Ron Slay joins Caleb Calhoun and Dave Hooker to preview Tennessee Basketball against the Creighton Bluejays in the Sweet 16 and discuss Rick Barnes. Off the Hook Sports’ Friday, March 29 podcast also covers a big UT Football commitment, NCAA Tournament shockers and Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper.
Four-star DL commits to Vols
In-state elite defensive lineman Ethan Utley became Tennessee Football’s seventh commitment for its 2025 recruiting class Thursday night. Utley, who hails from Nashville, stands between 6’3″ and 6’4″ and weighs around 265 pounds. How big of a pickup is he for Josh Heupel and the Vols?
Sweet 16 Thursday winners 0-3 vs. Tennessee Basketball
Two shockers occurred in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, as the Clemson Tigers upset the Arizona Wildcats, and the Alabama Crimson Tide upset the North Carolina Tar Heels. With the Illinois Fighting Illini, a third underdog, beating the Iowa State Cyclones, Tennessee Basketball is 3-0 against teams who reached the Elite Eight Thursday.
In-state recruiting for Tennessee Football
On the heels of Utley’s commitment, how many more players can Heupel and UT pick up from within the state of Tennessee for 2025, particularly the mid-state region? Is this one of the better years for recruiting on that front? Will they actually pan out as players, contrary to trends of the past?
Will Kellie Harper be fired April 1?
Danny White still hasn’t made a decision on Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper’s future. However, her buyout would be cut in half, despite an extra year added on, if they waited until Monday to do it, according to a report from KnoxNews. Does that mean he will make the decision then?
Who will help Dalton Knecht for Tennessee Basketball?
When Tennessee Basketball tips off against Creighton Thursday in the Sweet 16 Dalton Knecht is primed to have a dominant performance. However, somebody else will have to step up offensively to help him out. Is Zakai Zeigler, Jonas Aidoo or somebody else best positioned to do that? Slay joins to discuss.
Is Rick Barnes uniquely positioned for new era?
Despite being 69 going on 70, Tennessee Basketball head coach Rick Barnes’ way of running a program could have him uniquely positioned for success in the NIL and transfer portal era of the sport. Will that give him more staying power, despite his age, than most coaches in the sport today, even the elite ones?
