Bruce Pearl saw this critical stretch of SEC games coming at the beginning of the year.
"Everyone is making a big deal out of our home-court win streak,'' Pearl said before the season started. "But we're going to lose a home game, it's just a matter of time.
"The key is going to be how well we do on the road.''
That was then, this is now, and the Tennessee men's basketball coach was right on the money.
The Vols (16-8, 7-3 SEC) play in Oxford, Miss., on Wednesday (TV: WVLT, 8 p.m.) against an Ole Miss team that's fighting for its postseason life.
"We are in the stretch run,'' Pearl said. "We are playing for the championship.''
Despite a rash of injuries, the Rebels (13-11, 4-6) were competitive enough to topple two teams that beat UT in Kentucky and Auburn.
"They play tough, they play physically, and they do a nice job in their sets,'' said Pearl, who is 0-1 in Tad Smith Coliseum.
The Rebels are 10-2 in home games this season, including a 3-1 mark in SEC home games.
The Vols are 3-1 in SEC road games this season and 17-11 over Pearl's 3 1/2-year tenure.
Pearl points to UT's experienced players as making a difference this season.
Tyler Smith, J.P. Prince, Wayne Chism and Bobby Maze have all played significantly better in SEC road games.
Chism is averaging 3.3 points more in road games and shooting 7 percent higher.
Maze is averaging one point more on the road and is hitting 50 percent of his 3-pointers in SEC opponents' gyms.
Prince's scoring average is 4.3 points higher on the road and he's shooting a blistering 76 percent from the floor.
Smith averages 19.8 points on the SEC trail and shoots at a 6 percent higher clip.
"We need to play with effort, energy and efficiency,'' Pearl said. "I thought we did that against Georgia and Vanderbilt . . . let's see if that carries on.''
Joe Lunardi, who compiles the "bracketology'' feature on ESPN.com, is expecting UT to finish strong.
Lunardi has the Vols projected as a No. 6 seed - higher than any of the other four SEC teams he has predicted will make the NCAA tournament.
UT's RPI rating, according to three different Web sites, is 18th in the nation, and the Vols' strength of schedule ranks third.
But without a strong finish on the road, at Ole Miss, at Kentucky on Saturday, at Florida on March 1 and at South Carolina on March 5, projections go out the window.
It's worth noting the Vols play host on Feb. 25 to a dangerous Mississippi State team that at present is not projected to make the NCAA tournament.
"You've got six games left; would you take being in a three-way tie with six games left?'' Pearl said. "The answer is 'Yes.' Let's play six games and see where we fall.
"My guess is there would be a great sense of urgency on our team."
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Comments » 137
Madkels writes:
Let's hope for a HOT streak! Go Vols!
b_neas writes:
Moron UT does not play tonight, they play tomorrow.
huntined#565710 writes:
Better be ready to play..they are tough at home. We need our guys to really show up and play hard..still have KY. and FLA at their place..
stevefrommemphis writes:
I'll be in Oxford tomorrow night, dressed in my best suit, best shoes, white shirt, and orange tie. All they care about at Ole Miss is how people dress, but none of those Mississippians will outdress this hillbilly. (Though I currently live in Memphis, I was raised in the hills of East Tennessee, and I am proud of it!) Go get em, Vols.
SmokyMTNVol writes:
I sure hope he concentrates on coaching these kids and making them better instead of worrying about being on camera all the time. This town is not big enough for him and Kiffin both acting like circus clowns.
SmokyMTNVol writes:
I agree 100% with you on this. I am tired of hearing that this is a rebuilding year. My goodness myself and all Vol fan's along with the National media were so hyped up about this team at the beginning of the year. This team has greatly underperformed and I blame that on the man in charge.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
We GOTTA get 20 wins. I've griped about this before, but one mroe big whine:
GonZaga
Memphis
LSU
Auburn
Even if we just split those, we are doing well. Win 'em all, which we could have, and we'd be in the top-15.
Attention to detail, Bruce. From the looks of your new girl, you already have attention to de tail.
Seriouslyorange writes:
You tell 'em Steve!!!!
Ole Miss is big on dressin'
Gotta dress Riight!
Gowns, tuxes,cumberland buns(I know it cummerbun).
Dangdest thing you ever saw, how "you gotta dress Riight"
Watch out though, the joint will be loaded with misplaced tigger fans also!
Slystone writes:
Vols need to closely guard Terrico White for the Rebs.
utvolz#637682 writes:
Yep,
It's all about the fashion statement in Oxford. Although born and raised in Memphis, I've never been to an athletic event on the campus of Ole Miss. I plan on attending the UT/Ole Miss game in FB this season. Represent the big orange dude!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Volunteers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gives me goose bumps.
b_neas writes:
I was referring to mr. griffin who gets paid to write articles but can not get the day they play correct.
b_neas writes:
Anytime you are playing 5 or 6 guys in a 10 man rotation that played little or no time in the system the prior year, thats rebuilding. As for next year it can not be called rebuilding, they may not have much better success but it wont be because of inexperience and youth.
utucla writes:
Sorry guys....Tyler Smith goes pro...and so does Wayne Chism.....the draft is that weak....both should come back...but if the NBA is dumb enough to draft them in the first round...then they have to go....just take a look at the projected 1st round of the draft on ESPN....a lot of those guys have no business being in the NBA...like I said....it's a weak draft....
abnermc writes:
Wrong again. Every week some one points this out. This article was written for TOMORROW'S paper. You are just getting it early.
huntined#565710 writes:
b-neas, most of these articles are written and turned in to go to press-(in the newspaper) the next day..that is why he said tonight so when it is printed it would be correct.
Volinsider writes:
I'm surprised you haven't noticed that many of these articles are written for the next days paper, but posted here the night before. I'm sure Mr. Griffin knows what day the Vols play. I wouldn't call you a moron, but maybe slightly obtuse.
Laydbakvol writes:
Sorry b_neas. The article was posted on govolsxtra.com tonight, but was written for Wednesday's edition of KNS. Hence, 'tonight's game'. Actually, in case you haven't noticed, it happens quite often. But don't worry. We're not going to call you a moron just because you didn't know that.
Vol_Jokes writes:
Where does the road lead. I'll end the suspense for you guys. That road will take you straight to the NIT!
teedub writes:
My man!!! Glad to see a witness in Oxford!
Major_Magilicutty writes:
This
oldorange writes:
I enjoy the excitement that this time of year brings. Do I hate we lost some games, sure. The interesting thing is how we finish. I have my reservations for Vegas completed and will be out there 3-18 to pull for the Vols, play some golf and decompress a little. I enjoy the excitement of this time of year.
VolJunkie writes:
Agree with you on the draft but ... it is going to be one hell of a year for free agency, it will be interesting to see how much salary cap money is left for the draftees.
Go Vols!
Down_The_Field writes:
our strength of schedule is ranked 3rd at present????
wow, that can't be right cause all the mempus fans keep selling us that it's a weak schedule. i'll bet their schedule is ranked 1st....right???
jasonn1970 writes:
What's with all the negativity towards Pearl?! This program was an absolute disgrace before he arrived and now some of you guys are complaining that the team is 16-8? If they manage 2 more wins they'll be in the NCAAs because their RPI is so high. If they finish strong and play well in the SEC tournament they could even get a 5 or 6 seed. Excuse me if I don't get out my umbrella when you guys say the sky is falling.....
iowavol writes:
You think b-neas got it figured out yet? Geez, it's dangerous to call someone out on this site cause you got three fingers pointing right back at ya. You better be sure ...
volsdontsuck writes:
If no one else will, then here goes......b_neas you are a moron
johnlg00#206211 writes:
For about the 20th time, pay attention. These articles are mostly intended for the NEXT day's paper. They are posted on here when they are received from the writer, which is nearly ALWAYS going to be the day or evening before they are to be published. I see that this new electronic age is still rather confusing to you.
VolJunkie writes:
Yup, actually down from #1 last week. A comparison:
UT RPI #18, SOS # 3
UM RPI # 7, SOS #35
Here's a good link:
http://www.realtimerpi.com/rpi_conf_M...
Go Vols!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Words to live by right there!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I think his remark was directed toward the KNS for what he imagined was their ignorance in using the word "tonight" to describe the time of the Ole Miss game in an article posted Tuesday evening.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
That seems like a rather ANTI-Vol thing to say to me. Who cared about UT bball before CBP? How many of us had lost interest in UT football before CLK? When CBP is on camera off the court, he is selling UT bball. He is no more demonstrative on the sidelines than many other coaches. He doesn't control the camera shots on TV games.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Agree completely! Too many of our fans have problems with short-term memory. In the midst of all the preseason hoopla, CBP told everybody who would listen that this team would be a work in progress. Despite the obvious hiccups, the team HAS progressed in some important ways. The job isn't finished yet, but there are reasons to be hopeful still. I say, hope until hope is gone. GO VOLS!!!
Down_The_Field writes:
VolJunk....surely not! mempus has a strength of schedule ranked 32 notches below us??? according to their lopers, their TSSAA schedule is far supperior.
oh, but facts don't lie.
volunFEAR writes:
"itsme53792#1349745 writes:
in response to proudtobeavol:
You tell 'em Steve!!!!
Ole Miss is big on dressin'
Gotta dress Riight!
Gowns, tuxes,cumberland buns(I know it cummerbun).
Dangdest thing you ever saw, how "you gotta dress Riight"
Watch out though, the joint will be loaded with misplaced tigger fans also!
Tiger fans in Oxford? Well....no. Memphis will host SMU at the FDX Forum; the game will be sold out (18,200), and the restaurants and waterhing holes both on Beale Street and in the Forum will be full 2 hours before and after game time. In addition, major media reps from ESPN and other outlets will be there along with Grizzlie execs sitting courtside.
There IS a difference in Elite basketball.
Juxtapositionally, Ole Miss will host utenn (UT is in Austin) at the Tad Smith Colisieum (circa 8,000)..and the Tad Pad will be about half full. Who wants to see second tier basketball? In a 9th tier setting?
Ole Miss poeple DO dress well...as opposed to rednecks in orange overalls...in training for their pending roadside occupations."
____________________________________
Ohh you mean how Mempiss barley beat a realing Tennessee team, or the fact that CBP owns Mempiss, both at UT (the real UT is in Knoxville since it was one of the first state colleges that was founded you idiot. The University of Tennessee was founded(1794) before Texas was a state (1845)). Hey here's an idea, schedule some tough opponents. Mempiss is in a weak conference (much weaker than the SEC), but never has a touch schedule. Pearl realizes the SEC sched. isn't anything speacial so he goes out and scheds super tough competition. I don't see Mempiss doing that even though they have the ability (Coach Cali"very stupid" wants the cupcakes). So before you come in hear acting like an idiot, learn facts.
Ohh and also, UT has it's own arena that seats more than an NBA teams venue (fed-ex forum). Mempiss doesn't even have their own venue, they have to play at someone elses.
Vol_Jokes writes:
How Memphis barely beat a reeling vol team? Vol teams are always reeling. You did the same thing last season in winning at Memphis and it seemed to be the greatest win. Vols talked about it for a complete year. (sorry to rob your bragging rights back. you'll not have them again for many years). Why was the vols a great win but Memphis just took advantage of a reeling team. You get to read it all over here.
You vuls arguments are the same lame thing all the time. You play in a bad conference. Yea and we compete for national championships too. Can't believe a team in the SEC would be talking about how bad other conferences are. The SEC's big news this week was that a team broke into the top 25. Memphis sits in the top 5 and sec is happy one of it's 40 teams gets into the top 25...sad.
Well, looks like Sat is going to be rough. The road to the NIT will hit a rough spot in the road on Sat. You were already going to get beat and now Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt last night so they'll be taking it out on the vols. Can't wait to watch. What's the bet on Meeks this time around..40..50..60?
volunFEAR writes:
Vol_jokes
Mempiss was #1 when the Vols beat them at your...I mean the Grizzlies....arena. Tennessee traveled to the #1 teams house and beat them. This time around the #5 Mempiss Tiggers beat a reeling 16-8 Vols team by 2. If the SEC is so horrid (a million times better than C-USA) then why was the Mempiss over UT win so good? I'm pretty sure C-USA only has had one team ranked over the last 10 years or so and that would be Mempiss. Every year the SEC has teams ranked. UT, Florida (two titles), Kentucky (more NCAA tourney wins than Mempiss has appearances), Akry, Miss State. Mempiss plays a phooey sched. Tennessee knows the SEC isn't great (see previous post) so Pearl schedule rediculous OOC games. 50 times harder than Mempiss sched. So if you want to get into it, congrats, you beat a 16-8 Vols, but we beat you when you were #1, ar your house, and the year you make it to the NCAA finals. I loved seeing Mempiss recrod last year 31-1. Who was that 1? Starts with Tenn and ends in essee.
VolJunkie writes:
From "itsme"
"It is, however, a challenging and daunting task to attack ingoronce on such a massive scale."
Ingoronce ... irony defined ... classic
volsstinkbad writes:
volunFEAR writes:
Mempiss plays a phooey sched
Ohh and also, UT has it's own arena that seats more than an NBA teams venue (fed-ex forum). Mempiss doesn't even have their own venue, they have to play at someone elses.
You have to be kidding, right? So you call the Tigers' schedule over the past few years of Gonzaga, Georgetown, UCONN, UCLA, Xavier, Syracuse, Cincinnati, USC, Oklahoma, and Arizona plus that does not include Tourney games or next years additions of UNC, Kansas, and Louisville. Gee you must be smoking crack not to see that Pearl saw what worked and copied it.
Also, why should the Tigers play in a separate building from the Grizzlies? seems like a huge waste of money and its hard to compare that to ut since you have NO CHANCE at a major professional sports team. Plus you show your ignorance when comparing number of seats since the Pyramid held more people (21000 vs 18000) but generated less money due to the club seats, private boxes and restuarants, seat licenses, and so on and so on.
Put down the moonshine and learn to read so you would know the facts before talking.
volunFEAR writes:
HAHAHA...You seem to like personal attacks to "Try" and get your point across, but all you are doing is making yourself look silly. Your calling me a moron and I havn't bashed you once? You seem to not understand that Tennessee was a University before Texas was a state. In that case, UM is really University of Missouri. Have you looked at SOS, or strength of schedule? Tennessee is 3, Memphis is far, far behind them. Your RPI is a combo of several things, with your opponents W-L the main percentage points on the RPI. So, your telling me, that an RPI (which no team has control over) versus the SOS (which all teams have control over) is more important. I will tell you this, they are pretty close to equal, but don't sit there and say your RPI is better so your scheduling is better. CBP has far outscheduled Memphis over the past few years. Mempis has not scheduled near the competition UT has. Sure, Mempiss may have played some tough teams, but they follow those games up with "Western Tennessee HS" or northeast Colorado state. Tennessee, however, keeps the schedule coming (and most of those tough games were away, not at home like Mempiss).
Cry and squirm about your RPI all you want, but the fact of the matter is CBP owns Mempis and Calip'liar', UT beat mempiss when they were #1, Mempiss beat UT by 2 when UT is 16-8 team, and 3 years ago UT crushed Mempiss by more than 17. Your conference and scheduling is weak and that is why you have 4 loses and beat UT once every 4-5 years. It's not your fault that the state of Tennessee disowns Mempiss, but I would too. Especially when your only argument is that you beat UT 2 times in the last 5 years, but failed to mention that UT had 8 loses that year.
You are a loser, go to the Mempiss page becuase noone cares what you have to say, your arguments don't hold water, and lastly, Mempiss will leave the NCAA tourney before UT this year, bank it.
volunFEAR writes:
Volsstinkbad...
Ready for this? Are you? Are you?
CBP has had a top 5 SOS the last 3 years. Has Calipari? This year they are 32.
LSU has a tougher SOS and they didn't even make the NIT last year. Arkansas has a tougher SOS than Mempiss.
So if the middle of the road SEC teams are scheduling tougher comp than Mempiss, what does that say?
volunFEAR writes:
I take that back, mempis SOS is 54.
LSU's SOS is like 216, it was a joke.
Ole MISS SOS 49.
Memphis and UT's RPI are almost identicle.
volsstinkbad writes:
volunFEAR writes:
You are a loser, go to the Mempiss page becuase noone cares what you have to say, your arguments don't hold water, and lastly, Mempiss will leave the NCAA tourney before UT this year, bank it.
You are right, we can't argue the conference and that kills our SOS every year. But, our non conference is as good and getting better. Oh and I will LOVE to take your house(or in your case a mobile home), tran am, and what you have left in the bank on Memphis leaving first in the Tourney. All they have to do is win 1 game and they have beat ut. I love teh hillbilly trash talk when ut has never played past the sweet sixteen EVER!!! Enjoy watching Memphis playing into the 2nd and possiblily the 3rd weekend AGAIN!!
volunFEAR writes:
volstinkbad...
HAHA...he is calling me a hillbilly and we live in the same state. I just live in a nicer town than he does, so doesn't that make him the Hillbilly. HAHAHAHA....I laughed so hard I MemPISSed myself.
volsstinkbad writes:
volunFEAR writes:
Volsstinkbad...
Ready for this? Are you? Are you?
CBP has had a top 5 SOS the last 3 years. Has Calipari? This year they are 32.
LSU has a tougher SOS and they didn't even make the NIT last year. Arkansas has a tougher SOS than Mempiss.
So if the middle of the road SEC teams are scheduling tougher comp than Mempiss, what does that say?
Again, Are you stupid or just drunk??? The NCAA looks at the non conference RPI too but since you choose to look at the past 3 years look at this. Memphis was Elite Eight, Elite Eight and National Championship Game, where was ut? Memphis has been seeded #1, #2 and #1, where was ut seeded?
I would suggest you count the few teeth you have left in your head and leave the facts to the big boys.
volsstinkbad writes:
volunFEAR writes:
volstinkbad...
HAHA...he is calling me a hillbilly and we live in the same state. I just live in a nicer town than he does, so doesn't that make him the Hillbilly.
Uh, no it means I live in a city and you live in a meth park next door to the still.
volsstinkbad writes:
volunFEAR, I would be willing to bet you didn't even graduate from high school let alone ut. Most ut grads provide a better argument than you have but I have to thank you since you are helping me think like a 5 year old so I can argue with my pre-schooler down to her level.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
Pablo, if you want to debate the Tiger come up with something less lame-----quit diverting BB talk to FB cause you got no better argument---nothin wrong with being a 1 trick pony if thats all you athletic budget will allow for---look at Duke and consider many Big East teams that dont even have football----with limited resourses I'd rather be good at one that phooey at all----work on your arguments cause talking trash instead just shows ignorance IMO
volunFEAR writes:
hahahaha...actually I live in Chattanooga, a far better city than the crime ridden Memphis. Everyone I know from Memphis doesn't even live in the city, as I'm sure you don't. Do you live in Germantown, Cordova, etc?
Dang, I have a still out back? All this time I have been spending my money on liquor and beer from Bi-Lo and liquor stores and I could have gotten it free? Darn it.
Also to let you know:
2006: UT #2 seed
2007: UT #5 seed
2008: UT #2 seed
volunFEAR writes:
haha...again with the name calling...I love it.
I graduated summa c.um laude from UT in 2006.
I love moonshine and meth. I wrote a book called "Memphis:the little city that couldn't" and I love pretending about facts (isn't that an oxymoron).
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