Big Orange Report May 7, 2026

 

Tournament Time on the Diamond

The Tennessee Softball team is hoping to make a deep run in the SEC tournament this week in Lexington, Kentucky. The SoftVols let an opportunity to get a double bye slip away by committing two costly defensive miscues in the bottom of the sixth inning and lost the third game at Missouri.

Tennessee is scheduled to face the winner of the first-round contest between Ole Miss and South Carolina. UT's opener is set for 4 p.m. Wednesday and the game will be televised on the SEC network. A victory would then propel Tennessee into a Thursday showdown with the defending national champions, Texas, at 4 p.m. with the SEC network handling the broadcast.

The softball pitching staff is No. 1 in college softball statistics with an earned run average of 1.30. All three of the front line pitchers, Sage Mardjetko, Erin Nuwer and Karlyn Pickens are in the top 10 on the charts this year.

Tennessee needs to win at least two, maybe three games in this tournament. The program is on the "bubble" while battling for the chance to earn a top eight seed and host both a regional and super regional in Knoxville this year. The factor that will decide their fate is most likely the offense that has been spotty at best over the past six or seven weeks.

That's a Wrap

Well, at least it is almost a wrap for the revamped basketball programs at Tennessee. Men's coach Rick Barnes still has one, maybe two roster spots available if he wants to add additional transfers or one more freshman. Women's coach Kim Caldwell is finished with her roster rebuild. She secured a total of 13 transfers and two freshmen and it appears that the third-year leader of the program is pleased.

Barnes is holding one spot for Wake Forrest transfer Juke Harris, a 6-7 forward that averaged 21.4 points per game this past season. Harris, the No. 1 ranked player still available from the portal, is apparently checking out his status for the NBA draft before making a decision on his future. He also has offers from Louisville, Michigan, Alabama and Texas.

Over the weekend, Tennessee hosted 7-1 center Favour Ibe. The low post prospect just finished a successful prep career at Mt. Zion Prep in Lanham, Maryland.

Caldwell reeled in eight guards and five wings/forwards in three weeks. There are two true point guards in the group and at least four of the newcomers have displayed an ability to sink three-pointers at a very impressive percentage. Five of the players are coming from other SEC schools.

Among her comments on the three stops of the Big Orange Caravan recently included these thoughts. "I think it gets really easy to start out recruiting people and sell, sell and sell. We can do this for you. Tennessee can do this for you. It's an amazing brand," Caldwell noted. "We kind of went the opposite this time and said, you are here to help Tennessee. This is how hard it's going to be. You have to believe in yourself enough to want to do it!"

The positive feedback from the incoming players was impressive. It certainly appears that they all understand Caldwell's coaching philosophies and game management and were still eager to become a part of the rebuilding process.

Athletic Director Is All In

Tennessee AD Danny White has made it clear that his administration, coaches and boosters have all bought into the changing landscape of college athletics. "It's a change of mindset and really you need kind of a professional sports mindset where you're building a roster for a season and that roster may or may not have implications on the following season," White said. "For years the idea was that you were thinking two years down the road when you projected roster needs and your recruiting numbers. That idea in today's climate is a foreign concept."

"You really can't think that way most times at this point. It's about a player, their value for them, for the school and team with the roster construction for the upcoming year," White added. "I think both Rick and Kim have shifted to that mindset quicker than most."

Obviously, the Athletic Director has evolved quickly to that mindset as well. White is a man who supports his coaches and would try to "move a mountain" if it would be helpful to his coaches, not just in the major sports but all of the programs in the Tennessee athletic universe.

White's theory and opinions applies to all sports at Tennessee now, not just basketball. He was very instrumental in the staff changes and player additions with the football program this spring. 

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