Men's Basketball
Tennessee returned to Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday night with something to prove.
Georgia was merely in the way, though not for long, as it turned out.
"None of us were in a very good mood this week having lost (to Kentucky),'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "Our guys wanted to win the game and feel better.''
The No. 3-ranked Vols scored an 85-69 victory over the Bulldogs before a sellout crowd of 21,099.
Chris Lofton led the Vols (17-2, 4-1 SEC) with a season-high 27 points, hitting 9-of-17 shots including 7-of-13 from 3-point range. Lofton, the SEC's all-time leading 3-point shooter, ranks 10th in NCAA history with 374.
It's the first time this season Lofton has scored 20 points or more in back-to-back games. So why the sudden offensive splurge?
"It was that loss,'' said Lofton, who had 22 points in the 72-66 loss at Kentucky on Tuesday. "Nobody likes losing, and after that game we knew we had to turn it around. This was a must-win.
"I just felt like I was ready to do whatever I needed to do to make sure we didn't lose again.''
Tyler Smith, coming off a season-low five points against Kentucky, felt the same way.
Smith narrowly missed a double-double against the Bulldogs (11-6, 2-2), scoring 17 while dishing out nine assists and pulling down seven rebounds.
"Tyler just stuffs the stat sheet,'' Pearl said. "He is just such a terrific playmaker. To have nine assists at the power forward position is just incredible. He's so unselfish.''
Yet another highlight was the return of sophomore Duke Crews, who was greeted by a standing ovation. Crews, who was sidelined more than a month while a potential heart issue was checked out, scored nine points and had eight rebounds in his first action since Dec. 4 at Chattanooga.
The victory runs the Vols' home-court win streak to 27, which ranks as the fourth-longest active streak in the nation. Tennessee has also won seven in a row against Georgia.
The Vols were well in control by halftime, taking a commanding 44-23 lead into intermission behind Lofton's 20 first-half points.
Georgia's Jeremy Price scored the first points of the game on a dunk and the Bulldogs led for the next 58 seconds before JaJuan Smith scored on a layup in transition to make it 2-2 with 17:55 on the clock.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Lofton sparked a 13-2 run and the rout was on.
UT shot 57.1 percent from the floor, out-rebounded Georgia 40-37 and scored 26 points off 21 turnovers.
"That's more like Tennessee basketball,'' Pearl said. "That was an important bounce back tonight.''
UT sophomore point guard Ramar Smith responded to his first start since the third game of the season with seven points, two steals, eight assists and just two turnovers in 22 minutes of play.
The Vols led by as many as 25 points in the second half when Tyler Smith threw down a dunk to cap a 6-0 run that made it 68-43 with 9:16 remaining.
Sundiata Gaines led Georgia with 20 points while Dave Bliss and Billy Humphrey scored 15 apiece.
"I would love to see what kind of game it could have been had we not turned the ball over 16 times in the first half,'' Bulldogs coach Dennis Felton said. "Their defense had something to do with it, without a doubt, but I thought our turnovers had to do with our being soft.''
Tennessee plays next at Alabama on Tuesday (TV: ESPN, 9 p.m.).
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
Vols' spring practice wit…
Tennessee defeats San Diego State 62-59
UT signees
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 65
peerlessvolfan writes:
Yes!!!!! Go Chris!!!!! Well done!!
SFOrange writes:
rout.
GreerVol22 writes:
Really nice hustle, focus, and intensity tonight, nice win. Great to see Crewser back on the floor. This ESPN 360 thing is pretty nice.
Plasticman writes:
Thats the Lofton we all know and love. Keep that up and we can again be talking Final 4. However, FT shooting is horrible. Why can't JP Prince hit FT's?? Officiating was great tonight. You didn't even know they were there most of the game.
Plasticman writes:
Also goo to see Tabb get some minutes tonight. Great defense. I predict Tyler Smith will get the first triple double in UT BB history before he leaves the program.
mparker writes:
Anybody notice the FT stats?? C'mon, rout of not, got to get better at those.
Glad the guys took care of business.
Ironcity writes:
Great to see the old Lofton back. I thought the team look sloppy and uninterested at times but UGA is just no match for us. We will have to play far better agasint a tough Miss St team if we expect to win.
budd#207344 writes:
any time we whip ga is a great win. wish we scored a 100
mparker writes:
My guess at the rest of the year; the Vols hold serve at home, though Florida, Arkansas, and Kentucky will push hard. The Vols beat Memphis, as the Vols will have nothing to lose. They lose several road games.
In total, I see 4 more losses and 8 more wins for a season record of 25-6. Make your own guesses!!!!!
Loss 01/29/08 at Alabama
Loss 02/02/08 at Mississippi State
Win 02/05/08 Florida
Win 02/09/08 at LSU
Win 02/13/08 Arkansas
Win 02/16/08 at Georgia
Win 02/20/08 Auburn
Win 02/23/08 at Memphis
Loss 02/26/08 at Vanderbilt
Win 03/02/08 Kentucky
Loss 03/05/08 at Florida
Win 03/09/08 South Carolina
bricker865 writes:
AirForceOne...where are you bud? I could always use a good puke.....Go Vols!!!!
bricker865 writes:
mparker...interesting picks...i agree on about all of them. The only one I might waver on is I think we'll win at Vanderbilt and Alabama and lose at Memphis.
Hacksaw57 writes:
Looks as if the intensity is back after the KY game. Lofton looked like he's getting back to his old form,as well. Saw glimpses of it in the KY game.
I really believe we were not ready to play the Cats the other night - a lackluster performance due either from a "big head" from the rankings or, hopefully, from playing several games in a row which, they better get used to when tourney time gets here.
Kudos to Coach Pearl for getting our Vols back on track, down to earth and taking care of business tonight. It's only going to get tougher so we better get ready. Hopefully we're back on track. GO VOLS!!!!
mparker writes:
bricker, it's tough to call. I just kind of peeked at the records.
My reason for Vandy is that I think the place will absulutley rock. Same with Bama. Miss State??? Those boys are tough, tough, and tough. They just manhanlded Ole Miss tonight, and Ole Miss made us look like little kdds around the glass.
jevolball7 writes:
mparker: No way we lose at Bama. Memphis beat the Zags by 8 today IN MEMPHIS. Toss up on that game. Your others are IMO, pretty close. Great showing tonight against a pretty good team. Hit foul shots and finish those circus oops and win by 30! The Dawgs are,in fact,Dawgs!
Orangefever writes:
i think we lose at miss. state and at florida win the tournament to be 30-4 as a #1 seed heading into the Dance!
reasonablevol writes:
if you guys noticed, Chris Lofton's shooting form was MUCH MUCH better tonight! Once he released the ball, I could see him using follow through with his wrist flexed downward OVER his head. I guarantee that is something he has been working on! I predict the CL slump is over. His form looked better tonight than at Kentucky!!!
go vols
navyvolinva writes:
I'm glad to see Lofton back! I hope the team can rally around him. It seems that J. Smith has been off a little as well.
bricker865 writes:
Actually when I think about the officiating in the past at Alabama, you might add that as a loss also. It has been atroscious (spelling) in the past....Overall I think we'll have a great stretch run.
zjcvols#543765 writes:
CL looked great tonight. The problem he was having was he wasn't being assertive at all. He also has no mid-range j which makes it much difficult to get open shots. But his shot is looking much better and I believe the slump is over. Tyler played great and props to Coach Pearl on putting Ramar in the lineup. Not only is Ramar a better penetrator and passer, we now have a 3-point shooter coming off the bench. I also wonder who is going to lose more pt with Duke coming back, Ryan or Brian?
bricker865 writes:
Great job Duke!!!
DroopyDrawers writes:
zjcvols, Ryan for sure
Hunter writes:
We SHOULDN'T lose another game until Memphis - I think that game is a toss-up. We will lose at Vandy. At Florida will be VERY tough if their young guys grow up as expected. Losing two of the last 5 will keep us from a #1 seed. Mark my words, the UT/Memphis game will be a #1 vs. #2.
b.skelton#207404 writes:
Lose at Memphis, Lose (maybe) at Vandy, possibly lose one more. I'm thinking 26-5 at worse, with a #2 seed in NCAAs.
jevolball7 writes:
Anyone seen airforce1? Probably watching L'IL Bush re-runs KY will be LUCKY to make the NIT. Of course,they are much deeper than people think....added the players they have in stripes.
SFOrange writes:
9-3 the rest of the way (to the SEC tourney with losses @ Miss State, @ Memphis and @ Vandy.
26-5 into SEC tourney. 2-1 @ tourney.
28-6 into NCAA. 3-1 NCAA.
31-7.
JAJUAN writes:
lofton is my boy
HardcoreHottie writes:
Georgia: JUST LIKE FOOTBALL
tigervol9802 writes:
Glad to see Crews on the court.
Glad to see #5 shoot like #5.
Glad to see Tabb get some PT.
Glad to see less of Childress.
I wish Prince would quit playing like he's on NBA Jam.
Free-throw shooting....got to do better. It will cost us again eventually otherwise.
But, #5 is turning it back on, and Pearl seems to be willing to let the offense run through him more now.
Rest of the season?
2 more conference losses at either Vandy/Florida/Bama and a loss at Memphis.
I think we finally make it to Saturday of the SEC tournament, but not Sunday.
NCAA Tournament? Sweet 16 again.
Orangefever writes:
hahah "less of childress" haha! thats funny- just the way it came out
volntx writes:
Hope they make the final 4,living in Austin that would be an easy trip to take. Sometimes a loss is good,get's the focus back . So many strengths on this team,especially with everybody healthy.
2 more losses tops, this team is going to be special.
FWBVol writes:
Nice win, but 12-of-27 from the FT line won't cut it in crunch time against good teams.
bricker865 writes:
It will be interesting to see the free throw shooting between Memphis & TN when they play. At least we won't have to worry about getting killed at the free throw stripe.
et_vol_fan writes:
The free throw shooting was horrible. One thing that I noticed tonight when I went to the game is the the Georgia players went back to the locker room right before the national anthem. NO CLASS!!! I don't care if they are the road team or not...totally un-American!
zjcvols#543765 writes:
Other than lofton or jajuan (and maybe Ramar now) I don't trust anybody at the line. If I was a team that went 11 or 12 deep, i would foul tennessee like crazy especially duke, wayne, and jp.
the only way ut makes it to the final four is if they don't have that stretch they always have in close games where they go 5 minutes w/o scoring. If that happens in the sweet 16 or elite 8, its see ya next year.
rockyknox writes:
If anyone has paid attention, Bama has lost 5 of their last 7 games. No way we lose to them.
allvols7 writes:
Chris is great! So glad to have him back with the three pointers, he is the (very pretty) man. Congratulations to Crews, we love ya. Congrats to Ramar, your hard work paid off. And Josh, you almost the man tonight...good job. The Smith men, they all good. Chism, I just smile when you play.
Guys go get some Bama victory.
Love the Lofton!!
et_vol_fan writes:
As Corso would say...not so fast rockyknox...We've only won in Tuscaloosa twice in the last 25 years. Granted..the last 16 have been every other year though with the conference division. I think that they need to be ready or we're looking at two straight road losses. MSU won't be a push over in S'ville.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Beat Bama.
james#216392 writes:
mparker12- No loss at "bama or Florida. Vandy and Miss St are going to be tough. We will win one of those two. 28-3 sounds better.
bugman writes:
our free throw shooting is horrendous.
james#216392 writes:
AS I said before, should have brought Crews in against KY for 30 seconds or so and it would have lifted the team. Pearl is a coach who plays the angles but he missed an angle in that game.
Good team effort in this one but Free Throw shooting still was not good and the inside game still lacked from time to time. Still a win is a win. Good luck in 'Bama and Starksville. Welcome back Duke. Go VOls.
budrhon writes:
Good win, nice to see Lofton getting the stroke back. What is with the crowd though? I had friend drop in asking me why the game was so quiet. We could almost hear individual conversations during the game. Wow!
mtnvol writes:
Just Like Football! Clap, clap, clapclapclap.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
Good play by the team last night in some areas. Good shooting night for Lofton, but he missed all 5 of his 3 pt fg's in the second half and only scored 7 in the 2nd frame. Need more consistency from him.
FT's were horrible. This team will not even come close to making it to the final 4 if they cannot finish. It cost the many games last season (see both Ohio State games for starters).
Started looking a bit like last seasons team with Lofton and JuJuan having double digets and the others filling in. Nobody scored in double digits besides those 2. Need to distribute the ball a bit more to even things out. Don't have a problem with Lofton taking more shots, but Lofton took 17 of the 40 shots the starters had.
Good win. Wouldn't have wanted to have been GA after the KY loss. I'm sure a few of them needs a hug this morning.
daddyaxe writes:
The Lofton turnaround is simple. Work for your shots and they will come. Great game . All the credit to coach PEARL.....He had them ready and to see him chew out his all american on national tv shows why we are so fortunate to have a coach that will not tolerate anything.....Look out Bama, your staring down a red hot barrel...GO VOLS
CrankE writes:
Just in case we needed more bulletin board material for the Memphis game:
"We're going to go from being Tennessee's Team to being America's Team," Calipari said.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news;_y...
That deserves a strong answer from Tennessee on Feb 26.
tdvolman writes:
Great game Big Orange!! Keep working on that FT shooting.
CatScratchFever writes:
Good morning vol fans. Bricker, Volball...you guys having a good weekend?
Looks like tennessee had a good night last night...compared to the nightmare Kentucky handed you last week.
Your success may be short lived however. Word is the New York Knicks have a close eye on Pearl to become their head coach for next year. That would be a shame....his shenanigans are entertaining and laughable...kind of like Curly from the Three Stooges...Nyuk, Nyuk, Nyuk.
VolCane7979 writes:
AF1,
On the same vein, word is that Billy's probation officer has an eye on him to become the head coach of the Texas penal league. That would also most certainly be laughable... "nyuk, nyuk". Enjoy that first round NIT loss to Creighton punk.
natcross24#581803 writes:
AF1, kitty kats will be a road team in the NIT
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.