Josh and Swain Newsletter
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🏀 Tennessee is doing just fine

🏀 Tennessee is doing just fine

And a transfer portal update for Tennessee's football team

Josh Ward
January 31, 2025

Hello. This is the Josh and Swain Newsletter, a quick roundup of the week’s top stories and topics involving Tennessee and the sports world.

Here’s what we have for you today:

Why Tennessee Basketball is in a good position… but needs to stay there
How aggressive will Tennessee be pursuing transfers this spring?
Why Zakai Zeigler is a great all-time story in Tennessee basketball history

EDITOR’S NOTE: This week’s edition is a little shorter than normal as we’ve been fighting a bug here at headquarters. Thanks for understanding. (And maybe less will be more!)

STAYING ON TRACK

Tennessee will try to rebound after a disappointing home loss to Kentucky

Tennessee basketball hasn’t had the best week.

The Vols had a shot to upset No. 1 Auburn on the road last Saturday but came up short.

Then Tennessee lost at home to Kentucky, dropping Tennessee’s SEC record to 4-4.

But that doesn’t mean all is lost for Tennessee.

Not by any means.

Despite the two losses, the Vols remain No. 4 in the NCAA’s NET rankings.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi still projects Tennessee as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Now it’s up to the Vols to take advantage of the position they’re in.

One way to do that is to knock down some shots.

Tennessee shot 4-of-22 from three against Auburn and still only lost by two points.

And UT did pretty much everything right against Kentucky — except make (open) shots.

Via @ESPNStatsInfo: Tennessee shot 13-for-41 on uncontested shots against Kentucky tonight -- including 8-for-33 on uncontested 3-pointers. The Vols were 7-for-16 on layups, per StatBroadcast.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello)
2:28 AM • Jan 29, 2025

You can also look at those numbers and ask, “Why are they taking so many three-pointers?”

It remains to be seen if Tennessee can get more scoring from its front court.

What about creating ways for guys to score around the basket?

VFL and SEC Network analyst Dane Bradshaw suggested posting up Igor Milicic Jr. or even Chaz Lanier.

Let’s see how Tennessee responds on Saturday when Florida comes to town.

📍 Food City Center
⏰ 12:00 p.m. ET
📺 ESPN
📻 99.1 The Sports Animal/WIVK

Florida whipped Tennessee 73-43 on Jan. 7.

Will Tennessee be ready for Florida’s physicality?

And can Tennessee find its offense?

Two big questions for a big game in Knoxville.

➡️ Check out our full conversation with Dane Bradshaw, who will be on ESPN’s Tennessee-Florida broadcast on Saturday.

TENNESSEE’S ROSTER IS SET… FOR NOW

Will Josh Heupel look to the transfer portal this spring?

It looks like Tennessee is finished with the winter session of the transfer portal.

But that doesn’t mean the Vols’ 2025 roster is totally set.

College football writer Adam Friedman made three predictions for Yahoo Sports this week, and one of them had to do with Tennessee:

It makes sense that Tennessee might seek more help this spring.

But is that an automatic?

Not necessarily.

Take cornerback as an example.

With Jermod McCoy recovering from his torn ACL, young players will get more practice reps during spring practice.

Austin Price of Volquest told us the Tennessee’s coaching staff will evaluate the team’s need after seeing those young players in the spring.

“If they walk out of spring feeling like, ‘Man, we can’t go into the fall with what we have,’ then I think they might look to add someone. Now, if they feel comfortable with where they’re at, then I think it would depend on kind of who goes in (to the transfer portal), who’s available.

I don’t think they would just take a player to take a player if they feel good about where they’re at. So I think a lot of it will depend over how things go in spring practice.”

Perhaps Tennessee will be as aggressive as Adam Friedman suggested.

But it feels a little early to bet heavily on that prediction.

➡️ Check out our full conversation with Austin Price below or anywhere you get your podcasts.

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 David Cobb looks at which 2024 CFB Playoff losers can win the national title in 2025.

🏈 See where James Pearce Jr. lands in this NFL mock draft from CBS Sports.

🏈 Here’s a look at the final rankings for the 2025 signing class following 247Sports’ update.

🏀 Peyton Manning and Candace Parker are part of a group pitching a Nashville WNBA team. The team name: The Tennessee Summitt.

🏀 NBA player Terry Rozier and several college programs are being investigated for alleged game-fixing.

💰 Read this story from Ross Dellenger for the latest on the House settlement and the havoc that’s being created.

🎧 One thing Bill Bender of Sporting News noticed about Tennessee? Nico Iamaleava’s toughness. Check out our full interview with Bender here.

THE GREATNESS OF ZAKAI

Rick Barnes has emphasized the importance of Zakai Zeigler to Tennessee’s basketball program all season.

Last week, Barnes said he didn’t know if he’d still be coaching if not for Zeigler.

On Thursday, we asked Dane Bradshaw what he’s thought of Zeigler during his four-year run at Tennessee.

Bradshaw offered Zeigler the highest praise:

“I think he’s the greatest story in Tennessee basketball history. I think he’s the most likeable, popular player that I’ve ever seen — when you look from start to finish. His story as an underdog betting on himself.”

And while other highly-touted players have come through Tennessee’s program, Zeigler has remained the leader.

“Every year everyone has known its his team,” Bradshaw said of Zeigler. “He’s the heart and soul of the team. His teammates have never been jealous; they appreciate him; they defer to him for leadership.”

This week, Zeigler became the second player in SEC history to eclipse career totals of 1,300 points, 600 assists and 200 steals.

He’s a special player and a remarkable story.

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