The Tennessee basketball team came out against North Carolina A&T intent on putting the worst loss of the Bruce Pearl era behind them.
The 16th-ranked Vols jumped to a 22-0 lead en route to a 99-78 victory before a crowd of 17,759 at Thompson-Boling Arena Wednesday night.
By halftime, Tennessee (9-2) managed as many points (55) against North Carolina A&T (4-8) as it scored in 40 minutes in the 22-point loss at Southern Cal last Saturday in the most lopsided defeat of Pearl’s five-year tenure with the Vols.
UT’s defense had much to do with the strong start, forcing 23 of the Aggies’ 34 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
Freshmen Kenny Hall and Skylar McBee posted career-highs for points with 16 and 12, respectively, as the bench contributed 60 points.
Tyler Smith had 16 points and led the Vols with four steals, and Scotty Hopson and J.P. Prince added 10 points apiece.
“My teammates have been telling me to keep my head up and keep working hard, because you never know when you’ll get the opportunity,’’ said 6-foot-8 Hall, who had been slowed by illness most of December. “I’m happy about tonight, but it’s not too much to brag about. I’m more happy for my teammates, and I wish I would have gotten more rebounds (four).’’
Hall played 13 minutes and sophomore Renaldo Woolridge played a season-high 17 minutes on account of Wayne Chism being limited to eight minutes by a bruised pelvis.
It was arguably Woolridge’s best all-around performance with the Vols; he scored nine points, pulled down five rebounds and recorded three assists with no turnovers.
But the game wasn’t all merry for Tennessee.
The Vols were 5 of 26 (19.2 percent) shooting beyond the 3-point arc, including an 0-for-13 shooting stretch in the second half.
McBee was 3-for-6 shooting from 3-point range, leaving the rest of the team 2 of 20 — a cumulative 0-for-9 performance by wings Scotty Hopson and Cameron Tatum.
UT committed a season-high 23 turnovers and allowed North Carolina A&T to close the gap with a 14-0 burst that grew into a 21-6 run over the final 6:01.
Melvin Goins got the start at point guard on account of Bobby Maze suffering flu-like symptoms. Goins’ defensive play was impressive enough, but he was 0-for-3 shooting and had two assists and three turnovers.
The Vols’ inability to finish against the tired, overmatched Aggies led to Pearl’s sobering post-game assessment.
“Every team gets it going at different times of the season, and I would hope that absolutely we would have a greater upside,’’ Pearl said. “We need to play a lot better than we’re playing to beat the people on our schedule.’’
The Aggies lost 80-59 at Miami, Fla., fewer than 48 hours before tipoff.
Tennessee’s next game is Dec. 31 at Memphis (8-2).
The Vols next home game is at 7 p.m. on Jan. 6 against Charlotte (9-2). The 49ers handed Rick Pitino his worst home loss at Louisville (87-65) on Dec. 5, but had their seven-game win streak snapped at Old Dominion Wednesday night (81-48).
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Cordarrelle Patterson drafted by the…
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Comments » 72
Kick_it_Ricky writes:
Glad it went better than the USC game.
justTRUSTme writes:
Was Chris there? Did he speak?
mmynatt writes:
Doesn't begin to make up for the loss to USC -- NC A&T is a relative nobody; this is not the team we hoped for this year. There are NO shooters on this team that can even carry Chris Lofton's jockstrap (not that anyone would want to....!!)
sandiegovolunteer writes:
I get an empty feeling after watching these games- We have some physically gifted kids but their desire to speed up the game is causing them to go faster than the actual opportunities. Something in the middle would be much better. Not slow- not this fast- but slow enough where we can think before we chuck the ball.
Woolridge has too much velocity on his shots-
come on- soft with arc!
Tyler-enough mister nice guy- start scoring!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
now he misses everything, 2 airball in a row---------last year he was the had a ton on airballs too---------this team has no pure shooters with any consistentcy and everyone knows that but Pearl apparantly who continues to let jacked bricks and airballs be our offensive scheme----but we are butchers around the basket as well-------multiple blown dunks tonite-----totally unimpressive sloppy offensive performance
graphpro#231211 writes:
How does Brian Williams have a scholarship? He was 3 of 8 on lay-ups. He missed an open dunk. Surely Bruce can recruit someone that has ANY skills in the low post.
The second half shooting was as bad as USC. If it's outside 5 feet its a low percentage. WOW
TkelynN writes:
Maybe its just me but I think this core of seniors are extremely talented but lack the desire to play hard for 40 minutes consistently. Tyler is a great player and he may make some money overseas next year but I believe he lacks the natural leadership ability that this team needs to light a fire under them. Hopson has such a fragile ego and i agree with the other poster, he reminds me too much of Yarbrough. All of the talent in the world but thinks too much and doesnt play with intensity. I think next season the team will play much more consistent and dictate tempo because they will have more skilled guards. Last year our guards made opposing teams guards look like Michael Jordan and not much has changed. To be an elite team you need elite guards, not Juco's. I still believe in Pearl! You can take a horse to water but you cant make it drink, as the saying goes here! Just need players that WANT to play AND win! The class of '10 obviously does not share that ambition!
james#216392 writes:
A win for Christmas. Better than a loss.
smokey_jones writes:
does anyone know what recruit was on a visit to our game tonight?
ucancallmeray writes:
Passion for defense was definitely back at least in the first half, although NC A&T was one of the worst teams i've ever seen on the floor at TBA. Still way too sloppy with the ball in the paint. What's the deal with Brian Williams and the one bounce before he muffs another easy layup?
tdvol1989 writes:
Yes, it was more of the same. We have seen this same game about 7 other times this year. I wanted to see a cleaner game, but thanks to NCAT trying to press and run, the misleading Slam Dunks will give the team false confidence.
I did see some blocked shots, and maybe Kenny Hall can give us a lift, but still too many uncontested shots for the other team, running into traffic on the dribble, missed layups, etc. And, we either get a layup/dunk or a 3. It doesn't seem that we have anyone confidently hitting 8 - 12 foot jumpers.
orangevolz writes:
What a bunch of whiners on this board!
newportvol writes:
WE Won enought said..
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
I'm not sure of the recruit, but Jeronne Maymon, who left Marquette attended practice yesterday and the game tonight also.
Vols....TCB....Keep on keeping on........GBO!!!!!
richvol writes:
It's time to give Kenny Hall the minutes and pull Brian Williams. He must have set a record for blown layups. If he could get his big rear end off the floor and dunk he might make a basket or two. And don't throw him a pass...it might hit him in the hands.
Frist half was improved...second half was same ole.
reg_mza#219136 writes:
Ugh. This game made me realize this team is no where near even last year's team. This was not as impressive as the final score indicates as it was kind of a bore after they tore it open into the 20s. A&T looked lost and as the announcer stated, this team has to look forward to the 4 games of the MEAC tourney and win that in order to get into the NCAAs otherwise it does not matter how many games they win, they're not getting in unless they win the MEAC. That being said, they looked like a small weaker and less disciplined opponent. However, the Vols looked lost and here is a break down:
Tyler - looks lost with no identity on offense. No post play, no wing play, but still rebounds and defends well.
Chism - still loves to float a lot on the outside and not bang down low. A post player trying to play like a small forward for the NBA scouts. Doesn't help that this offense of CBP basically allows for him to swing out on the wings all the time instead of hunkering down load.
Goins/Maze - Well they can dribble the ball up court most times, that's about all I can say about them.
Hopson/Tatum - I've never seen two wing players shoot so much and have no confidence in their shot at the same time. It's glaringly apparent in almost all of their actions on the court and they are not superior rebounding guards to make up for the poor FG shooting.
Williams - I've never seen a player with no anticipatory skills. He never anticipates the pass, quick or open and fumbles a lot of passes or catches them on a fumble and ruins perfectly good low post shots. He also misses a lot of gimmes and he's not improving.
Prince - Does he have to yell after almost every dunk or big play? Eventually he'll get T'd up for that but for now he's getting away with it. No long range prospects but sees the floor well. If he can make the pass without overdoing it then more power to him.
McBee - I see Bradshaw like qualities in him and it'll remain to be seen how much of his potential is reached. I like him though on the court. He hustles and I like that.
The rest of the team is not worth mentioning on a consistent basis as they are not consistent. No identity on offense and at least they have an identity on defense, but not consistent with it yet so intensity kind of ebbs and flows. I think they'll make the tourney again but about the same results as last year.
paul5170 writes:
Jeronne Maymon-went with Marquette 2008-2009 class ,rated 87th best player for that class as 6-7 PF.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
If CBP wants to let them practice for a hour on their 3's, then he needs to make them practice for 23 hours on 8,10,12, and 15' jumpers. That might help alot.
Vols...TCB...Keep on keeping on.....GBO!!!!!
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
If you read what I wrote, you will note that I did not say that he was a great player and that we needed him. I was just simply trying to answer a question. JEEEEZ!
Vols....TCB....Keep on keeping on.....GBO!!!!!!
golfballs03 writes:
reg_mza#219136's got it right. The men have played two opponents who are presumably in their league, Purdue and USC, and lost to both.
Pearl's offense requires shooters, yet the only shooters he's had he inherited - Lofton and Smith - and, as I recall, at the start he didn't think much of either. The "shooters" he's recruited have yet to show up. McBee is a walk-on. ... What's one to make of all this?
If things don't change, let's just say it'll be a nervous beginning to the SEC season. And the next two "warm-ups" promise to turn nervousness into outright anxiety.
rdgshackelford writes:
pearl needs to forbid his players (minus mcbee and hopson) from taking 3 point shots. i am tired of seeing this team waste possessions on bad shot selections. if you cant drive to the basket against nca&t how do you expect to against quality teams.
slambob2#228938 writes:
This team has talent and a great coach, but no team can win consistently if they don't shoot well - and they are trying to make the great pass and turning it over far too much. Pearl will get the most out of this team, but it is frustrating to wait while watching this.
One note: Without McBee's 3 for 6 performance, the Vols were 2 for 20 from 3-point range. That's even worse than the last two games.
slambob2
Chris4Vols22 writes:
Great win! What a team effort! Let's get another!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
with all due respect think you are the only one all up in the clouds over this team--it was a win but certainly not a great win----lowly them played very overated us even after they broke the ice and finally scored---sloppy. 10% trey shooting, 26 turnouver games arent great wins------no more Koolaide for you, being positive is Ok but being deluded really isnt
thevoice writes:
Hate to be negative after a blowout win, but the anticipated demise of this team is becoming more clear game after game. And unfortunately, it comes down to coaching. The Vols played good ball for the first 10 minutes. When they got their +/-28 point lead, the coach allowed them to play street ball. Good teams typically possess coaches who coach and teach the entire game, regardless of the score. CBP does not do this, thus allowing bad habits to creep back into a player's play. GBO.
GreerVol22 writes:
No one will ever fear us without good shooting guards. One gear on defense with the press, other than that they let anyone score at will.
Bloodrunzorange writes:
Not having an inside game and poor point guard play is going to kill us in March. I guess we have to keep jacking up the 3's and hope... Go Vols!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
We all better hope that Williams pulls gets it together sometime..He has his moments and than he bumbles and fumbles around like he's never seen a basketball.Chism will be gone and for some reason Pearl does not go after a true center..This team hasn't had a dominate big man since I don't know when..It's unfortunate that Duke Crews got dismissed;He was big and physical and would probably be playing in place of Williams
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
We shot a lot of 3's in this game because Pearl is desperately trying to get Tatum and Hopson to be more consistent with their shooting..They are shooting terrible and Pearl is well aware that we can't win without good outside shooting..Nobody can!! At times this year Tatum has has played well inside and outside..Iam not sure how Hopson goes from leading the team in scoring to shooting bricks..You tell me??? On a positive incoming guard McRae appears to be the real deal.Not only is he good from the perimeter but he is pretty fearless driving to the basket and shoots layups well right and left handed
MikeInTN writes:
Consistently can't shoot, defend, rebound...not going to be a year to remember IMO. By the way...get rid of the freakin headbands!!!!!
samvol writes:
Pearl needs to stop poking out his chest every-time he wins a game to a mid level team. I'm not impressed, you should have won this game! Pearl has a lot of talent, he just does not know how to coach them, that's the reason why they make bad choices. when players start pounding their chest after a dunk, pull them out...but lump of coal is to busy pounding his chest as well. If this system does not change, Kansas is going to blow brucie out of Knoxville. its the coach...or lack there of. Williams should be a beast on the boards, but hes not being developed...and that's the coaching staff...
samvol writes:
Whats all this Hype surrounding Mcbee, he makes a couple of wide open shots and everyone loses their mind.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
I admit this team is getting hard to watch. Last night game was like watching too horrible teams. Have we really gotten that bad? It's like no one wants to play, they seem tired and uncaring. Is that coaching?
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
I think the fans really want this kid do good;He's worked his butt off just to get in the rotation..The fan response was because he's missed so many 3's;we were all glad to see somebody actually make one
samvol writes:
oh yea...i guess that tired him out, because he was mia the second half!
richvol writes:
I'm relieved to see that most are seeing the same things I have been seeing. After playing with hustle,and a modicum of precision for the first 10 minutes,Pearl let them revert to the same sloppy,undisciplined style of play that has defined this team's play for the last two years. I am sadly coming to the conclusion that Pearl is not the coach I thought he was when he took Buzz's players,the first two years,and made them into winners. He has not demonstrated the ability to recruit a big man nor effective guards for this level of competition and he does not teach the kind of offensive system that will win at an elite level against disciplined teams.
Pearl is the best coach we have had at UT in a long time but as far as getting UT to the type of team that can make the final four is looking very slim.
FeelVol writes:
I thought the same thing last year only with Negedu I still wonder why Coach Pearl invests so many minutes in Williams I see him as a role player to bang against an opposing big man at best.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
I disagree that the USC game was the worst of the Pearl era. Blowing a 20 point lead against ohio state and getting totally blown out by Louisvillein the NCAA tourney were worse in my opinion.
kdub writes:
this season has been really disappointing so far due to the teams lack of intensity and hustle not to mention all they can do is dunk. we have no perimeter shooting, no perimeter D, no rebounding, looks like street ball with no fundamentals. CBP better get this fixed or gonna be a long season. wondering if there is something going on behind the scenes with team chemistry. I've watched Texas, Mich St, WVU play this year and they play HARD, together and look like they really enjoy playing as a TEAM. wish the same could be said for us.
vet4ut writes:
I hate this team. As much as I love supporting the Vols, this team has no heart, no courage, no "will" to win.
And though I don't want to admit it, I'm thinking more and more that Pearl can't win with his system with these types of players. As I've stated before, he needs a group of hungry 6'4" - 6'8" players who can all shoot respectably, rebound, dribble/drive, pass, and play hard-nosed Defense.
That made his system effective and a match-up nightmare for conventional teams with a center, PF, SF, SG and PG (ie like we have now).
Ho hum. A depressing win before Xmas.
Slystone writes:
5-26 from 3 point land is a lot of jacks. Why so many against and inferior team when they need to be working on their inside game? Kansas will pose a major problem with Aldrich and the twins inside. Perhaps Pearl realizes this team is better off launching 3's instead of better post plays. Interesting.
rbromley7#241642 writes:
Same old same old. Obvious athletic skill allows the Vols to run over the Aggies of the world. A different tale when they play good teams. Poor shooting can be attributed to poor shot selection, an offense that depends too much on a dribble penetration & kick back out to a post player for an attempted 3-pointer, also no offensive understanding of how to attack a zone.
Where are the screens, single or double screens that help to set up a fairly decent chance to make a shot? Coaching or personality?
Ironcity writes:
After that assessment I would guess we are .500 team. There is a lot to like about this team. Right now they are not playing good. I know this may be tedious but if you check the stats on 3pt shooting across the country you will realize EVERY team and every player goes through spells of cold shooting. You act like its only our guys.
Guys you need to understand we will likely never have another pure shooter like Lofton ever again. Quit trying to compare guys to him or expecting our wings to match his performance because its never going to happen. As for Williams I have to think you really don't understand basketball if you don't think he has improved. He is 10 times better then he was when he got here. He still needs to polish his moves around the basket but if everyone on this team had improved as much as he has we would be a top 5 team.
johnlg00 writes:
Exactly! Those threes are wide open because the other guys aren't making them. If even one defender has to trail McBee around the arc, there will be that much more room for other guys to drive and post up.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
maybe cause noone else on this team can make wide open shots with any consistency----------I'd say get him more PT and sit Tatum, hes stinkin up the joint with the bricks hes throwing up from the field and the line----------as another said pine time is all these guys understand------------a Bobby Knight would have reason to want to choke these guys for the slop they are showing
RoadTrip writes:
Totally agree. My answer is both. CBP is not known for being great with half court offenses. He needs to work on himself there. Most of the players are tweeners. Versatile for mixing in different positions as needed, yet, masters of no position. That is recruiting/analyzing talent and player development related. So that is CBP. We have no shooters unless Skylar can develop. Hopson's rainbow shot is embarrassing. That is the same - CBP related.
Motivation has to come from within. You've got to want it. They have no "go to" players for more than one game in a row. Do you see "winner" stamped on any of them? No team chemistry on the court. Not been any there since Chris and Dane. That is personality.
You get what you get with what you have. We had gotten so used to bad that even making the tourney was great. Now we want more since we are paying top dollar for coaching talent.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
back to back airballs---------the NBA isn't calling
Ironcity writes:
After reading through all of these posts I am embarressed by the fair weather fans we have. Your expectation are utterly unattainable. You not only expect wins but you expect perfection each and every game. Most of you never watch any other team. Some of you love to compare our games to those between 2 top teams (such as Texas and Mich St) and then try to compare our intensity to those participating in those big games. Every team plays down to the level of there opponents to some extent, UK was tied at 1/2 by Long Beach. They were up by three with less then 10 minutes. Believe me they did not play with HEART or INTENSITY which all of you demand every second of every game.
Additionally everyone here including myself needs to stop expecting players to do what they have never consistently done before. If all it took were practice, hard work, HEART, INTENSITY and good coaching then most of us might be in the NBA. Just because I guy struggles shooting from the outside doesn't mean he doesn't practice or he doesn't try. Sometimes players are what they are. I am not sure why so many of you seem to expect players to suddenly be completely different.
This team is not a good ball handling team and they are not going to be! Its not coaching it doesn't mean they don't try or they don't practice it just is what it is. Get over it and try to enjoy what they are good at and what has made them successful.
I am done with my rant for today. I hope most of you will stay off the band wagon when we have a couple of big wins in the next couple of weeks. I really don't want to hear how you now think we are going to the final four or are going to crush UK and every other team we come up against.
One last thing, Merry Christmas to the true UT fans and all of the pretenders.
SeanJean writes:
This team can't play. Plain and simple. Kansas is going to embarrass us and we are going to be lucky to get into the NCAA tourney. Very very disappointed with this team so far this year. I really wonder what they do in practice for them to make the same mistakes going on 2 years now. You'd think if you were such a poor long range shooting team, you'd stop shooting them. It's maddening.
SeanJean writes:
And for the record, I'm not some fairweather fan that expects us to go 30-0, I've just grown tired of watching undisciplined basketball. I've also grown tired of seeing our guys throw behind the back passes out of bands and scream after making an open dunk against North Carolina A&T. It's hard to watch and even harder to get excited about. What makes it even more tough is that there is obviously so much athletic ability and talent on this team, it's just completely out of control. Every game this team looks like a random 5 at a pickup game at the park. You'd never know they've been playing together for so long. For people who have played and understand basketball, this team is cringeworthy to watch. I want them to do well, and that's why I watch every game, but if I'm being realistic, it just isn't going to happen. Not every team is North Carolina A&T.
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