Box Score
Tennessee Men's Basketball
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Bruce Pearl era of Tennessee basketball hit rock bottom with Saturday’s 77-58 loss to Kentucky.
“As a head coach, I’ve never been so embarrassed by how I coached or how our team played,’’ said Pearl, who hadn’t lost back-to-back SEC games in more than two years. “I apologize to our fans and the University of Tennessee.
“We didn’t play with poise, we didn’t play with passion and we had no purpose. I thought there were times we quit.’’
The Wildcats improved to 19-8 and 8-4 atop the SEC East Division. UT fell to 16-10, 7-5.
“We’ve got four games left, and we have to win all four to win the conference,’’ Pearl said. “We have to beat Mississippi State (on) Wednesday to make the NCAA tournament.
“Mississippi State is a team we’re battling as one of those fourth or fifth or sixth (SEC) teams that are going to get in.’’
The Bulldogs lost 87-85 at Alabama in double overtime Saturday.
The Vols’ game in Lexington, meanwhile, was practically over before it got started.
The Wildcats ran out to a 13-0 lead to get the season-high crowd of 24,394 at Rupp Arena rocking.
UT missed its first six shots and had five turnovers before J.P. Prince scored the Vols’ first points with 11:54 left in the first half.
Kentucky did its damage largely without Jodie Meeks, who, after scoring 54 points in Knoxville, was held to 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting.
But the Wildcats had another answer. All-SEC center Patrick Patterson made his return from an ankle injury a triumphant one, scoring 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting.
With the Vols’ defense focused on Meeks — they played a diamond-and-one zone at times — Patterson scored inside and freshman Darius Miller hit from the perimeter.
Miller scored a career-high 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting and dished out a career-high six assists.
Tennessee shot just 31.7 percent — including 4-of-24 beyond the 3-point arc — and had four assists.
The Vols’ previous season low for assists was eight in their previous meeting with Kentucky in Knoxville.
“I’ve never had this issue; I’ve been a head coach how many years?’’ said Pearl, in his fourth year at UT and 17th overall as a head coach. “My teams finished first or second in their conference every year, and they played hard and unselfishly.
“This team doesn’t do either. Four assists?’’
Vols freshman Scotty Hopson, a Hopkinsville, Ky., native, was one of the rare bright spots for UT.
He scored a team-high 14 points, including a 3-pointer to open the second half and pull the Vols within 31-27.
A pair of Tyler Smith free throws 30 seconds later kept the margin at four, but Kentucky went on a 10-2 run.
A Patterson basket with 16:15 remaining capped the spurt and made it 43-31. The Vols couldn’t draw within single digits from that point on.
J.P. Prince’s foul trouble was a big reason. Prince (11 points, six rebounds) picked up his fourth foul and was forced to the bench with 15:29 remaining and UT down 43-33.
The Wildcats went on an 18-6 run after that, taking their largest lead of the game at 61-39 with 10:30 left.
Smith was double-teamed down low throughout the game, finishing with six points on 1-of-11 shooting.
“I just don’t know,’’ a despondent Smith said. “We have to just worry about us and what we need to do. I don’t know what that is.
“I don’t feel like much of a leader right now.’’
Wayne Chism, who had 10 points and eight rebounds, admits he’s worried about making the NCAA tournament.
“Coach said he’s embarrassed, and we’re all embarrassed right now,’’ Chism said. “Getting beat by almost 20 on national TV, we embarrassed Knoxville. Something felt different in this game from the start. Just that start, that’s a lack of focus, like it always is.
“I’ve never been on the edge of not making the tournament, and I don’t like it.’’
The Vols return to action at 9 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson-Boling Arena against Mississippi State (17-10, 7-5)
Old school: Archived photos of UT…
Rocky Top League opening night
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 505
Southpaw_Vol writes:
NIT Bound!
Lose to SC, FLA, MSU and 1st game of SEC Tourney. Count on it.
We SUCK!
I hope Chism and Smith both leave early. It might actually help the team.
cgbtn writes:
It would appear that Buzz is a better reruiter for Bruce's systems than is Bruce. If our recruiting doesn't produce an outside shooter, we're in for a few dismal years.
VolHooch42 writes:
Any early word on recruiting for 2010?
dmcintosh writes:
What's the deal with this team for the first 5-10 minutes of each half??? We can't score early in the game, and we can't score early in the second half.
CoachFulmer writes:
We can't win when we put up below 70 and our transition game is extint. Meek's didn't beat us, but Patterson and the rest of the team did. Tyler Smith, 1-10? Wayne Chism under 10 points? Its a bad day when Brian Williams is one of your biggest offensive threats. Must get hot when SEC Tourney rolls around. GO VOLS!
therewillbeorange writes:
Hopefully Bruce will figure out how to improve for '10. This season is over.
MemphisVol writes:
EMBARRASSING. Terrible Defense. For whatever reason, dont play like a well coached team.
volcycle writes:
This isn't a player problem... it's a coaching problem. There is no discipline on this team, no TEAM concept. It really is starting to look like a Houston era team.
JohnnyU writes:
As Johnny Majors once said, "I don't know much about the game where the ball bounces straight back up at you, but I do know something about playing Kentucky". Well, I don't know much about basketball, but it seems that we simply are not a very good team, and that we did not show much heart against Kentucky. It is galling to watch us lose like this, but I am anxious to see what CBP will do after the season. Has anybody heard anything about Tyler Smith going pro? I had assumed all year that was a given, but I don't see anybody on our team as an NBA player, not close.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Yeah, it was great watching the 'non-stars' coming out for UK and drilling 3 after 3. Or, watching long shots by UK clank out just long enough to be out or reach.
We can't shoot, everyone knows it. Good bye season.
Godd@m, it's a bad year to be a volunteer (should be our new cheer).
mattlock writes:
what a train wreck. . .I'm through with this team. I watch sports for enjoyment, not to increase my blood pressure.
TopTenn writes:
PUNKED again
ralphie writes:
you had to be a big shot didnt ya
volmanohio writes:
Time to take a vacation from UT Sports for this year:
- Mens BB - no good
- Womens BB - no good
- Football - Well, we'll see
- Baseball?? - who cares?
- What's left? Field Hockey?
Hope the Fall '09 gets better!
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
on the other thread I addressed Pearl...now for the players....
1. Hopson - He is starting to get it. He is playing with more effort and driving to the basket more. A good off season of weight training and improving his 3-point stroke will help him a ton next year. We need to build our team around him.
2. Tyler Smith - not a star player...he is a really good "glue" guy...think Bradshaw with 10 times more skills. He was utilized in that role last year and flourished. He is not a "go -to" guy. He doesn't have the outside shot or patented move that allows him to create for himself. He is one of the best versatile players I have ever seen, but he needs a couple of stars to really flourish.
3. Chism - talented but can be very lazy at times. Seems to play when he wants to. Has more skills than anyone on the team except Hopson...needs to learn when and how to use them (i.e. when shooting a 3 is a good idea and when it is not) and also quit picking up cheap fouls 30 feet from the basket.
friendut writes:
racist
govols22231 writes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO4tIr...
I know this is a football speech but this team makes me think of this speech.
invisiblekid writes:
Sounds about right to me.
VOLFROMNC writes:
Hopson should be released so we can get another scholarship player that can play. He is way overrated. No defense, no skill at all.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
continued...
4. Maze- he always plays hard and tries hard and I appreciate that. He just isn't that good. He is a serviceable back up point guard in the SEC...but we needed him to be a good starting point guard and he is just not that. I like his effort and heart but he doesn't have the vision, passing ability or finishing ability at the rim that a starting SEC point guard should have. Not his fault, he tries and I appreciate it.
5. Price - brings nothing to the table. He is walking turnover who cannot shoot outside of 3 feet and plays more matador defense than anyone since Scooter McFagdon. He has been a wasted scholarship and whines about every call/non call.
6. Tatum - the kid has some offensive skills but his confidence is in the toilet. He is a bad on the ball defender but helps pretty well...needs some training and defensive work, as well as some screens set for him to get open....like we used to run for Lofton. We currently have no one to set him up for shots.
chelseavol#206134 writes:
These guys may be good athletes, but they play dumb and they are unable to play as a team. Chism needs to be on the bench. Smith seems to be the basketball version of Kelly Washington.
A total embarrassment. It is sickening to try to watch them play.
Grim1 writes:
well.. there is always cross country bowling.
kman29 writes:
I guess now a Florida win (who is up 21-9 on Vandy right now) would put them in a first place tie with UK in the east.
friendut writes:
another rousing analysis from a mempiss bigmouth...do we play you tiggers in football this year. gee, I hope we don't stoop to the usa conference. is mempiss a two year school? maybe that is why their grad rate is good.
winbigvols writes:
We are embarrassing. What a year for UT sports. Chism, Smith think they are a lot better than they are. If they both go pro, they want make a NBA roster, mark that one down. Pearl is as lost as they are, the rest of the SEC and the country have caught up with Bruce's coaching. Can you say NIT, but that is too good for this team. Nobody can say this team is easy to watch, its been that way all year. I have spent more time not watching than watching. Its just hard to watch this team, they play so stupid.
tinknoz#660213 writes:
Horrible Horrible effort, looks like boyz among men....totally embarrassed to "sport" the UT logo.
jhawk628#252090 writes:
Agree with rhobbs on the players, except it's up to the CBP to teach Chism when shooting a three is a good idea.
Better effort than the Ole Miss game, but this team needs to stop shooting 25 three attempts per game.
You hear me, Bruce??? Lofton and Jajuan Smith aren't out there.
jasonn1970 writes:
Other than Brian Williams this team's performance today was a disgrace. I can't believe so many on call-in radio shows criticize him. At least he is trying. That's more than I can say for the rest of this team. They better hope they win the 2 remaining home games and a first round SEC tournament game or they will be playing in the NIT.
gohawks1 writes:
Well, that was ugly.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
continued...
7) Negedu - love his heart, hustle and just "it" factor he brings. Like everyone else, I cannot understand why he doesn't play more. I think his future is bright, why not some more playing time?
8) Williams - Has some raw ability...plays well in certain matchups and in others he is a liability. Our coaching staff hasn't figured that out yet, even though the commentators and fans have. He is a good role player in the right situations.
9) Tabb - see Bobby Maze comments
10) Woolridge - has a nice jumper when he is set and up and square. Lost defensively and has no ball handling skills. He plays like the freshman he is, but he has potential.
11) Childress- he obviously has really ticked Pearl off somewhere along the way off the court, because there is no reason for him not to be getting playing time on this sorry team.
12) West - I hope he is as good as advertised because we need him
friendut writes:
Chism and Smith do not have the ability, the basketball smarts or the work ethic to make it in the european league, much less the nba
redneckerson writes:
Knoxville, TN - new home of the Washington Generals. Tyler might get a look by the Globetrotters if he can get some of those clown shots to fall. I have always been and always will be a Big Orange fan but this has become comical - actually laughed out loud at this bunch, especially when Williams missed the dunk attempt right after Pearl's technical.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
i think they got the players , PEARL don't know what to do with them . he's like a clown on the side line . that stupid tech. didn't help none, maybe he orta learn to do hair , his X could teach him .
friendut writes:
I agree.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
We are not a good team.I think the problem is players and also Bruce has been outcoached in some of our games. You cannot play in the SEC if you do not have a hotshot point guard.John Ward used to call them "gunners".
Halls3 writes:
I'm not a UT fan by any means but I find it funny you're talking trash about a team that you only escaped against by 2 points. If Memphis is so great where are your National Championships b/c my team has 2 this decade.
jephsteph writes:
Didn't Coach Houston have a better record against Kentucky than Pearl? If so,....... how embarrassing! I think we need a new coach. The honeymoon is definitely over!
TopTenn writes:
Bruce lacking heart this year too. His post game interviews are average at best.
friendut writes:
You have your starting five in that list.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Well I've calmed down now.
SPRINTS! SUICIDES! STEPS! ! MAKE
'EM PUKE LIKE WE DID TODAY.
fhjm1234#209203 writes:
The collapse of this team is being caused by internal problems. Something is going on in the locker room. I know our coaches have not gotten worse.
chrisw2967 writes:
Im not so sure Tyler can play in Europe , he just needs to stick with the rocky top league.
Chism, hes in the same boat with Tyler.
I still think Pearl let this mess get out of hand and hes the one that needs to clean this mess up. On off. I like the way Maze or Tabb which are both Pathetic, gets the inbound pass and hurries down the court so they all can just stand there and pass the ball around like they are playing keep away.
thevoice writes:
Word is we do have some backcourt help coming in the 2010/2011 season. 4/5 star kids.
VOLFROMNC writes:
Ok, maybe saying Hopson has no skill was wrong, however his effort is horrible. He makes some of the dumbest plays and just smiles about them. He believed his own hype this season and unless he is put in his place by the coaching staff, will not amount to much.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
He is versatile in that he can handle the ball pretty well for a 6-7 forward, he is a good passer (when there is someone good to pass it to)and he is a good rebounder and his jump shot isn't great but isn't terrible.
My point was that this year the defenses pack it in on him and focus on him. That is why he has struggled. Give him a couple of guys around him that can score and he is very good...like last year.
born2ride writes:
Maybe it's all those headbands? Could be cutting off the circulation to the players brains.
OrangePower11 writes:
Couldn't have said it better myself!
798orange writes:
I was on record several weeks ago as saying this team would get better as the younger players got more experience. Looks like I was mistaken. I guess I was also putting too much faith in Pearls coaching based on how he has put us back on the map in such a short time. Its hard to pinpoint the main problem, seems like there are several---not enough discipline, intensity, outward leadership, consistent perimeter shooting as well as shot selection, and most of all perimeter defense so porous as to allow a list of opposing guards to have career games against us. Am I being too critical? It will be interesting to find out if we can recruit the right players to plug up the glaring holes and get some chemistry back.
friendut writes:
I'm a '69 grad of UT and still stay active in the gym. I got together with 4 of my buddies this afternoon and decided we wanted to challenge the Vol starting five to a game on our home court. We are going to wear the fashionable headbands to make us look like Carmello Anthony, so we can play like him.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
'itisi' is back. You're like our players, "Hey look! It is I shooting the ball...oops?"
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