Strange: Smith effortless in making mark

Tyler Smith did it so effortlessly Wednesday night, you'd think somebody would have done it before now.

Twelve points. Ten rebounds. Ten assists.

It's known as a triple-double and, officially, no one had ever done it before in a Tennessee uniform in the previous 2,338 games.

Not Ernie Grunfeld. Not Bernard King. Not Allan Houston.

Who else would have been versatile enough to hit double figures in three categories in the same game? Vincent Yarbrough, Gary Carter, C.J. Watson?

Nope, they never did it.

Somebody suggested Ron Widby was capable. UT didn't start keeping track of assists until 1969, two years after he was done.

Not Dane Bradshaw.

"Dane could get 10 rebounds,'' said coach Bruce Pearl. "He could get 10 assists.

"I don't know if he could get 10 points.

"Tyler, like Dane Bradshaw, is the glue, but you also have to account for his offense.''

UNC Asheville seemed intent on accounting for Smith's offense Wednesday night in an 87-69 Tennessee victory.

When he got the ball at the top of the lane against the Bulldogs' zone defense he was usually double-teamed.

"By them double-teaming me,'' said Smith, "it was Brian (Williams) in the post or a kick-out to Scotty (Hopson) or Cam (Tatum) to knock down the three.''

Or to Josh Tabb, or Wayne Chism or Bobby Maze. Smith's 10 assists were distributed between six teammates.

Smith knew he was an assist away from history when UT set up its offense with a 72-48 lead.

He took the ball out high and whipped a pass to Hopson.

"I was pretty sure he was going to take that shot,'' Smith said with a chuckle.''

Took it and hit it, a 3-pointer.

Fifteen seconds later, the announcement came during an official timeout. The crowd rose for a standing ovation.

To be honest, this bit of history probably wasn't as effortless as Smith made it look. He's such a smooth, versatile player he just makes it look easy.

He's flirted with this breakthrough before. Last year he had six double-doubles, all points-rebounds, but never more than nine assists.

"He's just a stat-filler,'' said Williams. "I get hit in the head every time in practice playing with Tyler.

"You've got to keep your hands up and your eyes open.''

Smith is a 6-foot-7 power forward by definition. But, like Bradshaw before him, he is in reality a "point forward" who frequently initiates the offense and sets up his teammates.

"That position has evolved,'' said Pearl. "It's unbelievably valuable.

"That's what they're talking about with a most valuable player. They're talking about how valuable that player is to his team.''

Smith led the Vols in assists last year with 122. He might do it again, even though UT has a legitimate point guard this year in Bobby Maze.

"I think the contest is on to see who leads this team in assists,'' Pearl said. "Bobby kind of had an edge going in. Tyler made a statement tonight that it's not a done deal.''

That's not just a coach trying to goad his players. Smith really does want to lead the team in assists.

And, yes, he really does place importance in statistical rarities like a triple-double.

"The rebounds and points, I try to get those all the time,'' he said, "but my assists are not always going to around that 10-mark.

"I heard about it last year that nobody had done it. I was close with Florida. I tried to get it then.''

(He had 23 points, nine rebounds but only six assists in a 104-82 win over Florida last February.)

Smith was a popular choice for SEC's preseason player of the year this fall. One veteran writer who covers the SEC didn't buy it, describing Smith as a "jack of all trades, master of none.''

Pearl, for one, sees a master:

"He's probably the most productive player I've ever coached, as far as his abilities to score, rebound, pass the ball and defend.

"After nearly 2,400 basketball games we have a triple-double. It's pretty exciting that Tyler Smith was the guy who did it.''

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.