Wednesday, November 8, 2023 by UT Media Center

The Daily Beacon

BASKETBALL BEGINS Volume 144, Issue 1 1

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 8, 2023

DAILY BEACON STAFF AND POLICY INFORMATION

Sports Editor: The most wonderful time of the year

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Abby Ann Ramsey MANAGING EDITOR: Bella Hughes COPY CHIEF: Emma Johnston NEWS EDITOR: Eli Boldt ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Macy Roberts SPORTS EDITOR: Caleb Jarreau ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR: Eric Woods OPINIONS EDITOR: Calie Wrona PHOTO EDITOR: Edward Cruz DESIGN EDITOR: Emma Fingeret ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Makenzie Clark PAGE DESIGNERS: Jibril Foronas, Chloe Black

COVER PHOTO: Parker Phegley, Cole Moore

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CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and it is not because of the holidays. We are at that wonderful time of the year where we not only still have football but basketball as well. For someone who works in sports, this time of year means pure chaos. Let me give you an example. Friday means covering high school football this time of year. Saturday means Tennessee football. Sunday means a Lady Vols basketball exhibition against Team USA. Monday kicked off the men’s basketball season. The Lady Vols played again on Tuesday. Wednesday was the printing of this issue and the posting of this letter. With the true regular season starting, any night of the week could be spent in the depths of Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. But that’s the fun part of the job. It’s the most wonderful time of the year because there is a new story to tell every night of the week. Whether it happens after a basketball game on The Summitt at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center or if it happens after a football game on Shields-Watkins Field in

Neyland Stadium, stories will be told. It is our job to tell the stories, and there is no sign of stopping any time soon. Once football ends at the conclusion of November, basketball begins SEC play. Before we know it, the madness is beginning. Do you know what happens before the madness? Baseball. That is why it is the most wonderful time of the year. We will not have another weekend without college sports until almost the end of June. There is no passion like that of college sports. We get to document that firsthand. Last year, I spent basketball season covering the Lady Vols for The Daily Beacon. It wasn’t until I followed along with the team every game, virtually every day, that I realized the emotion that surrounds the sport. It is a different experience that is hard to put into words. It is our job, though, to put it into words. This year, I will be spending the basketball season covering the Vols for The Daily Beacon. I hope to get to document the same emotion and passion for the sport. So that brings us to this paper — or online version — that you’re holding. In it, you will find content previewing both the Vols and Lady Vols. Both teams are looking to break past the Sweet 16, a ceiling neither could burst through last year. There are key players and storylines you will read about.

This preview kicks off what is the most chaotic but most wonderful time of the year. And remember — as a wise journalist told me — basketball season is a marathon, not a sprint.

Rickea Jackson (2) drives to the rim during an exhibition game against Carson-Newman University at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. Cole Moore / Contributor

Assistant Sports Editor: A friendly reminder ERIC WOODS Assistant Sports Editor For most of my lifetime, Tennessee football has been bad. I mean very bad. You had glimpses of hope every now and then thanks to Josh Dobbs, but overall it was rough until Josh Heupel turned things around. Let me introduce you to the man who somewhat pacified your pain during those years. His name is Rick Barnes. He doesn’t have a national championship, but he does have an SEC regular season and tournament championship under his belt. Barnes is also the third winningest coach in school history. While football was cycling through coaches in Butch Jones, Jeremy Pruitt and finally, Heupel, Barnes provided a safe place — a winning team on campus. Heupel has brought the football team out of the gutter since then, and Barnes’ program has been put on the backburner to an extent. Let me be clear, I know that football reigns supreme at UT, and it always will. But this basketball season is shaping out to be a good one.

I am just asking you to pay attention as Zakai Zeigler returns from an ACL tear he suffered just eight months ago. I am asking you to pay attention as Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi return for their fifth season with unfinished business on their mind. I am asking you to pay attention as Barnes seems to have struck gold in the transfer portal with Jordan Gainey and Dalton Knecht. There are a lot of storylines heading into the year, and I’m sure most will begin to tune in come January. There are still some intriguing matchups before SEC play starts. The Vols travel to Wisconsin on Friday before heading to the Maui Invitational. Top-five opponents in Kansas, Purdue and Marquette sit in the tournament pool along with No. 11 Gonzaga. Tennessee closes non-conference play with two other preseason top-25 opponents in No. 19 North Carolina in the first ACC/SEC Challenge and No. 25 Illinois. The Vols already beat No. 4 Michigan Don’t forget about the women’s team, either. Under Kellie Harper, the Lady Vols are building their way back towards prominence. They had a chance to compete against USA basketball and face eight preseason top-25 opponents. Watch as Tamari Key works her way back after missing all but nine games due to hav-

ing blood clots in her lungs. Watch as Rickea Jackson comes back for her fifth year. Watch as the Vols and Lady Vols try to get over the hump this postseason. Now that I am finished with my blurb, I only ask one thing: Follow along with The Daily Beacon as we attempt to put these stories into words.

Dalton Knecht (3) lays in the ball during a game against Tennessee Tech University at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. Cole Moore / Contributor

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 • The Daily Beacon

Lady Vols gain confidence from playing ‘best players in the world’ MADELINE MCNEELY Staff Writer

The Lady Vols were given the opportunity to play against the best - literally the best of the best. They faced off against the USA National Team on Sunday night. This is the fourth time the Lady Vols have hosted the USA National Team. The Lady Vols put up 59 points on the board against the USA’s 95 points. The start of the game proved to be optimistic for the Lady Vols as they trailed Team USA 15-23 in the first quarter. “I think our mindset was going in, kind of like what coach Kellie (Harper) preached to us all week, just be tough and be competitive,” senior guard Tess Darby said. “I mean, we came out there fearless. We had nothing to lose. And just kind of embracing the opportunity to be able to compete with the best of the best and knowing that we were able. We held them a little bit closer than what we wanted to.” Competing against Olympians is more so an opportunity for growth and determination rather than winning. It is also a scouting opportunity for those who want to pursue a career in basketball to the next level. Rickea Jackson has shared her aspirations of taking her basketball career to the next level. However, the first-round draft predictions do not favor her. “I honestly think those publications and the experts, so to speak, do a terrible job in mock drafting,” USA Women’s National Team head coach Cheryl Reeve said. “So I don’t think it’s a reflection. I would tell Rickea Jackson to pay no mind to that and just go hooping in your final season, and then things will work out. The draft is just so interesting in terms of who’s going to be in the draft, but she’s a quality player. And as I told her at the end, we’ll be seeing her soon in the WNBA, regardless of what position she’s drafted.” Jackson played very well in the game, outscoring everyone, including a team full of WNBA players. Jackson scored 15 points, five rebounds and two steals in her 24:07 of play. In addition, Jackson brought intensity and competitiveness to the court that led the Lady Vols to play with the confidence that they showcased in the game. “I feel like I just came out here and played with my sisters,” Jackson said. “We just played fun basketball. We just played against the best players in the world. So, to be able to hold them to

what we held them to, but then again, get good things out of this experience, it just means a lot. So I’m just grateful to even be in those conversations, and I’m thankful for coach (Reeve) for even saying something that nice about me.” The exhibition was mutually beneficial for each team. It allowed the Lady Vols to experience basketball at its highest level, and it allowed Team USA to take another step in preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The moment the game sunk in for Jackson came in pregame. UT head coach Kellie Harper was giving out matchups and told guard Jewel Spear she was guarding Diana Taurasi. That’s when she realized the competition she was up against. “I was like, ‘Oh, this is real,’” Jackson said. “We’re really playing against the best players in the world. Being able to have this opportunity means a lot. Some people may look at the score and say that we got embarrassed, but it’s not true. We took a lot away from this game. It built our confidence. They’re the best players in the world.” The atmosphere at Food City Center was impressive for the exhibition match. From the first 3-pointer to start the game by Sara Puckett to the big block at the end of the game by Tamari Key, the fans stayed for the full contest. Fans also gave an ovation for several Team USA members, including Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. “I was very proud of the fans and the reception that they gave to all the players,” Harper said. “Our fans don’t forget very much, so I know they knew where those players played in college. They understood, but our fans gave them all the reception they deserved. Brittney obviously got a big ovation, and I think people know her story. I actually talked to people who said they were coming specifically to see her and to watch her play. They have become fans throughout her challenges in the last year or so. I was really happy for that team to feel that from our fans.”

“We just played against the best players in the world.” Rickea Jackson Lady Vols forward

Jillian Hollingshead (53) gets shot blocked by Team USA’s Brittany Griner (15). Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 8, 2023

A look at the Vols’ newcomers: Transfers and freshmen TREVOR MCGEE Contributor

Following a Sweet 16 finish in 2022, Tennessee saw five departures from its basketball team. Fast forward to the present day, and it has replaced that talent with two transfers and three incoming freshmen. Transfers Rick Barnes initially attacked the transfer portal by bringing in three players to campus after losing two himself — Olivier Nkamhoua and B.J. Edwards. As the season begins, just two transfers remain after Chris Ledlum departed for St. John’s University in July. Dalton Knecht The 6-foot-6 guard hails from Thornton, Colorado, where Tennessee becomes his third college in five years of basketball. Knecht spent his first two years at Northeastern Junior College before heading to the University of Northern Colorado. In his senior season at Northern Colorado, Knecht started all 32 games en route to 20 points per game and seven rebounds averages while connecting on 38% of threes. These numbers landed Knecht part of the Big Sky All-Conference Second Team. On March 23, Knecht entered the transfer portal as a graduate where he ranked as the 13th best transfer, according to 247 Sports. Ultimately choosing Tennessee, Knetch arrived on campus as head coach Rick Barnes’ prized piece of the off-season acquisitions. “A gym rat. I think he has been in the gym every day he has been here,” Rick Barnes said over the summer. “Offensively, he is skilled and can do a lot of different things. Anybody that has the passion he has will figure it out quick. Obviously, we expect big things from him.” In two exhibition games, Knecht did not let the lights get too bright. In the opening charity game against Michigan State in East Lansing, Knecht stroked 28 points while shooting 8-of-16, including a highlight posterizing dunk. Returning home, Knecht added 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Jordan Gainey The last name ‘Gainey’ is one that looms around the Tennessee basketball program because assistant coach Justin Gainey has been under Rick Barnes since the conclusion of the 2020-21 season. Jordan Gainey is the son of coach Gainey, but he has earned his spot on the team for more than being just a ‘coach’s kid.’ The 6-foot-3 USC Upstate transfer made his way to Knoxville via the portal after starting 61 games over the last two seasons for the Spar-

tans. Last season, Jordan Gainey contributed 15 points per game across nearly 32 minutes a night. Over his career, the guard shoots 40.8% from beyond the arc. “We obviously know and love Jordan’s family, but his ability as a player stands on its own merit,” Barnes said when Gainey signed. “He plays with a high basketball IQ and is a guy who makes his teammates better. We love his offensive versatility and his ability to shoot and score the ball in a variety of ways. In addition to giving us another shot-maker, he also competes on the defensive end and led (the Big South) in steals last year.” Filling in for the injured Zakai Zeigler and unavailable Santiago Vescovi, Gainey took the starting point guard role against Michigan State and Lenoir-Rhyne. He averaged 16.5 points and five assists across the two exhibition contests. His stride came from the perimeter, where he shot 7-of-13 from 3-point land. With 1.7 seconds remaining, Gainey sealed the win over Michigan State, sinking 1-of-2 free throws. Freshmen Barnes’ ninth recruiting class churned out three talents, landing it among the nation’s 18th-best class according to 247 Sports. Tennessee attacked size and one preparatory school in particular to round out the 2023 class. Cameron Carr Standing at 6-foot-4, Carr arrived in Knoxville as a combo guard and the smallest guy of the three. Carr comes from an athletic background, being the son of former NBA player Chris Carr. Through the Link Academy Pipeline, which established 2022 five-star Julian Phillips, Cameron Carr finished as a national champion at the high school level, winning the 2023 GEICO National Championship. “We knew that through recruiting that Cam was a good offensive player,” assistant coach Justin Gainey said over the summer. “He’s really skilled, has a great touch. Any shot for him he can pretty much get to. He has the floater. He can get to the rack. He’s got the midrange and can also shoot the three. We’re excited about him. We’re excited about his upside and his ability to score the basketball.” Carr only logged one minute in the exhibition game at Michigan State, but he rather made his impact in the second game. Logging 19 minutes, Carr recorded nine points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal against Lenoir-Rhyne. J.P. Estrella J.P. Estrella is Barnes’ big man of the class. The only non-Link Academy recruit, the

J.P. Estrella shoots a floater against Lenoir-Rhyne. Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon 6-foot-11 center hailed from another preparatory school, Brewster Academy. Prior to attending Brewster, Estrella was a state champion for his hometown school in Maine. The Maine native was a consensus four-star prospect ranking 76th overall and 11th at his position. Estrella is also the first Tennessee basketball player from Maine. “Not a lot of people come out of Maine.” Estrella said over the summer. “I always keep that in the back of my mind. Those people up there cheering me on, so I’ve got to do them proud, and that’s all I’ve been trying to do over here.” Estrella has missed a lot of time this offseason with a fractured finger but recovered in time for exhibition games. Estrella posted a clean sheet in the win over the Bears, shooting 3-of-3 with 11 points and seven rebounds. Cade Phillips Carr and Cade Phillips came to Tennessee with extensive knowledge of each other’s game. They were roommates at Link Academy. The 6-foot-9 Phillips comes from an athletic background as well but from one with a storied rivalry. Phillips’ father is John David Phillips, former Alabama starting quarterback, and his mother is Reagan Croyle Phillips, a former women’s basketball player at Alabama.

Cade Phillips recorded eight minutes against Michigan State but came out statless aside from two fouls. His impact came in exhibition game two where he served as an energizing piece around the rim. Phillips logged four points and five rebounds in 15 minutes of action. Others see new court time Redshirt freshman guard Freddie Dilione V and redshirt freshman guard D.J. Jefferson have both been tossed in the Tennessee program for a period of time now. Dilione joined the team as a reclassification in January of 2023, while Jefferson spent his entire first year redshirting. Both guys are expected to make an impact this season. “Freddie, when he walks in the door is different. He looks completely different,” Justin Gainey said. “Gained probably 20 pounds of muscle. Physically, I think he’s grown an inch or two. He doesn’t feel like a freshman right now. He does feel like an upperclassman. Same with DJ. Just to watch his growth over when he first stepped on campus to where he is now. Obviously from a basketball standpoint, his athleticism is something that’s elite level. Both of them still show flashes of their youth, their immaturity, but I think they have taken a step.”

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Justin, Jordan Gainey father-son relationship ‘a little different’ CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor

Jordan Gainey worked out with Vols Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden when he was in Knoxville during summers, starting in 2021. Turner and Bowden were both a part of Tennessee’s 2019 Sweet 16 run, and Gainey was playing at USC Upstate at the time. Both Turner and Bowden told Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes how good Gainey could be. By the end of that summer, Gainey’s confidence had grown. He was talking smack and winning on some days against the two Vols. If he ever wanted to transfer, Barnes should go after him, the two said. Gainey decided to enter the portal after two years at USC Upstate. Barnes headed the advice of Brown and Turner, deciding to recruit Gainey. Gainey’s father, Justin Gaines, is a member of the Vols’ coaching staff. Instead of using the connection as an advantage, Barnes decided to let Justin Gainey play dad while he handled the recruitment. The move took a lot of pressure off the father. “I never wanted him to feel like if he asked me about Tennessee, that I was gonna give him a recruiting spiel,” Justin Gainey said.

Jordan Gainey (2) drives against Lenoir-Rhyne. Tuesday, Oct 31, 2023. Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon “Because he’s been in the car with me numerous times. I’m on the phone with recruits and, you know, you’re doing your recruiting thing. So it felt good to not have to.” From a dad’s standpoint, he felt like Barnes was the reason that Jordan Gainey chose Tennessee. Not many places have a head coach in charge of someone’s recruitment. Barnes was honest with Gainey in his recruitment. He told him what he was good at,and where he needed to improve.

“Coach Barnes and Coach GP (Gregg Polinsky) did a great job, and my dad just stayed away from it and played more of the dad role,” Gainey said. “They would call me here and there and just call me to check in on me, talk a little basketball but more just personality and just more personal talk.” Several programs reached out to the 2023 All-Big South First Team selection, who averaged 14.6 points per game while shooting 42.8% for USC Upstate. Ultimately, Tennessee

was the choice. The culture drew Gainey to Tennessee. His skills, and the ability to play point guard, drew Tennessee to Gainey. Thus far, it appears the decision has paid off. Through the Vols’ two exhibitions, Gainey has scored 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting. When the offense stalled, he made something happen. A lot of his production has come at point guard — something he didn’t do at USC Upstate. “He’s gained about 15 pounds since he’s been here,” Justin Gainey said. “His strength and you can see it in his explosiveness, his first step, his finishing at the rim, all of that good stuff has gotten better.” As the season gets into full swing, the Gaineys are adjusting to the father-son relationship as it overlaps on the court. Surprisingly, for each, it has been a natural transition. On the court, Justin Gainey is coach. Off the court, he becomes dad. “It’s a little different,” Jordan Gainey said. “I’ve never had my dad as a coach, but at the same time I think it’s pretty cool because whenever I’m on the court, it’s strictly business, and he does not really seem father-son. It’s more player-coach. I treat him just like I would any other coach.”

SEASON PREVIEW The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 8, 2023

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

INDIANA

NOTRE DAME

OHIO STATE

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

OLE MISS

SOUTH CAROLINA

LSU

MARCH @

SOUTH CAROLINA

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 • The Daily Beacon

MEN’S BASKETBALL NOVEMBER

20-22

NOVEMBER

MAUI

DECEMBER

INVITATIONAL

NORTH CAROLINA

ILLONOIS

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

NC STATE

ALABAMA

KENTUCKY

MARCH

ALABAMA

KENTUCKY

9 3

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Lady Vols boast talented returners, newcomers for 2023-24 season MADELINE MCNEELY Staff Writer

As the 2023-24 Lady Vols basketball season begins, it is important to prepare yourself for the talent you will see on the court. Here is a breakdown of the Lady Vols roster, starting with one of the most important returners for the 2023-24 season. Fifth-year forward Rickea Jackson was voted to both the Coaches and Media Preseason All-SEC First Team and is on the Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watch List. Last season, Jackson was first-team All-SEC along with No. 3 in scoring, No. 4 in field goal percentage and No. 5 in free throw percentage in the SEC last year. Jackson brings a lot to the table for the Lady Vols. “Our No. 1 goal is to win a National Championship and the SEC Championship,” Jackson said about her goals this season. “Just to be the best person and player that I can be. To play at a high level with my sisters and continue to build a great bond on and off the court.” In addition to Jackson at forward, there is Karoline Striplin and Jillian Hollingshead. Striplin started 28 games for Tennessee last season and averaged 4.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 13.7 minutes per outing after stepping in for Tamari Key. Hollingshead played in 36 games last season and averaged 6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 16.6 minutes per contest. “First off, you have Karoline and Jillian who will be playing the five,” head coach Kellie Harper said. “We do not have a starting lineup set at this point. At the four, you can always slide Jillian there, Rickea or Sara (Puckett). If you go with a big lineup, you can put Sara in at the wing as well. When you’re talking lineups, we have probably eight starters on our team truly.” As for injuries on the team, senior center Key’s 2022-23 season ended abruptly after nine games when she was diagnosed with blood clots in her lungs during testing. Key is on the preseason All-SEC Second Team and Lisa Leslie Award Preseason Watchlist. “I thought Tamari was good,” Harper said after the Carson-Newman game. “I thought her minutes were very good for her. I thought we were able to extend her a little bit, push her a little bit, and she did a great job communicating with our staff about minutes. It’s just good to see her out there. Giving her an opportunity to get out there and make plays is what she needs to do right now.” The Lady Vols have an assortment of talent at the wing. Returning starters Sara

Jewel Spear (0) moves to the basket against Team USA. Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon Puckett and Tess Darby are looking to be weapons for the Lady Vols. In her 2022-23 season, Puckett played 37 games and started 15, averaging 4.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 15.6 minutes per game. Puckett is ranked second on the team in 3-pointers and had a career-best of 26 last season. “There is nothing shocking to us about how Sara played and how Sara looked,” Harper said. “Sara has had a great summer and a great fall. She’s playing confidently. She’s playing very strong. She’s rebounding well and shooting the ball well. I’m really proud of her, and she’s got a voice and has been a leader, so I am really excited about her game.” Darby started 35 of 37 games last season and 65 of 70 over the past two seasons. Darby has specialized in threes, knocking down 70 last season. Her 41.9% 3-point shooting ranked her third in the SEC last year. Darby is ranked No. 7 all-time in 3-point percentage at Tennessee.

“I’ll be honest with you, I think Tess had a great summer and an early fall,” Harper said. “I thought she was one of our most improved players this summer. I thought she did a much better job putting the ball on the floor, a much better job playing physically. I thought she guarded better this summer. You know she’s going to be able to make shots. I think it’s important that she helps in different areas. We’ve got to get her growth beyond the 3-point line to help this basketball team.” Finally, at guard, the Lady Vols have starting returner Jasmine Powell and Belmont transfer Destinee Wells. Powell averaged 4.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 19.6 minutes per her 37 games. She had a career-high of 116 assists last season. Wells tallied a career-high of 684 points, 172 assists and 65 3-pointers last season, and averaged 32.4 points per game over the last five games of the year at Belmont.

“I think right now both Destinee and Jasmine have given us some really solid play,” Harper said. “We can play them both together if we need to. I think what Jasmine gives you, in addition to playing point guard, she’s defending really well right now, especially on the ball. I think they’re giving you something different. I feel very confident and comfortable with either of those players running the offense. I think they can create for themselves as well as others.” Transfer guard Jewel Spear made her unofficial debut against Team USA after suffering an ankle injury in preseason. She finished the exhibition with three points, but her potential is a lot more. During Spear’s three seasons at Wake Forest, she was two-time All-ACC Team and ACC All-Tournament Team honoree. It’s safe to say that Harper has a lot of options to test out with the lineup this season.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 • The Daily Beacon

UNC, Illinois, Wisconsin highlight Vols’ non-conference slate ALEX SARKIS Contributor

Tennessee Basketball is set to play one of the more difficult non-conference schedules in the early months of its 202324 season. Here’s a look at some of the most notable games apart from that stretch. Nov. 10 at Wisconsin The Vols will travel to Madison to take on the Badgers in the second regular season game of the year. This will be their second game in one week after facing Tennessee Tech in the home opener. Last season, Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard’s team missed the NCAA Tournament for only the second time since 1998. The Badgers finished 11th in the Big Ten and suffered their worst regular season record during Gard’s tenure. They will return all of their starters and are hopeful to have veteran experience deliver them to a significantly better result this season. UW will start the year unranked in the AP Top 25 but are the leading vote-getters among all unranked teams. They were projected to finish fifth in a usually strong Big Ten Conference by the media. This will be a great early-season road test for head coach Rick Barnes’ Tennessee team. Facing an experienced roster in a likely raucous environment on a Friday night is a great chance for an early season statement from the Vols. Nov. 20 vs Syracuse The opening game of the Maui Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii, will be a battle filled with orange. This will be Syracuse’s first season since 1969 without their Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim on the sideline after his retirement at the end of last season. The Orange finished with a 17-15 record (10-10 ACC) last year and missed the NCAA Tournament for the second straight time. They had a 1-4 record against ranked opponents. The Vols and Orange have met a total of six times, each team winning three games in the series. The last meeting ended with a Tennessee win in Knoxville. The Vols will look to replicate their performance of last year’s invitational tournament, the “Battle 4 Atlantis,” where they won the championship and took down the defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks. They will face a Syracuse team that will likely still be adjusting to the loss of such a prominent figure as Boeheim.

D.J. Jefferson (44) celebrates a victory against Tennessee Tech University at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. Cole Moore / Contributor

Nov. 21 vs Purdue OR Gonzaga Depending on the results of the first day of games at the Maui Invitational, the Vols will see either Purdue or Gonzaga in their second game the following day. No matter the result, Tennessee will face likely its biggest test of non-conference play. The Bulldogs and Boilermakers both start their seasons ranked in the top 15 teams in the country. Purdue will return their reigning National Player of the Year Zach Edey. The 7-foot-4 senior center will look to lead his team to another stellar season and second-consecutive Big Ten Championship. Last year’s West Coast Conference Champion Gonzaga will look to run back their successes as well. They hope to lean on star Creighton transfer, Ryan Nembhard. The point guard will attempt to fill the scoring shoes of departed Zags’ legend Drew Timme, who helped Gonzaga to enormous success in recent years. Whether it be on the loser’s or winner’s side of the bracket, Tennessee will have its hands full with an extremely talented opponent. Nov. 29 at North Carolina In what could be their toughest road atmosphere of the season, the Vols will travel to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina in a game a part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Perhaps no team had a more disastrous 2022-23 season than the Tar Heels. From starting the year ranked No. 1 in the AP preseason poll to missing the NCAA Tournament completely, no team is more ready to start anew this season. UNC will be led by veterans Armando Bacot and RJ Davis, both of whom played a huge role in leading the Heels to their last national championship appearance in 2022. Head coach Hubert Davis was also active in the transfer portal, adding five new players. The Vols in no way should use last season as a reason to take Carolina for granted. Even after last year’s letdown, North Carolina finds itself again ranked in the preseason top 20. This will be a marquee game on the schedule for both teams as they hope to impress on a national stage. Dec. 9 vs Illinois Food City Center will play host to this matchup in the biggest home non-conference game for the Vols against Illinois. The Fighting Illini ended last season at the hands of Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They start this season ranked No. 25 in the preseason poll. Head coach Brad Underwood will return six players, along with an addition of transfers and freshmen. Oregon transfer Quincy Guerrier and freshman Amani

Hansberry are expected to have an immediate impact. Veterans Terrence Shannon Jr., Coleman Hawkins and Dain Dainja will look to lead this team to another tournament appearance. The Vols will have to deal with a physical Illinois team that has proven they can play well against good teams. The Illini took down No. 1 Kansas in a preseason scrimmage. Dec. 16 vs NC State The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will showcase the Vols and NC State in their 2023 Hall of Fame Series. The game will take place at San Antonio Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The Wolfpack comes into this new year fresh off of an NCAA Tournament berth, where they lost to Creighton in the first round. Head coach Kevin Keatts returns five names to his squad, along with multiple transfers. Among those returning are Casey Morsell and DJ Burns. Among the seven transfers, Clemson transfer Ben Middlebrooks and Missouri transfer Mohamed Diarra hope to help the Wolfpack grow on its successes from last season. This will be Tennessee’s last notable non-conference matchup before they enter SEC play. NC State is not a team to be overlooked in preparation for the conference slate.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Why Zakai Zeigler leaned on assistant coach Gregg Polinsky through injury CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor

Zakai Zeigler sat next to Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes during the Vols’ exhibition against Lenoir-Rhyne. It was a normal occurrence. Barnes wanted to hear how Zeigler saw things. The two bounced ideas off one another. Barnes even had him relay messages to point guard Jahmai Mashack. Zeigler hasn’t always seen the game through a coach’s eyes. It was something he picked up after tearing his ACL on the final day of February last year. A lot of those sideline conversations, while injured, were with assistant coach Gregg Polinsky. “What we just basically talked about was being a student of the game, that when you sit here it kind of slows down for you,” Polinsky said. “You get a different perspective. So we talked about now saying things, like offensively — the pace of the game, why you run certain things for certain guys based on who has a hot hand. Like start to think the game and make it a game of chess instead of checkers.” Seeing the game through a different perspective allowed Zeigler to not just understand what was being called but why it was being called. Zeigler began to understand what Polinsky and other coaches were often telling him. It was like a lightbulb moment for the young point guard, who made his debut after the ACL injury on Monday. “I can see why you guys get mad when we do this or see the play before it happens, things like that,” Zeigler said. “But even getting back on the court and playing a little bit, the game has definitely slowed down some, and you could definitely see more just from being on the side for that long.” Zeigler looked at the game through a coach’s eyes, and he felt the same frustration the coaches did. With a deeper understanding of the game, it clicked for Zeigler why the coaches were mad. So, when the timeouts came, Zeigler was beating the coaches in the huddle to express his frustration. “You could see that,” Polinksy said of Ziegler’s frustration. “I would say that’s probably the broader, most important part of that. The how coaches feel, you know? Because when you’re a player you just think, ‘Wow, he’s on me.’ But now like, “Hey, how does the coach feel?’ He went over that, and Z was great about jumping in the huddle and saying something.” Zeigler, a junior, admits that he has a deeper understanding of Tennessee’s

Zakai Zeigler (5) during a game against Tennessee Tech University at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. Cole Moore / Contributor playbook and basketball as a whole since his injury. He has also become mentally tougher. The point guard had never been injured or forced to sit out as long as he has following the torn ACL. He relied on his teammates and strength coach Garrett Medenwald through his injury. When he was at his mom’s house, players would come over and hang out. It was the little things like that, Zeigler says, that helped him get through one of the toughest times in his young career. “We had to just fight through it,” Zeigler said. “Me, coach G had talked about it from the start, and he had seen me a little bit down. He would always say like, ‘Listen, you can’t change it. Like this is the plan God has for you, so you just got to live with it, and you got to just go attack it.’” Polinsky credits fans, as well as Ziegler’s

family, for helping him through his recovery. “It can sound corny, but it’s true,” Polinsky said. “So I think that the masses here that our fans, I think Z felt that the great care that he got in terms of when he was out or people commenting or all the social media that, that people genuinely lifted him up.” As Zeigler comes out on the other side of his knee injury, Polinsky — like many others — are anticipating the guard’s return. The lessons that Zeigler has learned should translate seamlessly onto the court. Whether it be the mental toughness or the deeper understanding of Tennessee basketball, Polinsky expected Zeigler to be better post-injury. “He’s a very smart guy,” Polinsky said. “He’s matured a lot. I think he is a student of the game, and he’s a guy that’s

highly competitive and wants to do well. So I think that he’s going to try to take that and translate it right into the game, right on the court.”

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 • The Daily Beacon

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Avery Strickland (13) is coached by Kellie Harper during an exhibition game against CarsonNewman at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. Cole Moore / Contributor

Avery Strickland returns to East Tennessee after year at Pitt JACK CHURCH Staff Writer

Avery Strickland always knew she wanted to be a Lady Vol. She grew up going to games as a child, sometimes begging for tickets to see her idols. “It’s different knowing the legacy growing up here and what it means to be a Lady Vol and what it means to put on that jersey,” Strickland said. “I’m really excited to continue that legacy and play on that court where all those girls I looked up to did.” Playing for Farragut High School, Strickland was a senior on the 2021-22 team that reached the state championship game for the first time in school history. In the 6553 semifinal win over Cookeville, Strickland scored 31 points to send the Admirals to the final, where they lost to Bearden. However, Strickland never received any attention from Tennessee out of high school. “When that’s your dream school, you have certain expectations, but everything works out for its own reasons,” Strickland said. After decommitting from West Virginia, Strickland played her freshman season at Pittsburgh. She played in all 30 games for the Panthers, starting 11 times. She averaged 6.2 points per game, with her best coming against Georgia Tech where she scored 17 points with four rebounds. Now at Tennessee, Strickland will play a large role in Tennessee’s plans for the next three seasons. “When we found out that Avery was in the transfer portal, we felt like she was exactly the fit that we needed,” Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper said. “She can put the

ball in the hole, has a high motor, has great character, and she just checked off a lot of boxes that we’ve felt like we needed.” In Tennessee’s exhibition against CarsonNewman, Strickland scored her first unofficial points for the Lady Vols. She played 19 minutes in front of a home crowd for the first time. Although she may not be a major part of the rotation immediately, Strickland has the ability to make an impact in whatever role she plays. Her intensity is something that other players have appreciated in practice, including fellow Tennessee native Tess Darby. “Avery is a hustler and she’s a rebounder,” Darby said. “And I think that’s something we need. She knows that she can come in at any time and just give us that spark that we need.” Playing in Pittsburgh was hard for Strickland. She was away from all of her family and friends, which took a toll on her mentally. It was one of many reasons why she decided to return home to play for Tennessee. She was also far from her dog, Scruffy, who could only make a few visits to Pittsburgh. Overall, the distance took a toll on her. “I’ve been around a lot of friends and family, so that’s been a lot of fun,” Strickland said. “Just being on my home court has been great, too.” As the Lady Vols look towards their team after Rickea Jackson, Strickland brings versatility to Tennessee. Although she may not slot into the lineup immediately, she will be expected to perform over the course of her college career. “She’s playing hard, and I think she’s picked things up very quickly,” Harper said. “She’s really going to help this team. She has a chance to have a great career here at Tennessee.”

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Returns of Santiago Vescovi, JosiahJordan James embody ‘INAM’ culture ERIC WOODS Assistant Sports Editor

Anyone who spends time around Rick Barnes’ program knows that he runs Tennessee basketball with a different fuel. That fuel is “INAM” — “it’s not about me.” INAM is a standard, and it flows on and off the court. It means if one guy is down on the court, the four other players come to pick him up. INAM promotes love of the game and love of the program. “If you have that love for the game, you’ll meet that standard, and I think that’s just going into every game, that’s what we strive ourselves on,” junior guard Jahmai Mashack said. “And just making sure that we get there and, you know, do our best every game. Just love the game, love the sport and just have fun with it because, you know, basketball is definitely a privilege to be playing out here. So we all don’t want to take it for granted.” Nothing speaks to the culture more than the returns of fifth-year seniors JosiahJordan James and Santiago Vescovi. The two went through the draft process and had opportunities to compete for a spot in the NBA. Vescovi’s return and the addition of Dalton Knecht occupied the final two roster spots while James had yet to make up his mind. It seemed that his only opportunities were elsewhere in college basketball or at the next level. However, the two options in his mind were Knoxville or the NBA, nothing else. James chose to stay in Knoxville for his fifth year as a walk-on. “It’s hard to leave such a special place,” James said. “It wasn’t until the last day that I

really decided my final decision in returning. The biggest thing was being around a group of guys who I felt like were on the same page as me and wanted to come back and do something that’s never been done at Tennessee.” In the era of the transfer portal and taking every opportunity for immediate success, James and Vescovi stayed put. In Zakai Zeigler’s words, it was the “camaraderie” that brought them back. “It means that they really, really cared about us as a program,” Zeigler said. “Just to have the leadership and experience back and their style of play, it helps us out so much more. It gives us that was more of a boost going into the season just knowing that we have those guys there.” There is a sense of unfinished business following last year’s loss in the Sweet 16. It’s not about personal accomplishments, but it’s about competing for a championship for Tennessee and for the guys next to them. Zeigler said that INAM is a “brotherhood.” Vescovi called it a “family.” “The University of Tennessee is bigger than every single one of us,” Vescovi said. “So it’s about understanding that we want to win a championship. That’s the biggest thing over every single one of our personal interests.” James and Vescovi have put four years of work into the program, and Barnes “expects a lot from those two guys.” However, the expectations are different. Now that they are back, he says that they will not be judged by their play on the court because he’s seen it. They will be judged based on their leadership first and foremost. “They have always worked,” Barnes said. “They have been guys that we know have represented this program the way we wanted it represented. They are guys who bring it every day.”

Football

2023

PICK ‘EM

Eric Woods AssT. Sports Editor (49-14)

Caleb Jarreau Sports Editor (46-17)

Tanner Johnson Staff Writer (46-17)

Madeline McNeely Contributor (43-20)

Jack Church Staff Writer (41-22)

Bella Hughes Managing Editor (41-22)

Josiah-Jordan James (30) against Lenoir-Rhyne in the Food City Center. Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon

Missouri 34 vs. Tennessee 31 Michigan vs. Penn State Utah vs. Washington Ole Miss vs. Georgia USC vs. Oregon Tulsa vs. Tulane Air Force vs. Hawaii Missouri 27 vs. Tennessee 35 Michigan vs. Penn State Utah vs. Washington Ole Miss vs. Georgia USC vs. Oregon Tulsa vs. Tulane Air Force vs. Hawaii Missouri 30 vs. Tennessee 24 Michigan vs. Penn State Utah vs. Washington Ole Miss vs. Georgia USC vs. Oregon Tulsa vs. Tulane Air Force vs. Hawaii Missouri 31 vs. Tennessee 38 Michigan vs. Penn State Utah vs. Washington Ole Miss vs. Georgia USC vs. Oregon Tulsa vs. Tulane Air Force vs. Hawaii Missouri 30 vs. Tennessee 33 Michigan vs. Penn State Utah vs. Washington Ole Miss vs. Georgia USC vs. Oregon Tulsa vs. Tulane Air Force vs. Hawaii Missouri 38 vs. Tennessee 42 Michigan vs. Penn State Utah vs. Washington Ole Miss vs. Georgia USC vs. Oregon Tulsa vs. Tulane Air Force vs. Hawaii