University of Tennessee Athletics
Market Square Madness Returns On Oct. 12
September 19, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
Preseason Fan Event Showcases Vols and Lady Vols Hoops Squads
After an immensely successful event last fall, the Tennessee men's and women's basketball teams are once again hosting their popular preseason fan fest, Market Square Madness, outdoors in the downtown Market Square area less than 1.5 miles north of campus on Thursday, Oct. 12.
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The program is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET. Starting at 6:30 p.m., fans can mingle and take photos with Smokey and members of the Tennessee Spirit Squads, face painting stations will be available, on-court contests will be taking place for prizes and DJ Sterl will be hyping up the crowd.
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After a performance by the Pride of the Southland Band Drumline and the Tennessee dance team, DJ Sterl will introduce this year's Vols and Lady Vols. The teams will then compete in various skills challenges, with fan contests mixed in as well.
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Admission to Market Square Madness is free, and attendees are encouraged to park in the Market Square Garage, State Street Garage or Locust Street Garage. Each of those will be free to access after 6 p.m. ET.
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Fans interested in being part of the exciting basketball action at Food City Center this season can visit AllVols.com to purchase season tickets. Single-game tickets will go on-sale at a later date.Â
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ABOUT THE VOLS | ROSTER | SCHEDULE
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Coming off a season in which it made a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, Tennessee is primed for another strong showing in its ninth season under head coach Rick Barnes.
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Barnes and his staff will deploy a new-look roster, led by Josiah-Jordan James, two-time All-SEC guard Santiago Vescovi and point guard Zakai Zeigler, a two-time SEC All-Defensive Team selection.
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Additional returners include juniors Jonas Aidoo and Jahmai Mashack, sophomore Tobe Awaka and redshirt freshmen Freddie Dilione V and D.J. Jefferson.
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The Vols also added a pair of newcomers with Division I experience via the NCAA Transfer Portal in guards Jordan Gainey (USC Upstate) and Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado).
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Additionally, Tennessee welcomes three true freshmen newcomers in guard Cameron Carr and forwards J.P. Estrella and Cade Phillips.
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ABOUT THE LADY VOLS | ROSTER | SCHEDULE
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UT returns nine players, including six who started games a year ago, from a squad that advanced to its first SEC Tournament title game since 2015 and its 41st-consecutive NCAA Tournament. The Lady Vols are one of only seven women's programs to advance to the Sweet Sixteen in each of the past two seasons.
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Fifth-year head coach Kellie Harper welcomes back the SEC's third-leading scorer in forward Rickea Jackson, a first-team All-SEC and All-America Honorable Mention selection, as well as center Tamari Key, who sat out most of last season due to a medical issue. Key, the school's all-time leader in blocked shots and triple-doubles, was a 2022 All-SEC performer and is a two-time SEC All-Defensive Team member.
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Other 2022-23 contributors returning with extensive experience include guard/forward Tess Darby, forward Jillian Hollingshead, guard Jasmine Powell, forward Sara Puckett, forward Karoline Striplin and guard Kaiya Wynn.
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The Lady Vols added the No. 6-ranked NCAA Transfer Portal class nationally, according to 247Sports analyst Brandon Clay. Three players who will see action this season include multi-time all-conference guards Jewel Spear from Wake Forest and Destinee Wells from Belmont, and guard/forward Avery Strickland from Pitt. Spear and Wells were ranked No. 7 and No. 19 by 247Sports among top transfers, and the trio made a combined 197 three-pointers last season.
After an immensely successful event last fall, the Tennessee men's and women's basketball teams are once again hosting their popular preseason fan fest, Market Square Madness, outdoors in the downtown Market Square area less than 1.5 miles north of campus on Thursday, Oct. 12.
Â
The program is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET. Starting at 6:30 p.m., fans can mingle and take photos with Smokey and members of the Tennessee Spirit Squads, face painting stations will be available, on-court contests will be taking place for prizes and DJ Sterl will be hyping up the crowd.
Â
After a performance by the Pride of the Southland Band Drumline and the Tennessee dance team, DJ Sterl will introduce this year's Vols and Lady Vols. The teams will then compete in various skills challenges, with fan contests mixed in as well.
Â
Admission to Market Square Madness is free, and attendees are encouraged to park in the Market Square Garage, State Street Garage or Locust Street Garage. Each of those will be free to access after 6 p.m. ET.
Â
Fans interested in being part of the exciting basketball action at Food City Center this season can visit AllVols.com to purchase season tickets. Single-game tickets will go on-sale at a later date.Â
Â
ABOUT THE VOLS | ROSTER | SCHEDULE
Â
Coming off a season in which it made a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, Tennessee is primed for another strong showing in its ninth season under head coach Rick Barnes.
Â
Barnes and his staff will deploy a new-look roster, led by Josiah-Jordan James, two-time All-SEC guard Santiago Vescovi and point guard Zakai Zeigler, a two-time SEC All-Defensive Team selection.
Â
Additional returners include juniors Jonas Aidoo and Jahmai Mashack, sophomore Tobe Awaka and redshirt freshmen Freddie Dilione V and D.J. Jefferson.
Â
The Vols also added a pair of newcomers with Division I experience via the NCAA Transfer Portal in guards Jordan Gainey (USC Upstate) and Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado).
Â
Additionally, Tennessee welcomes three true freshmen newcomers in guard Cameron Carr and forwards J.P. Estrella and Cade Phillips.
Â
ABOUT THE LADY VOLS | ROSTER | SCHEDULE
Â
UT returns nine players, including six who started games a year ago, from a squad that advanced to its first SEC Tournament title game since 2015 and its 41st-consecutive NCAA Tournament. The Lady Vols are one of only seven women's programs to advance to the Sweet Sixteen in each of the past two seasons.
Â
Fifth-year head coach Kellie Harper welcomes back the SEC's third-leading scorer in forward Rickea Jackson, a first-team All-SEC and All-America Honorable Mention selection, as well as center Tamari Key, who sat out most of last season due to a medical issue. Key, the school's all-time leader in blocked shots and triple-doubles, was a 2022 All-SEC performer and is a two-time SEC All-Defensive Team member.
Â
Other 2022-23 contributors returning with extensive experience include guard/forward Tess Darby, forward Jillian Hollingshead, guard Jasmine Powell, forward Sara Puckett, forward Karoline Striplin and guard Kaiya Wynn.
Â
The Lady Vols added the No. 6-ranked NCAA Transfer Portal class nationally, according to 247Sports analyst Brandon Clay. Three players who will see action this season include multi-time all-conference guards Jewel Spear from Wake Forest and Destinee Wells from Belmont, and guard/forward Avery Strickland from Pitt. Spear and Wells were ranked No. 7 and No. 19 by 247Sports among top transfers, and the trio made a combined 197 three-pointers last season.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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