BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The anticipation of a bouncing ball rarely has evoked so much excitement in East Tennessee. So I don't feel out of place in Birmingham, Ala., for the SEC basketball media days, which begin today.
Never mind that college football is on the verge of its stretch run. The stretch could lead to nothing more than a yawn for Tennessee football.
Football isn't what it used to be at UT. And neither is men's basketball.
In the middle of football season, UT basketball coach Bruce Pearl was featured in Sports Illustrated. What does that tell you?
It tells you how drastically UT basketball has changed since athletic director Mike Hamilton hired Pearl as his coach after the 2004-05 season.
The Vols had back-to-back 20-plus-win seasons and made the NCAA tournament each time. They have beaten national champion Florida three times. They have generated the kind of excitement football once did.
As a 4-3 UT football team struggles for answers, its basketball team has the aura of a surefire hit. And its fans can see all the way to March, which for too many years was a dead month for this program.
Just making the NCAA tournament is no longer a goal for UT basketball. Now, it's all about making your mark.
You don't make your mark in one weekend. You have to advance.
The Vols advanced to the sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament last season, which had a startling ending. The Vols blew a 20-point lead in falling to Ohio State, which eventually lost to Florida in the national championship game.
Don't bother asking, "How could UT blow a 20-point lead?" The more relevant question: "How could UT get a 20-point lead on Ohio State?"
The Vols will lose other big leads. They also will overcome huge deficits. You get both when you play the game at a break-neck pace.
In fact, Pearl's teams are more entertaining in defeat than many teams are in victory. Perhaps that's easier for me to say since I don't have a rooting interest, but I doubt UT fans would be as excited about this program if it had won just as many games the last two years by playing a more conventional style.
What's impressive is that Pearl didn't have to recruit players for his system before he won with his system. Sure, it helped that a deluxe 3-point shooter like Chris Lofton already was on board. But Buzz Peterson's recruits adapted to Pearl's full-court pressure defense; together, the coaches and players have made it work.
It will work even better this season because the system has become second nature, and because Pearl has added transfers like Tyler Smith and J.P. Prince, who will bring more size, athleticism and depth to an already talented roster.
More than the talent has changed. So has the image.
UT is no longer the scrappy, over-achieving program trying to battle its way into the NCAA tournament. It's a consensus top-10 team and a popular pick to win the SEC.
The talent and image might have changed. But if UT hopes to play up to its high expectations, it's important that the attitude remains the same.
Pearl's first two teams didn't shoot as though they were afraid to miss. They didn't play as though they were afraid to lose.
They didn't always win. But they won back fans who had drifted away after too many years of uneventful or uninspired basketball.
And in late October, those fans are ready for a bouncing ball.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 25
ChattaVOL writes:
It has been a pleasure to watch the basketball team during Coach Pearl's tenure. The team plays with an all out passion that is present every night they lace 'em up on the hardwood making every game a blast (yes, even the ones they come up on the short end of the stick). The team has truly won over the TN fans with intensity, heart, and passion.
It's a shame that TN fans must wait until November to see what was once evident in Sept & Oct.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
Coach Pearl has brought what UT basketball is....Coach Summitt has also brought what UT womens basketball is....Coach Fulmer too has brought what UT football is
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Wow. Can't even read a positive basketball article before someone chimes in with something negative about the football team or coaches.
brokebackvol writes:
Please don't pollute a basketball article with thoughts about that other disappointing sports program with the pigskin.
vol4jesus writes:
You get what you pay for. OOPS this is a free/nonpay site now so there it is. TDTN can't help hisself from unpositive posting in a positive article. Are you all surprised that Sir John said he doesn't have a rooting interest in UT bball? Sure glad he cleared that up. BBall coming with or without Duke Crews. Has he served his time for Coach Pearl?
mlewishome#366649 writes:
why does John Adams say "...to say since I don't have a rooting interest" in UT Basketball?
so John's not a UT fan?
Basketball_Jones writes:
Johns a non-biased sports writer who works for th KNS not for UT...For some reason most people don't understand that these sports writers didn't grow up here and most have covered other programs as well. As far as th basketball team, I picked up my "It's Basketball Time in Tennesse" magazine yesterday and it was really good. Go get it.
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
Go vols!!!
Pops writes:
Basketball isn't deflating UT football: UT football is deflating itself
juicetke#226846 writes:
Can you imagine if we didn't have basketball to fall back on? How depressing!
knoxtenor writes:
Let's turn the clock back to a time when things were different:
1998-99 Season
--------------
Football:
Coach - Fulmer
Record - 13-0
SEC - SEC Champs
National - National Champs (1st year of BCS)
Basketball:
Coach - Jerry Green (remember him?)
Record - 21-9
SEC - SEC Champs
National - Lost in 2nd round of NCAA
Which do you think people were more excited about back then?
MOOREVOLS writes:
Man, did Jerry Green ever waste our talent while he was here. Just think what Pearl would have done with that talent. Elite 8 at least and maybe even Final 4. I think Pearl would have kept the attitudes and egos in check too.
Agent_longball writes:
For the first time I bought a hat that says "Vol HOOPS Fan" In my 30+ years of being a UT supporter, I have never had to distinguish between the two sports. I bet you will see more of the Vol Hoops itmes for sale in the future.
Coach_Joe writes:
Is this a basketball article or a football article?
bowerst#242774 writes:
This is kind of like people-watching at the mall. So many things to comment on; so little time. But:
• Adams is supposed to be objective – it's his job.
• Not every sports commentator works for Host.
• How does marc_ash know whether Fulmer is involved with his players? It is not the head coach's job to monitor the substitution patterns of his position players. That would be the position coach. I blame Fulmer for punting the ball away three times in the second half. But expecting him to get his 3rd-string tailback in the game is ridiculous.
DSaVol writes:
Once again - THE ONLY BASKETBALL GAME THAT MATTERS IS THE NEXT ONE! One at a time everybody!
As for Adams - he isn't supposed to be a UT fan. I too think he's pretty weak as a journalist/writer but there are enough homers in E TN without him being one too.
And finally, marc_ash is the resident jock sniffing expert who knows essentially nothing about the inner workings of either the football or basketball program. But he does keep us all amused so good for him.
vscebail#247785 writes:
"Pearl's first two teams didn't shoot as though they were afraid to miss. They didn't play as though they were afraid to lose." --- Gee, why can't we play like that in football?
murrayvol writes:
Come on marc_ash. Pearl only has 13 players to keep up with (9-10 if you reduce it to the rotation). Plus he has an assistant in his ear with a minute by minute rundown. Fulmer has 60 (SEC road squad) and it's hard as hell to keep up with 60. Man, 60's a big number and he's got other stuff to deal with like life after football which by the way is just over the horizon. "Hardesty didn't get a snap?? Damn! How'd that happen? He's our #2 guy isn't he? We'll have to get that fixed." Yeah, right!
Volsrule92 writes:
I have never been so excited about basketball at this point in the year. It is not just a testament to Bruce Pearl, but a disappointment in the football program. Bruce could probably win more games with our football team than we have been. Hamilton found a Pearl in Basketball, now he needs to find that crystal trophy again in Football.
Hoss44 writes:
Why in the world isn't Hamilton paying Pearl more than KY is paying Billy G? Adams you're such an idiot, I'm still baffled by the awards you get??
At least you do have some funny one liners on the radio, being paired with Hooker would make anyone look good. Listening him giggle through each show is pure torture, I love the days Griff is in. Come on Citadel give us 6 hours a day of Doc, Heather, and Jeff in the morning, high comedy!!! I need more, they're so bad it's funny.
NCCOLTSFAN writes:
No worries!
Here is what coach said about the SC game.
"Both of us are in the mix for the Eastern Division championship, so you have a game that is crucial, both schools coming off tough losses," Fulmer told the Vols' official Web site. "We want to get back on the right track."
Hmmmmmmmm.
Can you say "dumbbbbbbbbbb?"
gmccown007#392764 writes:
What if I were to GUARANTEE you that I can give all of you the name of the ONE and ONLY coach in the whole of America that can return Tennessee to ALL of its heartbreakingly long lost days of glory? Now, if I could "do" such a miraculous, seemingly impossible thing, would you immediately "sign up" and --- with all of your heart --- "get on board"? Or would you --- with the NEGATIVITY that has now engulfed the VOL NATION --- and indeed, is now threatening to DESTROY it --- INSTEAD join --- GLEEFULLY, no doubt --- in the FLOOD OF NEGATIVITY that would almost certainly follow an idea so "wild" and, no doubt, certain to be PERFECT? Perfect, that is, once all EMOTION is completely wiped away.
I have --- literally --- been sitting in that once hallowed stadium for OVER 55 YEARS!!! NO ONE'S blood runs any more orange than mine! NO ONE'S!!! Consequently, there is NO PRICE (other than my immortal soul) that I would not pay for a return to those once halcyon days of glory.
Want to return to such days of triumphant joy? Admittedly, now, only for a mere handful of remaining years? Or do all of you prefer to merely continue to endlessly, fruitlessly bicker? There is only the tiniest window of opportunity now left. But that window DOES exist. With no blasphemy whatsoever intended, there is a "savior" available to us. Incredibly, he is even a native son. Tennessee born and bred. Further, he is, regardless of one’s prejudices, the GREATEST football "genius" alive. WITHOUT QUESTION!
Now, mind you, we do not always see eye-to-eye. Collectively, or otherwise. But who cares? Particularly, for such a magnificent ultimate "prize"? I have sat around a hundred tables and heard it repeated a thousand times.
"Native son or not he would never take the job. Besides, there is no one alive who hates Tennessee any more than he does”.
I promise you, folks. Neither statement is true. Now, it IS true that out of high school, he “refused” our recruitment. But only because he was determined to remain a quarterback.(Tennessee still ran exclusively single wing and not being a Tim Tebow “type” (of that day or any other), he knew his running skills simply were not adaptable to U-T's offensive sets. And, mind you, he was more than "right".
Once he became a coach, though, he has been ready --- more than once --- to come back to Tennessee. Justifiably, though, he has never judged it "right" or "proper" to do the asking. And, indeed, why should he have?
Of whom are we speaking? Well, the one and only one man who can save the "train-wreck" that is now Tennessee football. Steve Spurrier.
By the way, time is running out. Like Lou Pinella with the Cubs, this would, guaranteed, be Spurrier’s last hurrah.
At this stage, it would probably call for one dollar more than Lou Saban. In case you have forgotten, the man who just handed us our a$$.
I don’t know about you but I will never forget that pain. Never.
I’m good for the first $100,000.00. Anybody got a dollar?
BuckFama writes:
Steve Spurrier was not Tennessee born and bred, not a native son, and not destined to be the coach at Tennessee.
He was born in Florida.
And he has stated to his friends within the coaching fraternity and to various press folks, repeatedly, that he would not be a candidate to coach at Tennessee.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Ithink you are mistaken Buckfama..all due respect to you....Spurrier has always reffered to himself as "and ole Tennessee boy"..How did I know? I heard him say that at an awards dinner several years ago.
BuckFama writes:
He was born in Miami Beach, FL. April 1945.
He lived in Tennessee for about 15 or 16 years. He's 62. He is not a Tennessean. And he will not coach the Vols.
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