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Vols feeling better after Smith's steal
Pearl impressed by JaJuan's '22 heroic minutes' at LSU
Bill Feig/Associated Press
Tennessee's JaJuan Smith, right, blocks the shot of Louisiana State's Marcus Thornton, left, as teammate Wayne Chism, behind, adds pressure during the second half of their college basketball game Saturday Feb. 9, 2008, in Baton Rouge, La.. Tennessee won 47-45.
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BATON ROUGE, La. - Tennessee senior JaJuan Smith managed a laugh when asked about his game-winning layup with 11 seconds left Saturday.
With the score tied at 45, did he consider throwing it off the backboard to himself for a dunk, as he tried to do in the final seconds of a win over South Carolina last season?
"Yeah, I about did,'' Smith said tongue-in-cheek, laughing.
It was one of few light moments before the No. 7 Vols (21-2, 8-1 SEC) wearily dragged themselves out of Pete Maravich Assembly Center after winning a 47-45 squeaker over LSU.
"We just want to get back to Knoxville and get ready for Arkansas,'' said Tyler Smith, looking ahead to Wednesday's 8 p.m. game at Thompson-Boling Arena (TV: WVLT). "That play by JaJuan, though, that just showed what a leader he is.''
Ramar Smith agreed.
"JaJuan made a great play, and after he was sick the whole game,'' he said. "They took him in and out to get him his fluids.''
As upset as he was about the Vols' lack of offensive execution, Pearl couldn't say enough about how impressed he was with JaJuan Smith's efforts.
"He played 22 heroic minutes,'' Pearl said. "JaJuan did everything he could, and he had three assists and only one turnover.''
JaJuan Smith and J.P. Prince had a horrible night offensively at the small forward position, combining to make one of 14 shots.
But their defense on LSU's Marcus Thornton was a key to victory.
Thornton entered the game as the hottest shooter in the league and was leading the SEC in scoring with six consecutive games of at least 20 points.
Thornton was 5-of-11 shooting for 12 points and had four turnovers - most notably Smith's steal with 15 seconds left.
Brave Prince: Prince is shooting 44.8 percent from the free-throw line in his 14 games with the Vols after going 1-for-5 from the line against LSU.
The sophomore transfer from Arizona said that won't deter him from stepping up in tight games.
"I'm not afraid; I'm still going to go to the basket every time,'' Prince said. "I want the ball in my hands if it's a one-possession game. If we're down, I want the ball.
"I've just got to step up there like a man and be accountable.''
Temple of Doom: Chris Lofton failed to score 20 points for the first time in six games and his three 3-pointers were his fewest in seven games.
But Lofton's 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting (3-for-4 beyond the arc) should not be under appreciated considering that LSU's Garrett Temple was guarding him.
In fact, the last time UT played the Tigers in Baton Rouge (2006) Temple held Lofton to two points on 1-of-7 shooting.
"Chris did a wonderful job,'' Pearl said. "To get 15 points against Temple, when he was holding him the whole time, was really good.''
Tickets Available: Tennessee has tickets remaining for three of its final four homes games.
The Vols' games with Arkansas, Auburn (7:30 p.m., Feb. 20) and regular-season finale against South Carolina (March 9) are not sold out.
Orange Slices: With UT's win over LSU, Kentucky is the only SEC school Pearl has a losing record (2-3) against. … The victory leaves Pearl winless (0-1) in only two SEC buildings (Ole Miss and Auburn). … The Vols six assists against LSU were a season low.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by vol1994 on February 10, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
poorly played game but we found a way to WIN the game which is the most important!!
Good job guys lets keep it going!!
Posted by VolBall on February 10, 2008 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JaJuan is one of the great stories in NCAA basketball, arriving as a walk-on and ultimately becoming the leader of our team and one of the best players in the league. Great athleticism, no fear, terrific defender, team player...he's got it all and he is the glue to our squad. As he goes, so goes the Vols.
Posted by murrayvol on February 10, 2008 at 10:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A boatload of Vol fans were feeling better after that steal as well. We owe you one JaJuan.
Posted by Gigavol on February 10, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Three cheers to JaJuan Smith! He is a bad man on the defense. Not only did he steal and score the winning bucket, but he also hustled back and caused the tie-up preventing LSU from getting a shot off. After landing out of bounds and off the screen for a second or two, JaJuan was the guy defending that final dunk.
The entire Volunteer half-court D was very good. JaJuan Smith was next level, though. JaJuan is definitely one of the favorite players on our SmashSouthSports.com forum.
Go Vols!
Posted by utchris2003 on February 11, 2008 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did anyone else read the Tennessean's article about Pearl calling out LSU for firing Brady? I am proud to have a coach with the character and backbone to speak out on an issue he believes in albeit for a person that has been overly critical of him since he arrived at UT.
Posted by pms151 on February 11, 2008 at 3:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love reading about UT BBall, but just how many stories can you write about the same game? Get creative and find something new to write about.
Posted by johnlg00 on February 11, 2008 at 5:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We thought we would miss Dane Bradshaw for all the intangibles he brings to a team, but we still had JaJuan. We are REALLY gonna miss that guy next year! He brings the intangibles and the tangibles too! Who on this squad is going to supply the leadership, hustle, big plays, and never-say-die grittiness next year? By the way, I loved Dane, but JaJuan may be one of my all-time favorite Vols. Thanks for all you've done for us, young man! Just gotta take care of a little more business this year for us and for yourself.
utchris2003, I heard CBP say that on the radio post-game show. He is the MAN. I thought it was incredibly mean for LSU to fire Brady like that after all he has done for them, and I thought it was magnificent of CBP to call them on it! They weren't going anywhere this season--why couldn't they have waited until afterwards if they were going to fire him?
Posted by TurboFan on February 11, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PMS, two articles and one column. You're not around here during football season are you?
Posted by LadyVolsEighTimes on February 11, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if CBP will have the Vols wearing any Pink for the Arkie game? It seems like something that he would pull off!
JP has got to get better at the foul line, if not, then he isn't the player to have the ball in a one possesion game!
Posted by 63vet on February 11, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's obvious how PMS got his (her) internet name.
Posted by jdcvols on February 11, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't forget to vote everyday at www.seniorclassaward.com for Chris Lofton.
Posted by GreeneVol on February 11, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate that I missed that game as I was hiking/fishing about ten miles up in the GSMNP. 107.7 would just barely come in on the transistor if you stood just right. Last pick-up I got it was 45-42 and we were 4-15 from freethrow line. There was plenty of time left and I just knew we were going to lose that game.
But way to step up JuJuan & rest of the bunch on defense. Anyone know if SportSouth, Comcast or other channel will replay the game? Prolly too ugly to replay, but I do appreciate good defense. Good to have an off-night, on the road, and still come out with the W!
Posted by johnlg00 on February 11, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jdcvols, thanks for the reminder! At this time, DeMarcus Nelson of Duke is just two percentage points behind Chris. Vote early and often, Vol fans! GO VOLS! ROAST THE HOGS!
Posted by icecream on February 11, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JuJuan has a winning way about him. It will be tough to see him go next year.
Posted by volntx on February 11, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry J.P. but 44.8% from the line is not going to cut it. I like the confidence but you should be sitting next to CBP in tight games late until you raise that % 30 points.
And if you are reading this STOP... and go practice free throws immediately!
Posted by pdhuff on February 11, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That steal ranked up with the gnat's poot that blew Vandy's FG try off course.
Posted by LadyVolsEighTimes on February 11, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vols are back up to Number 4 in the Coach's Poll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Volssux on February 11, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good win, keep it up until you lose to Memphis!!!
Posted by footballfan on February 11, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's a real champions attitude J.P. has. There is only one problem with that. In order to have the ball in a tight situation, you have got to be able to do two things. One,obviously, is be able to get around your man and score or hit free throws. J.P., you are as inconsistent as they come on that point. Two, if you can manage to drive around your man, you need enough court presence to see the help defense coming and then be able to dump the ball off to the wide open man that has a better shot. I have no doubt in the physical abilities of J.P. to play the game, and his mindset of wanting to embrace the pressure situations is admirable. I just don't think he is polished enough as a total player, passing, free throws, etc., to be taking a shot like that at this point in his career. Get it to Tyler Smith or Chris Lofton. They know what to do with it. I wouldn't mind being proven wrong on something like this. I never mind UT players being better than what I thought. Go Vols.
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