A two-on-two game and a one-on-one with Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl led to senior Jordan Howell's breakout of a shooting slump against Florida.
The previous 10 contests, Howell had hit 6 of 37 shots (.162), including 5 of 31 (.161) beyond the 3-point line. Howell was also 4 of 10 from the free-throw line.
But against the Gators, Howell connected on 2 of 3 shots and played 18 minutes of solid defense in the Vols' SEC title-clinching 89-86 victory Wednesday night.
"It was great for Jordan to bounce back, and it was what we needed as a team,'' Pearl said. "Both he and J.P. (Prince) played awfully well off the bench to keep us in the game at Florida.''
Howell is expected to be back in the rotation when UT plays host to South Carolina at 2 p.m. Sunday (TV: WVLT) in its regular- season finale.
Howell, who was dropped from the 10-man rotation after a 0-for-2, 0 assist performance at Vanderbilt on Feb. 26 and played just five minutes against Kentucky last Saturday, initiated a meeting with Pearl on Monday.
"I went to his office and told him that I knew I was in a slump, but I'd do whatever I could to help this team because I've probably only got one month left in my basketball career,'' Howell said. "Coach Pearl told me it wasn't about taking more shots in practice, it was about my mindset when I was shooting, and that I was putting too much pressure on myself.''
Pearl told Howell it was written all over his body, and that he had to find the courage to break out of his shooting slump, like Chris Lofton had done earlier in the season, because the team needed him.
"He told me at the beginning of the year I was just catching and shooting, and not really thinking about it,'' Howell said. "He was right. Starting with the Alabama game, when I had all those friends and relatives, I started pressing. Then after that bad game, I was pressing even more to shoot my way out of it.''
On Wednesday, Howell had another epiphany.
"Before we left for Florida we were shooting around, and this guy came up to me with his two little kids,'' Howell said. "They had a poster they wanted me to sign, and they told me I was their favorite player. I was thinking to myself, 'Why am I their favorite? They must not have seen me play lately.' ''
Howell later learned that the children's mother had died, and the father was raising them alone.
"I'm pushing so hard to make a basket, and these little kids are growing up without their mom,'' Howell said. "It was a reminder that there are a lot bigger things in life. It put things in perspective.''
Lofton and Howell, with his newfound perspective, proceeded to play a 2-on-2 game with the children.
"I had also talked to Chris about my slump,'' Howell said. "But he played the friend card. I'd talk to him about the slump, and he'd say, 'I'm in a worse slump. I'm playing horrible,'
"He said that after he scored 20 points, and here I hadn't hit a shot in four games.''
Howell said Lofton found another way to help.
"One night I was shooting, and he came down and rebounded and passed the ball out to me for 45 minutes,'' Howell said. "I told him he could go shoot, but he wouldn't leave.''
Lofton and Howell were the last two players to leave the Pratt Practice Pavilion following Friday's practice.
This time, both of them were shooting.
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Comments » 36
girdle1998#233171 writes:
Jordan...You are a big key to this team! don't think! let it fly baby!!! If you play your game, this team can go along way.
EDis4UT writes:
Nice story. I have been a little hard on Howell and the other PG's. It just goes to show a slump can be so psychological. We couldn't have won the Florida game without him. I wish him luck in his future. He has been a first class VOL athlete.
tnlady writes:
Thanks for reporting something nice and geniune. Best wishes for all.
dqnapier#225584 writes:
Howell can be the difference between a Sweet 16 and a National Title. We are unbeatable if 2 of these 3 are shooting well: Lofton, Juanie, Howell. Girdle1998 is right when he says don't think about it, let it fly!
rubyvol1 writes:
Jordan, you will be fine!! As another poster said, just let it fly if you get a good look. Your shot is BACK - and at the perfect time. We need your spark, your scoring, and most of all, your composure and leadership. I wish my Daddy had lived to see what this team has accomplished. I still plaster his little radio to my ear when I can't go to a game. He threw it a few times, but it still works! Makes me feel like he is right here with me , pacing the floors until the game is over. God Bless all of you and the coaches. You have no idea how much this team means to so many of us. Thanks to all of you for a great year no matter what the post-season brings. Go Vols!!!
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Wow, a really cool article about a tennessee Vol. Unusual?
bigbluevol writes:
As great as that story was about Jordan, what a great teammate and person Chris Lofton is. I wish he had 100 years of eligibility. He is everything that is right about a college athlete.
Ironcity writes:
I second everything BigBlue said. Chris continues to amaze me. Glad to see Howell have some success. Howell is going to get a lot of good looks the rest of the way. If he keeps teams honest, I think we will be OK.
MrBamSeydu writes:
I wouldn't necessarily say he broke out of a slump. All he did was make 2 shots, right? I think it's more like "Hey, you played a little less terrible than you have the last 10 games... here's to you kid-o!"
FWBVol writes:
Let's see, Bruce Pearl said Jordan played awfully well against Florida, it was the team needed and you say he played a little terrible, yemmusdarb, who am I going to trust? Oh yeah, and the answer would be Bruce Pearl.
Keep up the good work Jordan and help carry us all the way. GO BIG ORANGE!!!
calivol writes:
Nice post, Rubyvol. I'm sure you're daddy is either watching or listening to his Vols from somewhere up above. He's probably just as proud as we are.
Hunter writes:
If Howell heats up, Bertelkamp will have to go to the ATM - he'll run out of.........MONEY!!!!
rab writes:
Mike, great story about two accomplished young men. I enjoy the competition of sports, but I love seeing these young men be outstanding examples for the U.T. Seldom do we consider the rigorous demand put on young athletes to maintain their quality of play while at the same time earning a degree. Jordan and Chris you make me proud to be a TN VOL!
DSaVol writes:
I hope everyone that posts here remembers this story before they start blasting players again. Coaches are fair game IMO because they get paid alot of money to do a job but most of these players are playing simply because they love the game and it's a means to getting an education. 99.9% of them will never see an NBA locker room and will never make a dime off of basketball. Not trying to be holier than thou here cause I've had my moments on here too but tomorrow is Senior Day and while I am certainly biased I will put ALL of our guys who will walk to center court tomorrow up against any in the country when it comes to class, character, and dignity! Whether this team gets one or ten more wins nothing will ever change or diminish their contributions to this program, this school, and those that have had the pleasure to watch them and know them.
murrayvol writes:
Good piece and good post DSaVol.
Hope Jordan is back in the building for the duration. We'll need all hands (shots included) on deck from this point forward. This has been a magical season. Whatever happens now is all gravy.
dopedawg writes:
use the force Jordan!!!!! Let'em fly!!
Worked for Luke Skywalker!!! We love ya!!!
VolJunkie writes:
What dsavol said! This whole program is a class act!
Speaking of UNC-Duke :) ...for the first time, and I can't believe I am actually writing this, I will probably pull for UNC. A Duke win moves them up in the polls and the way the media loves these two teams, they both get #1 seeds in the NCAA which IMHO is unthinkable. I appreciate other thoughts on this.
Apologies for posting this under a great story for Howell (and Lofton), but there may not be anywhere else.
GO VOLS!!
garyfmtn writes:
I undeerstand your sentiment VolJunkie...I was thinking the same thing...As much as I cannot stomach the thought of rooting FOR UNC against Duke, I guess its like the ole Devil and the Deep Blue Sea saga.....I cannot stand either one of those two, but the one that would help the Vols in the polls I guess that is who I am rooting for tonight....Maybe they BOTH could Lose :o)
PennVol writes:
VolJunkie - Duke won at Chapel Hill already, so I think a 2nd loss to Duke might keep UNC out of a #1 seed in the NCAA. Of course, that will probably change if UNC happens to win the ACC tournament. Still lots of BBall left to play to iron this all out.
DSaVol writes:
Hey folks, speaking of Senior Day, let's not forget that there are some managers, trainers, and other support types that are going to be recognized and deserve a big old loud Rocky Top ovation as well. These kids don't get much glory but they work their butts off in many different respects and this program wouldn't be what it has become without them. Let's hear it for the "little" people tomorrow!
forkball writes:
I hope that my son grows up to be half the man that Chris Lofton is.
Colliervol writes:
And, as for Senior Day, they made a note the other night that the ceremony is before the game and not at halftime. So get there early if you want to see it.
VolCane7979 writes:
I will cry when Lofton is done. He's possibly, along with Peyton, the best, classiest player ever to step into Knoxville for any sport, period. Every game is truly a treat to watch from here on out. Here's hoping for the best for Chris.
dqnapier is correct - howell is our Lee Humphrey. We need him to be able to knock down key shots and take pressure off Chris and Jajuan.
Go Heels. Dook is more likely to fall to a 2 if it loses today.
tigervol9802 writes:
Great article. I've already warned my wife to have Kleenex handy tomorrow because I'm probably going to cry when they call out #5.
And I hope he's getting it back together becuase I keep hearing these nagging rumors that Ramar is going to be delcared ineligible soon for not passing enough hours last semester.
VOLINSC writes:
Lofton will be remebered as the "Peyton Manning" of the basketball program. He cares so much about this team. He puts his team before himself and personnel recognition. Staying late after practice to help Jordan rather than shooting himself says everything about Lofton. Not only is he a great player, but he is a great leader. It is time to pick a street on campus to be renamed Lofton Drive.
Chainsaw writes:
Great article! Play your game, Jordan, and help make some more history for Big Orange basketball!
Go Vols!
MrBamSeydu writes:
FWBVol: Read what I said again. I didn't say he played "a little terrible", I said he played a little LESS terrible. In other words, you can't say someone has broken out of a slump when they go 2 for 3. He could have taken 5 more shots and been 2 for 8 for all we know. Would you, then, say he'd broken out of a slump?
Now, if he goes 2 for 3 in the next 4 or 5 games then yes, I'd officially say he's broken out of his slump. But my guess is he won't do that. I hope he does, but I'm putting my eggs in the Ramar Smith basket and hoping his FT shooting improves because the way he charges the basket we'll need him way more than Jordan Howell in the tourney.
bshone#598776 writes:
Another article demonstrating how Jordan and Chris (and JuJuan) are the reason this team has 27 wins. Great leadership and hard work/dedication. Just imagine if we hit on all cylinders with these three seniors and they all play like they did in Gainseville - forget March, we'll be playing in APRIL!
Vol_Fan_4_Life_615 writes:
That was a very good article. Very touching, and revealing. It told me that this team has what it takes to be a champion. They care more for their teammates than they do for them selves. They are not all about them selves as a team. How many players would take time out to play 2 on 2 with some kids? Even more so how many of the stature of Lofton? You can see the heart and desire that they have when they play. They know they are going to win every time they step on the court! They find a way to win if there is one. The three loses where all needed as bad as i hate to say it. But only because they have learned a lesson in each one and gotten better for it. This team has what the Gators had the last 2 years. Now is the time that they will show it. Because right now is what they have been playing towards all season. Making History!!!!
SEC CHAMPS
GO VOLS!!!!!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Chris Lofton must be on hekuva great teammate. Is there any thing about him that isn't a class act??
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Chris Lofton must be on hekuva great teammate. Is there any thing about him that isn't a class act??
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
just kind of skimming these comments, and noticed some are still pretty negative. I guess I look at iti this way: gtanted, it is his 'job', but it is easy to see how a kid can lose confidence and try to 'guide' rather than 'shoot'. It gets that much tougher on a high-profile team on nasty television.
my smart-a$$ side would say "let's see you do it", but I'll refrain. We do need his shooting, as Childress is no longer playing much and Wayne is not a great third 3-point maker.
Myabe just try pulling for the kid.
VolCane7979 writes:
Don't see too many comments that way. I don't think anyone on here is saying that, dude. Back off.
MrBamSeydu writes:
I think my point has been prove on this subject.
Jordan Howell 0-5 against USC
Now, would you say he's out of his slump because he made 2 shots against UF? I didn't think so.
MrBamSeydu writes:
*proven
volsfan92 writes:
what a great story...agree that this is a team of great men. Good luck in the big dance
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