Tennessee:

Kenny Hall Feature On GoVols247

By Jason Yellin on May 19, 2012 10:56 AM | No TrackBacks

GoVols247 has a feature on rising senior Kenny Hall: Reinstated Hall re-earning respect

Kenny Hall isn't just back on the Tennessee men's basketball team.

The senior forward is back and playing as well as just about anyone on the team, according to coach Cuonzo Martin.

Martin said before a recent Big Orange Caravan stop that the Hall -- who was suspended on Feb. 15 for an undisclosed team-rules violation and reinstated after the season -- and sophomore forward Jarnell Stokes were his two best players in the brief, late-spring workout period.

The coach added a caveat -- All-SEC senior forward Jeronne Maymon and junior point guard Trae Golden sat out the workout period with knee injuries -- but he was still clearly pleased with Hall.

Friday's Tennessee Basketball Briefing (5/11)

By Jason Yellin on May 11, 2012 7:39 AM | No TrackBacks

Inside Tennessee has a feature on the basketball team: Motivated by March

Big Orange Caravan Starts Off In Maryville

By Jason Yellin on May 8, 2012 7:28 AM | No TrackBacks

The Big Orange Caravan started on Monday night in Maryville. Head coaches Derek Dooley, Cuonzo Martin and Holly Warlick along with Athletic Director Dave Hart were on hand to meet and greet local fans in Blount County. Check out a

Photo Gallery from the event.

Also, here are a few stories on the event from Maryville:

- Knoxville News Sentinel: Warlick the caravan star Lady Vols' coach the latest new UT face

- Chattanooga Times Free Press: Dooley expects upgrade

- GoVols247: Hart, UT coaches looking forward

- GoVols247: Notes: Dooley discusses newcomers

- Inside Tennessee: Big Orange Caravan kicks off

Former Vol Higgins Named Central High Coach

By Jason Yellin on May 2, 2012 10:06 AM | No TrackBacks

Some adults still don't know what they want to be once they've grown up.

Jon Higgins knew while he was playing high school basketball in Shaker Heights, Ohio, in the late 1990s.

"I wanted to get into coaching," Higgins said Tuesday. "At what level? Didn't really matter.

"Once I got out of college, I realized that high school would probably be the best way for me to go. I enjoy teaching math, but also I enjoy teaching young people how to play basketball."

Higgins, a former University of Tennessee guard from 1999-2003, will be doing that soon at Central High School.

Central athletic director Charlie Sheets announced the hiring of Higgins as the school's new boys' basketball coach.

Higgins, 31, has been an assistant coach on Jody Wright's staff at Fulton since the 2009-10 season. He replaces Mitch Mitchell, who resigned in mid-April after two seasons with the Bobcats. Central went 39-21 under Mitchell, reaching the Region 2-AAA semifinals in 2011.

Read the full story from the Knoxville News Sentinel: Jon Higgins always wanted to coach

Watson Nets 12 Points In Plyoff Start For Bulls

By Jason Yellin on May 2, 2012 9:09 AM | No TrackBacks

In his first playoff start, C.J. Watson tallied 12 points and handed out three assists as the Bulls fell 109-92 to the 76ers. Check out video highlights including a nice move by Watson at the 30-second mark.

Here are some stories on Game 2, as the series is now tied 1-1.

- Chicago Tribune: Rose-less Bulls fade late against Sixers

- Philadelphia Daily News: Sixers-Bulls: Game 2 recap

- South Bend Tribune: Rose on hand as Watson steps in for Bulls

Watson Ready For Challenge After Rose Injury

By Jason Yellin on May 1, 2012 2:40 PM | No TrackBacks

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

Monday's Tennessee Basketball Briefing (4/30)

By Jason Yellin on April 30, 2012 7:11 AM | No TrackBacks

On this final day of April, check out a couple of stories on the Tennessee men's basketball squad as the team is going through off-season workouts before final exams.

- Inside Tennessee: No rest for the weary

- Nooga.com: Vols' Jarnell Stokes refining his game, readying for next step

- Volquest: Martin talks workouts, rule changes

Watson Heads To Playoffs; Harris Finishes First NBA Season

By Jason Yellin on April 27, 2012 12:50 PM

C.J. Watson heads into the NBA playoffs with the No. 1 seed in the East, the Chicago Bulls. Watson finished the season averaging 9.7 ppg and 4.1 assists per game in 49 contests with 25 starts. Watson saw significant playing time much of the year due to injuries to Derrick Rose in Chicago.

Watson's Bulls will take on the No. 8 seed 76ers in the first round of the postseason on Saturday at 1 p.m., on TNT. During the 2011-12 season, Watson scored in double-figures 25 times including a season-best 23 on two occasions. He also had a season-best 11 assists at the Nets on Feb. 6.

Tobias Harris finished his first NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night with a 16-point, nine-rebound game against the playoff-bound Celtics. Harris averaged 5.0 ppg in 42 games with nine starts. Harris posted his best game as a pro on Wednesday night vs. the 76ers as he racked up his first-career double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds in a career-high 37 minutes.

Dick Vitale Praises Cuonzo Martin

By Jason Yellin on April 27, 2012 8:57 AM

Dick Vitale was in Nashville on Thursday speaking at the Renaissance Hotel. Check out this story from The Tennessean: Dick Vitale has no plans to lower his volume. Among the topics Vitale spoke about was Tennessee basketball and coach Cuonzo Martin. Here's what Vitale said about the Vols' head hoops man:

"No, I'm not surprised at all," he said of Tennessee's improvement throughout last season. "I know Cuonzo Martin. I knew him when he was a player at Purdue. He was a winner then. He made my All-Rambo team at that time. He's also a cancer survivor. At the end of the year, you could the players getting better and better and better. The future is very bright for Tennessee under the leadership of Cuonzo Martin."