No joke: Pearl splits Coach of the Year in SEC : govolsxtra.com

It was a typical Bruce Pearl reaction.

After finding out he was sharing SEC Coach of the Year honors with Kentucky’s Billy Gillispie, Tennessee’s third-year coach turned it into a joke.

“I have to check with (UT athletic director) Mike Hamilton if it’s in my contract that if I’m co-coach of the year I have to give back half the bonus,” he said Tuesday. “I’ve got to read the fine line on that.”

League coaches voted on the annual awards and also named UT senior Chris Lofton and sophomore Tyler Smith to the first team. Senior JaJuan Smith was a second-team selection and earned recognition as a member of the All-Defensive team.

Sophomore guard J.P. Prince also earned the Sixth Man Award for best reserve player in the league.

“I was glad both Tyler and Chris made the first team and that JaJuan was finally recognized on a team,” Pearl said.

Vanderbilt senior Shan Foster was named the SEC Player of the Year after leading the league in scoring at 20.6 points per game.

“I voted for Foster as player of the year,” Pearl said. “I felt like he was the best player.”

As for Pearl, all he did was lead the Vols (28-3, 14-2 SEC) to their first No. 1 ranking in school history and a first outright SEC regular-season title since 1967. After a roller-coaster first season, Gillispie guided the Wildcats (18-11, 12-4) to second in the East.

No. 4-ranked Tennessee begins SEC tournament play in Atlanta at 1 p.m. Friday (TV: WVLT) against the winner of Thursday’s game between South Carolina and LSU.

Lofton, a preseason All-American, broke out of an early season shooting slump to lead the Vols with 16 points per game.

Tyler Smith proved his versatility after transferring from Iowa, averaging 13.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

Despite the first-team honor, Smith seemed more pleased with JaJuan Smith’s recognition than his own.

“You talk about somebody happy, he’s happy,” Tyler Smith said. “It’s great for him.

“Coach always told us the more we win the better the accolades as far as individuals will be. Individual awards mean something, but just being here to play is great for me.”

Prince, a transfer from Arizona, came on strong after he earned his eligibility in mid-season. The former Memphis White Station star averages 8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds off the bench.

“It’s been my goal since I got back playing to be the best sixth man possible, nationally or in SEC,” he said. “Whatever the coach needs off the bench that night, I try to give it to him. That’s my job.”

More Honors: Pearl, Lofton and Tyler Smith also were honored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Pearl was named the District IV Coach of the Year while Lofton and Smith were named to the All-District IV (Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida) team.

Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis was named District IV Player of the Year.

Staff writer Mike Strange contributed to this report.