Tennessee junior Tyler Smith takes it all in stride, like one might expect from a veteran.
While coach Bruce Pearl frets about the young players' inconsistency and inexperience with adversity, Smith flashes an all-knowing smile.
"We just have to learn to maintain that high level of play and be ourselves,'' said Smith, who has looked through the first two games to be every bit the preseason SEC Player of the Year he was chosen to be. "We'll be all right.''
Smith is leading the Vols (2-0) with 20 points per game heading into Friday night's first road test of the year, at Middle Tennessee State.
Smith will no doubt be the player UT looks to when the Blue Raiders (2-0) make their inevitable runs.
But that doesn't mean Smith will necessarily score - he could opt to turn down an open look from beyond the 3-point arc and pass, as he has done when the situation called for it this season.
"Turning down open looks, dribble drive and kick out to your guys,'' Smith said, "that's Tennessee basketball.''
The freshmen are still learning, as evidenced by the fact that they shot a collective 4 of 14 from the floor - 8 of 24 if you include redshirt freshman Cameron Tatum.
Smith attributed the freshmen's off-night to their unfamiliarity with long college days.
"Saturday (against Chattanooga), there wasn't any class and we didn't play until night, so they were rested,'' Smith said. "Today (Tuesday), they were in class at eight, and they had study hall and tutors and pregame. It was a full day, so it was their first time going into a game on a school day.''
Smith, who attended Hargrave Military Academy before Iowa and ultimately Tennessee, said it's just a matter of time before they adjust.
Tabb At Point: Pearl said he was relatively pleased with how junior Josh Tabb performed in his first action of the season after serving a three-game academic suspension.
"Josh had four assists and no turnovers,'' said Pearl, who played Tabb 14 minutes off the bench, all at point guard. "He has played better in practice than he played in the game tonight, but I thought he did pretty well.''
Pearl said he opted to play Tabb exclusively at point guard and allow J.P. Prince to focus on the wing.
"Josh is doing it for the team,'' Pearl said. "He certainly belongs defensively; he just needs more repetitions.''
Prince saw four minutes at the point after Tabb picked up his third foul.
E-Man: Freshman Emmanuel Negedu hasn't had much impact scoring, but he's getting the job done on the boards.
Negedu had just two points but pulled down seven rebounds in the 10 minutes he played.
"He's in a position where we have Brian and Wayne, and he's the third five-man (post) right now,'' Pearl said. "He's developing. You can see his athleticism and his energy.''
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Comments » 54
CoverOrange writes:
Is anyone shooting 10 foot jumpers or is it all way out side or layups like last year? I know Hopson had no tweeners in the game against Chatt.
TooLegit2Quit writes:
Good luck Tennessee this Friday! I love watching Emmanuel Negedu play, he full of energy and hustles big time.
blitzshoot writes:
Orange Fire!
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Very good point TurboFan, those little short jump shots can add up!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Y'all know who seems to be a smart bball player?? Brian Williams. He makes GREAT decisions on passes.
I am hoping the big guy has a solid year.
Other commetns:
Cam Tatum: love the energy, lose the beard.
Wayne Chism; super strong. I don't think he goes pro after this season, though, I just don't know if he has the height AND shot to be in the NBA. I may be wrong.
Bobby Maze; really unselfish, and very calm. Has been good with the ball, though he's not seen much pressure.
JP Prince; game has REALLY picked up. so much fun to watch.
Woolridge: going to be a stud; needs to work on driving and boards. He kind of reminds me of Tyler when he was at Iowa.
E-Man; Duke Crews. I would NOT want to tangle with E-Man. He could be a SUPER football player.
EJ Abrms-Ward; what happened with that??
Steven Pearl; needs a shot, such as a 3-pointer. He is doing okay.
Tyler; pretty much as expected. the more he passes, the better the team will be (defenses have to honor the pass, which will give Tyler more looks).
Scotty; VERY raw. He reminds me of JP, but without the inside moves. Scotty may be a better 3 shooter than JP. Scotty is NOT a one and done, I don't think;
Josh: okay game, but I think he can do better. the foul late in the shot clock was bad.
Overall:
In both games, we've gotten away with a LOT of mistakes and lapses on D that would cost us big-time in games like Vandy or UF. I know Bruce sees it too.
As fun as they are to watch, it will be even MORE fun when they really get the D going.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
hey, sorry, did not mean to write a freaking column.
newtonrail writes:
Good breakdown. I agree on Hopson unless he progresses at light speed the rest of year. He really needs at least one more year.
MidTennVol writes:
How about that 10- and 11-man rotation? We will most certainly wear teams down with that kind of quality depth, especially on defense. And we'll probably be a lot fresher come March because of it -- at least fresher than in the past.
Very glad to see Tabb at the 1 with the defense he brings. LOVE to see Tatum finally getting his chance. Pearl must feel like Pat Riley with the 80's Lakers.
All kinds of weapons, much improved glass-crashing ability, better post game with Wayne inside, glad to see JP at the 3 where he thrives -- it's all kinds of goodness in the future for UT basketball, my friends.
GR82BaTennesseeVOL writes:
No worries...no apology necessary! Your "column" contained quite a lot more insight and objectivity than most on here! You are welcome to write a "column" anytime you want!
I'D read it, anyway...
b_neas writes:
negedu is a freak!! Have you guys seen him run the floor. He is as fast as Maze and for a big guy has a pretty sweet shot (at least from the FT line). If we get Hopson to stay, next year looks to be just as strong, if not stronger for UT. But lets focus on getting better this year and making a run at Detroit!!
richvol writes:
One can really see the potential of Woolridge...he is silky in his moves as is Prince.
When you combine those two with Hopson and Smith Tennessee has some real athletic talent on the floor. Reminds me of the Jerry Green team that had so much athletic skill. I always wonder how that team would have fared under Coach Pearl.
Negedu is a beast. He is thick through the chest and shoulders. Once he learns Pearl's system and gains confidence watch out...no one should be able to handle him under the basket.
The progress of everyone is obvious and nice to see. Chism can play as well as he wants...he just needs to bring it consistantly and Brian Willams has improved too. His conditioning is much better. He can get get leaner and quicker over the next two years and dominate. Steven Pearl has gotten to the point he is not a weak spot and can contribute...if he took his time at the line and improved his shooting technique on free throws,and shot over 80%, he would be a good player to close a game out with.
Cameron Tatum and Josh Tabb are both talented and athletic and I hope Coach can find a way to get them game minutes to contribute...they would probably start on most SEC teams.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
That is the way the game has been going in recent years. The 10-15' jumper, which ought to be akin to a layup for a good shooter, is an endangered species. My cynical take is that it is because one never sees that shot on the sports highlights unless it is a game-winner. Same for free-throws; young kids watch the highlights and then go out and practice the shots they saw on there, e.g., the 3-pointer, the dunk, and the dipsy-do layup. The game has become the poorer because of this development.
As for Hopson being ready for the pros after this year: simple answer--he is not; realistic answer--he will get so much buzz in his ear from friends and family and attention from scouts because of his "potential" that he will give it serious thought. Worst case scenario for his future: He declares for the draft, gets drafted late in the first round by a good team that doesn't need him, sits the bench for three years making pretty nice money but not getting any playing time, then nobody wants him after his rookie contract expires because he hasn't done anything, goes to Europe and plays for a year if he doesn't like it or for ten if he does. He may get another try or two in the NBA and, if he has improved enough, might even stick this time. Or he could stay for another year or two at UT, polish his game and mature physically, and be a lottery pick after his sophomore or junior year. I'll be interested to see how it plays out.
cainclifton23 writes:
But those little jump shots dont fit in with our offense, or hardly anyones in NCAA BBall.
Our offense is spread the lane, attack, go up or dish.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Since I agree with almost everything mparker wrote, perhaps you would enlighten all of us on just what he wrote that you thought was "clueless". I don't recall any particularly stunning insights from you.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Just because everyone does it, doesn't make it right(;-P)!
spartyandfriends writes:
Tennessee Basketball Preview:
http://spartyandfriends.com/2008/11/0...
Lyrics to "Baller Vol" are included...as best as I could interpret.
CleverUserNameVol writes:
Yeah, Butch, since you're such a basketball guru, let's have your rundown. Did you have Cap'n Crunch with Negative Berries for breakfast? So enlighten us, Butch. Drop some knowledge on all us morons. A**hole.
knoxlawvol writes:
One small point, which I hesitate to make, as I believe in Bruce's judgment 100%, but Stephen Pearl should not see the floor unless it is garbage time. He is not nearly the caliber of player as any of our scholarship athletes, save Phillip Jurick who is destined to redshirt barring injury. By alotting minutes for Stephen, Bruce is limiting minutes for our freshman wings, Hopson, Woolridge and Tatum. We need those players to develop as quickly as possible if we are going to have a shot in the Old Spice Classic later this month. The outcome of those games will have an effect on our seeding at the end of the year. Again, not whining, just stating an opinion.
beavbullvol writes:
Gotta admit, watching UT go 6'7" at the point in Prince, 6'7" on the wing with Hopson, 6'8" on the other side with Woolridge, 6'8" with Smith at the 4, 6'10" with Williams at the 5 was fun to watch.
Never thought I'd see the day we'd have a team like this. Woolridge and Hopson both remind me of Yarborough's first year at UT. Anybody agree, or am I way off?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Good post! Also, Scotty's outside shot wasn't falling. In HS, a coach would allow him to shoot himself out of a mini-slump. Especially at this early stage of the season, CBP owed it to the other guys to see if anyone else had a hot hand that night. Besides, with all the quality depth we have now, I don't see anyone except maybe Tyler and Maze averaging over, say, 28 minutes a game, while we will have as many as eight getting between, say, 15 and 20. Throw in Steve Pearl, Negedu, and whoever is left for 5-to-10 and you have just about used up all the minutes there are. JMHO.
jasonn1970 writes:
Rick Pitino (accurately) came to the conclusion in the 80s that the long 2 was the worst percentage shot in basketball. If you take a step or two back and shoot a 3 a 40% success rate is equal to a 60% success rate for a 2 point shot. It didn't take the rest of college basketball very long to realize this fact. That's why now you see most teams either taking it inside or shooting a 3. The new 3 point line might bring back a few more jumpers though IMHO. But it will take a couple of years for teams to adjust.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
This is for ButchisBack. Yesterday I did to you what you did today to mparker, that is, I dismissed without comment some fairly cogent remarks you made, some of which I might have overlooked at the time. You said on a recent Lady Vols thread that you thought some of the gals looked "burned out" and that some of them might transfer at the end of the season. As to the "burnout" issue, what I think you were seeing was an example of the "plateauing effect" some experience when dealing with new situations. Adjustment to whole new worlds of experience, which is what these freshmen are doing right now, is almost never a smooth, seamless process. It proceeds in jumps and starts and sometimes there is regression before leaping to the next plateau. The more freshmen there are on a team, the "jerkier" this process becomes, in no small part because there are so few on the present team who have successfully completed that process themselves.
As to the idea that some may transfer after this season, that may very well happen. I'm sure we all remember the sad case of Sade Wiley-Gatewood. She also came in as part of a large, heralded freshman class. She had, by her own admission, a hard time buying in completely to the "team first" concept that Pat insists upon. She transferred to Maryland, sat out her required year while Maryland won the national championship, and then mostly sat the bench the rest of her career. I have no idea where she is today, but I'm pretty sure she has kicked herself a few times for not changing her attitude when she had the chance at UT. Most of the present class were also stars of the brightest magnitude at their high schools and the darlings of their respective communities. Some of them may not take well to the idea of extended bench time or diminished roles and succumb themselves to "Wiley-Gatewood disease". For that matter, the same thing could well happen to some of this year's male freshman class.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest, my larger point is that it is OK to disagree with anyone else's opinion on this board, but it not helpful to simply call someone else who has put time and effort into a post "clueless" without stating some reasons why you think that is so. For having previously done that to you, I apologize.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Good post! Now that you mention it, I remember hearing him say that. I agree with him and you that the "long" two-pointer is the worst shot in basketball. The 10-15' jumper, on the other hand, is not a long shot and is infinitely preferable, IMHO, to a charging foul or a wild heave in traffic. With sufficient practice, any player with college-level skill should be able to make that mid-range shot 60% of the time, too. Working on it would probably improve free-throws as well, another vital but apparently lost art in today's game.
jasonn1970 writes:
I've never thought about it, but I believe you're absolutely right about that having something to do with the decline of free throw shooting the past several years. And as coaches and players spend less time working on free throws their mid range jumper suffers as well.
CoverOrange writes:
Didn't know my innocent question would spawn such a discussion. And yes, I never played or coached organized ball.
Given that, some points:
we are not UNLV with Jerry Tarkanian, we do have to play half court occasionally, especially against good teams (think Louisville). Getting close for a layup in a half court offense is exponentially harder than in the fast break.
Shooting 40% or more from the arc is exceptional, not the norm, especially with it moved back this year. Plus, such shots usually carom into long rebounds and less chance for put backs. Pitino recruits sharpshooters. Pearl doesn't necessarily.
10-15 feet is inside the free throw lane. Much more likely to find open space for a shot there than under the basket. Had Ramar Smith had a dependable 10-15 shot we probably would have beaten Ohio State twice.
Lastly, it's a nice dependable, extra weapon when the defense is camping under the basket and the threes aren't falling.
jasonn1970 writes:
I couldn't agree with you more. I see the mid range jumper making a comeback with the new 3 point line. But if you think about it UT under Pearl plays more like the old UNLV teams than anyone else.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Ah, but discussion is what this forum is all about, and GOOD discussion with interesting points raised and no name-calling is what I think most of us want. Let's have more! "Let a hundred flowers bloom", in the alleged words of the late unlamented Mao--now let the discussion begin on that reference(;-P)!
jturne44 writes:
yo man we laid out the beat now spit...I wanna hear your all world insight coach K
overatedvols writes:
Cupcake tour rolls into Middle Tenn tommorrow. Next stop.....Belmont.
Alll Aboarddd
Major_Magilicutty writes:
I agree with putting Josh Tabb at point. I thought we could've done that last season during the tourney. I will be interested to see how Pearl develops him there, as I think he can be really strong. Certainly his defensive intensity is a must for us. He makes everyone play harder.
Irwin_Linker writes:
Belmont made the tourney last year, also during the Kentucky UNC game the other night Dicky V was on record as saying MTSU could be the surprise mid major school this year.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
such a young, young team. I hope this all works out.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Not only did Belmont make the tourney last year, they came within a whisker of beating Duke in the first round. Not that Duke was that great last year, but still, Belmont beating Duke would have shaken the b'ball world! I am rather worried about the MTSU game. They are always tough, especially at their place.
Raynoch writes:
How did it feel when Chris Lofton hit the second of two free throws to put us up by 4?
trollhunter writes:
Get off this site troll!!!!!
Raynoch writes:
Good win today, Tiger fan. Looks like you guys are really putting it all together. Chattanooga is pretty good. They held us to 114.
CleverUserNameVol writes:
No doubt! I don't think I would still be on this "cupcake tour" kick after beating UTC by only 14, overated. By the way, you misspelled "overrated". The way you spell it, it sounds like a Memphis player trying to say he ate too much. Example: "I overated at the pregame meal, coach. Where's my sock hat and my gun?"
Irwin_Linker writes:
I for one am a staunch proponent of the Hundred Flowers campaign. Thats why I voted for Obama
overatedvols writes:
Cleveruser.. you evidently are a newbie. The misspelled name joke ran out a long time ago. The name overratedvols was already taken. I tried it. You can too if you don't believe me. Soo, I choose the same thing with a letter missing. Get some new material.
So Memphis doesn't beat Chattanooga by as many points as the Vols and this matters? First of all, we played UMass the other night at 11pm and then got on a plane and headed to puerto rico. So, we haven't been loading up on cupcakes.....at home no less. Let's see..now you have a cupake on the road. Wonder how you'll do?
Also I admit Memphis is rough around the edges right now. Actually they are playing bad. They play Seaton Hall tommorrow and could get beat. Still, they won't be the same team by the end of the year when they are making their run in the tournament while the vols sit and watch from home after losing in the second round for the 10th time.
CleverUserNameVol writes:
I'm sorry, I just assumed you were a product of the Memphis public school system, where English takes a back seat to Thug Life 101. It amazes me that there are two douche bags trying for the same name. I know it's been brought up before, but it also amazes me that you keep up this "cupcake" talk when you are in a conference that is nothing but cupcakes. Every D1 team starts the year out playing mid-major teams. And obviously Bruce Pearl wants to start off with an in-state tour. You guys had a great run last year, despite being dethroned by us, but when it came down to it, you just didn't have the stuff, did you? And, by the way, we've made it to the third round the last two years, genius.
Raynoch writes:
Seton Hall
overatedvols writes:
Let me make things right for the spelling checkers etc. I really don't waste my time checking peoples spelling on here. If I did, i'd not be able to talk about anything else. After all, this is the Vols site.
Seton Hall..how bout that.
Vols lost after the second round not in the second round. What diff does it make. You still left early. By the way, Pearl did a great job as the analyst for our final 4 and championship game, but then again what else was he going to do during the final 4, go fishing?
CleverUserNameVol writes:
I have a new slogan for your Chamber of Commerce, overated. "Come to Memphis, it's like living through a NWA song." How do you like it?
overatedvols writes:
Clever, it's really not so bad over here. I was only shot 2 times last year. (down 4 from the previous year). I hired a security company to watch my house and so the break in's were down significantly this year. Some of the corrupt politicians are actually quite likeable and thugs will be thugs. They are people too you know. They have to eat like the rest of us. Why work a 40 hour week when you can just take things from people. Pretty smart thinking huh?
Brownie, Tyreke and the Tigers have stunk it up. It's bad. Really bad. I'm not looking for a win tonight. I knew they'd have to learn to play together but ..didn't expect this. Can't remember a tiger team looking that bad in years.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Well, dang! You really can be sensible when you aren't being snarky. I admit you are worlds better than your annoying pal, itsme. As for the future, this season just shows how hard it really is to put together almost completely new teams nearly every year. As a freshman floor leader, Rose was a once-in-a-decade player who made everybody else better. So far, Evans looks to be more of a shoot-first guy so it's going to be harder for this team to build any continuity.
9krpms writes:
It's basic strategy, that I as well try to employ when teaching kids to play. A 10ft jump shot is worth just as many points as a lay-up. A great shooter might shoot 65% on a short jumper, but 80% on a lay-up. Plus, the odds of making a 3 point play on a lay-up is drastically higher than on a 10ft jump shot. So if you're not going to shoot a 3, you better be shooting a lay-up, trying to draw contact to get the other team in foul trouble, and hopefully getting an old fashioned 3pt play or two free throws. It's simply an odds game, 65% shot vs. 80%.
dobber writes:
overatedvols your obviously a Memphis fan. You have no clue what your talking about. Last year Pearl had the thoughest schedule in the country, and this year well lets just see what everyone thinks:
Tennessee Vols-
Marquette
Kansas(who beat you may I add)
Gonzaga
Kentucky twice!
Florida twice!
Vanderbilt twice!
Memphis Tigers-
Georgetown
Syracuse(not a very good syracuse)
Gonzaga
How about that hard confrence USA schedule! I didn't count any during season tournament or the TN vs. Mem game so you have 1-2 teams besides us that can beat you. play in the big-east,sec, or ACC then you can start talking...
Raynoch writes:
I would think a knowledgable basketball fan of a big time bball program could spell the name of a Big East founding member.
So, UMass at home is considered great competition even though they have a new head coach and lost the A10 player of the year? Cal didn't schedule them because he wanted to boost his RPI. He was throwing Coach Kellogg a bone. So you've played Fairfield, UMass and Nooga. Your right, TN does have a cupcake schedule.
It sucked to watch the Vols lose in the Sweet 16. But it was consoling to know we won an SEC Championship, finished 4-2 versus our conference rivals, got our first #1 ranking ever, and beat Memphis in their gym in front of their home fans in a game that was billed by the Commercial Appeal as one of the biggest sporting events ever held in the city of Memphis.
So, again, how did it feel when Chris Lofton knocked down the second of two free throws to go up by four?
overatedvols writes:
Now RayRay. You are looking for anything aren't you. Spelling? Funny how jealous fans can act sometimes. Is it really so bad that Memphis has a better basketball program than the Vols? Check this out. A list of the nations top recruits. Almost every one has Memphis on their list. More than any other school actually. I looked for Tenn..but...
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colleg...
As far as Lofton hitting free throws. Honestly I don't even remember that. I guess that's all I can tell you about my memory of it. I do remember that the first 2 minutes of the game we could tell the tigers had not come out fired up like we thought they would. I can tell you that if the Vols had of met the Tigers in the tournament when they were more focused you would have lost by at least 20 and probably more. We could have played again but that would have taken both teams making it to the championship game. Memphis upheld their end of the deal. We'd have loved to play you again but..unfortunantly the Vols were long gone.
The play I remember most in that game is when Dorsey and I believe Dozier both tried to grab a rebound and fought each other for the ball which resulted in a travelling call. We were up by two with about 30 secs left after playing so horribly and then we had the rebound and blew it. T
ake away that play and the Tigers more than likely win.
Not sure why you are asking me how something felt. How did it feel to watch the Vandy fans storm the court when the vols choked a few days later. How did it feel to lose to lowly Ark. in the sec tournament and almost lose to american and having to go to overtime with butler before getting humiliated by Louisville. Ya see, we can both play that game only i'll win cause the bottom line is we went to the championship game, had the most wins by a college team in a season. We were the best team in college basketball last year. We may not have won the final game but we should have. We were the best team. Ya, just have no argument.
CleverUserNameVol writes:
But doesn't that mean that were "almost" the best team in college basketball last year? I guess it hurts that much more when you get that far and find out you just don't have what it takes.
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