Sunday will be senior day for three Tennessee Volunteers: Jordan Howell, Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith. The ceremony for these three will take place before the 2:00pm start, so be sure to get to Thompson Boling Arena early to show your support.
Following a 14-17 freshman season, this class rebounded to win 22 games in their second season, 24 games last season, and 27 games so far this year. 2008 will mark the third straight NCAA appearance for this group and they have 3 tournament wins in the past two seasons.
The Vols have won 9 of last 10 on senior day.
TV: March 9, 2:00pm EST on Raycom
Records:
Tennessee: 27-3, 13-2 SEC
South Carolina: 13-16, 5-10 SEC
Ranking:
UT: 4 AP / 4 USA Today
SC: NR AP / NR USA Today
Last Meeting:
Jan. 12, 2008. Tennessee has struggled with the Gamecocks in recent history but that’s not been the case as of late. Led by JaJuan Smith with 15 points, the Vols ran away to an 80-56 win at South Carolina’s Colonial Center. Tennessee raced out to an 11-0 lead and the outcome was never in question. The 24 point margin of victory was the largest ever for the Vols in Columbia.
Probable Starters:
| Tennessee |
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Yr.
|
PPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
|
| F | 1 Tyler Smith |
6-7
|
215
|
So.
|
13.4
|
6.8
|
3.5
|
| F | 4 Wayne Chism |
6-9
|
242
|
So.
|
9.2
|
5.9
|
1.1
|
| G | 5 Chris Lofton |
6-2
|
200
|
Sr.
|
15.6
|
3.3
|
1.9
|
| G | 2 JaJuan Smith |
6-2
|
195
|
Sr.
|
14.1
|
3.5
|
2.3
|
| G | 12 Ramar Smith |
6-2
|
200
|
So.
|
7.8
|
2.5
|
3.2
|
| South Carolina |
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Yr.
|
PPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
|
| F | 21 Dominique Archie |
6-7
|
208
|
So.
|
10.5
|
5.7
|
1.3
|
| F | 24 Mike Holmes |
6-7
|
230
|
Fr.
|
7.7
|
5.4
|
0.3
|
| G | 2 Devan Downey |
5-9
|
175
|
So.
|
18.9
|
3.1
|
5.1
|
| G | 20 Zam Fredrick |
6-0
|
203
|
Jr.
|
14.8
|
3.0
|
3.1
|
| G | 23 Dwayne Day |
6-6
|
185
|
Sr.
|
5.2
|
3.9
|
0.9
|
Accomplishments of the seniors:
- 86 wins are second-most by a senior class. Only the 2001 class won more games (89)
- Led the Vols to three consecutive 20-win seasons
- Have played on three of the seven winningest teams in school history, including this year’s school record 27 wins
- Averaged 10.3 (41) wins in SEC play
- 2008 SEC Champions
- 2006 and 2008 SEC Eastern Division champions
- Led UT to its first No. 1 ranking in school history
- 54-8 record when playing at Thompson-Boling Arena
- 16 wins against ranked teams
- Combined to score 3,662 points, hit 736 3-pointers, dish out 539 assists and record 386 steals