Tennessee Men's Basketball
NASHVILLE - Abracadabra and alakazam.
Vanderbilt's storied "Memorial Magic'' home-court advantage made the importance of the first No. 1-ranking in Tennessee men's basketball history disappear.
The No. 18 Commodores (24-4 overall, 9-4 SEC) scored a 72-69 victory over the Vols (25-3, 11-2) Tuesday night, marking the fourth consecutive time Vanderbilt has beaten a No. 1-ranked opponent in Memorial Gymnasium.
UT's place in the national spotlight dimmed when JaJuan Smith's desperation heave from three-quater court sailed harmlessly over the backboard at the buzzer, and the Vols' nine-game win streak was snapped, to boot.
A sold-out crowd of 14,325 watched Shan Foster score 32 points for the Commodores as they ran their record to 18-0 at home this season and won their seventh straight.
Chris Lofton led the Vols with 25 points and Tyler Smith pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds.
Tennessee shot a season-low .328 from the floor, hit only 7-of-26 (.269) from beyond the 3-point arc and forced only eight turnovers.
"Our offense was pitiful," Vols coach Bruce Pearl said. "Chris Lofton scored 25 for us and Tyler played his heart out, but we play our best when everyone contributes, and tonight we didn't get a lot of contributions that we usually get."
Sophomore center Wayne Chism ran into early foul trouble and scored only four points, while point guard Ramar Smith scored eight points on 3-of-9 shooting and was 2-of-5 from the free throw line.
UT's loss gives Kentucky (15-10, 9-3) an opportunity to take over the top spot in the SEC with a win over the Vols at noon Sunday in Thompson-Boling Arena, assuming the Wildcats defeat Ole Miss tonight.
"I can promise you we'll be ready for that game," Tyler Smith said. "You can put that in the paper."
The Vols rallied from a 31-28 halftime deficit to lead by three points on two occasions, and held a 43-40 lead before Vandy's Alex Gordon hit three free throws to tie the game a 43-43 with 15:03 left.
After Chism missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw situation, Alan Metcalfe drained a three to put the Commodores up 46-43.
Vanderbilt didn't trail after that and went on to lead by as many as eight points when Foster backed down Lofton in the lane for a bucket that made it 61-53 with 6:50 left.
"Vanderbilt came out with great passion and played with more intensity than us," Lofton said. "They deserved to win."
The Commodores sealed the victory by hitting 8-of-10 free throws over the final 3:25.
Try as it might, a scrambling UT defense couldn't force a turnover to turn the tide as the final minutes and seconds ticked off the clock.
Vanderbilt's 31-28 half-time lead came after the Commodores had led by as many as 14 points in the early goings.
The Commodores raced out to a 23-9 lead, capping the early burst with a Foster dunk at the 10:42 mark.
At that point, Vanderbilt had connected on 8-of-11 shots (.727) while UT had struggled to make 3-of-16 (.188).
The Vols, however, tightened up on defense and Lofton got hot, scoring 11 of his 14 first-half point.
The Commodores proceeded to miss their next six shots and UT went on a 14-3 run, with Lofton scoring the first eight points before Tyler Smith ended the spurt with a free throw to pull the Vols within 26-23 at the 4:25 mark.
Foster's 3-pointer with 3:56 left in the half gave him 13 points and was Vanderbilt's first in more than 6 1/2 minutes.
"That was a weird game," Commodores coach Kevin Stallings said. "It was a hard-fought battle by both teams that lacked any rhythm because of all the fouls and trips to the line."
Vanderbilt connected on 25-of-37 (.676) from the free throw line, UT hit 22-of-32 (.688).
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Comments » 331
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
Those refs suck. Someone needs to file an official complaint because that was ridiculous. Vandy did not earn that victory and I refuse to honor it. That just made me aboslutely sick to my stomach, and those refs need to be fired, now.
volintexas writes:
Can't blame it on the refs. The Vols looked a little tired, and Tyler Smith clearly was under the weather and not himself. Some poor shot selection at key times and some tough misses at the line, were the difference. If they had one more day of rest after Memphis, I think the Vols would have won this. No disgrace here. They fought hard after getting down big in the first half.
go370#258256 writes:
I agree. All game they called the slightest handchecks and then with 45 sec or less they wouldn't call a foul to stop the clock when we were blatently fouling vandy. That was very poor officiating.
stevefrommemphis writes:
Everybody be calm. We got our share of foul shots and fouls on their key players -- not the referees' fault. Congratulations to Vanderbilt and especially Coach Stallings, who is truly a class act. We could see this coming for the last 72 hours. Asking UT to play the two most emotional games in school history within 72 hours was just a little too much. Now everybody just has to get fired up to beat Kentucky, win the SEC outright, then go to Atlanta and hopefully get a 3rd chance against both the Cats and the Dores.
Fellow East Tennesseans, when the Memphians come on the board, let me take them on.
go370#258256 writes:
We did get our fair calls. But, how could they not call a foul on us when we were fouling the phooey out of them in the last minute to stop the game. I just like consistency out of refs and that wasn't consistent.
flyintiger writes:
EXCUSES EXCUSES EXCUSES
FACE IT-YOU CHUMPS GOT DUMPED
IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
The game went as it has gone for many years in Nashville. Apparently everybody in the Nashville area knew what would happen. The officiating has always been in the commode doors favor as it was tonight. When the VOLS began to get close or were ahead, fouls were called that gave the commode doors free throws. I didn't keep up with the number, but I suspect they got three times as many as the VOLS. The setup was so blatant the talk shows discussed the outcome as a foregone conclusion. It was just another cut by the sec against the VOLS. When one caller said the only thing that he was concerned about was the officiating, they didn't even discuss his comment.
pms151 writes:
Not yet fully recharged physically. Playing against the SEC's second best team, a rested rival, on the road in a very hostile environment. Showing our Achilles heel (FT shooting) to the max. Poor coaching environment due to the antiquated bench setup at Vandy. Being number 1 for the first time and the hype that comes with it. Losing by only 3 is a miracle in itself. Get some sleep guys you're going to be number one again real soon.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
The game went as it has gone for many years in Nashville. Apparently everybody in the Nashville area knew what would happen. The officiating has always been in the commode doors favor as it was tonight. When the VOLS began to get close or were ahead, fouls were called that gave the commode doors free throws. I didn't keep up with the number, but I suspect they got three times as many as the VOLS. The setup was so blatant the talk shows discussed the outcome as a foregone conclusion. It was just another cut by the sec against the VOLS. When one caller said the only thing that he was concerned about was the officiating, they didn't even discuss his comment.
volintexas writes:
As Bruce the Pearl said, I'm not sure if UT is the best team in the country, but it was nice to be #1 for a day. With Smith ailing and Vandy stoked and waiting, you have to give the Vols credit for not wilting in the first half. Vandy is a solid team and Foster was a monster.
volsfan92 writes:
I agree with volintexas...great game but they looked a little tired...great to see number 5 shooting again...could someone explain why the hot press I'm sure there's a reason but why push a tired team like that....go vols and get well tyler great effort tonight
Ironcity writes:
Poor shot selection by our seniors and a loss of composure did this team in. If Howell can't play any better then he has the last month then we might as well play one of the walk ons in his place. He is sucking the energy out of this team. Its hard to be on top. The good news is this team knows how to get there and they now will have the opportunity to watch film of how they lost it. I know the reefs were bad but our offense was worse.
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
go370, you hit my problem right on the money. They wouldn't call the foul until the best shooter on the floor for Vandy got the ball, when we clearly fouled their other players 4 times before Shan got it on at least 2 different drives at the end.
Our guys were getting knocked down, not blocked, and the refs let the clock run. The refs in the Memphis game were allowing the same kind of play; street ball. Except in this game, when UT would play street ball against Vandy, the refs would call UT for the fouls and put Vandy at the line, where they are 2nd in the conference in sinking their foul shots.
this is the 3rd most ridiculous game I have watched all year from bad officiating (LSU, Memphis, now this) and I protest any game these fools are ever allowed to work again. I am going to make the phones at the office of the SEC hot tomorrow.
The bad officiating is getting out of hand, and the time is now to get some control over it.
utchris writes:
We actually shot a higher FT % thanthe season avg, but it was still not great. The Foul Shots were actually close, but it was the timing of the fouls that I question. It seemed that they bailed out Vandy time after time. You have to over come that kind of stuff on the road though.
rdobyns#224112 writes:
Has fulmer ever lost a game as head coach ranked number one.
vandyfan writes:
#1 for a day, soooooo sad. Maybe you will finally get past the Sweet 16 - NOT. You better do it this year, because after Lofton and Jajuan are gone it is all down-hill.
stevefrommemphis writes:
Absolutely tired - you could even hear it in Bruce Pearl's voice Monday night on Vol Calls. But, no excuses. This is type of effort it will take in the NCAA tournament, on two days' turnaround, not three. Perhaps this experience will prepare us somewhat for the tournament. I've seen games in person at Memorial Gym when the officiating cost Tennessee the game, and believe me, this was NOT one of them. BEAT KENTUCKY!
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
Of course the sore tiger fans have to come in and make their statements. You fools lost the other day. Just suck it up until next year. Keep playing in your stupid little mediocre conference and hope that you ever get noticed on the national media stage again. The chumps are in blue playing in C-USA. Real basketball is in the SEC. Try some of it sometime. Oh ya did, and you lost. Thanks.
hdhurst writes:
flyintiger :
Chumps?
Who just got through chumping you, jerk?
Now, go play that cheesy Conf USA schedule and believe you are "really" No. 1 again.
_______________________________________________
VOLS will rebound...really not a bad time to take a loss, even with us not playing a good game. No excuses. Vandy did what they needed to do to take this win.
GO VOLS...
pms151 writes:
volsfan92, They really didn't push the hot press that hard. That is always the case on the road.
midtowncowboy99 writes:
bawahahahaha
Crying on the refs. Wonder why Pearl didn't have his guys grab a player, it worked against Memphis with out an intentinal foul being called.
I kept waiting for Chism to bank in a 3. Or for one of the coachs best plays. Once the shot clock is at 4, shoot an airball from 25 feet, catch the airball, score and get a touch foul called.
Face it, the Vols played the game of their lives at Memphis and won because of a missed layup.
Its a little tougher being the hunted.
Vols will go out in sweet sixteen...again.
ballewville6 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
utchris writes:
Q: Anyone know which team had the shortest stay as #1?
A: Memphis. Lost in '83 to VT less than 12 hours after polls were released
volsfan92 writes:
thanks pms and what happened with Pearl's T in 1st half anybody
Volalumnus writes:
Vandy 50
Refs 22
Vols 69
Howell and Ramar are becoming liabilities.
Howell no longer has a shot and Ramar is driving into triple coverage at the end of the game when we need 3s
The Vandy guy walked catching that ball just before it went out at the end in a long line of errors and bad calls by the officials.
arsports writes:
cant play the blame game officiating went both ways both teams shot about the same amount of fouls shots we just need to keep fighting and keep our heads up and murder Kentucky GO VOLS!!!!!
volsfaninkpt writes:
I guess everybody just wants to be a part of the Tennessee Volunteer family, because that is the only reason I guess fans for other squads come to talk on here. We'll see what happens from here on out, but I think we will be just fine in the nick of time. Go Vols!!
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
midtowncowboy, your screen name is as gay as the conference the Tigers play in. EXTREMELY!
huntined#565710 writes:
Got to hand it to VANDY they played good enough to win and they did.. Sorry foul shooting at the end for us and letting Vandy getting a big lead.
Need to check schedule 3 games in 6 days got us beat twice this year..
Get ready for BIG KY as we will have to now win all the games left to win SEC outright
I was VOL this morning and I will be a VOL tomorrow.. this team has been great for TENNESSEE and they still have a lot of ball to play..
midtowncowboy99 writes:
ccwisenhower says "this is the 3rd most ridiculous game I have watched all year from bad officiating (LSU, Memphis, now this) and I protest any game these fools are ever allowed to work again. I am going to make the phones at the office of the SEC hot tomorrow."
HAHAHA
Watch the film of the Memphis game, you climbed the ir backs all night with no calls. The only way TN won in Memphis was the no calls. Watch the travel by Chism on the last basket. Didn't know the refs let you use both feet to pivot, did you?
Lofton got looks tonight, unlike in Memphis. Vandy plays no D.
The reason both Memphis and TN shoot poorly from the free throw line is they bust ass on Defense and get fatiqued.
pms151 writes:
Pearl just got pissed off on a jersey check foul and wanted to make his point. Actually a good move by him, just didn't motivate the guys tonight.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
It was a tough game. Vandy's has always had an excellent home-court advantage in that gym. The ref's definitely missed some calls, but I didn't think it was overtly one-sided in Vandy's favor. We got away with alot of contact underneath the basket on defense.
In all, though, it's not a devastating loss. Vandy's a good team & our legs were gone with 8 minutes or so left. We fought hard, but we'll be okay.
Some rest will be nice in the days ahead. We'll kick some tail this weekend!
NickS4117 writes:
Being No 1 is out of Vols element. Nice 1 1/2 day run though.
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
midtowncowboy, I realize how bad the officiating was in the Memphis game. Obviously you don't read very well. Hell, you even copied and pasted my post and still didn't get the full meaning of it. I know how bad the play was throughout the game, both on the Memphis and UT side. The refs were horrible. We were lucky to win. I know all of this. Now go back and reread my post and maybe you will get it this time.
abrown#232236 writes:
Memphomaniacs and Comode-doors: One of you is really more Arkansan than Tennessean, and the other secretly wishes you were Duke. You both got all you could handle from us on your home court, whereas we trounced you in Knoxville -- not even close. The reason for that is that while you are both good, we are better. Vandy played great tonight, great coaching, Foster was great, Tennessee couldn't get the roll, and yes, the refs did help. Even with all that, you have to hang on for dear life to eek out a win over a team on the rebound. Nice win, but don't kid yourself. It's just a moment of weakness that will make us stronger -- look fwd. to seeing you in the SEC tourney. By the way, Kirkland Hall is ugly.
reasonablevol writes:
as BP said, both point guards needed to have played better! GET OFF OF JORDAN'S BACK! We all know he is not that good, but he is the only back up point we have. Ramar can not play 30-35 min a game with our style of play!!! Jordan needs to make the 2-3 open 3's a game that he gets. He does not turn the ball over nor is he a defensive liability!!
GET OFF JORDAN'S BACK. WE NEED HIM!!
volsfan92 writes:
thank you again pms...go vols beat the cats
midtowncowboy99 writes:
what is a jersey check foul, isn't that called holding?
It took everything you had to win in Memphis and Memphis missed many wide open looks.
The reason you won in Memphis is the officiating let the Vols grab and climb the backs on the rebounds. And the Vols were the hunters. Tonight the other team wanted it more, just like TN did in Memphis.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
STFU cwisenhower and others,,,so automatic and predictable that noone EVER wants to give credit to the other team but ALWAYS gonna whine and cry about being done in by refs---we are an easy school to hate with all the cryers and excuse makers all the time---bad losers and bad winners---Vandy outplayed us and deserved the win---thats why we lost Cwisenhower, you crybaby. No ggriggs they didnt have 3 times the freethrows as us---just 5 more--we had 26 fouls them 25--so quit your whinnin too.
abrown#232236 writes:
insults and humour aside, the free throw shooting is the sort of achilles heel that can knock a good team out in the late tourney rounds. As much gloom and doom as there is about the loss, if we nail a few more at the stripe, we win that game.
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
Dude, do you not get it? I KNOW! Do you have any other points of brilliance not already realized? If not, go away! The Tigers lost, and that was on Saturday night. This is Tuesday night, and we (UT) lost to the referees. History is made. Bye bye!
Volalumnus writes:
Howell is going to have to start hitting more or driving more and Ramar is going to have to learn to do something besides drive if TN wants to make it to the final 4
utchris writes:
Why are the Memphis fans on here? The First 48 is on; shouldn't they be watching the highlights of their team?
Brokebackcowboy (translation of midtown)... go play with your boys at the Plush Club
chrisw2967 writes:
wasnt JP suppose to be a point guard ? Instead of bringing in Howell just let JP run the point.All Howell does is hurry up and get down the court and comes to a complete stop. He wouldnt even start on a Div.II , we had our chances to win this game , I personally think the Memphis game drained them.
The season inst over and all tehy are going to do is get better.
pms151 writes:
plasticman, I love watching talented athletes making FT's. And if our talented athletes were making theirs tonight you would too.
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
reasonablevol writes:
Refs called it both ways, but when we have a set of refs call a bunch of hand check fouls...it slows us down defensively!!
midtowncowboy99 writes:
Now go and beat UTEP, Houston and all the other tough teams in your cheesy little conference.
We will, after we have victories against UCONN, Georgetown, USC, Oklahoma, Arizona, Gonzaga.
Who did the Vols beat out of conference? Other that Memphis, have the Vols beat anyone ranked opponents on the road or at a neutral site?
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
Now that was on ridiculous post by me. I'll leave it alone for the rest of the night. Thank you KNS for letting me get this BS game off of my chest! Good night!
abrown#232236 writes:
Two straight games in the state of Tennesse with celebs and big time atmosphere. That part is pretty cool. It was a big time scene in Nashvegas tonight. Really, if I were Vandy, I wouldn't want to run into UT in the SEC tourney.
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