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Under coach Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball is narrowing gap with Lady Vols

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Under coach Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball is narrowing gap with Lady Vols


Vanderbilt women’s basketball has won in Knoxville only once in the long history of its rivalry with Tennessee. Even in the days when the Commodores made regular NCAA Tournament appearances and even a Final Four, Thompson-Boling Arena was a house of horrors.

In the 12 years since Pat Summitt retired, the Lady Vols have no longer been the dynasty they once were. But Vanderbilt fell even harder, going from 15 straight seasons in the tournament to a full decade on the outside.

It couldn’t pull out the win Sunday against the Lady Vols, losing 73-64. But Vanderbilt (17-3, 4-2 SEC), which tied the game with four minutes left before Tennessee (12-6, 5-1) pulled away, looks like a team that’s closer to closing the gap than it has been in a while.

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“I think there were some missed opportunities, missed open shots, missed layups,” coach Shea Ralph said in the postgame news conference. “We didn’t shoot a free throw in the second half. I’ll leave that there. . . . We didn’t do some things today that we should have and could have done to win the game, and that’s what we have to look at.

“But when I leave here today, I’m going to tell my team, like I did in the locker room, and we fought hard. We competed and we had a chance all the way up until about four minutes left into the game, and then it just kind of fell apart on us. I’m proud of them for that, and I think it’s certainly something that we will take away and build on.”

Ralph has hit big on several transfer additions. Both Jordyn Oliver and Justine Pissott, who joined Vanderbilt from the Lady Vols, have been solid role players who raise the team’s floor. A year ago, Marnelle Garraud and Ciaja Harbison were the team’s two best players in an injury-riddled season. And the recruiting is starting to come through as well.

Of the three-player 2022 freshman class, Ralph’s first full recruiting class, one was dismissed after just one semester, and the other two average less than 10 minutes per game. But the five-player 2023 class already has produced two rotational players in Khamil Pierre and Aga Makurat, and Madison Greene was in that group, too, before her season ended with a torn ACL.

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The team still has some holes, and the Lady Vols exposed them. The Commodores’ two main post players, Pierre and Sacha Washington, are 6-foot-2. That’s tough in a league where most teams have a dominant big who is at least 6-4. Vanderbilt was out-rebounded 35-25 and attempted just six free throws, while Tennessee had 18.

“We knew that they were big,” Ralph said. “I felt like there’s some advantages for us as well. But obviously, when you’re not locked into making sure that you’re the first person that’s hitting them . . . that kind of takes a toll. We have to do all the little things right. Especially in the paint, when we’re playing players that are bigger than us, and I thought today we were late getting to spots. We didn’t do a great job boxing out and when we did some of the guards came in and took the rebounds. So there’s certainly some things we can clean up there.”

With 10 games to go in conference play, a 4-6 record likely would get the Commodores an NCAA Tournament berth. They still have a chance to get revenge on Tennessee in the home half of the series, and they have two games against last-place Georgia. Sitting in fourth place in the league, even a double-bye in the SEC Tournament is in play.

The Commodores might not be there quite yet, but Sunday was evidence that they’re getting there. If they continue on their trajectory, this rivalry has a chance for an exceptional second act.

JUSTINE PISSOTT What Shea Ralph said about Justine Pissott’s first game against Tennessee after transfer

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Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson.





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Former Titans Coach Named Top Candidate for Jets

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Former Titans Coach Named Top Candidate for Jets


Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel remains a hot name, and he may have another head-coaching job as soon as next season.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently named a bunch of potential candidates for the New York Jets job in 2025, and Vrabel was at the top of his list.

“Mike Vrabel makes the most sense to me, mostly because he won’t stand down to an owner, and that’s exactly what the New York Jets need,” Breer wrote.

The problem with that is Jets owner Woody Johnson is known to be a meddler, so he a Vrabel-Johnson partnership may never actually come to fruition.

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Still, Vrabel could end up being a perfect fit for the Jets from a stylistic perspective given that New York is built upon a strong defense.

It’s not the first time that Vrabel has been linked to Gang Green, either.

Vrabel actually did a very solid job during his time with the Titans, going 54-45 while making three playoff appearances—including a pair of AFC South titles—across five seasons.

Things went south over Vrabel’s final two years in Tennessee, with the Titans going just 13-21 during that span. However, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the problem was not with Vrabel.

Vrabel is currently serving as an assistant for the Cleveland Browns, but it seems like only a matter of time before he lands a better job elsewhere.

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The 49-year-old also had a 14-year NFL playing career from 1997 through 2010, spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. He won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and also made a Pro Bowl with the squad in 2007.

The Jets have been one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season, as they are just 3-8 in spite of having one of the most star-studded rosters in the sport.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!



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Tennessee man convicted for Jan. 6 riot found guilty of plotting to kill FBI agents who investigated him

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Tennessee man convicted for Jan. 6 riot found guilty of plotting to kill FBI agents who investigated him


A Jan. 6 rioter who breached the U.S. Capitol was convicted of trying to have law enforcement personnel, including the FBI agents and employees who were investigating him, murdered, the Justice Department said Wednesday. 

Edward Kelley, 35, of Maryville, Tennessee, who was convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers and other crimes during the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, was found guilty on Wednesday of conspiracy to murder employees of the United States, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, and influencing or retaliating against federal officials by threat.

The jury agreed on a verdict after an hour of deliberation following the three-day trial, WBIR-TV reported.

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Jan. 6 rioter Edward Kelley seen at the U.S. Capitol. Kelley was convicted this week of plotting to kill the FBI agents who investigated him.  (Justice Department)

Federal prosecutors at his trial in Knoxville, Tennessee, said Kelly developed a “kill list” of FBI agents and others who participated in the investigation into his conduct on Jan. 6 while awaiting trial for his involvement in the Capitol riot. 

He distributed the list, as well as videos containing images of FBI employees identified on the list, to a co-conspirator as part of his “mission,” authorities said.

SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF JAN. 6 CAPITOL RIOT PARTICIPANT WHO CHALLENGED OBSTRUCTION CONVICTION

Capitol riot

A scene from the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Kelley’s co-defendant Austin Carter, who pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to kill FBI agents and is awaiting sentencing, testified that Kelly said he needed to “take out” the FBI. He said that he and Kelley planned attacks on the Knoxville FBI Field Office using car bombs and incendiary devices appended to drones. 

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He also testified that the conspirators strategized about assassinating FBI employees in their homes and in public places such as movie theaters.

Edward Kelley inside the Capitol

Edward Kelley inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.  (Justice Department)

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Recording introduced by prosecutors showed Kelley directing the plan, and giving instructions to “start it,” “attack,” and “take out their office” in the event of his arrest. He was also recorded stating: “Every hit has to hurt. Every hit has to hurt,” authorities said. 

Kelley is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2025. He faces up to life in prison. 



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How Tennessee Makes The College Football Playoff

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How Tennessee Makes The College Football Playoff


The Tennessee Volunteers are currently ranked 11th on the latest College Football Playoff rankings. However, because of automatic bids, if the College Football Playoff rankings were finalized today, Tennessee is the first team out, overlooked by the Big 12 champ and Boise State. Now, good news for the (10-2) Tennessee Volunteers, there’s still a way for them to make the CFP. Though, there are going to need some help.

Note: ESPN’s CFP Prediction Machine gives Tennessee an 88% chance to make the CFP if they simply win out.

Any regular season loss by a (2) loss SEC Team
Alabama, Ole Miss, and Georgia all share a two-loss record at this point in the season, and though Tennessee has a head-to-head win over Alabama, their pair of losses (Arkansas and Georgia) is deemed worse by the committee at this point in the rankings. Any loss by any of those three team would likely free Tennessee up for a entrance to the playoff.

Indiana Is Destroyed by Ohio State
Indiana is a threat to Tennessee at this point, and would be even at an (11-1) record with a presumed loss this weekend to Ohio State. However, if Indiana is blown out in the contest, they will more than likely drop behind Tennessee who has just UTEP and Vanderbilt left on the schedule. Indiana has one top-25 opponent all season, this weekend at Ohio State, if they are walked off the field, it will open Tennessee’s door.

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Notre Dame Loses to Army or USC
It’s a long shot, Notre Dame is a heavy favorite in both football games… as they were against Northern Illinois — the 8th ranked team in the MAC. If Notre Dame were to drop another football game over the next two weeks, there’s a likelihood that Tennessee gets in the playoff.

Texas A&M Loses to Texas
If Texas A&M wins out, and has a top-3 win over the Texas Longhorns to end the regular season and goes onto the SEC Championship game, the committee has shown they have tremendous amounts of recency bias. A win-out situation for Texas A&M is something that the Vols should hope to avoid.

Make sure to follow our website Tennessee on SI.



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