When the going got tough, Tennessee went to Tyler Smith to keep things going.
Smith scored a team-high 15 points and dished out four assists with no turnovers in leading the Vols to a 78-66 win over determined East Tennessee State on Wednesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Scotty Hopson was the only other UT player to score in double figures with 10 points, and Cameron Tatum, Brian Williams and Skylar McBee had nine points apiece.
The Buccaneers (4-4) gave the 11th-ranked Vols (6-1) a battle before UT closed out the game by going 6-of-6 from the free-throw line during the final minute.
“Did we trail?’’ Vols coach Bruce Pearl asked at the opening of his press conference. “That was a tough match-up. They spread us out and penetrated and pitched.
“If we finish around the basket better . . . the margin of victory is greater.’’
The Bucs proved scrappy in the paint, out-fighting Tennessee around the rim on many occasions. The Vols held a 34-32 edge in rebounds despite the obvious size disparity.
ETSU stayed within striking distance throughout the action before the announced crowd of 17,512, and trailed by a 42-39 count when Justin Tubbs drove to the basket for two of his game-high 22 points with 15:48 remaining.
The Vols answered with an 11-2 run and Smith did much of the work, once on a drive and other times with his ball distribution and defense.
Tennessee had 22 assists on its 28 field goals, showing patience against a packed-in Bucs defense.
“I’m just feeling the game, trying to take whatever comes to me and not force anything,’’ said Smith, second in the SEC in assist/turnover ratio. “A lot of times our guys are making the shots, so I’m just looking to find them and not turn it over.’’
McBee, a walk-on freshman, heated up during the pivotal 11-2 run, sinking two shots from beyond the 3-point arc to keep the Bucs at arm’s length.
A Tatum 3-pointer at the 10:05 mark gave the Vols a 61-49 lead, and ETSU didn’t draw closer than six points for the game’s remainder.
“We were able to manage the game and keep them at bay,’’ Pearl said. “It was a solid game. We weren’t playing to blow them out, we were playing to win because we respected them.’’
Point guard Bobby Maze, who had five assists and no turnovers, said Smith’s experience proved key down the stretch.
“That was a terrific basketball team with good guards who came out with a lot of intensity,’’ Maze said. “Tyler showed again he can get it done in a lot of ways, not just scoring but with his defense and intensity.
“His veteran skills really allow him to take over late in the games.’’
Pearl said the Vols will take off a few days for finals before returning to action at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Sommet Center in Nashville against Middle Tennessee State.
UT’s next home game in Thompson-Boling Arena is against Wyoming on Dec. 15.
Notebook: Pearl got his first technical of the season at the 1:03 mark of the first half for arguing a defensive foul picked up by Hopson. . . . Pearl said he felt Hopson had been fouled on more than one occasion on his drives to the basket. . . . Walk-on Steven Pearl did not dress for the game and was not on the team bench. Bruce Pearl said his son was taking care of “academic business.’’
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Comments » 104
fundamentals83 writes:
Prince's value on defense is beginning to be offset by his liabilities on offense.
AceVentura writes:
Keep on winning. That's all I ask, don't care about style points.
chrisw2967 writes:
watched the game and Im still waiting on the chaos def. we were suppose to see.This team could be a great team but Pearl is going to have to start coaching them.This is the samething we seen last year and Im afraid were going to see the same results.
fundamentals83 writes:
can't hit a 10+footer, makes wild passes while jumping out of bounds, can't hit free throws, showboats at completely inappropriate times. JP.. GROW UP!!!
samvol writes:
Pearl needs to do more coaching and less yelling.
fundamentals83 writes:
UH, Plasticman is right on this one.
golfin_blondie writes:
I posted this on another threat but I think ETSU gave us a game. I also think Bruce might have found another shooter in McBee (God I hope I am spelling this correctly). Last year our guard play killed us...I think it is looking better so far this year from the games I have watched.
fundamentals83 writes:
Hate to tell you this, but he's right again. There had to be 10 times tonight that Smith said the buccaneers were winning.
Waldorf writes:
This team is not that good.
spacehistorian writes:
My Alma Mater played tenaciously & if they could have knocked down some more treys, this could have been a "down to the wire" game. The Bucs run the same up-tempo style that BP wants the Vols to run so the score was lower than expected. The chemistry seems to be lacking for UT which reminds me of last season. I hope BP hits the right notes with this team which can be a great team when they play to their potential. As for my Bucs, I expect them to return to the Big Dance & this year knock off a #2 in the first round. As for the Vols, Sweet Sixteen at a minimum, if we catch fire at the right time, Final Four (hopefully.)
chrisw2967 writes:
No I have no problem with Pearl and from what you are saying every 3 years we will have a good basketball team?That wasnt the case when he came in and had lofton and smith and that team didnt need 3 years to gel.These are mostly seniors playing not freshmen and this isnt streetball and thats what they are playing.You have JP trying to be hotdog with a 5 point lead and the sad thing is this team could be great.Im not a Pearl hater , he is the best thing to happen to UT basketball.
NorthwestVol writes:
Unfortunately this reminds me a lot of last years team. Still time to improve and 'hope springs eternal'.
coastal_vol writes:
more of the same....
CarlChilders writes:
Good game. As a Buc grad, I'm glad it's over with a respectable ending for both teams. I can now pull for the Vols the rest of the season. Mike Smith wasn't himself and will redshirt this year. He'll be back, as will the rest of the Buc team next year. Would love to see coach Pearl bring his team to the dome next year, but it won't happen. Too much to lose, too little to gain. Go Bucs! Go Vols!
VolunTenMile writes:
I was there tonight, and it wasn't pretty. ETSU is a good team, but our guys looked too much like they did like last year. Our offense often consists of four guys throwing the ball around the 3-point line while a Big floats aimlessly through the lane. There just seems to be no fire in their bellies, and they looked a step slow on defense too many times. Lousy shooting for most of the night didn't help, either. An earlier post about reducing the # in the rotation might be on target - this team just doesn't seem to have any continuity from one possession to the next.
But, hey, a win is a win is a win. GBO!
Smallmike4pres writes:
So does he have to whisper to coach or would a soft mumble be better?
utfan00 writes:
Go UT VOLS
WHO IS TYLER SMITH DATING?
volcycle writes:
Didn't get to watch the game. Glad to see McBee went 3-3 from beyond the arc. Feed him the ball. He seems to be the only consistent one from there. He's a walk on, isn't he? For those that watched...did Hopson disappear? He was hot for the first couple of games, but seems to go cold in the tough games. I had hoped he would have it turned on this year and be consistent.
ChattTownVol writes:
You know if this team were to beat Kansas and Kentucky...or even just one of those teams all of the people on here talking bad about Pearl would be his biggest fan. Im sick and tired of (at least from what I can tell) the amount of fair weather fans on this forum and in the UT fan base as a whole. ETSU is a very good team. I didnt expect to blow them out.
VOLoom writes:
Love the vols but this game was boring.
CarlChilders writes:
Nothing to be frustrated about for Vol fans. A win is a win. Louisville, Arkansas, and TN outscored ETSU by a combined total of 16 points and ETSU's game with College of Charleston wasn't as close as UT's, although the final score wasn't indicative.
johnlg00 writes:
Despite the fact that the TV grid and the "Sports on TV" box in the local paper, AND the Time-Warner Cable on-screen program guide said the game would be on Fox Sports tonight, they decided, for reasons known only to themselves, to carry S.Car. v. WKY in the Greensboro, NC area. Therefore, I could only listen to the game over utsports.com.
My impression is that many of the problems leading to last season's underachievement remain uncorrected. These have all been listed and belabored endlessly by several posters on here, so I will not bother to rehash them. In any case, they nearly all boil down either to poor fundamentals, or failure to value possession, or general lack of on-court basketball IQ. Too many players seem to be playing the game entirely in their own heads, with no reference to things like time, score, who is hot on either team, or where our team advantages lie.
I will root for the Vols, try to attend at least a couple of games this year, and otherwise follow them the best I can, but I am afraid they will underachieve again. I do feel that UT is one of the two or three best teams in the SEC this year, but it appears that the conference as a whole is still not what it was, say, 10 years ago. The Vols will probably still be in the running for the conference championship in the last week of the season and will probably win a game or two in the conference tourney. They will be an upper-half seed in the NCAAs and may win a game or two there.
And that is as good as UT basketball may ever get, especially after they lose all their most-productive players after this year. This is better than it used to be, but once again there will be a wide-spread feeling that this team could have been so much more. But, hey, maybe they will surprise me.
Slystone writes:
Unless the team (opponent) is ranked the crowd is usually dead. That has been the norm for years. I've seen more excitement at and NBA game.
golfin_blondie writes:
Yes McBee is a walk on, but after tonight I think he has earned some valuable playing time. Hopson had an average game and yes you are right he needs to work on being consistent.
798orange writes:
Quite an accusation, calling the coach a fraud. Why don't you elaborate on why you think that to be true? The guy has won big wherever he has coached. His only fault here is not advancing deeper at tournament time, but 2 sweet sixteens is not bad. He has raised expectations here, a welcome change.
golfin_blondie writes:
Come on guys it is still earlier in the season. Let's wait and see what SEC play has for us. I see an improvement over last year's team and I think we will get stronger as the year goes on. Let's play the game before we pass judgment.
xvolx writes:
This is not the eleventh best team in the country.
bUTchVFL writes:
Just because you are critical of the team doesn't make you any less of a fan. You probably wish we had kept Fulmer.
golfin_blondie writes:
Like I said.....it is early in the season. Play the games on the court and see what happens. I think the Vols have talent and will go a long way especially if the guard play improves which I think it has.
cdonsbach writes:
Most of the fans in attendance sat on their hands for the entire game.
Come on, people, you won't be arrested or cast as a social pariah for rooting for your team.
Ironcity writes:
First ChrisW Petey is mocking you, he hates Pearl and everything UT stands for. This team is not playing street ball, in fact this team needs to be a little more selfish, we need to attack more. To often guys drive to the hoop only to turn and chuck it out for a three. In time it will get better. I do worry that we have a number of players that just don't handle the ball well. It looks like most of our guys have trouble creating for themselves. This rears itself a lot when Tyler and Bobby are out. I think it bares watching.
One other thing, I have to say something is wrong with Prince right now, he looks lost on the court. Not sure if he is hurt or if he has completely lost confidence in his game. If he doesn't pick it up soon I think he may be an odd man out come January.
I do like the way Williams is playing, its unfortunate that his reputation for being a hack seems to effect the way refs call the game around him. I think the only way he gets a call is if he needs to go to the hospital.
teedub writes:
Well said, John. I just hope they prove us wrong!
Orangeblood13 writes:
by far the dumbest post I have ever read
Ironcity writes:
Pete thats because you don't like Pearl. In fact you hate him. You have never said a nice thing about any player on the team. You call the coach a fraud. Even though the team was going through the motions, we won going away by 13 and never trailed.
A sign of a good team is one that wins all of the games they should. So far Pearls teams have done that. UK changed coaches because they lost to teams like Gardner Webb. You have to look long and hard to find any mid majors who have given UT a game on our floor even when we played lousy. Thats a sign of a good coach and a good team.
CarlChilders writes:
Bruce Pearl is the greatest thing that ever happened to UT basketball consistently taking it to a level never before realized including the brief King, Grunfeld, Ellis era peaks. It just doesn't seem to be good enough for a lot of the faithful anymore.
N2Motorsports writes:
BRUCE PEARL > MORRISTOWNVOL
VOLoom writes:
You just sound bitter, probably not much fun to be around. I feel sorry for your family. Do you have to be right about everything with them too? That is if you have a family. Kind of hard to believe that anyone would put up with such anal retentive behavior. You want everyone to bask in your "intelligence". So tell me, why do you really hate Pearl so much? Is it because he is from the north? Or perhaps that he is Jewish? Because it's pretty obvious that this runs deeper than just basketball.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
I COMPLETELY AGREE. It seems that UT fans don't understand when it's important to cheer. They never get loud when it matters. I also don't understand why everyone cheers so much louder for Skylar when he hits a shot (which is rare) as opposed to when Scotty or Cam make a 3. It just strikes me as ignorant and INADVERTENTLY "racist". Just because he's white and is in the rotation, we should cheer twice as loud? Need I remind that Dane Bradshaw was crowned the "Mayor of Knoxville" with a basketball resume that was nothing like an impact player's? I know I sound incredibly cynical, but I just want my fellow UT fans to cheer when it matters, and cheer loud for all the points scored, no matter who scores...I'm also not hating on Skylar, I know he's going to be a great player here at UT, but he just hasn't proven himself to me yet...
PS, I'm not an interloper or troll.
VOLKING writes:
If you think Morristownvol's are dumb, you should read the ones he posts as PETEBELL. This guy is an old codger who doesn't like Pearl's style of coaching. He sounds like a lot of fun to be around. An old coot who has 2 screennames so he can cry about how Pearl is the worst coach in college hoops. This guy needs a life. Oh wait, his whole life is bashing Pearl and calling anyone who disagrees with him a 'Pearl worshiper.' He's an interloper from Memphis as well. Poor guy. I almost feel sorry for him.
colt writes:
I can,t believe there are so many idiots on this site. If you don't like our team and coach then pull for cats at Ky. We true TN fans don't give a damn about your female doging.
kb7398#233189 writes:
OMG...spare me the Kiffin phooey. Wait until his own players are in there and he's back in the NFL.
Now...talk sensibly about the basketball game and keep the Kiffin butt-smooching to a minimum...
kb7398#233189 writes:
I sure wish we had kept Fulmer...since there wasn't a good reason to run him off anyway.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
I don't like it when Tyler have to take over a game because that means the rest of the guys are not pulling their weight and watching Tyler like us spectators. I believe this team has the talent to grind it out and win games but why the grind, play team offense and watch wins become a bit more easier. This year we expect more from Chism, Hopson, and Prince you all will have to get more consistent.
rocky_topper writes:
The tennessee globetrotters!!!!
txvolsfan writes:
Fire the coach bring back Wade Houston or Buzz!!!
I like the low expectations and the losing seasons much better
firebruce.com
xvolx writes:
There's nothing wrong with Kesling and Smallwood is a great player.
GreerVol22 writes:
Pearl said practice all week was not at the tempo he liked. It carried over to the game. Pearls "T" was intended to spark his flat team. It was just one of those nights when dunks, lay ups, and 3's were not dropping and killing the big mo. They played really good D last 5 mins to seal the deal. Happy to get the win and move on. ....Could be worse, see Clemson, Duke.
wayoutwill writes:
I think I will have to disagree with you about the Vols lack of intensity,you obviously don't realize the facts about ETSU and this program and this Coach.They are very much for real.One SEC basketball team already found out.I don't know why you want to comment that you know of two players that don't need to be on the floor,then somehow omit the two player's name.Are we supposed to guess at your mystery players or was two a conveinent number you decided to throw out there?The fact is that the Vols beat a good team tonite and that's really the bottom line.They made some mental mistakes,but not from a lack of intensity,just bad decisions that cost them during the game.I thought the Vols looked pretty good in a game that stands as one of those (no way to win wins)--if they won,-so what,they should have and if they lost,-look out,the sky is falling!The real truth is that the Vols are looking pretty sharp so far into this young season and are a whisker away from being ranked in the spot that Purdue currently holds,which is #4 if I'm right on the rankings!Lookout NCAA as well as SEC teams 'cause the Vols are headed to the final four-MARK IT DOWN!--truth of the matter is that the Purdue loss was a good thang!
golfin_blondie writes:
I personally think the fact that McBee is a walk on and from the state of Tennessee might have a factor of being a crowd pleaser.......
Vols05 writes:
I am just as big a Vol fan as any, but I have to agree that they played uninspired basketball last night. They looked like they wanted to be anywhere other than on that floor playing basketball. You can bash me or say whatever you want, but they had absolutely no intensity at all. Don't get me wrong, ETSU is a good basketball team, but if UT plays intense and inspired they win by 25 period. Looks to me like they think that they can turn it on when they want to. Good luck doing that against SEC opponents, Kansas, and Memphis. Last night I would have rather watched paint dry than a team that gives a lackluster performance. JMHO.
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