Pearl says Vols need sense of urgency

The plane carrying the Tennessee men’s basketball team touched down around 2 a.m. Monday with some players needing to be in class at 8 a.m.

So Vols’ coach Bruce Pearl understands why his team was tired after playing in the Old Spice Classic at Disney World and not entirely focused in Tuesday’s practice.

But that didn’t mean he was about accept it.

Pearl stopped practice on two occasions for what he referred to as “conditioning’’ in preparation for Wednesday night’s 7 o’clock tip against UNC Asheville (TV: SportSouth) at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The 10th-ranked Vols (5-1) take on the defending Big South champion Bulldogs (3-3), who are coming off a 116-48 loss to No. 1 North Carolina.

“They’ve lost some guys since last year,’’ Pearl said. “But remember they got our lead down to single digits late in the game against us last year.”

Pearl approached practice with that urgency, and he let his players know he expected the same from them.

“It was not your typical day, with the guys having just played three games in four days and getting back late,” Pearl said. “We did not practice well. When you come back from Hawaii, it’s Polynesian Paralysis.

“This is the Fantasia Fade.’’

Pearl said the academic demands on the players as they prepare for final exams is a major reason teams don’t like to play games this time of year.

“There are a lot of distractions,’’ Pearl said, “tests coming up, papers being due. This is new for some of our players.’’

Pearl refuses to make anything of tonight likely being his 400th career victory, and the Vols’ 34-game home court win streak was not even mentioned.

“Like I’ve said, I’m looking for our sixth victory (this season), and then I’ll be looking for our 20th and then enough wins to defend the SEC championship,’’ Pearl said. “So that’s not at all where my mind is at; we’re seventh in the league in steals . . . that doesn’t bode well for us.’’

Pearl said some of that is the team’s collective inexperience, but most of it is focus and effort.

“It’s a concentration thing, it’s paying closer attention to the scouting report, and it’s, ‘Can you close your man out and not get driven by?’” Pearl said. “Our guys have more to learn defensively than they understand. I expect them to be accountable and play with a great sense of urgency.’’

UT junior center Wayne Chism said the team is going through growing pains.

“I feel like I’m a freshman again in some ways,’’ Chism said. “Everyone is trying to fit in, and there’s still a lot for this team to figure out.’’

Scotty Hopson is a freshman, and he said, as difficult as the past two days have been, Thompson-Boling Arena has been a welcome sight.

“It feels good to be back in our gym,’’ Hopson said. “I know those Rocky Top Rowdies (student section) will be out there, and that makes a difference for me.’’

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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