Tag: Basketball

Lady Vols basketball trounce Stetson

Lady Vols basketball trounce Stetson.

KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Volunteers women’s basketball team defeated the Stetson Hatters on Tuesday night, 73-46, in their 500th game at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Lady Vols were led by Rennia Davis, who scored 15 points, along with five rebounds and two assists. Jordan Horston scored 11 points in the first quarter, including three three-pointers, en route to a 14 point performance in support; she also grabbed five boards and dished out seven assists. Three other players — Jazmine Massengill, Kasiyahna Kushkituah and Rae Burrell — also posted double-digit points.

The Volunteers came out of the gates making three buckets from beyond the arc on three straight possessions, missing the fourth consecutive attempt to break the streak. The Lady Vols never trailed and reached their biggest lead of 27 at the 1:52 mark of the fourth quarter, which ultimately was the final margin of victory.

Tennessee shot 43 percent from the field with a 38 percent mark from three-point range after a hot start, and they posted a 65 percent free throw average on 23 attempts — all numbers that indicate another solid performance by the squad. Their 13 turnovers to Stetson’s 11 suggest that the game was well-executed on both sides.

The win improved the program to an incredible 455-45 record at Thompson-Boling Arena in their second game of a six-game homestand. It also marks head coach Kellie Harper’s first 5-0 start of her career.

The Volunteers will next host the Arkansas-Pine Bluffs Golden Lions next Tuesday, November 26, heading into the Thanksgiving break. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

Doc Rivers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be a ‘superstar’

The Clippers coach sees big things in the future for the Oklahoma City guard.

Long before Thunder fans got a glimpse of the player that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be, Doc Rivers already knew what he had.

Gilgeous-Alexander had to wait 10 games until earning his first start during his rookie season with the Clippers. From there, he never looked back.

SGA turned in a second-team All-Rookie year, playing in all 82 games while averaging 10.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. He set the franchise record for points by a rookie in a playoff game with 25 in a Game 4 win over the Warriors in the first round.

That’s what it was so hurt so much for Los Angeles to give him up in the trade for Paul George.

According to The Athletic, Doc Rivers and the Clippers were “heartbroken” when the Thunder asked for SGA to be included in the deal.

“It’s tough because he’s such a great kid,” Rivers said. “It’s the price of doing business in the NBA. It’s a trade you have to do, right? But, you know, as excited as I was when we knew that the whole deal was going through, when Lawrence (Frank) told me that Shai’s name was still in it, you were sad, disappointed. He’s such a good kid. 

Per Jovan Buha, Rivers believes that Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be “a superstar”. Those sentiments are echoed by his former teammate, Lou Williams. 

“I think Shai is gonna be a star,” Williams said. “I’m just happy for him that he’s finally striding. He’s made so many jumps just over the summer working on his game, working on his body. You can see the difference in how he’s played. He’s grown. I’m so happy for him.” 

Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t have his best game in a Thunder uniform during his return to Los Angeles Monday. He scored 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting in Oklahoma City’s 90-88 loss to the Clippers.

But his start to the season has been better than most expected. He’s leading the team in scoring at 19.7 points per game while hitting 45.9% of his shots from the floor.

The Thunder believe that with time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can be a franchise player in the NBA.

Doc Rivers certainly thinks so.

Doc Rivers reflects on Chris Paul’s time with the Clippers

After Monday’s game, Rivers credited Chris Paul and his ‘Lob City’ teammates with helping to ‘restart’ the Clippers franchise.

With all the talk surrounding Paul George facing his former team in the Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari returning to Los Angeles, it got almost got lost that Chris Paul was going up against his former franchise too.

And Paul showed out. He led the Thunder with 22 points hitting a pair of free throws with 31.5 seconds remaining that nearly gave Oklahoma City the win.

Paul spent six years with the Clippers between 2011 and 2017. The ‘Lob City’ era as it was known, didn’t bring home an NBA Championship, but it did produce “five straight seasons of 50 or more wins, including a franchise-record 57 wins during the 2013-2014 season”, as noted by Clutch Points.

Doc Rivers was Paul’s coach then. He’s still the Clippers coach now. And on Monday night, he gave CP3, along with his teammates during the Lob City era, credit for building the foundation upon which the team is now built.

“It was great,” replied Rivers on Paul’s time in L.A. “Obviously … None of us won a title, but him, Blake, DJ started this franchise in a lot of ways. Or restarted it. They started a tradition of winning. The next step is being THE winner, but there shouldn’t be a negative at all in that.”

According to Tomer Azarly, Paul’s memories weren’t quite as rose-colored. But Paul still has good things to say about the years he spent in L.A.

“Oh, that’s a long, long, long, long story, you know what I mean,” Paul said with a smile. “But it was a good time. I stay in contact with them guys. Everybody’s on different paths now, but it was a fun time.”

Paul and the Thunder will face the Clippers three more times during the regular season, the next game coming on Sunday, Dec. 22, and it will be broadcast on NBATV.

Locked On Spartans Podcast: Cassius Winston is special

Michigan State takes down Charleston Southern

Wil and Matt talk about MSU beating Charleston Southern, even though neither of them saw the game. Then they talk about Cassius Winston addressing the Breslin Center crowd after the game.

You can find the episode on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

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Paul George scores dagger to drop Thunder 90-88

The former Oklahoma City star hit a go-ahead-three with 25 seconds remaining to lift the Clippers over the Thunder on Monday night.

Paul George once again came up big when his team needed him the most. Unfortunately for the Thunder, that team is no longer Oklahoma City.

The former Thunder center drilled a go-ahead three-pointer with 25 seconds left in the game to lift the Clippers to a 90-88 victory over OKC late Monday night.

As has been the theme all season, the Thunder was in this one at the end.

A pair of ex-Clippers, Danilo Gallinari and Chris Paul, put Oklahoma City ahead with under a minute to play. Gallinari first made a 3 with 52.5 seconds remaining to tie the game at 86, then Paul hit two free-throws at the 31.5 mark to make it 88-86 OKC.

Then came the shot by George.

Paul told reporters, including Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, after the game he blamed himself for allowing George to take the game-winner.

“If I get through the screen that’s a tougher shot. And you know PG, he makes big shots like that, so that’s on me.”

Paul led the Thunder with 22 points. Three other players were in double-digits; Gallinari scored 14, Dennis Schroder came off the bench to add 12, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in 11.

Both Gallinari and Gilgeous-Alexander were welcomed back warmly and received a tribute video from the Clippers.

Oklahoma City doesn’t have any time to dwell on Monday’s loss. Their West Coast road trip continues Monday night as they return to the Staples Center on Tuesday to take on the Lakers.

Patrick Patterson relishing opportunity with Clippers as Thunder visit L.A.

The former Thunder forward talked about the end of his time in OKC ahead of Monday’s matchup between the Clippers and Oklahoma City.

While you can’t go home again, you can always visit.

For former Oklahoma City Thunder forward Patrick Patterson, “home” for his last two seasons will actually be “away”, as the team he played for prior to his new club, the Los Angeles Clippers, visits Staples Center Monday evening.

Enthusiastic to be in his new home after seeing his role with the Thunder diminish and then effectively dry up, Patterson doesn’t look back with ire at how his last opportunity ended.

As his playing time began to shrink, and recent arrival Markieff Morris’ grow while the team’s fortunes grew increasingly worse, it would be easy to be resentful. But the Washington (D.C.) native doesn’t blame Morris, or the organization for how his tenure with OKC turned out.

“I don’t think it was just one thing,” Patterson said of the Thunder’s end-of-season collapse, and his eventual ejection from the rotation, which saw him sitting 24 of the team’s final 29 games, according to The Oklahoman’s Joe Mussatto.

“Coaching staff, not everyone on the same page from the heads up top to the players on the bottom, added the Kentucky product. “Effort on the players’ part. Focus, playing together, playing good solid defense with communication. We missed a lot of shots. We didn’t capitalize on opportunities.”

Relishing his next opportunity to play along recent champion Kawhi Leonard and All-Star forward Paul George, Patterson is embracing playing for the Clippers this season. “Finding a role again, finding a group of guys who push and believe in me and challenge me,” he explained as key elements of his new situation that most appealed.

“Just being happy, having fun. I think all that contributes to a new, clean slate and that’s what I have here right now.”

Patterson looks forward to seeing his new teammates in Los Angeles, and plans to catch up with them before the game. Don’t expect him to give his former franchise a light touch come gametime, however.

“It’ll be all smiles until the ball is thrown up in the air and that clock starts,” offered Patterson on how he’ll be approaching the game.

If history is any judge, the Thunder should take him at his word.

Vols basketball ranked No. 17 in USA TODAY latest poll

Vols basketball ranked No. 17 in latest USA TODAY poll.

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball team is ranked No. 17 in the latest USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll. The Vols moved up eight spots from their previous rank of No. 25.

The team has started off the year a perfect 3-0 after their first major test of the season, defeating the previously ranked No. 20 Washington Huskies on Saturday.

Tennessee also joins SEC teams Kentucky (10) and Auburn (18) in the Top 25. While conference foes No. 6 Florida and No. 24 Louisiana State dropped out of the rankings.

USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll

  1. Duke
  2. Louisville
  3. Michigan State
  4. UNC
  5. Kansas
  6. Virginia
  7. Maryland
  8. Gonzaga
  9. Ohio State
  10. Kentucky
  11. Oregon
  12. Texas Tech
  13. Seton Hall
  14. Arizona
  15. Villanova
  16. Utah State
  17. Tennessee
  18. Auburn
  19. VCU
  20. Memphis
  21. Xavier
  22. Texas
  23. Baylor
  24. Washington
  25. Colorado

Schools dropped out

No. 6 Florida; No. 20 St. Mary’s; No. 22 Purdue; No. 24 Louisiana State.

Others receiving votes

Oklahoma 47; St. Mary’s 46; Florida 40; Marquette 25; Florida State 22; Louisiana State 20; Purdue 19; Michigan 15; Kansas State 14; Butler 11; Vermont 10; Penn St. 9; Arkansas 9; Evansville 8; Wisconsin 7; Dayton 7; Utah 5; Creighton 5; Syracuse 3; San Diego St. 3; Southern California 2; Missouri 2; Mississippi 2; Tulane 1; Oklahoma State 1; Cincinnati 1.

Rivers calls Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘the greatest kid’ as former Clippers guard returns to L.A. with Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s former coach spoke highly of the former Clippers guard ahead of the team’s matchup against Oklahoma City Monday.

Doc Rivers has nothing but good things to say about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

On Monday, the former Clippers guard returns to Los Angeles to face the organization that traded him away.

Make no mistake, the blockbuster deal that sent Paul George to L.A. for Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and a boatload of draft picks, so far seems to be working out for both parties. The Clippers landed both George and Kawhi Leonard (even if the two have yet to share the court) and George has looked dominate after returning from off-season shoulder surgery.

Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander is the team’s leading scorer and heir-apparent at point guard.

It took a lot to part with George, and Clippers head coach Doc Rivers told media this week he knew what he was giving up in SGA.

“He’s the greatest kid,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said of Gilgeous-Alexander this week. “I don’t know if I’ve had a more favorite young player, like, he’s the best. Just still innocent enough, you know, hopefully that stays.”

According to Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman, those sentiments were echoed by Gilgeous-Alexander’s former teammates as well.

“Everybody loved Shai,” former Clipper and current Hawks guard Tyrone Wallace said. “It was one of those things, I think a lot of fans were kind of upset (that he was traded). And all that type of thing, but I get it’s a business, and that’s how it happens.”

Danilo Gallinari, who has also been a solid addition to the Thunder in the trade for Paul George, played with SGA during his rooking season and, per Lee, has seen tremendous growth in year two.

“It’s been amazing to me being able to see him every day since last year getting better game by game,” Gallinari said, “and all the strides that he made this year is pretty amazing.”

Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will take on George and the Clippers Monday night. Tip-off is at 9:30 C.T.

AP poll: Texas basketball makes it in

Starting 4-0, UT basketball finds itself in the top 25 for the first time this season. It is the first time they are ranked since Nov 2018.

Starting the season out 4-0, Texas makes it into the AP top 25 poll for the first time this season. Coming in at No. 22, the Longhorns are ranked for the first time since Nov. 2018. No. 4 Kansas, No. 12 Texas Tech, and No. 23 Baylor are the other Big 12 teams that join Texas in the top 25.

Here is the full poll:

  1. Duke
  2. Louisville
  3. Michigan State
  4. Kansas
  5. North Carolina
  6. Maryland
  7. Virginia
  8. Gonzaga
  9. Kentucky
  10. Ohio State
  11. Oregon
  12. Texas Tech
  13. Seton Hall
  14. Arizona
  15. Utah State
  16. Memphis
  17. Villanova
  18. Xavier
  19. Auburn
  20. Tennessee
  21. VCU
  22. Texas
  23. Colorado
  24. Baylor
  25. Washington
Others receiving votes:

Florida State 91, Florida 67, LSU 61, Saint Mary’s 55, Evansville 43, Oklahoma 29, Vermont 11, Michigan 11, Marquette 11, Purdue 11, Butler 10, Mississippi State 9, Virginia Tech 7, West Virginia 6, Providence 5, Wisconsin 5, Liberty 4, Arkansas 3, Missouri 2, Connecticut 2, USC 2, New Mexico 2, San Diego State 2, Dayton 1

Texas has a big week upcoming as they head to Madison Square Garden to participate in the 2K Classic in New York City, NY. They will face Georgetown on Thursday night and either No. 1 Duke or California on Friday night. Picking up even one win would take the Longhorns a long way come March.

You can watch Texas face Georgetown in the 2K Classic on Thursday at 6 P.M. CST on ESPN2.

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UT News: November 18, 2019

UT News: November 18, 2019

Welcome back from a football bye weekend for the Tennessee Volunteers. It was not all quiet the past few days, as the men’s basketball team triumphed over Washington on Saturday night, keeping their record perfect at 3-0. As for other news, the women’s volleyball team has announced some signings and the Lady Vols track and field team scored their best regional finish in a decade.

Lady Vols volleyball signs three

Women’s volleyball coach Eve Rackham announced the signing of three recruits for the 2020 class on Friday.

The trio of prospects — Jasmine Brooks, Allie Holland and Kya Moore — are all top-150 players, according to PrepVolleyball.com. Coach Rackham had the following to say about the newest members of the Vols family.

“We are excited about our newest additions to the Lady Vol Volleyball family. Each of these young women are talented in their position and will add great depth to our 2020 roster. Not only are they outstanding athletes, but they are also high-level students, active in their communities and will represent our program with class. I am particularly excited about the work ethic and positivity they will bring to our culture.”

The three prospects promise to bolster the volleyball program and will very likely debut in 2020.

NEXT: Lady Vols track and field record best finish in a decade

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