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UT's Cameron Tatum celebrates a call during an exhibition game against California (PA) on Friday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tennessee kicked off the rebirth of Thompson-Boling Arena with a convincing 106-46 men's basketball victory over Division II California (Pa.) Friday night.
The Vols recorded an exhibition-game record attendance of 19,780 playing in the refurbished 21-year-old arena, which underwent approximately $20 million worth of improvements since the end of last season.
The team's new additions showed well, too. Freshman Cameron Tatum, sophomore transfer Tyler Smith and Josh Tabb led the Vols with 15 points apiece. Senior JaJuan Smith had 13 and freshman Brian Williams and junior Ryan Childress scored 12 apiece while preseason SEC player of the year Chris Lofton scored 10.
"It's hard to be critical,'' said UT coach Bruce Pearl, whose team is ranked No. 7 in the The Associated Press and coaches' preseason polls. "What could you be critical of?''
Certainly not the ball rotation: The Vols had 28 assists leading to 38 field goals and seven players in double figures.
Tennessee's defensive improvement was evident from early on, as the Vols built a 55-20 halftime lead over the Vulcans by forcing 13 turnovers and limited the Division II school to 29-percent shooting.
California (Pa.), ranked No. 21 in a preseason poll by the Division II Bulletin, lost to Maryland by one point and Arkansas by seven in exhibition games last season.
"It's tough to gauge where you're at when the margin is so great,'' Pearl said. "But I thought our kids played hard. I don't think they let the quality of their play or their effort be affected by their opponent or the score.''
Tatum scored eight of his 13 first-half points in a span of 94 seconds. Tatum, a 6-foot-6 wing, sparked a 10-2 run by forcing a turnover and then splitting a pair of free throws that made it 34-14 with 5:20 left in the first half.
Williams hit a pair of free throws after Tatum forced another turnover, and then Tatum turned it up another notch with a glorious minute of basketball. Tatum scored on an alley-oop dunk, an inside move, blocked a shot and came back down to nail a 3-pointer from the corner to bring fans to their feet and make it 43-16 with 3:45 left in the half.
Pearl said he was impressed with both freshmen.
"It was a great debut for both of them,'' he said. "Cameron showed when the lights came on a level of athleticism we've seen, and he was fearless.
"Brian is a force in there. He actually can score better than he did around the basket. He has great hands. He took a charge, he stayed on the floor and used that physicality and he's an excellent passer.''
The Vols return to action at Thompson-Boling Arena Monday night with an exhibition game against Lincoln Memorial University that tips off at 7:30 p.m.
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Comments » 18
bshell12 writes:
Tatum looked amazing....Ramar looked a bit rusty and out of control at times and Tyler Smith wasn't smooth either....but over all very good performance
newtonrail writes:
Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. Raymond: I thought you only attacked Tenn Football and Coach Fulmer. This rant shows you are STARK RAVING MAD. I really hope the attendants find out you've been using the Nurse's computer soon, and get you back in a straight jacket. Oh, and if there's room in it keep CR or whatever she's call herself also.
VolFan32 writes:
I hope your being sarcastic jwray. that might be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard anyone say. Tatum did look good and so did Williams, but I want to see what they can do against the SEC, not a team that some High Schools in Memphis can beat.
Lofton is a preseason All-American and very likely a finalist for the Wooden Award. What you said is the most absurd thing I have ever heard someone say. You know absolutely nothing about basketball. Just because Lofton didn't drop 30 on this team doesn't mean his average is going to come down. Pearl played him 20 minutes so he doesn't get hurt. Lofton looked just the same last year in the Ex. Games and his season ended up just fine.
calivol writes:
Calm down, people. When I read jwray's comments, at no point did I think he was serious. It wasn't particularly witty, but it was clearly a joke. He only wears the straight jacket when writing about football.
volsrock writes:
The best stat in this game is 18 of 22 free throws. That's a stat that doesn't matter who the competition is. Also, this was a ranked division 2 team that only lost to Mayland and Arkansa by single digits last year. Their coach said he had never lost by 60 point and didn't know how to react. Lofton's going to get plenty of points this year. He might score as many as he did last year, but that may not even be enough to lead this team in scoring. We're Loaded, it's going to be a fun season.
BigManVolFan writes:
THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT TEAM THIS YEAR...THEY SHOWED THAT THEY CAN PLAY WITH OUT CREWS AND CHISM....THESE TWO FRESHMAN JUST MIGHT PUSH FOR SOME P-T IF THEY KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!
GO VOLS!!
DroopyDrawers writes:
TouchdownTN, I disagree. Pearl said that Williams is a FORCE. He has soft hands, but needs to shed a few more pounds. Tatum is like the Energizer Bunny. He never stops running and is basketball savy. My thoughts.
jweaver3#395614 writes:
TouchdownTN just because a DII team looked at you for waterboy doesn't make you an expert!!!
GO VOLS!!!
TXVOLSFAN
Good win for preseason, let's see how they play when the lights really come on.
wisonsinvol writes:
ilove-f, couldn't have been said better. Jayray is an absolute idiot with so many personality complexes it would be impossible to mention them all (he's probably flogging his mule as we speak). This site would be so much better without having to look at his phooey.
TeamXer writes:
most impressive stats? 18-22 from the foul line. That's what we need.
Colliervol writes:
Newtonrail, I just thought is was because he'd been drinking early again but that's just me. But you may be on to something about ole jw. He's too young to remember this one but I've got a new theme song for him:
"They're coming to take me away ha ha. They're coming to take me away ho ho, he he, ha ha. To the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time. And I'm so happy to see those men in their clean white coats and they're coming to take me awaaaaaaaay."
Careful tdtn on doubting his wisdom, he can get you fired. Just ask him.
MillisaAnn writes:
Glad the Vols won, Keep up the good work.
mlewishome#366649 writes:
19,000+ for an exhibition game? 18-22 from the line? wow.
DSaVol writes:
Just a suggestion here...everybody needs to save their "WOW's" til they really mean something. A long season looms and this team, while extremely talented and deep, still has ALOT of questions to answer. Remember, POTENTIAL means you haven't done it yet. One game at a time fellas.
budd#207344 writes:
TouchdownTN, when is your tv show on?
Orangefever writes:
everybody keeps saying hold your optimism and "Wow's" but the reality of it is we won by 60 POINTS!! THAT RIGHT THERE IS WHAT FLORIDA DID LAST YEAR TO WEAKER TEAMS. Tennessee last year won by what? 30-40. THIS MEANS SOMETHING! WE are extremely good and already i have heard non ut college basketball fans talking about us being the number 1 overall seed in march having better talent and depth than Carolina, memphis Ucla or kansas! Guys we could be like illinois in 2004 except not lose in the title game!!
bleed_orange writes:
I wasn't able to be at the game Friday night, but I liked what was on the radio. It sounded like we had a great crowd,played with a great energy, played pretty smart, played unselfish,played great DEFENSE, AND HIT OUR FOUL SHOTS! It sounded great to me so far. It was a great start to hopefully a great season. I love our talent, our bench, and our coaches. If they improve with each game - look out Final 4 - LOOK OUT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP! Let's try not to totally kill each other in practice. We need at least a good 10 man rotation. I'll be there tonight. GO VOLS!
JDS
bleed_orange writes:
I did make it to the Lady Vols vs USA. I was impressed with our freshman, Cadance Parker,with Team USA, and with the new look of Thompson-Boling Arena. I have a feeling that this will be a year to remember for UT. GO VOLS AND GO LADY VOLS!
JDS
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