Basketball season doesn't start tomorrow.
Tennessee men's coach Bruce Pearl just chooses to coach like it does.
One week into team individual workouts, Pearl was back in form, red-faced and challenging players one minute, joking and hugging them the next.
His conclusion after four short workouts with the team?
"I'd be very concerned if this was Oct. 15 and we were just two weeks from opening the season,'' Pearl said. "Within the framework of our offense, we'll get open shots.
"But the guys that shot them last year were Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith, and those guys aren't here. So who's gonna get them? More important, who's gonna make them?''
Pearl has six new players and a seventh, Cameron Tatum, redshirted last season.
"I've learned there's a difference when you play with Tyler (Smith), Wayne (Chism) and Josh (Tabb), the more experienced guys as it relates to teaching in these workouts,'' Pearl said. "I try to sprinkle those guys in lineups and rotations, so everyone can get the advantages of playing with them.''
Pearl said he's seen much of what he expected, but there have been a couple of surprises.
"Renaldo Woolridge has shot the ball really well in the last couple of practices,'' Pearl said, "and Josh Tabb, it seems no one on the outside has him penciled in anywhere, but his physicality and defense combines to make him a dimension we need.''
Tatum, who is pushing J.P. Prince for the starting spot on the wing, said he has made sure to get extra shots on his own to be ready for the chance to compete.
"I realize how important it is, with us losing 3-point shooting and scoring,'' said Tatum, who led the Pilot Rocky Top League in scoring last summer. "I've worked harder than I've ever worked over the summer, knowing that a lot could be on my shoulders as far as scoring and playmaking.''
Negedu Returns: Freshman power forward Emmanuel Negedu was able to complete a full practice after missing a portion of Monday's workout with a sore lower back.
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Comments » 35
threehundredbowler writes:
It is good to have a surprise like this, unlike the surprise we had in that other sport.
pammyvol1000 writes:
You go Bruce!!
robot22 writes:
Josh Tabb will have a great year for the Vols. I played with him in the Rocky Top League. He is an excellent basketball player.
WVVOLFAN writes:
40 days until it's BB time in TN.
Can't get here soon enough.
volwalk writes:
I would love to see Tabb have a great year. He has been patient, done what the coaches have asked and most of all---STUCK IT OUT..GO JOSH TABB!
THE_VOL writes:
Okay...didn't we hear alot of the same things about this time last year???? It's FACT check time again I guess:
1. Tabb will get pretty much the same minutes he got last year. C'mon, who's he gonna take minutes from - Hopson?? Prince??? Maze???? I don't think sooooooo....
2. Until BP pounds it into them and until they ALL realize what it takes to win a title again...this team will be soft mentally. Too many guys who THINK they should be starting and don't understand real difference makers worry about and play in the last two minutes not the first two. This chemistry adjustment could cost them a game or two in the first third to half the season cause guys just won't be mentally ready when called upon.
3. Don't get overly excited about the two recent commitments. Remember that ink won't be dry for another 14-18 months. Lots can happen when you're that highly regarded.
4. This team has the potential to be very good but it will largely depend on the contributions they get from the 6 through 10 guys. I would love to believe they can repeat the SEC title and make a run at Detroit and while I think they can be in the hunt for the SEC I would be very surprised if they get past the Sweet 16.
In any event - WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE PRESS THE FAST FORWARD BUTTON ON THE OFFSEASON!!!! HELL, WE NEED SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT ON ROCKY TOP!!!!
cobbwebb writes:
TENNESSEE freakin basketball is here to stay! i cant wait to see these kids on the court, were young , and were gonna take some lumps(tough schedule as usual), but i think they will be fun to watch! have you seen the 2010 rivals top 150? already 2 top commits, and check out the other kids that have TENNESSEE on their list, some major talent! GO BIG ORANGE!!!!! PEARL IN 08!!!!
cobbwebb writes:
the-vol dont rain on our big orange parade! i guarantee these kids will compete 100% every minute they are on the court! pearl will demand it. and by the way i think prince better step up his game or he could lose minutes!
volwalk writes:
The_Vol save your negativity for the football articles...Lets try to be all positive here. Another thing Vol fans, save your money by not going to the football games and use it to travel with bball team. I can't believe that I am saying this but I feel like a KY/Memphis fan.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Why does Pearl have a plan?
He must have lost his charts.
ChuckG writes:
Who the hell are you The_Vol, Billy Packer? Clearly you have no idea what you are talking about. Those freshmen are not going to start based upon their accolades alone. If Tabb is playing well he will play more than them. It is amazing that you or anyone else can do anything besides worship at Pearl's alter. He has done more for this program and really entire athletic dept. in three short years than any other coach in its history. And you get on here and write that total garbage. I understand glass-half-empty negative life sucking people like yourself sometimes have legitimate points to make, and we are all very much aware that those recruits have another year of high school after this, but really can we not just enjoy the positive energy that is emanating from the basketball program without having posters like you comingling their negative sentiments about football onto basketball as well. People like you sure do make the world a hard place to enjoy.
txvolsfan writes:
I think Tabb will take minutes from Prince, He is a beast on defense and when we need a big stop or to shut another player down. He will get that call
CoverOrange writes:
Don't dis The_Vol. He knows more than he should.
He's right about Tabb. Great defender which we need but a one trick pony.
Chemistry is important, even Tyler said so, and you have to believe there are a lot of egos walking into TBA for the first time this year.
I'm thinking Prince may be slow for the first half because he hasn't been doing strength training until recently and it takes a while to build strength and endurance.
Couchdummy writes:
Seems to me that the best man will play--period! No special treatment. Good for future.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
It's hard to have both basketball and football going for you at the same time isn't it?
vol_chaz writes:
What a great problem to have.. The talent is there...the only question is if we can gel together fast enough, before SEC play begins...when it really matters the most. I'm keeping an eye on that KU game, and the Memphis game, of course to be the benchmark for our season, and for post-season predictions. Knowing now, about what happened to Lofton last year...we might even be further down the road than we were last year...."put on for tennessee" boys.....
tmccullo writes:
This may have been addressed earlier so if I missed something I'm sorry, but is status of Bobby Maze still up in the air due to academics?
warriorman86#667191 writes:
O come on Butch, I'm more excited about basketball than anyone else on this board. I'm going to the OSC, the KU game, the Marquette game in Nashville, the SECT, the NCAA Tourney and every home game. I went to 23 games out of 36 last year, and I've hated Fulmer since '05 but to say we're a basketball school RIGHT NOW is ridiculous. We've won 2 Nat'l Championships in Football and never been past the Sweet 16 in basketball. I'm not saying we won't become a basketball school in the next 5-10 years, especially with the Big Fella running thing F'ball program, but right now we're a football school.
warriorman86#667191 writes:
Bobby Maze has been officially cleared tmccullo.
jasonn1970 writes:
This team has more upside than any in UT history - including last year's team. They'll drop a couple of games early and likely improve quite a bit throughout the year. Nobody will out-athlete this team the way Louisville did last year.
tmccullo writes:
Thanks for the info warrior
johnlg00#206211 writes:
No question CBP's biggest challenge will be keeping everyone happy with roles and playing time. And make no mistake, it is important to keep EVERYONE happy on a basketball team, or else one must be quick to boot guys off the team who are too vocal in their displeasure. Basketball teams are so small that only one or two sore-heads can kill a whole team's morale. The good thing about having so many talented guys is that a coach can make a threat like that with no one doubting he means it. I'm not AT ALL suggesting that there are any of that sort on the team, but sought-after basketball players usually have big egos which can be easily bruised if they are not getting what they feel is their due. If CBP can handle all that, this team will be a MAJOR force this year, young as they are, and CBP will deserve to be named national Coach of the Year!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Okay, here goes.....
I don't think Bruce will put his five best players on the flooer, I think he puts his best TEAM on the floor. There is always a need for a passing/defending type who can make a shot on occasion. The 'glue' factor, you know??
As for talent: yes, we hace more than we've had in ages. Still, that just basically puts us up with UK, UF, Memphis, and so forth. Hell, maybe not even as much as Memphis. We are going to HAVE to be patient. There will be games where we look pretty sick.
I can bet you one thing: Bruce would LOVE to have a Lee Humphrey-type shooter to use. Someone who can park his butt on the 3-line and hit a J with about 6" of space..suppose Chris in his prime fits that bill as well.
the_vol makes good points, and most of 'em Bruce would probabl say 'yep'. I do think Tabb gets more time, simply to steady the team.
Volunteerfan writes:
The fact that CBP has a quandry about which player to use in this highly talented team is awesome because there was a time not to long ago that we were to have one talented basketball player on the team and we knew who was getting the playing time, but we were also hoping to reach .500 on the year
b_neas writes:
Unlike previous pearl teams that peaked to early, i think this one gets only better as the year goes by and peaks right before the sec tourney. This team will have enough players where the season will not wear and tear on them and they will not get emotionally or physically tired. This is the luxury of playing 9-11 guys. I think this team may lose 5 or 6 but has a serious chance at making it to a final 4. One thing mentioned earlier that i totally agree with and we can always count on is "this team will play balls out for the entire game and make games fun to watch even when they lose". That IMO is so respectable especially after watching the football team, the basketball team will play hard and with emotion!!
rep88 writes:
The Vol is not very smart. Now i think this team is gonna win the sec out right again and anyone who dogs bruce is not very smart at all. I believe we can make a run at the elite 8 final 4 depending on how good our fresh turn out to be but without question SEC CHAMPS and i love it
Canadien writes:
Butch IS right, we're a basketball school. And Tennessee high schools produces basketball players much better than they do football players. Fan preferences are irrelevant unless the fans are going to put on the pads for the Big Orange themselves.
andefromtn#212139 writes:
Coach's biggest challenge is to mentor these young men into being better people. He'll do fine with that job and it's my believe in the process the basketball wins will take care of the themselves. Work hard, study harder and have fun for your time here will pass quickly but the memories will last a lifetime. Good luck Coach and team.
cainclifton23 writes:
The-vol
Do you really know about what pearl is pounding into their head? do you really know anything about being tough and plaiying in the sec for coach pearl...didnt think so, so dont act like you do.
We will have a great shot at makking a run this year.
Go Vols!
sgtvols writes:
to bad Fulmer can't get these kind of comments
HellBornElfChild writes:
I love that we are a basketball school. Basketball season is great. you got 2 games a week. its fast paced. there arnt as many penalties and commercials. You can feel determination by watching them play. You got the SEC tourny and thenthe NCAA tourney. Christmas time tournaments.
Its much better than football.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I applaud your sentiments, but I'm afraid that if 1) we continue to get top-rated players and 2) the NCAA keeps its preposterous one-and-done policy, he won't have much time to mold a lot of character. Furthermore, having a deep, talented team year after year will make for ever-increasing expectations for success on the court--shaping character will become far less important than wins for the fan base. I would not be terribly surprised if CBP decided to leave at that point, since he may IN FACT believe that shaping character and such is ultimately more important.
beavbullvol writes:
I'd like to wake up tomorrow and it be basketball season. It's more fun waking to prepare to watch a UT/Memphis basketball game than any UT football game!!
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
Tennessee a basketball school....welcome to what North Carolina has been enjoying for years....
THE_VOL writes:
Uhh Chuckie Cheese - before you go blasting me you should do a little homework newbie. I believe that if you check out many of my prior posts you'll find that I have a helluva lot more credibility here than your 11. For you and the other basketball bandwagon morons, there is absolutly nothing negative in my post - only facts along with my own observations which result from a great deal of knowledge about this program and the relationships in it. Now go back to recess boys and leave the adults alone.
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