Tennessee
Tennessee handles its 2nd half business on a weird day for the program
Top-ranked Tennessee had an unexpected scare thrown into them tonight in the first half against MTSU before the Vols regrouped and controlled the second half in an 82-64 win.
After the first 10 minutes of play it felt like Tennessee was putting together a little pre-Christmas blowout, leading 25-14 and cruising.
Suddenly without warning, MTSU put together the best offensive stretch that any opponent has slapped on Tennessee this year, outscoring the Vols 26-9 in the final 9:31 of the first half to lead 40-34 at the break.
It was a wake-up call for the Vols who watched the Blue Raiders’ Camryn Weston put up 17 first half points on 7-of-9 shooting.
“At the start of the game, they did what I thought they would do,” Barnes said of MTSU, who he clearly had some respect for.
“I think we’re up eight, missed a couple of layups that we need to make, and then we turned it over four or five times in a row. Changed the whole momentum of the game in the first half.
MTSU didn’t wilt in the second half, but Tennessee took control of the game the way you’d expect to see from the No. 1 team in the nation.
The Vols didn’t look like the top team in the country for the first 30 minutes of the game, but they did for the last 10.
It was still a tie game at 51-51 with 12:21 left in the game when the Vols hit the turbo button.
Tennessee outscored MTSU 31-13 from there on out and when the smoke had cleared on the second half the visitors had been outscored 48-24 and held to 29% shooting.
The Vols also got a helping hand from the crowd, which turned out in force two days before Christmas for this non-conference affair.
With the Vols down six at the half the crowd cranked it up significantly in the second half, almost creating a big SEC-game like environment.
The energy in the building translated onto the court and Tennessee just completely dominated the final 10 minutes of the game.
“I thought at halftime we were locked in and came out and obviously played a lot better,” Barnes said of his team’s second half. “But I told them, this won’t be the last time we would be behind at halftime. (It’s) Good for us, and let’s see if we can handle it. I thought they did a good job coming out and doing that.”
Chaz Lanier—who led the Vols with 23 points—got that final spurt going with a three pointer that put Tennessee up 55-51.
Zakai Zeigler—who had a double-double with 17 points and 15 assists, found Cade Phillips for back-to-back dunks to make it 59-54 with 10:43 left on the clock.
MTSU would make three more shots the rest of the way and get out-scored 25-10.
It was a master class from Tennessee on locking down on defense and finding your groove on the offensive end.
Zeigler had six of his career high 15 assists in the final 11:55 tonight, and just orchestrated the offense at a crazy high level in the final quarter of the game.
He’s playing the point guard position at a high, high level right now, to say the least.
“He’s starting to really understand his teammates. I think the more that he’s out there, he and Chaz are starting to get a little bit more of a connection to it,” Barnes said of Ziegler’s play.
Thanks to the way they regrouped and just throttled MTSU in the second half, barring an absolute stunner next week against Norfolk State Tennessee will start SEC play as the No. 1 team in the country.
But they’ll also start it with (as of now) nine available scholarship players thanks to a strange development on Monday.
The Vols learned today that sophomore Cam Carr plans to redshirt to maintain a year of eligibility and enter the transfer portal. He is no longer with the team.
Carr has been sidelined since suffering a broken thumb against Austin Peay on Nov. 17. He was expected to be out 4-6 weeks, so would have been returning at or near the start of SEC play in a couple of weeks.
That is obviously no longer the case and the already thin Vols are even more short-handed.
Tennessee began the year with 11 scholarship players and have lost JP Estrella (foot) for the year in addition to Carr.
It was even more extreme tonight against MTSU with freshman point guard Bishop Boswell sidelined with a shoulder injury (he’s day-to-day).
Playing with what will apparently be a nine-man bench is hardly ideal, but Barnes wasn’t playing ‘poor me’ over the Vols’ roster situation.
“We have pretty much played eight or nine guys all year, right? Pretty much,” Barnes said of the situation. “I tell everybody, back when I first got into coaching, you ask questions trying to learn all I could about this game and talking to some of the old legendary guys. They always told me, ‘you want to play six, maybe seven, eight only if you have to.’
Barnes was taking the fact that his roster had shrunk to nine guys with equanimity. But he had some thoughts on Carr’s decision to leave the program, which happens to be ranked No. 1 in the nation, during the middle of the season.
Transfers are very much a part of the game in college athletics. But a midseason basketball transfer from a player who was almost certainly going to be in the rotation on a final four contender checking out?
That’s some next level stuff.
“It’s like Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler said a year ago when we lost some guys,” Barnes said of Carr’s departure.
“They said plain and clear, ‘if they don’t want to be here then we don’t want them here.’ We want guys that want to be here and guys that really care about being part of the team. They said that. That’s how I think we all feel.”
Tennessee is off now for several days for Christmas. They’ll return to the court on Dec. 31, hosting Norfolk State in the final non-conference game of the year. Make a note, that Tuesday game tips off at 3:00 p.m.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s (TWRA) popular Tennessee Angler Recognition Program (TARP) has reached the 10,000 entry milestone, from anglers who have recorded trophy-sized catches in Volunteer State waters.
The historic catch was a sauger, measuring 21 ½ inches caught by Beverly Miller of Pulaski on the Cumberland River in Smith County. She is now two fish shy of reaching Master Angler 4 status. The fish, which was caught on an artificial lure, was released back into the river. The TWRA officially certified the catch on April 22.
“My husband and I enjoy the TARP program because it has encouraged us to travel the state to fish for species we wouldn’t have normally fished for and visit places we wouldn’t usually visit,” said Mrs. Miller.
TARP launched in 2003 to recognize anglers for outstanding sportfishing accomplishments, encourage the catch-and-release of trophy-size fish, promote the continued growth of fishing, and provide the TWRA with valuable documentation and information on large fish caught throughout the state. The program now has 27 qualifying fish species.
The TWRA typically receives approximately 500 submissions for the TARP program yearly. There have already been 420 submissions for 2026, on track for a new record in a calendar year.
“We are excited to reach this major milestone,” said Travis Scott, TWRA Assistant Chief of Fisheries. “Fisheries is looking to expand the TARP program by adding more species and Master Angler levels to further highlight Tennessee’s trophy fish potential. We hope these additions will inspire anglers to report their trophy catches.”
Anglers of any age who catch large fish that meet or exceed qualifying lengths may apply. The TWRA Fisheries Division sends these accomplished anglers TARP certificates, featuring reproductions of fish artwork by renowned wildlife artist Joseph R. Tomelleri.
TARP features five levels of angler recognition. Anglers submitting one of any of the 27 qualifying fish species that meet or exceed the minimum “trophy” length requirements receive a Trophy Fish Certificate, depicting the species:
- Master Angler I: Anglers submitting five (5) trophy-size fish species, in any combination, receive a Master Angler Level I certificate and patch.
- Master Angler level II: Anglers submitting five (5) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler level II certificate and patch.
- Master Angler III: Anglers submitting ten (10) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler III level certificate and patch. In addition, anglers will receive a gift card courtesy of Bass Pro Shops located in Kodak, Tenn.
- Master Angler IV: Anglers submitting fifteen (15) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler IV certificate, patch, and a trophy.
- Master Angler V: Anglers submitting twenty (20) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler V certificate, patch, and engraved plaque.
The TWRA Fisheries Division developed a chart to identify qualifying fish species and their corresponding minimum length limits. Anglers 13 years of age and older must be licensed at the time of the catch. The fish must be caught legally (in accordance with Tennessee Sportfishing Regulations) within Tennessee waters by rod and reel or cane pole. The application must have documentation of the length provided by either a witness or a photograph. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the catch.
Since its inception, TWRA has received positive feedback from anglers on the program’s design, which allows them to work at their own pace and is suitable for all ages. The program’s diverse range of fish species provides anglers with the opportunity to travel beyond their regular fishing spot and progress to higher Master Angler levels. Trophy catches have been reported from nearly 100 different bodies of water, ranging from Bristol to Memphis, including small farm ponds, small lakes, mountain streams, and large reservoirs. For more information on locations to fish, visit the TWRA website’s Fishing section.
TARP provides information on locations that produce more trophies of various species, as well as the best time of year to catch a trophy of a specific species. The TWRA employs other methods to collect scientific data and monitor fish populations. In addition, TARP gives the opportunity for new anglers to learn fish identification and the ideal lengths for what is considered a trophy fish. It also serves as a tool in TWRA’s R3 program (Recruit, Retain, Reactivate). For further information about TARP and the State Record Fish Program, consult the 2025-26 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Guide or the TWRA website.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The Agency also maintains public safety through law enforcement and safety education on waterways.
The History of Earth Day
A comprehensive look at the evolution of Earth Day from its 1970 origins to a global environmental movement.
Earth Day, the annual event which promotes environmental protection and awareness, is this week.
Celebrating its 56th year, this year’s Earth Day theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” which stresses the importance of communities, educators, workers and families working together toward environmental progress.
“‘Our Power, Our Planet’ is not a political statement. It is a commitment to stewardship, resilience, and shared accountability — a call for every individual, community, and sector to exercise their power in service of the planet we all depend on,” reads the 2026 manifesto.
To celebrate Earth Day 2026, the Tennessee State Parks system will be offering educational, recreational and volunteer events across the state.
Here’s what to know.
When is Earth Day 2026?
Earth Day is April 22.
According to Earthday.org, the movement’s founders — inspired by the student anti‑war protests of the 1960s and 1970s — chose a weekday falling between Spring Break and final exams to maximize the greatest student participation.
Why is Earth Day celebrated?
The history of Earth Day dates back to 1962 with Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestselling book, “Silent Spring” which raised awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and the links between pollution and public health.
U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, a Democrat from Wisconsin, was concerned about worsening environmental conditions and galvanized by the massive 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara. He launched the idea that would become Earth Day.
Nelson partnered with Republican U.S. Rep. Pete McCloskey and activist Denis Hayes to organize nationwide teach‑ins on April 22, expanding the effort beyond college campuses and rebranding it as Earth Day, an event that quickly gained national media attention and widespread public participation.
Tennessee State Parks system celebrates Earth Day 2026
Here’s a look at events planned by region, happening on and around April 22.
West Tennessee
Middle Tennessee
East Tennessee:
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
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