This isn't football. You can't just flash your conference card at the door, crank up an SEC chant and expect Ohio State to turn to mush.
Nonetheless, Tennessee fans couldn't resist. "S-E-C" they chanted in the opening minutes of Saturday's non-conference basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Later on, a few fans got more personal, shouting "L-S-U," a reminder of Ohio State's most recent of nine consecutive bowl losses to SEC teams - including back-to-back, double-digit losses in national championship games.
Never mind how Ohio State has fared against the SEC in football. Or that it couldn't keep up with Florida in the Final Four last April.
The Buckeyes don't fold against UT.
You saw that last March when they overcame a 17-point deficit to knock UT out of the NCAA tournament. You saw it again Saturday when the Buckeyes overturned a 10-point UT lead and led by as many as seven points early in the second half before losing to the sixth-ranked Vols 74-69.
"That team will compete for the Big Ten championship," UT coach Bruce Pearl said.
UT fans should hope he's right.
When you're playing for seeding in the NCAA tournament, non-conference games can matter just as much as league games. The better Ohio State does, the better UT's victory looks.
"We need to continue to have those big non-conference wins," Pearl said. "We've got Ohio State. We've got Gonzaga."
They also have non-conference victories over West Virginia (13-4) and Xavier (14-4). Combine that non-conference work with SEC victories over nationally ranked Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, and you can see why the Vols have a No. 1 RPI.
The Vols also are assured of moving up in the polls. No. 1 North Carolina and No. 4 UCLA both suffered losses Saturday.
UT's ranking was in jeopardy as well.
Ohio State's Jon Diebler missed a pair of 3-point tries that would have tied the game in the last 30 seconds.
How fitting that the Buckeyes' last opportunity died on the perimeter.
They made only two of 20 3-point tries, and leading scorer Jamar Butler was just 1-for-7 on 3s.
That's not an aberration.
Two nights earlier, UT held Vanderbilt to 3-for-21 from 3-point range. Shan Foster, the SEC's top 3-point shooter, was 1-for-11.
In contrast, Foster hit four of five 3s and his team was 9-for-19 on 3s in a victory over LSU on Saturday.
"If we give you space, you can run your offense with passing and shooting," Pearl said. "But if we're pressing up on you, it's going to be more difficult for you to get free."
"Every time (Butler) came off a ball screen, we jumped out on him. You've got four guys in particular - JaJuan (Smith), Jordan (Howell), Chris (Lofton) and Ramar (Smith) who are able to do that."
So much has been made of Lofton's shooting slump, he hasn't gotten enough credit for his improved defense.
"Our defense has picked up," Lofton said. "Everybody has bought into 'defense wins championships.'
"Last year, Coach preached it, but we didn't make it as big of a deal. You see where that got us."
The RPI and rankings reflect this team's aspirations. It won't be satisfied with a Sweet 16 finish in the NCAA tournament this season.
But despite UT's lofty status, the team is hardly peaking.
Forward Duke Crews, who has been sidelined since mid-December with a heart ailment, has just been cleared to play. Once he's in playing shape, he should provide a needed rebounding boost.
Lofton's 4-for-10 3-point shooting is another reason for UT optimism.
Against Ohio State's extended zone defense, Lofton's shots were crucial.
"(The ball) felt more comfortable leaving my hand, he said.
Lofton's 3-for-6 3-point shooting in the second half was a reminder that - as successful as the Vols have been - you haven't seen them at their best. But you have seen the next best thing.
"That's what you've got a team for," Lofton said. "When somebody else doesn't play so good that day, you step up for your teammates."
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 45
Volunteerfan writes:
How about them Vols? Keep on rolling boys!!
jevolball7 writes:
Whether they play well every night or not,with BP coaching,Duke back,CL's jumper starting to fall. These guys are BAD!!! They will probably have a horrible game sometime, and much like the TX game, run in to a team that can't miss. Ask any coach in the US if they want draw and TRY to matchup with UT!! Guess what their answer would be?
TnVolFaninSmyrna writes:
How bout making a few more free throws, guys. Your pi$$ poor free throw percentage almost gave you a loss.
flatman writes:
Scrapping out a win after a high energy effort over Vandy is pretty impressive, hopefully impressing the NCAA seeding committee in March. I'm thinking #1 seed, depending upon how the SEC Tournament turns out.
Hacksaw57 writes:
Great Win on National TV!
The CBS broadcasters were just waiting for our Vols to fall flat on their face and succumb to a so called “Big Time” program – Ohio State – but, GUESS WHAT – they didn’t!
When we got behind in the second half of the game they were saying to themselves and insinuating to the audience that here goes the same “old Tennessee program”, wilting under pressure and laying down when things get hot, but to Mr.Kellog and Eagle’s surprise, our Vols fought back and showed that this is a New Age of Tennessee basketball.
Coach Pearl will NOT ALLOW such attitudes or actions to happen with this program ANY MORE as they have in the past. Will we loose some games? Probably, but hopefully not.
What we WON’T do is be intimidated by ANY TEAM ANY MORE and as soon as the biased announcers and networks realize that the better off THEY will be. Our Vols are here to stay and to be reckoned with!
GO VOLS! BRING ON MEMPHIS for some BUTT WUPPIN"!
mike#208050 writes:
Hacksaw57..Most announcers are washed up coaches whose opinions don't matter. I am sure they meant no disrespect to the Vol nation. As for Ohio St., they were a final 4 team last year and damn good.
Now about that "BUTT WUPPIN" in store for Memphis, I give you two chances, slim & NONE. Beating Gonzaga & Ohio ST. which neither are ranked isn't anything to get worked up over. Florida, Kentucky, Ohio St. are all rebuilding. Ole Miss & Vandy were cupcake eaters during their non-conference schedule. Both will be out of the top 25 soon. Who has Memphis beat? Georgetown, USC, Oklahoma, UCONN, Arizona for starters. In short my friend Memphis has the toughest non-conference schedule in the country and they probably will be playing into March, UNDEFEATED. Get some of that hot air out of your balloon buddy, the Tigers are for real and now #1.
hueypilot writes:
True enough Mike, but the toughness of Memphis' non conference schedule is offset by the cupcakes they face every night now in conference. Will they be ready to play a team of Tennessee's caliber after facing a parade of also rans for two months? That will be there challenge to get ready for that game. We will all tune in and watch.
tennrich1 writes:
You might want to check the RPI for the Memphis Tigers SOS....while I agree they are a talented team, I wouldnt use the SOS as an arguement.......
slambob2#228938 writes:
Great win for the Vols, especially coming off of a Thursday game againt a huge rival and a top 25 team.
A question for the board. Have they replaced male announcers with females with husky voices? I am so sick of those guys on every broadcast going on and on about personal details about someone's life and not commenting on the game.
I don't care if somebody's uncle runs a floral business and is the mayor of Globsquat. I don't care if they take dancing lessons on the side and are in a committed relationship. I care if they fight through the screen and disrupt the shot.
Anybody else have a problem with this?
slambob
cordovavol writes:
Mike, surely you jest when trying to compare the Vols and Tigers schedule. Literally ever recognized ranking system in the the country uses SOS, or strength of schedule since you haven't heard of it. As of this morning the Vols are number 4 and the tigers are number 54. See for yourself:
http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_Men.html
knoxtenor writes:
I agree with Hacksaw... but I think that's par for the course for all UT teams. The pundits in the nation hate us for upsetting the apple cart. They want the perennial powerhouses up top: Memphis, UCLA, UNC... Oh, wait! Two of those lost to underdog teams yesterday didn't they? Anyway, the announcing wasn't bad enough that I wanted to turn on the Bob and Bert show <shiver>. Maybe an odious lineup of Lee Corso and Richard Vitale might make me do that... maybe.
You gotta hand it to Pearl, though. The national press loves him! He's so passionate, it rubs off on everybody. He doesn't just stand there and glare at his players or glower at the refs. Much more fun than watching Thad Matta. I'll bet Bruce goes through a pair of shoes a month between the last chair on the bench and the end of the coach's box alone.
Volalumnus writes:
slambob- yes. It is aweful. Not just basketball or just college. Football I think is even worse.
If they are going to monolog, I wish it would be about the game at hand and how and why certain things are working and not and what each team is trying to do.
It seems they either cut from the game to cover someones grannie's sister's mother or they spend all the monolog talking about how one player is so unstoppable while they are not covering the current play where said player is getting his butt handed to him.
AlpharettaVol writes:
Speaking of what's wrong with the network telecasts, my pet peeve is that they spend too much time with graphics promoting what's coming up next, or that night, or next week, etc. Many times it interferes with the flow of the game and often they can't get through their script before the game is going again.
volfaninchattanooga writes:
I agree about the announcers, especially the women. I could care less about anything, but the game itself. One more note, if you can't play that particular game, you can't be considered an expert. Those women announcers cannot play college football or men's basketball with the men. The women announcers need to covering the women's game.
Colliervol writes:
Mike, the Tigers may beat the Vols this year simply because it's in Memphis. But I wouldn't get carried away with that "slim and none" stuff. The Vols have won games in two places, Gonzaga and Xavier, that have much tougher reputations as "snakepits" so they won't be intimidated by the atmosphere.
In addition, Tennessee is the only team Memphis will have played that can match their depth and athleticism. Oklahoma and USC are decent teams but that's about it. Georgetown was a grind-it-out team that didn't match up well with Memphis and Arizona was missing two starters (including their key point guard). UT can go 10 deep just like Memphis can and not lose much.
What you really have to worry about is if UT comes into the Forum and shoots the lights out (and especially if Lofton finds his form which it looks like he is starting to do). UT's outside shooters are more consistent than the ones Memphis has and we have more of them. Even their bigs, Chism and Childress, can step out and hit one now and then. Memphis should have a slight advantage on the boards but that's nothing new for the Vols. They have to overcome that in every game. Free throw shooting is about equal for both sides- abysmal. (They won't be making a how-to video from this game for free throws.)
So, it should be an interesting game and, with any luck, we'll see each other again on a neutral floor (say, the Final Four) where it can really be decided. I've watched both teams a bunch and they look pretty equal. I'd give Memphis a slight nod in this one because of the home floor.
Hunter writes:
AlpharettaVol, I am with you. March Madness is THE WORST! I think that CBS plans its new spring lineup to start in March and April just so they can shamelessly promote some new, crappy show every 30 seconds. Thankfully this year I will be an even more engaged viewer as the Vols play on 3 seperate weekends of the NCAA Tourney.
rockyknox writes:
Check out the latest podcast on ESPN.com. Mr. Bracketology, Joe Linardi, talks almost 10 minutes about the Vols after they moved to the #1 RPI position.
mike#208050 writes:
Your are right about Memphis having a huge homecourt advantage Colliervol. This series should be moved to Nashville and played annually to make a level playing field. Memphis hasn't lost a regular season scheduled game since December, 2006. The consecutive home court wins are up to 45 at this point. Memphis is almost an impossible place to get a win, you can ask Georgetown that.
The SOS issue puzzles me. Tenn has beat Ark. Monticello, Paire View A&M, NC A&T, Lousiana-Lafayette, Chattanooga, MTSU & NC-Ashville. That's impressive but as the season carries on and those teams pile up the losses, those games will really hurt the VOLS in the SOS. Memphis has been #1 in SOS for most of this season. Memphis will drop in SOS based on C-USA opponents but the wins against Georgetown, Okla, UCONN, Cincinnati, USC, Arizona, Siena (who will make the NCAA as their conf champion) and anticipated wins against Gonzaga & UT will make the Tigers a #1 seed. Most of these teams will be in the NCAA field. Conf-USA has a much better won-loss record than in past years but Memphis is good they all pale in conparison.
Just when is Lofton going to light it up on any court? He has struggled all year. Memphis shot 50% from 3's yesterday and Doneal Mack was 4 of 5. There are a lot of talented shooters on Memphis's team and you never know who is going to light you up on any given night.
Something about UT is missing from last year. I don't think they are playing defense with the intensity that they were last year. Maybe Bradshaw was more of a leader on that team and nobody has taken that role yet. That is not a slam to the Vols, it is just my opinion.
I don't think UT is going to match up with Memphis as well as you think. Memphis plays all of its bench including the walk-ons. The wave of fresh legs at every dead ball is demoralizing. Running with them will not defeat them.
I hope the Vols continue to win. Feb 23rd will be fun.
Basketball_Jones writes:
Guys guys guys, none of this matters right now. We have to beat Kentucky first. Memphis is a very talented team, if match us up with them position by position right now I think they are a better team right now but everyone can have an off night. I think they have 2 advantages #1 Home Court obviously #2 revenge. Last years loss to UT was the worst it had all year. They will be looking to embarrass Tennessee on National TV. If you look at the additions and subtractions both teams had in the off season I give the edge to Tennessee. Smith and Prince add up to more than Rose, even though he is fun to watch. Should be a great game in a month
cdldoc#211897 writes:
As of today UT's SOS is #4. Memphis has a #75 SOS. Vols are #1 in RPI by a good margin over #2 Memphis. Only Texas has played as many top 25 schools as we have.
Mike, who's defense are you watching in the last 5 games or so?
Go Vols, beat Rupp's boys and then whip Memphis, Mississippi. Or is it Memphis, Arkansas?
AllVol writes:
Anybody see the polls? If I am looking at them right, they are insanity defined. How in the hell does UNC get beat at home by an unranked team and stay #1?! Maybe I am not looking at something right . . . .
Mr_Brownstone writes:
Excellent work. Thanks BP and team!!!
Colliervol writes:
No doubt heelsfan, they have the luxury of looking ahead. UT doesn't. Our players can think about that game on Feb. 22nd. But that doesn't stop us from having fun with it.
Mike, don't get me wrong. I think Memphis has the best team they've had in a long time and I congratulate them on doing so well. I just think UT has the horses to line up and run with the Tigers better than any team on your schedule. (Georgetown was a half court team and Arizona was missing two key starters and had no depth.) The home court will be big for Memphis and if UT weathers the initial storm, I look for it to be a close one at the end. Then it might come down to which horrible free throw shooting team can luck a few in!
Colliervol writes:
As far as moving the game to Nashville, that's an entirely different subject. In my view, it'll never happen and Cal knows it. Personally, I just think he's angling to negotiate a break and not playing in Knoxville next year so he can strengthen his home schedule.
Besides, UT already plays one or two games there a year and has no need to add another one. If Cal wants to drop the series, so be it. Wouldn't bother me one bit and I live in Shelby County. (Won't affect our budget one way or the other either.) And, if he did it, I'll wager that Pearl finds a way to convince Arkansas or Ole Miss or a non-conference opponent to meet in Memphis (or the Desoto Center) just for the exposure he seems to want. But you know R.C. isn't going to let that happen for the sake of the football series and the return that Memphis gets on that home football game every other year when the series is on. That one game helps pay a lot of bills for Memphis and R.C. knows it. What other high level football program is he going to get to play the Tigers home-and-home on a consistent basis and that will fill the Liberty Bowl?
rockyknox writes:
AllVol, The new polls aren't out yet.
jevolball7 writes:
I noticed you left out WVU, Temple,Xavier,and Zagga. FYI UTC and Asheville ain't chopped liver. It appears last years dose is wearing off. Bruce will you another hit soon. It is you are need a fix. Have your needdle poised at the ready!
doctorvol#211700 writes:
mike has not seen the vols play defense this year, esp. the last two games.
ssukonic#254241 writes:
Mike, You may be right about alot of the things you say......I'm not sure. But I can tell you one thing you're not right about. You said--
"Something about UT is missing from last year. I don't think they are playing defense with the intensity that they were last year. Maybe Bradshaw was more of a leader on that team and nobody has taken that role yet. That is not a slam to the Vols, it is just my opinion."
Baloney.....I don't know what games you've been watching but I think they're defensive intensity is much better than last year. I know Pearl even said that they had to improve their half court defense in order to improve as a team. I just read something where Lofton said pretty much the same thing ....that he had improved his own defense and that the team had bought into Pearl's philosophy that if they wanted to go further in the tournament, they really had to improve their half court defense. Did they give people as much a problem in the press last year? No.......some, but not like this. Did people have trouble getting the ball inbounds against them last year? No......not like this year. I think their defensive intensity is way, way up. I think another part of this is the depth they have this year.....and with Crews coming back.......and Williams has not done bad for an inexperienced freshman. I really like this team. I think it'll be lots of fun to see what happens with Memphis. Looking forward to it.......
james#216392 writes:
Guys, let's not start talking about Memphis. There is a month of basketball before then and that game is not a conference game.
Let's get KY, Florida and the rest of the SEC. Memphis can play its cup cake schedule in the Conf-USA and we will see who is more ready come NCAA tourney time.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Mike from Memphis, you are wrong about UT's chances being "slim to NONE" against the Tigers. You mention depth; the Vols can go right down the roster man for man with you. You talk about the walk-ons playing; I'll bet UT's walk-ons have as many minutes as yours. Not only that, but UT's depth is so great that Josh Tabb and Cameron Tatum, two guys who would be competing for starting time on almost any team in the country are not even playing. Also, Duke Crews should be back at the top of his game by the time we play you. You talk about your great 3-pt shooting; Vandy was leading the country in 3-pt percentage when we played them; they and OSU went 5-41 against us; your shooters haven't had anybody belly up on them on the perimeter like the Vols will. Others have said enough about the schedules. I will just say that Memphis hasn't been tested in close games the way the Vols have; what will your guys do when they don't have a 20-pt lead with 10 minutes to go? No one knows, but you won't have such a lead on us. Perhaps the key question of all: What will happen to you if Rose gets hurt or in foul trouble? UT has survived sub-par games from everyone in the lineup at one time or another, but they have always had someone else step up. Who will step up for Rose? Without him, you will be throwing the ball away all over the stadium. In any case, he won't be effective for 40 minutes against the kind of pressure we can bring. I'm not saying that Memphis can't or won't win, but if you think it's gonna be over at the tipoff, you haven't seen much of the Vols this year.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
Well, yet another article that reads as if it's being written by someone from the Columbus Daily.
Bottom line is this...Tennessee closes out games and continues to improve. This team plays hard from start to finish and always looks like they know they are going to win.
It will be good to get Duke back, he will lend some help on the glass.
#1 RPI. Take care of business. If the Vols lose a couple, so what. Keep playing hard and get better. Atlanta isn't too far off.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
mike, although I agree that Memphis isn't a lay up game by any stretch, do not make them out to be Vol Killers just yet.
You mention the cupcake eaters of Vandy and Ole Miss and the fact that Ohio State and Gonzaga are unranked. Your argument has many holes in them. For starters: "Who has Memphis beat? Georgetown, USC, Oklahoma, UCONN, Arizona for starters." Last time I checked USC, Oklahoma, UCONN and Arizona were ALL unranked. Georgetown was a quality win.
You also say Memphis has the toughest schedule in America?! You could not be more wrong! Here is who Memphis has played (other than the teams you say they have already beaten (NONE OF WHICH IS RANKED OTHER THAN GEORGETOWN):
Tennessee Martin
Richmond
Arkansas State
Austin Peay
Middle Tennessee
Cincinatti
Seina
Pepperdine
East Carolina
Marshall
Rice
Southern Miss
They have left:
Tulsa
Gonzaga
Houston
UTEP
Southern Methodist
Central Florida
Houston
UAB
Tulane
Tennessee (woo hoo)
Tulsa
Southern Miss
Southern Methodist
Alabama Birmingham
This schedule is far from the "toughest in the country". In fact, I would even make an argument that USC's schedule is far tougher than Memphis'.
I believe the Vols have one of the toughest schedules in the nation and definitely stronger than Memphis. First off, Conference USA is not comperable to the SEC. Although the SEC is down this year, it still has UT, FL, Ole Miss and Vandy (3 of 4 are ranked). How many teams does Conference USA have ranked? I belive that would be 1 right?
King53 writes:
will will peak in March and run!
AllVol writes:
Thanks, RockyKnox. The polls do show the losses though. Seriously. That's what confused me. Why does this link show losses? Guess I'm in for some education here . . . .
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bask...
Plasticman writes:
I heard Don DeVoe (ex-UT Coach) say on a Sports Talk show today in Knoxville that Tyler Smith is another Michael Jordan. THat's pretty strong words from a former Coach that won over 400 games in his career. I'm not sure I totally agree with him but I do not think we have seen the best from Tyler Smith yet.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
Another michael jordan? Um, ok. Let's have him hit a game winner at the buzzer in the NCAA championship game first before we start trying to crown him as the next "His Airness".
murrayvol writes:
AllVol: If it's any consolation, you're not going crazy. Your link is misleading. Trust me when I say the new poll isn't out yet.
murrayvol writes:
I've got news for Coach DeVoe. As much as I like Tyler Smith and as happy as I am to have him playing in Knoxville, he's not Michael Jordan....yet! But I'll take him where he is and enjoy watching him get better. Much better!
AllVol writes:
It is consolation, murrayvol. Thanks. I thought I was going nuts. Poll out tomorrow, I suppose. Did someone say we've never been top five?
marc_ash#231781 writes:
The Vols were 4 in 2001.
AllVol writes:
Still getting used to saying Vols and basketball in the same breath, I guess . . . . Glad that's over.
rockyknox writes:
Plasticman, Tyler Smith did have one very Jordanesque looking shot when he fired up a fade away jumper right inside the foul line. I hope that is a sign of things to come from him.
newtonrail writes:
Plastic can be found on Tazewell Pike. Want to know more?
mike#208050 writes:
Okay marc_ash...you left out a few facts about Memphis' schedule.
Memphis beat USC in NY(which just took down UCLA & played Kansas to the wire on the road), Oklahoma in NY and UConn in NY in a tournament, which we won. We beat Cincinnati on the road which just beat Pittsburg. Also Memphis beat Arizona which was ranked in the top 10 when they played them. Oh, let's not forget that Siena will win their conference and make the dance too. Finally #4 Georgetown at that time was soundly thumped in Memphis. By the way, Houston, that we play twice, beat the phooey out of Kentucky. UT has no quality wins to match Georgetown. Get your facts straight. Let me point out the best team you have played, Texas thumped you.
I said that UT is missing something on defense. Being outrebounded by KY tonight, and giving up 20 to Patterson in the middle is a fair assessment. For those who think I have not seen the Vols. I personally witnessed them in Nashville fight to wire to down Western KY. Had Western had a center, the Vols would have lost that game just like it did at KY. I have seen the Vols on TV as well as other teams. The Vols are over-rated, that is just a fact.
As for all those bench players UT has, why are the starters playing over 30 minutes a game? You start Jordon Howell, how funny is that?
I hope all your "horses" are ready to run on Feb 23rd. I don't want to hear any excuses either. You have a date with the Tigers and you are going to be "road kill".
Johnlg00..I live in Knoxville, not Memphis.
Go Tigers Go. We are #1.
NatiVol writes:
Ok so I will sound like a Big 10 fan and give an excuse. We have played a lot of games in a short period. I was worried about last night. UK has been looking better and we never do well in Lex. It seems like something is missing on this UT team, don't know what it is. Memphis fans enjoy your #1 ranking you will prob have it for a while. If you beat the Vols, all the way till the sweet 16. No, just a joke, Memphis UNC and Kansas are the best in the nation right now. UT will be fine, strange UT basketball with expectations now but I think we all like it.
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