash two years ago. We understand what big games look like, what they feel like, the type of environments that we are going to play in. Certainly understand playing great opponents. The preparation, they have a great understanding of and the competitive makeup that you have to have when you get to gameday. There are going to be ups and downs, back and forth in these types of games and staying consistent, having an elite competitive makeup and mindset is really important.”
On what he has learned about Nico Iamaleava in his first season as a starter…
“I think his ability to reset and go play the next play, next drive, next half, and his ability to continue to grow and compete throughout the course of the football game. As a young quarterback, that’s really hard to do. He’s done a really good job of that.”
On having newcomers from their signing class in the building with the team…
“Got a chance to get on the field with them yesterday and today. It’s a really good group with athletic traits. The way they’ve handled themselves getting to campus for the first time, they’ve done a really nice job. Really excited about what we’ve seen from those guys so far. It’s been a lot of fun having that influx of guys and talent into our roster here as we get an opportunity to experience postseason play.”
On how the defensive backs will pair up against Ohio State’s receivers…
“That will be a big part of it. We’ve got to not give up a bunch of big, explosive plays where they create momentum, field position, and the ability to score points. It does start with the line of scrimmage for us, but we do have to do a great job playing disciplined and matching people out playing with fundamentals and technique, and then going and making plays. There are going to be one-on-one situations. We’ve got to win the lion’s share of those.”
On what he’s seen from Ohio State’s units that make them effective in each one…
“Defensively, within the scope of the structure that they’re playing they’ve got great discipline. Their eyes are in the right spot. They match things out. Their front seven make it tough to run the football. Then offensively, for them, they do a really good job in those situations. Dynamic play makers on the outside so when you load the box, they’ve got guys that have the opportunity to go win in one-on-ones. When you don’t, they’re efficient in running the football. Running backs are elite. So, for us defensively, we’ve got to do a great job. If you can hold them to field goals, it changes the way the games played offensively. We’ve got to find a way to seven on them.”
On the importance making the college football playoff is to recruiting…
“You’re not talking about it, you’re right in the midst of it. They’re part of the preparation. They’re learning what it looks like to be a college football player at this level, what to do inside of our building, and you’re doing it while preparing for a big game. So, there’s not a better opportunity to understand what it’s going to take to play at the highest level.”
On if the two weeks off could cause wrinkles for either team…
“We have nothing new defensively, offensively or special teams. We will be exactly what we’ve done.”
On how much more intense this week is compared to where the team was a year ago…
“At the end of the day, you’re always going to prepare the way that you need to put your kids in the best position. You’re never going to take away from that. This job, college football in general, is dramatically different than it was two, four, six, eight years ago. The way the calendar is, there’s a lot of things that you’re juggling all at one time. You’ve got to find a way to navigate that. That’s why the people inside this building that help you are integral to your success. On the recruiting side of it, what coaches say, it’s a piece of the puzzle but it’s not the biggest piece. When they get here, understanding the culture, what it looks like to be inside the building. Your players are your greatest attribute when it comes to recruiting.
On if he thinks the team is extra excited about being able to play in a venue they wouldn’t usually get to during the regular season…
“Absolutely, one of the goals you have is to get into postseason play; you’re in the tournament, nonstop, preparing, and getting ready to go play your best football. You can see the focus in the guys and, at the same time, not make it bigger than it is. This means it’s just 11 on 11. We’re playing a great opponent, a great venue, but it comes down to doing the ordinary things.”
On how ready Braylon Staley is if his name is to be called on during the game…
“Braylon [Staley] has done a great job. Young player, just has continued to grow through the winter, through the spring, through the summer. More opportunities chose to play in the four, kept the red shirt, but he is more than ready to go and play in this one.”
On what Dylan Sampson’s approach to the game this year has meant for this offense both on and off the field…
“Dylan is super consistent in how he approaches everything inside our building. That’s meeting room, weight room, on the practice field. Dynamic Leader for us as a program. Then, as a player, just his growth since he has gotten here. What has he done to prepare himself to have the load he has carried this year. If you watch the tape, he has done a great job creating big plays, explosive plays, and making people miss. He does a great job of understanding that when it’s not clean, getting his pads down and going plus two and the end of the runs. He plays great without the ball in his hands and is a huge part of our success as a football team.”
On his experience with Dillon Gabriel, and what has enabled him to excel at Oregon …
“I think one of the great traits of Dillon is he is extremely grounded in who he is. He has a great family, but because of that he’s not worried about tomorrow and he’s not worried about what came before him. He is truly in the present. He’s that way inside the building. He’s an elite competitor, and that makeup has allowed him, no matter where he is at, to be able to garner respect from the guys. Once you gain that, everybody sees what type of competitor and how he plays. He is a dynamic playmaker. One of the best I have been around.
On what he has seen from Nico Iamaleava being a positive face both on and off the field…
“As a young player, everybody wants the quarterback to be the leader immediately. Smart young quarterbacks understand that there’s a growth and evolution to it. Nico has been great in one-on-one situations from the time he got here. Communicating with wideouts. He grew into communicating and challenging the five guys in front of him, but now you can feel, as he started to play, you can feel his presence in everything that we are doing every single day. Nico has got a great understanding of you have to be with the guys. You are not one of the guys when you are the quarterback, but you have to be with the guys. You see him at the hotel Friday nights, he’s eating dinner with the offensive lineman, and he’s with the defensive lineman. He does a great job of kind of getting out of his quarterback group or just the offensive unit and developing relationships with those guys. That’s a big part of leadership. When those guys have a relationship with you and they understand you care about them, it allows you to lead them.”
On what he sees from the Ohio State running game and the difference between their two primary running backs…
“I feel like those two play complementary football together. Honestly, when you look at those two and the backfield as whole, you have a really special group. You have a group that is very explosive, very fast, very twitchy and that’s able make things happen from nothing sometimes. I really have a lot of respect for that group as a whole. You have two, I assume, All-Big Ten and All-American type running backs and future first and second round draft picks. I feel like you really have to study that group and really have a lot of respect for them and attack at full speed when going at that group, especially along with a very, very good O-line they have.”
On the respect for Ohio State’s skill players and how they compare to players in the SEC…
“They’re as good as anybody in the SEC and I feel like they’re as good as anybody in the country. They have a really good football team in all three phases of the game, including offense in general. I feel like they have a really good quarterback who is able to quarterback the offense at a very high level and is able to make checks and calls. You have a really good offensive receiving corps in general that’s a really strong suit for them. As a whole, the team is just really, really good. You can’t take anything away from them, you respect them like any other opponent going into it and we have to go out there and put our best foot forward at the end of the day.”
On where he’s grown this season and if he’s exceeded expectations for himself…
“There’s always room for improvement at the end of the day. As far as what I’ve seen just doing self-evaluation, I feel like my communication on the field has gotten really good. I feel like being able to just quarterback the defense, getting everybody lined up and set and make checks and calls and be able to stay poised and have the IQ and the self-awareness on the field to see different things and different things for offenses and be able to pick up on stuff that’s able to win the little margins in a ball games has been my biggest thing. And, just really being able to analyze offenses.”
On current UT linebackers coach William Inge having coached in the playoff and national championship game last year…
“It’s always great having coaches who have been there, done that, been in the situation and made it that far. A lot of teams and a lot of coaches haven’t gone that far. To have his experience has been really great because you know that he knows what it takes to get to that point. He knows what it takes to win ball games. He knows what it takes to play championship-level football. It’s been great having him in the room.”
On what the main focus has been for the team the last few weeks getting ready for Ohio State…
“The main focus the past couple of weeks is getting our team healed up, getting our bodies right. That has been vital for us. Defensively, you know they are a great defense, super sound. They have guys up front that have played together for a while now. They are a very sound defense, so we are just going to have to go out there and execute and be on top of our stuff.”
On what his perception of Tennessee was before he came and how it has changed since he has been in Knoxville…
“I mean, I knew you guys had a passionate fan base. I didn’t really know much about this program as far as the details of it. But now that I’ve been here, you guys are very welcoming of new people, and coach Heupel has done a great job here and instilling a family feeling here, and it’s been great.”
On if it feels any different going into this playoff game compared to others he has been in during his time at Alabama…
“No, honestly, I think it’s great. With a four-team playoff, you saw a ton of teams that are very talented and don’t get an opportunity to be in the playoffs. So, you know a 12-team playoff, I think is great for college football. I’m just blessed that we have the opportunity to do it. Doesn’t really feel any different. It’s just another week you have to get ready to play a great game.”
On if there is too much preparation you can do as a player for a game…
“I don’t think there is too much. The more you get, the better it is for you. So, the more we find, it just helps us at the end of the day.”
On what he thinks the defense has done to play so well this season…
“Our connection. We try to communicate with each other on the field. It helps us knowing what is going to come, talking pre-snap and post-snap, just knowing things like that.”
On what it feels like to get ready for a first-round playoff game…
“It’s just what you dream of. It’s what everybody wants to play in. I’m just looking forward to the moment and looking forward to Saturday.”
On the importance of playing such a meaningful game this time of year…
“This is everything we worked for in the offseason. This was what we expected. This is what we grinded for and it doesn’t stop now. This wasn’t the goal to just get to this game but we got to attack it the right way.”
On how vital Miles Kitselman has been as a blocker setting up his big runs…
“Him and all the tight ends who have been able to get into the game, it doesn’t go unnoticed by us, but many people don’t realize that they’re like the key cornerstone to make the run game go. They’re like the athletic, extra offensive linemen. We do a lot of stuff with them, and they are a big part of our offense. So, I’m glad he (Miles Kitselman) was able to join our team. He is a great leader and a great guy, as well as Holden (Staes), too. Them three, (including) Ethan Davis, they all do a great job just helping us.”
On what he sees out of Ohio State’s run defense…
“Very sound. You can tell they are a really coachable defense. They are going to be in their spots. They are going to be in their gaps. Safeties play an important part in the run game, they’re active, fly to the ball. It’s a high-caliber defense and the D-line does a good job just pressing the point and holding the gaps. If you watch the film, there are moments, depending on different teams, where there are opportunities to make plays, but you have to make them. It’s going to be a physical game.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the second consecutive week, the University of Tennessee is the top-ranked men’s basketball team in the country.
Tennessee (10-0) is once again No. 1 in both the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, as revealed Monday afternoon.
This is the seventh time, across three different seasons, the Volunteers place first in the AP Poll. They took the top position once in 2007-08 and four times in 2018-19, in addition to their two such nods this year.
Seven of Tennessee’s nine all-time weeks in the AP top three, including six of its seven No. 1 placements, are during the tenure of 10th-year head coach Rick Barnes. The Volunteers, one of seven teams to earn the top spot in at least two of the last seven seasons, are 24-4 all-time while ranked in the AP top three (20-2 under Barnes), including 9-1 while ranked first (7-1 under Barnes).
This is the 66th week in a row Tennessee is listed in the AP Poll, a streak spanning four campaigns and dating to the 2021-22 preseason release. The tally is 29 weeks greater than the program’s prior top mark and is the third-longest active figure in the nation, trailing only Houston (92) and Kansas (71). No other school is at even 50-plus, with the next closest SEC team, Kentucky (28), placing eighth nationally and 38 weeks behind the Volunteers.
Tennessee is among the top 15 teams in the AP Poll for the 40th time in the past 43 editions, dating to Nov. 28, 2022. This is the 62nd AP top-10 spot for the Volunteers under Barnes’ leadership, including their 30th in the top five, with the latter mark 13 above the program’s full total (17) before his 2015 hire. In addition, the program now has over thrice as many top-two rankings (seven) as it had before his arrival (two).
Barnes has steered the Volunteers to an AP top-five ranking in each of the past four years, a streak only Kansas can equal. He has also coached Tennessee to an AP top-six ranking in each of the last five years, a ledger matched only by Alabama, Houston and Kansas.
Tennessee won both its games last week, claiming a pair of non-home victories over Power Five foes. First, it knocked off Miami, 75-62, Tuesday in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York behind a game-best 22 points from fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier. It then registered a 66-64 road triumph Saturday at Illinois on a buzzer-beating layup by senior guard Jordan Gainey, who also led all scorers with a season-high 23 points.
The Volunteers collected 1,537 of a possible 1,550 points in the AP Poll balloting, a minor seven-point week-over-week drop, as well as notched 50 of 52 first-place votes. In the Coaches Poll, Tennessee claimed 765 of a possible 775 points, a slight five-point decrease from last week, and earned 22 of 31 first-place votes.
Tennessee paces a group of nine SEC teams in the top 25 of at least one poll, with five in the top seven of each. It is featured alongside second-ranked Auburn, fourth-ranked Kentucky, No. 6/7 Alabama, No. 7/6 Florida, No. 12/11 Texas A&M, No. 14/15 Oklahoma and No. 17/16 Ole Miss in both polls, while Mississippi State is No. 25 in the Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs lead the receiving votes category of the AP Poll, with Arkansas and Missouri in the next two spots—both are also in that section of the Coaches Poll—plus Georgia and Texas also listed.
One of five remaining unbeaten teams in the country, Tennessee also places second overall in both the NCAA NET rankings and KenPom rankings.
The Volunteers open a four-game homestand Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Western Carolina, live on SEC Network+ from Food City Center.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is looking for the parents of a girl officers say was found wandering alone in a parking lot. Officers say they found the young girl at an apartment complex at 4506 Fennel Rd. KPD officials say the girl is safe and unharmed, but it is unknown where she…… Continue Reading
Nashville, TN (WOKI) Ten people are facing felony charges after more than a dozen victims are identified in a large-scale operation to target child exploitation and sextortion in Tennessee. From October through December, the TBI conducted “Operation Autumn Shield,” resulting in 19 victims being identified and 10 people being arrested on various internet crimes against…… Continue Reading
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With game week prep well underway on Rocky Top, both Tennessee football coordinators and four impact players were available to media on Tuesday to preview the Vols’ trip to Columbus, Ohio, this weekend to take on the No. 8 seed and sixth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Tennessee’s College Football Playoff debut is set for…… Continue Reading
Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | December 17, 2024 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team recorded a dominant defensive performance in an 84-36 victory Tuesday night against Western Carolina at Food City Center. Playing a home game as the No. 1 team in the nation for the first time since Feb. 13, 2019, top-ranked…… Continue Reading
Pigeon Forge, TN (WOKI) In preparation for a busy 40th anniversary season, Dollywood has scheduled several hiring events in and around Sevier County. All available positions will be posted on the park’s website by December 30, ahead of the very first hiring event scheduled for January 18 at Sevier County High School. All hiring events…… Continue Reading
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville teen is indicted by a grand jury after making a threat against Austin-East High School back in October. According to court records, a victim told an SRO at Austin East that 19-year-old Orenthro Hylton had assaulted her on October 2. An investigation into the report revealed that Hylton made threats…… Continue Reading
Sevierville, TN (WOKI) A former Sevier County golf coach who worked at Northview Academy in Kodak pleaded guilty to multiple counts of statutory rape. Jennifer Paige Blanchard was arrested in November 2023 on the charges, which stemmed from her time working at the school. Police said at the time of Blanchard’s arrest that the victim,…… Continue Reading
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Cooper Mays, Jermod McCoy and Dylan Sampson garnered All-America honors from multiple outlets this week as organizations continue rolling out their postseason honors. Mays received first-team honors from Sports Illustrated and USA Today, while McCoy was honored as a second-teamer by the Associated Press and SI. Sampson was honored by all three outlets and the Football Writers…… Continue Reading
FootballDecember 16, 2024 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following two open weeks to get healthy and prep for its highly-anticipated showdown at No. 6 Ohio State this Saturday night in Columbus, game week has finally arrived for No. 7 Tennessee as it eagerly awaits its trip to Ohio Stadium to face off against one of the nation’s premier…… Continue Reading
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the second consecutive week, the University of Tennessee is the top-ranked men’s basketball team in the country. Tennessee (10-0) is once again No. 1 in both the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, as revealed Monday afternoon. This is the seventh time, across three different seasons, the…… Continue Reading
