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Strange: Vols deserving, but might not get awards

By Mike Strange (Contact)
Originally published 10:18 p.m., March 9, 2008
Updated 10:18 p.m., March 9, 2008

Tennessee celebrated itself Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena. A championship banner was unfurled. Confetti floated. The nets were ceremoniously cut. Championship hats and T-shirts materialized.

Over the next few days, we'll see to what degree the SEC celebrates Tennessee.

An 89-56 romp over South Carolina brought the winningest regular season in UT men's basketball history to a jubilant close Sunday. Friday, the Vols wade into the SEC tournament.

What has gone before and that which is still to come are all about team. The next few days, however, are the annual interlude when individual accolades are distributed.

The media (Associated Press) and the league coaches will each bestow honors. Tennessee, the undisputed regular-season champion, figures prominently in every discussion except the all-freshman team.

Bruce Pearl, it says here, deserves to be named coach of the year.

Because his team was the preseason favorite to win the league championship doesn't mean doing it was any easier. And what Pearl has done for his program off the court should count for something. That's part of his body of work.

But there are two schools of thought on evaluating coaching performances. Reward the guy who produced the best results. Or, reward the guy who, even though he didn't do the best, did better than expected.

If you're in the first school, it's Pearl, slam dunk. If you're in the second, a case can be made for Kentucky's Billy Gillispie, Mississippi State's Rick Stansbury or even Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings. Gillispie, especially.

Sometimes, being the best when you're supposed to be the best gets taken for granted.

In 2006 and 2007, Florida won two national championships, two SEC tournaments and took the 2007 regular-season title by a three-game margin.

How many SEC coach of the year plaques did Billy Donovan get? Zero.

In 2006, Pearl got the media vote and LSU's John Brady the coaches' vote. They won their respective divisions.

In '07, the media voted for Andy Kennedy of Ole Miss, the coaches for Stallings. With five starters returning from the national-champion team, Donovan, in the voters' eyes, merely did what was expected.

The player-of-the-year balloting is even less clear.

Chris Lofton, last year's AP winner, probably hasn't had the season to repeat. His teammate, do-it-all Tyler Smith, has support.

Pearl says he goes with the best player on the best team, an approach Stallings called "garbage" this week.

Ramel Bradley has been superb for Kentucky. But I'm betting Vandy's Shan Foster takes the prize. If so, I don't have a problem.

Tyler Smith and Lofton have done enough to rate first-team All-SEC notice, but it's a crowded field. Maybe too crowded for two Vols.

What about a third Vol?

JaJuan Smith, to Pearl's chagrin, is the most likely Vol to get overlooked for any sort of SEC honors.

Smith admitted Sunday he set an offseason goal to make some kind of All-SEC team. But experience tells him not to get his hopes up.

"It's not going to make or break me," Smith said with a laugh. "I ain't made one since I've been here.''

He said this after a brilliant Senior Day finale in which he scored 17 points, found nine rebounds and led the defensive charge on holding South Carolina's Devan Downey to two points on 1-of-9 shooting.

As Smith left his home floor for the final time, he received a heartfelt standing ovation. That might be his highest honor this week.

If that's the case, he's plenty grateful.

"I'm ready to go out in the real world,'' he said, "knowing I've got these people here who have got my back.''

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

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       41 Comments

Posted by ggriggs939 on March 9, 2008 at 10:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is just another chance for the sec to gig Tennessee. They have done it for years so 2007 - 2008 will not be different.

Posted by dfreeman on March 9, 2008 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

J. Smith and Chris deserve it all!! For J. Smith to go from walk-on to one of the best gaurds in the county?? That's enough for me!! For Chris Lofton to become what he has from where he came from? That too is enough for me! They may not get the credit from all the awards, but they'll never be able to go anywhere in Knoxville without being considered royalty!! Congrats guys we'll miss you!! GO VOLS!!!

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

Tyler Smith has made the difference for this team and deserves a 1st Team SEC spot. Will he get it? I think so.

Stallings said "garbage?" That's not very civil. I say put a pelt on that noggin Kevin. The glare is blinding.

Posted by Hunter on March 9, 2008 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kevin Stallings is a no class also-ran. I hope he goes to Indiana and fails miserably so he can coach at Murray State in a few years and get out of our hair. He's just jealous because the Commode-Dores have their best season ever and are still (maybe - Belmont and Austin Peay are in the Dance) the third best team in the state!

Posted by LiveFaith on March 9, 2008 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Al Gore has an Oscar and a Nobel Peace Prize. That should be "nuff said" about the meaning of awards.

Posted by Gigavol on March 9, 2008 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pearl is just trying to promote his players. If the best team has 3 good to great players and 3 good players, that pretty much negates Pearl's approach to POY. Foster deserves the POY. If the Vols get shunned (especially Smith) it will motivate them. They will need that motivation soon.

I *almost* hope they get shunned, but JaJuan Smith deserves all-conference recognition before he graduates.

Posted by LargeOrange on March 9, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What makes this team special is that on any night any one of about 4-6 players can be the star. I believe that they really don't care about individual honors and awards. That is why they win. I think the only 3 or 4 things that they want is a regular season SEC title, which they have already won, an SEC tourney title, which they are about to take, and a Final 4 and ultimately the NC. Go Vols! forget the mvps and the rest, hang more banners!!

Posted by rootin4volz on March 9, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kevin Stallings should know "garbage" when he sees it...After all, he stares at it in the mirror every morning. Just a wee bit jealous of Bruce Pearl's hair Kevin-boy? You putz.

Posted by yemmusdarb on March 9, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

1st Team All-SEC (the Yemmus version):

PG - Chris Warren (Ole Miss)
SG - Chris Lofton (Tenn)
SG - Shan Foster (Vandy)
PF - Tyler Smith (Tenn)
C - Charles Rhodes (Miss State)

2nd Team All-SEC:

PG - Devan Downey (USC)
SG - Jamont Gordon (Miss State)
SG - JaJuan Smith (Tenn)
PF - Richard Hendrix (Alabama)
C - A.J. Ogilvy (Vandy)

SEC POY:

Shan Foster (Vandy)

SEC Freshman of the Year:

Nick Calathes (UF)

Posted by cjraney on March 9, 2008 at 11:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

JuJuan, you've given your all for Tennessee every night and I have enjoyed watching. Best of luck to you the rest of this season and the next step in your career.

Posted by anthony on March 10, 2008 at 1:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I believe in rainbows, but awards, national acclaim, and rewards do go to the worst of the best, Al Gore. The biased hypocritical world will never seem to get it right. The best man on the best team and the winningest coach!@ Seems right to me.

Posted by 2000man on March 10, 2008 at 1:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Screw the individual awards. We'll take our SEC Championship trophy instead.

Posted by rbatten9 on March 10, 2008 at 2:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Amen 2000. SEC Titles > Individual awards

Posted by jimr07 on March 10, 2008 at 5:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

someone please fill me on what the loser stallings said. it is hard to get information down here in texas

Posted by vol52 on March 10, 2008 at 5:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Awards are nice but championships and rings are nicer. They reflect the the real world which is a team sport! GO VOLS!

Posted by redstickvol on March 10, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

jimr07, its in the article. He called Pearl's assessment of POY "garbage" when Pearl said it should be the best player on the best team.

Posted by alfrizzle097 on March 10, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Kennedy and Pearl were the right choices the last two years for coach of the year. The Brady thing was horrible. He finally gets a team to where it should be to start out with and he gets recognition? Pathetic.

This year the award should go to.... not really a great candidate this year. Florida won't make the tournament, Gillespie screwed up with great talent, and Pearl didn't really need to coach to get the team where it is. Stallings may deserve the award this year even though I despise the pool ball.

Back to the Billy G thing. Tubby left him good talent. Think about the beginning of the year. Which players were supposed to succeed on the team: Bradley, Crawford, and Patterson. Which players have carried the team? See above list. Billy didn't do anything other than mess up a good team at the start of the season and then fix his own mistake. Kentucky is second in the SEC because it is easily the second most talented team in the conference. Billy did squat.

Posted by TurboFan on March 10, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We need the context of Stalling's comment. Was he responding directly to Pearl's comment or just in general to the idea?

Alfriz, couldn't disagree with you more. Pearl didn't need to coach? Puh-leze. Where would this team be if Buzz had coached them this year.

As for BG, Kentucky will be the team to beat next year.

Posted by sg23 on March 10, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pearl's best chance at an award might be jacket and tie of the year

Posted by brownsvillevol on March 10, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

bs wd we will be the team to beat next year.

Posted by pdhuff on March 10, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I voted for Vandy -"Best Gym Resembling a Septic Tank".

They already won the Pillsbury Award - "Best Home Cookin'". LOL

Posted by dash727 on March 10, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

livefaith how is your ignorant pathetic life today. Still believe the world is flat and you are significant. Still have the w sticker on the back of your car? Moron, get off the juice.

Posted by General_Watermelon on March 10, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Manning didn't win the Hesiman but was the SEC leader in nearly every category and will end up the NFL's greatest of all time. Awards. Who cares?

Posted by bsvolfan on March 10, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

***************************************************

VOTE FOR LOFTON EVERYDAY!!!!!!

***************************************************

http://www.seniorclassaward.com/VOTEL...

***************************************************

Posted by Basketball_Jones on March 10, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You guys need to get off Al Gore, did you even watch his documentary? At least he knows about Global Warming unlike a certain administration.

As far as these awards go, who cares who wins them. If any of you have learned through this team they care about "W's". Lofton said something like that on Sunday when asked about the SEC 3pt record, he said it means nothing unless they win deep into March.

If you think anyone besides Shan Foster deserves POY you're nuts

Posted by TurboFan on March 10, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Jones, did you hear the sun is going into a dormant phase and the earth could be cooling off to go into another ice age?

Brownsville, any replacements for Jujuan and Chris are unknowns at this time. Tyler may be great but Wayne, Duke, Prince and Ramar are not yet proven consistent dominators. Can't swing a dead cat without hitting talent in Kentucky.

Posted by TommyJack on March 10, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PD: A possible solution for the Vandy gym situation. lol
http://www.rid-x.com/faq.shtml

Available at any wal-mart. Ask Greeter.

Posted by mparker on March 10, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I dsagree with Foster being player of the year.

Ramel Bradley meant more to his team, and was good both on the road and at home. Not only does he socre, he plays D and handles the ball.

Foster is a notorious 'home' shooter.

Coach of the yera: Palphrey. Ark is second in the west, and has some big wins.

I agree about Gillespie, he flubbed preseason. I will always think it was the UK players pouting over Tubby.

Despite what everyone says, Bruce did a GREAT job. UT is still not a talent-rich program that can just walk on the court and get a 'W'.

Posted by 99gator on March 10, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

don't sweat this stuff. just win in the tourney.

last year's florida team had trouble putting people on the first team all-sec squad.

only one of florida's players was 1st team all-sec.

so, just go win and laugh at it later.

Posted by Vol_Fan_4_Life_615 on March 10, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just like the Gators the last 2 years, ill take 0 awards for 2 more banners in TBA.

Go Vols
The Season just started
Nows the time to play your best.
37-3 nine more to go.

Posted by brownsvillevol on March 10, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

unproven talent in kentucky as well wd with the exception of one player no one else was consistent.

Posted by mparker on March 10, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, vol_fan...
good posts. Kind of startling: UT can NOT afford to lose another game!! Well, okay, they could lose in the SEC tourney, but that would be the last one.

Gotta admit, I'm pulling for an SEC tourney win. It will be tough with our style of play, unless Bruce is content to grind a couple of games out.

We all know what a crapshoot the NCAA's will be.

Posted by TurboFan on March 10, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Okay, Brown, I can agree to that. Maybe it's a phobia. If they wear blue and are from Lexington they can play. I have basketbluelexaphobia.

Posted by egwillo on March 10, 2008 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Remember, there is no "I" in TEAM. The BIG ORANGE play as a unit, not as a me, me, look at me kind of team. Watch our starting 5 pass the ball (and our bench) and you will see unselfish play. These guys don't need awards. Bring home the tournament trophies!!! Thumb your noses at all the naysayers. GO VOLS!!!

Posted by King30 on March 10, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wasn't it a thing of beauty when, late in the 1st half, Jordan came up with the steal, fed Jajuan upcourt, who, rather than taking it to the hole and challenging a SC big, shoveled it back out to Chris for a wide-open 3?
Then, early in the 2nd half, Jajuan drove baseline and fed Chris on the opposite side for another 3.
Jajuan and Chris work so well together and THAT'S the kind of senior guard play that can take you deep in the tournament.
Bruce is too good a coach not to have a NCAA championship or two on his resume when all is said and done.
May as well get started this year with this team!

And, one more thing... That student assistant who sits behind the bench is HOT!

Posted by King30 on March 10, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And how about that spin move Tyler put on down the lane for the and-1!

Yeah...I Tivo'd it.

Posted by General_Watermelon on March 10, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Basketball_Jones - you are correct. Al Gore does know about Global warming. He is contributing to it about as much as the combined lot on these boards. He also invented the Internet. LOL.

Posted by VolBall_1 on March 10, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Basketball_Jones: Everyone knows the REAL reason for global warming--it's the hot shooting of the Vols and Lady Vols! Burn baby burn!!!!!

Posted by mloaks on March 11, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Gore won the Nobel for shedding his TN-style foibles, and speaking truth to power.

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