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Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

Tyndall, Vols trying to build on home success

Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall talks with Tennessee guard Detrick Mostella (15) in their game against East Tennessee State on Dec. 31, 2014, in Knoxville.
Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall talks with Tennessee guard Detrick Mostella (15) in their game against East Tennessee State on Dec. 31, 2014, in Knoxville. Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall talks with Tennessee guard Detrick Mostella (15) in their game against East Tennessee State on Dec. 31, 2014, in Knoxville.

KNOXVILLE — President Barack Obama may have been in Knoxville on Friday afternoon, but perhaps the most determined campaigning took place in a University of Tennessee cafeteria.

That’s where Donnie Tyndall, the first-year coach of the basketball Volunteers, was interacting with students and snapping pictures with them in hopes they would come to Thompson-Boling Arena for today’s game against Alabama.

Tennessee is hoping for its biggest turnout of the season to help its young team improve to 8-0 at home.

“I think it’s great,” freshman forward Tariq Owens said. “I really like Coach Tyndall and what he does to help the team out. I really like that he goes out and tries to get more support for the team.”

On his Twitter account after Tennessee’s SEC-opening win at Mississippi State on Wednesday night, Tyndall posted a message pleading for 20,000 fans to come to the game against the Crimson Tide.