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

Home › Men's Basketball

Lofton longs for his shot at Louisville

By Mike Griffith (Contact)
Originally published 10:08 p.m., March 25, 2008
Updated 10:08 p.m., March 25, 2008

Tennessee's Chris Lofton greeted by fans as the team leaves for Charlotte Tuesday, March 25, 2008 in Knoxville, Tenn. The Vols will play Louisville on Thursday. Behind Lofton is Ramar Smith.

WADE PAYNE/AP Photo

Tennessee's Chris Lofton greeted by fans as the team leaves for Charlotte Tuesday, March 25, 2008 in Knoxville, Tenn. The Vols will play Louisville on Thursday. Behind Lofton is Ramar Smith.

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, center, along with players Wayne Chism, JaJuan Smith and Brian Williams are greeted by fans as the team leaves for Charlotte Tuesday, March 25, 2008 in Knoxville, Tenn. The Vols will play Louisville on Thursday.

WADE PAYNE/AP Photo

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, center, along with players Wayne Chism, JaJuan Smith and Brian Williams are greeted by fans as the team leaves for Charlotte Tuesday, March 25, 2008 in Knoxville, Tenn. The Vols will play Louisville on Thursday.

Tennessee guard Chris Lofton is expected to be back on the practice court today and ready to play Thursday night.

"The ankle, heel, the Achilles, it's all pretty sore," UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "But if we had a game tonight (Tuesday), he would have played."

Lofton, who sat out Tuesday's practice after Pearl said he "tweaked" his ankle in the second-round win over Butler on Sunday, said last week he hoped to play against Louisville in the NCAA tournament.

"I noticed they're in front of us," said Lofton, who spent most of his life in Maysville, Ky., as a Cardinals' fan. "It would be kinda nice to get to play them."

Lofton will get his wish in Charlotte, N.C., when second-seeded UT (31-4) tips off at 9:57 p.m. (TV: WVLT) against third-seeded Louisville (26-8) in the Sweet 16 of the East Regional.

Cardinals coach Rick Pitino said there was a time when he hoped Lofton would be wearing Louisville's red.

"We recruited him - hard," Pitino said. "We wanted him to commit as a junior, he wanted to wait a little bit longer, and he chose the right school for him.

"He made a great decision in going to Tennessee and we lost out on a very good basketball player."

Lofton said when he was younger, he pulled for Kentucky, but later became a Louisville fan.

"That (pulling for the Wildcats) was just to kinda get at my dad, because he was a Louisville fan," Lofton said. "But the older I got the more I liked the Cardinals."

Pearl said he doesn't think fans in Kentucky, those of the Wildcats or the Cardinals, should give their respective head coaches too much grief for not offering Lofton a scholarship his senior year.

"Louisville and Kentucky both took hits for not recruiting Chris Lofton," Pearl said. "But coming out of high school the guys they got were better than Chris. That's not a knock on Chris, and shouldn't be a knock on Tubby (Smith) and Rick.

"Chris Lofton made himself a great player, not (former UT coach) Buzz Peterson, and not Bruce Pearl."

Lofton ranks as the SEC's all-time leading 3-pointer shooter and is No. 3 on the NCAA list with 429 career treys.

But the past four tournament games - two in the SEC, two in the NCAA - Lofton has cooled off.

Lofton has hit 40 percent of his 3-pointers over the entire season, but he led the SEC in league games by shooting at a .470 clip beyond the 3-point arc.

In the postseason, Lofton is 15-of-42 (.357).

That doesn't mean Pitino will be paying any less attention to him.

"Chris plays in a style that's really advantageous to him," Pitino said. "Any time you are a great shooter, and you love the game … anybody who can shoot has a place in the game if he's hungry and passionate, and certainly, Chris is that."

SEC Power-Out: Pearl isn't reading too much into UT being the only SEC team remaining out of the six that started the NCAA tournament.

Pearl was asked if the lack of SEC teams left suggests the conference had a down season.

"It says we got lousy seedings," Pearl said. "Mississippi State, which won the West, got a nine seed and had to play the one seed (Memphis, in the second round).

"Vanderbilt was not able to take advantage of its (four) seed; that's the one you look at and wish they could have gone further."

The Commodores lost to 13th-seeded Siena in the first round.

"Kentucky took the six-11 (seed) game, and took the six (seed, Marquette) to the wire," Pearl said. "Georgia gave Xavier all they wanted and led by double digits between the 12-16-minute mark.

"Arkansas won their eight-nine (seeded) game (versus Indiana), and Mississippi State won their eight-nine game (versus Oregon),'' he said. "So, I say, look at our seedings."

Louisville Favored: The Cardinals are a 2 1/2-point favorite to beat the Vols, but Pearl has no problem with that.

"If you look at the two teams," said Pearl, whose team was last an underdog to Memphis. "I have no problem thinking Louisville is a better team and playing better right now."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       70 Comments

Posted by VOLINSC on March 25, 2008 at 10:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lofton is the Peyton Manning of UT basketball. It is time to pick a street on campus to name Lofton lane!

Posted by yemmusdarb on March 25, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VOLINSC: If that's the case maybe we'll win a National Championship in bball the year after Lofton leaves too then, huh?

Posted by tenuscvol on March 25, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VOLINSC....I like it!....how bout "Chris's Crossover" for an overpass...or Lofton Loop...Kill the Redbirds!!!!....not really,..just win...GoVols!!!

Posted by utchris2003 on March 25, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ahorner -

Why not I75 so that all the UK fans will forever remember Chris..haha

Posted by rabidvol1998 on March 25, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Where in the article did it quote Chris as saying he "longed for his shot"???

Headline, KNS headline writer gets prom date.

Posted by rabidvol1998 on March 25, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Where in the article did it quote Chris as saying he "longed for his shot"???

Headline, KNS headline writer gets prom date.

Posted by teedub on March 25, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Go get 'em Chris!!! We need you now more than ever. It's time for the Vols to put together the complete game

Posted by orangeblood on March 25, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

boy i hope he goes off and scores 50

Posted by huntined on March 25, 2008 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How about LOFTON'S THREE-WAY

Posted by bencrazyvolhoopsfan on March 25, 2008 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's put it all together for a big "W" against Louisville. I would really like to see Chris go off also. GO VOLS!

Posted by mparker on March 25, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Man, 470 from 3?? Let him shoot every shot of the game, I'll take 47 percent form 3 point land any game.

Posted by mparker on March 25, 2008 at 11:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The one guy I worry about for this game is Bruce. He's gotta resist the temptation to over-coach. I thiought he waa about perfect for the Butler game: he didn't tick off the refs, and we got some decent calls.

Seriously, Pitino is a master at working the refs, as is Coach K and Roy Williams. Burce needs to kinda lay off some in these games, if he can stand it.

Also, he can't try to match Pitino move for move.

Posted by brdteton on March 25, 2008 at 11:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wouldn't be something like 'Lofton's Ct.'? (Street Names)

Go Vols, TCB like lightn'en.

I'll hang up and listen to ya'.

Posted by Madkels on March 25, 2008 at 11:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How did Chris hurt his ankle? Didn't see it in the game Sunday?

Also heard on Rivals Radio today that the NCAA logo at center court was slick and wrinkled at some venues. Hope this had no part in the injury. Apparently Roy Williams has complained to NCAA.

Posted by Madkels on March 26, 2008 at midnight (Suggest removal)

Also hoping for better results than when Tom Brady had a walking boot!!!

Posted by ballewville6 on March 26, 2008 at 3:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i cant believe that we are the underdogs in this game,but it will help up ,because we play better as underdogs,it should be a great game maby one of the best in tourny to this point,but the vols will prevail,i think we will beat louisville then unc to go to final four

Posted by tnfletcher4 on March 26, 2008 at 4:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good article from David Climer of the Tennessean

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.d...

Posted by Hotllama2 on March 26, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Can someone explain to me why Bruce is saying "Louisville and Kentucky both took hits for not recruiting Chris Lofton," and Pitino is saying "We recruited him - hard." I've always heard that Lofton wasn't recruited by Louisville or Kentucky. I'm confused. Can someone clear this up for me.

Posted by dirtdobber1 on March 26, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Pittino can jam it! Let it rain 3's Lofton!

Posted by billnewton on March 26, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tnfletcher4.... great article and every word is true! Pay the man!

Posted by VA_Vol on March 26, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Louisville basically told him to commit early or we're pulling your scholarship. I think Chris really wanted to wait on KY, so he balked and Louisville pulled the offer. Not sure on the timing on when Louisville pulled the offer, but according to Pitino, it was in his Junior year. Although he couldn't sign until a senior, if Louisville didn't send him any papers, then technically he wasn't offered a scholarship.

Posted by PennVol on March 26, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I would like to see some set plays to get Lofton off early against the Cards. He seems to not be able to get into the flow if he doesn't hit a couple early on.

Posted by Retiredvol on March 26, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

PennVol I totally agree Chris needs to start hot and it sets the trend for the evening.

Posted by johnlg00 on March 26, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good articles by both Griffith and Climer. While Chris may not have been his historically deadly self all season, you can be sure Louisville will know where he is at all times and have at least one guy assigned exclusively to him every moment he is on the court. I agree with PennVol that we should try to set him up early. Even if he doesn't get good shots or misses them, that will only reinforce the idea that we are going to him, and encourage Louisville in their concentration on him. That should open things up for Tyler, JaJuan, and Wayne. At least as important to our chances for a victory is a dominating defensive effort and great board work. If we are hitting shots at all and are competitive in all other phases of the game, we have a great chance to win. GO VOLS!!! PLUCK THE BIRDS!!! ON TO SAN ANTONIO!!!

Posted by GoVol on March 26, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Lofton - now here is your chance so do something with it. Also, while you're out there on the court trying to score some points, how about a little defense from time to time. Come on Lofton...you're a senior, so step it up...now or never. You can do it, question is...will you?

Posted by HotlantaVol on March 26, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Chris Lofton Court is the best one so far. I just hope that after tomorrow night it's not the Boulevard of Broken Dreams . . .

Deck the Cards!!!

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

UT is a great team and playing really great right now. I think about the best in the country. I think they will win this one then have a tough one next game.
Wait..this is Univ. Of Texas site isn't it?
Oh, nevermind.

Posted by brownsvillevol on March 26, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

and they will beat memphis just like we did overrated

Posted by johnlg00 on March 26, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hotllama2, I think CBP was quoting what others have said about UK and UL not recruiting Chris. Pitino has been very gracious referring to Chris, and even many UK fans respect what he has done here. It is hard to blame UK for not recruiting him. Their guard recruits in Chris's class were Rajon Rondo, Ramel Bradley, and Joey Crawford. Rondo is in the NBA now, and Bradley and Crawford probably will be, while Chris, great as he is in college, probably won't be. I'm not sure everyone has heard that UL was recruiting him as a HS junior, but that he was holding out for UK.
GoVol, I think Chris plays good defense. He is perhaps not our best on-ball defender against good penetrating guards, but he is a very good help-side defender, with several key steals and intercepted passes. For that matter, none of our guards has exactly shut down good penetrators. Chris is also a good defensive rebounder. All in all, he has made himself into a complete player who helps us way more than he hurts us, whether he is scoring on a given night or not.

Posted by westkyvolfan on March 26, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As a KY native who got to TN as fast as I could, I like UL better than UK, but I like the Vols better than either of them. GO VOLS!!!

Posted by westkyvolfan on March 26, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Also, I am very proud to say Chris is a KY native playing for the Vols. Go Chris, Smith brothers and company.

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm hearing that some of the Louisville players are saying the only conference worse than C-USA is the SEC. Are you going to take that?

Posted by KyScGaFlAlAkMiTnLa on March 26, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the article meant 'longed for his shot' at playing against Louisville. Chris needs to get to 50% for the rest of the tourney from 3-pt land. And for God's sake Lofton, don't pass up a 3 to pass it to Howell like in the Arkansas game. Blech!

Posted by volwalk on March 26, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I've got a good feeling that we are going to see a different Chris Lofton tommorrow night. He will go off on the birds, we will get steady point guard play, get their big man in early foul trouble and pull away with about 5 minutes to go. Vols 81---Cards 72. Bring on the heels!

GO VOLS!!!

Posted by WD40plusVol on March 26, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If Lofton is #3 at 429, who is #2? I've searched quite a bit and know that JJ Reddick is #1 at 457 (Duke, 2003-2006) but can find no reference to who is #2 much less what his count is. Previous to Reddick was Curtis Staples at 413 (Virginia, 1995-1998). Anybody know?

Posted by invisiblekid on March 26, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Clever posts today overrated, let no one ever question your master motivational skills as you have obviously incited us ignorant Vol fans once again. I find it amusing that any time the level of discourse rises above you making arrogant statements and some of the other fans throwing insults at you, that you choose to leave the discussion. It goes to show that it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black when it comes to you questioning anyone's maturity level.

Posted by volsfan92 on March 26, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wd40 the answer is Keydren Clark, St. Peters 2003-2006, 435 which means Lofton will soon be number 2 all time...

Go Vols!

Posted by volsfan92 on March 26, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wd40 the answer is Keydren Clark, St. Peters 2003-2006, 435 which means Lofton will soon be number 2 all time...

Go Vols!

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Louisville's saying they are going to try and save their energy for Saturdays game. They said the goal is to expend as little energy as possible in the UT game so they'll be at full force for their next game. I think they plan on using their backups for most of the game. It's insulting.

Posted by volsfan92 on March 26, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

and Redick is at 3.29 3pt FG per game which is 15th all-time

Posted by volsfan92 on March 26, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/b...

number 5 is one of the great shooters of all time. Just going to enjoy the game Thursday. What a fantastic season. Tyler Smith is improving every game, and it is great to see the experts try to pigeonhole players like Crews and Chism...I personally think we will win Thursday going away...go Vols

Posted by volsfan92 on March 26, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

agree with johnlg00 that CL is a very good defender....remember the steal and pass to JP from the floor at Memphis everyone

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Seth Davis, one of your only supporters seems to have abandoned you. He had picked Tenn. in the final 4 and now says Carolina is the team to beat. He's also questioning Pearls coaching. He is wondering why Pearl is playing Prince instead of the regular starter and saying Prince almost caused you to lose your last game.
Don't worry about Seth's departure. He's an idiot. Always has been. Him picking Tenn. was a curse anyway. Now it's removed.

Posted by WD40plusVol on March 26, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks Volsfan92. That was same source I had found but didn't read down far enough (the table of contents is misleading).

Posted by HotlantaVol on March 26, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

overated - There are only two reasons why someone goes to the site of a team they don't support:
1. Genuine interest in the team usually stemming from a rivalry or just a love of the game.
2. Jealousy due to the fact that people are talking about that other team instead of talking about your team.

It's easy to guess which one applies in your case. NEWS FLASH: No one cares about Memphis anymore. The only reason anyone talked about them at all this year was because they either got into slap fights with fans (using fists might cause them to break a nail), gaining #1 ranking by beating up on a big pile of nobodies or losing that #1 ranking on their home floor. 'Nuff said. Go back to Graceland.

Posted by GoVol on March 26, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Overated - still laughing at you...get a life!

Posted by GoVol on March 26, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Overated - still laughing at you...get a life!

Posted by interestedperson on March 26, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

*just shakes my head at overated*

It's sad, sad, sad that you have nothing better to do with your time than come here and try to stir up a rivalry that never has been, and most likely never will be.

Go Vols!

Posted by WestTennVol on March 26, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

funny how Texas Copied the T logo to the 't' so to speak

Posted by Razzle on March 26, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Steve Greenberg has us ranked behind Louisville in a combination of football+basketball ratings.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/...

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hot Vol, I can assure you I have no interest in the Vols and I have no jealousy. You missed.
It's more about revenge. Revenge for what the Vol people did a month ago on the memphis board.
Say what you want but that's the real reason.
Also those wonderful vol fans said a bunch of stuff and most of it was untrue so I just like to remind you of how untrue. Most of it was repeated stuff. Such as the SEC is so great and you are in a bad conference. Truth is SEC wasn't any good either...oh but as Bruce said ..it wasn't that they weren't good..it was just about the seeding. Give me a break. That guy is so full of it.
Also the truth is tommorrow night the Vols season will be over and Memphis will be in the elite 8 for the 3rd year in a row.

Posted by Razzle on March 26, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Overated did anyone ever tell u that your boring? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... same old song and dance everyday.

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lofton longs for his shot at Louisville.

Loften better long for his shots to go down or his season and career is over.

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Razzle, and yet our athletes have a higher graduation rate than the vols who are at the bottom.

Louisville has been making statements to the media today about how they will match up against Carolina.

Bruce has been trying to find out if any female reporters will be covering the game.

Posted by Razzle on March 26, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Overated? Is it true that your really Prince Mongo?

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ah Razzle, you are familiar with Memphis. You live there?

Louisville says they don't mind playing a team from Tenn. as long as it's not Memphis. They want no part of Memphis. The vols, they feel fortunate that their road to the final 4 had the vols in their path.

Posted by RocketVol on March 26, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good lord there are lingering sour grapes in here. Get some confidence, a life, good-sportsmanship, man-up, whatever - just stop already.

Posted by peerlessvolfan on March 26, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Overated, the Spartans will get in the way of Memphis reaching Elite Eight--GO VOLS! GO SPARTANS!

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

peerlessprice, the simple fact is that the Vols season ends tommorrow night. On friday night the Tigers will be one of only 8 teams remaining. Can't make it any more simple.

Posted by brownsvillevol on March 26, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

poor overrated he needs a tissue to blow his witle nose his team lost to us and the whole reason why tenn fans were on the ca boards(wich i was not one)was because for two days before the game memphis fans were on our site talking smack, running their mouths about how we are a bunch of toothless hicks from east tennessee(actually most of us fans and alumni live outside the confines of knoxville)and how we were copulating with our sisters, you know really immature unrivalry like crap.so overrated you unsportsman punk you guys started what you now wish you could finish but just like your pathetic school you're too little to care about and too big to admit it.

Posted by brownsvillevol on March 26, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

by the way overrated word from the louisville boards is you could crap through a screen door you're pathetic and OVERRATED.

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Now brown vol. You are resorting to childish bathroom humor ..again. You have not seen me once take the route of redneck/hick..etc..etc.
Not gonna do it. You'll come back and say memphis is just a bunch of thugs etc. Truth is you have rednecks and we have rednecks. You have thugs and we have thugs and you have a dairy queen at the 40 exit.

Brown Vol if Tenn. keeps on winning they can play us again. We'll be there. Will you? You don't want to play us again if the truth be told. When it's for real and loser go home Tigers will win big. They should have won big the night we played you anyway, They know it and would love to get another shot. Still, i'm afraid your season ends in just over 24 hours. I will miss visiting you guys on here. It's been fun. Don't worry. I'll be back on Friday with my 'told you so's'.
Now you go get a banana split and calm down.

Posted by brownsvillevol on March 26, 2008 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hey buddy i'm not from brownsville tenn. just make my living here,so i don,t frequent the dairy queen more so the country club and that wasn't bathroom humor only the truth and if you read correctly i said you were TRYING to finish what other memphis fans started so shut up and for the record i am always in memphis where my brother works for the memphis grizz and my younger brother went to u of m but he is not a classless punk like you and would never say that you guys are just better, you had your chance and you didn't prove anything except that when it comes to the rivalry between us you guys are truly weak.

Posted by brownsvillevol on March 26, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

and the last game was for real and we did go home , winners and you guys had to go and start counting over again.

Posted by overatedvols on March 26, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Brown Vol right after you returned home winners I believe had to make a quick run over to Vandy.
Not sure if the Memphis game zapped everything from the vols or what but they sure didn't look like the number 1 team. Actually they haven't looked very good since. Did that game in Memphis take that much out of you that you still can't get things together?
Memphis is better. What more do you need??
You are playing very mediocre ball and you'll be beat tommorrow. Memphis will march on. I'm glad you have family in Memphis. Should I be impressed? Get you a blizzard and cool it.

Posted by VolCane7979 on March 26, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TO ALL VOL FANS:

We have two trolls on this site - gatornation and overrated. What has been said for gatornation goes for overrated as well - QUIT RESPONDING TO THESE TURDS. They want to get a response out of us. DON'T RESPOND!

Posted by Plasticman on March 26, 2008 at 8:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Vols will beat Cards and Memphis loses to Mich. St. You can bank on it!

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: