Today On Rocky Top: Vols Need Quality Non-Conference Wins

Nov 30, 2013; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Tennessee Volunteers forward Jeronne Maymon (34) celebrates after a score with forward Jarnell Stokes (5) during the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

From WBIR

"A couple of Tennessee freshmen picked up some new honors this week.Receiver Marquez North and defensive back Cameron Sutton were named to the Freshmen All-SEC team on Thursday.UT says Sutton is the third consecutive Tennessee defensive back to earn the honor while North is the first Tennessee wide receiver to do so since Justin Hunter in 2010."

From ESPN

"Last season, Tennessee put together a strong run in the second half of SEC play, which placed the program on the bubble. On Selection Sunday, however, the Vols were disappointed.They didn’t have enough signature nonconference victories and they’d lost too many conference games to convince the selection committee that they deserved a bid.Cuonzo Martin hopes to avoid the same situation in 2013-14. But the Vols have already suffered losses to Xavier and UTEP and are running out of opportunities to secure significant nonconference wins."

From The Times Free Press

"Karen Aston spoke with great certainty about the Tennessee women’s basketball team last Sunday. After watching a lot of video and then seeing the Lady Vols in person beat her Texas team 75-61, the Longhorns coach described Tennessee as “a legitimate top-five team.”Interesting that neither Tennessee coach Holly Warlick nor her players sounded as self-assured, either after Sunday’s win at Thompson-Boling Arena or before team practice Thursday at Pratt Pavilion."

From TN Sports Radio

"The Tennessee Vols have played half of their eight games away from home this year, but only the first meeting with Xavier was a true road game. Saturday, they venture away from Thompson-Boling again for just their second “road” game, this time at 12th ranked Wichita State.Over the strains of “Hail Wichita” and in that sea of gold and black will be a group of very vocal fans wearing orange. Most of them will be there to support Josh Richardson.Richardson grew up in Edmond, Oklahoma, roughly a two-and-a half hour car ride from Wichita according to the Vols guard. He said he will have “plenty” of people there and he’s been busy rounding up tickets."