Tennessee Vols morning report: 2023 SEC/Big 12 challenge set
Happy Friday. It’s a bittersweet day for Tennessee Vols fans. The weekend is here, but with it comes the College World Series, which got underway Thursday. Vol Nation feels like its team should have been a shoo-in for that event, so seeing it take place without UT is painful for everybody in Big Orange Country.
Our morning update on Rocky Top instead leads with some basketball news. Updates about an event next year revealed one of their future opponents, and it’s actually a rematch for them from the event when it happened this past year.
Beyond basketball, there is news on the diamond, but it’s on the softball front. UT added a new player, and another one of its players has been selected to play for a national team, so there’s plenty to cover on that front as well. Let’s dive in, starting with the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball scheduling news.
Vols’ SEC/Big 12 Challenge opponent revealed – SECSports
For the second straight year, the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team will face the Texas Longhorns in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The 2023 matchups were revealed on Thursday. Texas, Rick Barnes’ former school, beat the Vols by one in Austin this past year, and next year, they will visit Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., for the game.
"All 10 of the Big 12’s teams and 10 of the SEC’s 14 member institutions will participate in this year’s event. Each of the 10 SEC teams that participated in the 2022 Challenge will be a part of the 2023 event."
Softball signs Bowling Green transfer – UTSports
Payton Gottshall, who was named 2022 MAC Pitcher of the Year, has signed with the Tennessee Lady Vols softball program. Originally from Massillon, Ohio, she joins Rocky Top with two years of eligibility left, a huge addition to Karen Weekly’s program for the future.
"A standout in the circle for three seasons at Bowling Green, Gottshall amassed a program-record 784 strikeouts with an impressive 1.77 career earned run average. In 92 career appearances, she touts a 58-30 win-loss record with 63 complete games, 19 shutouts and three perfect games. Her career 10.13 strikeouts per seven innings rank third among active NCAA players."
Softball Lady Vol selected to Canada National Team – Softball Canada
Nicola Simpson, who just wrapped up her freshman year with the Tennessee Lady Vols softball team, has now been named to the Canada Softball Women’s National Team roster. This team will compete at the Celebration Tour and the Canada Cup International Softball Championship.
"A total of twenty (20) athletes will travel with Team Canada for Celebration Tour stops in Ontario (June 16-18) and Saskatchewan (June 29 to July 1) and the Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C. (June 20-26).The athletes were selected by the Women’s National Team coaching staff following a Selection Camp held in Brampton, Ont. this past weekend. A series of regional identification camps were held in Saskatoon, Sask., Surrey, B.C. and Brampton, Ont. over the last month."