Vols pack for road with double-digit wins

The Tennessee men's basketball team appeared to hit stride with back-to-back double-digit wins over Georgia and Vanderbilt this past week.

It's the first time the Vols have won consecutive games by 10 points or more since they left the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., in November.

But coach Bruce Pearl's still sweating things out as UT ventures out on the road this week for two key games.

"So much is made of our home record, and that's great because of our fans and I want them going home happy,'' Pearl said. "But I'm proud of our road record. . . . that's something I pride myself on.

"We'll get a chance this week to see what we can do.''

Tennessee (16-8, 7-3 SEC) plays at Ole Miss (13-11, 4-6) at 8 p.m. Wednesday before facing off with Kentucky (18-7, 7-3) in Rupp Arena at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Vols bring a 4-3 road mark (3-1 SEC) into Wednesday's contest with the Rebels, who are 10-2 at home (3-1 SEC).

"Can we get our second wind?'' said Pearl, whose team is in a three-way tie atop the SEC East with the Wildcats and South Carolina. "That's what we're going to try to do right now.''

UT captain Tyler Smith looked on top of his game in Saturday's 69-50 win over Vanderbilt. Smith scored a career-high 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting.

Fellow junior J.P. Prince also is playing his best ball of the season. Prince had eight points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, with many of his passes going to Smith.

"Me and J.P. have been hanging out a lot more off the court and talking a lot more,'' Smith said. "I think that's carrying over onto the court.''

Smith and Prince were the only two Vols to play more than 30 minutes against Vanderbilt; Smith played 36, Prince 34.

Pearl said now that UT isn't pressing as much, players can get more minutes and still go all-out.

"I've got Tyler and J.P. playing a lot, but I have to make sure when they're on the floor they don't let up,'' Pearl said. "I'd like to keep leaving them out there that long, but only if they don't take possessions off. All it takes is one drive-by, and then it gets contagious on the team.''

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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