Tennessee Men's Basketball
ATLANTA — Tennessee's run for an SEC tournament championship in men's basketball came down to two shots.
Arkansas' shot came from 7-foot Steven Hill, who averages 2.9 points per game and missed his only previous attempt of the game.
The No. 4 Vols countered with the greatest 3-point shooter in SEC history, Chris Lofton, who had made 7-of-11 shots.
Hill swished his 6-foot turnaround attempt with 5.3 seconds left, Lofton missed his 19-footer at the buzzer, and the Razorbacks won 92-91 Saturday in Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
The SEC tournament was moved to the Georgia Tech campus Saturday after a tornado damaged the Georgia Dome Friday night.
The smaller arena and crowd (approximately 2,000 fans) did nothing to sap the teams' electricity.
UT (29-4) shot .552 percent from the floor with Lofton scoring a game-high 25 points, Tyler Smith pouring in 24 and JaJuan Smith adding 18.
Arkansas (22-10) shot .545 with 6-foot-9 power forward Charles Thomas leading the way with 24 points.
As big as Thomas played, also grabbing 10 rebounds, it was Hill's shot that will go down in Razorbacks folklore.
"I obviously did not expect to take that shot, or any other shot at the end of the game,'' Hill said. "A blind dog finds a bone now and then.''
And an eagle-eye misses a shot.
"I got a great look at the end; it was a perfect setting,'' said Lofton, who hit the game-winning shot in UT's win over South Carolina in the second round on Friday. "It just didn't go down for me.
"Of course we're disappointed right now; we had our heart set on making history.''
The Vols advanced to the semifinals of the SEC tournament for the first time since 1991, but they couldn't match the feat they also accomplished that year of making it to the title game.
While Arkansas advances to play Georgia in today's championship game, UT's focus shifts to the NCAA tournament selection show (TV: WVLT, 6 p.m.).
UT coach Bruce Pearl and his players said after the loss they are deserving of one of the tournament's four No. 1 seeds.
"Over the last 15 years, 1999 Duke had the highest RPI,'' Pearl said, referring to the ratings system commonly used in the NCAA tournament seeding process which takes into account strength of schedule, record and where games were played. "Tennessee is the second-highest RPI in the last 15 years.
"We're certainly under consideration. Wherever they'll seed us, we'll go play.''
UT was looking to take any doubt out of the seeding process when it completed a 9-0 run to go up 73-64 with 8:55 left on a Tyler Smith 3-pointer.
Arkansas coach John Pelphrey had seen enough and called timeout with 8:50 left.
"I told the guys, 'you don't have it tonight,' '' Pelphrey said. "I told them, 'You need to congratulate Tennessee. You can't guard them. Chris Lofton is beating you right now, not with his threes, but with his driving.' ''
Pelphrey's tactic worked. The Vols didn't score a field goal over the next three minutes.
In the meantime, Arkansas went on a 12-3 run, tying the game at 76-76 on Gary Ervin's jumper with 6:03 left.
UT forged back ahead 81-77 on a Tyler Smith turnaround and a Lofton trey, but the Hogs stayed red-hot, tying the game at 83-83 on a spectacular Sonny Weems alley-oop dunk with 3:31 left.
There were seven ties or lead changes from that point on, Hill providing the final one.
"You can't win championships getting beating on the boards like we did,'' Pearl said, referring to Arkansas' 34-22 rebounding advantage and 14-6 edge in second-chance points. "Right now, they (UT players) are disappointed. They came here to win the championship. They carried the banner for the SEC all season long.
"We have time to get them focused and turned around. Part of it is remembering this feeling.''
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Comments » 333
MrBamSeydu writes:
Arkansas fans owned our fans, no surprise there.
I can't wait until we get a new PG. Ramar and Jordan cost us the game with t/o's and missed FG's.
kesterja#235578 writes:
And, as usual, missed FT's
invisiblekid writes:
Great game by two excellent teams. Agree with I believe it was Hammond, the Hogs are coming together at the right time. The Vols HAVE to stop giving up so many open looks, at least get a hand in the shooter's face.
88volgrad writes:
That's what lousy defense will get you. I don't like this team's chances in the NCAA at all. Other teams have stepped up their game for post season while UT has not. This team has the potential to reach the Final Four, but they also have the potential to be the first one-seed to lose to a sixteen-seed.
Basketball_Jones writes:
Ya know this was a tough game against a good team, there is nothing wrong with them losing. The one thing if I were Pearl I would do, is make Howell hand out towels during the NCAA tourney. He brings nothing to the floor when he plays. He can't shoot, can't break down the D, can't play "d" and he can't get to the line cause he's so slow he can't penetrate.
Tough loss but may be just the thing this team needs going into the tourney. We won't be in the UNC bracket cause we'll be the #1 2 seed, we'll be with Texas or Kansas
invisiblekid writes:
Be interesting to see how the mighty Tigers fare after they get finished beating up on high school teams and have to go to a D I schedule on Thursday.
mdvol writes:
Free throws and defense, boys. No more games in Knoxville.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
BIGEJ writes:
Blame it on Fulmer....
Retiredvol writes:
grizcheese you Moron UT will get NO less than a #2 seed.
ClockworkOrange writes:
Thats cool, wouldn't we rather be a #2 seed and play our games in NC rather than a #1 out west somewhere. Hey memphis fan, what team was it that kiced your all's cans in your own crib this year...can't seem to remember. Please reply and say "______ is the team that gave us a spanking on national TV on our own court."
bshell12 writes:
Lay of Jordan please people, he is doing everything else well except shooting the ball, i can't wait till he hits a big shot so yall will shut the hell up
volfan73120#211815 writes:
Our defense has played terrible in this tournment. We can't blame anybody but ourselves. As close as we let inferior teams play, it was no wonder we would get burnt. Let's learn from this and focus on the NCAA. GO VOLS
injunvol writes:
dang --- choked on a hog bone --- good season shot down - arky may very well be the s.e.c champion now
kesterja#235578 writes:
Man...what happened when we went up by 9 there toward the end. We immediately started fouling like there was no tomorrow. Arkansas was unconscious from the free throw line, which is where they beat us.
ClockworkOrange writes:
Thats cool, wouldn't we rather be a #2 seed and play our games in NC rather than a #1 out west somewhere. Hey memphis fan, what team was it that kiced your all's cans in your own crib this year...can't seem to remember. Please reply and say "______ is the team that gave us a spanking on national TV and took our #1 ranking from us on our own court." Let's see if youre man enough to do that.
skroutyboy writes:
Go Tigers?!? Check out that 1 beside your record. You got slapped in your own building. What a loser--play in a real conference. Isn't Conference USA #10 in the RPI? You are pathetic and you know it. You had a chance to put your money where your mouth is and you gagged. You were Tiger High yesterday, you're Tiger High today and you'll be Tiger High tomorrow. To add insult to injury, you're in Memphis, the armpit of the world. That being said, as much as I like CBP, he did not have us ready to play in the tourney. We easily could have lost yesterday and deserved what we got today. Horrible preparation and execution. We could not defend a middle school team. If our defense does not improve, it will be a short run in the tourney. To be quite honest, a pathetic representation by our coaching staff and our team. Totally inexcusable. And Griz, again, 66-62, but you do have us beat on murders per capita.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
trey Johnson:
I really, really wish you and I were face to face right now.
UTByrd writes:
I think CBP was saving his team's endurance for the championship game by not having them use their patented full-court press the last couple of games. If they made it to Sunday, they would have pulled out all the stops. Alas, we are sent home to rest up for the Big Dance.
GO VOLS!!!!!
ratkins589#246270 writes:
i wish howell would'nt shoot but gotta take the bad with the good
mdvol writes:
I thoght we owned Arky after shutting down McFadden and then winning by 20 in Knoxville. I guess the fat hog is singing.
ClockworkOrange writes:
No I agree about Howell, he's just logging minutes and the whole bit about "doing everything but scoring" doesn't cut it when you are a run-n-gun team like UT. Its like playing 4 on 5 when he's out there.
cdonsbach writes:
grizcheese1 we beat you on your home floor. Please STFU until you beat a ranked team.
DroopyDrawers writes:
Too much Hot Doggin! Poor free throw shooting and point guard play was awful. You don't let a 7 footer that has no points all night get the shot off. No way he makes two free throws. Then OT!
This team is very over rated. Too many weak links. Chism shooting three's???? I would have started Crews in the 2nd half also.
Everyone said that sooner or later free throws would cost us big time.
If Vols get to Elite 8, they will be doing good. All said and done, still a fun season.
MrBamSeydu writes:
grizcheese1: you realize we beat Memphis right? I mean, maybe we'd win our conference tourney if we were in the Conf-USA where the avg RPI is somewhere around 3,408. Also, you like to call East TN people hillbillies, but you live in the same state we do. If anything, I'd rather live around hillbillies than thugs and wanksters.
rebyank2#435202 writes:
Did Tennessee forget how to play defense?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Mr_Brownstone writes:
i was a student in 91 when we went to the finals. i don't think we will ever win the sec tourney. this hurts as much as the dwight clark catch against the cowboys.
splinterdand#602266 writes:
Mempiss. I like that. Hey,dorkcheese. How many championships does elite Mempiss have? Can't really call yourself elite if all you can beat is junior varsity teams and NEVER win any titles. In any sport.
tenuscvol writes:
IMHO.....outplayed emotionally...outplayed (outcoached?) strategically and the hogs made the shots when they needed and we did not...life goes on and this to shall pass....If the big orange was going to loose then better to the hogs then to Vandy even though I think we would have matched up better with them. Once you start getting in foul trouble sending the big guys to the line rather than let then own the inside becomes more problematic...Govols..sure wish I was wathcing them play tomorrow... :-(
volsfan92 writes:
before people get too cranked up UNC almost lost to Va Tech playing for a berth in the dance, Duke lost to Clemson same deal, and then Ark was playing for its life today. Another great game from Tyler
skroutyboy writes:
We do not have a point guard. Ramar is out of control so many times and is horrible at the line. Jordan Howell couldn't hit a bull in the a** with a bass fiddle. When is the last time he actually made a shot? One of the worst shooters I have ever seen. Wait!! Ramar just threw the ball away again. I sincerely hope the kid from Michigan can come in and play immediately. He could play for us now.
bshell12 writes:
good lord people its not the end of the world we will still play next week, and who knows this loss may be just what we needed, 29-4 and we are complaining about losing in the sec tournament is there not something more important, thats what i thought so shut up if your just going to down the team go cheer for Kentucky or Florida we don't need you
injunvol writes:
still got the lady vols they will always be the best - and its baseball time in tennessee
Volalumnus writes:
TN #2 seed
Vandy 5 seed
Miss St 8 seed
Ark 9 seed
No other SEC teams
TN won't make it out of the second weekend, especially if officiating goes like it did in the second half.
No level of defense can stop another team if they call a foul when you breath on them at one end and they can knock you down the final 8 mins and nothing will be called.
Defense is always much better when things are called the same at both ends.
vol4good#206163 writes:
I agree about the FT's! But, I also believe the team relaxed and expected Lofton to sink the big 3 at the end. This game should never have come to a last second shot! Hope the fellas realize the task they have and the hopes they carry. Lets go Vols--the tourny is at hand and poise is required. Never Quit and never stop playing D!!! Go VOLS!!!!
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
The stats look really even until you get down to the rebounds, and we were out-rebounded tonight, 22/34. The shocker is that we usually win in the bench point category, but they had 38 to our 6. Hopefully they'll figure that out before next week. http://livestats.secsports.com/mbb/ga...
Go Vols!! pj
Volalumnus writes:
More would have thought this was a great effort if that final 3 went down.
rebyank2#435202 writes:
I'm a Tennessee fan living in Connecticut, and didn't get to see the game. They must have looked bad. Is there any hope of doing well in NCAA?
It sure doesn't look good from where I'm at.
kdub writes:
reason we lost the game was missed FT's plus absolutely horrible PG play. Ramar has regressed from last year & neither he nor Jordan can shoot a lick. Pearl has got to get a true PG for next year along with Hopson.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
rebyank2:
you can watch on yahoo broadcast or espn350.com
to wit: we are not good enough to make mistakes at the end. We made several. the most critical where the missed FT's by Ramar and Chris. That's 3 HUGE points in the clutch. Also, Wayne was out of postion againtst Hill.
walvol writes:
Howell needs to keep dishing the ball. We don't need any shots from anyone that questions weather they can make it or not.
overatedvols writes:
Ha ha... i can't stop laughing. You guys haven't beaten anybody decisively in a long time. You struggle and even lose to mediocre teams. You have struggled against LSU, Georgia, Alabama and now South Carolina and Arkansas and i'm just mentioning the lower tier of the SEC.
You are not a top 10 team and never were. You played in a conference that was weak this year.
You do not look good..not impressive and that was
a horrible loss ..horrible two games to send you off to the tournament. If you were going to be a 1 seed you certainly aren't now. I just hope you end up in the region with Memphis now. Everybodies mouths are watering to have a game with Tenn. again when the Tigers are playing well again and they are now. As the season came to an end they have started clicking on all cylinders. They are going to be impressive in the tournament. We want you... You guys can hold your end of the bargain and keep winning so that we can play you again right.... wrong..... I'm not sure you'll see the sweet 16. Face it.. you were like North Carolina this year.. totally overrated. At least they got better near the end of the season.
Whew.i'm embarrassed for Tenn. and i'm not a fan. You showed what you really were all about in the last 2 days.
invisiblekid writes:
"Howell couldn't buy a bucket even if he went to KFC." Can't argue with that et_vol_fan, Howell went 0 for the SEC tournament.
ClockworkOrange writes:
Hey PJ...what was the foul shot ratio for the vols and Rbacks
volinlouisville writes:
Man, I think I would've rather had Josh Tabb guarding Thomas than Duke or Brian Williams. Josh is about the only one who seems to care about defense more than 50% of the time.
Wonder if Pelphrey glared at JaJuan after the game? I love JaJuan's passion but he needs to just play ball.
volinlouisville writes:
Man, I think I would've rather had Josh Tabb guarding Thomas than Duke or Brian Williams. Josh is about the only one who seems to care about defense more than 50% of the time.
Wonder if Pelphrey glared at JaJuan after the game? I love JaJuan's passion but he needs to just play ball.
invisiblekid writes:
"Howell couldn't buy a bucket even if he went to KFC." Can't argue with that et_vol_fan, Howell went 0 for the SEC tournament.
walvol writes:
Bruce will have them ready!!!!!!
ballewville6 writes:
freethrows loften missed 1 and ramar missed2 in last 75 seconds,we should have won free throws will get you beat everytime plus they were letting thomas push people out of way to get to basket,in 2 sec tourny games ut was called for 52 fouls the opponents 37 fouls,should have been more we can still get to final four as long as the foul situation isnt called the same.and we have to play better defense
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