Posted by kevinc0465 on January 11, 2008 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If this team can start rebounding there is no doubt in my mind that they will make it to the final four. After watching the Ole Miss game I see that they were Dominated on the glass. 20 offensive rebounds, thats crazy. They do everything else really well, and it is hard to complain when we are winning. But, if we rebound like that against a team like Memphis they will blow us out. I love the way they are finishing these games at the very end but what up with us getting a ten or twenty point lead in the second half and then allowing these teams to come back and make it close. I am sorry for this negative post but I love this team and only want them to get better. Go Big Orange. Oh yeah, great job to Chris Lofton for passing to Tyler you are really great shooter and a very smart basketball player. Keep shooting Chris they'll start falling soon. The only thing a shooter can do is keep shooting.

Posted by alfrizzle097 on January 11, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Remember, despite all of the offensive rebounds it was just a 5 rebound differential. It happens sometimes when you are trying to play lockdown defense.

Sure Memphis has talent, but remember what we did to them last year? We are as much better this year as they are. Doesn't mean the results will be the same, but don't start acting like its a game we shouldn't win a month out. You never know.... Memphis may lose to Conference USA teams and not be considered a top tier team anymore.

Posted by dirtdobber1 on January 11, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Who cares; They won with Lofton not having a good game. He will be back. in the meantime the vols are #1 in rpi CBS poll.

Fotunately for the Vols, rebounds dont count toward the final score of the game, when they start giving points for rebounding then we can get worried.

good points alfrizzle097!

Posted by dirtdobber1 on January 11, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Who cares; They won with Lofton not having a good game. He will be back. in the meantime the vols are #1 in rpi CBS poll.

Fotunately for the Vols, rebounds dont count toward the final score of the game, when they start giving points for rebounding then we can get worried.

good points alfrizzle097!

Posted by 55Vol on January 11, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dirtdobber1.... the concern over Lofton is that most posters were saying the same thing in November...."Lofton will be back". It is now January and soon to be March. The season is soon approaching being 50 % complete. He needs to turn it around very soon in order to have an impact on the overall season from a shooting standpoint.
The real concern is giving large leads away in the last 10-12 minutes of the game. We need to have the killer instinct in those minutes to seal the deal and not let players like Polynice ( UM ) get started. Go Vols....eat mor chikin...

Posted by bleed_orange on January 11, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

TouchdownTN, your right about Memphis. That Fr. PG is very, very, very good! Their strength is our weakness (the inside game). The one weakness I see that they have is also one of ours (FOUL SHOT PERCENTAGE). For us to have a chance to beat them will have to hit about 15/30 from the 3-point line and turn them over about 18-20 times. Brian, Wayne, Ryan, & Tyler will have to play big on the inside and try to limit their 2nd shots. If we have to foul them to keep them from scoring and make them hit their foul shots. However, first we need a big win in South Carolina. GO VOLS!

Posted by GoVol on January 11, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Memphis will go far, but will eventually lose towards the end of the tourney in a tight game because of their very poor free throw shooting. GO VOLS!!

Posted by 55Vol on January 11, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

VolCr...good points. While Lofton's shooting is down this year, he needs to take it to the basket more like he has done in years past. However, he does have T. Smith on the floor to pass to. I am not sure if his assists are up or down this year but he is certainly looking more this year for the assist or at least get the ball to the "hot" hand. Your comment about having more help also is true and that in itself affects things. Driving the basket may open up easier shots which if course can affect confidence for longer shots when they are available. Good points.

Posted by TurboFan on January 11, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Agree, CR, the Vol offense is different from last year in that we don't run Chris around off screens to get open anymore. Also agree his weapon is driving to the basket but I wonder about his athleticism going inside against 270 lb behemoths. Has Chris ever dunked? His layup drives come from outside the paint and take a high arc to the basket. Seems like Chris doesn't elevate much (though I'm sure he can easily out jump me).

Posted by Hunter on January 11, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good analysis on Lofton, VolCR. I thought the same thing several games ago - "Why won't he take it to the hole?" I think he's just trying to "find his shot," but in the meantime he needs to try to get to the stripe more often. He's still the hardest worker on the team and that says a lot.

Posted by KENVOL on January 11, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Did you notice in the Ole Miss game Lofton threw a very long 3 up and Coach Pearl yanked him. He is not helping this team. He got cut from the National Team for the same reason. God Bless the kid but he needs to find his shot and fast. He saved our rears last year but hasn't really shown much this year. Maybe Coach Pearl needs to just let him shoot in a game until he finds his shot. We could really use him to help fill those 7 min. voids when we don't score. Keep at it Chris and it will come back. Gooooooooo Vols.

Posted by inquiry on January 11, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They are big at that.. and strong

Posted by JAJUAN on January 11, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

thebruceisloose.com

Posted by ge446 on January 11, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Surely Lofton needs and wants to shoot a better percentage. He does however help in other ways as has been pointed out here. His rebounding has not been mentioned and he seems to get some important rebounds as well. He is trying to take it to the hole more and is not getting any calls to get him to the freethrow line. Witness the first time we had the ball against Ole Miss. Don't know that he will improve his percentage but do know that he has been instrumental in helping to revive the Basketball Vols.

Posted by wp4ut on January 11, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

not getting on Mr. Chisms case but he needs to get more agressive under and around the basket.

Posted by dirtdobber1 on January 11, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

come on...Lofton will get it back. He needs all the support we can give him. If you start telling him not to shoot,he will never get it back. green light for Lofton- keep letting it fly!

Ge446- agree with your points on Lofton- doesnt seem to be getting any calls on his drive to goal and even his 3 point attempts- he seems to get hit on every shot- Pearl was on this last year about him not getting calls!

who is this nimrod official that made all the bad calls the other night- he was the white official in the ole miss game- what a jack ass!

Posted by vol4jesus on January 11, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pearls observation,I believe, was not an indictment on ol line , but rather an observation of big guys moving very physically. I was just getting ready to say look how posters respond when you are not viscious(sp) in your comments. Then , there it was a knock on the coach of futbol again. I live in south carolina so beat the cocks this weekend men and ladies.

Posted by TurboFan on January 11, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sweet Mary and Joseph, you're killing me CR. LOL

Posted by marc_ash on January 11, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What is it exactly what Lofton needs to "get back". I do understand that his numbers are down, thats a no brainer. But his numbers should be down because he isn't the only option any longer. In fact, it appears he is often 3rd or 4th option. Interesting Tlyer Smith took the last shot of the game isn't it?

I do feel Lofton has some improving to do. His shooting % is down a great deal from last season both from the 3pt stripe and inside. It appears to me however that the balanced play from Prince, the Smith trio and Chism/Howell only generate a certain number of shots per game. It is one thing if the Vols are relying on running the entire game, but over the course of the past few games, the Vols have been playing in the half court set much more. Shots will be limited in this capacity.

Posted by dirtdobber1 on January 11, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

marc_ash- excellent observation on Lofton.

Lofton getting it back before its too late? Heck the team is 13-1! Why should we want him to get it back? its not like the team is been slipping by on wins- heck they beat MTSU by 70? beat Xavier, Gonzaga and West V on the road...

really hate to hear any negativity on the basketball team, whether it be rebounding or Lofton, when you setting at #1 rpi CBS poll- lets concentrate on the positives and the most important stat...would you rather lead the SEC in rebounding or scoring? the last thing anyone wants to see is the ole 5 passes before you shoot mentality! Let it fly from all points- Chism and Childress included!

Posted by Colliervol on January 11, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN, living in Shelby County, we obviously see more on Memphis than we care to. But they are for real. Deep team with a bunch of individual talent. Derrick Rose (the point guard you speak of) is one of those one-and-done players that Calipari loves to bring in and he makes a big difference in that team. (He'll be in the NBA next year.) But the real key is baiting Joey Dorsey and getting him in foul trouble like the Vols did last year. They are nowhere near as physical without him in the game.

Interesting thing to watch is their offense when they aren't simply running and gunning. Calipari got it from Vince Wahlberg at Pepperdine. Calls it the "dribble drive" and they all think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Consists of three things:

1) Pass it around the perimeter until one guy gets a lane toward the basket where they can drive.

2) If the driver shoots, everybody heads to the board. (That's where Dorsey and Dozier get most of the garbage.)

3) If the driver is blocked, he tries to find somebody at the three point line and it goes up from there.

They really don't run any set plays that I can see. It strikes me that a team that is good at drawing charging fouls can stop that offense because the drive into the lane is the main thing they do. But, so far, nobody is doing it.

Posted by 55Vol on January 11, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vols4jesus...CR is right on this one....whether you support CPF or not, it is clear we need help on the Dline and also on the Oline. Those guys from UM, especially Parnell, could start on many a team's football line. Big bruisers they were...

Posted by jevolball7 on January 11, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VolCR,you're killing me!!!!!!lol Don't you know that vol4jesus is the post police?Step out line ,he come take you away!God bless you all but most of all,send your money...Yes,Loften has dunked. How is Ohio St.this year?

Posted by DSaVol on January 11, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Analyze it all you want experts but the only stats that matter are 13-1 and #3 RPI. Many forget that Lofton carried this entire program for 3 years and while his scoring and percentage may be down he's still doing ALOT of other things that are contributing HEAVILY to that 13! I only hope that one day the truth is known about this kid because MANY of you will be singing a whole different tune if it is. As for Chism, he is what he is. That's an offensive minded player who has little offensive game. Until he gets it in his head that he WANTS to play tough, he'll keep producing as he has been. Don't like him shooting 3's??? Tell it to Pearl cause he's the one who lets him do it, as with Childress, because it's a part of the offense. I'm interested to see if this team will go into Columbia and hammer a team that is bad at best or if we'll have a lack of interest and give a questionable performance. I've seen SC in person 3 times and they have exactly one player who could even THINK about making our roster. Don't care about SC's game at Vandy, this should flat out be a romp.

Posted by Kwitcherbellyachin on January 11, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In other news...

"Ole Miss is filing a formal complaint with the SEC over a missed call in the final seconds of the two-point loss at Tennessee Wednesday night.

Coach Andy Kennedy spent the past two days looking at the tape and seeing how the officials (Patrick Adams, Ted Valentine and Karl Hess) missed the call on Dwayne Curtis. David Huertas took a running shot with 39 seconds left. On the video, Curtis, a 77 percent free-throw shooter, gets the rebound, misses two offensive putbacks (he gets his own rebound) but appears to be fouled by Jordan Howell and Wayne Chism.

There was no call. Kenny Williams gets the rebound and then is fouled with 33.6 seconds left. Williams, a 51 percent shooter, missed the front end of a one-and-one. Tennessee's Tyler Smith then went down and made a jumper to win the game with five seconds remaining. If Curtis had gone to the line, he would have been shooting two shots.

Kennedy said he doesn't expect a reversal but wants to see accountability from the officials after the missed call.

{...snip...}

"Fans here are really excited about basketball,'' said Kennedy, who is now a bit more peeved that the Rebels aren't 14-0 after the 85-83 loss in Knoxville."

I'm guessing that Coach AK missed all of the contact under the basket from his big men, especially the foul on Chism by Parnell at the 17:46 mark of the second half.

Posted by creepykev on January 11, 2008 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That is funny about the complaint. Maybe we should tell Lofton he can't hit anything don't bother shooting it. You know reverse psyc. So next Wed when he gets the ball we all need to yell "pass it". That ought to fire him up.

Posted by Colliervol on January 11, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I was about to say kwitcher. I think Coach Kennedy has selective vision. Guess he'll ignore his big men pushing off on every shot. And that "block" by Parnell should have been classified as a mugging. But I guess he won't want them to review that.

Posted by coach75 on January 11, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i agree colliervol. the ut big men had more air time than air jordan when trying to rebound under the basket. ole miss did not use their body to rebound but simpl;y just pushed you out of the way.

Posted by Colliervol on January 12, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Of course, coach, it could be said that our big men aren't standing their ground very well either.