Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl said Saturday he can take losing.
"I don't like it, but I can take it,'' Pearl said after the 77-58 loss at Kentucky. "But not like that.''
After hours in the film room Sunday and discussion with his assistant coaches, Pearl wants to set straight a few things he said in the post-game.
"The biggest thing, I wasn't as displeased with our effort as our purpose,'' Pearl said. "It's our execution and our understanding that to play great basketball, you have to play as a team, offensively and defensively.''
Too many players are trying to take too many responsibilities onto themselves.
"We still rank high in assists and field-goal percentage, and that's a function of playing as a team,'' Pearl said. "But (against Kentucky) we weren't setting screens, making passes, throwing it inside-out and turning down shots to get better shots for teammates.''
Pearl said that's as much on him as his players.
"I haven't taught and disciplined our players enough to play our best basketball,'' Pearl said. "I haven't gotten our guys to understand that for them to play well as individuals, we have to play well as a team.''
That said, Pearl pointed out UT (16-10, 7-5 SEC) is still in position to win the SEC East Division.
"This team should be where it's at, and that's competing for a conference championship,'' Pearl said. "But if we don't fix what's ailing us, we won't win the championship.
"We've got our backs up against the wall.''
And Pearl didn't mind putting it there when he said the Vols need to beat Mississippi State on Wednesday to make the NCAA tournament.
"The math may indicate otherwise, with our strength of schedule and RPI,'' Pearl said. "But I feel like we need to deserve victory, and we have work to do.
"Me saying that was along the lines of keeping it real and being honest with our team and our fans.''
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 170
thevoice writes:
Uh coach, you should be reading these posts. We said your team needs to be playing like a team weeks ago. Guess that means some of these posters need to be coaching. First, I would immediately bench ANY player who jacks up ANY three at ANY time. You're not a three-point threat right now! Second, I would somehow introduce these guys to the world of humility, and play aggressive defense. Third, I would have each player shoot 1,000 free throws in practice. And that's just the beginning...
Witch_Doctor writes:
Witch Doctor fix problems. NO THREE's (3'), Trey's. Witch Doctor say go inside instead of pass around and then take stupid 3. Bones say same bad voodoo each game. Time to fix. Witch Doctor say Bruce fix but not this season. Must find point guard. Bones never lie
thevoice writes:
And coach, just so you'll know, the payers you're recruiting aren't all that coachable. Go get some guys with real world IQ and basketball IQ. At this level of basketball, you need players who are mentally tough and make smart decisions on the court. Harsh words, but reality.
Slystone writes:
Lose the South Carolina and Florida games and it will take winning the SEC tourney to get into the NCAA tourney. This team lacks intensity and sense of urgency. It's mid Feb and they haven't consistently shown it all year. That magical switch everyone is waiting on them to flip is not in reach. Chemistry on this team is not right. When they were down in the Kentucky game early by nearly 15 point Pearl should have called a time out and stooge slapped the entire starting five. Wildcats came to play and the Vols acted like there was no need to worry. Sorry display for a team many ranked so high preseason.
Witch_Doctor writes:
Witch Doctor believe Daniel would have helped this season for sure. Witch Doctor say let JP run point because nothing worse than Maze/Tabb now. Both too slow to get around anybody. Bones scatch head at solution. Bones never lie
volzcrushm writes:
Hey Witch Doctor........ you got it!! They need to strenthen the outside game but, if you don't have an outside threat..... they pack up on the inside making it tough to have that so, maybe we a meeks??
thevoice writes:
Going to be hard to count on someone (especially a point guard) with suspect grades to be a savior.
CatScratchFever writes:
I wonder if there will be any changes in practice, locker rooms, etc. It might be good for Pearl to take a page from Pat's coaching handbook.
Witch_Doctor writes:
Witch Doctor say team have no work ethic and is exposed in games. Witch Doctor say Bruces team next season will be focused. Witch Doctor understand success can effect coach. Bruce keeper for long-time and he helped Vol program grow and now we give him season or so to grow. Bruce fix. Witch Doctor 100% on that one. Interlopers hate Bruce and pretend to be Vol and spew "concerned Vol fan" poison on board. Bruce be back. Bruce be back better. Bones never lie
VOL_FREAK_91 writes:
really good post I couldnt agree more
Ironcity writes:
Nice to hear coach spelling out the way it is. The goals are still in front of them but I don't think their are many believers that post here in this team right now and nothing that happens Wed will change that.
I will be curious to see how this team comes out on Wed.. It would not surprise me to see us blow out Miss St. and it would surprise me to see us trailing 20-5 after 5 minutes.
matthewperkins#207477 writes:
Just an observation, but ever notice that we never hear what Bruce is specifically going to do in practice to change things? I'm a Pearl fan, but is he coddling them a bit this year? He's not 'taught' this year, he says. I don't buy that. Maybe I've watched Pat for too many years, but I think he really needs to kill them in practice, do something to increase their effort. He still seems too nice to them... not that they need to be sent to bed without supper and whipped with switches, but I just don't get the sense that he knows what to change yet, or how to change it.
Pennington's right. We miss Duke Crews...
Hudro writes:
why all the concern on making the tournament. What good does it do to be a one and done against someone like Wichita State? Other than some NCAA revenue for the cofers wouldn't it be better to win the NIT? At least you get to hang some sort of a banner and keep Pat from owning all the real estate up there.
Pullingguard writes:
This team is so overrated... Just how many players on UT squad would start at Ky, Fla., or even SC... Pearl is trying to stay positive, but beating SC and Fla on the road is a wild imigination at work.... Winning the SEC tournament, I hope, that is the only chance regardless of how minute' that may be.
VolDog25 writes:
Thew main problem with this team is PEARL!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Admitting you have a problem is the first step.
MBEACHVOL writes:
I agree I think Tylers skills are not that great, he has no outside shot and can't create his own off the dribble.He does play hard (offensively). Hopson looks like he has never played against any competition, looks like he is just happy to make a good play or two a game. Prince I have no idea why BP thinks he is so great, the occasional good play he shows is quickly followed up with stupid fouls and turnovers. None of these three play D.
TommyJack writes:
TJ is down with the Witchie.
Caspian writes:
If it was up to me, right up front I would lose the headbands. Right now, we've got some with bands, some without. Everybody should wear the same outfit. Seems fundamental.
halloffamebowler writes:
Gosh.I wish I had some magic dust for this team.They are breaking my spirits this year after watching them play the last three years.This is how I see things.We lost two of the best three point shooters we have had in a long time.No one has stepped up and taken their place this year.No one is a leader and hustler like Bradshaw.Youth has not developed as quickly as hoped but I believe they will be much improved next year.We have shot 1685 times,makeing 702 of those shots.That is a respectable 41%.The oposition has shot 44% by makeing 652 of 1493 shots.Free throws are 421 of 620 for 68%.Opposition are shooting free throws at 67%.379 of 562.Therefore we are basically even shooting field goals and free throws.Where we are at a disadvantage is 3 point land.We are 169 of 564 29%.Opposition is 182 of 340 51.5%.We have shot 124 more treys but have made 13 less treys than our opposition.Should we be shooting less treys and start going more to the paint? I believe so.
PEARLIFIC writes:
thank God you aren't the coach! against Miss. St. we will HAVE to hit threes. UT cannot plan on going inside all night on the best shot blocker in the country. And if coach Pearl IS READING THESE BLOGS he ought to be fired!
UKblue02 writes:
Good question, PG, i don't know what's worse, Coach Pearl not pulling players for lazing around or Billy G pulling them for sneezing on the court, we have some good players on the bench, Galloway, Stewart, Harrellson to name a few but if they get in a game and make a small mistake old BG jerks them out, So i don't know what's worse for a kid in these two situations, play lazy or afraid to play.
Rockytop98 writes:
Maybe the new girl friend and new mansion is too much in one year. Just a thought.
kbart4033#247331 writes:
I wonder if Bruce's new twinkie wears a headband...
bricker865 writes:
Witchdoctor....can you put a spell on some of the opposing numb skulls like Gatorzz and Itsme that visit this site? Some of the other ones I can live with (not that they're all numbskulls...lol). Thanks in advance. :)
Down_The_Field writes:
agreed!!!
coach, let's finish swing-in!
vickynphil writes:
What would Pat do if the women played as lazy & stupid & selfish?? I mean she alraedy kicked them out of their locker room?? I just I don't know, I think CBP is a great coach & support him 100% I just maybe wan't to see more FIRE from him on these guys a**?? They play the way they have been playing I don't see many of them that should even be on the floor?? Blowout to Ole miss & KY H*ll the practice team would play with more heart than these "just got to focus" (can you stand to hear that again after the next loss??) prima donas!! Put the walk ons out there that's pretty much all we had when CBP took over & that team would run these guys ragged by the start of the second half.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
THIS IS GREAT OKEMO SPEAKING:
Vol bloggers MUST ignore these false totem poles, NEVER respond to their black magic. To the mediocre, mediocrity appear great. Now all must pay homage to OKEMO
vickynphil writes:
Scary question to ask! But does this team remind anyone of the last team Jerry Green coached??
Vol_Jokes writes:
Pearl wants Vols to play more like team
I think the bigger question is when is that group
of misfits going to start resembling a team.
SSvol writes:
In response to:Pullingguard
Hopson looks like he has never played against any competition, looks like he is just happy to make a good play or two a game. Prince I have no idea why BP thinks he is so great, the occasional good play he shows is quickly followed up with stupid fouls and turnovers. None of these three play D.
Well Hopson really hasnt,Word that I get was that he was in high school last year, Ill check to make sure though. As far as JP, he might as well shoot with his feet. But he will catch his fall, because the NBA will not be calling on that boy at all. The only thing hes lookn for is ESPN's top ten or a poster dunk and you know when he thinks he's got it, because He'll Salute you. He could be a hell of a ball player but hes flat out lazy. He wont switch up he wont help out and his off side ball denial is , well, its just not there. He dont have the heart to D up. He'd just as soon swat at the shooter and snowbird,Wantn that almighty dunk. Bottom line is we got alot of young kids that need to grow, so give them time, surrounded by some posers. The only thing I was wondering about pearl is that open half court O he runs, thats odd when you dont have a shooter. I understand the concept that it opens lanes but he had nobody slashing them. It looked like the were playing a game of catch on the perimeter...The other hand, on pearl,the last two years you all called him Bruce Almighty...lol...Dam let the man rebuild hes the same guy with the same game knowledge and a different lineup that is young and the ones that aren't have egos that out weigh the state of texas.....
vickynphil writes:
Please go play on your Tigger High site & talk about how you dominate that pathetic A minor league that you play in! Do you bunch of envious wannabee's ever ask yourself why the SEC didn't even think of asking Tigger High to join when they expanded?? They jumped right over your little high school and took Arkansas. & don't try to say some BS like Tigger High didn't want it! Every school in the SEC makes more money of TV alone than your whole pathetic Athletic Dept combined!
vickynphil writes:
Maybe Tigger High can start selling their jersey's for ads every game like they were going to do for FEDEX? Calipari can start doing Vitalis commercials & become a spokesman? maybe you guys could change your mascot to the dry ribs? To keep you from getting confused from the real Tigers of LSU & Auburn. Maybe Christian Brothers will let you start playing your home fooball games besides Ole Miss & Tenn at their stadium so it will look like their really is some fans there? Go away Tigger High!!
bricker865 writes:
umm...'misfits going to start'....ummm. Not an English Major here but I can see that resembles stupidity. Learn some basic English and then you're welcome back. Until then get lost loser....lmfao!!
DenmarkVol writes:
Send your resume to Mike Hamilton. He may just decide to go ahead and replace BP.
Or else, write a book. Why deny the masses the benefit of your basketball wisdom?
Vol_Jokes writes:
chewedupvol, we didn't join the sec because the sec didn't ask us. Don't you know we would have loved to make the jump and dominate that football conference with our basketball. Do you really think SEC teams that are recruiting so heavily in memphis (all of them) would want Memphis to join the sec? Heck no they wouldn't. All those prize recruits could stay right here at home and be in the sec. Pretty safe to choose arkansas up in that rural area..you know like knoxville.
Memphis is pretty smart. We were in a good conference up until a few years ago and the big east took most all of them. So, we could just roll over and die and do nothing or we could make the most of the situation. I do believe we made the best of the situation don't you. You see, we play in a pretty bad conference but we are very good. So, you schedule a few top notch teams from out of conference and since you are very good you'll probably win those and then you go back into conference play adn win those. You have shown that you can play with anybody and so you start to be ranked and when you beat those non conference teams you move up. Then.. you get into conference play and the other big boys know each other off and you just keep moving up. It works very well. Smart huh? You see we made it work for us and not against us. Let's see.. several 1 seeds and a 2 seed in the last 3 seasons. We seem to be looking at a 1 or 2 seed this time. Now, what seed are you guys looking at. ... That's what i thought. You see Cal's very smart. Now's he's got it going here and has the top recruits all considering Memphis. I haven't heard of any considering the vols.
Ha vol fans..can't win a basketball argument so try to bash the city or the conference. You are a clown.
Vol_Jokes writes:
Hey bricker if you won't people to come back when they learn proper english then 99% of the people on this site would be gone. This site is really bad. Glad you did the spell check on your post though. Very good. Once again, a vol fan that can't win a basketball argument goes for english. You can really tell when you have vuls reeling when they begin to attack your english usaage. Hey Bricker.. Pearl era has hit rock bottom.......
I'll ask again. When is your group of misfits going to start resembling a team? Please come up with something a bit better than use of proper english. Oh, you don't have anything else.. ha ha.
chrisw2967 writes:
and tell us wonder boy what did those 1 & 2 seeds do for you ? and how many NC did they bring you ? thats what I thought 0
you are right you play in a very very weak pathetic conf. and no your not very good,more like decent.your not too good, you could only beat a bad tenn team by 2.but dont worry you will be out of the big dance early this year.book it
FeelVol writes:
Sadly but I've thought the same thing.There seems to be no direction with this team.
DandyVol writes:
There has been some talk here about us still making the NCAA tourney. If I remember right, a couple of years ago there was squable over a team which was let into the tourney with 9 losses. We presently have 10. RPI aside, do we really have a chance for the NCAA tourney except by going last years GA route? I doubt that we can accomplish the SEC tourney run.
On the Tyler side, I believe he would be making a mistake to go NBA after this year. This teams performance and Tyler's leadership inability to pull this team to a higher level may have a negative influence for him, even in a weak draft.
GOTGO writes:
witch doctor forget how bad PJ was last year when tried at point. bones lied.
wlvol writes:
A LITTLE LATE NOW FOOL. We suggested this years ago. But you recruit tooooo many street ballers, ghetto boys who want the nba life and tattoo's (but will never get there). YOU pick the team. coach and YOU have to get them to play TEAM ball. Next time recruit some TEAM players and don't complain how they are SELFISH and aren't PHYSICAL enough for YOUR style of play. How's that style working out now, dog?
GreerVol22 writes:
Cat, at this point I think he should hand out KY Blue head bands for the team to wear.
jmr68ut writes:
Teamwork!! What a concept!!
GreerVol22 writes:
bones actually told truth....that JP did in fact stinks as a team player. Sometimes bones have hidden message.
Slystone writes:
Okay, count me in. Sly is down with WitchDoctor. Stones never lie!!
HtownVol writes:
Does anyone know if we can sign more than West and Hall next year? We really need some shooters. If Smith goes pro ( which would be a bad decision) does that give us one more schollarship? Can someone break down the scenario to me?
mparker writes:
very, very good post...you sound like a former college player??
daved writes:
Funny
Slystone writes:
Observations of this team that I have noticed.
- No posting up by big men.
- poor perimeter defense.
- rebounding -both ends of the floor.
- no sense of urgency.
- lack of leadership on the floor.
- Tyler disappears to much in the game.
- Chism should be averaging 8 to 10 boards a game.
- Jujuan's absense from this team is crucial - ice water ran thru his veins. Can we say anyone on this team has that mentality this year?
- Crews was a warrior down low and that is what's missing this season. The team is soft.
-Pearl is coaching with what he has. Maze is average and West was ineligible. There goes your point guard. Tabb is an athelete not really a point.
Solution - the next time this team gets down early in the game call a time out and take every single one of them out and let them sit on the bench while someone else might understand the need to bring their A game to the gym. That might not fix it, but Pearl is going to have to get through to them some how. By the way is anyone else getting tired of looking at Devoe's mug shot. Please KNS enough already.
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