Tennessee Vols morning report: DB enters transfer portal, Gonzaga game set
A transfer and a Tennessee Vols basketball game lead our Nov. 19 Volunteers news.
We’re now less than a week away from the start of college basketball season and only two days away from the Tennessee Vols football matchup with the Auburn Tigers. Both stories are making news today.
Our morning update on Rocky Top includes multiple press conferences that happen on a weekly basis related to football. However, it also includes a player entering the transfer portal. Basketball made news on the scheduling front, and an administration contract situation is also a big story.
We then have a volleyball recap and a swimming and diving preview to bring you, as other sports are already in play this week. Simply put, there are plenty of things for us to cover. Let’s start with the contract news.
Phillip Fulmer received extension – Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com
Amidst all the drama surrounding Tennessee Vols contracts, Blake Toppmeyer of the Knoxville News Sentinel reported that athletic director Phillip Fulmer received a two-year extension back in May, but it was kept under wraps. Details of that extension are now out.
"Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee’s Director of Athletics, was set to have his contract end Dec. 31, 2021. Fulmer now has a revised contract with an end date of Dec. 31, 2023. He took over the position in Dec. 2017."
Baylen Buchanan enters transfer portal – Chris Hummer, GoVols247
In the midst of missing his second season due to a medical issues, Tennessee Vols defensive back Baylen Buchanan has now entered the transfer portal. The son of NFL legend Ray Buchanan joined UT in 2016 but hasn’t played a game since 2018.
"Buchanan has played 31 games for Tennessee. He started all 12 games of his junior season in 2018, but team doctors discovered a concerning issue — a narrowing of the spinal column — that kept him off the field for the entire 2019 season. During his full-time season as a starter, Buchanan registered 49 tackles and four pass breakups."
Basketball matchup with Gonzaga set – Anna Negron, ESPN
While it was a tentative date already, the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball program’s matchup with the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Jimmy V Classic was confirmed Wednesday. The two will face off on Dec. 2 in Indianapolis.
"The Jimmy V Classic, named for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano, annually raises money and awareness for the V Foundation for Cancer Research."
SEC Teleconference includes Jeremy Pruitt speaking on Auburn – SECSports.com
At the weekly SEC Teleconference Wednesday morning, Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt previewed the Auburn Tigers. Here’s a bit of what he said.
"“Very familiar with Auburn and their staff and lots of players. They’re really doing a nice job this year.”"
Jeremy Pruitt updates Vols midweek – Austin Price, VolQuest.com
On Wednesday evening, Jeremy Pruitt held his final media session of the week ahead of the Auburn matchup. He said that Jarrett Guarantano is back, but he still didn’t elaborate on who the starting quarterback would be. Here’s a bit of what he said about the improvements during the second off-week.
"“I see a lot of improvement out of a lot of our guys. The guys that have made the most strides are our younger guys because they had the furthest to go and that’s normal.”"
Volleyball sweeps Auburn – UTSports
For the first time all season, the Tennessee Lady Vols volleyball program came away with a sweep Wednesday night. UT defeated the Auburn Tigers on the road in straight sets. The two will face off again at Auburn Thursday night at 6 p.m. ET.
"Tennessee (3-4, 3-4 SEC) has now swept Auburn in two of its last three meetings and has broken out the brooms the last two times the teams have met down on The Plains. Auburn (0-7, 0-7 SEC) has been swept in six of its seven matches this fall."
Swimming and Diving set for double dual – UTSports
On Thursday, the No. 7/14 ranked Tennessee Vols swimming and diving program will host the No. 13/15 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 1/13 ranked Virginia Cavaliers in a double dual. UT will face both of them for three straight days, from Thursday through Saturday.
"Diving preliminaries begin at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with finals beginning immediately following the conclusion of prelims. Platform diving will be contested Saturday at 2 p.m."