Tennessee's Kenny Hall established himself as one of the toughest freshmen in the Bruce Pearl era with hard work and play in the Pilot Rocky Top League this summer.
But there was Hall on Monday, looking humbled with sweat pouring out of his lanky, 6-foot-9 frame after a 40-minute men's basketball individual workout at Pratt Pavilion.
"That's the hardest I've ever worked,'' Hall said. "I was expecting it, but still ... it was a lot in one day.''
The first day of individual workouts started with the whole team taking to "The Hill" near Neyland Stadium for sprints, then they were on to a weight-lifting session.
That was just the morning.
After classes, Hall, along with six other players, came back in the afternoon for the basketball-portion of the day.
UT assistant coach Jason Shay left the gym a little sweaty himself, but also with a smile.
"They gave great effort,'' said Shay, who ran the workouts. "They put in a lot of energy, and I'm sure they'll be sore tomorrow.
"But this is the type of intensity we'll need to get back to doing what we're known for: pressing and uptempo basketball.''
The Vols had five newcomers to break in last season, including four freshmen.
"The guys are a little older and wiser, and it's time to push their limits,'' Shay said. "They've got to get ready now - not October.
"We want to see who's done what over the summer, and who's ready to compete and fight for their position.''
Vols' third-year sophomore Cameron Tatum said there's a difference in intensity.
"Last year we had a big mix of new guys coming in and they didn't all know what it took,'' Tatum said. "A lot comes with experience.
"We know we have to change the way we train and prepare. The key thing is intensity, and everything is moving at a faster pace because we're going back to how we used to play.''
Goins Sidelined: UT junior college transfer Melvin Goins has a slightly pulled hamstring and wasn't able to participate in the morning run or the individual workouts. Goins, however, had impressed teammates before suffering the injury.
"I like Melvin's game a lot,'' Tatum said. "He's quick, he can defend, and he can get off the ground.
"But he's an annoying defender; a pest.''
Goins was often compared to Oklahoma State point guard Byron Eaton. Coincidentally, Goins was on Eaton's AAU team in Texas in high school.
Tatum sees the similarities.
"But Melvin's quicker than Eaton,'' Tatum said. "And he makes some really good passes.''
Tough Maze: Bobby Maze didn't have any complaints about the morning physical training.
"It was tough, but we need it,'' Maze told a UT assistant in passing.
Hall Weight: Hall reported to UT for the first term of summer school weighing in at 203. Monday, he was at 220 pounds before practice.
Prince Return: Vols' senior wing participated in workouts. He had shoulder surgery in the spring and is still limited in contact drills.
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Comments » 19
Major_Magilicutty writes:
Sounds good...and familiar. Takin' lessons eh Pearl? I don't blame ya! Keep 'em fired up and let's have a good season! GO VOLS!
PoochPuntOn3rdDown writes:
"Floridiots"!!! That is classic.
Kenny Hall has already put on 17 pounds this summer. If he keeps getting bigger, he's going to be a stud. We need a big man to step up this year.
Ironcity writes:
I hope its muscle and not fat
VOLKING writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
richvol writes:
Only seven worked out.I hope Brian Williams was one of them...he needs to get much quicker and be able to run the floor if we are going to effectively press.
Bigger_Al writes:
Yes! Psyched-up to read this. Gotta get back to the relentless intensity of the 1st 3 years.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I remember going all goggle-eyed when I read Dane Bradshaw's book, "Vertical Leap", about how hard CBP's first UT team trained in the pre-season. If these guys are working as hard, AND if the team develops a real TEAM identity, this could be a great season. It was a little unsettling to hear that only six or seven guys seemed to be doing that much right now. Maybe they work out on different days or something. Need ALL of them going as hard as they can go, starting ASAP!
b_neas writes:
We better get back to the pressing days....no more excuses about new guys....with KY being loaded and MSU going to be strong.....UT will have to bring the intensity of old in order to compete for the SEC title and get a solid NCAA seed. We have to find an identity before the season starts and stick to it all year long.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
won't basketball never get here?!!!
TrouserCough writes:
Hope their spending as much time learning to shoot.
oldsmokey67 writes:
Catscratch you are the only non-vol fan that shows respect.I think Tennessee & Kentucky are going to have some classic games this season.I think Calipari & Pearl will be the best rilvary in the SEC.They are 2-2 against each other.
oldsmokey67 writes:
Any word on Skylar McBee and how he is doing.Also i hope we go after that Jalen Steele kid.I think he would be a steal.GO VOLS!!!!!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Hard to argue with much of this. Very much agree about Tyler. His strength is that he is pretty good at lots of things but not really outstanding at any one thing. I'm sure that hurts him as a prospect for the NBA draft, but, ironically, it would make him a much better team-mate, sooner, than lots of guys who will be drafted ahead--or instead--of him. If he is willing to settle for 15 or so a game instead of feel he has to have 20+ every night, the team as a whole will be much more effective. He and the team will be much better off if he realizes that he is already in position to make nice money overseas; then if he gets a chance in the NBA, all the better.
golfballs03 writes:
cant wait for the hardwood
tallfry writes:
wayne is the man! chism in yo face!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Excellent points, also, as usual. Hope everyone realizes I am a Tyler FAN. It was sometimes obvious that he was frustrated at feeling he had to carry the whole load. I hope some of the others step up this year so Tyler can let the game come to him a little more, rather than feel he has to be a hero on every play.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Even Bernard King would have had a hard time with last year's team. Bernard had Ernie Grunfeld and Mike(?) Jackson to help shoulder the load. Tyler very often was our most viable--if not only--option and drew the brunt of the defense every time out.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree. Despite the knocks he still gets from some Vol fans, Chism has improved each year in each phase of the game, especially inside. He has clearly benefited from attending the late Pete Newell's famous big-man camps. He may be the best all-around big man in the SEC this year if he chooses to play that way.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
All Vol fans surely hope that will be the case, but I wouldn't read too much into RTL performances. Not enough defense or structured offense in that league. NO ONE will have that much freedom in the regular season if they expect to be successful.
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