Boxes and Scores
Brackets & More
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl wanted to shake things up in his lineup. American wanted to shake things up in the NCAA tournament.
The second-seeded Vols (30-4) topped the 15th-seeded Eagles (21-12) by a deceptively wide 72-57 final score Friday in the first-round at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.
UT advances in the East Regional to play Horizon League champion and No. 7-seed Butler (30-3) on Sunday (TV: WVLT, 2:30 p.m.) with a trip to the Sweet 16 in Charlotte, N.C., on the line.
Pearl, in a surprise move Friday, benched his primary point guards, sitting starter Ramar Smith through the first half and senior Jordan Howell the second half.
“Is anyone happy with our point-guard play? I don’t think so,’’ said Pearl, who made his 500th career game as a head coach one of his strangest with the timing of the shakeup. “That’s why J.P. (Prince) has practiced at point guard all week. I wanted to shake things up.’’
The end result was the Vols advancing with Ramar Smith and Prince as point guards of the immediate future and Howell out of the rotation.
“I gave Jordan one last shot,’’ Pearl said. “But we have played J.P. at the point before. We did it in the preseason and again after Vanderbilt. I didn’t stay with it. Now, I’m going to stay with it.’’
At first, some speculated that Ramar Smith and Brian Williams were not playing in the first half because of a disciplinary issue.
Not so, Pearl said.
“Brian had no points and five fouls in his last game, and I just wasn’t pleased with his performance against Arkansas, so I went with Ryan Childress in the first half,’’ Pearl said, “and, we’re trying to get better point guard play. I had to do something.’’
All the speculation could have been a moot point had UT not found a way to win Friday despite being out-hustled and out of sync much of the game.
American took advantage of the Vols’ state of flux to keep the game tight throughout, trailing 57-53 with 3:46 remaining.
The Eagles’ spread offense kept UT players away from the goal, mindful of perimeter shooting, paving the way for the smallish American team to hold a surprising 39-27 rebounding advantage.
“They got a pretty good idea when (Garrison) Carr’s going to shoot the ball, and because you have your bigs out there hedging him and doubling him some, shots are taking place when your inside guys aren’t inside their guys,’’ Pearl said. “So it’s really not a checkout situation; it’s a race to the boards.’’
What the Eagles did checkout was Chris Lofton’s offensive production, holding UT’s All-American to five points on 1-of-7 shooting.
“Did they stay tight on me?’’ Lofton asked rhetorically. “I couldn’t breathe!’’
But eventually, as Pearl had told his players during the timeouts, the Patriot League champion Eagles wore down.
“Coach prepared us for a close game,’’ said UT senior JaJuan Smith, who led the Vols with 19 points. “Coach told us it would be a dogfight.
“We were trying to wear them down.’’
Carr played 40 minutes for American and scored a game-high 26 points, but also, missed his final four 3-point attempts over the final five minutes.
In fact, after drawing to 53-51 with 5:19 left on Derrick Mercer’s jumper, the Eagles made 1 of 10 shots the remainder of the game.
“I think ultimately they wore us down,’’ American coach Jeff Jones said. “I thought our guys stepped up to the challenge, but unfortunately, we weren’t quite up to it.’’
The Vols scored two baskets over the final five minutes but were able to pull away by hitting 14 of 21 free throws.
“We can breathe again,’’ Ramar Smith said. “Today, me not playing the first half was coach’s decision. The whole world knows I haven’t been playing to my ability.’’
And Pearl said he knew the 10 minutes of playing time Prince received in the Arkansas loss wasn’t enough.
“I looked at J.P. only playing 10 minutes, and I’m going, ‘I gotta do something,’ ’’ Pearl said. “I just don’t think Jordan and Ramar were playing well enough to win a championship.’’
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 120
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
we've got to survive and advance. 34 for butler went off today 8-10 deep 3's and that's off the bench! we have to get in their face sunday!
JohnnyU writes:
Well, no one can say that BP is afraid to make personnel changes at a crucial point in the season. Feel bad for Jordan though. I have to say I was more concerned with inside defense that the guards, but maybe that's where the problems were starting.
BigOrange_supporter writes:
Survive and move on, one at a time!!
bshell12 writes:
J.P. only makes our pg play worse he can't pass, can't shoot, is far from being quick, and an awful defender, I just don't understand... maybe we should not worry so much about the pg and concentrate on playing good defense then the points will follow off of turnovers
Basketball_Jones writes:
He's a better defender than Jordan and causes matchup problems for other teams PG's. Jordan just isn't an SEC caliber PG. He had a decent career at UT but it's time to play the best players not the ones who been here the longest.
imw8n4u writes:
Why can't Lofton run the show some. He always makes some good dishes and can drive to the hoop. I know they like to free him up off screens and feed him, but if we're that desperate, give it to the senior leader.
utfpmd writes:
Need to play smarter and with more discipline!
bshell12 writes:
why not tabb he played point in high school and he is an excellent passer and an outstanding defender, and has a good shot just has yet to show it cause he looks for his teammates
Silent_Fulmer writes:
Man, you want to talk about missing Dane Bradshaw....Were still better overall this year but damn I am missing that guy right about now.
Butler was ridiculous today. Hopefully our boys realize that our season is over on Sunday without a really good if not great performance.
Silent_Fulmer writes:
Man, you want to talk about missing Dane Bradshaw....Were still better overall this year but damn I am missing that guy right about now.
Butler was ridiculous today. Hopefully our boys realize that our season is over on Sunday without a really good if not great performance.
creepykev#228270 writes:
When Prince was out there it looked like Tyler came out to the top to really play the point after Prince brought it up the court.
LargeOrange writes:
I am glad to know why CBP benched Ramar for a half. I am glad it wasn't disciplinary It is good to see that he sees that something is missing and is willing to shake things up a bit trying to find the answer. I hope he is not too late. Sorry Jordan, I was pulling for you, but this is showtime and you are not hot.
Vandy down by 13 now 7:15 left.
db11_cn writes:
Pearl is still building a team to compete for a Final Four berth. We have no true point guard until next year. Lofton is a great shooter but not particularly quick, thus not that big a challenge to shut down if you want to devote a man to him and offer no help D. on Tyler and JuJaun. We may be expecting too much this year from a team that is noticeably deeper than last season, but won a title in a weak conference. Vandy is on its way out (Shan Foster - Player of the Year? give me a break!) and exposed as way overrated. IMO, UT has been a bit too proud of itself since the Memphis game, and they can't shake it.
tigervol9802 writes:
There are very few things Pearl has done that I strongly disagree with.....this is one of them.
I understand Howell can't hit the broad side of a barn right now shooting......but I still think he's a very calming influence out there at times.
With as sporadic as Ramar is and as foul prone as Prince can be....he better hope we don't need Howell again. He is officially finished.
Let the bashing of me begin.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
MAN, I like this coach.
bshell12 writes:
i agree tigervol howell is a senior leader i thought he played fine today and i am anti JP as you can be
williamshockley#225607 writes:
Keep Jordan on the bench, he has completely lost his shot. UT peaked at the Memphis game and has struggled since....I am worried about Butler
bshell12 writes:
everyone talking about jordan can't shoot can't do this, but when has JP hit a shot that wasnt a dunk i remember he got swatted at least 2 times today and he is 6'7 he takes it weak to the hoop like a little school girl
VolsAllways writes:
Granted Howell is cold as ice shooting, but he plays pretty good defense and handles the ball well, passing and getting assists. I could see Pearl using him late in games if we have a lead and need to play D and run some clock.
beachvol1 writes:
Just maybe the team that started the season can recover and show some intensity and actually shoot with some proficiency....not mentioning rebounding, which has been a joke as of late...Butler is the real deal, not another American...better get their act together quick or it's Knoxville bound!!!
dvols writes:
its a team guys, quit hatin on jp, he is a player, sorry vol fans don't know anything about basketball!
jp jp jp jp. who beat memphis? jp.
howell will be a great player off the bench and he will hit some threes down the road.
where is our head case lofton at?
yall need to quit hatin memphis and embrace the fact that we got a balla!
Ironcity writes:
I wish Jordan should play but the reality is he has earned his way to the bench. He is a TERRIBLE defender lost his shot and he is predictable on offense. Ramar at least can take it to the hole and defend. As for Prince, he is no point guard. He either travels or comes close to it every time up the court. If we do use him as a point we need to post him up against the other teams point. When Ramar is not in, just let the offense run through Tyler and Lofton. Good move Coach, I hope it helps. With Prince, it cetainly gives us someone that can fight through a screen and change a shot.
gohawks1 writes:
It's hard to question Pearl's decision to sit Howell on the bench. What is he now, 0 for 2008? He may be a sound defensive player, but you have to hit one every now and then to keep the opposing D honest.
Also, opposing teams are getting way too many offensive rebounds. You can't keep giving them multiple opportunities to shoot and hope to go far in this tournament.
14 of 21 from the foul line looks better, though.
Let's go Vols, get mean on the boards!
dvols writes:
seems like the sec east really did suk, go hogs and state.
vols now alone from the east.
how i like it.
ha ha ha ha ha
jr8657 writes:
U can put it on the board. Tennessee will be 2 and to the Bar-B-Que. Too many quick shots at inopportune times...today 10 point lead becomes 1 in 3 trips because of it. Not taking advantage of mismatches...just not bieng smart! Free throw shooting...again! The point guard situation will kill them, JP can't play a lick of defense...he doesn't move his feet...he's lazy on defense! And has absolutely no shot at all outside of an ally-oop! Ramar won't shoot outside of the paint. All I can say is good luck 2 the seniors in their futures!!! God bless u in all u do!!
gohawks1 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Bigger_Al writes:
In BRUCE we trust! Howell isn't getting it done, and you can't have a basket-case running around out there as your "calming influence"...
I picked Siena over Vandy because a) Foster isn't so good outside of Memorial, b) Vandy was 1-3 against the Nos. 26-50 this year.
KY lost to a better (6 seed team). So did Georgia, plus they were gassed. Miss. State rocked. I expect Ark. to lose to IU in a close one.
jeremyinitalia writes:
The high expectations have caused Tennessee to play not to lose. It seems we lack that "something to prove" mentality that allowed us to jump on teams in last years tourney. I hope this attitude does not cost us against a very determined Butler team.
GreerVol22 writes:
jp had a freak nite at Memphis. No doubt he is a solid, smooth player. his problem is he thinks he is much better than he is.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
For all you guys arguing over Howell, he's not sitting because of a shooting slump. "Jordan is not a playmaker," Coach Pearl said.
The one spot is the electricity, the catalyst, the guy who makes things happen. The one isn't supposed to score a lot in this system. Points are supposed to come from the 2-5 spots -- with the one being the spark plug.
Ramar's way of doing that is taking it to the hole -- strong but sometimes out of control.
We've made a huge amount of progress from just a couple of months ago. Remember how we were all fretting about free throws? Rebounding (today's abysmal performance notwithstanding?) Our inside game?
Nevertheless, it doesn't look like this is our year -- based on the last three games. Next year, we'll be rebuilding around Tyler, JP, Wayne and Duke -- maybe Williams, Tabb, Tatum and even Jurick and Woolridge.
Nothing but upside for Vols hoops, boys, whatever happens these next few days. We gotta be proud of them.
tyla0404 writes:
Jordan Howell is the worst basketball player I have ever seen at the University of Tennessee, and that's saying a lot. Howell would be picked last in 5th Grade pickup game. Howell is 4 for his last 41 from the field. Thats less than 10 percent. Anyone on this thread can shoot at least ten percent. Everyone can look at the positive though, if we lose on Sunday at least we never have to see Jordan Howell again!!
ReallyAVolFan writes:
I know those of you who watch closely know we peaked at Memphis! I only hope we can regain that focus and run the table, but, unfortunately, that's not likely, given the history of college basketball teams peaking too early. GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!
UTByrd writes:
IPOrange, that is just too hilarious! I fell out of my chair.
utchris writes:
Jr..free throw problems again?...We shot over 70 percent. I will take that compared to where we have been most of the season.
creepykev made a god point about tyler kind of running things when JP was in there. The way that the Tennessee offense seems to run with this group, we don't necessarily need a PG to function like a lot of teams who rely on the PG having a hand in everything. We really need a facilitator that gets things running, screens, and occasionally drive the lane for a deuce or dish.
We may have struggled a little bit over the last week, but that does not mean that its all doom and gloom. In all reality, if a few of our 3's would have fallen in the first 10 mins, this game could have been totally different. Given Lofton and JaJuan's history, I trust that they will follow up subpar (I know JaJuan had 19, but he missed a lot early) shooting game with a better performance.
EDis4UT writes:
Tennessee is 0-2 vs. Butler, and Butler looks like they are for real. Pearl & Co. better kick it up a notch. Now, it is one bad game and you are through.
Go Mississippi State!
eb502us#225637 writes:
I've said it all year, we have NO point guard. Jordan is servicable at best and when he shoots one brick after another as he has lately, he's nothing more than a liability. Ramar is also a liability unless its an up and down game and he has the opportunity to get into the open court, but even then, he's still can't shoot anything more than a layup. Same goes for JP. Bottom line is that all three of these guys are nothing more than role players and hopefully our incoming class is good enough next year to make JP and Ramar our 7th and 8th man. Unless of course they miraculously learn what a jump shot is.
VOLinGA writes:
Let Ramar run point and let it be. Don't have him looking over his shoulder. Let him play. He will step up. JP is NOT a point guard. Bad attitude, no ball control, can't dribble or shoot, bad decisions. JP is great as a 6th man for his intangibles...but you need a true PG this time of year and Ramar is the best option you've got. It's 15 games too late to experiment.
redneckerson writes:
hey, thevol, what about the suspensions???
gohawks1 writes:
UTByrd, he's kinda scarey looking, ain't he? He's got game, though. He put up the winning basket against the Vols in the SEC tourney, and sent Smokey home with his tail between his legs.
VolBall writes:
Survive and advance. That's what it's all about. I sure hope Lofton can get off Sunday against Butler. We are going to need all cylinders firing. It's time to catch fire.
Prince is a peculiar player. Obviously he is a gifted athelete, but he plays with little urgency, he has no outside shot, and why any team wouldn't sluff off on him and make him go right is beyond me. I don't think he is the answer at point, but it's hard to question Pearl. He knows how to push the right buttons. I sense that we are ready to explode agianst Butler. Tyler and Wayne and JaJuan appear to have it together, but we need everyone clicking against Butler.
dvols writes:
anybody second guessing bp is hilarious. we are in uncharted territory my friends!
we have won 30. damn not been so long ago that we would dream of this.
new era! might take some time and support for our leaders.
all we have to do is get hot. just like anybody that wins this gay tourny.
hell even women fill out brackets and win!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
db11_cn since you have so little respect for Fosters game --20+ pt avg, 53% FG %, 47% 3 pt , 5 rbs/gm --and think him a rediculous pick for Player of the Year, why dont you tell us who your pick is???
MrBamSeydu writes:
hahaha, WHERE'S THAT "JORDAN BREAKING OUT OF HIS SLUMP ARTICLE"????? He made 2 shots against UF and they said he was out of his slump and EVERYONE was agreeing. It seemed like I was the only one saying that was ridiculous. You can't say someone is out of a slump by making 2 shots in a game?? I have NEVER heard of someone shooting as bad as he has and still getting PT so this is not a surprise to me. Unlike Phil Fulmer, Bruce doesn't care if you're a Senior or not. If you don't produce, you sit the bench PERIOD.
Jordan is something like 4 of his last 41 shots. As God as my witness, I could do better than that.... and yes, I'm dead serious. I could go out there and if I got 19 minutes like Jordan was getting I guarantee I go for better than 4/41 and probably even run the point better than he did overall.
MrBamSeydu writes:
ahhhh here it is, please read my comments:
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/m...
dvols writes:
no yemmus u could not!!!!!!!!
sad that we are talking about jordan.
thats why we might fail.
i say might!
might not though!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
I COMPLETELY disagree with you guys about 'peaking at Memphis'. we dind't play a great game agsinst Mem, Mem is overrated.
Mem has a phooey inside game. We killed them around the basket. The only reason Mem was in the game at all was we did our typical 'no guard' of the other team's best shooter.
Look, we as fans, the players, the press, CBP, and about every bracket watcher knows Butler is a nasty matchup for us. Butler will have supreme confidence from kicking out a## last year, and from how we struggled with American and UK.
There is one thing about this version of UT: they CAN play really good ball. Will they?? Who the hell knows??
We can't get behind Butler, or we are gone. That is a lot of presure to deal with.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
yeah, jcvet, sure;
that's why they came all the way back against UF to beat them in Gainesveille. Must be that 'quit' in them.
Or, maybe that's why they fought orf USC, or were battling to win the SEC tournament to the last second.
Are you a fan, or do you just like to bltch a lot??
skroutyboy writes:
Dan, trying to comment
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
for those of you actually interested in how to beat butler, it appears the common thread is stopping AJ Graves:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/teams/bav
Wirght State played them tought twice, and Cleveland State beat them.
We shall hope that we don't go 3 for 29 again.
skroutyboy writes:
OK, let's all calm down and look at this objectively. First, I am not pleased with our performance today. However, consider this--how do you defend against the bombs they were hitting against us? I will let a team shoot those every day and take our chances. I thought our interior defense was much improved. I did expect our press to create more turnovers, but that's how it goes. I am troubled by the discrepancy in rebounds. That cannot continue or we will be beaten. Many were long rebounds on 3 point shots, but that does not excuse all of them. Rebounding is basically about desire and positioning, with the emphasis on desire. Be men Volunteers. Do you want it more than the other team? It's really a simple game and we mus exercise the fundamentals. We do that--we win. "I will give my all for Tennessee today."
Share your thoughts
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.