Today On Rocky Top: Vols Face Big Test In Opener Tonight

Mar 9, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Jordan McRae (52) during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Thompson Boling Arena. Tennessee won 64 to 62. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

From the Times Free Press

"So much for an easy season opener.Instead of a home game against a mid-major conference opponent, Tennessee instead is taking the difficult route.The basketball Volunteers open a season of big expectations on the road at Xavier, a name program that missed out on the NCAA tournament for only the second time in 13 seasons a year ago.Tennessee, aiming to snap a two-year tournament drought and state its case for a national ranking, is hoping to take advantage and notch a notable win to start Cuonzo Martin’s third season as coach."

From Bleacher Report

"Tennessee’s football team has taken some rebuilding lumps this year while developing playmakers. But the biggest key to the Volunteers’ offensive success next season isn’t a skill position player; it’s junior left tackle Antonio “Tiny” Richardson.Richardson is widely expected to test the NFL waters, but an inconsistent junior campaign makes it anything but a slam dunk that he’ll go pro. What once seemed a foregone conclusion is not quite the sure thing it once was."

From TN Sports Radio

"In its simplest form, the 2013 season for the Tennessee Vols could be summed up as a tale of two bye weeks.With all due respect to Chuck D and his cities, Vol nation would not consider a narrow, gut-wrenching, heart-breaking loss to Georgia as the best of times, nor would most consider this current three-game stretch of blowout losses as the worst of times but, for the sake of argument, they are close enough. (There was a whole Derek Dooley era and the Vandy-beatdown thing, but I digress.)"

From Rocky Top Talk

"The less said about this one the better. But what would Monday be without the trending report? Let’s get on with it.TRENDING UP: Time to rest. In the last four weeks, Tennessee has played the #11, #1, #10, and #7 teams in the country. This week, Tennessee plays no one. The cumulative effect of four straight games against top competition had to weigh heavily on a team without a lot of depth (at least, I hope that’s what this was), and it’s hard to see a better time for a bye right before a game the Vols absolutely must win to make a bowl. Tennessee needs to be a different team in two weeks."