Login | Member Center | Contact Us | About Us | Site Map | Archive | Alerts/Photos | Subscribe to the paper | knoxnews.com

Home › Columns

Adams: UT wins in first round without even playing

By John Adams (Contact)
Originally published 12:00 a.m., March 14, 2008
Updated 12:47 a.m., March 14, 2008

ATLANTA - South Carolina men's basketball coach Dave Odom hadn't had time to appropriately savor Thursday's 77-73 upset of LSU when a reporter asked about today's challenge against fourth-ranked Tennessee.

The reporter's question: Could Odom remember his team prevailing as an underdog in a mismatch as obvious as the one it will encounter in the second round of the SEC tournament at the Georgia Dome?

Odom tried hard to answer the question. He remembered one of his unranked teams at Wake Forest knocking off second-ranked Duke years ago.

But after a long pause and considerable thought, Odom finally concluded, "This is probably as daunting a task as a team of mine has faced in a tournament."

You don't have to rewind the tape beyond last Sunday to understand his assessment. Tennessee routed the Gamecocks 89-56 with a dizzying 51-19 second-half run.

"We felt we got blitzed," South Carolina guard Zam Frederick said. "We got beat bad."

In fact, they were beaten so badly, no one was debating the possibility of a rematch in the tournament.

The Gamecocks entered the tournament having lost five of their last six games. LSU entered the tournament having won four of its last five.

"Nobody wants to play LSU in this tournament," Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said Wednesday.

UT coach Bruce Pearl likely would have echoed those sentiments. His team eked out a 47-45 regular-season victory over the Tigers. Contrast that with UT's 33- and 24-point victories over South Carolina, and you can guess whom the Vols were pulling for in the tournament opener.

LSU outshot the Gamecocks and outrebounded them by 15. South Carolina stymied LSU's runs by hitting clutch shots, holding its ground on defense, and pulling out of a late-game nosedive during which an 11-point lead plummeted to three in less than a minute.

The Gamecocks won't get hung up on the near-loss details. In a 14-17 season, any favorable outcome against an SEC opponent is precious. But their one-sided loss to UT might provide as much motivation as their clutch victory against LSU.

"Nobody wants to get beat like that," Frederick said. "That's the first time I got beat by 30 before.

"It will be a different story (this afternoon). I think we will step up."

But the Vols and Gamecocks are separated by more than a step or two. No one is more aware of that than Odom, who announced his resignation - effective at the end of the season - less than a week after South Carolina's first lopsided loss to the Vols.

"As I said to the media (Wednesday), Tennessee is the overwhelming favorite to win this tournament," Odom said. "I mean, they have proven over the course of the conference season to be the best team.

"They are expertly coached and they have good depth. They hurt you at every position, and they play confidently."

And what do the Gamecocks have going for them?

"We've got the dome," Odom said. "Maybe they don't shoot well. Maybe.

"The best chance we've got is to make them miss. We can't sit back and hope they miss."

They can hope for two halves as good as the first one last Sunday. The Vols only led 38-37 at halftime.

"I'm going to talk to my team relentlessly about the first half," Odom said. "I'm going to show them that over and over again, because that's what it will take for us to be in the game the last two minutes. We've got to play like that for 40 minutes."

Then hope the Vols play up to their tournament history, rather than their talent. UT hasn't reached the semifinals of the SEC tournament since 1991.

But thanks to South Carolina, this tournament is already going UT's way.

On the same afternoon that the Gamecocks got their upset, the Vols got the match-up they wanted.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       53 Comments

Posted by LargeOrange on March 14, 2008 at 1:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wish I hadn't broken my self imposed Adams boycot to read this drivel. I am not even going to get started on this tonight, how obvious is it that this LSU fan is very disapointed that his Tiggers didn't get the chance to upset the VOLS. I really can't believe he even wrote this referring to Coach Pearl - "His team eked out a 47-45 regular-season victory over the Tigers." Sorry John, there is always next year.

Posted by LargeOrange on March 14, 2008 at 1:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OH, I forgot to mention, John, I will be down at the Dome tororrow looking for sad purple people with good seats to the 1:00 game that they won't be needing. If any of your LSU buddies wants to unload their Round 2 tickets before heding back to the Bayou a little earlier than planned, tell them to look for me, I will be the one wearing the BIG ORANGE!!!

Posted by bruceismyhomeboy on March 14, 2008 at 2:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

USC is exactly the type of team i fear in these situations! A team on the ropes with nothing to lose and everything to gain--a wolf backed into a corner! BUT, we have the Vols and BRUUUUUUCE!!! Go Big Orange! Just stay focused--one at a time until Monday!

Posted by Huntingdonvol on March 14, 2008 at 2:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Very well said LargeOrange!!!!!!!!!KNS please fire this sob Adams he is nothing but liberal trash!GO VOLS DOMINATE!

Posted by BillVol on March 14, 2008 at 3:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good column, John. This game scares me to death. They have nothing to lose. And we have a big monkey on our backs. This is a big breakthrough opportunity for us.

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

John Adams: King of low hanging fruit. Master of the easy article.

Mr. Adams, please resign.

Posted by mtnvol on March 14, 2008 at 5:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"King of low hanging fruit." LMAO!!

Posted by GreerVol22 on March 14, 2008 at 7:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good column? I could pull a freshman out of a Karns English class that could write something up better than this.

Posted by bhjohnso on March 14, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

john adams coud write The Sermon on the Mount on here and y'all would get on here and call him an idiot....geez give the guy a break.

Posted by vol88 on March 14, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good post, bhjohnso.

Posted by orangeblood1966 on March 14, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree largeorange, I did the same thing. I figure the way to get rid of this bozo is to quit reading his articles.

Posted by Alphafemale on March 14, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't jinx us!!!!!

Posted by cphil on March 14, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

When will you people get over you "fulmeritis" and let all this whining about John Adams end? Look, the man was doing his job. He's the sports EDITOR which means he's entitled to give his opinion in addition to reporting news, thus the word editorialize. It's not his job to write only pro Fulmer or pro UT propaganda to pander to the faithful.

Do I agree with every opinion he has? No.
Do I think he went overboard in his story regarding Fulmer? Yes.
Do I think he has the right to state an opinion? Absolutely.

I'd much rather hear from a member of the media that states their honest opinion, even if I don't share that opinion, instead of one that only prostitutes for the university or the coach.

Enough is enough.

Posted by Bigger_Al on March 14, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

John Adams shops at the Dollar General store wearing jean shorts with his fly open.

Posted by tigervol9802 on March 14, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I've not talked to one rational, intellegent person yet that wanted to play LSU over SC.

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

Sorry. Don't read Adams' columns. More wasted space.

Posted by dgarland1 on March 14, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why don't you guys get a life. Its a newspaper article for christ sake. Do you really need to spew all this sophomoric blither at the writer to make you feel powerful? Pathetic, grow up.

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on March 14, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It will take a lot to beat usc today. Anytime you have to exercise demons it is never easy.

Posted by 1974Vol on March 14, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Actually I wanted the Tigers! Having beaten USC twice by a combined 57 there ain't much left to do to 'em. The Vols probably played their worst game of the year in Baton Rouge; I mean 47 is just a good half for these guys. Beating LSU by 20+ in the Tourney would have been much more fun than spanking the Cocks again - pun intended.

Posted by 02champs on March 14, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Adams sets up us for a loss whenever he can, that way he thinks he always wins. That's why he picks us to win EVERY single football game.

Posted by GoVol on March 14, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

John - no one is reading!

Posted by 1974Vol on March 14, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh yeah - JA is just a very average sports writer who makes a habit of stating the obvious, except when he goes outrageous in his best imitation of Fienbaum. There are worse things. Its not exactly like "when Adams speaks the Vol Nation listens" or anything. Saying he sucks as a writer is like saying Vandy football stinks. What's the point!

Posted by Volchaz on March 14, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm glad Adams could pull himself together, after his corndogs got beat yesterday. He mustered up some quotes to print, and casted it off as his. Thanks for the quotes, Odum, er Johnny....

Posted by etsuvol99 on March 14, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope the Vols win so Adams will be disappointed.

Posted by LazhilUT on March 14, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

SC will be dangerous...they are confident, we are rested...perfect scenario for an upset. I hope that Pearl has them ready.

Posted by littleorange on March 14, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

John Adams columns are a waist of space that could be used by a good sports editor.......John it's time for you to go!

Posted by AD on March 14, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I love the comment, GoVol - "John - no one is reading!"

So, are you saying that you're putting a comment down without reading the article? Or are you calling yourself no one? I would have to agree with you on the "no one" part of that. There are quite a few here in Knoxville.

Posted by wewhite on March 14, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Here's how the headline for this article should have run:

"With Tennessee's first round bye, I have nothing to write about, so, if you don't mind, I'll just ramble on and thrown in an occasional dig at UT sports so that the comments will fill up and it will appear from the headline and comment count (and the "hot" moniker) on the GoVolsXtra home page that I am saying something significant"

Posted by wewhite on March 14, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I swear, with Adams' columns, it's like shooting fish in a barrel.

Posted by Volchaz on March 14, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm reading between the lines, Johnny was really saying, "UT is Soooo Lucky they don't have to play LSU"

Posted by Volfan1 on March 14, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Adams is:
a) insignificant
b) asinine
c) irrelevant
d) uncredible
e) a total waste of space
f) a firing wating to happen
g) a non-read (skip article to comments)
h) worth commenting on since he flagrantly went over the line
i) all of the above

Posted by LargeOrange on March 14, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Excellent post chkrbrd 9:24 a.m. Adams is a low grade hack at best. He is the editor and writing for the home town paper of a major college, and posting his slanted opinions on a site called GOVOLS. Sorry, but I don't see this in papers in other college towns. Not that they don't have some differing opinions voiced, by staffers, but for the Manager in charge of the writers to be so transparently biased against the hand that feeds him is unusual IMO. If still thinkthis guy is just doing his job listen to him when he is not writing. http://www.finebaum.com/media/archive...

Posted by AD on March 14, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hmm, Volfan1, I wonder...maybe d? Uncredible? Man, the ignorance is flowing like meth around here. Grab a dictionary before you go ranting about someone you don't know. Or, maybe you should "wat" for his firing.

Posted by etsuvol99 on March 14, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WVU's Noel Devine arrested for battery. Who gets fired for that one, John? Rodriguez or the new guy?

Posted by yemmusdarb on March 14, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

LARGEORANGE: "I wish I hadn't broken my self imposed Adams boycot to read this drivel."

Yeah, I think everyone breaks their self imposed Adams boycott. Everyone on here hates him SO bad but reads every single thing he puts out. When you do that, you make complete fools of yourselves.

Posted by ggriggs939 on March 14, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Like Churchhill said about the ugly woman, adams is still adams regardless of how he tries to redeem himself. I think he should contact little al browning to see if he will let adams empty his trash.
The game will be determined by how much the zebras intervene in the play. If they let the teams play with little interference, the VOLS will win. If the zebras control the game, the VOLS will be at high risk because the sec wants another team in the big dance.

Posted by yemmusdarb on March 14, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hi, this is John Adams from KNS. All of you need to get off my jock. If you don't like sex and violence on TV, change the channel. If you don't like the President, well, that's too bad he's still the President. And if you hate me so bad, don't read my articles. It's pretty simple, really. All you're doing by talking about how badly you dislike me on MY columns is telling me you're still reading my columns. That makes my day! Whether you like me or not! Thank you, smiling ear to ear - J.A.

Posted by Hotllama2 on March 14, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

yemmusdarb, the cat is out of the proverbial bag, so to speak. We all know by now that Adam's is a weak journalist and insincere Vol Fan. However, I read the man's articles because I am a Vol Fan, and I enjoy reading about my Vols. I'll read anything, from anyone, about UT. It is upsetting though that someone in his obvious position of authority would knowingly incite hatred from the devoted following of both The News Sentinel and The University of Tennessee. Make no mistake, the man knows what he is doing. Shock journalism has attracted headlines and readers since the days of Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. This tactic has been the downfall of many a "professional journalist." As a Vol Fan, it pains me to read such negativity and vitriol in the "hometown" paper. However, I don't entirely disagree with some of his premises. No one can argue that the recent spate of criminal activity this offseason certainly left a black eye on the Vols community as a whole. Adam's fervently pointed this out in his Fulmer article, and in doing so, drew criticism from the hands that have fed him. Justifiably so, in my opinion. The fact remains though, that many, including myself, will continue to read his articles in the hope that we will find some positive information to feel good about. Keep 'em coming John, because I'm not reading about you, I could care less about you, I'm reading about my Vols!

Posted by mtnvol on March 14, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll admit that I read Jack A$$ until I say to myself "what a Jack A$$!" Usually takes about 2 paragraphs.

Posted by wesw33z on March 14, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mtnvol - agreed. normally 2-3 paragraphs is enough. i live in nw washington and depend on kns/tennessean for all my "hometown" sports news. i dont mind reading opinions that differ from my own, but this is kns. would be nice to read something from ja that wasnt so obviously biased.

Posted by middlegavol on March 14, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sometimes I think that Adams could write the New Testament and you Yahoos would call it anti-Orange. I read this column twice and found nothing anti-UT in it. Just that UT would rather have played SC than LSU. Pretty much a no-brainer there.
Adams' checks are signed by the News Sentinel, not UT. They pay him to write what he thinks, not what UT or you orange kool-aid swilling fans want to read. He obviously is doing a good job in the minds of his employers considering how long he has retained his job.
Every time you all start one of these I HATE JOHN ADAMS threads he just laughs like a fool. If you really wanted to hurt him you would ignore him. The best way to get him fired would be if nobody commented on his columms. But no, it is the same thing every time. Adams writes, you all react like Pavlov's dogs, and he laps it up.
Go ahead, make his day.

Posted by Volfan1 on March 14, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, AD. Ex-cuuuuuuuuuuuuussssssssssssseeee Me!
Please forgive the "uncredible" as an error. Adams is erroneous on entire articles.
So, to replace that, will be "incredible"
Definition: unbelievable
Synonyms: absurd, farfetched, fishy, flimsy, implausible, impossible, improbable, incogitable, inconceivable, insupposable, outlandish, phoney, preposterous, questionable, reachy, ridiculous, suspect, unbelievable, unconvincing, unimaginable, unsubstantial, untenable, unthinkable, weak.

I think that sums it up. And I will "wait" for your "brilliant" response. There are more truths in my typing errors made in haste than your APA approved posts.

Posted by 55Vol on March 14, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

cphil.....nafslov.... middlegavol...

TO responsd to the title JA gave this aticle......DUH!!!!

John Adams manages the KNS sports page about as well he thinks Fulmer manages the football team.

Again, John Adams.....DUH!!!!

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on March 14, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MiddleGaVol...

Think about what you are saying. Every editorial article written by a journalist is written with an underlying "theme" or premiss. Good books are written this way too. It is up to the reader to capture and realize the "message".

This article can be summed up thusly: Tennessee is lucky they are playing South Carolina instead of LSU. They're not dominant enough to beat LSU again at a neutral location like the Dome.

I mean, what else can you read in there? What other message do you get? What was the purpose of this article but to cast doubt on Tennessee basketball?

The point these posters are trying to make is that even an editorial columnist ought to write something positive now and then, and right now everything IS positive with UT athletics. We have a GREAT coach.

But no, he's not unbiased. He's an LSU fan. I don't want a HOMER, but I certainly could do without the LSU propoganda.

Posted by gravegr on March 14, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

good luck in the ncaa tournament. vols are going to need a lot of luck if they play the way they did against usc. go vols.

Posted by middlegavol on March 14, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No LSU-Land, he is simply saying that UT is better off playing a team they beat twice by double-figures instead of one they beat by three points. Nowhere did he say they could or would not beat LSU, simply that they would be better off playing USC.
You all are reading in negativity that is not there. Yes, Adams has been negative towards the football team and has called for Fulmer's dismissal. That does not mean that every word he writes is anti-UT.
You all just do not understand the newspaper business. The job of the NS is to sell newspapers and draw eyes to the website. That is how they make money. If Adams sells an extra dozen papers or draws an extra dozen surfers to the website just to see what outrageous stuff he has written lately he has paid for his salary.
As for Logical Ashley, it isn't about making friends it is about selling. The only friends Adams wants are those Benjamins in his paycheck every two weeks. The same as any other author trying to sell their wares.

Posted by cphil on March 14, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Very well put middlegavol. It's refreshing to read a post by someone with common sense.

Posted by rbatten9 on March 14, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I disagree with UT having to play Carolina 3 times, it proved my doubts big time today.

Posted by yabadabadoo1026 on March 14, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

no conviction at all by the Adams "boycotters" who still and will continue flocking to his articles like ducks to water

the childishness and immaturity of those cultists here who post only to take shots at Adams--like little children on a playground calling others names

any reporting that is not downright homerism will never be tolerated by the koolaiders ----a sick crowd around here for sure

Adams has every right to express his OPINION and Pennington is right on in his article as well

Posted by TommyJack on March 15, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Where is it etched in stone that the KNS Sports
Editor has to be a Vols fan? What a bunch of paranoid whiners.

Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Username:

Password:
(Forgotten your password?)

Your Turn:
Recent Vol videos

Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.