Adams: Smith just following orders

"Shoot!" Pearl screamed from the bench as Smith dribbled toward the middle of the court, 24 feet from the basket at Nationwide Arena on Sunday afternoon.

"That was the first time in my career I heard coach Pearl say 'shoot it' with me that far out,' " Smith said. "I didn't know the shot clock was low. It was one of those shots that went in at the right time."

Smith's 3-pointer off the glass gave the Vols a five-point lead over Virginia with 5:34 to play. Moments later, he hit a 3 from the right corner as the Vols held off Virginia 77-74 in a second-round NCAA tournament game.

"It was momentum for them as much as it was three points," Virginia coach Dave Leitao said of Smith's off-the-glass 3-pointer. "In order to win and advance, you have to do things like that."

Smith, who scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half, wasn't the only Vol who stepped up offensively when leading scorer Chris Lofton struggled from the field in the second half. Ryan Childress, who had 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds, made the most of his extra minutes after center Wayne Chism picked up his fourth foul in the first minute of the second half.

No one appreciated their efforts more than Pearl, who knows the history behind Sunday's performances.

Childress had to change his body. Smith had to change his role.

"Ryan Childress came to us as a mid-major signee (when Pearl was the coach at Wisconsin-Milwaukee)," Pearl said. "He came into the SEC and basically saw where the bar was set. He had two choices: He could go south and go to a level that might have been a little easier, or step up physically and emotionally.

"He got faster, got quicker and kept his confidence."

The confidence showed when Childress made a pair of free throws with 27 seconds to play to put the Vols up by four points.

Smith, who was recruited to UT by former coach Buzz Peterson, had to make a more subtle change. With Chris Lofton establishing himself as one of the nation's premier shooting guards, Smith had to find another niche for himself in Pearl's system.

"JaJaun stayed patient, didn't leave and found a way to play with Chris," Pearl said.

The change has been more about location than position. Throughout most of Smith's career, he was most confident shooting from the wing. But Lofton had that spot cornered, so Smith began practicing 3-pointers from the corners.

"I knew that's where I would get the open looks," Smith said. "In the summertime, I worked on my consistency from there."

He has achieved more than consistency.

"A lot of times now when I get the ball (in the corner) near our bench, my teammates are yelling '3' before I shoot," Smith said. "Sometimes I miss because of that."

So maybe it's just as well he was in the corner opposite the UT bench with 2:31 to play and the Vols clinging to a two-point lead. If any teammates shouted "3" prematurely, Smith didn't hear them.

And this time, his coach didn't have to yell, "Shoot."

Smith was open in the corner with his feet set. He knew what to do.