Memphis' White, Silverfield garner TSWA football honors

NASHVILLE – University of Memphis quarterback Brady White and head coach Ryan Silverfield were recognized as the Tennessee Sports Writers Association College Football Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, as announced this week by the organization.

White finished fifth nationally in passing touchdowns (31) and sixth in the country in passing yards (3,380) during his senior season, helping the Tigers to an 8-3 record. He was named MVP of the Montgomery Bowl in Memphis' first bowl victory since 2014. 

The Santa Clarita, Calif., native set career school records for wins as a starting quarterback (28), passing yards (10,690) and passing touchdowns (90). He concluded his career 73rd on the career FBS passing yards list.

White was named the winner of the 31st William V. Campbell Trophy in January. The award, commonly known as the Academic Heisman, is presented to the college football player with the best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance. White was also a First Team Senior CLASS Award All-American, one of nine semifinalists for the Wuerffel Trophy and a Top 15 candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Silverfield led the Tigers to an 8-3 record, setting a school record for winning percentage by a first-year head coach. Memphis also set school records for the longest home winning streak, which currently sits at 15 games and ranks in the Top 5 nationally, and the largest comeback after rallying from a 21-point deficit to defeat UCF, 50-49.

Silverfield's first season was capped by a 25-10 victory over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl, snapping a five-game bowl losing streak and giving the Tigers their first bowl win since 2014. Due to injuries, roster turnover and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tigers reached eight wins despite just 53 scholarship players available in their final games of the season.

Vanderbilt's Pippen, Belmont's Alexander earn TSWA accolades

NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen, Jr., and Belmont’s Casey Alexander were voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, as announced this week by the organization.

Pippen, Jr., earned First Team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and the SEC Coaches as well as First Team All-District accolades from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He finished second in the SEC and 16th in the NCAA with 20.8 points per game (school record for a sophomore) and second in the SEC with 4.9 assists per game (ninth-best in school history).

The Los Angeles, Calif., native ranked third in the SEC and ninth nationally with 142 made free throws and second in the SEC with 1.77 steals per game. He shot 42.8 percent from the field overall, 35.8 percent from 3-point range and 85.0 percent from the free throw line (second in SEC) and led the team in scoring 13 times. He set an SEC Tournament record for most made free throws without a miss in a single tournament (25 for 25 in two games).

Alexander led Belmont to a 26-4 record and the program’s 12th conference regular season championship in 16 years. Belmont won a program-record 21 consecutive games and Ohio Valley Conference-record 30 consecutive league games (dating to the 2019-20 season).

The Bruins earned national Top 25 poll votes eight consecutive weeks (January 11-March 1) and won the DC Paradise Jam in November, with juniors Nick Muszynski and Grayson Murphy earning All-America honors from CollegeInsider.com.

Belmont’s 26 victories tied Gonzaga for the most nationally on Selection Sunday, and only Gonzaga, Baylor, Houston and Winthrop posted better winning percentages (of programs playing a minimum of 20 games).

Alexander was named a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award, Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award, and was a candidate for the Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year Award. Belmont ranked in the Top 25 nationally in 15 statistical categories, including third in assists, third in 2-point field goal percentage and ninth in offensive efficiency. 

Tennessee's Davis, Belmont's Brooks named TSWA award winners

NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s Rennia Davis and Belmont’s Bart Brooks were named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, as announced this week by the organization.

Davis averaged 17.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season, leading the Lady Vols in both categories. The Jacksonville, Fla., native shot 48 percent from the field and 85.3 percent at the foul line, recording 10 double-doubles in 24 contests.

She earned First Team All-SEC honors as well as Honorable Mention All-America accolades from the Associated Press, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Davis netted 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per outing in 12 conference games this season.

She ended her Lady Vols career as one of only four players to rank in the career Top 10 in points, points per game, rebounds and rebounds per game, joining the likes of Chamique Holdsclaw, Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings. Davis finished ninth in UT history in points (1,815) and points per game (15.4), 10th in rebounds (947) and sixth in rebounds per game (8.03) while also ranking in the Top 10 in double-doubles (4th, 39), 20-point games (5th, 23), free throw percentage (t6th, .816), field goals attempted (8th, 1,477) and field goals made (9th, 696).

She was selected ninth in the WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx.

Brooks led the Bruins to a 21-6 record and one of the program’s most historic seasons. Belmont racked up its sixth consecutive 20-win season in 2020-21 and also won its fifth OVC Tournament championship in the last six years. The Bruins became just the third OVC program to win five conference tournament titles in a six-year span and the first since Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee in the 1980s.

The historic campaign included the team’s 2021 NCAA Tournament run, which featured the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory and a win over a ranked opponent. The Bruins defeated the fifth-seeded and No. 13/14-ranked Gonzaga, advancing to the Round of 32. With their historic win, the Bruins became the first OVC team, and fifth overall, to win an NCAA Tournament game since 1990.

The victory also came as head coach Bart Brooks' 100th career win. Brooks stands 10th nationally among active head coaches in win percentage (.794). Belmont’s run included an 11-game winning streak from February 11 until its loss to fourth-seeded Indiana on March 24 in the NCAA Tournament.

College players of the week recognized - May 4

BASEBALL: Vanderbilt’s Bradfield, Trevecca’s Clouthier named TSWA Players of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Enrique Bradfield and Trevecca University’s Alex Clouthier earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games from April 26-May 2.

Bradfield batted .533 (8-for-15) with a triple, four RBIs, five runs scored and four stolen bases in three games for the Commodores.

The Hialeah, Fla., native walked, stole a base and scored in the top of the first in the opener at Florida and plated a run with a bunt single and later scored in the second inning. He singled, swiped another bag and scored again in the fourth inning and pushed across the Commodores final run with an RBI groundout in the seventh.

He collected two more hits and scored twice in the second contest, reaching on an error and coming across in the first inning. Bradfield singled, driving in a run, and stole second in the second inning and tripled and scored in the ninth.

In the series finale the freshman added four more hits and one RBI, singling in the first, third, seventh and ninth innings and plating a run with a groundout in the fifth. For the season he is batting .352 with four doubles, three triples, 23 RBIs and 40 runs scored while starting all 41 games. Bradfield continues to lead the nation in stolen bases with 34 in 36 attempts.

Clouthier tossed a seven-inning complete game shutout against Kentucky Wesleyan, allowing just four hits, no walks and two strikeouts while throwing only 72 pitches.

The Highlands Ranch, Colo., native helped the 23rd-ranked Trojans to a four-game split with the Panthers, retiring the first eight batters of the game before giving up singles in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The junior lefthander worked around a single in the seventh as well and none of the four batters reached second base in the 3-0 victory.

Clouthier improved to 3-1 this season in seven games, five starts, giving up 37 hits in 31.0 innings with two walks and 13 strikeouts.

2021 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Andrew Keene, Lincoln Memorial (Player); Gunner Becker, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
March 2 – Dominic Keegan, Vanderbilt (Player); Joshua South, Belmont (Pitcher)
March 10 – Fuzzy Furr, Tusculum University (Player); Elijah Pleasants, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 16 – Isaiah Thomas, Vanderbilt (Player); Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
March 23 – Liam Spence, Tennessee (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
March 30 – Drew Gilbert, Tennessee (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 6 – John Behrends, Belmont (Player); Aaron Brown, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)
April 13 – Jacob Justice, Bryan College (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 20 – Daulton Martin, Tusculum University (Player); Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 27 – Jake Rucker, Tennessee (Player); Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)

SOFTBALL: Belmont’s Cavanaugh, Trevecca’s Hall garner TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Cheyenne Cavanaugh and Trevecca University’s Raygn Hall earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, for games from April 26-May 2.

Cavanaugh batted .583 (7-for-12) with three triples, one home run, five RBIs and five runs scored in four games for the Bruins.

The Spring, Texas, native singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh against UT Martin to open the week and was 6-for-8 in a three-game series versus Tennessee Tech.

The senior posted two hits with a triple, one RBI and a run scored in the opener against the Golden Eagles. She plated a run with a bunt single in the fourth inning and tripled and scored in the sixth.

Cavanaugh added two more hits with a solo homer, three runs scored and two stolen bases in the second meeting. She singled, stole second and scored in the first inning, homered to leadoff the third, and walked, stole second and scored in the fifth.

She collected two more hits, two RBIs and a run scored in the series finale, including a leadoff triple and a run scored in the first inning. Her second three-bagger of the game plated two runs. Cavanaugh is hitting .377 with five doubles, seven triples, three home runs, 21 RBIs, 22 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 37 contests this season.

Hall posted a 3-0 mark with a 0.67 ERA in 21.0 innings, recording a pair of complete game shutouts while giving up no walks with 14 strikeouts, helping Trevecca secure its first Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season championship since 2016.

The Kingston, Tenn., native allowed two runs while scatttering eight hits with four strikeouts in a 3-2 victory against Ohio Dominican, retiring 13 of the first 15 batters of the game. The senior righthander tossed a complete game shutout at Kentucky Wesleyan in a 1-0 win, giving up seven hits with seven strikeouts. She set down the side in order in the first, second and seventh innings and worked out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth.

Hall pitched a two-hit shutout at Lake Erie College, striking out three. She retired the first nine hitters, allowed two singles to start the fourth inning and then set down 12 of the final 13 batters of the game. The only baserunner during that stretch reached on an error.

Hall upped her record to 11-7 in 18 appearances this season, working 97.1 innings and giving up 121 hits with 22 walks and 60 strikeouts.

2021 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Katie Eakes, Carson-Newman (Player); Nikole Counts, King University (Pitcher)
March 10 – Carly Turner, King University (Player); Ragyn Hall, Trevecca University (Pitcher)
March 16 – Shannon Smith, Carson-Newman (Player); Nikole Counts, King University (Pitcher)
March 23 – Shannon Smith, Carson-Newman (Player); Corinna Dodd, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)
April 20 – Mackenzi Dodd, Union University (Player); Corinna Dodd, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)

Rucker, Rocker named TSWA players of the week

BASEBALL: Tennessee’s Rucker, Vanderbilt’s Rocker named TSWA Players of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s Jake Rucker and Vanderbilt’s Kumar Rocker earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games from April 19-25.

Rucker batted .556 (10-for-18) with four doubles, one home run, three RBIs and six runs scored in four games for the Vols.

The Greenbrier, Tenn., native collected three hits in all three games at Texas A&M, including a solo homer along with two doubles and two runs scored in the series opener against the Aggies.

The junior registered three singles in a 3-for-5 effort in the second contest in College Station and ended the series with two more doubles among three hits as well as a career-best four runs scored and two RBIs.

Rucker is batting .346 overall with 11 doubles, six home runs, 38 RBIs and 33 runs scored in 40 games this season.

Rocker tossed the second complete game of his career, allowing one earned run on just three hits with eight strikeouts against No. 4 Mississippi State.

The Athens, Ga., native gave up a leadoff double to start the game and then retired 24 of the next 26 hitters with only a third inning single and sixth inning hit by pitch.

Rocker set down the side in order in five of the nine innings and did not walk a batter. The Bulldogs plated an unearned run in the ninth on an error and a single.

He posted his nation-leading ninth win of the season, upping his record to 9-1 with a 1.55 ERA over 64.0 innings, allowing 32 hits with 15 walks and 89 strikeouts. Opponents are batting just .143 against the righthander this season.

2021 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Andrew Keene, Lincoln Memorial (Player); Gunner Becker, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
March 2 – Dominic Keegan, Vanderbilt (Player); Joshua South, Belmont (Pitcher)
March 10 – Fuzzy Furr, Tusculum University (Player); Elijah Pleasants, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 16 – Isaiah Thomas, Vanderbilt (Player); Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
March 23 – Liam Spence, Tennessee (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
March 30 – Drew Gilbert, Tennessee (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 6 – John Behrends, Belmont (Player); Aaron Brown, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)
April 13 – Jacob Justice, Bryan College (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 20 – Daulton Martin, Tusculum University (Player); Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)