TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl didn't allow himself much time to enjoy the win over Alabama.
A trip to Starkville, Miss., to play the Mississippi State Bulldogs, is just around the corner.
The No. 7-ranked Vols (18-2, 5-1 SEC) scored a 93-86 victory over the Crimson Tide (12-9, 1-5) in a hard-fought rivalry game Tuesday night.
The squads' intensity led to two surprising statistics: Tennessee turned the ball over more than its opponent (23-20) for the first time this season while enjoying a 45-36 rebounding edge over the taller, more athletic Alabama team.
Pearl took the time to pay tribute to the Tide for its inspired effort and to praise his stars, Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith, who combined to score 45 points on 16-of-27 shooting, and the versatile Tyler Smith, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
But then it was on to the worries that the next game, at 7 p.m. Saturday (TV: FSN), presents.
"You ask yourself, 'What does it take to win on the road in the SEC?' " Pearl said. "Does it take 69-percent shooting in the second half? Does it take making 15 free throws in a row? Does it take your seniors stepping up?
"The answer is, 'Yes,' all of the above and then some.''
Indeed, if it took all those things to happen for UT to score a win over fifth-place SEC West Division member Alabama, what will the Vols need to do to beat SEC West leader Mississippi State (14-6, 5-1) on Saturday in Starkville?
"We're going to work on that,'' Pearl said. "Their front line is very physical. Charles Rhodes is similar to (Richard) Hendrix in their abilities, (Jarvis) Varnado is the leading shot blocker in the nation, and who is going to guard Jamont Gordon?''
Pearl said UT will go to work on its front line play when the Vols return to the practice court today after taking Wednesday off.
"We did not do a very good job of finishing around the basket (at Alabama),'' Pearl said. "Our (No.) five men did not shoot a great percentage. You look at Wayne Chism, Duke Crews and Brian Williams, and they were a combined 4-for-15 and got to the foul line five times.
"When you look at Tennessee as a team that's trying to go from being a good team to a very good team, if we don't pick up some inside offense, and we can't finish around the basket, the teams with that kind of talent are going to give us problems.''
That would be Mississippi State.
Pearl said his front line has stepped up when needed, and pointed out things aren't always as easy as they look.
"Just because they are close to the basket doesn't make them easy shots,'' he said. "They are contested shots and shots under contact and we need more of them.''
Gottfried's Take: Alabama coach Mark Gottfried realized his team played good enough to win if not for two UT players, JaJuan Smith and Lofton.
"They hit some huge, huge shots, and most of them were with a hand in their face,'' Gottfried said. Smith and Lofton, JaJuan and Chris, just made huge baskets for their team.
"Sometimes you dissect this thing like your dissecting a frog in science class, but the bottom line is they jump up there and drill a couple big ones at crucial times, and I think that was the difference.''
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Comments » 49
Hunter writes:
MS State will be a huge struggle. Jamont Gordon is the real deal. He would have looked great in orange - thanks Buzz! Unfortunately, I think we probably lose this one, but if the Vols play the way they played when C-Lo was off his game (with Chris's added contribution) then we won't drop another game - this season. BIG IF.........too big, I think.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Why the negativity? We've lost two games all season and tied the best start in school history. Heck, the only year that comes close to 18-2 is the year Greene's team started 16-1 before sliding to a finish.
Just enjoy the game. I think Crews is still remeshing with the team and getting into shape. The conditioning comes back quick, but the strength takes longer. He'll get to where he can finish around the basket again. With Chris penetrating again, I see good things.
So look on the bright side, and quit being such a downer. Just a suggestion.
jforte#270419 writes:
I think we will be okay against Mississippi State. Arkansas just brought them back to earth. They smoked them by 20!!!!
eb502us#225637 writes:
No doubt our frontcourt needs work. Williams is still learning, Crews is still recovering, and Chism just gets manhandled and outrebounded whenever he's on the court. Tyler is the only consistent performer and Chism is the only one without an excuse. Fortunately, we have enough talent in the backcourt to overcome many of our weaknesses as we saw against Bama. If we can just come close to holding up inside, we will win most of our games, including Sat. at MSU.
utchris writes:
It will be a tough game in a hostile environment. If we bring the blue collar work ethic we will be fine. I would love to see that poise that we had against Xavier and Gonzaga resurface, Against KY and Bama, we did not seemed quite as poised as we were in the earlier games. MSU will be looking for redemption of tonight's game, but I think that TN ekes out a close one.
ballewville6 writes:
i think that the time of tennessee,scoming together is now chris is playing together great, and as long as chris keeps it going and the rest of the team playes well and duke back we should be able to beat miss state ,but im going one game at a time ,jamont gordon is good and rhoads is pretty good to and they laid a whippen on ole miss but then lost tonight at arkansas by 20 if rhoads and gordon are the only ones that show up against ut ,they will wish that they had,nt got out of bed.but we got to go in and play tough and hard and not have another game with tyler and jujuan scoring 12 combined and howell needs to pick his game back up 0 points at kentucky and 2 for 7 from field 1 of 6 from 3 point line he missed four in 5 trips down the floor in first half allowing bama to get back in the game and was 0-3 from the line,but the team goes as tyler goes if he gets his 13 or 14 and chris and jujuan do their stuff and the rest play up to par we could ,i said could run the table.but all our talent has to show up and play
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
guys, ark had 30 FT's to MSU's 17.
I think this homecooking in the SEC is getting out of hand.
I certainly think we can win with a decent game, but those FT's might just do us in.
MrBamSeydu writes:
the ref's have totally sucked in SEC games this year, not just UT games (but especially). that UK game was terribly called, especially in the 1st half and in every game I've watched the ref's are really inconsistant with calls. one minute, they're calling air-whiff or hand-slapping fouls, while the next minute someone gets tackled and they just stare at it like they think it's normal and part of the game. also, i wish they'd make a 3 ft circle around the basket where a charge CANNOT be called. this is getting ridiculous. if a player is going in for the dunk and is in mid-air and you scoot underneath him and basically undercut him, just because you flop and you're standing still that should not be a charge. lowering shoulders, yes. going to the rim, no.
slambob2#228938 writes:
Three points:
1) This team is consistent. They consistently play hard, go for steals (which leads to the occasional break-down) and they get their best shooters the ball
2) Games like KY and Bama prepare the Vols for tough NCAA games
3) I must be completely ignorant of officiating, because what I see doesn't make much sense to me this year. I agree that KY was dreadful officiating - but at least nothing is as bad as calls in Tuscaloosa in a Bama football game.
slambob
ORANGEASIAN writes:
Bama was more athletic??? Hanging around Hooker and Adams to much.
utshaq#211228 writes:
Block out and try and play some transition defense and we will win.....
DSaVol writes:
Inside scoring is the "make or break" factor as to how far this team goes. The key thing about inside scoring and/or bigs getting to the line (and converting) is that it stops/slows other teams runs. Many here talk of wanting to see TN stop blowing double digit leads and stop going long periods without scoring - well, my friends inside scoring is the answer to both. Think about all those times when leads are blown/droughts occur....it's mostly when 3's aren't falling. And it's compounded because the Vols can't get a bucket in the paint when it's needed most. Talk about free throw shooting and rebounding all you want but that tough 2 inside will ultimately make or break whatever run TN has in the dance IMO.
DSaVol writes:
Oh, by the way, Vols will beat MSU by double digits. Bank it!
rockytopfrog writes:
If State falls back into a zone, can we please keep Jordan Howell off the court. He's fine in man to man, but he certainly can't penetrate like Ramar.
Ramar is a bit reckless at times, but his upside far outweighs that and gives UT the ability to beat the zone that Jordan just can't produce.
Go Vols! Beat the Bullies!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Rats! I was hoping MSU would still be undefeated when they played us. You're right, TDTN; that loss ensures that Rick Stansbury, MSU's excellent coach, will have their full attention in practice for us. For me, this game is our toughest remaining in the SEC. Arkansas is this year's ultimate yo-yo team; clearly they were on a "high" when they beat MSU, and the 'Dogs may have been looking ahead. I don't want to be a naysayer--this UT team will always have a chance--but a loss will be neither a fluke nor a tragedy.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Amen to the inconsistent officiating! If the game is called loose inside, we'll get killed, especially if it's also called tight outside. That would be a "perfect storm" against us, and is the most likely combo at their place.
rockytopfrog, in general, zones are more difficult to penetrate than man-to-man. IMHO, it would be better for Howell to play against the zone, since it usually gives more opportunity for outside shots. In fact, I would advocate having Ramar at point and JaJuan, Chris, or Jordan (any two of those three) on the court against a zone.
MOOREVOLS writes:
There's no question that we are a better team than Mississippi State. I just wonder if State will play way above their heads against us, like most teams seem to do. We're the hunted now, so we normally get the best from whoever we play. I watched Mississippi State and Arkansas last night and there's no reason that we should ever lose to either of those teams, except for the fact that we'll probably get their best and then some.
icecream writes:
We wont go far in the tourney if we dont get better at the free throw line. Ive never understood why college players struggle with free throws. You can go watch an area high school game and they will drain most of them.
Hunter writes:
Thanks TDTN. It's not very conforting to be misquoted at every turn....
My MAJOR point was that the remainder of the team (i.e. J.P. Prince, Jordan Howell, Brian Williams, Ryan Childress, etc.) need to pick it back up to the level they were playing at BEFORE Lofton got hot. For the first time this year I feel that there is a slight drop-off when the starters are resting - something I didn't feel earlier in the year.
I am in NO WAY asking Lofton to shoot less, just asking the bench when he is resting to pick it back up and play hard and smart. MS State will be very tough, and don't be surprised with a loss, but if they win I'll cheer as hard as anyone.
MOOREVOLS writes:
We did hit 15 free throws in a row against Bama, so we "can" make them. I just don't think the concentration is there for some of our guys at times. Howell went 0-3. What's up with that?
IntheBlimpalot writes:
YOu think we lose this one?
I dont understand why on earth you would think that. Are you just preparing yourself for failure so that it doesnt hurt as bad?
I think we win out biotches!!!
volssam writes:
Does anyone know if Pearl is recruiting someone who can shoot for next year? Gottfried just said it: If not for Lofton and Jajuan, we don't win this game -- and a lot of others most likely.....Next year, we will have some good players still (Chism, Ramar, Tyler - provided he doesn't bolt for the NBA), but we won't have that threat from the arc, especially if they move it back a couple more feet........and that will kill us, because that is one of the essential ingredients that makes us a threat to win each and every game -- deadly 3 point shooting.....Anyways, just wondering if we have anyone like Lofton or Lee Humphrey in our sights as a recruit....
MOOREVOLS writes:
I think our toughest remaining games are at Memphis, at Vandy, Kentucky and at Florida. We play that 4 game stretch all in a row. If I had to pick a time when we'll lose another game or two it would be during that stretch. I think Mississippi State will be tough, only because it's at State. But, I do think we'll do enough to beat State.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
IntheBlimpalot, of course we CAN win out but it is not the most likely outcome, since, as others have said, we get every team's best shot, we depend on outside shooting which goes hot and cold, we are not automatic at the free throw line, and we are not as strong inside as many of our opponents. There is no shame in failing while daring greatly, as long as we admit that certain factors (such as officiating and shooting touch on a given night) may be beyond our control. I surely HOPE we win, and I would be delighted if we do, but we MAY not. I will support them either way.
MOOREVOLS writes:
One (of many)good thing about Tennessee is that they are able to overcome bad shooting (field goals or free throws) or officiating with hard, agressive play many times. Against Kentucky I don't think we played hard or agressive for 40 minutes or even for 30 minutes and it caught up to us. Maybe they were tired from playing 3 games in 6 days. Who knows. But, Tennessee does have the ability to overcome obsticles the majority of the time. I just hope they don't let up this Saturday night at State. If they play hard for 40 minutes I think Tennessee wins.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
volssam, it was a bitter blow to us when the guard from the Memphis area, whose name I can't recall right now, chose Duke over us. I think CBP really thought we would get that guy, and put all his eggs in that basket. I surely hope there are some others out there that we are in on, but most of the real blue-chippers for next year are already signed, or at least committed. The strength of next year's team will likely shift to the inside anyway. We will have all our big guys back, and hopefully they will be better. We also add the Jurick kid from Chattanooga (6'11", 255) who is said to be a polished inside scorer. We won't be in terrible shape for guards next year anyway. We will have R. Smith, Tabb, Tatum, and Prince (who played point in HS). I could even see Tyler at the 2 spot in a "jumbo" line-up. I doubt that Tyler will go pro next year. He is a "tweener" in size at 6'6" or so who has not yet proven he can score consistently from outside as an NBA 2-guard must, or run a team from the point.
Orangeblood13 writes:
Gimmie a break people. Jamont Gordon is all they got, they can't gueard us. Ya'll are starting to believe Adams and Strange think. We have way to much for them to guard, they have 2 maybe 3 players. Loft loves to play there, so I see a blowout. One day Tennessee fans, ya'll will start lookin up instead of trying to find the rotten part of everything.
Ironcity writes:
Im glad Miss St lost I would much rather play a team questioning itself then a team on a roll. UT will get good looks against Miss St, we just have to knock them down. Addtionally, Chism has to man up and play under the basket. That will be a lot harder agasint Vernardo who will likely make him look silly a couple of times during the game.
jhayes1911 writes:
johnlg00-Philip Jurick is the real deal. Athletic, loves to play defense, and has great footwork. I coached for the Tennessee Mavericks out of Murfreesboro and he was on our 17& under team last year. He is very coachable and will fit in well with our system. Mikki Allen, who played saftey for us '96-'00, helped convince him to commit to UT because he and his dad were his coaches.
MOOREVOLS writes:
I think we could win by double digits at State. I'm just giving them some credit for playing at home. If we play our best we win going away. If we don't shoot well and get careless with the ball like we did against Bama, but we play hard for 40 minutes, I still think we win by 7 or 8. I think Mississippi State will have to play their best game of the year and we'll have to give an effort like the Kentucky game for us to lose.
BossAF writes:
Elliot Williams is the kid from Memphis that choose Duke over the Vols.
THE_VOL writes:
WOW! Lots of new names on here since I've been gone! The bandwagon sure is gettin' full!!! LMAO!! Hell some are even worrying about NEXT YEAR already!! Of course EVERYBODY KNOWS what "we" need and what "we" should do and who "needs" to do this and that! STILL LMFAO!!! Here's an idea - BUY A TICKET, GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR and YELL ALL YOUR GREAT STRATEGIES, LINE-UPS and THOUGHTS to BP the entire game! I'm sure he'll find you to be the genius you think you are and immediately hire you!!! What a bunch of fools!!!
MOOREVOLS writes:
THE_VOL -- Who are you talking to? Seems like a lot of good conversation on here to me.
GreeneVol writes:
In's and out's of the Vol program....it's what this forum is about...& being able to express opinions - whether you like them or not, it's really harmless. If you don't like the format, you don't have to read it. Just ignore it and click 'back'. That's the good thing about it, right THE_VOL?
Tennisajoke writes:
you got that right THE VOL....a bunch of bandwagon fans...it's just sad they are living in the shadow of Memphis (20-0). Don't give me anything about our conference because we have 6 or 7 wins against the RPI top 50 including Georgetown who made the final four last year (a place Tennessee has never even sniffed, let alone an elite eight). We have 4-5 pros on our team. A loss at Kentucky who is barely .500 does not impress me or anyone in Memphis. SEC is down this year in basketball and Memphis would run through that conference just as easy as we are now.
TommyJack writes:
The_Vol: So you think the quality of dialogue here suffered in your absence? I don't recall anyone lamenting the fact that you were missing.
Selah.
fundamentals83 writes:
The_Vol,
Has Lofton's problem been fixed or is he just playing through it right now?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Thanks for the info, jhayes1911. I have heard good things about Jurick, but it is good to hear from someone who really knows his game. If he's as good as you say, maybe he can show our other big men how it's supposed to be done!
You're right, TDTN. We are going to see lots of matchup zones, triangle-and-2, box-and-1, and every other "junk" defense you can think of, until our inside guys start doing real damage. Our outside shooters will see more and more hands in their faces as the season goes on.
bernardking writes:
YOu can tell this poster, tennisajoke, is a young, uninformed kid. I could care less about Memphis right now and I am sure Pearl feels the same. Miss State will provide us a huge challenge. I trust our coach will have the players prepared and focused. Look for a big game from Wayne this week. I am tired of hearing the idiot naysayers on this board about him. He is a wonderful athlete who provides intense defensive play almost all of the time. Is he a true post?? Probably not, but he has shown improvement in his pivot play
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Gosh, bernardking, I hope you are right. I give Chism credit for trying hard most of the time, especially lately, but he has seemed overmatched much of the time this year. I surely agree that Saturday would be a good time for a great game from him! GO VOLS!
CoverOrange writes:
Hunter, not sure I understand your first comment about Gordon. Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm sure someone will), but Jamont was headed here until rumors of Buzz's infirmity convinced to go elsewhere. Think about it. If Buzz had stayed we would probably have Jamont Gordon, Tyler Smith and Chris Lofton playing on the same floor. Of course, we wouldn't be 17-2.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Beat the May-roons. Or Bulldogs.
redneckerson writes:
the vol, what happened, no internet access down to the sheep barn?
Hunter writes:
WD40 - touche'. Unfair criticism I suppose. I suppose I haven't calmed down from hatin' Bama so hard this week......
Thanks for keeping me honest.
utchris writes:
Speaking of the recruiting.
We lost out on Williams to Duke. We are in the running however for a kid named Scotty Hopson (from KY) who is the #2 ranked SG (Williams is #3). According to rivals, it is down to Cincy, Louisville, Miss St, and TN..with Kentucky having an outside chance. From the way that I understand the situation, he was verbally committed to Miss St at one time. Pearl was recruiting him, but after it was clear that Williams was headed for Duke, Pearl turned up the heat on Hopson. Since then we have really gotten into the race and Hopson has reopened the process. Hopson seems to have major star potential and will be a McDonald's All American...havent had one of those in a while.
utchris writes:
Here is what Hopson said about a month ago to rivals:
s for his recruitment, Hopson said that Tennessee, Louisville and Kentucky have been in contact with him and have offered scholarships. He also said it was his understanding that Indiana, Georgia and Georgia Tech had contacted his high school coach. Hopson also had these comments on his situation.
"I'm just weighing my options," said Hopson. "Signing is a big decision, and I want to make sure I make the right decision.
"I want to play in an up tempo system and get up and down the floor. That is the way I like to play. I'm also looking for a coach who knows how to develop pros and how much T.V. exposure the team gets."
Bruce Pearl was on hand to watch Hopson as was Cincinnati, who is also considered a contender for Hopson's services.
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
Pearl gets paid the big bucks. He'll have his men ready.
THE_VOL writes:
fundamentals....since you asked Chris's "problem" will never be totally "fixed."
THE_VOL writes:
redneck....nice to see you sister got off your face long enough for you to post!
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