The best Tennessee wins and biggest disappointments of 2023
Years, unlike ballgames, never go into overtime. When the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, it’s over. So it is with 2023.
There were excellent moments across the board in University of Tennessee sports, adding up to UT winning the SEC All-Sports trophy for the 2022-23 school year.
But, today, let’s stick to 2023. And to the five most-watched sports.
Football
An 8-4 season was a slight disappointment, lacking a storm-the-field moment like the 2022 win over Alabama.
Day to remember, Oct. 28: At Kentucky, the Vols’ lead was a tenuous 26-24 early in the fourth quarter. Joe Milton directed an 80-yard, 13-play TD drive, ending in a Dylan Sampson touchdown to make it 33-24. Afterward, the Vols held Kentucky to a field goal, then killed the clock for a 33-27 win, the best of the year.
Day to forget, Sept. 16: Florida scored on four consecutive drives en route to a 26-7 halftime lead, then finished a 29-7 domination. Tennessee still hasn’t won in Gainesville since 2003.
Baseball
A second trip to the College World Series in three years helped soothe the disappointing finish in 2022.
Day to remember, April 21: The Vols were 5-10 in SEC play when No. 2 Vanderbilt came to town. And the ‘Dores led 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth of the opener. Kavares Tears and Dylan Dreiling hit home runs to extend the game and Griffin Merritt won it 4-3 with a walk-off dinger in the 12th.
Tennessee went on to sweep the series and turn the season around.
Another day to remember, June 3: NCAA Regional at Clemson. Hunter Ensley’s RBI double in the 14th inning delivered a 6-5 win over the host Tigers.
Day to forget, June 20: A 5-0 loss to LSU in Omaha ended the season. Tennessee couldn’t deliver with runners on base.
Softball
The Lady Vols returned to Oklahoma City for the College World Series for the first time since 2015.
Day to remember, May 27: Tennessee won the first game of a Super Regional against Texas. The second game saw the Lady Vols cling to a 1-0 edge through five innings. Then they blew it open in the sixth and seventh to romp 9-0 and punch their ticket to OKC. Payton Gottshall was perfect through five innings and finished with a two-hitter.
Day to forget, June 5: Having reached the WCWS semifinals, the Lady Vols were stymied by Florida State, 5-1. FSU hit three home runs while Tennessee managed only three hits.
Men’s basketball
Rick Barnes’ team had some big wins and got past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. But offensive lulls were a fatal flaw.
Day to remember, Feb. 15: Tennessee beat No. 1 Alabama 68-59, at a rocking Thompson-Boling Arena.
Another day to remember, March 18: Olivier Nkamhoua’s 27-point outburst carried the Vols to a NCAA second-round 65-52 win over Duke in Orlando.
Day to forget, March 23: Tennessee went cold in the second half of a Sweet 16 date with Florida Atlantic in Madison Square Garden, falling 62-55.
Women’s basketball
The Lady Vols, riding transfer Rickea Jackson, reached the Sweet 16.
Day to remember, March 4: In the SEC tournament semifinals, Tennessee gutted out a 69-67 victory over eventual national champion LSU. Jackson was the catalyst with 26 points.
Day to forget, Dec. 6: The Lady Vols had never lost to Middle Tennessee State in 22 prior meetings. Kellie Harper had never lost to an in-state program in 17 games. With injured Jackson watching in street clothes, Tennessee made dubious history, falling 73-62 to hit 4-5 on the season.
Mike Strange is a former writer for the News Sentinel. He currently writes a weekly sports column for Shopper News.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football baseball basketball softball best worst 2023
