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Old Spice will make Pearl sweat
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Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl said the draw for the Old Spice Classic is not one he’ll give thanks for when his team hits the court to play on Thanksgiving Day.
The Vols open the tournament in Lake Buena Vista Fla, at noon, Thursday, Nov. 27, (ESPN2) against Siena. The teams meet at the “Milk House” at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in the first round of the eight-team tournament.
The winner of the Vols’ game plays the winner of the Georgetown-Wichita State game at 1 p.m. Friday (ESPN), while the losers meet at 10:30 a.m. Friday (ESPNU). The tournament concludes with four games on Sunday, the championship set for 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2).
The other first-round games are: Michigan State vs. Maryland and Oklahoma State vs. Gonzaga.
“There really isn’t a good draw out there, but there’s three things about this match up with Siena,’’ Pearl said. “Siena just drilled Vanderbilt in the NCAA Tournament, they have six seniors coming back, and their conference (Metro Atlantic) is the host of this tournament.’’
Pearl has done his homework; Metro Atlantic representative Marist topped Minnesota in the first round of the tourney two years ago en route to a third-place finish and Rider upset Penn State last year.
Ironically, Pearl was sitting in the same gym the tournament will take place in watching a 17-under AAU tournament when he heard about the draw Tuesday. Pearl said Siena coach Fran McCaffery was also in attendance, but he had no plans to talk to him about the match up.
There probably isn’t a whole lot Pearl could say about the match up to McCaffery, who in three years has turned the Siena program around. The Saints beat Vanderbilt by an 83-62 count in the first round of last year’s NCAA tourney before falling to Villanova (84-72) in the second round.
Siena beat eventual Sweet 16 finisher Stanford 79-67 and Western Athletic Conference champ Boise State 93-70 in a bracket buster game during the regular season.
“We will be playing a very experienced team in Siena,’’ Pearl said. “I know I have made it hard on us this season with the schedule, because I’m sure at times our team will show its youth.’’
Pearl has said throughout the offseason that this year’s Vols’ team is talented, but with five freshmen and a junior college transfer, the Vols’ youth and inexperience will make it challenging to play well consistently.
Tennessee plays exhibition games at Thompson-Boling Arena against Indianapolis (Nov. 3 ) and Tusculum (Nov. 7) before opening the regular season with home games against UT-Chattanooga (Nov. 15) and UT-Martin (Nov. 18). A trip to play at Middle Tennessee State follows (Nov. 21) before the Vols head to the Orlando area for the holiday tournament.
“You look at that next round of the (Old Spice) tournament, and obviously we have a history with Wichita State,’’ Pearl said. “Not only did they beat us in the second round of the NCAA Tournament three years ago, but their coach is Gregg Marshall, who was the Winthrop coach when we played them in the first round, so there are reminders of that Greensboro (N.C.) trip.
“Georgetown is one of the most talented teams in the country; we tried to schedule them last year.’’
Pearl said he’ll approach the Old Spice Classic as though it were the beginning of the NCAA tournament. With the caliber of teams — seven of the eight played in the postseason, five in the NCAA tournament, and two in the Sweet 16 -- that might not be such a stretch.
“You look at this and say, `let’s see if we can get to the Elite Eight,’ ” Pearl said. “It’s a field that, in three days, you can really find out a lot about your club.
“If you aren’t playing well, there’s no place to hide.’’
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by marc_ash on July 29, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't think there will be much hiding for the Vols this year...winning or losing.
Posted by murrayvol on July 29, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Relax Bruce. This is going to work out just fine.
Posted by IBleedOrange444 on July 29, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I like it. This is a much better field than the early season tournament of chumps we went to last year.
Posted by General_Watermelon on July 29, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess we will just have to take the Old Spice Challenge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Aj55s...
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on July 29, 2008 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess Foolmore's one day in the media limelight lasted...well for one day. Pearl is a God!!!! Book It!!!!!!!!
Posted by VOLS85 on July 29, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
::::: NOTE :::::
THIS IS A BASKETBALL ARTICLE, NOT FOOTBALL, NOT FIELD HOCKEY, NOT SOCCER
Posted by RichRollin on July 29, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
General, NICE!!!! Once pearl raises the bar and can't get any higher it will be interesting to see workin's view towards him.
Posted by 55Vol on July 29, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Worthlesslikeheck!!!!
Posted by bob.bigorange on July 29, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
man, lets see - this is a great article about the basketball Vols. Who needs a comment about the pigskin here - looks like we will have a grade A schedule this season to showcase the up and coming talent at UT in roundball. This will be a chance for the kids to really put it together and see where they are early on, and what they need to work on.
Posted by cjraney on July 29, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If this were a football article some would say "Coach is already putting the youth excuse out there." But that's just dumb.
Our youth will likely cost us a game or two, but the tough games will be exciting and ultimately make the team better.
Posted by Silent_Fulmer on July 29, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BRUCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm ready for basketball season right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!! F Football season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Lofton4three___MONEY on July 29, 2008 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The difference between CBP's excuses and CPF's excuses is CBP's predictions/excuses tend not to come true.
Again, great to be able to follow UT sports with interest from July to March!
Posted by longtimefan on July 30, 2008 at 12:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wow,a basketball article and no memphisbilt comments yet? they must all be sick!
Posted by DenmarkVol on July 30, 2008 at 6:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't care if we lose 10 games this season and don't make it far in the tourney -- this guy is doing absolutely the best thing for this basketball program.
He's bringing in the talent, teaching them defense, expecting them to win, coaching them extremely well in games, playing a 9/10-man rotation, and scheduling against the best competition available.
We will continue to reap rewards with BP as our head coach.
THANK YOU ERNIE GRUNFELD.
Posted by voljkelley on July 30, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
can we flip=flop the football and basketball season around? I am ready for b-ball right now!
Posted by askUncleMaze on July 30, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I didnt get my wish. I wanted MD. so my nephew could give them 40pt and 15 assist.. The Big Payback.....
Posted by b_neas on July 30, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What sucks is if/when we lose to Siena it might be laughed at my uninformed people. Fact is this team will struggle early no matter who we play. being young and new to playing with each other, it may take 8-12 games to get a good chemistry. Lets just hope talent can overcome the intangibles we will be missing early on.
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on July 30, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Big Money Maze's Uncle in da house!!!!!!!!!
Posted by OrangeRush on July 30, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pearl will have them ready to play and it will be a good Classic for the Vols.
Posted by Silent_Fulmer on July 30, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
B MAZE AKA 'DA SOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by THE_VOL on July 30, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Shouldn't a player have to score at least one point before being annointed "Da Solution"???? Mr. Maze needs to get eligible and then we can chat. Personally, I'll be surprised if this team doesn't go to Lawrence unbeaten. Yes they have some young guys but as we've seen with any number of teams over the last several years, when you get players the caliber of Hopson, Negedu, Woolridge and Maze youth is much less of a factor as these guys have played on big stages and against some of the best competition in the country. The real question will be can they play together and keep their ego's in check. Time will tell.
Posted by jasonn1970 on July 30, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Even if they do lose 10 games the tough schedule will pay off in the end. Remember a couple of years ago how close they came to beating Ohio State having already lost 10 games.
Posted by Silent_Fulmer on July 30, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)
THE SOLUTION, I’M THE RESOLUTION!!!!!!!
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on July 30, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THE_VOL, prefers the day of Buzzball and hoping guys like Andy Ikeoyor were really diamonds in the rough that only Buzz was right about and losing players to Auburn.
Posted by b_neas on July 30, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't forget Boomer Hearndon!! One of Buzz's boys (i think)
Posted by DadwasaVol on July 30, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I rode on the same plane as Pearl today. He said hello to my kid on my phone, helped ladies get their luggage out of the overhead compartment, and flew coach instead of first class - all what you'd expect from a man who, to this point, has not allowed success and money to go to his head. I won't repeat what I overheard him say on his phone to someone - it was recruiting-related. Go Bruce!
Posted by b_neas on July 30, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course he helped the ladies!!! Bruce is a ladies man (just ask Erin Andrews), and now single, jk hahaha!!!
Posted by memphistenn2117 on July 30, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ladies man? Dude couldn't even keep his wife loving him...
Posted by THE_VOL on July 30, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
workin...WTF are you talkin' about???? You must be related to MARCY-GIRL as you too need to take a comprehension course moron!
Posted by b_neas on July 30, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was a joke, d@mn lighten up. But trust me with the star status Pearl has in Knoxville right now, and as shady as the fems are there he could have a fun full weekend with about any chicky he wanted.
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on July 30, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THE_VOL, aleady worrying about team egos before the team even plays a game or has ego problems. You are beautifally dumb.
Posted by chad_t31 on July 30, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This coming from a man who can't spell beautifully. Good job, moron.
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on July 30, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This coming from a guy that can't spell either. Loser:
Posted on July 29 at 6:03 p.m.
I agree with the earlier posts (sorry I didn't want to go back up and search your names) this was definately ignorant and ESPN was just trying to fill air time. Personally, I would have rather watched a complete historical background review of the lives of joey chestnut and kobyashi (sp?). What a joke. There are probably 50 cities in the u.s. who claim to be titletown. Even if knoxville had won it, this was a complete waste of time.
On Valdosta wins TitleTown award
Posted by budrhon on August 2, 2008 at 12:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's a nice website on some of the top recruits from the recent Bball tourney in Vegas.
http://www.nbadraft.net/node/1627
Posted by ballewville6 on August 7, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
they are going to do fine even though they are young ,they want lose 10 games ,they may not win 30 but they will get 25 to 28 wins and if the returning players improved during off season between our freshmen and bobby maze they will score over 30 between them if not more
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