Tennessee

College basketball rankings: Tennessee and Auburn fight for No. 1, Kansas back in top 10

Published

2 years ago

December 15, 2024

Press Room

College basketball rankings: Tennessee and Auburn fight for No. 1, Kansas back in top 10

John Fanta

College Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter

Who deserves to be No. 1?

That debate lies in the Southeastern Conference, which has had a historic out-of-league season that will certainly see it get a double-digit number of teams in the NCAA Tournament. Yes, we could see 12-13 teams from the SEC make the Big Dance, as the league soared at a wild rate on Saturday, going 13-1 on a loaded day of basketball.

Tennessee or Auburn?

Well, let’s start with the team we had at No. 1 last week, which is going to stay at No. 1 this week. The Volunteers saw their best two guards foul out in Champaign on Saturday, with Chaz Lanier exiting with 3:40 on the clock and Zakai Zeigler committing his fifth foul on Kasparas Jakucionis with five seconds left.

So, who was Tennessee going to turn to at Illinois in a 64-64 game? Jordan Gainey answered the bell, delivering a coast-to-coast drive and a lay-in to silence Champaign and lift Tennessee to an incredible 66-64 victory.

Jordan Gainey’s coast-to-coast game-winner secures Tennessee’s win

Gainey, a South Carolina Upstate transfer now in his second year with the program, finished with 23 points in the win. Lanier, a North Florida transfer, continued his All-American-caliber play with 17. Notice a trend? Rick Barnes knows how to recruit in the portal. He’s found gems in recent years, with now-Los Angeles Laker Dalton Knecht coming off an amazing college season last year and charging the Volunteers to the Elite Eight. Tennessee is 10-0 and should enter conference play at 13-0. What a start.

[Read more: Ranking the top 50 players and coaches in the country]

As for Auburn, the Tigers may not be No. 1 right now, but if you argued that Bruce Pearl’s team is the best in the country, you’ll get zero opposition from me. I’m serious: I’m at 51-49 in favor of Tennessee right now for my No. 1 team, and it’s really because the Vols have no blemishes and just won an incredible road game against a good Illinois team.

As for Auburn, Johni Broome continued his national player of the year candidacy on Saturday, showing why he is the front-runner at the moment. The fifth-year senior totaled 21 points, 20 rebounds, six assists and three blocks in a 91-53 win over Ohio State, notching the Tigers’ first 20-20 game since Kevin Ardister in 1989. What makes Auburn so potent? Broome is surrounded by a flurry of explosive guards, with Denver Jones pouring in 14 points and freshman Tahaad Pettiford drilling three triples. In total, Auburn shot 13-for-30 from beyond the arc. This team has the No. 1 offense in the country according to KenPom and ranks 12th defensively. You never have to worry about Pearl’s teams guarding, but this one scores it at a high rate.

Here are five other rapid fire takeaways from a crazy weekend of hoops.

Another freshman star is born

Liam McNeeley showed America that he’s the third-best freshman in the country, trailing only Duke’s Cooper Flagg and Rutgers superstar Dylan Bailey, who beat Seton Hall at the buzzer Saturday with a wild triple. McNeeley’s 26-point, 8-rebound, 4-assist performance with no turnovers was a master class at Madison Square Garden on FOX Primetime Hoops, as UConn beat Gonzaga 77-71 for a third straight résumé-boosting win.

No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 18 UConn Huskies Highlights

McNeeley’s performance of 25-plus points and no turnovers was the first by a Connecticut freshman since Shabazz Napier in 2012, and it’s what leads the Huskies back into my top 15 this week after their 0-3 performance at the Maui Invitational.

Credit to Dan Hurley and his team for evolving as quickly as they have. They lost starting center Samson Johnson early on Saturday (concussion protocol). Tarris Reed got into foul trouble and Alex Karaban was 0-for-7 from 3-point land. And yet, they found a way with Jaylin Stewart and Reed in double-figures, and the defense showing material growth yet again. Connecticut has regained its mojo.

The Aggies are tough!

Texas A&M showed me a lot on Saturday in a 70-66 win over Purdue. The Aggies, playing a pseudo road game in Indianapolis, made Trey Kaufman-Renn work on the interior and totally outmuscled the Boilermakers with a 34-23 advantage on the glass. Minnesota transfer Pharrel Payne was terrific, with 16 points on 6-of-6 from the floor to go along with nine points. Buzz Williams’ team is in my top 15 this week after five straight victories over high-major opponents.

Mark Pope has the Wildcats rolling

In the first Kentucky-Louisville game since 2001 without John Calipari or Rick Pitino, Big Blue Nation can rejoice. The Wildcats beat the Cardinals for the 14th time in 17 meetings, winning 93-85 in Lexington to improve to 10-1 on the season. What a difference Mark Pope is already making with a new-look offense that can ride a different hot hand every time out. On Saturday, it was Lamont Butler. Get this: The San Diego State transfer had 33 points on a perfect 10-of-10 from the floor (he shot 7-for-12 at the line, but 6-for-6 from 3) — and six assists! Butler is my national player of the week.

Dayton is for real, folks

How about an upset in Dayton! The Flyers, who entered my Top 25 last week but were not in the AP Top 25, proved us right with a comeback from 13 down to stun No. 6 Marquette, 71-63. That’s an outstanding win for Anthony Grant, who also owns a win over UConn. UD is a top 20 team in my book and a gem of an at-large squad for the Atlantic 10.

Time to get nervous in Tucson?

The Arizona Wildcats are 4-5, and it’s panic time in Tucson. UCLA rallied from 13 down with 10 minutes on the clock to stun Tommy Lloyd’s team and improve to 9-1 on the season. Tyler Bilodeau was key down the stretch and finished with 17 points, and Mick Cronin’s team is off to its best start since 2021. Out of the four West Coast additions to the Big Ten, two of them are conference title contenders, the Bruins and Oregon.

Let’s get to our Top 25!

1. Tennessee Volunteers (10-0)

The Volunteers are the best defensive team in the nation, but it’s normally a given that Rick Barnes has a squad that guards you when you get off the bus. This team is top-15 nationally in KenPom offense and Chaz Lanier is one of the five best players in America.

2. Auburn Tigers (9-1)

The Tigers’ next marquee game comes Saturday in Birmingham against Purdue. If they can win that one, they’ll go into SEC play having only lost at Duke. No shame in that.

3. Iowa State Cyclones (9-1)

The Cyclones proved themselves yet again on Thursday, rallying from 13 down to beat archrival Iowa, 89-80. Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson continued to show why he was a portal gem of a pickup, with 19 and 10.

4. Kentucky Wildcats (10-1)

If you predicted Mark Pope would have a top-4 team in the country just six weeks into his first season, we’ll let you pick our lottery numbers, as well. Big Blue Nation is dreaming big and this feels different, with one of their own leading them into a new era.

5. Duke Blue Devils (8-2)

The Blue Devils blew out Incarnate Word 72-46 this past week, with Khaman Maluach going for 17 points and seven rebounds. The freshman is such a game-changer, specifically defensively, when not in foul trouble. Up next: George Mason on Tuesday.

6. Florida Gators (10-0)

The Gators thumped Arizona State, 83-66, on Saturday to stay undefeated on the season. Walter Clayton continues to play like one of the top 7-8 players in the sport, if not better, delivering 25 points in the victory.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-2)

The Crimson Tide commanded Creighton, 83-75, in Tuscaloosa on Saturday to notch yet another quality win to their résumé. Mark Sears is one of America’s best players, delivering 27 points, six rebounds and four assists in the victory, while Kansas transfer Labaron Philon had 16 and 5.

8. Marquette Golden Eagles (9-2)

I’m not going to heavily fault the Golden Eagles for losing on the road to a very good Dayton team.

9. Houston Cougars (6-3)

Houston is ranked No. 15 in the AP because they have three losses, but I am not letting that impact my thinking at all! They’re top-4 in both KenPom and Torvik metric systems and still as tough as any team in America, with L.J. Cryer and Emanuel Sharp leading the way.

10. Kansas Jayhawks (8-2)

The Jayhawks commanded NC State, 75-60, on Saturday with a nice bounce-back performance behind Hunter Dickinson, who tallied 21 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. It was South Dakota State transfer Zeke Mayo’s finest act as a Jayhawk, as he had 26 points on 9-of-14 from the floor. That’s what Bill Self thought he was getting in his transfer class: shotmakers. Mayo supplied it Saturday and Kansas is back in my top 10.

11. UConn Huskies (8-3)

12. Texas A&M Aggies (9-2)

13. Ole Miss Rebels (9-1)

14. Oklahoma Sooners (10-0)

15. UCLA Bruins (9-1)

16. Oregon Ducks (9-1)

17. Purdue Boilermakers (8-3)

18. Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-3)

19. Dayton Flyers (9-2)

20. Memphis Tigers (8-2)

21. San Diego State Aztecs (7-2)

22. Arkansas Razorbacks (9-2)

23. Michigan Wolverines (8-2)

24. Michigan State Spartans (8-2)

25. Cincinnati Bearcats (8-1)

John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him at @John_Fanta.

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Tennessee

Data centers driving up Tennessee power bills, report finds

Published

7 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

Data centers driving up Tennessee power bills, report finds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Home power bills are feeling the impact of data centers opening across Tennessee communities, according to a new report from ThinkTennessee.

Researchers found electricity usage has increased by more than 7.2 times over the past five years as data centers opened in the Tennessee Valley region. Areas with data centers saw average power bills rise more than the state average, but the increase was not distributed evenly among customers in those areas.

“Tennessee’s data center growth is arriving faster than the rules designed to manage that growth,” research director Chris Candelaria said. “Our report isn’t saying whether data centers are good or bad. Instead, we’re trying to highlight the issues that communities and policymakers need to know about.”

Residential customers hit harder than businesses

Residential customers in communities with data centers saw their bills jump 3.2 percent, to an average of $149 a month, between 2023 and 2024, the report found.

During that same period, commercial customers, including data centers themselves, saw their bills slightly decrease. By comparison, the statewide average power bill over the same period increased 1.3 percent.

Candelaria said the findings are tied directly to where the data centers are located and signal what may be ahead for the rest of the state.

“Residents seeing these higher prices and that’s associated with where the data centers are located,” Candelaria said. “We know that the data centers are coming, and the report’s really just forecasting that this situation may play out in more places across the state. This is an issue that city and community leaders will need to address directly.”

He said the trend warrants close attention, but stopped short of drawing firm conclusions in their report based on the data analyzed.

Tennessee emerges as a data center hub

The report, titled “Powering the Boom,” describes Tennessee as an emerging data center market that has likely not yet seen the full scale of potential growth. For roughly 15 years, the state’s electricity consumption was essentially flat or declining before the current surge began around 2020.

Data center facilities planned, operating or under construction in Tennessee represent approximately 2,177 megawatts of demand capacity which is roughly equivalent to powering more than 1.3 million homes for a year. Those facilities are concentrated in and around Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville.

Grid strain, costly outages a concern

Candelaria said the study drew on data from across the country to examine how data centers are already affecting communities and what Middle Tennessee should plan for.

“As we get requests for more data centers, there’s an issue with how is that going to affect our current grid infrastructure? This is the key question,” Candelaria said. “We also provide in the report some studies from other states. If you over-strain the system, what does that mean? Well, it could lead to costly outages. We’re just trying to think strategically.”

Alex Kardokus is among the more than 500,000 people who signed a petition against a proposed data center near the Nashville Zoo. He said his concerns have since expanded to the broader impact data centers could have across the city after learning about this report.

“NES, we don’t want that (bill) to go higher because it’s already expensive in Nashville. Don’t want that to be a raising,” Kardokus said.

Policy seen as key to managing growth

Candelaria said policies, including data center zoning restrictions Metro Council is currently working on, will be key to protecting families from further cost increases. He said the decisions made now will shape whether the growth benefits or burdens Tennessee residents.

“The policy choices that we make now on pricing and grid planning will determine whether that growth is going to strengthen the state’s economy or whether that’s going to shift costs onto everyday households,” Candelaria said.

He added that the situation requires a balancing act, as data centers also bring jobs and economic opportunities to the communities where they operate.

ThinkTennessee said a second installment of the “Powering the Boom” series is expected to lay out policy options aimed at protecting ratepayers while the sector continues to grow.

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Tennessee

In-N-Out’s fifth Tennessee location is opening soon. Here’s how many stores are planned

Published

17 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

In-N-Out’s fifth Tennessee location is opening soon. Here’s how many stores are planned

In-N-Out Burger will soon open its fifth Tennessee location in Madison, near Nashville.
The California-based chain currently operates four stores in Tennessee and plans dozens more.

In-N-Out Burger will soon be opening its fifth Tennessee store.

The beloved burger chain lists six locations as “opening soon” on the Grand Openings page of its website, including a restaurant in Madison. The Madison location will open at 1900 Gallatin Pike North, about 13 miles northeast of Nashville.

The store also plans to open stores in Arizona, Utah, Idaho and two in California, USA TODAY reported.

Find your next meal on DoorDash

In-N-Out, which announced plans for a major expansion and a new headquarters in Tennessee in 2023, opened its first Tennessee restaurants in December 2025.

The chain, known for animal-style fries and double-double burgers, opened locations in Nashville’s Antioch neighborhood, Murfreesboro and Lebanon in early December. It then opened a fourth Tennessee restaurant in Franklin just a few months later.

Here’s what else to know about the West Coast-based company’s expansion into the Volunteer State.

Why is In-N-Out expanding to Tennessee?

In-N-Out is moving to Tennessee to establish a $125 million corporate hub in Franklin, on the Berry Farms site near Interstate 65. It’s estimated that In-N-Out’s expansion into Tennessee will create 275 jobs and a $125 million investment in the state.

Lynsi Snyder confirms relocation to Tennessee

In 2025, billionaire heiress Lynsi Snyder announced she would relocate her family to the Volunteer State as the company expands eastward.

In a podcast appearance with conservative host Allie Beth Stuckey, Snyder cited frustrations with California’s high costs and regulatory burdens on businesses and families.

“There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,” Snyder said. “The bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California, but it will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there.”

After facing criticism for her comments, Snyder clarified that moving to Tennessee offers In-N-Out associates “wonderful opportunities” to buy homes, raise families, and participate in the company’s growth in a new region.

In a video posted to social media, she called the move “a very healthy plan for our growth,” highlighting opportunities for employees in Tennessee and potentially neighboring states.

How many In-N-Out stores are coming to Tennessee?

During a Nashville Business Journal event in 2025, Snyder said that the company is eyeing 35 locations across Tennessee in the coming years.

How many stores does In-N-Out currently operate in Tennessee?

As of July 2026, In-N-Out operates the following stores in Tennessee:

Antioch: 4242 Century Farms Terrace
Franklin: 1951 Double Double Drive
Lebanon: 915 South Hartmann Drive
Murfreesboro: 2508 Medical Center Parkway
Madison: 1900 Gallatin Pike North (Opening soon)

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.

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Tennessee

A Tennessee woman was heard screaming, ‘he’s got a gun.’ Now her husband is pleading guilty to her murder.

Published

1 day ago

July 7, 2026

Press Room

A Tennessee woman was heard screaming, ‘he’s got a gun.’ Now her husband is pleading guilty to her murder.

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (WSMV) – A 72-year-old man in Pickett County entered a guilty plea to the second-degree murder of his wife Theresa Marie Foutch.

Johnny Ray Foutch was sentenced to 20 years in custody of the Department of Corrections at 100% day for day, said District Attorney Bryant C. Dunaway.

Theresa’s adult sons were consulted about the plea and were supportive of the sentence.

Dunaway said that the incident in question took place on July 13, 2025, at their home in Byrdstown. The Pickett County Sheriff’s Office paid a visit to their home after Johnny’s daughter requested that officers check on the married couple.

When Chief Deputy Steve Wilbur arrived at the home and approached the front of the house, he says he overheard a man and a woman arguing inside.

He said he then heard the female voice yell, “He’s got a gun.” That’s when he says he heard a gunshot.

The deputy took cover outside the home. Moments later, Johnny walked out the front door holding a Sig Sauer handgun.

Wilbur secured Johnny and went into the home, where he found Theresa lying face down in the living room. She appeared to have been shot in the back.

Officers searched the home and said they found a shell casing on the floor of the dining room, just 10 to 15 feet away from Theresa’s body.

Dunaway said that a forensic pathologist who performed an autopsy determined that Theresa’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to her back. The manner of her death, the pathologist said, was homicide.

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