Wednesday's Tennessee Football Briefing (5/2)

By Jason Yellin on May 2, 2012 7:14 AM | No TrackBacks

- ESPN.com continues its "Home Turf" series with a look at the best places to go in Knoxville when in town for the Vols game: The SEC guide to Tennessee's home turf.

- The Knoxville News Sentinel has a feature story on local product Nick Guess, who is getting a shot at the NFL with the San Diego Chargers: Chargers take Guess out of waiting for NFL

- GoVols247 caught up with Tauren Poole as he prepares to give his all in mini-camp with the Carolina Panthers: Poole talks past, present, future.

- Volquest has a piece on some adjustments in NCAA rules and gets Derek Dooley's take on them: A summer break?

- Inside Tennessee has a feature on the Vols "star" Eric Gordon, who plays the position in the defensive backfield: A 'star' is born

Watson Ready For Challenge After Rose Injury

By Jason Yellin on May 1, 2012 2:40 PM

Former Tennessee star C.J. Watson will be in the spotlight as he draws the starting nod for an injured Derrick Rose as the top-seeded Chicago Bulls take on the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 tonight at 8 p.m.

Watson started 25 regular-season games this season, averaging 11.3 points. Tuesday night, he will make his first-ever postseason start, subbing for Rose.

The Chicago Bulls lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Philadelphia 76ers 1-0.

"I'm very comfortable," Watson said. "My teammates believe in me. Coach believes in me. That's all that really matters."

The Bulls went 18-9 during the regular season without Rose and 17-8 in games Watson started.

"Everyone has been playing their roles the whole season," Watson said. "Nothing is new. Just run the plays and play the defense like we've been playing.

"Everyone will go in with confidence, knowing they can make shots and play big minutes with Derrick out. We've been able to win games with Derrick out. It's nothing new for us."

Watson vowed to play aggressively.

"Just try to push the ball, make open shots, try to drive and get some assists," the mild-mannered guard said.

Here's a look at some more stories about Watson and his opportunity:

- ESPN.com: Backups up for challenge of replacing Rose

- Chicago Sun-Times: Bulls-Sixers: Game 2 preview

- Dekalb Daily Chronicle: Team has faith Watson can help ﬁll the void

- NBC Chicago: Time For Bulls' Watson, Lucas To Step Up

- Real GM: Bulls Have Confidence In CJ Watson

- South Bend Tribune: Bulls' Watson vows to be aggressive

- Sporting News: Even with Derrick Rose sidelined, don't count the Bulls out yet

NCAA.com Selection Show Tonight At 5 P.M. ET

By Andrew Lentz on May 1, 2012 10:59 AM

WATCH HERE

The Tennessee Lady Vol tennis team will discover its First and Second Round destination for the NCAA Tournament during the 5 p.m. ET NCAA.com Selection Show on Tuesday.

Access to the show can be found at the above link towards the beginning.

UT is 14-12 and ranked 22nd, but has hosted the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament the last three years.

The opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament take place at regional sites on May 11-12.

Tuesday's Tennessee Football Briefing (5/1)

By Jason Yellin on May 1, 2012 7:18 AM

May is underway! Check out following stories related to Tennessee football including several on Vols and their opportunities with NFL teams.

- CBSSports.com: Still smarting from brutal 2011, Dooley says Vols are on right track

- SportsIllustrated.com: Vols' Children's Crusade comes of age

- Knoxville News Sentinel: Vols are headed back up draft board

- Knoxville News Sentinel: Matt Simms among several to get tryout with Jets

- GoVols247: Poole talks past, present, future

- Inside Tennessee: Onward and upward

- Hickory Daily Record: Former Hickory star agrees to free-agent deal with Baltimore Ravens

- Panthers.com: Panthers agree to terms with 12 college free agents

- WBIR: Todd's Weather at Work: Neyland Stadium

Happy Birthday - April 30: Vols Legend Phil Garner

By Jason Yellin on April 30, 2012 5:27 PM

Former Tennessee Baseball star Phil Garner celebrates his birthday today, April 30. Garner is one of two Vols to have their baseball number retired (18). The Jefferson City, Tenn., native went on to play in the majors from 1973-88 with the A's, Pirate, Astros, Dodgers and Giants. He also managed the Astros to the 2005 World Series.

Here's a look at Garner through the years in baseball cards:

Matt Simms Invited To Jets Mini Camp

By Jason Yellin on April 30, 2012 5:18 PM

Vols quarterback Matt Simms has been invited to New York Jets Mini Camp. Check out the following stories which include quotes from Simms.

- ESPN.com: Matt Simms, Phil's son, receives invite

- New York Post: Simms' son accepts invitation to Jets' rookie camp: report

- North Jersey.com: Matt Simms to participate in Jets rookie mini-camp

- Star-Ledger: QB Matt Simms, son of Phil Simms, invited to Jets rookie mini-camp

- New York Daily News: Matt Simms, son of Phil Simms, invited to Jets rookie mini-camp

Vols in the Pros Update (4/30)

By Cameron Harris on April 30, 2012 4:37 PM

A total of 18 former Vols are currently active in professional baseball, including five at the Major League level. Find out how they are doing in this week's Vols in the Pros Update.

TODD HELTON (Colorado Rockies)

Last 10: .290 (9-for-31), 6 R, 3 HR, 8 RBIs, 1 SB

Season: .270 (17-for-63), 6 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 16 RBIs, 1 SB

Video: Pinch-hit grand slam

R.A. DICKEY (New York Mets)

Season: 3-1, 4.44 ERA, 4 GS, 24.1 IP, 25 H, 12 ER, 8 BB, 22 K, .269 Opp. BA, 1.36 WHIP

Video: Solid start

Strong start

Great snag

Stellar start

J.P. ARENCIBIA (Toronto Blue Jays)

Last 10: .345 (10-for-29), 2 R, 5 RBIs, 1 SB

Season: .197 (12-for-61), 4 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 1 SB

Video: RBI single off Hochevar

Game-tying single

Another RBI single

Sacrifice fly

CHASE HEADLEY (San Diego Padres)

Last 10: .212 (7-for-33), 5 R, 2 RBIs, 8 BB, 1 SB

Season: .253 (20-for-79), 16 R, 6 2B, 4 HR, 14 RBIs, 19 BB, 2 SB

Video: Clutch two-run homer

LUKE HOCHEVAR (Kansas City Royals)

Season: 2-1, 4.98 ERA, 4 GS, 21.2 IP, 20 H, 12 ER, 8 BB, 16 K, .250 Opp. BA, 1.29 WHIP

Video: Solid start

Hochevar's injury

TRIPLE-A

Julio Borbon - Round Rock Express (Rangers)

Last 10: .158 (6-for-38), 5 R, 3 RBIs

Season: .200 (18-for-90), 13 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBIs, 12 BB, 1 SB

Yan Gomes - Las Vegas 51s (Blue Jays)

Last 10: .375 (15-for-40), 4 R, 7 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs

Season: .342 (26-for-76), 8 R, 9 2B, 1 HR, 12 RBIs

Deunte Heath - Charlotte Knights (White Sox)

Season: 1-0, 1.54 ERA, 1 SV, 7 G, 11.2 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 14 K, .190 Opp. BA

DOUBLE-A

Kentrail Davis - Huntsville Stars (Brewers)

Last 10: .283 (13-for-46), 5 R, 2 2B, 6 RBIs, 2 SB

Season: .265 (13-for-49), 5 R, 2 2B, 6 RBIs, 2 SB

Andy Simunic - Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros)

Last 10: .448 (13-for-29), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBIs, 4 BB, 3 SB

Season: .366 (15-for-41), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBIs, 6 BB, 3 SB

SINGLE-A (Advanced)

Blake Forsythe - St. Lucie Mets (Mets)

Last 10: .147 (5-for-34), 2 R, 2 2B, 5 RBIs

Season: .158 (6-for-38), 2 R, 2 2B, 6 RBIs

Stephen McCray - Winstom-Salem Dash (White Sox)

Season (including w/ Kannapolis): 0-2, 1.83 ERA, 7 G, 2 GS, 19.2 IP, 14 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 16 K, .197 Opp. BA

Cody Hawn - Brevard County Manatees (Brewers)

Last 10: .135 (5-for-37), 3 R, 2 2B, 2 RBIs, 1 SB

Season: .195 (17-for-87), 9 R, 5 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBIs, 2 SB

Ty'Relle Harris - Daytona Cubs (Cubs)

Season: 2-1, 3.46 ERA, 8 G, 13.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 9 BB, 14 K, .174 Opp. BA

SINGLE-A

Matt Duffy - Lexington Legends (Astros)

Last 10: .326 (14-for-43), 8 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBIs

Season: .296 (29-for-98), 11 R, 4 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBIs, 1 SB

Charley Thurber - Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets)

Last 10: .200 (8-for-30), 3 R, 3 RBIs

Season: .197 (12-for-61), 4 R, 6 RBIs, 1 SB

Steven Gruver - Beloit Snappers (Twins)

Season: 1-3, 4.57 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 21.2 IP, 32 H, 11 ER, 5 BB, 14 K, .340 Opp. BA

Bryan Morgado - Lakewood BlueClaws (Phillies)

Season: 2-0, 3.65 ERA, 6 G, 12.1 IP, 14 H, 5 ER, 7 BB, 11 K, .304 Opp. BA

ON TOUR: ATP Tour Rankings (4/30/12)

By Amanda Pruitt on April 30, 2012 11:59 AM

Here are the Vols' updated ATP Tour rankings as of April 30, 2012. The Vols are listed by highest singles ranking first. The number in parenthesis denotes change from previous week.

Rhyne Williams

Singles: 333 (+32)

Doubles: 393 (-3)

Note: Made first career Challenger quarterfinal, reaching the final eight at the Savannah Challenger ... 333 a new career best ... Traveling to Italy for a Challenger next week.

John-Patrick Smith

Singles: 337 (+12)

Doubles: 182 (+2)

Note: Points added from reaching the semifinals of the Little Rock (Ark.) Futures in singles and doubles two weeks ago ... Beginning a three-week Futures circuit in Florida this week at Vero Beach.

Tennys Sandgren

Singles: 352 (+52)

Doubles: 332 (+32)

Note: Points added for sweeping the singles and doubles titles at the Little Rock (Ark.) Futures, beating John Peers 6-1, 7-6 in the title match ... Off this week ... Beginning a three-week Futures circuit in Florida this week at Vero Beach.

Adam Hubble

Singles: N/A

Doubles: 378 (-5)

Note: Off this week ... Preparing for three-week swing in South Korea.

Ben Rogers

Singles: N/A

Doubles: 591 (-7)

Note: Playing doubles at the Vero Beach Futures with John-Patrick Smith.

Matteo Fago

Singles: 1629 (-4)

Doubles: N/A

Note: Qualified for a $15,000 Futures event in Italy after winning three straight-set matches but lost in his opening-round match of the main draw.

Holmes, Skinns Earn Top-20 Showings

By John Painter on April 30, 2012 10:09 AM

David Holmes posted his second straight top-20 finish and David Skinns had a successful week on the Nationwide Tour to highlight the professional golf weekend.

Holmes closed with consecutive rounds of 69 to tie for 19th place at the NGA Tour's Savannah Lakes Village Classic in McCormick, S.C. The former Vols captain earned $2,368 and moved up four places to 33rd on the 2012 money list with $9,460.

Holmes has five made cuts in seven starts this year, with 27th his worst showing thus far. The Knoxville native's last three finishes are 20th, 15th and now 19th.

Skinns was second on the NGA Tour money list going into the weekend but bypassed the Savannah Lakes event after qualifying Monday for the Nationwide Tour's South Georgia Classic in Valdosta. The former All-American at Tennessee shot a final-round 68 to tie for 18th and earn $7,111.

Skinns remains fourth in the NGA Tour money standings with $39,436.

Philip Pettitt, who won the NGA's Savannah Lakes event in 2011, also made the Nationwide cut in South Georgia. The Murfreesboro native tied for 63rd in his third made cut out of seven attempts. Pettitt earned $1,750 this weekend and is 53rd in the Nationwide Tour rankings with $26,111.