NASHVILLE - A Tennessee basketball program that has been climbing for three consecutive years couldn't hold its ground Tuesday night at Memorial Gym.
The No. 1-ranked Vols needed two comebacks against Vanderbilt. They only made one.
The Vols wiped out a 14-point, first-half Vanderbilt lead. But the comeback appeared to take its toll when the 18th-ranked Commodores regained the lead and the momentum in a 72-69 victory over the Vols, who had ascended to the top of college basketball a day earlier.
The game started similarly to UT's upset of No. 1-ranked Memphis on Saturday night at the FedEx Forum. Like Memphis, the Commodores opened with a blaze of 3-pointers.
And, just as it did against Memphis, UT withstood the barrage of baskets, bided its time and played its way into the lead. In fact, early in the second half, there was reason to anticipate that the Vols would pull away from the Commodores, as they did in an 80-60 victory last month at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Vanderbilt's star center, A.J. Ogilvy, picked up his fourth foul with 16:05 to play. Midway through the second half, Vanderbilt starting guard Jermaine Beal was assessed his fourth foul.
Not only were the Commodores in serious foul trouble, but UT shooting star Chris Lofton had a hot hand, and Tyler Smith was on his way to a career-high 17 rebounds.
"I thought we put ourselves in position on the road where we could gut one out again," UT coach Bruce Pearl said.
This time, the Vols couldn't close the deal - for a variety of reasons.
First of all, UT never could force a faster tempo. Also, point guards Ramar Smith and Jordan Howell both struggled against the Commodores.
"We've got to getter better point guard play," Pearl concluded.
The slower tempo had nothing to do with UT's point guards, however. Officials called 53 fouls, and the constant whistle blowing clearly disrupted the offensive rhythm of the top two scoring teams in the SEC.
UT might have capitalized on Ogilvy's foul trouble if not for foul problems of its own. UT's Wayne Chism picked up three first-half fouls and played only 23 minutes. He finished with four points and four rebounds. In the first UT-Vanderbilt meeting, Chism had a career-high 18 rebounds and just as many points.
"He and Ogilvy wound up canceling each other out," Pearl said.
Neither Lofton, who had 25 points, nor anyone else could cancel out Vanderbilt's Shan Foster, who was 1-for-11 from the field in Knoxville. He made nine of 13 field-goal tries, including six of nine 3-pointers, while scoring 32 points Tuesday night.
"He's a great player and a great shooter," Pearl said.
UT didn't have the shooters to match. The Vols made only 32.8 percent of their field-goal attempts.
Pearl gave Vanderbilt's defense plenty of credit for UT's shooting woes. When someone suggested the Vols might have been leg-weary after Saturday's game at Memphis, Pearl wasn't about to use that as an excuse.
"We were fine," Pearl said. "We were absolutely fine."
UT's defeat won't show up in the national rankings until the top-25 polls are announced next Monday. But the loss will have an immediate impact on the SEC standings.
UT leads the conference with an 11-2 record, followed by Kentucky, which is 9-3. The Wildcats, who have the tiebreaker advantage based on their earlier victory over UT, will play host to Ole Miss tonight.
Then comes Sunday afternoon's crucial game at Thompson-Boling Arena, where the Vols can prove they're still No. 1 in the SEC.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
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Comments » 66
anthony writes:
which vols are we talking about, the football vols or the basketball vols? winning is not everything, John, except to losers like yourself.
VOLorado writes:
Pearl should be fired!
Right, john?
Where's your Saban article?
Where's your response to Fulmer/ Hamilton?
anthony writes:
There are a whole lot of division 1 teams which would love to have our record over the last 15 years. A whole lot of people have invested in Fulmer's dimise even if it hurts our team. These people are lone wolves, John Adams is the leader of these lone wolves. It is time to rise up against them . Their opinions in the sake of fair play is no longer needed. Just like the people who have risked everything for us to lose in Iraq so there tempers may be assuaged.
UTvols12342000 writes:
please leave the state john
TennMom writes:
Well Anthony, I was under the impression that this was a basketball story, so pardon me if I'm a bit puzzled by your talk of Fulmer and Iraq. I do agree with you on one thing, it is time to "rise up." I recommend you try it. Rise up to the challenge to keep "on topic." Rise up to the challenge of Spell Check, or better yet, just learn how to spell.
I'm just here to say "way to go, Commodores!" What a game!!
VOLorado writes:
wr23, you have way to high opinion of Mike Freeman (the author of the article you posted). You should read about how he was caught lying on his resume.... claiming to have graduated from college.
About as credible as john adams.
bmaples writes:
Man, I do get tired of the football talk during basketball season.
Tough loss. Vandy played okay, but Foster was on fire. Control him and we win by 10.
Now we need to win out to win the regular season outright. First men's banner in a while, so let's get it done. And from someone who lives in The Ville and will have to hear about it the rest of the year: BEAT the CATS!
nightprowler writes:
It seem to me that the NCAA should step up and change the name from SEC to SECC "SOUTH EASTERN CORRECTIONAL CONFERENCE.
golfnutntn#483516 writes:
once again john, your ineptness as a writer is shown. there is no tie breaker for the reg season championship. that's why it is so important to win it outright. if you tie you are simply co champs, like we have been many times before. you are such a dumb a$$
Duke writes:
Man, what a prize bunch of journalists we have here!! I guess Pulitzer's are pending for all of you critics of John. I've read, then re-read, his columns and I find them very well written, and factual; both basketball and the Fulmer bit. BTW, Fulmer is a bit thin skinned, IMHO. Adams didn't call into question, as I see it, Philly's character. But, sometimes, Phil, the truth does sting a mite. Back to bassetball!!! My life!! Someone 'splain this coaching box position deal at Vandy????? If the home team can set up these retrictive conditions, which obviously they can, let's put the Vandy coach in the parking lot with a walky-talky next game. I know, a bit of over reaction. Refs were pitiful, for both teams. Until Bruce got into it with the ref, in the first half, the calls were all going against the Big Orange. After that, I noticed a bit more balance in the calls. Wonder what Bruce said to the ref???? Maybe we don't need to know. Let's win out...beat the Cats, get a high seed, win the NCAA. Hey, ya gotta believe!!!!!!
Cherokee writes:
This article doesn't have the first thing to do with Fulmer. Give it a rest.
gillblog writes:
Growing concern for the the Vols in NCAA tournament; they aren't showing reliable performance at point guard and we all know the old but irrefutable axiom, guard play wins championships.
MemphisVolFan writes:
Give Vandy credit for holding on. The Vols fought back throughout the game, despite poor shooting.
Neither team played particularly well, but it was competitive and the Vols availed themselves well. Being No. 1 for now is OK, being No. 1 at the end is what's most important.
estillspgsvol writes:
It only matters that you are number 1 at the end of March Madness, now number 1 can get you a sweet seed in the tournament, but bottom line is that you have win the number 1 ranking in basketball.
estillspgsvol writes:
WR23 that is not what the nation is saying, it is what one "idiot" writer is saying. This guy has not written anything that has meaning and does not have a "racist" tone to it in "forever".
Hunter writes:
We got into a free throw shooting contest, and unless we are playing Memphis that's bad news for the boys in orange.
By my count, Chism only had two fouls (and an impartial observer would say something similar of Ogilvy). The over-officiating was really poor, not that it was awful in favor of either tea, just awful in general. Beat Kentucky......please......
pdhuff#552644 writes:
No excuses, we lost. What was the line anyway?
At least we competed.
Now rest up and beat KY.
steve#413367 writes:
TennMom: Hate to disagree, but "what a game" it wasn't. As great basketball games go, I've had more thrills watching paint dry. And how couldn't Vandy win? I mean, we play Memphis, get a No. 1 with a bullseye on the back, play a team 72 hours later that's got nothing to lose ... and still almost pull if off. Sorry, but last night was much ado about absolutely nothing. It only matters come March. I couldn't help but notice the disparity between TN winning at Memphis, and the players calmly leaving the court, and the 'Dores celebrating as if they'd just won the national championship. What did they win? A regular season basketball game? Big deal. The Vols play big games as if they expect to win. Last night, Vandy seemed blown away that they actually could.
TommyJack writes:
To BP's credit, he didn't blame the loss on fatigue. In reality, this team was physically and mentally drained. To make it a close game is to their credit. Vandy is a quality opponent. Maybe we will meet them later in a different yard. Hmmm?
Volfan1 writes:
Didn't read Adams article. Won't. Just a daily reminder that Adams lost all credibility.
Adams = no credibility.
Pullingguard writes:
John, you have burned all bridges (might be couple of marginal exceptions) to Vol fans supporters...For your marginal view and slanderous column about behavior when other porgrams are as bad or worse... You are a ugly weed in a pot of glowing UT flowers, neither capable of writing an interesting column or one other than heaping negative phooey on the University of Tennessee football program..The question must be.. How did you ever get to your present position as sports editor?
TommyJack writes:
volfan1: So, if it isn't your shared opinion, then you won't read it? Is that what you're saying?
bhjohnso#207063 writes:
this article wasn't about football. i don't want to read a bunch of football comments. i'm tired of it all. i don't want to read about what an idiot john adams is, or what an idiot fulmer is, or whatever, in the comments following an article about UT basketball.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Maybe UT didn't offer Sportsline's Mike Freeman a scholarship out of high school. He went on and on as if UT players were all out robbing, raping, and pillaging, and sharing all their loot with CPF, when all he could come up with as evidence was (admittedly too much) drinking, yelling, and arm-waving. Wonder if he's an ex-Bama guy who still blames CPF for Bama's cheating.
Props to CBP for not using fatigue as an excuse, but they sure seemed tired to me in the late stages, and, as an ex-athlete myself, I don't see how fatigue could not have been a factor, what with the travel and emotion of the Memphis game. The incessant whistles kept both teams from getting into any kind of offensive flow. People think lots of free-throws mean lots of extra rest during the game, but the hardest thing to do when you are tired is constantly starting and stopping.
96VolGrad writes:
This Freeman guys seems pretty racist to me. I'm not sure that I would ally myself with that. And where does he live? I guess he just gets his news on the wire out there in California.
96VolGrad writes:
This Freeman guys seems pretty racist to me. I'm not sure that I would ally myself with that. And where does he live? I guess he just gets his news on the wire out there in California.
96VolGrad writes:
This Freeman guys seems pretty racist to me. I'm not sure that I would ally myself with that. And where does he live? I guess he just gets his news on the wire out there in California.
96VolGrad writes:
This Freeman guys seems pretty racist to me. I'm not sure that I would ally myself with that. And where does he live? I guess he just gets his news on the wire out there in California.
96VolGrad writes:
This Freeman guys seems pretty racist to me. I'm not sure that I would ally myself with that. And where does he live? I guess he just gets his news on the wire out there in California.
OrangeAndWhite4Life writes:
Just my observation on the game...there sure seemed to be A LOT of "ticky tack" fouls called against BOTH teams. Would have liked to have seen the Refs not been so involved and let the game be decided on the court (by the teams).
TommyJack writes:
I say let'em play unless a foul is really blatant. I know the officials worry about fights, but LET'EM PLAY. I don't think fans pay to see a FT shooting contest. No blood, no foul.
This ain't backgammon.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
A typical game in Nashville wherein the sec assures the refs make discriminate calls. While the number of fouls may be nearly equal, those on the visiting team are always at a critical juncture which ensures the home team shoots foul shots.
It's a sure bet that the VOLS were down about 25 before the game started because of the sec's efforts.
Orangeblood13 writes:
One night stand or not, All I know is that we are one of 5 teams this year to hold that number 1 ranking. I mean fouls or not, Juwan setting on the ground and having already called time out, then Neltner just nearly rips his head off? Thats just bad officating that nothing was called. I will feel alot better Sunday when we blow Kentucky out of the water! SO Adams, ESPN, CBS Nation, whoever else wants to call us one hit wonders, up yours, cause Tenn Basketball is here to stay, get used to us up at the top.
Volfan1 writes:
Tommyjack,
Use your education and common sense. When a person loses credibility you don't waste time reading their drivel. Adams lost it with his hatchet job.
I also won't support Adams by reading his column. Someone who should be dismissed from the KNS is not worth reading.
But the KNS needs a daily reminder that Adams' work is irresponsible and asinine.
BTW, the basketball Vols should receive many comments....just on another writer's article. Post to your heart's content....just use Strange's article or the AP release. Not Adams.
He deserves no props for anything. He is a cancer that needs to be removed. THAT is what I am saying.
DennisVols writes:
The missed FT would have added up to a victory had they been made.
But no time to dwell on what didn't happen. UK is next and we need to finish the drive to a SEC championship and on to the NC.
TommyJack writes:
Volfan1: Got it. Don't understand it, but I get your meaning. Your choice to read JA or not.
VolJunkie writes:
I was in Washington watching the game at a local watering hole. Most patrons very positive about the Memphis game as well as interested in the Vandy rivalry. Of course they are all about Georgetown (legit) and Maryland (not so much). They too thought the officiating was horrendous as they are used to seeing ACC and Big East games. Back in the day, those leagues used to be kind of touchy feely and had challenges when the played out of conference against physical teams. It would be nice if the SEC could find a middle ground between how the Memphis and Vandy games were called. Three T's last night (would love to know what J. Smith said) ... are you kidding me? Dorsey could have had 3 T's in the second half alone on Saturday. Oh well, another big game this Sunday.
GO #1 VOLS!!
agentorange writes:
adams hates ut. ut hates adams. adams got bitter when kns (hooker) started getting shut out of football practices. i'm not sure adams, like pennington, has even interviewed fulmer or been in the same room as him. read tennessean.com and leave this site to chicken littles, negative nancys and miserable haters.
Vols1998 writes:
Vols played about as good as they could after Saturday...Vandy just got lucky on the night they played UT....let's seem them do it in Atlanta...they can not play away from that high school looking Gyn they call a basketball court.
Go Vols!!!
TommyJack writes:
negative nancys! like it.
murrayvol writes:
Dear John:
For what it's worth (which isn't much). Gordon (not Beal) was assessed #4 midway through the 2nd half. And I think Pearl actually concluded that "we have to get (not getter) better guard play."
Sincerely,
murrayvol
lfevol writes:
John,
I was really expecting you to find a way to blame this on Fulmer.
It would of made it so much easier to take.
ADAMS IS A LOSER IN JOURNALISM AND IN LIFE
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Funny how perspectives differ, VolJunkie. I was in the Army in New Jersey in the early '80's when the Big East was arguably the elite conference in the country, what with Ewing at G'town and Mullin at St. Johns. Most of the Big East games I saw were bloodbaths. The problem for the Big East came OUT of conference, when the refs called fouls for tackles and karate chops that were "play ons" in Big East play, which was literally "no blood, no foul"--as often as not, it was "no autopsy, no foul"! The ACC is the conference with the legendarily ticky-tack officiating. Better not TOUCH a Duke or N.C. player at home!
Basketball_Jones writes:
mcbrim is right about one thing. These writers are not supposed to be homers. I like Adams, he is pretty honest and writes what he thinks. Now is he Pro-UT? Not all the time but hey Fulmer is not a very good warden with the inmates over there. I'm not a Fulmer supporter but he makes himself look like an a%% with his petty punishings. Just ask yourself, if Britton Colquit had hit your kid and either hurt them or killed them would you still support him? Thats what drinking and driving can do.
As far as this game goes, UT was within reach of winning on the road against a Top 15 team. I have read how Memphis fans have been talking about our short lived stay at the Top, but its easy to go from UT to Tulsa than it is from Memphis to Vandy to Kentucky. Memphis hasn't played 2 tough games in a row all year.
play_by_play_man writes:
Tough game..especially with the short turn-around time and the emotion..
thought the game was lost on three possessions in the closing minutes..
1.Ramar's 2 missed free throws..
2.Ramar's ugly drive -where he just threw it up and didn't hit anything(Vandy got the board)
3.Jajuan's deep three from the corner that went off the side of the backbaord (couldn't tell if it was partially blocked or not).
I think that was as good as Vandy can play....and we STILL had a chance to win.
This Vol team is fun to watch and they are coming together! Can't wait for Sunday..look out 'Cats!
jasvol writes:
THIS LOSS FEELS LIKE: I went to a bar, started talking with a reat hotty, started drinking and talking with her, every thing is saying,"yes". Then, I wake up the next morning with a huge hangover, look over and it's a fat, ugly chick smiling hard at me!
jasvol writes:
General_Fritter: Oh my... was that you I was slapping high five's with?
I've been wondering if your calling a football a 'fritter' then what is a basketball called?
TommyJack writes:
General: Where was dinner? Cracker Barrel?
Maybe they were discussing detente. JA could learn a thing or two from The Professor.
jasvol writes:
and did I hear correctly the Cracker Barrel's special was 'crow'...
jasvol writes:
General - my self induced 'fog' is lifting...I've had a residual taste of applebutter in my mouth all day! We were at Cracker Barrel last night with fritter chick?
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