Posted by rbatten9 on February 6, 2008 at 1:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

7 wins to go till UT's first SEC crown in a long long time!

Posted by jevolball7 on February 6, 2008 at 1:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Eddie Munster cowing down to THE team! Imagine that! OUCH. The last 10 min.,it looked like men against ladies. They could not compete. Jujuan with a 30 footer in that skin head's grill with 25 sec.left was classic!

Posted by johnlg00 on February 6, 2008 at 1:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

No question Florida tired out in the last 10 minutes. I wonder if Billy regrets putting them through a double practice Sunday to work on the D. Of course, playing against our depth at our breakneck pace wears out a lot of teams. I was questioning why CBP stayed with the press so long when we not only weren't turning them over, they were scoring easily against it. The answer is that he was tiring the Gators out! We got them running at a pace they just couldn't sustain. The threes they were knocking down in the first half turned into airballs in the last 10 minutes. God, I love to watch this team play, even though they can make it hard on an old man sometimes!

Posted by newtonrail on February 6, 2008 at 2:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As I walked out the concourse, there was a Florida couple from who knows where in the gaggle. My daughter and I overheard the gentleman say:" I'll be glad when that Lofton graduates".

Posted by rodneyadms on February 6, 2008 at 2:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Awesome display of finishing strong..way to go Vols! ...rbatten9...I like your positive thinking but let's just take it one game at a time.

Posted by Chainsaw on February 6, 2008 at 3:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Dan Werner is a PAB for the way he undercut JP. Karma's gonna get you, Werner.

Posted by ge446 on February 6, 2008 at 4:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great effort with wonderful results. Did you see Ted Valentine go looking for Prince and stick the technical in his face four times with an expression that said "I've got your A.. son? Don't have Valentine again if possible. He has become the same kind of Hotdog that many officials become as they get more and more big games. There was not enough there for the technical. No real contact and only a response to a very unbasketball like foul by the Florida big man...

Posted by alfrizzle097 on February 6, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Nothing there for a technical? He jumped up to fight the guy!!! That is unacceptable in any venue. And whether there was contact doesn't have anything to do with a technical. The technical is concerned with unsportsmanlike conduct that wouldn't be a foul under other rules.

I agree with the T and I agree with the intentional.

Posted by Plasticman on February 6, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Afrizzle, I could agree with you if the foul by Werner hadn't been so hard.JP shouldn't have jumped up in Werners face but what he did did not desreve a "T" based on the circumstances. Valentine just wanted to show out on Nat'l. TV again. He loves to T people up. He is a joke for a ref!

Posted by BigOrangeJeff on February 6, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree that the technical was uncalled for. While Prince needs to keep his head at times like that, it's not like there had been several near-fights. It's not like he was trying to regain control of the game. Prince had just been assaulted and got up to defend himself. He didn't throw a punch or even shove the guy. And you're right, ge446, Valentine was a little out of line with his conduct while calling the foul.

Just my $0.02,
BOJ

Posted by seaplane on February 6, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tennessee needs to get tougher down under. Allowing way too many points underneath the basket.
Come tournament time, the three points won't get them to the promised land. Better rebounding and better defense in the paint must happen.
Signed
Half empty glass of water.

Posted by dfreeman on February 6, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Werner gave Prince a smirk after he intenionally tackled him!! That's my problem with calling Prince for the T!! Werner should have had his young A$$ benched!! He smiled at Prince with that "whatchya gonna do about it" look!!

Posted by fundamentals83 on February 6, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

51 fouls called in game. Wanted to watch UT vs UF, not UT and UF vs Refs. There had to be a 10 minute stretch where a foul was called on every play and man were some of em phantoms (both ways).

Posted by gator4life on February 6, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The game went about the way I thought it would. With only 9 scholarship players, UF can't run with a deep team for an entire game. Great win for UT but will be forgotten if the Vols don't learn to shoot free throws. BTW, if you guys had been watching basketball the last few years you would have already known that Valentine is a showboat ref, aint just getting that way. See you guys when you come to TITLETOWN. Go Gators!!

Posted by gator4life on February 6, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The game went about the way I thought it would. With only 9 scholarship players, UF can't run with a deep team for an entire game. Great win for UT but will be forgotten if the Vols don't learn to shoot free throws. BTW, if you guys had been watching basketball the last few years you would have already known that Valentine is a showboat ref, aint just getting that way. See you guys when you come to TITLETOWN. Go Gators!!

Posted by pdhuff on February 6, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great win, Vols. Beat the Bengals.

Posted by Fred08 on February 6, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tennessee played great against the Gators...err I mean refs...err I mean Gators...err I mean refs.

The refs were a joke, they should all be out of a job for that junk last night.

As for the game itself, I knew that UT would pull away late in the second half...we just have too much depth. There aren't too many teams that can keep up with us.

GO VOLS!!!

Posted by lnbadger320 on February 6, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

one of the problems with vols inside game is that if they touch a guy the refs call a foul. we get killed a lot inside we don't many call. but we can't breath on a guy without a foul being called.

Posted by lnbadger320 on February 6, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

it's a great feeling having a vol team that has a winning record against the gaytors besides the lady vols.

Posted by voll123 on February 6, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's official. I am now the biggest Tyler Smith fan in the state. When he acted the way he did when Pearl was hired...read some old articles on that...I honestly hoped that Pearl would tell him to kiss his @$$ when he wanted to come back. But last night, Tyler's team first attitude was incredibly evident when he was the one trying to calm J.P. before he got the T. Remember the expression on Tyler's face when he saw the T get called? He is absolutely, 100% all about the TEAM, a-la Chris Lofton. A guy that has the ability to drop 20+ on a top 25 team in ONE HALF, but ALWAYS puts the team first. Thank you, Tyler.

Posted by voll123 on February 6, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh Yeah....I want to start a new t-shirt fad/slogan for the games.....

Bruce Allmighty

Posted by Hunter on February 6, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I also find it interesting that the two referees right next to prince and Werner let it slide, but made-for-"T.V." came from 20 feet away to blow it up! Moron.......

Posted by vscebail on February 6, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Donovan ought to be impressed... it seems that Tennessee is the only team that he hasn't figured out how to beat!

Posted by cdldoc on February 6, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Did they wave the "T" before they waved the"intentional"? If they had been quicker on the intentional call J P might not have felt he needed vindication. Vaginatine is all about himself and seems to get too much pleasure from the camera. The SEC needs to bring him down a notch. Or maybe some fans could speak with him after the game and indicate their displeasure with his attitude. Games of that importance deserve referees that do not seem to bet on the game.

Posted by johnlg00 on February 6, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tyler's original recruiting was a rather tangled affair. This is the way I have come to understand it. His father took a rather, er, strong interest in the whole process. He liked Buzz Peterson and was ticked when Buzz was let go. Then UT hired CBP who, face it, was an almost complete unknown nationally. What national rep he did have was associated with him blowing the whistle on another program for what he thought was shady recruiting. Tyler, probably at his dad's instigation, asked to be let out of his recruitment to consider his options. CBP refused, at least until he had a chance to talk to Tyler himself. Since such a request is almost always granted, Tyler and his dad got miffed. Since there was also some question about Tyler's academics, he decided after high school to go to Hargrave, I think, where he was recruited by Iowa. During his first year at Iowa, his dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. By this time, it was clear that CBP was the real deal at UT. Since Tyler and his dad were extremely close, Tyler requested a transfer to be near his dad in his illness, and a waiver to allow immediate eligibility at UT. Some conspiracy theorists, especially those outside of Tennessee, might question the convenience of all this, but, since his dad actually did die after all, no one has chosen to look into it too closely. I'm certainly not one inclined to do so. I regard it as the best outcome of a tragic situation, and I am SO glad Tyler is here where he should have been from the beginning.

Posted by mparker on February 6, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

alfrizzle: you are an idiot.

Werner slugged him in the face AND took out his legs. Could have been a career-ending play. It was pure trash. Werner should have been ejected for that play.

To add to that, here is the REF going nuts with the T sign, as Prince showed no 'self-control'???

Posted by TurboFan on February 6, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Say the wrong word and you get "T"d up. I totally believe JP said several wrong words and deserved the "T" (looked like Valentine's lower lip almost swallowed his nose he was so agitated). Smirks don't generate "T"s.

Werner should have been ejected since he not only body slammed JP but put his hand on JP's shoulder and pushed him to the floor (thus why JP jumped up so mad).

Did JP have more trips to the FT line than FGs? Seems like he gets fouled every time he goes to the basket. If he improves his FT shooting, the fouls might subside. Other than Chris, Jujuan and Tyler, it is worth fouling and sending whoever to the line than allow an uncontested basket.

Posted by mparker on February 6, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

RECRUITING;

okay, here goes. Those of you who bother to read my posts know I'm very happy with CBP's style of play. As I was thinking of recruiting, this thought came up;

Of UT's main players, J. Smith, C. Lofton, T. Smith, J. Howell are all Buzz's players. JP Prince is a Dane Bradshaw recruit.

Now, the other guys, Chism, Tatum, Williams, Crewes, R. Smith, Tabb...they are all serviceable players, but not 'top' players.

The 2 players signed for next year, Jurick and Woolridge, are okay, but not game-changers like Chris and JaJuan and Tyler.

Here is my question: Can Bruce pull in big-time recruits, and if not, why??? How could a kid NOT like the system adn the action? I'd think shooting guards would love to play for Bruce.

Is it UT? Is it Bruce's personality, religion, or maybe Bruce doesn't cheat??

It really is a concern: next year, all our 3-point shooting is gone (Howell, Lofton, J. Smith).

Please think before you trash this post, it's meant to be serious.

Posted by Diggs on February 6, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What an incredible game.

I missed a few stretchs since I was at work, and was supposed to be, well, working. But, what I saw should definitely put fear in the hearts and minds of the players and fans from Tiger High over in East Arkansas. Yeah, I know - one game at a time but I am looking forward to knocking them off their perch. I hope they are still #1 when we get there. They won't be when we leave.

Last night was awesome when Lofton and T. Smith started sticking those daggers in the Gators. You could hear the air leaving them as they flew around TBA like deflated balloons.

Bruce Almighty, indeed!!

Diggs

P.S. There is no Woooooo in Rocky Top!!

Posted by TurboFan on February 6, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mpark, I would give those guys another year or so to become more than serviceable. Especially Williams.

Don't know about Jurick and Woolridge so won't comment.

UTBB suffers the Tennessee disease same as UTFB, not much instate/local talent to pull from. Recruits from a distance notice successful programs. Successful being defined as repeat performances in the big dance beyond sweet 16. We get to the final four this year we will get more top recruits.

Last opinion, CBP will make a winner out of whoever walks on to the court.

Posted by Basketball_Jones on February 6, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

parker would thing that hurts Pearl in recruiting is history. It's not Pearl himself but Tennessee's. We have been pretty good for a few years now but when a blue chip player is choosing between, UNC, Duke, UCLA, or Tennessee which one of those looks more inviting? Basketball isn't like football, you only have 12-14 players and usually only 7-9 play. You don't have as many injuries in hoops so players don't get to see the floor.
Most Blue Chippers now are 1 and done guys. Take Rose at Memphis, that kid could start on half the NBA teams right now. Do we want those kids or kids to play the system? Give Pearl some more time and the kids will come. Right now we need a few shooters. I think T-Smith is gone after this year and JP will have to step up and take his slot. Hopefully we get Ramar for 1 more year, so maybe Pearl can go find a diamond in the rough like Lofton or a JJ Reddick somewhere.

Posted by Colliervol on February 6, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Heard a recruiting analyst yesterday talking about Jurick and Woolridge:

Jurick- Big and pretty athletic for his size. Can run the floor and will fit into Pearl's style. Will contribute immediately in rebounding and defense. When he fully develops an offensive game (and the analyst seemed to think he would), he'll be a "game changer".

Woolridge- Long and athletic with good offensive skills. The analyst said he will be an NBA prospect if he just gains some weight and improves his strength.

Sure, we lose some good guards next year but with Ramar at point and JP and Tyler on the wings (with his driving and passing ability), we'll be OK. We may just become more of an inside team versus the outside oriented team that we are now. The analyst also said that UT has gotten on some guard out West who is a great shooter and is re-thinking a commitment. Didn't catch his name.

Posted by ballewville6 on February 6, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

on tyler and his dad i just wish he could have watched him play for tennessee before he left this world,i am pretty sure he would have been pleased with this team and tyler

Posted by mparker on February 6, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tyler is gone, IMHO. He is basically the equivalent of a third-year player, and even without much of a jumper, he's got NBA talent.

Another thing, he has a kid to support. I wish it weren't so certain he'll loeve, would like to see him get a jumper going.

Posted by johnlg00 on February 6, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WD40, not sure I agree with you that Tennessee doesn't have enough great talent. Even discounting Memphis, there are lots of in-state guys we could or should be getting. Gordon and Varnado of MSU are two I thought of right off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others. I'm not discounting the point that we don't come immediately to mind as being among the elite programs, but we are getting there, and I am sure guys are at least taking CBP's calls who wouldn't have given us the time of day a few years ago. I also think there is a real question how desirable it is to build a program around a bunch of "one-and-done" guys. On the one hand, you want to try to get the most talented guys you can, but on the other, it is tough to have to rebuild your team every year because you keep losing your stars.
Colliervol, we will be OK in terms of numbers next year, but the team will be a LOT different in terms of playing style, because of our relative lack of depth and speed at guard. The press will be only a change of pace instead of a staple. We will have to be a LOT more physical and effective inside because our best outside shooter next year may be (gulp!) Chism. Instead of averaging 80+ ppg, we will probably do well to average 70.

Posted by Colliervol on February 6, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

johnlg, agreed. As noted above, I think we'll simply be more inside-oriented than we are currently. They can still press pretty effectively with Ramar, JP, Tatum, Tabb and Tyler (if he sticks around).

Foolmore, that article has more hilarious things in it than I can count. Cal will deal with it "fairly and firmly like he always has done". Maybe he'll use one of those "permanent" suspensions until Feb. 22nd and then bring them back as he did with Jeremy Hunt. Rest assured that Taggart and Dozier will be in the lineup against UT. No chance Cal would go into that game without those two. Count on it.

Posted by johnlg00 on February 6, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hope you're right, Colliervol. I love that up and down game. I would hate to slow things down too much, especially since I think the wide-open game is our best chance to get some good, fast perimeter players in the future.

Posted by huckle309 on February 6, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hate to break it to you, but Jurick SUCKS!! The boy is a lazy thug. I have watched him play on more than one occasion and I really don't see what BP sees in him. A buddy of mine is a teacher at his high school, and he says that he isn't even going to graduate. The only time Jurick will ever see UT is if he buys a ticket to TBA

Posted by Colliervol on February 6, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Huckle, you opinion certainly differs from the recruiting analyst I heard who was very high on him. But if BP likes him, I like him. If you don't mind, I think I'll trust Bruce's opinion rather than yours. If he doesn't get into school the first year, there's always the prep schools. Memphis has made a living off of putting kids in those.

Posted by Colliervol on February 6, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No doubt johnlg. I don't think BP is ever going to abandon the up and down game. Just wouldn't be his style.

Posted by UTByrd on February 6, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fellow UT fans, I live just north of Jackson, Tn where Union University received a tremendous amount of damage from last night's tornadoes. Thank God there were no fatalities. Most people don't know it, but the Union ladies basketball team is undefeated and ranked #1 in NAIA hoops. Their school has been shut down for at least 2 weeks and have not heard how it will affect their games. Please keep them and the Union University family in your prayers. Always remember: There are always more important things in life than a win or a loss in sports. Please remember this when you posters want to be so negative about the state of athletics in your favorite schools. Go Tennessee sports, especially UT.

Posted by ryjenkins on February 6, 2008 at 8:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Foolmore,

I loved the end of your post - "Enjoy"

That cracked me up!

Posted by FlaVol2 on February 6, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The Vols turning on the juice at the end of the second period in the game against Florida did my ol' heart good. Way to go players and Coach Pearl.

Posted by Madkels on February 6, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Anytime we beat the Gators, it's a great day! However, the ref's were horrible with their phantom calls both ways. Let these kids RUN! I hope the SEC reviews this game and has a chat with the refs. I also hope we do something about our % at the stripe. The two attempts by Prince after the 'T' were ugly!

Posted by volmattna on February 6, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

we are awsome go vols! why in the are there so many florida fans in east tennessee

Posted by mparker on February 6, 2008 at 11:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

...think Bruce won't pick up something from Billy D's offense?? UT has the perfect talent for it: Ramar of JaJuan coming off the screens, Chirs setting up for a 3, Tyler or JP cutting to the basket.

Will be curious, would be a nice half-court set.

Posted by jevolball7 on February 7, 2008 at 2:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Mparker12:If that post was "serious" you are "seriously" an idiot. The players you mentioned were basically non-recruited and BP has made them all-americans or all- sec type players! Read up on BASKETBALL,it's in the dictionary.

Posted by jevolball7 on February 7, 2008 at 3:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Where are all the tiger high fans??? I HOPE COACH CAL is STUPID enough to try an run with us for 40 min.....IS HE????

Posted by redstickvol on February 7, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Food for thought.

J.J. Redick holds the NCAA career record for 3 pointers made with 457. According to ESPN.com Chris Lofton currently has 389 3 pointers made. That's a difference of 68. As unlikely as it sounds given C-Lo's bad start to the year, he has a chance to break the record with the tear he is on right now.

I figure that the worst case scenario is that UT only plays 11 more games (9 regular season, 1 SEC Tourney game and 1 NCAA Tourney game). If that were the case, C-Lo would need to average just over 6 3s per game. While that is unlikely, it is also unlikely that UT will only play 11 more games.

The best case scenario is that UT plays 18 more games (9 regular season, 3 SEC games, and 6 NCAA games). I think this is right - feel free to check my figuring on the game count with the two tournaments. If this is the case, C-Lo only has to average 3.7 3s per game.

Now I know that the best case scenario is also unlikely, but it is possible given how well the Vols are playing right now. I figure the actual number of games played will be somewhere in the middle and C-Lo will need to average about 4.5 3s per game (that's with 16 games played).

Anyway, I'll hang up and listen to what everybody has to say.

Oh and for all of you who will inevitably post a comment about post-season games not counting, read any article about the battle between Redick and Keydren Clark in 2006. For your convenience I have pasted a link to one such article below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.J._Red....

GO VOLS

Oh, and lastly, to Hunter, yes its me.

Posted by voll123 on February 7, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Can't wait to go to Memphrica and slap around those over-rated criminals.