Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl remembers standing in Lafayette, La., two years ago and thinking to himself "What are we doing here?''
The Vols were playing traditional mid-major power Louisiana-Lafayette in a non-conference road game when Pearl had his epiphany.
"I realized we should be in Chattanooga, or in Nashville or in Murfreesboro,'' said Pearl.
After playing at Chattanooga last season, Pearl's plan will be fulfilled tonight when the Vols travel to Murfreesboro to play Middle Tennessee State (TV: CSS, 8:30 p.m.).
The Blue Raiders are picked to win the Sun Belt Conference, and Pearl said he anticipates MTSU will be the No. 14 Vols' stiffest challenge to date.
"There are a few reasons to play these games,'' Pearl said. "For one, we have fans in the middle Tennessee area, and for some of them this will be their chance to see us. It will be a basketball event.''
The Blue Raiders (2-0) are hungry for revenge against the Vols (2-0) after suffering a 109-40 beatdown last season in Thompson-Boling Arena.
"It was a game where things couldn't have gone any better for us, and things couldn't have gone worse for them,'' Pearl said. "They have a tremendous advantage; the score will be tied, there will be a sellout crowd and they've had a year to think about it.''
MTSU's media guide shows the picture of a blackboard with team goals: 1) Go to the NCAA Tournament; 2) Win the Sun Belt; 3) Beat Tennessee, Beat Vanderbilt, and, 4) For all four seniors to graduate.
The Vols aren't sleeping on the notion. The picture of the blackboard is included in UT's scouting report package.
Pearl still believes there's merit to playing an in-state opponent on the road, as dangerous as it might be.
"It will be a very intense game, but we do go into hostile environments and take our chances,'' said Pearl, whose Vols had the toughest schedule in the nation last season according to the RPI. "You take a chance, a big risk, in playing. How many other (BCS conference teams) play in-state opponents on the road?
"But it's just the right thing to do, it really is.''
Pearl confesses his time spent at Wisconsin-Milwaukee - a mid-major program - might be the final factor in his theory.
"I remember playing Wisconsin five times at their place for us to get that one game," Pearl said.
And how did Pearl's Panthers do?
"We lost, at the buzzer,'' Pearl said glumly. "I cost us that game. We had the ball and I took a timeout we didn't need. They stole the inbounds pass.''
Still, Pearl remembers it as a special event and opportunity.
The young Vols' challenge tonight will be to spoil the mood in the sold-out Murphy Center and ensure history doesn't repeat itself.
UT's played in the arena once before, in front 11,520 - the fourth-largest crowd in MTSU history - and lost 85-80 in the 1988 NIT.
Junior center Wayne Chism said UT knows to expect a challenge.
"They're at home, and everyone plays good at home, look at Chattanooga," Chism said, referencing the Vols' narrow 76-70 road win over the Mocs last season. "I know I have to keep rebounding like I have been, and I've said to our young guys they have to get their minds right.
"You have to learn to really listen for coach Pearl yelling, 'cause it's going to be really loud.''
Louder than it was in Lafayette, La., two years ago.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 47
MANVOL writes:
Pearl doesn't miss a thing.
tnbigg writes:
The University of Tennessee - a Basketball school with a football team which has been coached to the worst record in Tennessee football history...Go Basketball Vols!!!
blitzshoot writes:
Watch out for the Blue Raiders. I was at the game in 1988.
Amazing game for MTSU.
cdonsbach writes:
Can't wait to see the game tomorrow night, GO VOLS!
scottmichaelmoore#540590 writes:
KNS-
I could have written this story in my sleep in the 6th grade. It is so predictable! The quality of these stories have trended downward to a sub-par level over the past 8-10 years. KNS, its time for a change...
Fire Mike Griffith!
overatedvols writes:
Quote of the day.....
"I realized we should be in Chattanooga, or in Nashville or in Murfreesboro,'' said Pearl."
Looks like he's fulfilling a dream
(a cupcake dream) Alll Aboarddddd the cupcake train.
MemphisVol writes:
I will follow PEARL.
TriCitiesVolsFan writes:
When is Bruce-Bruce coming to Johnson City to play ETSU???? It would fill up the dome up here! Don't forget about the Tri-Cities
VolinCalif writes:
He's the best at KNS. what would you read without him?
newtonrail writes:
Fire John Adams, and not because of Fulmer. Griffith is a beat writer. And if you Mullins article, or the guy on The Chatt News Free Press that are the BB beat reporters; you get the same article.
CleverUserNameVol writes:
You live under a bridge and force people to answer riddles before they can cross it, don't you?
CleverUserNameVol writes:
I honestly can't wait to play you guys this year. You're only hope is if Ted "where am I, what am I doing, what is this orange ball?" Valentine is officiating the game. And when we stomp the poo out of your gang...errr...I mean team, I'm going to send you a nice box of fresh cupcakes with bright orange icing and little severed kitty cat heads on top.
MidTennVol writes:
Last time I saw the Vols in Murphy Center: 1979 against Notre Dame in the NCAA regionals. We lost against some bum named Kelly Tripucka and some thug named Bill Laimbeer. We had Reggie Johnson and a guard, Johnny Darden, who Al McGuire called "the little magician."
I stayed for the other game, the regional final: Michigan State, led by Greg Kelser and a guy named Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who eliminated TriPUKEa and Laimbeer and Notre Dame from the tourney.
Yes, Magic Johnson played on the Murphy Center court.
This was the year Magic and Mich. St. went on to beat Larry Bird and Indiana State in the final.
Murphy Center is a great basketball venue. It will be rocking -- watch out Vols.
Hopson2008 writes:
How is Ted Valentine still officiating big time college basketball? He is the worst official in ANY sport that I have ever seen. He consistently makes the wrong call on both sides of the ball and gets far too emotional to be an unbiased official.
xvolx writes:
why not just merge with ky. and call the new state tennucky.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
We are the Dook of the Smokies although we'll have to step it up to match their football wins.
volburger writes:
Yea lets merge. can you imagine our football program and their.... well never mind.
volburger writes:
Hey does anybody know if Kentucky has a good blog site like this one?
b_neas writes:
Speaking of UT Chatt did anyone see that memphis only beat them by 12? makes Ut's win vs them look better. Well, that or Memphis is just down this year more than expected.
volboy81 writes:
Great Basketball Day in the state of Tennessee!
Lady Vols at Chattanooga!
Vols at MTSU!
GO VOLS!
GO LADY VOLS!
Show the state what school rules in sports!!!
NO_DIGGITY writes:
Good one Monty.
By the way, what is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Hopefully Mr. Overrated got the answer wrong and is tossed into the Abyss with Sir Robin of Camelot.
WVVOLFAN writes:
The engine of the CUPCAKE TRAIN
UT 66 MSU 62
AT MEMPHIS
jzt writes:
Griff,
UT has played in the arena before 1988. in 1979 Devoe's first year we won the SEC tourney and played two NCAA games there, beating Eastern Kentucky and later losing to Notre Dame. I am unsure but Orlando Woolridge might have been on that team. Hows that for a little irony.
CoverOrange writes:
Dang! You beat me to it. Although Robin was asked the capital of Assyria.
What is your name? Sir Galahad of Camelot.
What is your quest? I seek the Holy Grail.
What is your favorite colour? Blue..no..yel...ahhhhhh.
CoverOrange writes:
Let's see, the first ranked team Memphis plays is #18 Georgetown on Dec 13 which is 3 days before UT plays #17 Marquette. The second ranked team Memphis plays is (scrollscrollscroll), well landogoshen, Tennessee on 24 Jan. That would be after we had played #24 Kansas and #11 Gonzaga.
If we are dining out cupcakes Memphis must be slurping pudding.
mattlock writes:
We should give overrated a break, cause I would be upset too if I was a fan of a ranked basketball team that absolutely no one really cares about. I mean, they're in Memphis. . .which ranks only slightly ahead of Baghdad, Mosul or Kabul as places I'd like to move to someday.
volsare1 writes:
yea come on to tri-cities that would be great mini be filled in 20 mins..might have to move it freedom hall
MidTennVol writes:
Absolutely, jzt. I was there -- see earlier post (Griff, do your homework). And you're right about Orlando being on that ND team. Forgot all about him...
As I remember it, he was relatively quiet those two games in Murphy Center.
March 18, 1979 - After reaching the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year ... Notre Dame loses to eventual national champ and Magic Johnson-led Michigan State, 80-68.
DooleyNoted writes:
He took that train to Memphis last year too. Add that to your list. Go Vols! I will be there tonight in all orange.
orangeblind writes:
Is this game on the same station that the frist 2 were? I cant find it on the tv schedule. Somebody help me please!!
orangeblind writes:
I meant first. Opps.
trollhunter writes:
Hey ignorant tastard,
GET OFF THIS SITE!!!
Here's something to cry about:
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
KU: 2008 NATIONAL CHAMPS
Now go back to the CA and cry back to your mommy. you little ansy citch.
bleed_orange writes:
I think it is on CSS at 8:30 PM EST. I'll be there with my orange on in a sea of blue Raiders fans. GO BIG ORANGE!
bleed_orange writes:
MTSU is a very small team. They should have problems on the boards and controling our inside game (Tyler, Wayne, Brian, & Emmanuel). I don't think they have an answer for JP, Cameron, Renaldo, Sotty, and/or Bobby. We sould kill them on the boards by 20+. However, I hope we shot better from 3 pt land. Hopefully, we will have no more than 8-12 TO and they will have 20+. TN also needs to be aggressive with more dribble drives creating more foul shots. Josh & JP did good at back-up PG. Keep up the good work. GO VOLS!
bleed_orange writes:
That is Scotty not Sotty. I missed that on the scan through.
Last year TN played their best game while MTSU played their worst game (109-40). This year will be alot closer. Maybe 10-20PTS. Go VOLS!
orangeblind writes:
Thanks. I watched the other 2 on SS. Dont know if thats the same. Any help would be welcomed.
CleverUserNameVol writes:
it's not the same. CSS is Comcast Sports South. So if you have dish network or direct tv you might want to find a friend or relative who has comcast and watch the game there. Or you can listen to Bob Kesling try to keep up with the game.
Colliervol writes:
Pay attention to this man. If anybody would know a cupcake, it would be anybody playing in Conference USA. That goes without saying.
If I were you, I think I'd pay attention to my own problems. In all seriousness, overrated, if you guys don't find a point guard, you are going nowhere and had better worry about your own cupcakes. (Kemp isn't the answer and neither are your small forwards trying to substitute as point guards.)
bleed_orange writes:
That sounds like UT last year with Ramar, Jordan and then JP at PG. Now we have B Maze! Enough said. Mr. 8 pts and 9 Ast man. I would love to see Tyler get a triple double this year. It would be like 15pts(I mean more like 20), 10RB, 10AST. GO VOLS!
orangeblind writes:
thank you CleverUserNameVol
CleverUserNameVol writes:
Not a problem. Does anybody know if Daniel West decided to pay for school and stay here so he can play next year? I was also wondering if he was still able to practice with the team. I keep getting asked these questions and have no answers. There's a first time for everything, right?
overatedvols writes:
You're absolutely correct Collier. There's trouble in Tiger land.
cobbwebb writes:
nice denmark, that sounds like it was a lot of fun! i dont go back to magics college years , but i have a few of my own i saw duke with grant hill, big dog glen robinson for purdue score his four thousand point, and kansas with jacque vaughn, and big greg ostertag! by the way marquette and our future coach kevin oneill (puke) beat the dukies! of course this was in thompson boling.
cobbwebb writes:
i think teddy valentine is head of sec bball officials now!
trollhunter writes:
There's going to be more trouble in your backyard if you don't get the truck out of here by means of my brother.
Look, the tissy got his buddy itsmeiamfgoingtoillhim.
trollhunter writes:
Oh look, the tissy got his right-hand troll,
hey tunk pother zucker,
why don't you get lost toso before I sick my brother on you, who is much meaner than I am, and take your master with you.
TopTenn writes:
bitesme there is panic in memphis after their loss to top ranked Xavier. You need to return to your boards to console your brothers.
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.