The Official Countdown To Tennessee Basketball 2024 (It's Basketball Time In Tennessee)

[NO SIR EEE]

86 Days!

Dalton Knecht scored 21 points and No. 17 Tennessee rallied from a second-half deficit to beat No. 20 Illinois 86-79 on December 9th, 2023.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

85 Days!

In 2023, Tennessee became the first SEC team since 1954 with multiple 40+ points wins against a conference opponent (South Carolina). Tennessee scored 85 points in both meetings.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

84 Days!

On November 14th, 2017, Tennessee blasted High Point 84-53. With the game tied at 7-7 just over four minutes into the game, Williams made a layup that sparked a 32-0 run over the next 11 minutes and gave the Vols a 39-7 advantage and they never looked back.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

83 Days!

On December 11th, 2010, Tennessee painted “The Steel City” Orange when The Vols beat #3 PITT 83-76 behind Scotty Hopson’s 27 points.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

82 Days!

After graduating from Marietta High School in Georgia, Dale Ellis attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Ellis played for the Vols from 1979 to 1983. In 118 games at Tennessee, he averaged 17.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 59.5% from the field. He was a 2-time All-America selection (1982, 1983), a 3-time All-SEC performer (1981, 1982 and 1983), and was selected SEC Player of the Year in 1982 and 1983. Ellis, who led Tennessee to the 1982 SEC championship, is 1 of only 5 Tennessee players to score more than 2000 points.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

82 Days!

After graduating from Marietta High School in Georgia, Dale Ellis attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Ellis played for the Vols from 1979 to 1983. In 118 games at Tennessee, he averaged 17.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 59.5% from the field. He was a 2-time All-America selection (1982, 1983), a 3-time All-SEC performer (1981, 1982 and 1983), and was selected SEC Player of the Year in 1982 and 1983. Ellis, who led Tennessee to the 1982 SEC championship, is 1 of only 5 Tennessee players to score more than 2000 points.

View attachment 667093

There are now 6 in UT’s 2,000 point club. Chris Lofton joined in 2008.

1) Houston
2) Grunfeld
3) T White
4) Lofton
5) Reggie J
6) Ellis

and Bernard (the GOAT) is 7th with 1,962 in only 3 years.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Gene Tormohlen and Bernard are the only 2 members of the career 1,000 rebound club.

They both did it in 3 seasons. Nix is #3 (944 in 4 years).

 

[NO SIR EEE]

81 Days!

Kevin Punter notched his sixth straight game of 20+ points and Armani Moore added 16 more as Tennessee topped FAU, 81-62, on December 16th, 2015.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

80 Days!

Yves Pons scored 17 points with Fulkerson adding 11 as No. 18 Tennessee never trailed when they beat the 15th-ranked Jayhawks 80-61 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on January 30th, 2021.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

79 Days!

Johnny Darden (1975-79) is the all time career assist leader at Tennessee with 715.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

78 Days!

Tennessee defeated Purdue 78-75 in the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis.

 

[Vol49er]

78 Days!

Tennessee defeated Purdue 78-75 in the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis.

View attachment 668536

Really the true start of this great run we’ve been on with Barnes

 

[NO SIR EEE]

77 Days!

Tennessee gave Kentucky their only two SEC losses during the 1976-1977 season.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

76 Days!

Bernard King played in 76 games at Tennessee from 1974-1977. King scored 1,962 points, recorded 1,004 rebounds, and had a 59% field goal percentage.

Consensus first-team All-American (1977), Consensus second-team All-American (1976), Third-team All-American – NABC (1975), 3-time SEC Player of the Year (1975–1977), 4-time NBA All-Star (1982, 1984, 1985, 1991), 2-time All-NBA First Team (1984, 1985), All-NBA Second Team (1982), All-NBA Third Team (1991), NBA All-Rookie Team (1978) and NBA scoring champion (1985)

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2013), the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2007) and his number 53 has been retired by the Tennessee Volunteers.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

75 Days!

On January 27, 2024, Tennessee went to Nashville and beat Vandy 75-62.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

74 Days!

On February 29, 2012, Tennessee visited LSU and defeated them in overtime 74-69. Jarnell Stokes led the way with 18 points.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

73 Days!

On February 11th, 2015, Tennessee visited Vandy and beat them 76-73 in overtime. Josh Richardson dropped 27.

 

[Volfan1000]

77 Days!

Tennessee gave Kentucky their only two SEC losses during the 1976-1977 season.

View attachment 668595

That photo was also a Sports Illustrated cover.

 

[Volfan1000]

76 Days!

Bernard King played in 76 games at Tennessee from 1974-1977. King scored 1,962 points, recorded 1,004 rebounds, and had a 59% field goal percentage.

Consensus first-team All-American (1977), Consensus second-team All-American (1976), Third-team All-American – NABC (1975), 3-time SEC Player of the Year (1975–1977), 4-time NBA All-Star (1982, 1984, 1985, 1991), 2-time All-NBA First Team (1984, 1985), All-NBA Second Team (1982), All-NBA Third Team (1991), NBA All-Rookie Team (1978) and NBA scoring champion (1985)

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2013), the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2007) and his number 53 has been retired by the Tennessee Volunteers.

View attachment 668761

Bernie and Ernie both have their numbers in the TBA rafters.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

That photo was also a Sports Illustrated cover.

That pic is a media guide cover. The SI cover is slightly different.

University Of Tennessee Ernie Grunfeld And Bernard King Sports Illustrated Cover by Sports Illustrated

University Of Tennessee Ernie Grunfeld And Bernard King Sports Illustrated Cover by Sports Illustrated

sicovers.com

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

2 and a half more weeks and the Official Countdown can switch to jersey numbers for half of the posts.

 

[Hoosier_Vol]

2 and a half more weeks and the Official Countdown can switch to jersey numbers for half of the posts.

That's when you know it's getting REAL!

 

[NO SIR EEE]

72 Days!

Mike Edwards led the 1972-1973 Vols with 381 points.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

72 Days!

Mike Edwards led the 1972-1973 Vols with 381 points.

View attachment 669913

Not based on strictly stats, Edwards is in the top 5 (or 6) all time outside scorers in UTBB history. Arguably one of the top 3 outside shooters with Brooks and Houston.

Alan Houston
Michael Brooks (no 3 PL)
Mike Edwards (no 3 PL)

Dalton Knecht
Chris Lofton
Tony White (3PL in 4th year)
Ernie Grunfeld (no 3 PL)
Rodney Woods (no 3 PL)
John Snow (no 3 PL)
Jimmy England (no 3 PL)

 

[walkenvol]

Not based on strictly stats, Edwards is in the top 5 (or 6) all time outside scorers in UTBB history. Arguably one of the top 3 outside shooters with Brooks and Houston.

Alan Houston
Michael Brooks (no 3 PL)
Mike Edwards (no 3 PL)

Dalton Knecht
Chris Lofton
Tony White (3PL in 4th year)
Ernie Grunfeld (no 3 PL)
Rodney Woods (no 3 PL)
John Snow (no 3 PL)
Jimmy England (no 3 PL)

Chris Lofton is on any Mount Rushmore of UT outside shooters!