Ramar Smith forges lineup

With Howell’s blessing, 'Ro' back as starter

By Mike Griffith

Originally published 11:13 p.m., January 27, 2008
Updated 11:13 p.m., January 27, 2008

Tennessee sophomore Ramar Smith never said a word about regaining the starting point guard position.

But the senior point guard Jordan Howell did.

"I talked to Jordan, and he said, 'Coach, if you didn't do it, I was going to come to you,' '' said Pearl who moved Smith back into the starting lineup for UT's 85-69 victory over Georgia Saturday night. "Ro (Smith) hasn't said a word.''

Smith, who lost the starting job after three games this season, has been letting his play do the talking the last month.

Starting with the Vols' 82-75 win at Xavier on Dec. 22, when he came up with key steals in the closing moments, it has been a different Ramar Smith.

Smith has averaged four assists and 1.7 turnovers while scoring 70 points over the past nine games.

"The reason I didn't do it (change lineup) was I wanted to send Jordan a message of confidence,'' Pearl said. "Ramar has outplayed Jordan four of the last five games.

"Ro deserves to start. There's a competition there, but Ro never complained one time.''

Smith said the way he looked at it, there was never a need.

"It's all about winning,'' Smith said. "Playing with all these great players, it really doesn't matter who starts.''

No. 3 Tennessee (17-2, 4-1 SEC) plays at Alabama on Tuesday (TV: ESPN, 9 p.m.)

Tyler Smith said Ramar Smith is back to being the player he looked like last season, when Pearl repeatedly put the ball in his hands with games on the line.

"Ro was trying to play a different game at the beginning of the year, and it wasn't his game,'' Tyler Smith said. "Now, he's getting to the rack and dishing out balls. Coach sat him down and they started watching film together.''

UT All-American guard Chris Lofton said nothing changes with Howell, as far as he's concerned.

"Jordan is a great player for us and he's a leader,'' Lofton said. "He's out here to win. Whatever he needs to do to win, he'll do it.

"We don't care who comes off the bench who starts on this team.''

Howell connected on two 3-pointers on four shot attempts against Georgia for six points and dished out two assists without committing a turnover.

Wooden Award List: Lofton was named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 30 list. Lofton is leading the third-ranked Vols with 14.5 points per game.