🏀 A Tennessee season gone too soon

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’s basketball season ended the way it did

• Which new Vols are already turning heads on the football field

• Is a VFL being compared to the NFL’s coaching GOAT?

• Why Joe Milton is ready to be Tennessee’s QB1

ALL RIDES MUST COME TO AN END

That’s not how it was supposed to go for Tennessee.

Not after battling through injuries all season. And having to replace Zakai Zeigler, who traveled with the Vols to his hometown New York City.

Not after beating Duke to advance to the Sweet 16 and rallying the fanbase to hop on board the run.

“We fought through everything we could,” senior Santiago Vescovi said.

This was supposed to be the year Tennessee broke through for the school’s first-ever Final Four. The Vols were favored to do so entering the Sweet 16, after all.

Then Thursday happened.

Florida Atlantic ran Tennessee out of Madison Square Garden in the second half of a 62-55 win for the Owls.

FAU outshot and outplayed Tennessee when it mattered most.

Despite the Vols’ offensive issues, they led by six points with less than 13 minutes remaining in the game.

Then FAU caught fire. The Owls went on an 18-2 run to take a 10-point lead.

Tennessee tried to rally but… well, you know by now.

The Vols struggled to make shots all night. FAU only struggled for part of the night.

And Tennessee gave FAU extra chances. The Owls outrebounded Tennessee 40-36; that included 12 offensive boards for FAU.

Former Lady Vol basketball player Candace Parker was a studio analyst for TBS on Thursday night. She reminded everyone of a quote Pat Summitt shared many times during her time as Tennessee’s coach.

“Offense sells tickets. Defense wins games. And rebounding wins championships.”

With this added reminder from Parker: “And if you’re not going to do that — and you’re not going to be able to score — it’s going to be tough to win ballgames.”

That was the reality for Tennessee this year. The Vols struggled to score too often, and it ended their season.

It also allowed for an “I told you so” from Tennessee fans who grew frustrated watching this team.

For every win over Duke, Texas, and Alabama, there was a dreadful showing against Florida, Kentucky, and FAU.

A lot of fans were waiting on Thursday’s performance to happen.

The other thing that happened that will hang over this game: the second-half flagrant foul from Tennessee center Uros Plavsic.

After several national media members, many opposing fans, and a player from FAU called Tennessee’s style of play “dirty” this week, Plavsic did this:

Plavsic made several important plays against FAU before that incident. He was having a good game.

But that play was dirty. And dumb.

Plavsic has been a wonderful teammate for Tennessee and serves as a great story for his development as a player and the way he’s represented UT off the court.

That’s likely the final play we’ll see from Plavsic in a Tennessee uniform. (Plavsic is a senior but has an extra year of eligibility from the COVID season.) If so, it’s a shame that’s how it ends.

So it’s over. A season that featured several big wins but too many disappointing moments.

Is the season a success? It’s one without any championships but 25 wins and a Sweet 16 appearance, the ninth in school history.

I said yes before the game on Josh and Swain. But that was before the game.

What do you say? We’ll discuss that during Friday’s show.

Because unfortunately, there won’t be an Elite Eight game to cover.

NEW VOLS ARE EMERGING

Tennessee’s football coaches seem excited about their new players. And they should be.

The long list of newcomers made last week’s top storylines for the start of the Vols’ spring practice.

Several new players have already grabbed headlines a few days into spring.

Let’s start with freshman linebacker Arion Carter.

The four-star prospect from Smyrna, Tenn., intercepted a Joe Milton pass during the media’s viewing period of Tuesday’s practice.

It’s early, but Carter looks like someone who could make an impact as a freshman.

“He just continues to draw praise from the entire defensive staff,” Volquest’s Austin Price said on Josh and Swain this week.

The new defensive backfield has received praise, too.

Competition has been the buzzword in the Vols’ secondary. Tennessee has a bunch of veterans back with a bunch of young players gunning for their positions.

That won’t be easy. But that’s why Tennessee’s staff has stressed competition.

Freshman Rickey Gibson, a corner who chose the Vols over Georgia, has created some buzz. So has Baton Rouge, La., native Jordan Matthews. And John Slaughter, who coaches believe has natural playmaking ability.

It’s early. No one knows how these players will pan out. But there are A LOT more players to talk about than in the previous two seasons under coach Josh Heupel.

And we can’t talk about newcomers without a mention of quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

The five-star freshman has impressed coaches. That was the word coming out of winter workouts and the message we heard after practice started this week.

“He’s been really good,” offensive coordinator/QB coach Joey Halzle said. “He’s mature beyond his years. He doesn’t act like a freshman.”

But Iamaleava is a freshman. That’s why coaches have also reminded us that he has a lot to learn.

To his credit, Iamaleava said the same this week. He talked about doing everything he can to help Joe Milton — Tennessee’s starting quarterback.

Milton is THE guy at the position (more on that below).

But Iamaleava is No. 2 and knows he could be needed this season.

“Anything could happen this season,” Iamaleava said, “so really just being like how Joe was to Hendon (Hooker) last year, really, and being prepared whenever my number’s called.”

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 Is VFL and former Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo the future head coach of the New England Patriots? This story from The Athletic explains why he might be (subscription required).

🏈 “College athletics is in crisis.” Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick created a stir this week.

🏀 Here’s the schedule for the Friday and Saturday games in the NCAA Tournament.

🏀 The Lady Vols’ season is still alive in Seattle. Here’s the women’s bracket ahead of Tennessee’s game against No. 1-seed Virginia Tech on Saturday (6:30 pm ET, ESPN2).

⚾ Tennessee baseball will play an important home series against Texas A&M. Here’s the weekend info with start times and pitching matchups.

🏈 Who do you think are the 10 highest-paid NFL players from the last three years? Check out this list.

🏈 The most underrated QB in the NFL Draft? How about VFL Hendon Hooker if you go by these rankings from Chris Simms.

🏈 Set your calendar: Tennessee will play NC State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte on Sept. 7, 2024.

STICK TO SPORTS!

“Alright, parents. We made bet.”

Watch the buildup and enjoy the celebration.

We can all remember back to the days of hoping for a little FREE TIME during school.

And wait until the end to see tears of joy for that free time.

THROW IT BACK TO JOE

Don’t let the excitement about Nico Iamaleava fool you.

Joe Milton is Tennessee’s No. 1 quarterback.

No one at Tennessee — Nico included — is trying to imply otherwise.

Will that be the case all season? No one knows that either.

But the QB1 job belongs to Milton. And the confidence in him from Tennessee’s coaches is real.

We discussed Milton’s return to the starting position and why he’s more prepared for it than he was two years ago on Josh and Swain. Watch below.

ONE LAST BYTE OUT THE DOOR

Did you see the video of the TV crew calling last week’s Furman-Virginia game?

It’s terrific. Their reactions remind us why the NCAA Tournament is special.

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Thank you for reading.