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Strange: In the end, seniors play role in success

By Mike Strange (Contact)
Originally published 08:56 p.m., March 8, 2008
Updated 08:56 p.m., March 8, 2008

When Chris Lofton arrived on campus four years ago it wasn't difficult to be humble.

He knew he was a Mr. Basketball from Kentucky with a state-championship ring. But he found out quickly that expectations for his impending college career weren't much when he picked up a popular video game.

To his surprise, he discovered that in EA Sports "NCAA March Madness 2005" edition, the programmed Chris Lofton was - in the real Chris Lofton's words - "a short white guy who couldn't shoot.''

Lofton quickly edited that laughable profile. Then he spent the next four years making sure no one would ever mistake his credentials again.

A video-game designer in the summer of 2004 would have known even less about JaJuan Smith. To Lofton's "Mr. Basketball" in Kentucky, Smith was "honorable mention" all-state in Tennessee at McMinn County High School.

Lofton turned down the likes of Arkansas State and Valparaiso to play for UT, a last-minute suitor. If guard John Winchester hadn't left school after the 2004 season, even Tennessee wouldn't have made an offer.

Smith turned down the likes of East Tennessee State and Middle Tennessee State to walk on at UT with the promise a scholarship could be earned. He believed he could play in the SEC. He was, of course, correct.

Name me two other teammates at any program who accomplished so much over four years after arriving in such humble circumstances.

Go ahead, I'm waiting.

There will be a third honoree today on Senior Day before the Vols play South Carolina at Thompson-Boling Arena. Jordan Howell also was a recruiting afterthought, but compared to Lofton and Smith, Howell's credentials were royal.

He had signed with Georgia in 2003, received his release when coach Jim Harrick was fired, and then was re-recruited by Auburn, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Texas and Tennessee.

Today, Lofton, Smith and Howell play for the final time in Thompson-Boling Arena. Somewhere, someone is stitching a banner to hang marking the regular-season SEC championship these guys clinched earlier this week.

"To know where we started,'' Lofton said, "from the bottom of the SEC and to be the (outright) regular-season champion, something that hadn't been done in 41 years, that's been my proudest moment.''

Before he scored the first of his 2,039 (and counting) points or hit the first of his 413 (and counting) 3-point baskets, Lofton went over to Stokely Athletic Center one summer day to check out Smith's game.

"I wanted to see who my competition was coming in,'' Lofton said. "I knew he could shoot but I didn't know he was as athletic as he was.

"I thought, if he's a walk-on, I'm in trouble.''

By the first day of practice, Smith was no longer a walk-on. By the first day of practice his senior year, Smith was, arguably, the most valuable member of the team.

"He is the connection on the team to me,'' said third-year UT coach Bruce Pearl.

"They all send him to me: 'Hey, go ask Coach if we can have this day off,' or 'go ask Coach if we can eat at this restaurant.' ''

It's a two-way street. Pearl goes through Smith to get his message to the team. Be ready for this. Make that a priority.

"He's absolutely our vocal leader,'' said Howell. "We all feed off him.''

There's a vocal side to Lofton, too, although the fans don't see it.

"He's a great question-asker,'' said Pearl. "He reminds me of (Lady Vols) Coach (Pat) Summitt in this sense.

"He's always asking questions. He wants to know why and he wants to do better.''

Howell had to be patient. His contribution was longer in coming. But for a team on the brink of great March Madness possibilities, Howell's complementary role is vital.

"When I came here,'' said Howell, "it wasn't popular to be a Tennessee basketball player.

"I feel like I was part of the change and that's what I'm most proud of.''

Lofton, Smith and Howell have been a part of 86 wins. The record, 89 wins by the 2001 senior class, is within reach.

Senior Day will be an emotional roadside stop. But because of where these seniors have led this program from such humble beginnings, it's not the end of the line.

"It's my last game in this building,'' said Lofton. "You want to win that game, of course.

"But then there's a lot of basketball left to be played.''

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       16 Comments

Posted by VOLnNASH on March 8, 2008 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Proud of these guys. Hope they have enough in them to win SEC tourny and make it to San Antonio. Its neat to be able to say I went to school with these guys. Just like I'm sure it's cool to say you went to UT during Ernie/Bernie, Allan Houston days. Fun time to be a Vol. Here's to hoping BP stays and doesn't take IU job. Go Vols!!

Posted by rbatten9 on March 8, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They need to take about two days off after this game to get the "tired" out of them. If UT gets to play on a Friday night in the NCAA's that would help them out too.

Posted by rabidvol1998 on March 8, 2008 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Great story about 3 great guys. We'll be waiting a long time for an answer to Mike's quesiton about accomplishing more with less accolades.

It's great to be a TN Vol.

Hey Mike, write the book about this great story.

Posted by murrayvol on March 8, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Like Coach Pearl, I don't know if this is the best team in America. But I do know this. They've got 10 more games to prove it.

Mike, do you know when the last team without a McDonald's AA won the NC?

Posted by ClockworkOrange on March 9, 2008 at 12:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Watch out Vol Fans!!!!!!!!!!!

ESPN seems like theyre on a mission to hype up Kansas and boost them to a #1 seed. We seem like were going to get scrizewed over and have duke and kansas get picked for #1 seeds before we will. Ive been listening to ESPN radio and it seems like all the droids that are on the air are following the directive to jock Kansas as a #1 seed. Plus you know by law dookies are obligated to get a #1 seeding. We need to win to stay in top 3 or 4. Lets go and beat those gameCOCKS on Sun!!!

Posted by Germany_Vol on March 9, 2008 at 4:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Clockworkorange:

We could go undefeated through the regular season and SEC tourny and ESPN would still push for someone else as a #1 seed. Face it, we'll never get the respect we deserve. As far as ESPN is concerned, we'll always be "trailor trash".

Hopefully these kids will continue to play their hearts out for the big orange. You go guys!! Give em heck in March Madness.

I am proud to be a Volunteer.

GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by eb502us on March 9, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

These guys deserve all the praise for helping turn this program around. We also need to savor the moment and understand just how good a group of guard we have shooting the ball. I think we'll really find out just how bad we'll miss these guys next year when we go from a deadly shooting team like we are now, to one that could really struggle from the outside without some immediate help from the freshman class. Best of luck Chris, Jajuan and Jordan.

Posted by zjcvols on March 9, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Can you believe Ryan Childress will become the winningest player in the history of UT basketball next year?

Posted by Bigger_Al on March 9, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Should have mentioned that Jordon Howell got mono his Freshman year and couldn't play at all.

Posted by VOLINSC on March 9, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

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. (see other article) 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.

Posted by globadoc on March 9, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Murrayvol,

The last team to win an NCAA championship without a McDonald's All-American was the 2002 Maryland team with Juan Dixon, Chris Wilcox, Steve Blake, and Lonny Baxter. The next team could be the one who beat South Carolina this afternoon.

Posted by MNP78 on March 9, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In a time of unrest at a football school, this basketball program, our players and coaches, make me absolutely stick my chest out with overwhelming pride.

They make the Orange I wear a little brighter, and I could not be any happier for the kids on that team, they deserve everything they have worked so hard to get.

Thank you guys for making me PROUD to call myself a TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER with the way you handle yourselves and the class you exude on and off the court.

Posted by zjcvols on March 9, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VOLINSC, I agree w/ the Lofton street name thing. Top 3 all-time 3-point shooter, top 5 in points, all-american, all-sec for three years. SEC player of the year. A great teammate and a great representive of the university who helped bring UT back on the cb map.

BTW- i think Lofton Lane is a little catchier.

Posted by AlpharettaVol on March 9, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Chris is a great bsketball player but he apparently is an even better teammate. He should be the poster boy for what a student athlete should be at Tennessee.

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