University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Notes
November 22, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2002
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Tennessee vs. Gardner-Webb
Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tenn.
Series Notebook
* Tonight's game was meeting the first between the two schools
Vols: One Win Away From 1,300
* Tonight's win is Tennessee's 1,300th victory in the program's history ... UT stands 1,300-841-2 (.607) in 94th season
* UT recorded its 1,200th win against Appalachian State on Nov. 28, 1997, 152 games to win their next 100 (.659)
* In the SEC, only Kentucky (1,817), Arkansas (1,370) and Alabama (1,348) have won more games than Tennessee
Freshmen Starters On Opening Day
* Second season in a row that the Vols have had at least one true freshman in the starting lineup for the season opener
* Freshmen C.J. Watson and Stanley Asumnu started tonight's game against Gardner-Webb
* Including tonight's game, 13 UT true freshmen have been starters in the season-opener since 1992
* Four times in the last 13 seasons UT has had more than one freshmen been opening day starters, including a high of three in 1996-97 (C.J. Black, Charles Hathaway and Cornelius Jackson)
* Elgrace Wilborn and Derek Stribling started the season opener last season
Slay Scores Career-High; Nearing 1,000 Career Point Mark
* Scored career-high 31 points tonight (Previous: 26 at Syracuse in 2000-01 season)
* 11th time in his career he has scored 20 points or more... First of 30 or more
* Needs 16 points to become the 36th Vol to score 1,000 career points
* Slay now has 984 career points
* Scored 10 of the Vols first 12 points in the second half to key rally
* Averaged 14.8 points in 14 games last season before suffering a knee injury vs. Syracuse
Higgins Scores Career-High; Records 100th Steal
* Scored career-high 20 points tonight, including 15 in the second half (previous: 16--two times; last: vs. Miss. St. 1/16/02)
* Poured in career-best 5 three-pointers (4 of 7 in second half) (previous: 4-four times; last: vs. SMU (12/6/01)
* With two steals tonight, moved past 100 for career (101)
Vols In Season Openers
* UT has won its last four seasons openers
* Vols are 16-2 in last 18 season openers
* UT's only two losses in last 18 openers were to No. 18 Arizona (73-72 on Nov. 13, 1998 at Albuquerque) and East Tennessee State (87-79 on Nov. 25, 1991 at Knoxville)
Vols In Home Openers
* Vols now 35-2 in last 37 home openers dating back to the 1966-67 campaign (first season at Stokely Athletics Center)
* Tennessee has won its last 11 home-openers
* Last loss in a home opener was on Nov. 25, 1991 vs. ETSU (87-79)
Homecourt Advantage
* Vols are 66-11 (.857) at Thompson-Boling Arena since the 1997-98 season
* UT has a 41-1 mark vs. non-conference teams at home since the 1996-97 season
* Vols only non-conference loss at home since 1997 was last-second 74-72 setback to West Virginia last season
Quickly
* Vols connected on 81 percent from the free throw line (17-of-21)
* UT hit 54 percent from three-point range in second half (7-of-13) after connecting on just 1-of-13 (.077) in first half
* Only five players scored for the Vols tonight
* Elgrace Wilborn recorded a career-high 4 blocked shots (previous: 3--4 times; last: Florida, 2/26/02)
* Gardner Webb outrebounded the Vols 42-41
