J.P. Prince will do better at point guard for Tennessee this season if given the opportunity.
He promises.
"I know it was unusual for our fans to see last year; it's like we were desperate putting me at point guard,'' said Prince, who was forced into emergency duties in the NCAA tournament when Ramar Smith and Jordan Howell swooned.
"For me, it was like going from wide receiver to quarterback without really practicing it.
"But now I've had all summer and fall to work on it, and I'm a lot more comfortable there, really.''
Prince might need to be; the Vols are still awaiting word on the eligibility status of freshman point guard Daniel West, who has an undisclosed academic issue keeping him sidelined indefinitely.
Incoming junior college All-American transfer Bobby Maze is handling first-team point guard duties relatively well, while Prince is penciled in as the starter on the wing.
But Maze likely won't play more than 30 minutes a game at the point, meaning Prince might have to double up and play some guard should West not regain eligibility.
"My teammates know I run the point different than Bobby,'' said Prince, who splits his practice time between wing and point guard. "I'm not as fast on the break as Bobby, and Tyler (Smith) will have to help me against the press.''
UT assistant coach Steve Forbes, who ran Monday's practice with head coach Bruce Pearl out of town recruiting, said playing the 6-foot-7 Prince at the point has its advantages.
"J.P. is taller, so he can see the floor better than Bobby,'' Forbes said. "He also gives us more length on the perimeter, and that could help us if we go zone. I'd say he'd also create more deflections in the press with his wingspan.
"We'll see how it goes.''
The Prince-at-point-guard adjustment went about as well as reasonably could be expected in last year's NCAA tournament.
Prince had nine points, seven rebounds, a team-high five assists and six turnovers in a 76-71 overtime win over Butler, but was held to four points, two assists and four turnovers in the season-ending 79-60 Sweet 16 loss to Louisville.
Prince heard the criticism.
"It's tough any time you get criticized, but it made me stronger, just knowing people want results,'' Prince said. "I'm doing fine with it now, and I want to show my versatility.''
Forbes said Prince's talents make him a good option at the point.
"J.P. was thrown into the fray last year, and we had to run a limited package with him,'' Forbes said. "Now, we can run the whole gamut; it's not his best position, but he can play there because he's so skilled.''
Tatum Returns: Redshirt freshman wing Cameron Tatum returned to practice on a limited basis 17 days after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.
"I'm just trying to get over some swelling and some soreness from the surgery, but everything else is cleared up,'' Tatum said. "We'll see at the end of this week if I'll be cleared for the (exhibition) game Monday. I'll be 100 percent by the regular-season opener (Nov. 15 vs. UT Chattanooga).
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Comments » 33
FLAVOLS writes:
No doubt about it.
orangecountry21 writes:
JaJuan is cool.
SmokiesNuts writes:
come on basketball season...i know Bruce is goin to have them ready to play..tyler smith is a beast
MrBamSeydu writes:
Something just doesn't seem right about your statement Kosmo. We are talking about the TENNESSEE Titans right? http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j16...
MidTennVol writes:
We're 100 percent behind you, J.P.
And welcome back Cameron!
oldorange writes:
I recieved my "Old SPice Classic" tickets Friday. I am looking forward to watching the Vols play against some strong competition.
IndianOutlaw writes:
TDTN you must be 1 bitter and stupid idiot. Give the Fulmer thing a rest DH.
SemperVol writes:
I think I know those guys.
I went to that game last night. It was nice to get to see Peyton play. I never was able to see him during his career at Tennessee. It was tough to see him struggle but I'm ecstatic the Titans won.
Peyton's second TD pass to D. Clark was beautiful. They ran the ball well but apparently the Titans are having things fall their way alot this year. And when you're a good team AND things fall your way....watch out!
Oh yea....BRUUUUUUUUUUCE!!!!
ncvol writes:
I hope we have a great basketball season this year. The Lord knows we need something to go right. Hopefully, the men's and women's team can help us recover a little from the disappointing football season.
Go Vols
THE_VOL writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Constructive criticism is what helps players to improve, but when it's used like many bloggers hereon use it, it is destructive to the team and the players. Personal attacks on players and coaches accomplish nothing more than showing the juvenile mindset of the blogger which many of us have no desire to know.
pax_americana writes:
1. Obama is a socialist. That is the proper nomenclature for someone who believes the role of government is to spread the wealth around.
2. The national debt (your point numbers 5-6) is different than the yearly deficit, braniac. The yearly deficit had been brought into balance by the end of the Clinton era on two basis: a) an increase in revenue perpetuated largely by the reduction in capital gains from 28% to 20% and b) the end of the cold war dividend realized by draconian cuts in military spending.
However, make no mistake, the national debt proper grew during the Clinton administration's first six years, and also grew during the entire four years of the Carter administration. Indeed, it was a Rooseveltian liberal economist, John Maynard Keynes, who laid the intellectual and economic basis for broader support of deficit spending. Hence, deficit spending is a creation arising, in the first instance, solely from Democratic/liberal policy.
3. The current financial crisis is based in the mortgage crisis which was, in large measure and perhaps primarily, caused by Democratic lawmakers and their allies (read Acorn) who lobbied Congress to put pressure on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to lower their traditional standards/requirements for purchasing mortgages from local banks and lending institutions.
As a result of this insanity, local banks were making sub-prime loans to people (read primarily minorities) who couldn't prove their income or ever possibly afford to meet the baloon payments and increased mortgage payments after the sub-prime period expired.
If you wish to blame this matter on the Republican party, please name one Republican or Republican suppport group or ally that lobbied Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to issue sub-prime loans to those who couldn't prove income.
4. The reason gas prices are so high, and therefore, SUV prices so low, is because the Democratic party has been co-opted by 21st Century Druids, also known as, environmentalists. As a result, American companies cannot build refineries (excess regulation), cannot build nuclear plants (same), cannot drill for oil and gas where it is found (prior Democratic legislation), etc., etc., etc. The Democratic party's energy policy is: walk, ride a bike, take public transportation, turn down your air conditioner, or, perhaps better stated: the anti-human consumption act for the 21st Century.
Any more serious points you would like to make, I can refute in kind.
Perhaps you should change your name to Socialist_Vol.
SemperVol writes:
THE_VOL 11:35-
You don't really have a leg to stand on here.Your democrat brethren has infected the House and Senate for years now. Clinton, Fannie Mae, internet funding from Saudi Arabia to Obama's campaign. Wow I could go on and on!
I don't need to echo what pax_americana wrote just above this comment. We welcome your argument but it's just completely wrong.
Pax_Americana our comments may get swiped but it was worth the read. Thanks!
IndianOutlaw writes:
The President always takes the blame, but to the vol, take a look where we were before the demolites took back over congress 2 years ago. Not going to get into a war of words on ploitics on a sports page. Go to the political section and we'll talk.
Good Day
And get over the Fulmer thing and have some class. He's gone in a couple of months and then we can have some michigan and notre dame like seasons.
Hopson2008 writes:
Do you really want a 73 year old man who is one heartbeat away from making an idiot former beauty queen who wants to teach Creationism in schools as our president? For me, it comes down to decision making, and I don't think McCain still has what it takes (he probably still did 4 or 8 years ago but some people re-elected the worst president of all time) and we all know the beauty queen doesn't.
gbeejr#1354500 writes:
The_Vol sounds like the many who are a product of being "dumbed-downed". The so called "main stream media" agenda is to get this liberal elected no matter what they have to say. I am scared for our great country. It is inherently unhealthy, frightening, and dangerous for our country to have the media so involved in the election process by being so biased, so untruthful, so dishonest in the reporting the facts. This reminds me of my school days in reading that the seeds of communism began with the media brainwashing the public to believe only what the ruling party or leader of the government wanted the people to believe. And the fact that Obama is a socialist makes it all the more concerning.
utvolz#637682 writes:
How (and more importantly, WHY?) did we get from who's going to play PG @ UT to politics? Keep it on point folks!
SemperVol writes:
Yes, yes I do.
The good Lord blessed you with birth, now you shouldn't chastise someone who seeks to implement the FACT that God did put our measly sinful selves on a planet so we can seek redemption in his court.
Everything is about God, pleasing Him, and seeking His gift of salvation. Creationism is a belief in your heart. It is a subject in school that is every bit as relevant as a "primordial soup"
The more you study abiogensis the MORE you have to believe there is a God.
jasonn1970 writes:
Could we PLEASE get away from talking politics in here?? I've been hearing so much of that lately I want to puke. As for the topic on hand - I think Prince will be an asset as a backup PG moving up from the wing much as Dane Bradshaw was a couple of seasons ago. Even more so if Daniel West is unavailable.
jasonn1970 writes:
And, oh yeah....
FREE DANIEL WEST!!!
smokyredbone writes:
What are you people babbling about,if I want a polical discussion I'll go to CNN.
p.s. That Bailout that was endorsed by McCain is clearly more of a socialist policy than anything Obama proposes. Sorry you can't understand that Joe the Dumbazz!!!!!!!
Ironcity writes:
Please, The_Vol stick to things you know like Basketball. If you are going to comment on things like the balance budget and the national debt then do a little research. Ask yourself one question, if we had a surplus in the budget eight years ago, why did the national debt go up? Why has the national debt gone up every year since the 60's? Back to basketball I agree with you about Prince but it is clear we have no other choice. If West can't get in school we are in a heap of trouble. Every team will go right at Maze trying to foul him out. Most will be more successful on the road then at home but UT will struggle on offense especially late in games and lets hope Maze is the real deal because if he's not, NIT here we come.
slammingseth writes:
here we are talking about our good fortunes that we have at least one good program on the rise here at Tennessee and we have to turn it into politics thats just sorry
txvolsfan writes:
The_Vol, not going to get a lot of love on this site for Obama. Most of us have jobs and are striving to make more money every year. I would actually like to keep that money and not send it to all the BAMMER fans who set at home and worship Satan, I mean Saban(Sorry I keep getting those two confused)
GO VOLS
PEARLS THE MAN!!!!
CoverOrange writes:
After reading sports posts on here for the last several years and following political/religious discussions in the various forms of media and office interactions, I've come to the conclusion that:
1. nobody has all the facts
2. nobody is swayed by anybody else's facts
3. it's not about being right it's just about winning
You can't lose an arguement if you refuse to concede. Conversely, you can never win against someone purposely deaf and blind.
rockytop47 writes:
People can say what they want but come Tuesday Obama will be President so deal with it. I do feel it is funny that after 8 years of Republican rule with 6 of it controlling the White House and the Congress, people still try and blame the Dems somehow.
Anywa, Go Vols and Prince will be fine, but hopefully we can get West back. The depth alone would help.
CoverOrange writes:
Rockytop47, Obama can't take the oath until Jan 20 next year. Just a fact.
Marc, if West doesn't return, who would you have behind Maze?
THE_VOL writes:
LMFAO!!!! Sure are alot of "thoughts" on here for a post that got REMOVED!!!! I think it might have been the last line that did that trick. Anyway, I really don't care what close-minded, bible beating, ultra right-wingers think or say simply because most of it is YOUR perception of things and has no basis in fact or reality. The GREATEST thing about America though is even YOU have the right to be WRONG! Go for it! You have just a few more days to spew the lies, the character assasinations, the name-calling, etc etc....but just remember your boy McCain's greatest statement:
"The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should. I've got Greenspan's book." --as quoted in the Boston Globe, Dec. 17, 2007
OR WAS IT:
"Our economy, I think, is still -- the fundamentals of our economy are strong." --Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 15, 2008
Oh well, you choose - stupid is as stupid does!
gbeejr#1354500 writes:
Rockytop47, I like Prince too, but Prince at the point is not the answer. He can't go to his right and his perimeter game is no better than Osama, I mean Obama.
And you are a brother/sister in orange and probably a great person, but politics ain't your bag. And this is not the forum for you or me or anyone else to share our political beliefs, but know what you are talking about. You are so disillusioned. Democrats have been in control of the Senate since 2002 (that means the last 6 years) and in control of the House since 2006. Stick to basketball, at least you sound like you know a little something about something.
CoverOrange writes:
The_Vol said: "YOUR perception of things and has no basis in fact or reality"
Yep. That applies to everybody.
KENVOL writes:
obama=adn
pax_americana writes:
Ex. A-
"I think we should spread the wealth around." B. Hussein Obama to Joe the Plumber.
Ex. B-
"To each according to his needs, from each according to his means." Karl Marx, the Communist Manifesto.
Socialist_Vol, please explain the difference between A and B.
I await your response.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Why all the hate? JP will graduate after an Elite 8 run....
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