Vol Basketball Fever

The Start of Basketball Preseason

Believe it or not, Tennessee basketball is HERE! Both the Vols and Lady Vols have started preseason practices, and Nathanael Rutherford speaks with Ryan Schumpert of Rocky Top Insider about what he's seen from the Vols' basketball team through the first week of practices and on UT's Media Day this week. Who is going to back up Zakai Zeigler at point guard? Will the Vols have some post players to rely on offensively this season? Plus, Julian Phillips is already garnering rave reviews from UT's coaches.

Are the Vols a Preseason Top 10 Team?

Some early preseason polls are starting to come out, and the Vols are starting to appear higher up than you might expect for the 2022-23 season. Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley discuss whether or not Tennessee will be a preseason top 10 team this upcoming season and if the Vols deserve that ranking. Plus, UT's full 2022-23 schedule has been released, and it could lead to a pretty strong start for the Vols this year. Also, is Josiah-Jordan James the Vols' best player heading into this season? One media outlet seems to think so.

A Big Time Big Man Chooses the Vols

Tennessee's men's basketball program stayed hot on the recruiting trail in the 2023 class when elite big man JP Estrella announced his commitment to UT on Friday. Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley break down the Vols' latest commitment and discuss why he could be a dynamic post option for Tennessee in the future. Plus, where does Rick Barnes rank among the rest of the college basketball world when it comes to recruiting? One national media outlet shared their take on Barnes' recruiting prowess. 
(1:45) - Borderline 5-star PF/C JP Estrella chooses the Vols(16:57) - Looking at some of UT's 2023 targets(20:08) - Where does Rick Barnes rank as a recruiter in CBB?(51:09) - The Vols are already getting Top 10 preseason hype

Another Tough Schedule for the Lady Vols

No surprise here: The Lady Vols have to face another grueling slate of games when they enter the 2022-23 season. Nathanael Rutherford is joined by special guest Ryan Sylvia of TNJN to discuss UT's difficult schedule for the upcoming season now that the full schedule has been released. Plus, if you could only choose one player to protect the entire season from injury, which Lady Vol would you select? And which game (or games) will we see the Lady Vols wear their new Summitt Blue jerseys this season?

The Vols Land an Elite Scorer

**WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE MESSED UP AUDIO QUALITY. Apparently when recording, the software recorded from the incorrect audio source, which is why the audio sounds lower quality in this episode. We apologize for the mishap.**
The Vols added a big piece to their 2023 recruiting class this week when four-star combo guard Freddie Dilione out of North Carolina committed to Tennessee. Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley discuss the Vols' newest commit and why he could be the exact type of offensive threat UT needs in the future. Plus, the Lady Vols are getting a new alternate jersey for this upcoming season, and the football team is bringing back the Smokey Grey uniforms. When will the Tennessee men's basketball team get to join in on the fun with alternate jerseys?
(1:59) - What the Vols are getting from 4-star guard Freddie Dilione(14:11) - Tennessee's 2023 class is shaping up to be VERY nice(24:17) - Heaping praise on Josiah-Jordan James(31:43) - Can the basketball Vols get some alternate jerseys, please?

All About Expectations

What exactly are fair expectations for Tennessee's men's basketball program as a whole? Does the Vols' distant past matter more than their recent history? Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley discuss how the Vols are viewed nationally and where exactly UT should rank in men's college basketball compared to other programs. Do fans who got sucked into UT hoops during the Bruce Pearl era have higher expectations for the Vols than older fans who grew up watching Ray Mears and Don DeVoe? Plus, Tennessee has released the full non-conference schedule for the men's team, and the Vols should have a pretty nice record heading into SEC play this season.
(1:40) - Do younger Vol fans have higher expectations for UT hoops?(21:49) - Inconsistency is the biggest reason the Vols haven't had more success(30:48) - Is Tennessee a top 25 program in the last 25 years?(38:12) - The difference between building a program and having a string of teams(53:16) - Tennessee has a pretty favorable non-conference schedule

Evaluating the Vols’ Recruiting

Tennessee has swung and missed on some high profile prospects in the 2023 class lately. Is it time for Rick Barnes and his staff to make some adjustments to their recruiting style as Barnes enters his last few years in college basketball? Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley discuss the Vols' recruiting as of late, how sustainable UT's current recruiting efforts are, and what the future could hold for the program beyond this upcoming season.
(2:18) - Discussing the Vols' recent misses in recruiting(18:35) - Is it better to land high-end 4-stars than one-and-dones?(29:02) - Does good, quality experience trump flashy five-star freshmen?(41:29) - Should the Vols follow Gonzaga's and Villanova's blueprints?(56:55) - How the transfer portal uniquely affects (or hurts) basketball(1:10:40) - A sobering fact for all Vol fans to remember

How Much Has the Lady Vols’ Culture Changed?

It's time for the first-ever Lady Vol mailbag edition of the show! Nathanael Rutherford is joined by special guest Maria Cornelius of GoVols247 to answer listener questions about the Lady Vols' starting five, biggest non-conference match-ups this season, how Kellie Harper has changed the culture of the program, and much more!
(2:39) - What match-ups are we most looking forward to?(10:20) - How can Kellie Harper keep this coaching staff intact? (19:26) - Who will be the Lady Vols' starting 5 and who will be the biggest impact off the bench?(32:45) - How much has Kellie Harper changed the culture of the Lady Vols?(48:30) - Has the culture been a bigger draw than NIL for transfers?

What to Expect from New Vol Signee Tobe Awaka

Tennessee officially added New York big man Tobe Awaka to their 2022-23 roster when his signing in the 2022 class was announced this month. Nathanael Rutherford is joined by Awaka's high school head coach, Joe Lods of Cardinal Hayes High School, to give Vol fans the lowdown on the newest addition to UT's roster.
What makes Awaka so great at rebounding? Did the Vols land one of the biggest steals of the 2022 recruiting cycle? Plus, hear why Awaka might be a combination of Zakai Zeigler, Grant Williams, and Josiah-Jordan James.

Creating Championship Rosters

Have both the Vols and Lady Vols done enough this offseason to create rosters that can compete -- and win -- championships this upcoming season? Nathanael Rutherford is joined by special guest Jack Foster of Volunteer Country on Sports Illustrated to break down the roster reconstruction for both the Vols and Lady Vols basketball teams this offseason. Will the Vols use that last open scholarship this summer? Even if they don't, have the additions this offseason drastically improved the team? For the Lady Vols, is it fair to say "Final Four or bust" for this team? Plus, who are both teams targeting in the 2023 class?
(2:13) - Are the Vols actually going to use that last scholarship for this year?(10:58) - Did the Vols fill all their needs this offseason?(22:32) - A look at Tennessee's top 2023 targets(31:28) - Start of the Lady Vols discussion(31:47) - Is it "Final Four or bust" for the Lady Vols after their offseason additions?(48:30) - Can the Lady Vols sustain their success in the 2023 class?