Tennessee Men's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - There were no Alabama ghosts, ghouls or goblins in Coleman Coliseum.
But Tennessee's Chris Lofton, Tyler Smith and JaJuan Smith showed up in the form of a three-headed monster.
The No.-7 ranked Vols exorcised their demons in Rammer Jammer Land by scoring a 93-86 victory over the Crimson Tide on Tuesday night.
UT had lost 17 of its past 18 games in Coleman Coliseum over the past 25 years entering the game. The last time Tennessee won in Coleman was an 84-70 victory in 1998.
"Alabama is a huge rival and it meant something to us,'' said Bruce Pearl, who is 2-1 against the Tide since taking over as the Vols' head coach. "Our kids were very aware of the importance.''
Lofton led UT (18-2, 5-1 SEC) with 23 points, Tyler Smith posted his third double-double this season with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and JaJuan Smith scored 22 points to stop Alabama (12-9, 1-5).
The Vols won despite committing a season-high 23 turnovers and nearly squandering a 10-point second-half lead.
UT's lead shrank to 78-75 in the midst of Alonzo Gee scoring eight of his game-high 27 points in a row.
But then JaJuan Smith heated up with 4:53 remaining, hitting the first of three consecutive 3-pointers to keep the Tide at bay.
"I brought it up a few times in the huddles during the game that our luck hadn't been that good here,'' JaJuan Smith said. "I just kept preaching that we could make history.''
Lofton helped seal the win by hitting both ends of a one-and-one free-throw situation to make it 88-81 with 59.1 seconds left.
"Alabama did take it personal, and that (Tide home-court success) was a big motivator,'' said Lofton, who was 8-of-13 shooting from the floor including 5-of-9 beyond the 3-point arc. "I had never won here, and I wanted that win.''
Tyler Smith wasn't intimidated by Coleman Coliseum - with good reason, as it turned out.
"I played my AAU ball in Alabama, so I knew a lot of their guys and played here probably three times every summer,'' he said. "But our seniors hadn't won here, and we know the history follows us, so we had to get us this win.''
The teams were deadlocked at 33-33 through the first half of this ESPN-televised event.
Pearl said the Vols were playing just as aggressive and "reckless" on offense as they were on defense. That led to 12 first-half turnovers and 31-percent shooting from the floor.
"We were rushing, and I could not get them to settle down and get spacing,'' Pearl said. "The second half, with the offense in front of me, we shot 69 percent from the floor, hit nine of 12 threes and made the free throws when they mattered.''
Tennessee had led by as many as eight in the first half, going up 25-17 on JaJuan Smith's transition layup at the 9:07 mark and again on a J.P. Prince trey (28-20) with 8:28 left before intermission.
But the Tide, spurred on by a loud crowd of 11,891, battled back with a 6-0 run. Back-to-back transition baskets by Mikhail Torrance gave Alabama its first lead at 33-31 with 2:48 on the clock.
A pair of Tyler Smith free throws with 8.3 seconds remaining in the half tied the game again.
UT opened the second half on a 12-2 run and led the rest of the way despite the Tide's charge.
"I think with JaJuan Smith and Chris Lofton, you've got two guys that about break your back by the way they shoot,'' Alabama coach Mark Gottfried said. "We are disappointed obviously, but they (the Tide) absolutely played their hearts out tonight.''
The Vols return play at SEC West Division leader Mississippi State (14-5, 5-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday.
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Comments » 129
TommyJack writes:
Heckofawin in their yard.
Volfan1 writes:
Uh...while we novices are overlooked for a misspelling, it is not very professional for a newspaper headline to be wrong....."deAmons".
Anyway, great win over the DEMONIC Tide!
You can never beat Bama too often or by too many points.
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
i love ya chis ...but quit jackin threes in crunch time!
rockyknox writes:
Imagine how many points Lofton could score if he had someone setting him up for a shot.
orangeinmississippi writes:
Sweet victory guys,had my heart pounding there for a minute! ROLL Vols!
iowavol writes:
No doubt TommyJack. Came to the West Coast this week, got to see the game in a sportsbar where everyone was cheering for the Vols - seems they hate the Crimson Tide in Rancho Cuacamonga. Great game in second half. Season high turnovers, season high fouls and still pull out this kind of victory on the Tide's court. Hail the Pearl! Good to see Chris, JuJaun and Tyler all have class A games at the same time. Unstoppable!
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
The decision to attack the middle of the zone defense, and the prolific shooting from behind the arc (12-28) was key. I wish they had done that against Kentucky. And they hit some free throws for once, after a terrible start (19-28 after starting 1-6). Great win in a venue that has not been kind to this team.
rockyknox writes:
llowry1000, looks like the Tennessean exorcised the deamon from the heading.
Chainsaw writes:
Hahahahaha...Bama fans were streaming out of the place with time left on the clock. I guess they had to get home to slop the hogs...er, their wives!
Buck Fama!
ksteelescvol writes:
Great win against one of the most athletic teams in the conference. About 70 percent from the chairity stripe, and the 3 ball was falling. We clean up those turn overs and this game would have been a blow out. And to quote llowry1000, you can never beat Bama to often....
voiceofreason writes:
Hard to be negative after this win. Alabama is actually pretty good and a better all around team than Kentucky. The Vols intensity and superb contiioning are winning these games that are close at the end. Credit Pearl for this and great play from the seniors, Loftin and JuJuan. That's what wins SEC road games. Let's get after the Cow Bells next!
reg_mza#219136 writes:
Well let's see, a few observations:
1. When we pass the ball around a zone, we can be super dangerous if we stick to it and don't get careless and start improvising too much offensively. Tyler makes a perfect pivot to counter a 2-3 zone and our guards are dangerous when someone tries to commit to that pivot. If they don't commit, Tyler will eat you alive and it showed in that TN game.
2. It's official, Chris has his shooting stroke back. Either that or AL just can't defend the 3 point line. Probably a mixture of both.
3. Chism is still playing with soft, non-assertive hands and is fumbling the ball around like he has all season. I'm starting to think that Vandy game was a fluke.
4. Tyler had yet another good all around offensive game but defensively it looked like he did not anticipate and got out of position, making him resort to fouling. That will need to be worked on and he's smart enough to right his own ship thankfully.
5. Moreover, Chism and Jordan did a poor job of anticipating and got out of position WAY too much. Either they fouled or got beat.
6. JP Prince is a great athlete and his height and improvising abilities make him difficult to defend. But I swear he wings it WAY too much and is just as fumbly with the ball as Chism. If he does not work a great deal on being more heads up when he has the ball in his hand, he will be a liability against stingier defensive teams.
7. Gee from AL was a beast. He was in a zone and I'm not sure any team tonight would have slowed him the way he was playing but TN did well in countering anything he did with hitting shots of their own on the other end.
8. AL is a bigger team than TN but outside of Hendrix, they really were pansies around the paint. There I said it.
9. Overall, great win considering it is a hard place to play and even harder to win on the road in a very tumultuous SEC. This game was a good glimpse of how road wins need to be handled when NCAA tourney time rolls around.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Glad to be wrong about the Vols losing at Bama, hope I'm wrong about MSU.
My word that was ugly. The home-reffing in the SEC is just pathetic. Look, I know they want home teams to win to keep fannies in the seats, but this gets out of hand.
The FT shooting was super eScept for Howell, but the TO's stunk.
Finally, the 5 point swing on the showboat play nearly bit us in the butt.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Can we not learn to dunk?? I don't mean us fat white fans, I mean thsoe big stud players out there. We are constantly getting jammed underneath.
Maybe it's time to go up with both hands and slam it, might make defenders less slap-happy??
Unreal how poorly we finish at the rim.
Heck, Jajuan almost missed a layin on a breakaway.
VolCane7979 writes:
It was nice to see Howell make some plays at the end of the game with 5 key points down the stretch. However, the offense is clearly stagnant with Ramar out of the lineup. Dribble penetration is the key to opening up the offense and Ramar can do that very well. With Howell, we tend to pass the ball around the perimeter aimlessly without much attempt to push the ball into the paint. Nice to shake the ghost of Coleman Coliseum.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
Holy goodness... 69% from the field in the second half. If not for the sloppy ballhandling, we win this game by 25.
Chainsaw writes:
Need faster hands underneath. Wake TF up! Get the pass and make something happen or sit on the bench.
utchris writes:
It is good to notch another tough conference win.
Pearlific..what are you referring to in regards to Chris. I don't remember him taking any bad shots at the end of the game. Were you thinking of Chism? He pulled the trigger at a bad time.
I really wish we would quit giving away 6-10 points a game by trying to make Sportscenter instead of taking the easy two. Take care of the easy ones and do not try to make a showboat play when there is not room to make one.
Playing down in the cow pasture this weekend will be a tough one. Varnado is a great shot blocker, but they do not seem to have the dominant big man inside like Hendrix or Patterson. Ramar and the guards will have to be ready to bring their A game on D bc Gordon is one of the leagues best.
---
How many times is that same referee going to T-up Bruce this year?
HardcoreHottie writes:
You see, all they had to do was get the ball inside to the around the SEC letters. From there, multiple options open up.
bshell12 writes:
J.P. is erratic, I think Tabb, while less explosive would be more consistent and a better passer especially to C Lo
alfrizzle097 writes:
Amen mparker12.
Also, about Howell and Tyler being out of position. Howell just isn't athletic enough, like Childress and Bradshaw. He plays smart, which compensates for his athletic shortcomings. Tyler got out of position trying to cover for Williams for much of the game.
Chainsaw writes:
"You see, all they had to do was get the ball inside to the around the SEC letters. From there, multiple options open up."
Welcome alien! Please translate that to our native language, and we will converse!
MrBamSeydu writes:
llowry1000: actually you are wrong and made a jackass of yourself. demon is correct, retard. that is, unless i'm missing out on some inside joke where "deamon" would actually MEAN something else??? but i highly doubt you are that intelligent or thoughtful.
as for the game: Howell played like a freshman, Tabb looked like he'd forgotten how to play basketball for the short time he was in (who can blame him?), and Prince somehow hit a shot other than a left handed layup or dunk (a 3-pointer at that!!!). i hope Lofton isn't at his peak right now, we need him hitting like this come tourney time. Tyler Smith is playing like he won't be back next year and Ramar is showing why he's retained his starting spot at the point. good win, but the next 2 are WAY more important.
if we HAVE to lose 2 more games, i'd rather lose to Memphis (non-conf game and we're expected to lose) and at Vandy. if we only lose those 2 games the rest of the way, we're almost automatically SEC regular season champs, as long as MSU loses a game. we'd be looking at probably the 1st 2-seed or MAYBE the last 1-seed for the tourney.
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
alfrizzle097 writes:
Please post a link for the article where you read about Chism and Ramar being on the Mary Jane. Didn't hear that one.....
volsfaninkpt writes:
JP needs to learn how to go right as well as left. If not teams are just going to stop him from going to the left and he will end up throwing it away like he did at times tonight. Still a good win. Keep it rollin this weekend.
volengr#233707 writes:
"demons" is correct
utchris writes:
Chainsaw-
I think the poster was referring to the SEC letters in the paint. The ESPN commentator kept referring to it in the second half.
iowavol writes:
Hardcorehottie - forget about Chainsaw's lack of ability to translate - just tell us more about your name. Send pictures!
utchris writes:
Demons was misspelled when the article was first put up. It has since been edited.
MrBamSeydu writes:
gotcha, my bad
calivol writes:
alfrizzle, you don't honestly think justis is basing that on anything more than a rumor do you? my sources tell me that justis "reportedly" heard it from a friend of his, who is the cousin of someone whose brother once saw wayne and ramar hanging out at a party.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
JP has no D. Until he gete better (he should be super with his quicks, jumping, and long arms), he will see his minutes limited.
True on Jordan: he can't get over to cover the 3 shooter. But, he's gotta play when Remar gets wild.
I thought Tyler toughed it up. Tyler is pretty thin still, so that banging gets to him. I'm convinced that is why he din't play well at UK, too many games in a short time.
Chainsaw writes:
"Hardcorehottie - forget about Chainsaw's lack of ability to translate - just tell us more about your name. Send pictures!"
He looks like your momma. Only with more body hair. Sorta like your daddy. Still want pics?
1volsfan writes:
Great game, but we still need to tighten up on the defense. Thanks Chris.......... you are the man. Lets get ready for MSU and give them their first SEC lost........... GO VOLS
hdhurst writes:
Great road win.
Big surprise: TN having the rebounding edge, but at the same time having alot of turnovers..???
Keys to a final four appearance:
(1) Ramar penetrating in the paint (in control)
(2) CL and JaJuan hitting on all cylinders.
(3) We hold our own with off. and def. rebounding
(4) We continue the up-tempo offense (energy)
and defense (steals)
(5) Team free throw % above 65-70%.
Something about JP and Brian Williams. They have played exceptional at times, but you have to wonder why they don't have more focus holding onto the ball.
Otherwise, "b-e-a utiful" win tonight....GO VOLS!!
MemphisVol writes:
LOVED seeing the "Welcome to T town" sign at the end of the game, especially after seeing all of the Alabama woodnecks' signs throughout the game. Go Vols!
Chainsaw writes:
"Something about JP and Brian Williams. They have played exceptional at times, but you have to wonder why they don't have more focus holding onto the ball."
Indeed. It seems like they're playing at 50% speed at times. One thing I've noticed about Brian is that it looks like he has terrible peripheral vision - if it doesn't happen in front of him he just doesn't seem to see it. Soft eyes Brian - see everything, focus on nothing!
allvols7 writes:
Great road win. Good play Chris and JaJuan.
Refs were so hard on us tonight. Not the big T on Pearl, but everytime AL had the ball they were assured of going to the foul line. Refs blew the whistle before any contact was made...anticipation?
First half Howell attempted how many three pointers? Got to get more consistent. Guys the fancy play, its pretty when it works, looks pretty silly when it doesn't and cost us to many points.
Love the Lofton!! Go VOLS!
TommyJack writes:
Camera caught several of these in the crowd.
http://www.ratemymullet.com/show.php
Chainsaw writes:
"Hope this doesn't turn in a prophecy and they get suspended or cost us a key game, or both."
Thanks Nostradamus, we're on it.
calivol writes:
"it was revealed by someone I know that works security for a local school, where he has ran them out of the dorms several times"...what does that even mean? someone "you know" that "works security" for a "local school"? a local school? you make it sound like this guy is a rent-a-cop out at Farragut High. way to be specific. sounds credible. and when you say it's "pretty obvious they are mentally on one minute and dazed the next," are you implying that they're high during the game? are you seriously dumb enough to believe that bruce pearl would allow two of his players to play reeking of pot?
FatherVol writes:
Many of you must have seen a different game than I did. Although FT %age was up, I thought we looked sloppy. Shot selection by some was horrible. We let AL play over our press and got burned too, too many times. Ballhandling was deplorable, losing too many turnovers (double our average!). If we play this on Saturday, we go down in Starkville.
Chainsaw writes:
"Camera caught several of these in the crowd."
What station were you watching? All I saw on ESPNHD was this:
http://www.fatchicksinpartyhats.com/p...
chrisw2967 writes:
I just wish JuJuan would stop the stupid passes , like the one off the backboard on a fast break , he has a habit in every game to try some stupid pass that hardly never works , when he plays with his head he usually makes the right decisions and for Chism please stop with the 3s especially when the game is in doubt.
I am happy with the win and glad to see Lofton with that stroke back.
utchris writes:
TJ - Mad props for that one.
I think Alabama had a record for most And One's in a game. I think that the officiating has been worse this year. In the second half, GEE and Hendrix seemed to lean in to iniate contact a lot and got the foul call on us.
I thought that the elbow Gee landed on Chism was borderline cheap shot. He went low and had no play on the ball.
TommyJack writes:
chainsaw: EEEWWWEEEE. roll tide! lol
rbatten9#231828 writes:
Ah at least we avoided hearing from bandwagon Tahd fans about how great their hoops team is this year. *whew*
TommyJack writes:
UTChris: I don't recall,ever, a team causing more turnovers than we do. Amazing.
Hunter writes:
I was REALLY frustrated by our MULTIPLE misses at point blank range. No excuse for missing a 3-foot shot unless you're hacked (which we occasionally were) or blocked (which we rarely were). I'm 6'4" and I pride myself on making 90% of the layups I shoot in rec leagues. At 6'9", I would hope "Big Wheezy" could do a little better. FLUSH THE BALLL!!!!!!
Glad to beat Bama in b-ball, golf, tennis, tiddlywinks, or a pissin' contest. Round the bowl, down the hole - Roll Tide Roll!
Lessel writes:
Hunter, you should work on hook shots. If we shot more hook shots, we would be tremendously better. They are hard to block.
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