Forbes a good fit

Come on out to a Vols practice (they're open to the public), and take a look and listen to newly hired assistant Steve Forbes.

Forbes wasted no time getting down to business this week when the Vols opened individual workouts Tuesday.

"Jump to the ball, JUMP TO THE BALL!'' Forbes commanded mere moments into the first practice.

Tony Passley, one of the hardest workers on the team, offered his opinion on Forbes without being asked.

"It was definitely hard out there,'' Passley said. "Coach Forbes is intense, but you know he's always trying to help you. He's another great coach who's making us better.''

Forbes, 41, managed to get the attention of easy-going Major Wingate on the first day.

"Man, Coach Forbes could be a really good head coach for a lot of programs,'' Wingate said. "He's a perfect fit for us, because he doesn't (mess around) on the court. You talk to him and he's a nice guy, but when it's time to take stuff serious, he's on it.''

Forbes admitted it wasn't easy showing up in the opening practices with his game face.

"It's hard to start out like that, because I'm still finding my way and getting to know the players,'' said Forbes, who was hired away from Texas A&M to replace Scott Edgar after Edgar took the top job at Southeast Missouri State. "But I think players feed off intensity.''

It certainly has worked for Pearl, and Forbes was witness to that when Pearl was an assistant at Iowa and he was coach at Southwestern (Iowa) Community College in 1988.

"I could see his (Pearl's) energy and passion, and it was kind of infectious,'' Forbes said. "I felt he was a guy I needed to lock into and get to know.''

Forbes did just that, and his relationship with Pearl and UT associate head coach Tony Jones has made his transition seamless.

"This staff is tight, like family, and they've been together for a long time,'' Forbes said. "But since I've known them for a long time, I've been able to ease into it and haven't been intimidated by their closeness.

"They've made me feel very comfortable voicing my opinion. I'm not always right, but I respect them for letting me talk.''

Forbes said he isn't "trying to change the world,'' but he does want to bring some tips that enabled Texas A&M to turn its program around with a physical, blue-collar style of play.

Bradshaw's Take: Dane Bradshaw has become one of the most-respected players on the team with his actions, not his words.

Wingate said Bradshaw gave the team a lift when he returned from wrist surgery immediately. Unable to shoot off the surgically repaired wrist, Bradshaw shot with his other hand.

"That's leadership,'' Wingate said.

When asked to give a brief synopsis of UT's new players, Bradshaw didn't hold back.

Marques Johnson: "Pass first, unselfish player who can play a lot of positions.''

Wayne Chism: "The most-talented recruit I've seen come in here in my career. He's an Elton Brand type of player; I look for him to do some huge things this year.''

Duke Crews: "He has so much athleticism; it's just a matter of time with his skill work. He brings shot-blocking like we haven't had before, and I can see he'll bring the crowd to another level.''

Josh Tabb: "He got overshadowed by other recruits, but he plays very hard and sees the court well. He'll help us from top to bottom.''

Steven Pearl: "He's not viewed by us as a walk-on. He continues to get better, and he's not just here to be on the team.''

Passley: "He's a scrapper and every team needs someone like Tony. At the end of the game, he's someone I want on my side.''

Getting Physical: Forbes said JaJuan Smith was one of the more impressive players the first week of individual workouts.

"Everyone is really happy with the condition JaJuan has come back in,'' Forbes said. "He's playing really physical on defense.''

Keeping Tabbs: Tabb was relieved to get the cast removed from his injured wrist Wednesday.

"Sitting out with my wrist in a cast, I learned a lot,'' Tabb said. "But there's a lot for me to experience.''

Tabb said he has mostly played shooting guard, but for UT he's ready to do "whatever it takes.''

Smith Update: Freshman point guard Ramar Smith didn't arrive in Knoxville until after midnight, but that didn't stop him from attending his first class, sociology, at 8 a.m. Thursday.

Smith did not participate in UT's practice Thursday, and is not allowed to talk to the media until next week, according to the Vols' sports information office.

Mike Griffith covers Tennessee men’s basketball. He may be reached at knsgriff@aol.com.