J.P. Prince’s scintillating Cintas Arena performance made the difference in No. 12 Tennessee’s 82-75 men’s basketball victory over Xavier on Saturday.
“He played 20 minutes, had 23 points and it felt like 40,’’ Musketeers coach Sean Miller said. “He’s a great addition to their team.’’
The 6-foot-8 Prince wasted no time taking flight upon entering the game with the Vols (11-1) up 11-6 six minutes into the action.
Prince’s day started with a steal and a breakaway dunk. On UT’s next possession, Prince delivered an alley-oop pass that Tyler Smith layed in.
Prince scored for the Vols in transition the next time down the floor, and then he had another bucket on a fast-break layup after a Tyler Smith steal to cap a 6-0 run and make it 19-8.
Timeout, Xavier: “Who is this Number 30 guy, and how are we going to stop him?’’
Whatever the plan, it didn’t work long. Prince scored 10 consecutive UT points later in the first half to stave off a Musketeers comeback, capping his run with a breath-taking reverse dunk off JaJuan Smith’s alley-oop pass.
“You like that, huh?’’ JaJuan Smith said after the game, breaking into a smile. “J.P. does that stuff in practice, and today he gave us a lift and kept us in the game.’’
Prince, who was playing in just his third game since transferring to UT from Arizona, indicated this one was for coach Bruce Pearl.
“I just wanted to fight hard for Coach Pearl, because he took me in and gave me an opportunity at Tennessee,’’ Prince said. “You guys can call it my coming out party for the rest of the world, but I’ve had days like this in practice.
“I had these kinds of days at Arizona, too, but now I’m in an environment where my coach lets me go and do my thing,’’ he said. “My family and teammates have stayed behind me, and Coach Pearl has stayed behind me.’’
Prince’s father, John, was quite literally behind him in the raucous arena. John and Mary Prince watched the game from seats behind the team bench.
“The whole team played well,’’ said John Prince, whose 22 years of collegiate coaching experience include stops at Ole Miss, Memphis, UAB Colorado State and Jackson State.
“You have to look at the opportunities his teammates gave him, and that made it easier for J.P. than most people think,’’ John Prince said. “We have a well-coached team, and they all take advantage of their opponents.’’
John Prince has a critical eye for his son and a keen eye for the game.
“J.P. still needs to get in better shape, and he needs to work to get Chris (Lofton) the ball,’’ he said. “Chris took a lot of heat from the defense, but he delivered the ball, setting (Wayne) Chism up for a dunk and hitting Tyler on a pick and roll.
“That was a victory for Tennessee, and that’s what it’s all about in the end, not points or dunks.’’
Lofton, whose parents were sitting next to the Prince family, got a chuckle out of John Prince’s praise.
“What about J.P.? He was great,’’ Lofton said. “I knew he could do that; when he first got to Tennessee, I could tell he would be something special.
“This is going to be a great Christmas. I’ll be in Maysville (Ky.) for Christmas, and we won.’’
John Prince said he’s hoping to travel to Seattle for the Vols’ game with No. 18 Gonzaga at 4 p.m. Saturday.
“This team is really fun to watch, because most teams, going in you know they can do one or two things,’’ he said. “We can do one or six.’’
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Comments » 26
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
I have to say that I wish the next game wasn't in a week (or 6 days now as it is). For once, it's good to have something to look forward to after bowl season.
scvols writes:
This team would be unstoppable if Chris and all the Smiths would play well with Price. When is Chris going to start doing his thing? That was a great win for us.
jevolball7 writes:
scvols;I assume you mean Prince not Price.Jay Price was a lame guard in the "Wade the fade years" Oh, by the way,CLO is doing his thing.He's hitting right about the average nationly from 3.His assists to turnover ratio is thru the roof.If you happened to watch any of our games,who normally comes out of the pack with the loose balls??He is the ultimate team player,only difference is,lots more scoring around him. do us all a favor and watch a few games.So as not to get "foot in mouth disease" Before they find a cure.
inquiry writes:
Wow this guy is fun to watch..great game
AirForceVol2786 writes:
You can see the team finally coming together. Go Vols!
VOLnATL writes:
Although I live in the ATL, I am from Memphis. JP was the real deal and Calapari missed a huge chance to have him when he signed with Arizone. Pearl did a wonderful job getting this young man to come to UT. He will be fun to watch all year long. Go Vols! TDTN - I agree completely. The true test will be when they play the Tigers and this was a great warm up.
DSaVol writes:
SCVOL - you should really become a Gamecock fan. You obviously think like them and have about as much understanding of the game as all of them combined! You'd be a great addition to Dave Odom's band of rejects!
tennrich1 writes:
Great win....In March, who did you beat on the ROAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!That is the number one priority...then who did you play on the ROAD!!!!!!Just hope we can get Chism closer to the basket most of the time.....
wisonsinvol writes:
Tennrich, I hope Pearl can get Chism to play like he did the last 4 minutes. The kid has good hops and soft hands, he should be a force around the basket. This team is really loaded and with complimentary players instead of more of the same. Defense is good when it wants to be. I still say the play of the game was Ramar going after and getting that loose ball. These guys give it up for each other and that includes the coach. Great chemistry and great talent. Should be a special year for UT.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Now that's more like it, jevolball7! Those were some good points about Chris's value to the team even if he isn't putting up the big numbers. Some people have said that the team misses Dane Bradshaw's "glue-guy" contributions, and I agree that they do to some extent. However, I would submit that Chris supplies those now. We haven't needed him to put up the big numbers as much now because we have about five other guys who can get 20 in a given game. Meanwhile, Chris contributes blocks, steals, rebounds, assists every night. Unlike some guys who are used to being the big scorer, he helps us in every other way. He is still the guy I want taking the last shot or standing at the line to seal the deal. I am sure he will have some big scoring games before it's all over, but in the meantime, let's appreciate all the OTHER things he does to help us win!
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
I disagree that we would have lost this one without him, but he sure had the hot hand. Go vols!
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
Everyone has the wrong idea about Chris. He knows his role and he can turn it on when he needs to.
volunteerTY23 writes:
gr8 game also by tyler, he did alot of the little things on D and hitin the glass, prince was very effective, i'd like to see him get a lil more physical and bang a lil, but he's definantly been a great addition, jajuan better watch his back, or a lineup of prince, howell, c-low, tyler and wayne may be next, I thought ramar played a helluva game as well, great game guy's, now if we can beat the zags on the rd that would me GINORMOUS
lee37062#240704 writes:
Can anyone tell me what has happened to Josh Tabb?
murrayvol writes:
Prince has happened to Josh Tabb, lee. There's only so many minutes to go around and J.P. will be getting 20-25 of them.
lee37062#240704 writes:
Thats what I thought but wasnt sure. Thanks
budrhon writes:
TouchdownTN was correct in his post. Without Prince (X-factor)the Vols might have loss this one. Everytime Xavier made a run JP countered on the other end. Basketball is such a game of emotional swings that Xavier could have gotten the momentum in their favor at some point and the Vols might have never gotten it back. That's why Prince made the difference, plus the refs were horrible. Tyler, Ramar and Wayne also stepped up big when needed. This team is still not hitting on all cylinders, but you can see Coach Pearl is beginning to put it together with the right combinations. This team will be hard to defend because as JP played great, next week Lofton or Jujuan may have a break out game. I can see several SEC coaches wondering how to prepare for this team.
Ironcity writes:
Prince reminds me of an Isiah Victor except JP can handle the ball. I agree with scvols in regards to Chris not playing up to his preseason All American rankings. I love Chris as much as anyone, but to say he is having a great year would be foolish. Is he still have a positive effect on the team? Absolutly, he has always been over 40% from the three line and he is at 34%. He is usually at 50% inside the arc but he is at 34%. Chris has developed his game to the point that he is still valuable when he is cold and he does demand a double team even when he is cold. Chris would tell you that his offensive game is not where it was last year. The good news is that instead of slowing at the end of the year, he may be heating up. If thats the case, we should be awfully tough when we play in the SEC tournament or the NCAA"s.
boathaul#223750 writes:
The player that guarded Lofton was in his face the whole game. Chris couldn't shake him. It was a great game by that player, but Lofton still got the rebounds and passes he needed to make.
volfan1511 writes:
I have to turn my head anymore when Jajuan gets the ball bc 9 times out of 10 he has been jacking up a terrible shot. He isnt getting the open looks right now and is forcing the fact when he doesnt need to. I look for JP to be in that 3 spot within the next month if Jajuan keeps playing like he has been other than when he went off against MTSU. Chism also kills me with those horrid 3's he thinks he can pull off when he really needs to be boxing out and scrapping under the basket.
kevinc0465 writes:
volfan1511 I agree that jajuan does jack up alot of shots but he is a very streaky scorer. He always score most of his ponts in like a five to seven min span. And thank everybody who is on here actually watching the games and seeing that Lofton may not be hitting as high a percent as last year but he is more thatn making up for that Everywhere else in his game. It will be really exciting when, not if, he starts shooting better. Also, I wish our post players would start playing like post players cause when we play teams like Memphis they will dominate us with their post play. As for Prince, he is a great spark for our team. The only thing it seems he needs to work on right now is his defense. Sorry for some negativity he played awesome and without his play we would have lost that game.
budrhon writes:
JP reminds me of Steve Smith who played for Mich State and later for the Hawks in the NBA. Touchdwntn -in addition to the hustle play by Ramar earlier in the game he wasn't playing good and Coach Pearl took him out, before he sat down Pearl gave him and earful on some opportunities on the floor (perhaps a blown assignment) instead of sulking he listened and padded the coach on his head. Gentleman that's team respect for your Coach because you know he's trying to put you in a position to win. It also shows Ramar is mature to understand constructive criticism because he came back later and played his @$$ off. As for Lofton I wouldn't worry about him at all because he was covered heavily on defense, but instead of jacking up ill advised shots he focused on defense and rebounding. He's too good of a shooter to go the rest of the season in an offensive slum. His NBA draft status might take a ding, but he's still a quality guy that the NBA needs considering some of the knuckleheads we've seen in the league.
inquiry writes:
Haven't seen play like that since Bernard King, dang this guy is "showtime" to watch play basketball
ssukonic#254241 writes:
budrhon was/is right on the mark. JP, Ramar, etc. are all showing they are all coachable. I loved this game. Ramar's dive for the loose ball with dimished playing time says it all to me. Lofton does all the little things and hopefully will get his stroke back. I sure like the fact we've got a guy who we know has done it before and if he gets it going too.....look out. Chism really got some tough and crucial rebounds at the end. Think that might be emphasized in a film session?? I know I would......... Can't wait to see the Gonzaga game.
Colliervol writes:
May not quite be hitting on all cylinders but there are signs it's coming. JP is a great addition to this team with his versatility. Chism and Ramar also showed signs that they are waking up. (Now if they can just show some consistency.) I think that, by March, this will be a team that few will want to see in the tournament.
As far as Tabb goes, he is buried on the bench by the depth that we now have. After adding JP Prince to the list, whose playing time is he going to take?
InBruceWeTrust writes:
I think that was a great game all around. Obviously, JP had an amazing game. Jujuan Smith really needs to improve on taking care of the ball (6 TO's), A great point made by someone earlier, he is a streaky scorer. I can see him more suited to coming off the bench later in the year if Prince is able to keep up what he has done in his first 3 games. However I can't fault him for leading the team in rebounds and assists. I really like what Bruce has done with the playing time between J. Howell and R. Smith. I'd like to see Ramar in at the same time as our versatile post players like Childress and Chism because we can run more of a flex look and open up the lane for him and he is without a doubt one of our best at taking the ball to the hoop. As for Jordan, he's probably better with the half court offense and is very reliable with the ball in his hands. I'm not concerned about Chris Lofton, as hard of a worker he is, I'd put my money on the fact that he'll be in the gym through most of his holliday break working on his shot, I predict a breakout shooting game on the road against Gonzaga.
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