Tennessee basketball guard Dalton Knecht was named the 2024 SEC Player of the Year on Monday.
This comes after posting averages of 21.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game on 47.4% shooting from the field and 40.% on 3-pointers.
He met with the media following the being named the recipient of the award. Here’s what he had to say.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM
“(Director of Basketball Operations) Mary-Carter (Eggert) told me, I was in the training room. Jonas (Aidoo) told me, as well. Both of them came in at the same time.”
“It was for sure a really cool moment. Crazy award. It was a lot of hard work and big shoutout to my teammates and the coaching staff.”
“Of course, I always wanted to be player of the year, it’d be real cool. But also, I knew it was a lot of hard work. Just real happy I got it and real big shoutout to my teammates and coaching staff.”
“It is crazy. That is wild to think about that, I didn’t even know about that. That’s real crazy. You play with one of the best point guards in the nation and center in Jonas and (Zakai Zeigler) so, they make it a lot easier for me to just go out there and hoop.”
“Obviously, defense. And then just learning the overall game. Like how one dribble, I can attack a gap and I can shift a secondary defender, rather than just worrying about my guy.”
“I haven’t talked to them yet but they texted me. They just said like, ‘super proud but you still got the SEC tourney and the big one.’ It’s a cool accomplishment but at the same time we’re ready to win the SEC tourney and the big one.”
“Just finally knew I could always do that. Just finally put me on the map. First game against a great team that I could go out and showcase what I can do. Finally put me on the map. As well as, Tennessee’s been on the map, so just to be a part of that.”
“I knew I kind of belonged as well as the coaching staff told me I belonged and that I can do all these things and accomplish all this and stuff like that when I came on my visit. Just kind of just listened to them and followed blueprint that they had when I came on my visit.”
“I’d just say trying to be in the cold tub as much as possible and recover. Listen to Chad (Newman), our trainer, and (Garrett Medenwald), the strength and conditioning coach, just listen to them as much as I can to take care of my body. That’s something I feel like I need to get better at. Just maintain, always staying consistent and keep my body healthy.”
“It gave me everything. The whole entire coaching staff, every single day I’ve asked them to come shoot or rebound or anything, they’d always do it. Just thankful for my teammates and the coaching staff. It’s a special year. It’s just one of the most craziest years I’ve ever been a part of and it’s really just a dream come true.”
“They just congratulated me and gave me big hugs and stuff. They just told me there was no doubt I should’ve got that award and stuff and congrats to all my hard work and stuff like that.”
“I feel I’ve always thought I could play at this level. So, I just think it was playing with tons of confidence and it was a big shoutout to my teammates for being super confident. Whenever during timeouts they’d always just tell me to go out and hoop. Just go play you. Just go out and hoop. Just a big shoutout to my teammates.”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t decide on one. I don’t know, probably something during the Auburn game or something. It’d be more of a team thing would be my favorite.”
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The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 6, 2026, results for each game:
17-44-63-66-67, Powerball: 04, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
12-16-19-21-23, Star Ball: 10, ASB: 03
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Morning: 1-8-6, Wild: 1
Midday: 3-3-5, Wild: 6
Evening: 7-6-0, Wild: 6
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Morning: 9-0-5-4, Wild: 7
Midday: 3-8-1-8, Wild: 8
Evening: 0-1-6-3, Wild: 6
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
04-13-19-25-27
Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
05-15-17-30-31, Bonus: 04
Check Tennessee Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
22-25-27-47-50, Powerball: 21
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
02-08-32-54-56, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
All Tennessee Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Tennessee Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket, a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of social security number to P.O. Box 290636, Nashville, TN 37229. Prize claims less than $600 do not require a claim form. Please include contact information on prizes claimed by mail in the event we need to contact you.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID and proof of social security number to any of these locations:
Nashville Headquarters & Claim Center: 26 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, 615-254-4946 in the (615) and (629) area, 901-466-4946 in the (901) area, 865-512-4946 in the (865) area, 423-939-7529 in the (423) area or 1-877-786-7529 (all other areas in Tennessee). Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Knoxville District Office: Cedar Springs Shopping Center, 9298 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, (865) 251-1900. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.
Chattanooga District Office: 2020 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37421, (423) 308-3610. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.
Memphis District Office: Chiles Plaza, 7424 U.S. Highway 64, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133, (901) 322-8520. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://tnlottery.com/.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Tennessean editor. You can send feedback using this form.
This past weekend, music icon Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce tied the knot and were married in Madison Square Garden in New York City. Among the long list of antendees featured celebrities and athletes with ties to the two parties.
One of the athletes in attendance was Kelce’s teammate on the Kansas City Chiefs, Trey Smith. Attending alongside the former Tennessee football standout was his sister, Ashley Smith.
On top of being present for one of the most publicized weddings in recent history, Ashley Smith is leaving with a souvenir of sorts. She caught Swift’s bouquet toss, traditionally meaning she will be the next to get married.
“Celebrated an Enchanting Love S(T&T)ory,” Ashley Smith wrote on Instagram. “And somehow…I ended up catching Tay Tay’s bouquet. So here’s to believing it’s bringing a lifetime of love, luck, and laughter my way. Congratulations, Taylor & Travis! Cheers to forever T&T!”
Along with being near the Tennessee football program as the sister of one of the Vols’ best players, Ashley Smith played a role within the team. Initially, she worked in the Tennessee football office as Director of Football Administration & Special Events. She was then elevated to Director of Student-Athlete Career Development in 2018. She is now the Manager of Player Engagement in the NFL.
“Ashley has done a fine job for us, and I believe she’ll really thrive in this role,” then-Athletic Director Phillip Fulmer said at the time of her promotion at UT. “She was fantastic in her role with football, but now that she’s working with all sports, she’ll be able to make a positive impact on more of our student-athletes. She understands how important it is that they have resources and advocates to help them transition to the next phase of their career.”
Ashley Smith graduated from Tennessee in 2013. During her time as a student, she served as the head student manager under Pat Summitt’s Lady Vols basketball program. After graduation, she worked in the NCAA’s national office in Indianapolis and earned a master’s degree at Florida before returning to UT.
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