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Strange: Halfway home but there's lots of work ahead

By Mike Strange (Contact)
Originally published 12:33 a.m., February 8, 2008
Updated 12:33 a.m., February 8, 2008

Halfway through, they're on top of the SEC basketball standings. For Tennessee's men that amounts to taking care of business.

The Vols were projected to win the regular-season title. With eight down, eight to go, they make the turn for home Saturday at LSU with a league-leading 7-1 conference record.

"I think Tennessee has certainly played like we all thought,'' South Carolina coach Dave Odom said Thursday.

Overall, Tennessee is off to the best start in school history. But these Vols are not (yet) on uncharted conference ground. Pearl's first team started 10-1 in SEC play en route to 12-4. That won the East, but LSU was 14-2.

UT last won a share of the overall title in 2000 when it was one of four teams to finish 12-4.

The Vols have won the title outright only three times - in 1967, 1945 and 1942.

This year, the teams closest in UT's rear-view mirror are Kentucky, Arkansas and Mississippi State, each with two losses. Florida is 5-3.

"I think they (the standings) are about what you'd expect,'' Pearl said Thursday. "But there's a long way to go.''

Last year, Florida won the regular-season title by three games, a prelude to winning the SEC tournament and then defending their NCAA championship.

"Florida had five or six NBA players on that club and they really separated themselves,'' Pearl said.

"This year, the difference between the top teams and teams in the lower half is much closer. That's going to make for an even more exciting race for the championship.''

That 70s Show: The last thing LSU wants to do Saturday is get in a running game with deeper, more talented Tennessee. The Tigers (8-13, 1-6 SEC) have been depleted by injuries, including losing All-SEC candidate Tasmin Mitchell for the season.

"With my seven troopers, if that game gets in the 80s or 90s, we're out of gas for sure,'' Brady said. "Our goal is to keep the game in the 70s and give ourselves a chance.''

Brady praised the Vols for their ability to stay relentless for 40 minutes.

"I can't tell one player from another,'' he said. "They all look the same which means they all look good. He subs in guys and they all play hard and play the same way.''

Israel in '09: Pearl called the opportunity to coach the U.S. men in the 2009 Macabiah Games in Israel a fulfillment of one of his career objectives.

He was named this week to coach the U.S. open men's team in the event that features 9,000 Jewish athletes from 54 nations.

"It's something I wanted to do ever since I got into coaching,'' Pearl said Thursday.

"The whole concept of wearing the USA, the red, white and blue, in international competition is awesome. And then to be able to coach in Israel, the Jewish homeland, just to combine those two things is an amazing opportunity.''

The Games, billed as the third-largest international competition, are held every four years. The 2009 event runs July 13-23, which will take Pearl out of the key summer evaluation period for recruiting.

"It'll take me away a little bit from recruiting and camp,'' Pearl said, "but when I went to (athletic director) Mike Hamilton, he didn't even bat an eye.''

The assignment comes a week after Pearl was named to the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Think Pink: Pearl said he will dress head to toe in pink Monday night for the Rutgers-Lady Vols game. It's "Think Pink" night to promote breast-cancer awareness.

The pink, however, won't be Pearl's bare skin. He plans to keep his shirt on, stopping short of last year's paint job at the Lady Vols-Duke game.

Lofton Nominated: Chris Lofton is one of 10 nominees for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The award began in 2002 and is an acronym for "Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School'' and will be presented at the Final Four.

Fan voting (at www.seniorclassaward.com) is one component of the selection process.

Lofton will rejoin the team today to travel to Baton Rouge. He missed Thursday's practice to attend his grandmother's funeral in Maysville, Ky. Addie Lofton was 96.

Last Word: Florida coach Billy Donovan, on the difference between his young players seeing opponents on film and actually experiencing them on the court:

"You can talk about what great shooters Lofton and JaJuan Smith are, but until they drain like five right dead in your face with you hanging all over 'em, does maybe that respect level go like, 'Wow!' ''

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       32 Comments

Posted by anthony on February 8, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess everyone saved their enthusiasm for comments on the football recruiting class? It would be something if we all finished number one in both basketballs and football too!!

Posted by Musicman74 on February 8, 2008 at 1:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wouldn't it be great if both the men and women won the national championship this year.

Posted by marc_ash on February 8, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Close out the season strong and stay focused. LSU is no cup cake, they have talent. Should be a good win if they come focused however.

Go Vols, beat LSU.

Posted by pdhuff on February 8, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Beat LSU & Rutgers.

Posted by alfrizzle097 on February 8, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Best team in UT history and still isn't considered in the nation's elite.

Ray Mears and Jerry Green were the only two good coaches prior to Pearl, mostly due to poor management. I understand the firing of Jerry Green, but to go out and hire Buzz Peterson to replace him was the calling card of mediocrity. Buzz Peterson's last year was something like third on UT's list of most losses in a season. And many wanted Hamilton to leave the situation alone!!!

Posted by volguy on February 8, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

alfrizzle097, Are you still chewing on a hamburger from last year some time? Bruce Pearl is in his THIRD season... it just MAY be time to turn the page on Buzz Peterson. Newsflash: Peterson is no longer the UT men's basketball coach!!!

Posted by King53 on February 8, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

alfrizzle097 - don't forget about Don DeVoe. I would actually put him in ahead of Green. Anyway...Go Vols! and beat those bungle tigers and give Brady a good punch in the mouth while you are at it!!

Posted by King53 on February 8, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

oh yeah, i almost forgot. get out there and vote for Lofton to win the CLASS award...can't think of anyone more humble and more deserving than him.

Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on February 8, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes, Devoe produced many more exciting wins than Jerry Green, if I remember correctly. Maybe the stats don't back me up...

Posted by johnlg00 on February 8, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You're right, King53, in correcting alfrizzle097's omission of DeVoe. However, I would rate DeVoe WAY above Green as a coach. Green had a couple of good seasons but his average talent level was way above DeVoe's. DeVoe took average players, with a few exceptions, and "coached 'em up" to a much higher level. Green had the best overall talent ever, at least until this year's team, and underachieved with them. And, oh yeah indeed, we really need to get behind Chris for the CLASS award--in my book, it is NAMED for him!

Posted by CatScratchFever on February 8, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thoughts and prayers to Chris Lofton and his family on the loss of his grandmother.

Posted by MOOREVOLS on February 8, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just voted for Loton for the Class award. He's about 15% behind right now, but in 2nd place. He needs some votes.

Posted by Ironcity on February 8, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Brady at LSU was just fired. I wonder how that plays out for UT tomorrow night.

Posted by Ironcity on February 8, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Green had many short comings however end of game management was not one of them. UT was really good in games decided by 3 points and less under Green. I also want to point out that he was able to take a bunch of players that O'neal couldn't get to %500 and got them into the NCAA. Coaching was the mans problem, communicating and conduct were his weaknesses.

Posted by GerryOP on February 8, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Rollin', rollin', rollin', Keep them dogies rollin'! All the way to San Antonio! Go Vols!

Posted by glemmons on February 8, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Senior class

Lofton is 2nd 2% behind GO VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by bigbluevol on February 8, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess it's ok that Green backed into and tied for the SEC "title" which really isn't nearly as valued as the SEC tournament, which UT hasn't exactly set on fire. As for Brady being fired, they're letting him coach tomorrow as his last game, so I'm sure the players will be fired up. We'll see. He also seems to hate Pearl, so I'm sure he'll want to do everything he can to avoid losing to him in his last game.

Posted by glemmons on February 8, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ESPN (the evil empire) just reported that Brady will be allowed to coach Saturday and then he will be gone. Press conf. at 2:00 pm today.

Posted by ggriggs939 on February 8, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Peterson had the pedigree, having played at NC, but that didn't make him a good coach. In fact, there are very few real good coaches who have the
big school background. Having been a good player does not always wash out to being a good coach.
We are fortunate in having these coaches in place.
What we need to do is let them coach and not second guess to the detriment of the programs.

Posted by Ironcity on February 8, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The worst coaches in UT history would be a tie between Peterson and Houston. I actually think Houston was a better floor coach then Peterson but he just couldn't recruit.

Posted by govolsfan on February 8, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Senior class

Lofton is 1st 1% ahead GO VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by dlobh on February 8, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lofton's in the lead by 1% now.

Posted by Colliervol on February 8, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Side note: Radio is announcing that LSU has fired John Brady.

Posted by RockyTopRooks on February 8, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just voted for our boy Lofton. Go VOLS!

Posted by glemmons on February 8, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

you can vote every 24 hour period so we need to keep this up!!!!!!!!!!! GO Lofton. . . . Go Vols

Posted by iowavol on February 8, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Focus, vote for Lofton, beat LSU, vote for Lofton. The end of the season will come - just beat the next team we face.

Posted by budd on February 8, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lofton in the lead with 44%

Posted by Cherokee on February 8, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

alfrizzle, I have to respectfully disagree on a couple of points. First, Don DeVoe had several good years, and took UT to five consecutive NCAA Tourneys, some of which were prior to the field expanding to 64 teams. He was a good coach. You also are leaving out teams from the distant past when the NIT was the big postseason event. UT is among the top teams in the SEC all-time, and were 2nd only to UK until the Wade Houston hire and additional years of mediocrity followed. Also, we are in the top 10 right now, so UT would be considered among the "elite" teams right now.

Posted by murrayvol on February 8, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For the Big Orange Nation, thanks AirForceOne. We'll welcome you to Knoxville on March 2.

Posted by CatScratchFever on February 8, 2008 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Murrayvol, I see these forums as a source of entertainment and I never take anything serious with all the banter we have back and forth. It's all just for fun....at least I hope that is how everyone else sees it.

I have never heard nothing but remarkable things said about Chris Lofton...he is after all a Kentucky boy :-). In addition to his being a wonderfully talented and skilled basketball player, I believe him to be an even better person.

I know that anytime you lose a family member, a little part of us dies with them. I sincerely offer my heart and prayers for he and his family in this most difficult time. May God bless them and comfort them.

Posted by johnlg00 on February 9, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Would someone please repost the website for the CLASS award? With one thing and another, I lost the URL, and I haven't voted for Chris yet. I surely don't want to bail on him since it seems he has a real chance to win! GO VOLS! GO CHRIS!

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