Bruce Pearl told his players to go home for Christmas appreciating the sacrifices others have made for them to have the opportunity to play basketball at Tennessee.
"I want them to understand the blessings they have,'' Pearl said, "and to do the best they can to make sure the people at home have good holidays.''
And then Pearl told them what was waiting for them on the schedule when they come back, and to expect workouts to get harder.
Tennessee is 9-2 and ranked 16th in the country, a much better program than it was when Pearl took over five years ago.
But expectations have been raised by the Vols' fan base, which was No. 4 in the country in average home attendance last season and by Pearl himself, who said this is the deepest pool of talent he has had in orange.
To this point, despite the ranking and record, UT's level of play has mostly disappointed.
The good news is the Vols have time to fix their problems. The bad news is there are no more warm-up "preseason" games.
A game at hostile FedEx Forum against rival Memphis is up next at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31.
The Vols have not played a solid, 40-minute game since losing to No. 4 Purdue, 73-72, in the Virgin Islands on Nov. 23.
UT hasn't had a "quality" win since closing last season with victories on the road against South Carolina and Florida to win the SEC East.
To find a "statement" victory, one needs to go back to a victory over Marquette, 80-68, in Nashville on Dec. 16, 2008.
Here's a Christmas wish list for Pearl and his talented team that would get the Vols back to their high-flying ways:
Better Point Guard Play
Bobby Maze has improved, and junior college transfer Melvin Goins has brought a physical defensive presence. But neither one appears ready to slow, much less stop, the likes of Memphis' Elliot Williams and Kentucky's John Wall.
Southern Cal's Mike Gerrity dribbled around Maze and Goins like they were traffic cones - and this was with Gerrity coming off a 21-month layoff.
The pair could also use some extra time in the gym: Maze is shooting 40 percent from the floor and under 22 percent from 3-point range. Goins is hitting 41 percent from the floor and 28 percent from 3-point range.
Better Perimeter Shooting
If the point guards can't hit the 3-pointer, they should be able to dish off on the wing. Scotty Hopson started the season on fire, but Hopson's 3-point percentage has dropped to .426.
Skylar McBee showed well in spurts, but his overall 3-point accuracy of .364 is below his potential. Cameron Tatum has also been streaky, but his 40 percent 3-point accuracy is acceptable. They key for all three players is consistency and more time in the gym.
Wayne Chism endured a 1-for-7 shooting performance on 3-pointers against Southern Cal, but he's still making .357 this season, acceptable for a big man. Tyler Smith is 0-for-3 from 3-point range.
More Intensity
Pearl's style lends itself to runs, mostly for the Vols, but sometimes against them when a team breaks UT's press or penetrates on the dribble.
To this point, the Vols' pressure has been only moderately successful, disrupting opponents' rhythm and wearing some of them down.
But UT's not producing enough turnovers out of the press, and the Vols have not dictated tempo.
UT's assist/turnover ratio ranks high nationally, but the Vols have feasted on lesser opponents.
A Nine-Man Rotation
Pearl is considering it. Trouble is, there hasn't been enough separation to determine who's in or out.
A shorter rotation could lead to better on-court chemistry with longer stanzas of play.
Freshman post/power forward Kenny Hall could find more minutes as he becomes more experienced thanks to his offensive rebounding, skill set, effort and intensity.
McBee's pressing with the intensity and competitiveness he brings along with 3-point shooting.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 51
SmokyMTNVol writes:
Pearl himself, who said this is the deepest pool of talent he has had in orange.
MTV, I agree with you. The coach is lost when it comes to teaching the X's and O's.
Why don't he let his assistant coaches have a little bit of sat so when it comes to the on court stuff. Coach pearl is holding these kids back from being a special team.
The talent is awesome but his coaching is quite the opposite.
Merry Xmas everyone!
SmokyMTNVol writes:
LMFAO! That is too funny!
Slystone writes:
How about Josh Selby... ooops sorry he ain't comin, dayum!!
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Coach is coach and he ain't gonna change. Best to hope for is 8 man rotation. Time to put Brian, Woodridge, and Goins (or Skylar) on the bench. Will never get momentum or chemistry with 9 or 10 man rotation. At least Hall has shown more desire and potential.JMO
NorthwestVol writes:
Sounds way too familiar. Different season, same result, thus far. Will they learn?
Will Pearl mature as a coach? He's brought UT basketball back so that it means something and for that he deserves our thanks. But it's a long way from here to a final four.
richvol writes:
Pearl has no one to blame but himself...he's the coach and the buck stops there.
VOLKING writes:
You are banging your head against a tree trying to get Morristown, PeteBell, SmokyMtn and A Voice Returns to stop their childish whining and idiotic staements. Trying to keep interlopers off of here like these buffoons is hopeless. Click on their usernames and look at all their posts and see if any of them ever has anything positive to say about the team. Nope. Just Pearl-bashing non-stop. We get it guys. You don't like Pearl. Obviously, you don't mind looking like whining old geezers either.
newtonrail writes:
I have asked you before. Do what? Fire him? With his record versus anyone Tennessee ever had other than Mears.
cdldoc#211897 writes:
I am reall sick of your whining. Don't you remember what it was like before Pearl or are you just too young. STFU. Pearl is the best coach we have had in years. WE ARE RANKED IN THE TOP B20 AGAIN!!!!
All_Vol writes:
Good article. Pearls whole style of play is predicated on, on the ball pressure. If your PG has slow feet and cant stay in front of the opposing PG - it wont work. We saw this last year. Goins maybe can turn it on and help prevent repeating the results from last year, we'll see.
I think the Georgia kids that are coming in next year will provide the guard play that we need. Those two and Harris make next years team the most talented Pearl has ever had. This years' senior bunch consists of too many mix matched transfers.
tennrich1 writes:
WHen these guys post with obvious lack of knowledge or info just to stir up.....WHY WHY WHY do you respond to them....they are laughing their butts off at you....WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?
Chris4Vols22 writes:
Yeah, everyone needs to stop responding to those cauch lovers. Seriously.
bleuvol writes:
The assist/turnover ratio is a very telling stat, and yeah, they've played lesser talent, but overall, so has the rest of the nation. Everyone's numbers should be high, ours is just a bit higher.
give_him_6 writes:
You're an idiot.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
this team is just not that good....not even good point guard play, i'd describe it as below average for the two guys they have (not sure of their names, however have watched them several times) oh for the days of lofton, j. smith, and bradshaw!!!
beachvol1 writes:
Not sure the guy is whinning about the coaching as coach Pearl came in to the University of Tn with fire and appears to have let the flame die somewhat..this team is too slow to keep up with the fast pace set by most of his opposition..a defensive liablity against good teams and some not very good(USC)...not sure the talent level is where it should be to compete day in and day out....not a lot coming off the bench for sure....team is just flat not physical enough...hopefully they can find the formula to offset the lack of team speed but going to be tough...got to find that consistent outside shooter which I don't understand...much as I can't stand Kentucky and especially their coach(don't even like to mention his name)they bang in inside with Cousins and Patterson and have the outside threat with Wall, makes them tough to beat...talent level is far above the Vols and rest of the league...so maybe coaching does filter into the situation with the basketball program to some degree....
BeRealistic writes:
Talent? A coach can only do so much. The way these kids are playing now, I doubt there is any that would be a starter on the Top Five. They will get better, I hope.
vet4ut writes:
Let's be realistic. It's not as bad as some say but quit sucking up to Pearl. His best teams were with another guy's talent. With his own recruits, he has not been able to implement his "frenetic" style.
In short, he has recruited really good players but not really good players for his system. Instead of going after players to fill conventional roles, he needs to refocus on the versatile and hungry 6'4" to 6'8" players. That way, it's a mismatch nightmare for other teams.
scvols writes:
If we could hit the 3's we would be sitting nicely. We should get better as the year goes on, and Pearl is one of the best coaches UT has ever had on the hard floor.
Ironcity writes:
First Merry Christmas to all. All Vol, I agree with your post except Golden who I think you are referring to is a 2 guard not a point guard. I watched him play a couple of weeks back and he is really good, but he is not a distributor, he takes the ball to the hole and has a fantastic first step and looks like a good defender. He may be good enough as a back up point but not a starter. I think we have a commit for 2011 that is a stud true point guard from Georgia. I am not sure we should wait that long though.
Ironcity writes:
Fair post. I think coach has not recruited the point guard he needs for our style. Its surprising to me that we haven't been able to recruit that type of player. I also think we are little to foot slow for the type of game we play. I think he took a lot of the same type of players to increase the talent level but in the process we have lost some of the balance necessary to run the press the way we need to. I think thats being corrected but we won't see it until we get that top quality point guard. Its a shame that the Selby kid and the kid from Ohio decommited, thy are missing a fantastic opportunity.
TkelynN writes:
I dont think coaching or talent is an issue with this team. I think its about desire and team chemistry. Honestly I was disappointed to hear that Tyler was coming back for his senior year. He is a good young man and very talented but I think his presence throws off the team chemistry. He lacks in leadership skills. The senior class as a whole have always been inconsistent, especially with JP and Wayne. PG play is not where it should be and Pearl hasnt been able to start a high quality natural pg since CJ Watson. Juco's and combo guards do not cut it at this level. I am pretty confident that once UT is able to have an average to above average pg then team chemistry will fall into place. I see a lot of positive signs in desire area for the younger players. Hall and McBee have great work ethic and passion for the game, they will be more consistent and better next year. With the addition of Harris who has an unmatched work ethic, this team is on the right path. UT just needs the guards that are coming in to really be able to compete at this level, stop the opponents guards or to stay even, value the basketball, and play with passion and intensity. If thats the case then next years team may be a lot younger but will be more exciting to watch and may bring the "controlled chaos" back to the hill.
Kick_it_Ricky writes:
Thanks for this analysis of our problems with the team. I agree that the chemistry/effort are issues now. I do think the coach should be able to help fix some of these problems, however we really haven't seen that in the past couple of years.
kdub writes:
First of all it's Merry CHRISTmas. Second, CBP didn't become clueless overnight, he's a great coach. I put it squarely on the players, it's a matter of who wants to compete the hardest once the ball tips. These guys have read their press clippings and aren't bringing the intensity every minute. The major weak link is at PG, we just aren't getting it done there, either on offense or defense. Hopson needs to take his panties off and get tougher, Tyler needs to dictate tempo and be a leader, Williams needs to man up, Woolridge needs to ride the pine and they all need to get tougher and bring the intensity for 40 minutes. CBP can't shoot or defend for these guys.
All_Vol writes:
Interesting about Golden. Everything I had read has him as PG. I know that it is his position on his AAU team. Is it that you see him playing better at SG? At any rate, on video he appears to have the quicks to apply pressure e.g. JaJuan Smith which is desperately needed.
http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2009/...
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
Plasticman, with all due respect to you also there are valid concerns criticisms of this team--both players and coach and i put more on the players---and for you to be closeminded to reject that and suggest those with criticisms are non-vol supporters and thus interlopers is just unfair---thats part of coaching too, its not just Xs and Os
I respect your thoughts----I've been a BP supporter and just recently starting to have doubts of his coaching---but feel if these guys cant or wont execute what hes coaching then he needs to sit them and find others who will or change his game plan to adjust away from these guys weaknesses---bad shooting for one-----at some point hes got to realize hes trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Making adjustments when something isnt working is part of coaching ---ok to show patience but you cant argue trends the longer they go. I like BP personally and hope hes here a long time regardless if we ever get beyond Sweet 16 but those of you who collectively want to condemn any with legitimate criticisms as non supporter/interlopers are just wrong---we appreciate hes made us relevant but that doesnt make him beyond criticism----these players are the root of the problem but he has to be more demanding and do something to get the attention of some who are "set in their ways"-----thats part of coaching too, its not just Xs and Os
vol98champ writes:
Ramar Smith? Now that's a name I can live without. He is the only player I have ever seen go 0 for 12 at the free throw line. Point guard? Not hardly.
Ironcity writes:
Ramar was a tough SOB but I never felt he was quick enough defensively. I did love his ability to get to the rim (except when he tried to take it to a 7ft beast). I actually think Goins could be a good fit if he had a point guard mentality but he seems to try to hard and overplays the ball at inopportune times on Dee. Hopefully with time he will understand his job better and start making plays for everyone else on the team.
Ironcity writes:
He does have a game similar to Jajuan but remember Jajuan wasn't a point guard. Golden didn't bring the ball up for his high school team. He didn't initiate the offense. He was unstoppable to the rim and was pretty good at feeding it off his penetration. His basketball instincts seem great (he must have had 5 steals on passes) and his defense look great. Maybe I am putting to much in 32 minutes of play but he seems like a great fit for the team, just not a perfect fit as a point.
fpcoach writes:
Amen. Merry Christmas everyone.
GBO
vet4ut writes:
CJ and JuJuan were better. You can't say on the one hand Ramar was better but then on the other say "except for being stoned, a terrible free-throw shooter, a criminal, etc..."
Agreed that we need a stud PG to run CBP's show. I'd rather have 3 stud gaurds and 2 functional bigs. Run baby run.
Bigger_Al writes:
Even my 14 yr old, who casually read your post, thinks you are a moron.
Bigger_Al writes:
Golden just lead his team to a win over the #1 team in Kentucky in a King of the Bluegrass tournament in Louisville. Scored 23 points.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
i don't blame that on Pearl------Pearls job is to get this team to the next level not Scottie Hopson--Scottie has to take some responsibility for improving his own game, work harder and quit standing around and you might get more touches and opportunities----if he might show more willingness and interest to post up I'd like to think BP would welcome the opportunity to oblige him
vet4ut writes:
We can agree on that. Mouton and Collins from Kansas are my type of PG. Tough as nails, refuse to lose, ok shooters but penetrating and kicking like fiends.
PoochPuntOn3rdDown writes:
Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope today finds you and your families happy and well.
Go Jesus! Go Vols!
GreyhairedVol writes:
What Calipari has done with that group of kids is amazing. Not only has he taken a group of first year college players he also had to teach the veterans on that team a new system.
That alone is a lot harder than you can imagine. Patrick Patterson was not an outside threat at all last year and Calipari told him what he needed to work on to improve his stock in the NBA draft.
I dont care how talented a kid is coming into college it does not mean success at the college level.
GreyhairedVol writes:
I have no problem with his opinion at all. Thats what makes this country great. I just have a very different opinion on this subject than him.
Have a merry Xmas folks.
james#216392 writes:
A few days ago I suggested the biggest problem with this team was playing to many players and not building team chemistry, I suggest using 8 players, nine at most. When everyone else was blasting the players and coaching, I was suggesting cutting down the players being used and let the starters play longer. With 4 minute "tenths", 3 minute TV commericals, there does not need to be all the sub'ing. Shooters need to warm up to hit a groove. It is hard to do that when you play 2-3 minutes and come out.
I have coached (at low school level) for 34 yeaars and rotation is everything in building chemistry. Right now players rarely play with the same five more than a couple minutes. If you are going to use 10 players, play 5 and sub 5. Let the players learn to play together.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
that's why I said coach is coach. He will not get away from a 10 man rotation and he will not get off the 3 pt. shot. I don't care what players he has, look at Chism. He's not a 3 pt shooter but coach lets him jack 'em anyway. UT will always have a full court press regardless of personnel and we will always be a 3 pt shooting team with a 10 man rotation. With most div. 1 teams, you can not tire them out because the athletes on the opposing teams are too good. You are right on with your assessments.
kazoo writes:
This team couldn't throw a beach ball in the ocean if they were standing in the surf--talk about bad shooting. That's where this team's problems start and end. Maybe Goins should shave his beard--what the heck is that? Is he the only fully bearded player in college basketball?
kazoo writes:
As a couple of others have rightly pointed out, the Vols simply aren't that talented. They don't have anybody who is even close to exceptional. This team has some experience, and a little talent in spots, but who are the really good players on this team? There are none! People have been talking about Tyler Smith and the NBA for three years--sorry, but he'll be lucky to make a team as last guy on the bench. He's a tweener who doesn't shoot well--a bad combo. Chism spends as much time hoisting treys as he does down low, and everybody else is major-college average at best. You gotta have some consistent shooters for starters, and this team doesn't have ANY. When your center may be your best 3-point shooter, you have issues.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
I don't have a problem with chism shooting 3's; There are times when he's deadly but I agree 7 is too many..If he knocks down 2 or 3 early then let it rip but if your 1 of 4 then it's not your night and he should find better shots inside; it's time for the 10 man rotation experiment to end;nothing has been gained by playing 10 guys
bobbytodd writes:
Doesn't matter who coaches or who is PG if the other 4 stand flat footed around the key. That is why there is no such thing as a zone offense. The D is fun to watch but the O is lazy at best.
Slystone writes:
MTV - Too many bridges burnt for O'Neill to return. Pearls ego would never let him step back. If anything I see him bolting for the NBA either after this season or whenever the opportunity avails itself. This is the best team he has assembled and on paper next years team won't even match this one even with Tobias. This team has not improved from last season and that's the disappointing thing most have observed. Many view Pearl as a great recruiter; however many have yet to look at the numerous recruits that have shunned his program even after committing or not visiting at all. Too me that's the conversation that seems to be avoided.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
FYI
Coach Pearl is rated #15 coach in America by rivals power rankings.
Voluvr writes:
I think we'd be better off without TS and Chism. These guys are playing street ball. Just don't have great chemistry.
VOLKING writes:
Vol fans know that, but interlopers posing as Vol fans want him gone. That's why we have these guys on here doing nothing but Pearl-bashing 24 hours a day. Of course, they tell us they are disgruntled Vol fans telling us the truth, but click on their screennames and look at their posts. Nothing positive about the TEAM, just Pearl bashers. That tells me all I need to know. The more the interlopers bash him, the better off I feel.
james#216392 writes:
When I said Pearl should go to an 8-9 man rotation, I was not cutting his coaching skills. I personally think he has done wonders for VOLS BB. I met him when the VOLS practiced at Berea, KY last year before getting drilled at KY. He is very personable and I enjoyed their practice. Being a coach for 34 years, I just happened to think less is more when it comes to team chemistry. I don't have the luxary of 4 minute quarters(10ths) and 3 minute TV timeouts. If I did, I probably would only play 5 or 6.
I am a Pearl supporter and appreciate what he has done. You can keep O'Niel in CA with his foul mouth and slow ball.
As to talent, Hopson is the most talented and most spirited player on the team. However, I believe he needs to play with the same players around him more. Develop Tyler as small forward, Chism as power forward, Williams or Hall at Center and Hopson and Mize at guards. Play them in those positions and not all over the floor. Let them be successful at their strenghts. Tyler can't shoot so why have him outside? When Chism is center, he needs to occupy that space to free other players. When Chism is forward, he can move outside and shoot the 3. Simple basketball, nothing more or less.
james#216392 writes:
I do not know more about coaching than Pearl but I like seeing that in print. It looks good. I don't think it matters what level you coach, in 34 years you learn a few things. Developing team chemistry is the one thing that makes your team be its best. It is important to let players know early what their roles are going to be. If Pearl has a weakness, that is probably it. Running players in and out as much as he does doesn't lend well to developing leaders or shooters.
I am old school, I guess, but I like seeing the 5-6 (or 7) best players getting 80-90% of the playing time. Again, the clock stops ever 4 minutes for TV timeouts. I remember Rick Petino wearing people down using 10 players in the 90's but the clock didn't stop every 4 minutes like it does now.
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