Adams: UT scored big even in style points

It's a mid-week Tennessee basketball game in late November against a nondescript opponent. You're wondering if is it worth the effort.

Here's why you go: Because the next day, your neighbor or co-worker might ask, "Did you see that?"

And you will have more than an answer. You will have a comeback.

For example, did you see that alley-oop pass from Chris Lofton to JaJuan Smith for a dunk Tuesday night?

Why, that was almost as good as when Ramar Smith threw the ball over his head into the basket while being fouled. He even made the free throw, which drew a huge ovation from a crowd that hadn't forgotten his 0-for-12 night at the foul line five days ago.

He responded with a smile that was almost as big as the one JaJuan Smith made after hitting a shot falling down, then sliding backward across the floor and introducing himself to the front-row crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena.

"That shot let me know it was my night," said JaJuan Smith, who had a career-high 32 points in UT's 109-40 victory over Middle Tennessee State University.

It wasn't just Smith's night. It was Tennessee's night.

No one was more impressed than MTSU coach Kermit Davis.

"I don't know if I've ever seen an SEC team play better," he said.

Given Davis' background, that's high praise. He played college basketball at Mississippi State in the early 1980s and served as an assistant coach at LSU from 1998 through 2002.

"They've got depth," Davis said. "They've got shooters. They've got inside guys. They've got everything."

And they showed it from start to finish. Even when the Vols stretched their lead into the 40s, they didn't lose their edge.

"At halftime, we kept telling ourselves we were down by 10," UT guard Chris Lofton said.

Give them credit for a great imagination, too. The Vols outscored MTSU 25-7 in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Overall, this was as much about style points as points.

"At halftime, we had flashbacks to the (Pilot) Rocky Top League," Lofton said.

The reference to the popular local summer league was appropriate. There was more structure Tuesday night but just as many highlights.

During the first timeout, fans were treated to highlights of the previous three games on the Jumbotron. The real stuff was even better. In fact, you could have made a healthy-sized video on Smith highlights alone.

No wonder, Davis repeatedly looked down at the floor in the final few minutes. He obviously had seen enough.

The outcome was even more frustrating given his team's preparation. Unhappy with the Blue Raiders' shoddy defense in the previous three games, Davis practiced his team twice Monday - once from 5 to 7:30 a.m. and again in the evening.

"It didn't work, to say the least," Davis said. "We didn't get anything accomplished defensively."

Conversely, UT's defense was relentless. In the early going, a missed shot qualified as progress for the Blue Raiders, who began the game with five consecutive turnovers.

UT coach Bruce Pearl said he had never had a team play any better at this stage of the season. As well as the team played, you couldn't help but wonder how much better it will be in another month, particularly since talented forward J.P. Prince won't be eligible until mid-December.

So it's a mid-week game against a nondescript opponent in December. And you're wondering if you should make the effort?

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.