If you're still trying to make sense of Tennessee's unflattering exit from the NCAA tournament, don't overlook the obvious.
Go back to selection Sunday. Unfold your tournament bracket sheet.
That's where UT's problems started.
It wasn't as crucial that UT got a No. 1 or a No. 2 seed. It was more significant that it received a No. 2 seed in the East Regional.
Any path to the Final Four has its share of minefields. But in this tournament, the East Regional was clearly the most treacherous.
That was apparent before the first tipoff. It was more evident after watching North Carolina rout Washington State and Louisville have its way with the Vols in the Sweet 16 at Bobcats Arena on Thursday night.
UT barely made it that far, struggling past Butler in overtime in the second round last week in Birmingham, Ala.
Butler entered the tournament with a 30-4 record. It was ranked in the top 10. And it was under-seeded at No. 7.
Louisville's No. 3 seeding also was misleading. The Cardinals began the season 5-3 without two of their key players, All-Big East center David Padgett and power forward Juan Palacios. They lost another game on Padgett's first game back from a broken kneecap.
Since then, they're 18-4 against a schedule that includes 14 NCAA tournament teams. UT coach Bruce Pearl said before and after his team's loss that Louisville looked like a Final Four team. That wasn't just coach speak.
Had the Vols overcome Louisville, all they would have to do is beat North Carolina, the nation's No. 1 team, on what is as close to a home-court game as you will get in the NCAA tournament.
UT also had problems that were unrelated to the bracket. Point guard had become no-point guard. Chris Lofton shot poorly throughout the tournament.
But the Vols won during the regular season when Lofton was mired in a shooting slump and the point guard position was hardly Final Four quality. The difference was the opponent.
Coaches like to say matchups are more important than seeding in the tournament. Louisville embodied the worst of both worlds for UT. The Cardinals had No. 1 talent with a No. 3 seed. They also had the right system.
Like Ohio State during the regular season, Louisville affected UT's outside shooting by placing tall players on the perimeter in an active zone defense. The Vols prevailed in that case, but Louisville's 2-3 zone was manned by players with size and more quickness than the Buckeyes'.
"We used to think a zone was something you played when you wanted to rest," Palacios said with a smile. "You just stand around.
But Pitino converted Palacios and his teammates, who eventually were sold on its effectiveness, even against a team as accurate from the perimeter as UT. There was no shooting the Cardinals out of their zone, which was anything but lazy.
"We knew we couldn't give them (the Vols) open shots," Palacios said. "We had to get out there on them."
As bad as the Cardinals made UT look, they didn't talk like a team that had outclassed their opponent. Maybe they're just gracious winners, but they were as complimentary of UT afterwards as before the game. And no one suggested the Vols were overrated.
"Not at all," Louisville's Terrence Williams said Friday. "If we had played eight games, they might have won five.
"I still think they're a great team. They've got great shooters, coached by a great guy."
Maybe UT would have faltered in another regional as well. But it would have had a better shot anywhere else.
In fact, I would have bet against any of the other No. 1 seeds making it to the Final Four if they had to go through Louisville and North Carolina in Charlotte.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
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Comments » 40
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Which John Adams?
CoverOrange writes:
In the arena of pointing out nits where JA is wrong, Ohio State playing in Value City Arena in Columbus last year was closer to a home game in the NCAA tourney than UNC in Charlotte.
One aspect of the PG situation I haven't seen brought up is Ramar possibly being overly aggressive to win back his starting position. The team thought they could run on Louisville and he thought that meant he should dribble coast to coast.
OrangePride writes:
True, the bracket was tough, at best. But I must say that the Vols fought and scrapped every inch of the way; Louisville was just better on this night. I don't think Tennessee would have had any easier time against say UCLA or Memphis or a number of the other teams out there. We didn't shoot well, but credit a great defense on that. Our guys rarely had an inch of breathing room. So......hey....it was a GREAT season! The best in UT history. These Vols have NOTHING of which to be downcast about. Thanks for the GREAT year to all of them and to Coach Pearl...a real class act!
stroker writes:
Good job Adams for a change ,but that was obvisous. Why did they get that seat with a No.1 RPI?
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Being the new kid on the block always brings extra hazards. Tennessee's men haven't got the standing in the national politics of basketball to get an easy path such as some others have. Neither do we have the respect of the national media; witness the biased commentary by all the commentators and the make-up of the crews which called the games.
None of the higher muckety-mucks appeared until Louisville showed up.
vol52 writes:
The Tennessee basketball program is earning it's respect. Duke had no business as a number two seed. two years back to back they have failed to make the sweet 16. Coach Pearl has the VOL'S BB program in the right direction. The ncaa was a little off base this year. I am proud of this team. I have followed the VOLS BB program since the first day of Coach Mears. GO VOLS get some more talent and play anyone any ware under any conditions.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
if the objective is to make it to the elite 8 and then bow out then yes our bracket worked against us--if the objective was to win it all then it made no difference---you have to beat the best teams to do that and we just had to do it in the middle rather than at the end--------BUT if louisville or NC are not standing at the end then obviously they werent the best teams anyway so there goes the bracket argument
arkyvol writes:
i really don't understand his logic. after all, its the ncaa tournament. at some point, you're going to have to play a team with all the talent and ability that louisville had (and i can think of at least a half dozen that qualify). does adams really think a lesser team in the right bracket could sneak in and steal a trophy? if he doubts that, he needs to check out the women's tournament. its pretty well a given that if the lady vols are going to hang another banner, they'll have to handle Uconn.
pusselgut writes:
WHAT HAPPENED???? Why the downward trend immediately after the Memphis win?
LargeOrange writes:
Yabadabado Your logic is flawed. To win the NCAA you don't have to beat everybody, only the ones in your way. If we had been #2 in the West for instance we would have been playing Xavier and WVU before playing UCLA. We beat both of those teams earlier this year. Butler, Louisville and then UNC at almost home is considerably more difficult than the West or Midwest, how about Davidson, Wisconsin and Villanova? To win it all you have to beat 5 teams in a row, but the first 4 are not all equal. All of that being said, the way we have played since The Vandy loss, I am not sure we could have beaten any of the above. Great regular season, I am still very proud of this team, but we are not there quite yet.
TNLimelight writes:
Yeah, I am sure that both Georgetown and Wisconsin was complaining about being in the same bracket with Davidson before the Tournament ever started.
It does not matter what your seed is if you are one of the elite teams in the country it should not matter what your seeding is. Davidson is in the elite eight and couple of years ago George Mason made it to the final four. They might have gotten lucky but if you play good defense, make your shots you will win games.
VOLorado writes:
Hey Indiana, why don't you go after Davidson's coach, Bob McKillop.
TK writes:
Great year for the Vols. Look forward to more. Has anyone heard anything on SCOTTY HOPSON? Also, did he do well in the McDonald's game?
VolJunkie writes:
TNLimelight -
Great post. Remember who GMU played that year? It was a "who's who" of college ball"
Michigan State
North Carolina
Wichita State (should have been UT)
UConn
Florida (lost to UF in the Final Four)
Maybe some luck involved, but I think it is more like what the General has been talking about, sometimes you catch lightning in a bottle and go on a run, e.g. Davidson this year, man that Curry kid can shoot.
Still a great season for UT, looking forward to next year!
Go VOLS!!!
doctorvol#211700 writes:
Hopefully, Daniel White is the real deal at point. We need to discern the difference between running, playing aggressively, and taking advantage of our ability to wear teams down and getting good shots in advantageous situations due to the above FROM running aimlessly into a wall of set-up, well-positioned defenders and heaving the ball into the general direction of the backboard.
VolJunkie writes:
TK -
check out the link below on Scotty Hopson. Sounds like he is keeping options open, also sounds like he would leave school quickly if the NBA opportunity is there.
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/...
GreerVol22 writes:
stroker, RPI doesn't really matter as much as the NCAA says it does. Unfortunately, like bowl games and everything else, its becoming less about basketball and more about the ratings and advertsing dollars.
ozarkvol writes:
I think overall, the tournament committee did a terrible job seeding teams. Sure UT got shafted, but I believe Louisville, Butler, Missippi State, Davidson, and Wisconsin were underseeded. What was Mike Slive doing up in Indianapolis during the tourney committee meetings? He surely was not taking care of SEC teams interests! The SEC got shafted this year in the tournament.
The Big East and ACC were certainly taken care of. So was UCLA. They have yet to be tested. You could call the West Bracket the Bruin Invitational for the teams they have had to play.
Again where was Mike Slive durng the Tourney Committee Meetings? Getting Coffee!
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
Before everyone keeps worshiping Pitino, consider the following:
Pitino's NCAA Tournament record his first 3 years at basketball richbed Louisville: 5-3
Bruce Pearls NCAA Tournament record his first 3 years at football school Tennessee: 5-3
McDonalds All-Americans:
Louisville -2
Tennesee-0
Pitino's record his first 3 years at Louisville: 78-22
Pearls record his first 3 years at UT: 77-24
Pearls strength of schedule his first 3 years at Tennessee: #6, #5, #1
Pitono's strength of schedule his first 3 years at Louisville: #26, #15, #54
Say you what you want about Ricky P but I like Bruces #'s a lot better in his first 3 years at UT considering what he has to work with.
mtnvol writes:
Losers whine about seeding. The fact is a team has to win 'em all anyway. Look at Davidson....no whining, just whippings.
stroker writes:
LargeOrange on March 28, 2008 at 9:41 p.m.Good post. Mtnvol and some others need to read and understand.
pms151 writes:
The guys on the commission may spout off all year about how great it is to play the competition UT did this year, how great the RIPI is, and so on. However, when it comes down to it the guys that they they really work for during the year (schools and conferences) won't nothing to do with scheduling like Pearl and Hamilton did. If they did there would be no way to put top draw teams in number 1 slots year after year.. Simple as that.
GerryOP writes:
Do you suppose that the IU/Pearl rumors had anything to do with the change after Memphis? Or, did the team peak at Memphis and simply start a slow burnout after that? Or, did the Memphis win simply go to their head?
Whatever ... great team, great season, great future! Thanks Bruce and the Boys!
OldNumber7 writes:
I certainly agree you don't whine about seeding - but it IS critical. Many winning coaches will tell you it is as much about seeding as their team's play. Billy Donnovan admitted that in a very classy way after both his big wins. You cannot beat the likes of Louisville and North Carolina teams in every game - the statistical odds are terrible at doing that. But that being said, was Louisville an "unfair" matchup at the sweet 16? Heck no.
rockyknox writes:
Slimy, Good Pearl/Pitino comparison.
utalumntx writes:
WD40plusVol, you have your facts wrong. Ohio State played their first two NCAA tournament games in Lexington last year not Columbus. The NCAA rule states that all teams are prohibited from playing regional tournament games on their home court. A home court is determined by the amount of games a team plays in a specific arena per season, which are 3 excluding conference tournament games.
PennVol writes:
What does this all mean? Are we saying we couldn't been national champs if we'd gotten into a better bracket?? Come on - we couldn't beat Louisville and we're not the best team at this point in the season - far from it. We'll probably end up in the Top 10 (if there are rankings at the end) and that's about right.
If we started the season over right now and played the same schedule, there's no way we'd wind up 31-5.
rootin4volz writes:
...And hopefully, your article calling for Fulmer's head was the start of YOUR DOWNFALL, John.
Bigger_Al writes:
John Adams uses the express lane at Kroger even though he knows he has too many items.
richvol writes:
And Adams...since it's almost football season,how about getting rid of that tiresome picks column that wastes an entire page of the sports section for two days of the week. How about doing some sports reporting instead of writing ego fluff that includes your name at least 20 times.
skinalive#242458 writes:
Captain Obvious dead-heads another column.
The Vols should be excited about where they are headed. Louisville might put it on UNC.
What about Davidson? The Big-2 Conference starts the football season losing at home to Appy State from the SoCon and ends the basketball season losing to Davidson from the SoCon.
If Lofton could have played like Curry in the tournament, the Vols might still be alive.
Soapman writes:
Adams, may be you should go get some cheez for that whine. May be it would have been easier to play Davidson in the first round, oh yeah their in the Elite 8. How about WV or Xavier they would have been much easier that Butler(?) American (?). Come on! Have you joined the fans at MugShots on 9th st and the fans at Two Guys Pizza on Hillsborough St and become an ABC fan. If you don’t know those places or what ABC stands for you haven’t been a player in NCAA BB enough. I have enjoyed TN BB since moving here from the triangle. Don’t spoil it by making excuses. TN had a great yr for TN basketball. They will be contenders after a few yrs of making it into the big dance.
TommyJack writes:
Bracketing was bad, but this team over achieved all season, via outstanding coaching. Need more quality players. BP will get it done.
davidray31#232814 writes:
Tony Dungy say's do what you do,do what got you there.JP at the point was not what got us there.We beat Memphis because JP got on the floor(he is the better player than Jordan and Ramar)but not starting at the point.Not right now.
Madkels writes:
No..the down fall didn't start with the seeding on selections Sunday, it started by losing the SEC tourney. If we win that, we come in with greater confidence and less negativity about our program and Jordan Howell.
SFOrange writes:
are you kidding---the "bracket" was the reason UT struggled thru the post season? Vols were flat--cold shooting, rushing shots, flayling around for the last 5 games. Seed them #1 and put them in ANY region--reaching the Sweet 16 should be considered a triumph.
ihateorange writes:
Excuses are tools of incompetence used to build monuments of nothingness... The bottom line is that when it comes down to the games that really matter, the Vols can’t hang with the big boys!!!!
invisiblekid writes:
I concur RealTommyJack and Plasticman. When a former walk-on is your team's best all-around player, that says it all. Not taking anything away from Lofton or any of the other guys but Jujuan Smith was the best on ball defender. I think that is what really worries the Memphis fans and others, what will Pearl be able to do when he lands a couple of McDonald's All Americans?
Smokey91 writes:
Whoever thought we would live long enough to see the Tennessee men when more than 30 basketball games in one season. That is the one thing that still makes this a great year for us. I thought that we were back after we beat Butler. I don't care what anyone says, Butler is one of the better programs in the country. That ws a big win for us. The UL game was a disappointing way to end a great season, but there is just too much to feel good about when you look at the season as a whole. Good job, boys.
trip19 writes:
Bigger Al, John Adams also makes special orders in the drive thru.
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