Today On Rocky Top: Vols Coaching Staff Coming Together

Mar 14, 2014; El Paso, TX, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Donnie Tyndall speaks to guard/forward Michael Craig (24) as they face the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the semifinals of the Conference USA college basketball tournament at Don Haskins Center. The Bulldogs defeated the Golden Eagles 88-70. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports

From WBIR

"University of Tennessee head basketball coach Donnie Tyndall has a lot of recruiting work ahead, but at least he’s got a complete coaching staff to help.Thursday morning it was announced that assistant Al Pinkins is leaving Ole Miss for Tennessee. Pinkins and Tyndall have a long history; they worked together at Middle Tennessee State University where they became close friends. Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy told The Clarion-Ledger that he wasn’t surprised with Pinkins’ decision.“”Al and Donnie Tyndall are very close, so I knew this would probably happen,” Kennedy said in a text message to The Clarion-Ledger.Since Tyndall brought all of his Southern Miss staff with him to Tennessee, this latest hire appears to complete his coaching staff at UT, according to WBIR contributor Volquest.com."

From The Daily Times

"Donnie Tyndall just took over Tennessee’s program on Tuesday, yet his job already has gotten tougher.Tyndall knew when he was hired that he’d have to replace four of the top five scorers from a team that went 23-14 and reached an NCAA regional semifinal this season. Now the former Southern Mississippi coach must rebuild a recruiting class that has been decimated since his arrival."

"Tennessee granted releases Wednesday to guards Larry Austin Jr. and Jordan Cornish, who signed letters of intent before former Volunteers coach Cuonzo Martin left for California. Tyndall said Thursday he still wants to talk to forwards Phil Cofer and CJ Turman — the other two recruits to sign with Tennessee in November — but he believes they also are leaning toward seeking releases."

From the UT Daily Beacon

"Tied at second place in the SEC, No. 8 Tennessee (37-8, 12-6 SEC) and No. 10 Kentucky (39-9, 12-6) will battle for conference supremacy this weekend at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Ky.The series could prove to be decisive in the seeding for the SEC tournament, which is now less than two weeks away with only three conference games remaining after this weekend.“It’s a matter of postseason and where we want to be at is the World Series, and we definitely want to take it,” senior Melissa Davin said. “We’ve got to use every game to help us prepare for the postseason.”The last matchup between the two teams was last season in a non-conference game which the Lady Vols won 6-0.Tennessee owns the advantage in the all-time series, 35-12, with a 17-6 record in Lexington.The Wildcats, however, come into the series hot as winners of 10 of their past 11 games."

From WBIR

"Just three days into the new job, Vols head basketball coach Donnie Tyndall already has a lot of recruiting cut out for him.Three of the four signees who committed to Tennessee under former UT coach Cuonzo Martin say they want out, reports Volquest.com.Volquest.com’s Rob Lewis reported Wednesday night that C.J. Turman will become the third Tennessee signee to seek a release from his national letter of intent.Tyndall has already granted two recruits releases, but told Tennessee Sports Radio’s The Erik Ainge Show Thursday morning that he has a plan.“I didn’t obviously didn’t recruit the four guys that signed early. They all seem to be fantastic young men, and I have heard nothing but good things about them both as players and people. But at the end of the day, guys – you don’t want to force someone’s hand to come to your school or be part of your program – if number one they don’t want to be here or if number two they’re not comfortable,” Tyndall told Ainge. “And so, I’m still dealing with a couple of the other guys who to be quite honest want to explore their options, but I’m trying to keep them from doing that in a positive way and talk with their families and go see them in the next day or two. The other two men, I’ve done everything I could to try and convince them to stay, but they were adamant that they wanted to pursue other options. And you know what – that’s their prerogative.”"