Tennessee
Auburn’s statement against Tennessee: We can miss everything and still win huge games
AUBURN, Alabama – If you were at the practice Bruce Pearl put his Auburn Tigers through on Friday at Neville Arena — and you’re always welcome, by the way, as is anyone who can make it — you noticed a couple of clear themes.
One, is Zakai Zeigler. The Tennessee senior point guard makes everything work for the Vols on both ends of the floor, and in case the Tigers weren’t already aware, their coach made them keenly so. Two, Pearl wanted his players to understand how much more difficult Rick Barnes’ team was going to make it for them to do things they enjoy doing, such as cutting without bumps, passing without available oxygen and shooting without hands and elbows in their line of vision.
Credit the scout team for doing such an effective job of demonstrating the finer points of a rock fight, the actual Auburn basketball team decided to share in one Saturday. The best offense in all of college basketball had a larger collection of air balls, weird passes and shot-clock violations than it had aesthetically pleasing plays by the end of an exhausting Saturday. But the No. 1-ranked team that possesses that offense still won 53-51.
And that is no small thing.
“It was a rough one,” said Auburn senior forward Johni Broome, whose 16-point, 13-rebound, 33-minute, unlimited-intensity performance on an injured left ankle was the stuff of Naismiths and Woodens. “But we got it done.”
This won’t be the last time the Tigers (18-1, 6-0 SEC) get into a game that doesn’t fit their stylistic preferences. That tends to happen quite a bit in March. This might be the last time they play the No. 6 Vols (17-3, 4-3 SEC) — let’s hope the SEC and NCAA tournaments provide rematches — and if so, they might not see a grittier, tougher opponent.
But to have enough of those elements yourself, as personified by Broome and found in several other contributors Saturday, is how you overcome a hot-shooting, undersized opponent at some point. Or a pesky bunch from the Ivy League. Or whatever. It’s how you overcome the strange disappearance of the best part of your own game.
Auburn’s Miles Kelly blocks a shot by Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier. (Jake Crandall / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“We’re gonna have games like this,” Auburn’s Miles Kelly said of a 3-for-20 night from long range for a team that came in 24th nationally in 3-point accuracy at 38.2 percent. “Every shooting night is not gonna be ours.”
Tennessee, the best 3-point defending team in the sport (25.9 percent), won that battle. But Tennessee did not win the game. Auburn’s top-15 defense saw to that, starting with the ability to apply Denver Jones, Tahaad Pettiford and even a little bit of Chad Baker-Mazara to Zeigler. Auburn’s will saw to it, a 6-0 run in the final 1:46, urged on by 9,121 fans who provided full-throated support in response.
Broome and Kelly saw to it. That final run included a crucial Pettiford bucket, a travel call on UT’s Felix Okpara in the face of Broome’s hounding (maybe overly hounding) defense, Chaney Johnson blocking Igor Milicic Jr. on a drive and Zeigler just missing a drive against Broome after he got him and his tender ankle on a switch — a showdown of two players who should be All-Americans when this season ends.
The biggest play was Broome slipping to the basket, getting the ball, having it knocked from his hands by Milicic, getting it back and zipping it out to a waiting Kelly in the corner. It was clean, it was in rhythm, it was rare in this game. And it was good with 30 seconds left.
It was the answer to the question Pearl asked his team, the key question for any coach in a game like this: “Who, through that exhaustion, could make a play?”
Auburn has been in several tight games this season and has lost one, on the road against the other obvious national title favorite, Duke. But the 53 points was 13 lower than the previous low, in a 66-63 win at South Carolina — the Jan. 11 game that got Broome injured, causing him to miss the next two games. The Tigers are still No. 1 nationally in offensive efficiency per Kenpom.com, at 1.293 points per possession. It was 0.869 on this night.
This affair saw the teams go 7-for-42 combined on 3-pointers, with 34 fouls, 23 turnovers and 35 field goals between them. Maybe that wasn’t what ESPN was hoping for in its “College GameDay” debut feature. But there is beauty in the bump of a cutter, the deflection of a pass, the denial of an intention.
“High-level game,” Barnes said, and he left the arena espousing optimism, believing the Vols can still get much better, knowing he has a point guard like no other in Zeigler: “The heartbeat of our team.”
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler draws a foul on Auburn’s Denver Jones. (Jake Crandall / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
The problem for Tennessee is that Zeigler doesn’t have a backup. He played 39 minutes, turning in 14 points, six rebounds and five assists with one turnover.
“Incredible,” Pearl said of that stat line. “Just incredible.”
And that says nothing of the defense Zeigler applied to Pettiford and Jones, leaving them 3-for-17 combined. That’s the kind of thing that tires legs, and tired legs might help explain why Zeigler missed all six of his 3-point tries.
The Tigers also made it tough on top UT scorer Chaz Lanier. He scored 10. A year ago, the guy in the same general role, Dalton Knecht, went off for 39 points in a Tennessee comeback win over Auburn. Tennessee isn’t quite as good this season. Auburn is better.
The Vols don’t have the depth the Tigers have, and they don’t have a player who can carve out room in the post against any opponent and force a defense to adjust to him.
Auburn has that player. He woke up Saturday morning and saw that a Tennessee fan had put a picture of the orange Tennessee “T” on his car and had constructed a “T” in his lawn as well. Or maybe it was a crafty Auburn fan (see: “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” Forest Whitaker as Charles Jefferson).
Regardless, Broome said: “At that moment, I knew I was playing no matter what.”
How much? After Pearl was certain midweek that he wouldn’t be ready? After two weeks of rehab on the ankle but little opportunity to keep up conditioning?
“I thought maybe 20 minutes,” Pearl said. “Maybe. Maybe.”
But there was no winning this game, the biggest yet of this season, the second top-10 matchup ever at Auburn, between the SEC’s two winningest programs of the past eight seasons, without all Broome could give. His “triple-double,” as Pearl joked, included points, rebounds and 12 missed shots in 19 attempts, a perfect stat line for a night like this.
It ended with Tennessee back at No. 1 in the nation in defensive efficiency. And with no question that the No. 1 team in the nation has the depth, the versatility, the intangibles and the superstar to stay there.
(Top photo of Auburn’s Johni Broome making a move in the post against Tennessee: Jake Crandall / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Levorn Harbin addressed the media today ahead of Kentucky.
Well-known as Coach Chop, Harbin is the outside linebackers coach for Tennessee, and an instrumental presence in the recruiting scene. Harbin reflected back at the Alabama game, while moving forward.
Lack of Success Against Alabama
“Um, number one, I mean, Alabama got a great offensive line. (They) had a couple of guys that probably going to be first-round draft picks, but there’s some things that I can do better to help the guys out that I’m having to coach up this week and um the guys were in position a couple of times but didn’t finish like we would like to. We’ll clean that up this week and we’ll move on to being better than what we were last week.”
How Does Alabama Outcome Impact This Week’s Approach?
“I’m the same every week, but also, you got to go back and evaluate what you’re doing and maybe be a little bit more tedious about certain things. That’s what I have had to do this week. That’s what I and the guys also got to work on, the little things. I have to keep coaching it and for those guys, the biggest thing is just finishing. Finishing rushes and I got to coach that part up and teach them how to finish too. So, that’s on me. That’s not on them. That’s my job, and no, I don’t change from week to week. Wins or losses, I treat the same to be honest with you.”
Does Success Feed on Itself
“Every snap the guys go out there and think they are gonna win. That’s what you got to first put in their mind that they can’t win every rep. Last week, they were a little disappointed with the outcome of the production, but they also went back and watched the film, they saw where they could have been successful and they weren’t. So, it wasn’t like they were just so much better than us. Now, they did have some good plays, doing a great job with their sets and with their hands and we could have been a little bit moreviolent. They saw where they could have done a better job and been more productive. So, I mean, we’re not worried at all about moving forward.”
Click HERE to watch and listen to everything from Levorn Harbin.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A trip to the salon isn’t just about a new look — sometimes, it’s about washing away the weight of the day.
“It’s nice to see you,” clients often hear, but for many beauty professionals, their role extends far beyond styling hair or applying makeup.
“I’ve seen and heard everything behind the chair,” said Susanne Shepherd Post, co-founder of Shear Haven. For 30 years, she’s been a trusted listener in her salon chair.
“I’ve had clients open up to me about their own abusive relationships,” Shepherd Post said.
That’s why, in 2021, she championed a Tennessee law requiring all beauty professionals to learn how to recognize the signs of abuse — and how to respond. More than 71,000 professionals have now taken the free, 20-minute training. The clock, though, is ticking — complete it by December 31 or lose your license.
“Knowing that at least one in four women and one in seven men will experience abuse means that every day a stylist behind the chair might see many people, several people that might be the ones to meet that resource,” Shepherd Post said.
Licensees had four years between 2022 and 2025 to complete the approved training. If a licensee does not complete the training, their license will be invalid.
“I know that it’s saving lives,” Shepherd Post said.
She has lived this reality herself, having survived an abusive marriage.
“I know how important that person in my life was, who knew what I was going through wasn’t just a bad relationship, but rather an abusive one,” Shepherd Post said.
She stresses that warning signs aren’t always visible.
“Non physical signs that we’re in a unique position to see. There might be signs of isolation, maybe pulling away from some of their closest family or friends, they might seem a little withdrawn, or have more cancelations,” Shepherd Post said.
That’s why she partnered with the YWCA to create Shear Haven and teach beauty pros how to handle difficult conversations — and connect clients to safety. Together with the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and the state Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, they want to remind all licensed beauty professionals to complete their training.
“They’re on the front lines. They see and hear things that most folks do not,” YWCA Vice President of strategic communications & advocacy Michelle Mowery Johnson.
She’s hoping to create awareness that reaches far beyond the chair.
“Being able to reach my kids generation with awareness would be so impactful. To be able to curb the numbers. See a real shift in Tennessee,” Shepherd Post said.
Nearly 2,000 Tennessee beauty professionals are running out of time to complete mandatory domestic violence training.
“As beauty professionals know, most domestic violence victims will not report abuse to law enforcement, but they will tell someone with whom they have a long-standing relationship, such as a cosmetologist or a barber,” said Board Executive Director Roxana Gumucio.
If you or someone you know has questions about domestic violence or needs shelter, please call YWCA’s 24-Hour Crisis & Support Helpline at 800-334-4628 or TEXT 615-983-5170.
Click here, for the training.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at Patsy.Montesinos@Newschannel5.com
Hunters and fishers: Funding shortfall may cut wildlife and outdoor services
One of the best things about Tennessee is its beauty. Reporter, Chris Davis, certainly makes the most of it as an avid hunter and fisherman. When he turned the spotlight on the potential funding shortfall the TWRA is facing – it hit a nerve with many of our viewers. To find out more, make sure to watch this story.
– Carrie Sharp
Alabama football nabbed its sixth straight win this past Saturday night, beating rival Tennessee 37-20 at Bryant-Denny Stadium for its fourth straight victory over a ranked team (becoming the first SEC squad to ever do that without a bye week in the process).
“Gutty win against a very good team. Well-coached, and they constantly put pressure on you,” Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer said postgame. “It wasn’t perfect… But our guys did a nice job of continuing to fight just like we have been.”
The victory was only Alabama’s second in the past four rivalry meetings against the Volunteers, but Tennessee was once again left waiting on its first triumphant outcome in Tuscaloosa since 2003. The Crimson Tide (6-1, 4-0 SEC) moved up to No. 4 in the AP Top 25. The Volunteers (5-2, 2-2 SEC) dropped to No. 17.
Player of the Game: Wolf linebacker Yhonzae Pierre has had to step up after long-term injuries to both Jah-Marien Latham and Qua Russaw. The redshirt sophomore has done more than simply fill a void. He’s become a player opposing offenses can only afford to miss at their own immense peril. On Saturday night, Pierre had six total tackles and was credited with 2.5 sacks, one of which resulted in a safety that gave Alabama a lead it would never relinquish.
Play of the Game: There is no doubt about which play in this contest was the most impactful. With nine seconds remaining in the first half, Tennessee ran a play-action that resulted in quarterback Joey Aguilar’s pass being intercepted by sophomore Crimson Tide cornerback Zabien Brown. Apart from the turnover itself, what made that play so remarkable? That query is answered by the fact that the Volunteers were on the one-yard line, and Brown ran the interception back for a 99-yard touchdown to make the halftime score 23-7 Alabama.
Stat of the Game: At no point after the second quarter was this season’s Third Saturday in October a one-possession game. The visitors never led, and a Jam Miller touchdown with just over four minutes to go in the first half brought the score to 16-7. Brown’s colossal interception return created even more separation, and 10 points was the slimmest margin by which the Crimson Tide led during the game’s second half.
Brown co-led the Alabama team with seven tackles in addition to his long touchdown on the interception. It was a game to remember for the sophomore, who’s already had his share of memorable moments on Saban Field in his young career.
Ty Simpson passed for 253 yards against Tennessee. Sophomore Ryan Williams led the receiving group with 87 of those yards, making more than one difficult catch in the process. He didn’t reach paydirt, but Williams had a long of 31 yards and caught all five of his targets, without so much as a single drop.
Volunteers running back DeSean Bishop had 123 rush yards on 14 attempts, good for an average of 8.8 yards per carry. Adding the averages of the three running backs Alabama used in the game provides a yield of 5.5 (Kevin Riley had -2 yards on three carries). Bishop also had two touchdowns.
Before facing Alabama, Aguilar had only been sacked multiple times in a game once, when Mississippi State notched two against him. The Crimson Tide doubled that total, though Aguilar has still not taken more than one sack in a home game.
Redshirt freshman Rico Scott scored for the first time since the season opener in the third quarter against the Volunteers. However, senior Germie Bernard (who was held scoreless in the game) amassed 35 rush yards on the nine-play, 99-yard drive that resulted in Scott’s 11-yard touchdown reception. Bernard was one of the most important playmakers on a drive that gave his team a 17-point lead.
Through two SEC games this fall, Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green only got three total tackles under his belt. In the ensuing two, Hill-Green stepped up his play dramatically. He had six tackles against the Volunteers and is up to 13 in Alabama’s past two SEC matchups.
Bernard has five receiving touchdowns in the 2025 season, but has now gone two straight weeks without adding another one (or more) to that total. By catching the first touchdown pass of Saturday’s game, Horton earned his fifth touchdown catch of the year. He was expected to make an impact upon his transfer from Miami (Fla.), and has done so in more ways than scoring, but his propensity for finding the end zone in big games cannot be discounted.
Daniel Hill has been seen more regularly as of late, with the coaching staff attributing that to the sophomore getting healthier than he was at the start of the regular season. The 34 yards he ran for when facing Tennessee were a career best, and he added a touchdown to go with that. Hill had 29 yards in the 2024 season opener against Western Kentucky; that was his single-game high before Saturday, and he also scored a touchdown in that contest.
Bray Hubbard equaled Brown with seven total tackles, joining defensive lineman James Smith among players who reached that number against the Volunteers. Hubbard led that group with five solo tackles; it is tied for his season-best number in that category, which he accomplished at Georgia on Sept. 27. Brown and Smith combined for five solo tackles in the Tennessee game.
The stable of Crimson Tide running backs minus Jam Miller, who cleared concussion protocol in time to play Saturday, has yet to put its stamp on a game. Hill helped, but once again, the backs didn’t rush for 100 yards or more between them. Even with Miller, three different running backs combined for just 47 yards. Alabama has only reached the 100-yard mark in a Power Four game twice this season, and both times were with Miller on the field, but he had just 15 rushing yards against Tennessee.
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