Tennessee Men's Basketball
The Tennessee men's basketball Senior Day started with a joke and ended with smiles at Thompson-Boling Arena.
A quartet of Vols' underclassmen forgot to observe the daylight savings time changeover and showed up late for the pre-game shoot-around, drawing playful ribbing from the seniors.
"We told them we better not lose,'' UT senior JaJuan Smith said, "or they'll be writing in the papers, 'You snooze, you lose.' "
The No. 4-ranked Vols had a collective awakening after leading South Carolina by one at the half, running away with an 89-56 victory before a crowd of 21,734 Sunday afternoon.
The 33-point margin ranks as the Vols' most lopsided in SEC play this season - nine points greater than the second-biggest margin, UT's 80-56 win over the Gamecocks in Columbia.
UT closed the regular season 28-3, 14-2 in the SEC, strengthening its case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament while also extending its homecourt win streak to 32 games.
Senior Chris Lofton scored a season-high 28 points, draining 10 of 16 shots from the floor including 6 of 10 beyond the 3-point arc before leaving the game to a thunderous standing ovation in the final minutes.
"It hasn't completely sunk in that was my last game here,'' said Lofton, who moved up to fifth place on UT's all-time scoring list with 2,067 points, passing Dale Ellis (1979-83). "I think it affected me last night. I didn't sleep last night.''
Smith, who scored 17 points and pulled down nine rebounds, said the seniors left the underclassmen a message with the homecourt win streak.
"We talk about it, and we say 'we don't lose here,' " Smith said. "We try to make that a big statement.''
The Gamecocks made a statement of their own after Smith's 3-pointer at the 12:26 mark gave UT a 22-14 lead.
South Carolina battled back to tie the game at 27 on a Mike Holmes drive with 6:07 left in the half, and again at 35 on Evaldas Baniulis' 3-pointer at the 1:48 mark.
The second half, however, was all orange.
The Vols opened the final 20 minutes on an 11-2 run, going up 49-39 on a Duke Crews basket with 16:32 left.
A Dominique Archie 3-pointer at the 15:07 mark cut UT's lead to 49-42 with 15:07 on the clock, but the Vols refused to slow down.
Tennessee was up 64-43 before South Carolina scored another field goal with 8:37 left.
Even with all 14 players on the roster seeing action, the Vols' lead swelled, and was up to 89-51, compliments of a 21-0 run, before the Gamecocks scored the final five points.
"We came out colder than the frigid Smoky Mountains to start the second half,'' South Carolina coach Dave Odom said. "We could not make a shot, and they came out on fire. We really got fatigued and flamed out.''
In addition to his offense, Smith kept South Carolina's Devan Downey in check, holding the SEC's third-leading scorer (18.9 points per game) to two points on 1-of-9 shooting.
UT coach Bruce Pearl is giving his players today off before bringing them back to the gym for a hard Tuesday practice.
"We've got a lot of work to do to get better as a basketball team as the prizes continue to grow,'' Pearl said. "Hopefully we'll go into this SEC tournament fresh and with a lot to play for.''
The Vols open the SEC tournament at the Georgia Dome at 1 p.m. Friday against the winner of Thursday's 1 p.m. game between South Carolina and LSU (12-81, 6-10). Ironically, the Gamecocks and the Tigers have taken turns eliminating the Vols the past two league tournaments.
"This team has embraced history more than any other UT team I've played for,'' Vols senior Jordan Howell said. "We know to make history, we need to go down there and win the SEC tournament.''
Orange Slices: UT's seniors - Lofton, Smith and Howell - have accumulated 87 wins, two shy of the school record set by the Class of '01. ... The Vols are one game short of the longest homecourt win streak in school history (33), set between Jan. 2, 1966 and Feb. 24, 1968. ... UT's home attendance average of 20,267 this season ranks fourth in the nation behind Kentucky, Syracuse and North Carolina and second in school history behind the record year of 1987-88 (20,823), when Thompson-Boling first opened. ... The four underclassmen who were late Sunday morning were Tyler Smith, Duke Crews, Josh Tabb and J.P. Prince. ... Pearl started freshman Brian Williams in place of Tyler Smith, and brought the players into the game later than normal in the first half.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 168
10eceeVol4ever writes:
Thanks for the memories JaJaun, Chris, and Jordan. The Vol Nation is indeed proud. On to HotLanta to do some damage!!!
Go Vols
Einstein writes:
GREAT JOB GUYS!!! LET'S CONTINUE THIS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT!!!
alfrizzle097 writes:
Time to actually win a game in the tournament.... Don't torch me, history just shows that we don't make it to Saturday. Never had a team this good though.....
HotlantaVol writes:
I have a two year old. They couldn't possibly do anymore damage than has already been done.
Just kidding. Great season, guys. Let's keep that second half intensity all the way through both tourneys.
jglocsawgrass#635647 writes:
Congratulations on a great season!!! Go get 'um in the tourney! VOLS ROCK!!!
MrBamSeydu writes:
3 observations:
1. Lofton was ridiculous. Great last home game.
2. It was obvious Pearl was trying to save energy for next weekend from the tipoff. Brian Williams started and there were already 11 people with minutes in the first half. I'm sure he would've rather had a big lead early than late, to save some energy for the starters... but at the same time, the seniors were going to play 30 min. no matter what.
3. Our crowd absolutely sucks. I've said it all season long. UT seriously needs to consider creating a bigger student section and use more of the side-court for students only. I understand this wasn't a huge game and it was a blowout waiting to happen, but our crowd sits on it's hands all game until we hit a shot. How many times did the analysts say "wow, this is a quiet crowd" or "how can this many people be this quiet".
What's even more amazing is that we're undefeated the past 2 seasons at a place that seems more like a neutral site than with any sort of home court advantage (i.e. Vandy, Memphis, Duke, UK, UNC, etc).
GerryOP writes:
How 'bout them Vols! Thanks for the great season! Now make it greater!
FatherVol writes:
One of the reasons we saw more players early is that several VOLS didn't turn their clocks ahead an hour before going to bed last night and were late for an early morning gathering so CBP bench them for "at least one rotation, some for more."
Musicman74 writes:
Great win, lets win the conference tournament. Get a number 1 seed in the big dance, and win it all.
GO BIG ORANGE!!!
alfrizzle097 writes:
Crowd is pathetic alot of the time. They get excited when we go on runs, which is the main thing needed. It would eb nice if we could get a Rupp or Cameron Indoor feel regardless of score or opponent.
Ironcity writes:
Yems your last comment contradicts your previous comment. The crowd is not Cameron loud, (it never will be) but at the end of the day, we havn't lost a game at TBA in over two years! The crowd must be doing something right. Lets face facts, when the team needs the crowd they get them. Today was a game with a lot of emotion before and after but not a lot during the game.
I do want to thank the seniors putting UT back on the basketball map again. Good luck in the SEC tournament (great draw) and lets go out and get that number one seed!
wally4ut#210882 writes:
I am 33 years old, and I have been attending Tennessee football and basketball games since I was 5 years old. In those 28 years, I cannot remember being more proud of a Tennessee team. They may go one in done in the next two tournaments, but what they have achieved this season is incredible. 14-2 in arguably one of the best conferences in the country.
Thanks J. Smith, Chris, and Jordan, you guys have been fun to watch. Make me buy plane tickets to San Antonio.
dyoung2020#325368 writes:
TBA is rocking during big games, but non-existent during games like today.
Two questions/observations...
1. Is it Spring Break (last week or next week)
2. Pearl and Hamilton need to say screw these grandfather clauses and move the geezers somewhere else. The student section needs to be right on the court, and not in the upper deck. Crappy folding chairs under the basket, and one corner of the gym doesn't cut it.
With the renovations they have done to TBA, and if we moved the student section, we could have one of the best gyms/atmospheres in the country.
Caspian writes:
I agree on the crowd. Quiet until court action dictates otherwise. Behaviour is a self-perpetuating thing. It has its own inertia. It takes more energy and innovation to change the current status than to maintain the current status (for better OR worse). Somebody needs to be spending 100% of their time thinking about how to change this, and allowed to to whatever it takes to make it happen. Surely, somewhere in Knoxville is someone smart enough and motivated enough to fill the role...
invisiblekid writes:
Nice way for the Seniors to finish their last home game. I think we'll be talking about Lofton and J. Smith the way the old timers talk about Ernie and Bernie when it's said and done. Not saying they are better players, just stating that their role in the resurgence of the basketball program can't be overstated. Time for them to go make some more history though.
On a side note, wish nothing but the best for Odom in whatever he decides to do. He is a class act all the way.
murrayvol writes:
yemmus: You forgot to include "you can hear a pin drop in here." Our basketball fans are still on a learning curve. Too many still wanna go to the game and have a quiet conversation. They'll get there.....someday. It doesn't seem to be adversely affecting the team.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
dyoung2020-4:42p.m. the geezers built the place. Yep, they're quiet, but they have to sit at a slight angle because of the thickness of their wallets.
I suspect they like it just the way it is. Even when its tame as today.
King53 writes:
thank you seniors!!
jimr07 writes:
yes, as i once stated about the crowd..they appear to act like they are attending a duplicate bridge tournament.
budrhon writes:
Yemmus point #2 well said. I've only watched them from the tube since I live further away and have to say compared to crowds in Lexington, Durham and yes Memphis, the TBA crowd is pretty much NBAish. As one poster said once, "It's like a tennis match sometimes". I'm sure that's not the entire audience, but if one knew how it's percieved from TV it's surprising considering the level of talent on the floor being so acceptional.
dyoung2020#325368 writes:
pdhuff, I absolutely understand that, but do other schools not have big doners? In two years any hard feelings about moving the old folks will be forgotten and we'll be cutting down the nets for the third straight year.
TommyJack writes:
yemuus & dyoung: Perhaps you can arrange to have all fans over say, 45, put in internment camps. They clearly have NO RIGHT to the good seats. Right?
dyoung2020#325368 writes:
Attitude is contagious. If 80% of the lower bowl (non students) are quiet, it is hard for the rest of the crowd to get loud. Get the students close to the court. It is an absolute must if we want to eliminate comments like we got today from the announcers.
dyoung2020#325368 writes:
Tommy, not quite what I'm getting at(let's call them work camps) but do you agree that the place would be louder and more intimdating if we put students on the sidelines and closer to the court?
murrayvol writes:
dyoung: Hamilton would be far more likely to gnaw his arm off at the elbow than tell the geezers their contributions are no longer needed and would they please move to the cheap seats.
dfreeman writes:
I just want to say goodbye to the three graduating seniors!! You guys are only second to Pearl in what you have done for this University!! You'll be missed and loved for years!! Much like they talk about Ernie & Bernie!! We'll be hearing about the Lofton and Smith show!!
dyoung2020#325368 writes:
Murray,
Good grief, I'm not saying Hamilton should rip their checks up and tell them to get the hell out of there, but "sell" them on the fact that reconfiguring the seating chart is the best thing for the program.
inthefort writes:
i'm a student and was at the game today. i agree that it was quiet most of the game. it got really loud when Lofton/JaJuan/Howell were checking in during the 1st half. I agree that the student section needs to be moved and in one location, not spread around the arena. (same for Neyland but thats a different subject). I was disappointed when I looked around and saw half the arena sitting down. lackluster showing by the fans. great game from the team. go vols! give em' hell in Atlanta.
VOLS85 writes:
I've got an idea...
- tennessee win every game by 60-70 (like against MTSU)
- the 60-80 year olds that attend the game should stand and scream the entire time, even if we're up by 60-70
- bring in five 5 star studs in every recruiting class
- hang a national championship banner every year
I can't explain to you how difficult it is to stand up and yell the whole game when you have ticket holders that pay their money sitting behind you and yelling "down in front" and "sit down" for the whole game.
The outcome was decided from the start, and nothing you say in complaining about our fans on this site will change how our crowd acts.
You can't have everything all the time, so be thankful that we have won 30 in a row at home. But the fans had nothing to do with that right? much ado about nothing
volfan#207874 writes:
Congratulations Vols! Great game! Great season! Thanks to all of you for perpetuating the Vol Tradition. Continue striving for excellence and the rest will fall into place. One game at a time, with dedication to cause, and you will hang a banner high in the rafters of TBA saying "National Champs." Best to all of you in life's ventures.
TommyJack writes:
dyoung: No I absolutely think fan noise has very little to do with winning. Did you ever play any organized ball? I don't remember noise affecting my play, either way. I will concede that it may, MAY, affect officiating to a slight degree. JMO
danthemanwells#1340833 writes:
students would be a lot louder if we were closer. it's hard to get going for a blowout in a fairly unimportant game from the upper deck.
regardless, we played like men today in the second half. i love this team
danthemanwells#1340833 writes:
VOLS85,
If you paid for the ticket, you have as much right to stand up and yell as they do to ask you sit down, do you not?
MrBamSeydu writes:
ironcity: No, my last comment doesn't contradict anything. Read it again if you must.
It says I am AMAZED that we are undefeated at home. Being undefeated at home doesn't mean the crowd has anything to do with it, it just means they aren't helping us lose. It doesn't mean they are helping us win. In other words, TBA is more like a neutral site because the fans seem like they are uninterested in who wins. Therefore, it's basically a quiet gym and we don't have fans going NUTS and being LOUD like at UK, Memphis, Vandy, Duke, etc etc etc.
Please read things before you vomit from your mouth like that.
EDis4UT writes:
On the CP post-game show - CP had some very interesting observations on the difference on being the #1 seed and being the #2 seed.
Check it out on UT's official site later. It was the last question BK asked him before they signed off.
dyoung2020#325368 writes:
Tommy, yes I played 15 years in the NBA. If noise doesn't affect the game, then why would anyone ever yell? Do you watch the game at home and chant DE-FENSE DE-FENSE?
I agree that in this game the crowd not being loud didn't matter one bit. But how we have the student section has bothered me for the last 10 years, and the topic was brought up, and I'm ranting a little about it. Not looking for change at the top. BUT if I can convince just one person it will be worth it.
zjcvols#543765 writes:
We played one top 25 team at home, and it was really loud (also loud for Florida and Kentucky) People didn't care about this game. I think we could make it a little bit louder, but it is still an intimidating place to play. Congrats to Chris, is Jersey should be retired after Ellis and Houston.
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
Chris Lofton is what is great about college basketball. A classy player.
MrBamSeydu writes:
Tommyjack: I'm not saying the entire lower half of the arena should be a student section. At Duke, one side of the court goes 6 rows deep with students. After that it's open seating. Behind BOTH baskets it's pretty much the same thing, except a little deeper. However, on the other side of the court it is completely open seating, but alot of students or "young people" tend to be in those seats. Therefore, even if the upperdeckers aren't making noise, it seems like the arena is loud the entire game no matter what because the noise is focused ON the court.
I really don't think many fans would complain for not having seats available behind the backboards. So really, the only complaint is giving up 4-6 rows deep on ONE side of the court. I don't think that is too much to ask for to be able to have a REAL homecourt advantage, do you? What is that 200-250 seats extra?
MrBamSeydu writes:
Tommyjack: I'm not saying the entire lower half of the arena should be a student section. At Duke, one side of the court goes 6 rows deep with students. After that it's open seating. Behind BOTH baskets it's pretty much the same thing, except a little deeper. However, on the other side of the court it is completely open seating, but alot of students or "young people" tend to be in those seats. Therefore, even if the upperdeckers aren't making noise, it seems like the arena is loud the entire game no matter what because the noise is focused ON the court.
I really don't think many fans would complain for not having seats available behind the backboards. So really, the only complaint is giving up 4-6 rows deep on ONE side of the court. I don't think that is too much to ask for to be able to have a REAL homecourt advantage, do you? What is that 200-250 seats extra?
MrBamSeydu writes:
zjcvols: If you really thought it was loud at the UF or UK games, you are probably one of the people sitting on their hands that I'm talking about.
dyoung2020#325368 writes:
yemmusbarb, The Vandy and OSU games were decently loud. Probably cause I was there for those two games!! Not only am I a 15 year NBA vet, I can yell at 245 decibles.
MrBamSeydu writes:
dyoung: No you didn't.
VolJunkie writes:
How classy is the UT program; Dave Odom, coaching in his last game as USC coach is recognized by UT prior to the game. I have not heard of that happening anywhere else.
Great game, especially the seniors, 32-0 at home the last two years ... wow!
I have only missed one home game the past two years, I'm 52 and sit in the upper section (sorry, no big money coming from me). Pretty hoarse right now which is a regular thing for me. Today's crowd was different, lots of young kids (< 12) that may have been part of the difference. Generally I think TBA has a great crowd and this fan base travels well. All three seniors commented how much the fan support has meant to them during their careers. The kids at Cameron go nuts, they still lose to UNC at home the past three years. I'll take 32-0 anyday.
Strong showing in the SEC tourney gets a #1 seed, winning has a tremendous way of silencing the naysayers and those who want to put Kansas ahead of UT in the polls.
GO VOLS!!
MrBamSeydu writes:
dyoung: Yeah, I'm an astronaut and I'm on the moon right now typing this. And I can yell at 300 million decibles.
MrBamSeydu writes:
VolJunkie: good point, very classy
dyoung2020#325368 writes:
yemmus: Believe it or not
http://www.databasebasketball.com/pla...
They forgot to list my last 5 years.
bsvolfan#325031 writes:
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VOTE FOR LOFTON EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!
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http://www.seniorclassaward.com/VOTEL...
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VOLS85 writes:
dan - tell me how long the normal person stands and gets in the way of everyone else before someone gets the usher to tell you to sit down...i'm a student, i stand the whole game because everyone else does, but it's hard for the old folks
TommyJack writes:
Whatever. No minds will be changed here.
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