When Belmont came within seconds of shocking Duke right out of the NCAA tournament last March, the nation was watching.
The audience included Tennessee's basketball team. The Vols were in Birmingham that evening, resting up to play American University in a first-round game the next day.
"Oh, yeah. We watched it,'' UT's Tyler Smith said Saturday. "That's what got us ready for 'em.''
Good thing the Vols were ready for 'em. The margin of victory doesn't get much closer than 79-77.
Not close enough yet? Belmont's best player - the game's best player - was at the free-throw stripe with 1.2 seconds to play.
All Alex Renfroe had to do to force overtime was push his scoring total from 30 points to 32.
But Renfroe missed his first shot unintentionally. Then he missed his second intentionally to create a scramble. UT's Wayne Chism rose up to swat the rebound out of harm's way and the horn sounded.
Thus, coach Bruce Pearl was able to shake Belmont coach Rick Byrd's hand knowing he wouldn't have to explain a headline-grabbing loss.
"That's one of those scary games,'' said Pearl, "that a lot of people stay away from.''
Give Pearl credit. He hasn't stayed away from anybody, large or small, since he arrived on campus.
One of the benchmarks of Pearl's teams is that they don't lose to people to whom they shouldn't.
His frenetic style of play generally wears down lesser opponents with big hearts.
It often wears down greater opponents with less heart.
But this is a different deal in Pearl's fourth season. What you saw Saturday in Thompson-Boling Arena isn't the act Pearl brought south from Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Part of that was to Belmont's credit.
The Bruins are quick. They're skilled. They shoot the long ball. They're experienced. And they're well coached - by Knoxville native Byrd.
"That's Davidson,'' said Pearl of the Bruins, paying them a high contemporary compliment.
But part of it is Tennessee, too.
These Vols don't hit you with a fearsome press that runs you ragged. They don't stab your heart with 3-balls in transition.
They forced Belmont into all of seven turnovers. We've seen teams get to seven before the second media timeout.
"We have a hard time pressing most teams,'' said Pearl. "Can you imagine if we tried to press Renfroe?''
Ten games in, some of us are still getting used to the fact that this isn't the show to which we had become accustomed.
Temple made a modest 11 turnovers a week ago when it beat the Vols 88-72. Even UNC-Asheville had only 10 earlier this month. A few weeks ago, MTSU was guilty of only nine.
"Hello!" said Pearl. "We've never tried to dictate tempo with this team. This team can't dictate tempo.
"Does that make us a bad team? No. Does that mean they're not giving great effort? No, They are.''
This team is young. It's not uncommon to see three freshmen on the court at the same time.
This team is tall and long. Only two players, Bobby Maze and Josh Tabb, are shorter than 6-foot-6.
That's a good thing in many ways. But quick-reaction time in the press isn't necessarily one of them.
"We could beat everyone on our schedule or we could lose to everyone our schedule, but we're not going to dictate tempo,'' said Pearl.
The press might get better in time. The return of J.P. Prince, who has missed three games on a bum ankle, should help.
In time, some of those long, tall young guys might start to get it. Their feet, and brains, might gain a step.
"I think it'll come,'' said Smith, a junior. "Maybe not even this year. Maybe next year.''
But for now, Tennessee has to find ways to win games with the tools it has. Belmont won't be the last team still hanging around at the end.
Tennessee's tools are still considerable. They're just not necessarily the ones we're used to.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 14
TotalPackage1 writes:
Pearl is beginning to not only recruit High School All American's but actually get them to sign...They are different to coach and I think he is having to personally transition his coaching to accomodate that fact. The team attempts WAY TO MANY 3's and would have won by 12-15 if they had worked the ball inside and back out for 12-15 footers instead.
They are young and will learn..just like Coach Pearl will learn how to get 5 great players to work as a unit on the floor instead of managing good players into playing great. The canvas is just beginning to come together and it is going to be fun to watch.
chestnutglade writes:
He is the best coach in basketball at TN that I have seen!He never gives up.Enough said.
reasonablevol writes:
I think it may be time to unleash some type of zone press. That way the guys don't have to run around so much. They can use their height and length better that way. Petino's team use a zone press I think.
CoverOrange writes:
I watched a little bit of the Texas v Michigan State game this afternoon. We have a long way to go.
VOLKING writes:
Good honest article. For all of those who said this team was gonna be in the Elite 8...hold on a minute. We will always be competitive, unlike football, but this team is young and looking for its identity. So all you Fulmer-lovers who want to hate on Pearl just because you didn't get your way...stop stirring the pot. Pearl is a great, competitive coach and his teams will never quit. They may play poorly and get beat, but they won't quit. I guarantee that Pearl's players will never say to an opponent..."don't box me out on this free throw, because I'm not going to try for the rebound."
newtonrail writes:
Disagree. Pearl does know how to coach these players and this team. Just a lot of holes from last year, and people playing out of position. Can anyone remember the difference between Lofton and J. Smith as Frosh or Soph and Seniors. Tyler from last year to this year. Coach knows what he's doing, and everyone should have known there would be some pretty bad growing pain this year, but we will be better by NCAA. Elite 8, who knows. More likely sweet sixteen if we are lucky, unless Hopson, Tatum, Negedu, Maze, and Woolrige mature really quick.
TommyJack writes:
Don't alwlays agree with Newtie. This time, maybe so.
MidTennVol writes:
These guys are growing together as a team, sharpened by the fire of games like this and losses like Gonzaga and Temple. They'll be fine.
We may lose 10 games or more. All I care about is making the show. Come March, these kids will have done an awful lot of growing up as a team. Bruce will have them ready.
ReasonableVol, I think you may be into something with using a zone press. In years past, it was our defense that wore teams down. We don't yet have that edge.
mlewishome#366649 writes:
where's OVERRATED? licking his wounds?
It must have been the ORANGE uniforms!
snark
johnlg00#206211 writes:
What a lot of people didn't appreciate about Lofton's defense is that he had good instincts for the passing lanes and got a lot of deflections that others grabbed for steals. He was much more instinctive at recovering to the ball and the open areas of the floor than most of this year's team. Defense is at LEAST as much about smarts and attitude as it is any physical characteristic. This team clearly has the physical tools to be better on defense, but the proper mental attitudes take longer to develop.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree. In fact, I am somewhat surprised that the team hasn't already shown some type of zone press. Maybe CBP is saving it for Gonzaga, Memphis, and the conference schedule. A good zone press can cause the other team to use more time to cross the time-line and also lends itself to traps in all four corners of the front-court. The man-to-man press should be nothing more than a change of pace for this team.
Colliervol writes:
I just think we have to allow all these new guys time to get used to playing the style that Bruce demands. As plasticman said, these new guys were used to being "the man" in high school and didn't have to play lots of defense. Just a bit different where they are now. It is obvious they aren't as capable defensively nor do they shoot the 3 as consistently as last year's team. The good thing is that they have time to grow some more before March.
Kudos to Belmont. That is one well coached team.
dcvoller writes:
just win BABY! there are always going to be lapses on offense and defense with young teams but the mark of a good team is winning games while playing poorly. CBP will have them clicking by March.
db11_cn writes:
Mike
I may have missed this earlier, but a report indicates former Brentwood Academy star Josh Bone is coming to UT this semester and will join the basketball team as a walk-on. He played two seasons at Southern Illinois and announced before the start of current season he was leaving because of uncertainty about playing time. He's a 6'3" guard. How does "walk-on" status affect his eligibility date? If he couldn't crack lineup at SIU, will he help UT?
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