Vol Basketball Fever

Preparing for March Madness

Can you believe February is almost over? That means the best time of the year is almost here...March Madness! The Vols have faced many tests in the regular season to build up to this, and they have a couple more left in the regular season. Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley discuss the takeaways from Tennessee's most recent two contests while looking ahead to UT's huge match-up with Auburn on Saturday. Plus, the two do a little NCAA Tournament talk and discuss the Vols' likelihood of going on a run in March.
(3:24) - Victor Bailey Jr. stepped up(8:27) - Evaluating Tennessee's post players(12:53) - Not overreacting to the Arkansas loss(20:46) - The Vols don't have a "bad" loss this season(30:30) - Why UT can have success in March(45:37) - Saturday vs. Auburn is going to be FUN

The Vols are ON FIRE Right Now

What a win THAT was! Tennessee knocked off No. 4 Kentucky in blowout fashion on Tuesday night and got their revenge for the beating they got on the road in Rupp Arena in January. Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley discuss the game and what to take away from it. Has Jonas Aidoo officially "arrived" in his freshman season now? Is John Fulkerson finally "back" to form? Does this win change how we feel about the trajectory of the season? Plus, this Saturday's game against Arkansas is just as important as the Kentucky game, if not even MORE important. 
(1:36) - A quick recap of the Vols' BIG win over Kentucky(4:02) - The emergence of Jonas Aidoo is a game-changer(12:46) - Hello again, Fulky(20:31) - Has Aidoo earned a larger role?(26:43) - What ARE the big picture takeaways from this game?(38:25) - Saturday's game against Arkansas is VERY important (1:10:16) - A quick Lady Vols discussion

Don’t Lose Hope Yet for the Lady Vols

The Lady Vols have lost 3 of their last 4 games and have suffered a couple really bad blowout losses in the process. But it's not time to push the panic button and lose hope just yet. Nathanael Rutherford is joined by special guest Kellyanne Stitts of WATE to discuss the latest with the Lady Vols. What happened in that second half collapse against UConn? Has this team lost their confidence? Who will step up as a leader moving forward? Plus, why there's still plenty of time for the Lady Vols to turn this around and respond to this adversity just like they did to other adversity earlier this season.
(1:05) - So...what's happened to the Lady Vols in the 2nd half lately?(4:16) - Has the Lady Vols' good luck just run out?(5:45) - It's time to respond to adversity, again(10:49) - The Lady Vols desperately need a win right now(17:29) - Why hasn't Karoline Striplin played more lately?(18:31) - Praise for Sara Puckett(21:25) - Why fans shouldn't be too nervous...yet(30:34) - Will Rae Burrell move back to the "spark off the bench" role?

The Vols Have to Make a Big Adjustment

With the news that junior forward Olivier Nkamhoua is likely out for the remainder of the season, Tennessee is forced to make a big adjustment to their lineup moving forward. Nathanael Rutherford is joined by guest host Ryan Schumpert of Rocky Top Insider to discuss how the Vols will fare without Nkamhoua for the remainder of the year and if it means UT will play more small ball even against bigger opponents. Plus, Josiah-Jordan James and Zakai Zeigler have been red hot, can the Vols play their way into a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament, and more!
(1:56) - Olivier Nkamhoua is out for the season(4:33) - Is it time for more small ball lineups?(8:58) - Does this injury change our projections for the Vols?(15:04) - The importance of Josiah-Jordan James(20:45) - More praise for Zakai Zeigler(28:41) - Will UT be a three-heavy team moving forward?(32:20) - Can the Vols play themselves into a 3-seed?(39:58) - Quick recruiting discussion(43:13) - Wrap-up

What is Going On with the Lady Vols?

It's been a...rough...week for the Lady Vols. Nathanael Rutherford is joined by special guest Maria Cornelius of GoVols247 to discuss what exactly is happening with the Lady Vols and why they've suffered two really bad losses over the last week-plus of games. Has the loss of Keyen Green really affected the team this much? How do the Lady Vols recover moving forward? Plus, this Sunday is another chapter in the greatest rivalry in women's basketball. Maria provides her thoughts on the Tennessee vs. UConn game and also shares her favorite memories from the rivalry.
(1:18) - Is Keyen Green's absence the main reason for this past week?(8:07) - Explaining the poor effort against Florida(16:35) - Was Florida just hot offensively, or was UT just bad on defense?(19:38) - Let's talk some fans off the ledge(28:56) - It's time for Tennessee vs. UConn this Sunday(40:21) - Some of Maria's favorite moments in this rivalry(49:04) - Recruiting notes for the Lady Vols(1:00:06) - Some great Lady Vols and women's sports coverage

Stop Hating on Josiah-Jordan James

Despite being one of the Vols' most consistent players over the last three weeks, Josiah-Jordan James is still receiving a ton of backlash and criticism from a decent chunk of Tennessee's fan base. Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley detail why a lot of that criticism goes too far for the third-year wing. Plus, Gene gives some good feedback on why it may seem Kennedy Chandler plays out of control at times, and there's a GREAT story on Zakai Zeigler all Vol fans need to check out.
Link to Zakai Zeigler story: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/mens-basketball/2022/02/02/zakai-zeigler-tennessee-basketball-background-recruitment-life-homeless/5648614001/
(4:10) - Why do Vol fans continue to hate on Josiah-Jordan James?(15:15) - A pretty fair player comp for JJJ(34:20) - Discussing Kennedy Chandler's play lately(46:08) - Zakai Zeigler is already a fan favorite, and here's why(1:01:57) - The Vols' February schedule is easier than January

Vols are Finally Playing with Attitude

Ever since Rick Barnes inserted Uros Plavsic into the starting lineup, the Vols have been playing with an edge they've missed for most of this season. Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley discuss Plavsic, Zakai Zeigler, and Santiago Vescovi giving Tennessee a much-needed spark in the attitude department as of late. Plus, they provide some context as to why the Vols' offense has struggled this year and look ahead to the Battle of the UTs this Saturday when the Vols take on Texas in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
(1:36) - Tennessee's big attitude adjustment(9:19) - Can the Vols get by playing primarily "small ball" lineups?(21:41) - Providing context to UT's offensive struggles(32:06) - Santiago Vescovi deserves more attention(41:57) - The "Rick Barnes Development Program" is still working(49:58) - Can the Vols play themselves into a 4-seed or 3-seed?(1:02:02) - Looking at the Battle for the Real UT

It’s Fun to Watch the Lady Vols Again

For what feels like the first time in many years, it's A LOT of fun to watch the Lady Vols play basketball again. And that's partially because THEY are having fun playing. Nathanael Rutherford is joined by Cora Hall of Knox News to discuss the Lady Vols' continued success this season and their tough road match-up with a ranked Georgia squad on Sunday. Will Rae Burrell continue to come off the bench the rest of the season? Is Tamari Key ready to go for Sunday? Plus, why the NIL is a game-changer for women's athletics, and why this Lady Vol squad is having fun again.
 
(2:33) - Will Rae Burrell continue to come off the bench? (6:19) - What's the status of Tamari Key? (11:00) - Georgia presents a lot of problems (20:53) - The Lady Vols are having fun and winning (25:03) - How the NIL is changing the game for women's hoops (37:56) - An upcoming article on Brooklynn Miles

Do the Vols Lack Leadership?

It's a tough question to ask, but after the Vols' blowout loss on the road to Kentucky on Saturday, we're asking it: Does Tennessee have a lack of leadership on the roster? Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley discuss UT's 107-79 loss to rival Kentucky on Saturday and examine what that loss means moving forward. Does this radically change how they feel about the Vols? Does UT have legit player leaders right now? Plus, the Lady Vols continue to tear through the SEC and turned in another dominant performance on Sunday. Are they as elite as their record and ranking say?
(1:37) - Well...that was a brutal loss(11:12) - This loss isn't the end of the world(18:49) - Do the Vols have a true leader on the roster?(27:30) - Why UT doesn't have to be "elite" to make a run(34:43) - Does Brandon Huntley-Hatfield need to play more?(44:15) - Most of UT's goals are still on the table(58:39) - Let's talk Lady Vols

Let’s Examine Rick Barnes

After a couple more lackluster performances from Tennessee's offense, Vol fans have a lot of questions about Rick Barnes' style of coaching and what exactly the ceiling is for UT's program under his guidance. Co-hosts Nathanael Rutherford and Gene Henley answer listener questions about Barnes, Kennedy Chandler, UT's bench, recruiting, and more. Plus, the Vols have a huge game against rival Kentucky this weekend. Can they leave Lexington victorious? 
(3:43) - Is Rick Barnes using his bench rotation correctly?(22:05) - Is Rick Barnes "over-coaching" Kennedy Chandler?(38:33) - Let's talk expectations and Rick Barnes' contract (again)(1:02:29) - Recruiting notes for the 2022 class(1:04:44) - Tennessee plays Kentucky in Rupp Arena on Saturday