Photo by Michael Patrick
Tyler Smith, middle, of Tennessee is defended by a couple of teammates during practice at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday. The Vols will open their NCAA play Friday against American University.
Photo by Michael Patrick
Tyler Smith has written a message to his father on the side of his shoes. Smith's father lost a long bout with cancer in September 2007.
For guys like Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith, they're veterans of the pressures that come with March Madness.
They've been there. They've done that.
This is the third year in a row the senior guards have helped take the University of Tennessee to NCAA tournament play and riding a wave of high expectations.
It's all new to Tyler Smith.
The sophomore transfer from Iowa didn't get this chance with the Hawkeyes last season.
For him, the Vols' first-round NCAA matchup 12:15 p.m. Friday (TV: WVLT) against American University is just another huge stage to conquer.
"Ever since I was little I wanted to be able to make it to the tournament," Smith said after a tough two-hour workout at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday. "All I want to do now is make it to the Final Four."
Smith hasn't backed down from any challenges since getting an NCAA waiver to return home and play immediately at Tennessee.
He watched his father Billy lose his grueling fight to cancer on Sept. 17, 2007.
He regrouped, refocused and dedicated his sophomore season to the memory of his father.
Now, here it is. It's time to shine one more time for the old man.
On Smith's practice shoes, he still has scribbled "R I P Billy Smith."
So anyone who thinks an NCAA tournament game is pressure, hasn't gone through what Tyler Smith has gone through this season.
It's just another game on a much larger scale.
"Yeah, I've thought about it a long time," he said. "I haven't gotten advice from anyone. You just have to go out an play regardless of the stage.
"I don't think it can get any bigger than that Memphis game. I know there will be a lot of people and a lot of media, but we've just got to come out and play Tennessee basketball regardless."
Lofton shrugged off any notion he needed to give Smith (13.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.5 apg) pointers on handling NCAA pressure.
"I'm not going to tell him too much," Lofton said. "I think he's fine. You just let him know everybody's going to be out there playing for their lives.
"It's one and done and everybody's chasing a dream so you have to leave it all out there on the court. He knows what's at stake."
UT coach Bruce Pearl said he hasn't talked to Smith about the NCAA atmosphere, but he might take him aside for a talk before getting to Birmingham.
"He has played in such big games before and stepped up," Pearl said. "I think he'll treat it just like he did in the (SEC) tournament.
"I think we're all excited about the possibilities. The only thing you don't want him to do is put undue pressure on himself."
Not a problem, Coach.
This one's for Billy.
Prince Repeat: Even though he's a first-year player at Tennessee, this isn't a new experience for Vols' sophomore transfer J.P. Prince.
As a freshman at Arizona in 2006, Prince made it on the court for a brief appearance in the Wildcats' 94-75 first-round romp past Wisconsin. Arizona was put out in the second round by Villanova.
Birthday Boy: After working his team hard on Tuesday, Pearl was taking care of some logistics on the sideline when his son Steven came over and gave him a surprise.
He embarrassed his dad by yelling in a loud voice, "Happy Birthday, Coach."
Pearl turned 48.
"My birthday always comes during the tournament so there's no time to celebrate," he said. "I think at a certain age, don't you stop celebrating at some point?"
Not This Time: Pearl has been raking in coaching honors, but the son of his mentor was named the Henry Iba Coach of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
First-year Drake coach Keno Davis, son of Pearl mentor Dr. Tom Davis, won the award for leading the Bulldogs to a 28-4 record, a Missouri Valley Conference title and a No. 5-seeding in the NCAA tournament.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 45
utfpmd writes:
For a great article on Bruce Pearl, go to
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/column...
CoverOrange writes:
Time to let it loose Tyler. You have to believe that you'll not get a second chance.
TommyJack writes:
utfpmd: Tremendous article.
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Good job, John Adams...er I mean Mark Burgess.
volfan73120#211815 writes:
utfpmd: Thanks for the great article.
King53 writes:
I am SO glad to have Tyler as a member of this team. He has really blossumed under Pearl. Imagine...playing less minutes and 5 statistical categories improve. Hope he comes back for at least one more year.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Bring it. Time to show them what this team can do.
VolJunkie writes:
Great story, great article.
Tyler Smith is the difference maker, no team we may face in the tourney, including UNC, has anyone who can stop him.
Go VOLS!!!
1974Vol writes:
The only thing this team needs to go deep in the dance is PLAY DEFENSE. They can when they want to. But giving up 80+ and 92 like they did in SECT won't get it done.
HotlantaVol writes:
We'll be better off in the tourney because we'll be playing teams we haven't played before, most likely. It's like the Arkansas teams in the '90s under Nolan Richardson. Forty minutes of hell is hard to comprehend when looking at game film. SEC teams have faced it before and know what to expect. They had our number by the end of the season.
jweaver3#395614 writes:
Tyler has always said he will be here 2 yrs and I don't think this year will change that. I think he will want 1 yr to be the man after C-Lo and JuJuan leave to really improve his draft status. He can take over a game when he has to and next year he could be an animal!!!
GO VOLS
TXVOLSFAN
rockyknox writes:
Enjoyed the article. Tyler will shine on the big stage.
gohawks1 writes:
utfpmd - great link.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
Mr. Tyler Smith,
I think I speak for all UT fans when I say that if you lead us to a National Championship over the next 3 weeks, then we will all gladly see you leave early for the NBA....it would be fitting to see you, C-Lo and JaJuan leave together with the trophy residing in Knoxville, TN!!!!
Sincerely,
Volunteer Nation
Volchaz writes:
This guy is unstoppable in the paint. He'll step up big in this tourney.
THE_VOL writes:
Nice article on Tyler but practice has sucked the last two days. Some attitudes creeping in and chemistry hasn't been good. They need to get their collective heads together or this will be a short tourney.
BAFLETCHER writes:
Great article on Tyler.
Mike Hamilton, I know you don't read this stuff, But why don't you set a precedent and guarantee BPearl the 3rd highest college BB coach's salary in the country plus $1000 with the incentive that after he wins a NC he will become the highest paid college coach + $1000 in the country. That should keep him here a while. Go VOLS
skroutyboy writes:
The Vol, how do you know this?
VolJunkie writes:
THE_VOL (10:35a) -
Without naming names, can you elaborate?
gohawks1 writes:
THE VOL, what is your source?
knoxtenor writes:
It'll be a few weeks (assuming...) before Smith sees any NCAA tournament game with pandemonium like the UT-Memphis game a month back. As I recall, he wasn't too off his game for that one.
overatedvols writes:
Super, great, definitely the best team in the nation. Will win it all no doubt. Other teams shouldn't bother to show up. The way we finished out the season everyone will fear us.
THE_VOL writes:
To those asking, I was there. To elaborate, guys loafing in drills and mouthing off when teammates tried to get them going. One in particular got an attitude with a coach. Almost a couple of fights cause guys didn't like others being physical. A general tension in the air and not much cohesiveness. Maybe it's just a little hangover from the weekend and the seeding and maybe it will pass by Friday noon, but much of what I saw was similar to the phooey that was going on in November and early December and it wasn't good.
gohawks1 writes:
brownsvillevol, it sounds like THE_VOL is his own source, since he says he was there. There may be something to his statements, as he is sharing his own observations and not some second-hand source (assuming his claims are valid).
I'm counting on CBP to get them focused before the first game, though. If anybody can do it, he can.
overatedvols writes:
Oh, this is not good. They are starting to predict that we will lose in the second round.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatou...
This certainly can't happen, can it?
utvolz#637682 writes:
Tyler,
I hope you and all our VOLS have a great post-season! Feel the energy of your teammates and know your father is looking down on you with a huge smile on his face! GO BIG ORANGE!
Frank in Miami
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
I live in Indianapolis, which is not only the home of the Colts, but of Butler University, as well. I started getting some smack talk this morning from folks. Here's to the VOLS being red hot during the tournament!!
redneckerson writes:
Practice was open today - did anybody go and see any evidence of what thevol was talking about?
vols1314 writes:
Can't wait to leave for Birmingham Friday morning.
WIN IT ALL VOLS!
overatedvols writes:
I was there redneck. It wasn't good i'll tell you that. At one point JaJuan Smith missed a layup and J.P. Prince jumped him and called him a sissy. JaJuan responded with.."I know you are..but what am I". Chris Loften chimed in and said you all are nothing but a bunch of idiots with no iq's and Tyler said.. "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me".
It got worse. Chism asked Lofton what 8 times 6 was and Loften said 46 and everybody laughed at him and he stormed off the court. As he was walking away he yelled over at some of the backups.. .What are you laughing at. You're nothing but a bunch of bench warmers" He never came back and I heard he was in the locker room crying. This is upsetting to see such squabbling among themselves so close to the big dance.
volboy81#211803 writes:
Youve already made us very proud Vols....lets get about 6 more wins this season!!
GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!
vols1314 writes:
PLEASE tell me you're lying overatedvols. I thought Lofton was smarter than that.
TommyJack writes:
overated: That sounds like a load of it to me.
Cryin in the locker room. Puhleeze.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Bill Simmons-ESPN picked UCLA vs Tenn in Champ game. UCLA 77-70 was his pick. Get 'em Vols.
VolJunkie writes:
pdhuff -
It is amazing what a high opinion the commentators on both ESPN and CBS have of UCLA. I saw them play a couple of times this year and was not overly impressed, I just don't get it. Glad to see Simmons had UT in the final (me too!), I don't see UCLA getting past Memphis or Texas (IMHO).
Madkels writes:
Quit worrying everyone. Just like last year with the Lady Vols, a early exit fron the SEC Tourney will cause us to re-focus, pull together, and go deep into the tournament. With all of the dissing we are getting, Bruce will have plenty of bulletin board material to get our guys jacked up. I feel sorry for American on Friday afternoon. And as for Butler, the loss to them last year will be motivation to not look past them and kick their butts. Louisville will be the first test and we will prevail. Bruce will have 'em ready. Losing in the SEC, getting a #2 seed was good for us. We will prove 'em all wrong. GO VOLS!!!
rockyknox writes:
Dan Patrick has us playing UCLA in the final game. Have you seen this weeks Sports Illustrated? Just went to the mailbox and found my copy with Chris Lofton on the cover. Cool!
rockyknox writes:
Chris Lofton
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_o...
overatedvols writes:
Oh yeah, I forgot one other thing. When I was at the practice and they were all jumping at each other. When the reserves laughed at Lofton for not knowing what 6X8 was and as he was walking away..he was upset and he said.. you are just benchwarmers......I don't even know your name. One of the reserves said: "what's my name? Pudden Tane ask me again and I'll tell ya the same?"
I had forgotten about that. I do hope they work this out.
trl_x writes:
LOL. Overrated may be in rare company. He seems to be a record-breaking idiot.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
rockyknox, thanks for the link to the SI cover. Cool as it is, it is probably only one of a half-dozen such covers in various regions of the country. Assuming the posts about recent Vol practices are true, I am hoping it is nothing more than a bit of healthy tension building up before their big test. Big-time athletes at the peak of physical and mental readiness are going to be edgy at times. Great coaches know how to channel that edginess into inspired performance. I surely hope that is the case here! GO VOLS!!! PASSION, PREPARATION, AND POISE!!!
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
Relax people.....overrated was being very tongue - in - cheek......do you really believe that is what those players said to each other?
Everyone lighten up and trust in Bruce Pearl!!!
Go Vols!!!
THE_VOL writes:
brownsvillevol...listen up moron - I DID "reveal my source" - MY OWN DAMNED EYES! I've been on this board a helluva lot longer than you - yes, I still beg for KNS to go back to a pay site so idiots like you will go away - and I guarantee you I have no need to "feel important posting on a website." So anytime you'd like to back up your cowardice let me know when and where.
volusherG writes:
Hey VOL fans!
How about helping a BIG ORANGE BROTHER out!
Click or copy and paste the link below and vote for awVols1985, the TENNESSEE representative on CBSsportsline's Member Mayhem contest! Let's keep UT in the essay tournament too!
Thanks for your interest and participation!
http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/message....
GO VOLS ! ! !
Razzle writes:
I was at the same practice that overated was at. After all that happend then John Calapari ran out on the court and asked Bruce Pearl for a few coaching tips. When Bruce told him he was too busy then Calapari ran off the court cussing like a sailor.
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