Tennessee Men's Basketball
So much for overlooking Auburn.
Tennessee led by as many as 31 points en route to an 89-70 victory over the Tigers Wednesday night before a crowd of 20,645 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The No. 2 Vols (24-2, 11-1 SEC) move on to play at No. 1-ranked Memphis on Saturday (TV: ESPN, 9 p.m.). Memphis improved to 26-0 Wednesday with a 97-71 win at Tulane.
As for the Auburn Tigers (13-11, 3-8), they left Knoxville impressed by what they saw from the Vols.
“They’re better than anybody we’ve played,’’ Auburn coach Jeff Lebo said. “Their explosiveness offensively is what separates them. They have so many different players that can go out and score 18, 19 or 20 points.’’
It was UT’s 30th consecutive win at home.
Sophomore point guard Ramar Smith became the sixth different player to lead the Vols in scoring this season, pouring in a season-high 19 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor and 6-of-7 shooting from the free throw line.
“It was just about finishing at the basket, that’s what it comes down to,’’ said Smith, who hadn’t scored in double figures since a Jan. 22 loss to Kentucky when he had 10. “It helps to score, but I’ve been doing other things to help my team win. It’s not all about scoring.’’
Senior Frank Tolbert scored a game-high 24 for the undermanned and out-sized Tigers, and fellow senior Quan Prowell had 21.
Tennessee’s Tyler Smith had 13 points and 13 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double, and seniors Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith scored 12 points apiece for the Vols.
“A lot of people thought we’d overlook them (Auburn),’’ JaJuan Smith said. “But we went down there last year and got punked. They hit us in the mouth.’’
This time, UT hit on all cylinders to avenge last season’s 83-80 loss.
The Vols used an 11-0 run to go up 31-15 on a Josh Tabb basket at the 7:53 mark of the first half, and the Tigers never got back within double figures.
“You could see that our team was ready to play,’’ UT coach Bruce Pearl said. “We took our opponent very seriously, and we took care of business.’’
Pearl did so by using a business-as-usual approach in the days leading up to the game.
“I’m not going to be any different in our preparation for Memphis,’’ Pearl said. “It’s not going to be, ‘Coach is a little on edge for Memphis.’ Coach is always on edge. I don’t want them to see a different me.’’
And Pearl doesn’t want his players acting any differently, either.
After two Knoxville television stations had been ordered not to ask questions about Memphis this week, Pearl made it clear to the UT sports information staff that media was free to ask whatever questions they wanted. All players were made available each day and practices were open.
Dane Bradshaw, who played for the Vols last season, called the News Sentinel on Wednesday from Europe, where he’s playing professional basketball, and said it’s important the team stays loose.
“It’s amazing what’s going on and the hype around the Memphis game,’’ Bradshaw said. “The guys need to enjoy it as much as they can. The rivalry will always be there, but I’m not sure there will be another No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup with Memphis.’’
Lofton, who moved into sole possession of fifth place on the NCAA’s all-time 3-point list with 402, said he appreciates the challenge ahead.
“I’ve never played in a game like this before,’’ Lofton said. “I never thought it was going to be like this. We’re having fun with the way the team is playing.’’
Like Lofton, Tyler Smith is anxious for the Memphis game.
“We want to hurry up and get to that game,’’ he said. “It’s going to be fun, but if we win or lose, it won’t make or end our season.”
Dan Proctor draws Tennessee Football…
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 161
danthemanwells#1340833 writes:
bring on memphis!
volsfan327 writes:
Vols Win, Vols Win! Bring on the next kitty cat! Congrats to Coach Pearl and the great UT Team!! It's just ANOTHER great day to be a Tennessee Vol.
wally writes:
Wow...the stage is set for the Vols to possibly become the # 1 ranked team in the country...unbelievable!!!!
Basketball_Jones writes:
I think the Jordan "senior night" thing was great! I was at the game and it was a funny game. I told my son about midway through the 2nd half that it just didn't seem like UT should be up 25. Anyway, still #2 and working on being #1, look forward to saturday
utfpmd writes:
Tiger High, here we come. ESPN, high definition, surround sound beat down.
Go Vols!
tapeworm writes:
We need to find a way to SHUT THE DOOR. Our second half performances when we're up by a bunch seem to melt. Just like tonite. And, just like last year, when we were up by 16 against Ohio State in the Dance. The Number 2 Team in the land plays two halves - not just one. Let's Go for Two.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Sorry but we did play the second half. We expanded the lead and kept it even until we put in the backups. Auburn then proceeded to nail abunch of 3's (I don't know, I had left expecting garbage time). We put the starters back in and the gap stopped shrinking. So quit griping....
danthemanwells#1340833 writes:
we played two halves. the subs didn't play their share. we were up 31 late in the second half and the subs let it get mildly close again. and then, when bruce brought back in the calvary, we easily closed it. i haven't been as worried about that lately
huntined#565710 writes:
Just think!!! 4 years ago we were ho-hum during basketball season..we only talked about our LADY VOLS now we have a chance to be number 1 !!!
This is a great time to be a TENNESSEE VOL..
I live in FLORIDA and they sure had bragging rights for the past 2 years even though we beat them 3 out of 4..I SAY, IT'S GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL..
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Well, bring the curtain up. Its showtime in Memphis. Wonder who the refs are going to be.
Should be a good one, so close to the mountain top. Regardless, Pearl, congrats, on this run up the ladder.
schymtz writes:
Solid Win at home! Now take it on the road right to Memphis and Vanderbilt. Congrats to Chris for passing Bernard King. Tennesse's best games are ahead.
orangeinmississippi writes:
wooooohoooooooooo! HOW BOUT THEM VOLS!!! BRING ON THE KITTIES! BRUCE,LETS SHUT JOHN CALI UP! ONE THING THOUGH,PEYTON MANNING WILL BE THERE,LETS HOPE THE BAD LUCK HE HAD WITH THE TIGERS DOESN'T RUB OFF ON BRUCE AND HIS BAND OF MARAUDERS! "GO VOLS"!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
pdhuff, with all due respect is that a prelude to the usual and always to be expected complaining we were screwed by the refs
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
i still wish we had kevin oneill...i love defensive basketball, 40-39 point games. i'll hang up and listen to you.
tigervol9802 writes:
As Jordan sang tonight.....
"LET'S GET IT OOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
MemphisVol writes:
let's play our BEST BASKETBALL saturday night!
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Will TEDDY be officiating? what crew will be there?
utchris writes:
If the game on Saturday night was still tied after 2 OT's, I think they should put Pearl and Cal at center court and let them fight in a death match. Barring Cal getting a firearm or shank from Dorsey, I say Pearl would win going away.
Pearl is quickly approaching Chuck Norris iconic status. He would eat Kevin O'Niel as a snack.
dfreeman writes:
yabadababble - There is ONE particular ref that loves to watch himself in the highlights section of SportsCenter!! If he is calling the game you can bet it will be ugly... book that!! Otherwise the rest are just fine!! That's what PD was referring to! His name escapes me at the moment, but he did a "heck" of a job making sure his face was on the TV, when he T'd up Prince 400 times in a row! I believe his name was Valentine though not for sure. It's not just UT either, because this guy isn't allowed to call Big Ten games anymore! Rightfully so as well!
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
cmon man it's TEDDY!
dfreeman writes:
Teddy Valentine?? Is that right??
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
i love Lofton to death..but this just proves how dominate Bernard King was. 3 years..no three pointers.
danthemanwells#1340833 writes:
there's nothing that gets the crowd going more than a lofton 3 pointer. it fires up the crowd, fires up the team, and disheartens the other team. it's just so, so good. when he's on, not many teams are going to beat us.
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Man if that Valentine jerk is there it will be like Tiger High has 6 players on the floor. That is hard to overcome. I hope Pearl wasn't above telling the authorities to keep Valentine away from the game. I would hate to see refs ruin a game like this.
Go Vols! Rocket Top Forever.
utchris writes:
I looked at the box score from last years game. The three officials that did last year game seemed to work games for several conferences. I would assume that we will see something of an experienced mix or CUSA referees.
MrBamSeydu writes:
Ted Valentine better not be within 1,000 miles of Memphis come Saturday!!!!! We might need someone to Nancy Kerrigan him if he's ref'ing the game.
NOTE: ALL VOL FANS GOING TO THE GAME OR IN MEMPHIS!!! GATES OPEN AT 8 A.M. FOR GAMEDAY and ADMISSION IS FREE!!!! LET'S OVER-POWER BLUE WITH ORANGE ON THEIR OWN COURT!!!!!!
anthony writes:
NOW JUST DON'T GET TOO COCKY~
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
Life is good!
VOLS85 writes:
Watching college gamenight on ESPN right now, and the headline says we're 23-3...I mean seriously guys, this is your lead story, how do you not catch that statistical discrepancy?!
GO VOLS
FWBVol writes:
I don't think it's a stretch to say this will be the biggest game between to in state teams in the history of the state of Tennessee.
Never before have a pair of schools from the Volunteer State...yes Tiger fans, you still live in the Volunteer State...making you a Volunteers...played such an important game.
Prime time in the Bluff City. Go Big Orange!!!
caskew#218608 writes:
Guys, just look at how far we've come. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/teams/s... look through all the schedules leading up to this season....I think BP is going to part the Red Sea and lead us to the promise-land.
vol1994 writes:
great win and one game closer to our first goal- SEC regular season champs!
I thought I was half asleep but I wasn't when I was listening to ESPN 2 discuss UT and Memphis.
They had UT's record of 22-3. Last I check UT has only two losses- KY and Texas. The biggest game of the year thus far and they make that kind of mistake? Did anyone catch that about 20 minutes ago on college gamenight? Unbelievable!!
Am I correct or does UT only have two losses>
vol1994 writes:
vols 85- I didn't read your post before I wrote the same thing. I agree, that is just horrible
for a major network to make such a critical mistake.
jdcdjc#246285 writes:
Been following Vols basketball since Ray Mears days and this is beyond belief. Go Vols!!!
VOLS85 writes:
vol1994 - we're thinking on the same wavelength here, and I'm sure if it was Carolina or Dook(who lost tonight), they wouldn't have messed that up, because they are the god-children of ESPN. That's alright though, they've hyped up the game nicely and we deserve it, we're a fantastic team that still hasn't fully hit our stride...
GO VOLS!
VolCane7979 writes:
Tennessee is not 22-3. That is Dook's record after the Canes knocked them off tonight, baby! How about those Vols and those Canes!!! A great night all around.
utchris writes:
Just jumped over to the Commercial Appeal. Tiger fans are pissed because a local ESPN Radio guy (who usually seems to favor Memphis) picked the Vols. His reasoning: Bruce is a better coach that Calipari.
Also, there is a guy on there claiming that he is a UT Alum but is rooting for the Tigers to Kick our a**. Is there a way we can revoke his diploma on the account of treason?
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/...
GlennMaxwell writes:
Bring on Memphis?
Hey, you got it. We're more than ready. Enjoy No. 2 before you drop. After Saturday, you're going to wish you had stuck to football.
OldNumber7 writes:
There appears to be some folks that fell asleep - UT did not play 2 halves tonite - more like 1 and a half. Tennessee LOST the second half by 7 points. Great win, but need to expand leads, not watch them deteriorate. Subs are NO excuse. Tapeworm's assessment is legit.
rootin4volz writes:
My Gosh! What FUN this is!!!
FatherVol writes:
Sorry to disappoint, but, unless things have changed since this afternoon, a game ticket or student ID is required to get into the Forum for Gameday in the morning. Admission is also limited in numbers. UT fans can go to Jillian's in Peabody Place for a pre-game meeting with CBP at 4 p.m.
utchris writes:
Glad to see some more Memphis fans starting accounts today to try and talk trash. If there UT jokes on the CA were any indication of what we are dealing with, then I am not so concerned.
Glenn: Does Memphis have a football team?
misterorange writes:
Just watch out for Dorsey and Co. when you guys are celebrating on Beale Saturday. Those are some big fellas and you don't want to hurt their feelings. Ask orange jump suit guy. Go west to Memphis and represent. Don't forget to check out Randezvous barbeque.
GlennMaxwell writes:
No, utchris, as long as you asked, Memphis doesn't have a football team to speak of. I never said they did. Basketball is a different story, as you'll know after Saturday. (Consider UT's win last year an aberration, just as the times Memphis has beaten UT in football was an aberration.)
As for the UT joke in the CA, the News Sentinel really didn't do justice by not giving the full story. The UT joke was only half the column; the other half, for the benfit of UT fans, was a Memphis joke that got equal treatment and was equally lame.
VOLS85 writes:
This whole idea of complaining that we only played one half or a 1.5 or whatever is just a joke. If we wanted to, we could have kept the starters in and mopped up, but we were trying to give our starters rest (to get ready for some game coming up, can't remember when it is or who is playing) and take away the risk of injury.
Can you imagine how much Pearl would have been chastised if any of our starters suffered an injury when we were up 30?!
Some people here need to get off their high horse, get a grasp and realize that Bruce had his reasons tonight and he knows much better than you.
VOLS85 writes:
Glenn,
aberrations are close wins, getting owned by 18 is far different. Go back to your blogging site and chit chat on how your sports programs haven't won anything of significance in recent history and let the game on saturday speak for itself. Enjoy the C-USA, because you're not welcome in our conference.
GO VOLS!
misterorange writes:
Really. I don't know how many people I heard in the stands tonight that must not know anything about basketball. People complaining that we were only up by 25. Some of you Johnny come lately fans must not remember what basketball was like at UT 10 years ago. On the other hand some of you guys forget that we had some pretty good teams with Brandon Wharton, CJ Black, and others. So you see that it won't be like this every year. Appreciate that this is a special time in TN b-ball history. Ernie and Bernie never went this far, but to hear my dad talk about them; you would think they both averaged forty points a game. I am not saying that we can't keep this level of competition up, but it will not be easy. We may lose 3 or 4 starters before next year.
GlennMaxwell writes:
LOL.
You might wanna hold the "getting owned" talk until we see how Saturday turns out. Don't get too cocky for a school where they didn't know what a basketball was until the past couple years (at least not the men). See ya in Memphis Saturday.
tubavol writes:
Don't you mean the TIME that Memphis State beat UT was an aberration?
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE ON SATURDAY HERE IN MEMPHIS, YOU BETTER GET THERE AT 6AM OR BEFORE. THE TIGER TICKET OFFICE HAS ALERTED ALL THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY THAT THE LINE WILL START FORMING AT 6AM. THEY'RE ONLY LETTING 3,500 PEOPLE THROUGH THE DOOR FOR GAMEDAY.
PLEASE LET EVERYONE YOU KNOW OF THIS SITUATION. DON'T LET THE TIGER FANS BE THE ONLY FANS REPRESENTING THEIR SCHOOL.
FOLLOW THIS LINK:
http://gotigersgo.cstv.com/tickets/me...
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