Lofton taking charge with leadership on, off court

Chris Lofton has proved he can handle the hype.

Now, the returning SEC men's basketball Player of the Year is showing he's ready to be a team leader for the Tennessee Vols.

"Chris has taken some leadership, and I'm seeing that now more than ever,'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said after Monday's practice. "Even though he's a senior, he took a more active role in our recruiting weekend, and he's speaking up more off the court.''

A senior, Lofton commands respect on and off the court. That much was evident on the Vols' trip through Central Europe in August, and again when the team returned and began working out with the newcomers.

"Chris is the best shooter in the nation,'' incoming freshman Cameron Tatum said. "You get frustrated playing defense on him, because you can be in great position and he still hits.

"But then you have to realize who he is.''

Lofton, however, still shuns the All-American tag.

"Like I said before,'' he says, "What have I done to be called an All-American?''

In fact, Lofton refers to last season as "a disappointing junior year,'' particularly his .811 free-throw percentage, the worst of his three-year collegiate career.

Lofton is particularly upset with himself for missing clutch free throws and shots against Ohio State and not taking the team further in the NCAA tournament.

If there is a positive to come out of that, it's that Lofton realizes he won't be able to do it alone this season.

"We'll have a pretty good team this year as long as we work together,'' he said. "The talent is there, but that won't matter if we're not working together.

"If everyone is trying to get their points, it could be a disaster. The points will come based on the plays coach calls and what the defense creates for us.''

And make no mistake about it, Pearl is making sure there will be more and better defense.

"It's a matter of where we're placing our emphasis,'' Pearl said. "We're not broke; we don't need fixing. But we need tweaking. We've placed our emphasis on our weaknesses, which is our defense and our free-throw shooting.''

Lofton said he's put even more work into his free-throw shooting, trying to get back to the level he was at two years ago when he led the SEC in free-throw shooting (.917) and hit 38 in a row in conference play.

"I interview all of the players in the preseason, and the one unanimous response I received came when I asked the players who the hardest worker on the team is,'' Pearl said. "They all said it was Chris, and that's leadership at its finest.''

Pearl said he talks to Lofton more than ever, and constantly seeks his input on the team.

Consequently, interviews with Lofton sound very much like interviews Pearl has conducted.

"I think the biggest difference people will see in our team this season is our defense,'' Lofton said. "Everyone knows we can score, but now we're putting more emphasis on defense.''

The Vols, 24-11 overall and 10-6 in the SEC, ranked last in the SEC in scoring defense (75.1 points per game), last in field-goal percentage (.457) and last in rebounding defense (37 per game).

"No doubt,'' Pearl said, "defense is the area where we can show the greatest improvement and have the most impact.''

Even Lofton, UT's leading scorer the past two seasons, sees the value in that.

"Scoring is great,'' he said, "but that's nothing if we don't win.''

ESPN Look: ESPN analyst Jay Bilas ranked the Vols No. 7 in the preseason on an ESPNU Midnight Madness show.

"I think he (Lofton) is the best shooter in the country,'' Bilas said. "Ramar Smith is a solid guard, as is JaJuan Smith.

"A lot will depend on the big guys. If Duke Crews can get back in there he can be a force for them. A lot depends on how they play and how they guard.''

Bilas' top 10: 1) North Carolina; 2) Memphis; 3) UCLA; 4) Kansas; 5) Michigan State; 6) Louisville; 7) UT; 8) Georgetown; 9) Duke; 10) Indiana.

CBSsportsline.com has UT as No. 5 in the preseason, and SI.com has the Vols at No. 3 behind North Carolina and UCLA.

Injury Update: Sophomore center Wayne Chism suffered what Pearl said was a "light'' ankle sprain Saturday and is wearing a walking boot as a precaution.

Redshirt freshman Steven Pearl returned to practice after missing 10 days with a sprained ankle.

Duke Update: Sophomore Duke Crews remains suspended indefinitely, Pearl said.

"So far, he's making progress,'' Pearl said. "That's all there really is to say about it right now.''

Pearl gave no indication when Crews could be reinstated. Crews has not been allowed to work out with the team since the suspension was handed down Sept. 26.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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