Tennessee Men's Basketball
Tennessee might have won Wednesday night's game on April 1, 2008 - no fooling.
That was the day Scotty Hopson announced he would sign with the Vols after originally committing to Mississippi State.
Hopson scored a career-high 21 points and matched his career highs for rebounds (6) and assists (3) in UT's 81-76 win over the Bulldogs before a crowd of 19,137 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Vols improved to 17-10, 8-5 in the SEC, keeping their NCAA tournament and SEC Eastern Division title hopes alive with the win over State (17-11, 7-6).
South Carolina sits atop the SEC East with a 9-4 mark after beating Kentucky (8-5) on Wednesday night. Florida, a loser to LSU on Tuesday, also is 8-5.
Hopson said he took a businesslike approach to the game but admitted some pre-game talk got him fired up.
"I know some guys on their team, and there was some talk before the game,'' Hopson said with a smile. "That got me a little amped up.''
Hopson hit 7 of 11 shots, including 3 of 6 beyond the 3-point arc.
"Scotty's mindset is 'we really can't win unless I play like this,' " UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "It was the team's struggles that got Scotty going.''
Hopson scored the Vols' first basket with an explosive dribble-penetration move, and he opened UT's scoring in the second half with a 3-pointer.
But the freshman was hardly a one-man show; Bobby Maze scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, Tyler Smith had 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and Wayne Chism had 12 points.
It was the first time since the Vols' win over Georgia four games ago that UT had four players score in double figures.
"That was a good team effort,'' Pearl said. "One of the things I say at times when we're successful is, 'we have too many weapons.'
"That's something I haven't said enough of this year.''
The Bulldogs lead the SEC in 3-pointers made per game (8.5), and though they finished 11-of-30 beyond the arc, many came late as State was 2-of-13 in the first half.
Barry Stewart led the Bulldogs with 20 points, Ravern Johnson had 18 and Dee Bost scored 17 as State made a late run after trailing by as many as 11 in the second half when a Hopson drive to made it 68-57 with 3:40 remaining.
The Bulldogs hit three 3-pointers over the next three minutes, but drew no closer than three points.
A pair of Smith free throws with 28.3 seconds left made it 79-74, and when Johnson missed a 3-pointer and Hopson rebounded, it was all but over.
The Vols led 31-28 at halftime despite being down 25-17 at the 7:11 mark.
Smith sparked a rally that led to UT's halftime edge when he scored his first points in the game on a put-back basket at the 6:40 mark, igniting a 12-1 run.
The Vols return to action at 2 p.m. Sunday at Florida.
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Comments » 117
volsare1 writes:
why does this team keep you on the edge of your seats til the final horn
utvols420 writes:
no steve hamer?
b_neas writes:
Hopson is by far the most talented offensive player UT has, he needs to get 12-15 shots a game. Tyler still forces way way to many shots, and Tatum needs to be more aggressive on offense (kinda like he was tonight) if this happens this team could make the NCAA tourney and depending on the matchup possibly get to the sweet 16. Still given who SC has left to play a win vs them is critical.
VAvolfanRON writes:
lmao...I swear volsare1....i used to pop the bubbly up by 5 with 22 seconds to go....no...i have to watch the whole game!!!!...lmao..
BTW, hopson sounded good....i have to listen to it
VAvolfanRON writes:
b_neas....are we an armchair coach?.....just asking
Slystone writes:
Has anyone else noticed that Tyler Smith's game just looks different. Nothing smooth about his offensive moves. Doesn't appear to be a injury that we know of. He just doesn't have a rhythm to his game. Everything he does appears as though it's being done hard and uneven. Maybe I expected more.
b_neas writes:
just stating my opinions, which u should listen to because I KNOW ALL!!!
b_neas writes:
griffin stated that he thinks something may be going on with Tyler......he said he was not sure what it was but he is dragging butt a lot......Tyler is just obviously a player that has to have 2 or 3 other solid players on the court with him to excel
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
a great win. Hopson finally played a complete game. Think we can beat Fla and Ala. but I just don't see us beating SC. 10-6 is about right considering. I think we get 7 seed unless we win the SEC tourney, if that happens we get possible 5 seed.
Chism is so selfish! The team finally gets back to assists and teamwork. Keep it up!
VAvolfanRON writes:
B_neas...
OK..Ok....i understand!!!!.....lmao.....
ArealVolFan writes:
Good win....a long way to go, but it was good to see some hustle and determination out of this team for the first time since the Florida game. Go Vols.
lastlap writes:
Tyler acts like he's playing to not get hurt before he goes Pro. He already has a pro defense. NONE. Leader my butt. Good luck in Europe. IF you make it. Scotty played great tonight but has anyone ever shot more air ball free throws?
VAvolfanRON writes:
no matter what....they are playing the best they can..and i appreciate that they are vols.......i SURE as heck knows i can't get out there do any better....
my love and faith are in there hands!!!!...
Go Vols~~
thevoice writes:
Congrats to coach for getting these guys to play together. Passes were more crisp. 3's were falling. Much better team play. One of the best games they've played this year. Way to go Scotty, FINALLY!
tnman1025 writes:
My two cents:
Overall tonight, outside of the close outcome, we played a pretty decent game. We rebounded well, played decent defense, a bunch of hustle plays and a number of players who looked like they wanted to be there and win.
I thought the earlier SC game was Hopson's coming out game, but I was wrong, it was tonight! Hopson played a complete game tonight. Scotty had 21 pts, 6 rebs, and 3 asts, but to me the biggest number was the ONE turnover. I twas great to see him go toward the basket more tonight, but also good to see him hit some open threes. I have always been behind Hopson since he got here and I hope he is finally turning the corner.
There were a couple of other guys that I thought had decent games as well. Williams had some good spurts as did Tabb. One of my favorite parts of tonight had to be Maze driving the lane and kicking it out. That's really what we have needed all year and maybe if he is realizing it now, better late than never right?
As I said earlier though, good win tonight, even if the score was closer than it should have been. Good TEAM effort.
Sorry for the long post.
Slystone writes:
Beg to differ. The Florida game was their best game to date. They could have blown this game with the bonehead fouls down the stretch.
BigMikeUT writes:
Glad to see that someone else has noticed this. He hasn't really looked healthy to me all season for some reason. He may be healthy, but just looking at the way he runs up and down the floor, he runs almost with a limp most of the time. Something seems a bit off about him this year as opposed to last. The good news for our Vols is that the talent is there and if they can somehow find a rhythm and get hot here at the end of the year, we could be real wild card in the tourney (assuming we even make it).
Slystone writes:
Gamecocks stooge slapped the mess out of the Wildcats tonight.
NorthwestVol writes:
Can a team reset a season with 4 games left? If so, this might be a good start. Can they build on this win?
Hope so. Hope springs eternal.
bowlinggreenvol writes:
Where are the Scotty haters tonight? He may be one of the most over-hyped freshmen in the country? Hahahahah! I'm gonna toot my own horn and say that I called 18ppg over the next 4 games for him, when the article about him came out...well 21! He's well on his way. The most telling stat to me is 7-11! As a b_neas said get him 15 shots a game and he'll give you 20 every night. He's putting this team on his back and I'm more than ready for the ride! Scott
volwalk writes:
What a great hard foul that Brian Williams put on Vanardo...that was awesome...If Brian Williams can keep up the nastiness, ie Ryan Childress---this will be another key for this team to getting back on track for a good finish. Still think that Maze and Hopson are the biggest keys--if we get consistant play from these two and Williams--this team could finish strong. We could really rally and there isn't a better team for us to play next than the team that we absolutely OWN--(gayters).
GO VOLS! make it 7 out of 8.
bowlinggreenvol writes:
* forgot to finish. Scotty, south central Kentucky knows what you can do, keep showing east Tennessee!!!
HarveyDent writes:
This game was making me sick for the first 16 minutes. So frustrating. Hopson really stepped up. This was the same officiating crew they had for the LSU game. They let Mississippi St. get away with a lot.
Albert Haynesworth was there. I wonder if this is some sort of sign that he is staying with the Titans.
vols47 writes:
I don't know if anyone remembers but just a few games ago we absolutely demolished vandy and Georgia, by a lot
We are an up and down team
This isn't some new team spurting
We are not just starting up
It's like we have good games and everyone thinks we are getting good
Then we lose some games and this team is horrible
Then we have a good game and everyone thinks we are really good and forget this same thing happened like 2 weeks ago
Like it's getting old
I want this team to do good, but like make up ur mind
Go vols!!!!
dcline84 writes:
Steve Hamer was initially slated to make an appearance, but Waffle House called and needed him to work a night shift. Consequently, Bernard King and Albert Haynesworth agreed to come as replacements.
jhawk628#252090 writes:
Hey, not perfect, but great game. Everyone contributed and hustled. Looked like a team out there tonight.
Hopson is starting to remind me of a very young Paul Pierce. If he can get a little stronger in the off-season he's going to be a force.
More games like this!
halloffamebowler writes:
After loseing our last game, most everyone were complaining that this team would not make the big dance.Tonight,after beating a team worse than us,some of you have them possibly going to the sweet sixteen.Forget the dance.If by some stroke of luck we did happen to get to there,we will be one and done.A bads win at home over a bad team will not get us much consideration by the selection committee.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
Bruce in the post game had lots of praise for Williams tonite and too appreciated that foul ---that kind of BP praise should fire him up to do it again
redneckerson writes:
Smith refuses to accept the reality that he is a complementary player (albeit a good one in the right situation). He is determined to get his shots and most of them are those circus shots that, at best, have a prayer of going in. If he would focus on the effort part of the game and let the shots come in the flow of the game, this would be a much better basketball team. Seemed to have an attitude problem at the start of this game but then went to work on the boards and his D was improved over the matador phooey we've seen far too often this year. Unfortunately, and predictably, he hit a spell in the second half where he thought that effort entitled him to more of those circus shots and ended up 4 of 14 (most shots on the team) and came close to taking away all the flow and momentum that we have seen so little of this year. Thankfully, he hit one (when he went straight up instead of trying the triple-pump dippity do) before he totally disrupted the flow of the game.
But, hey, a W is a W and maybe this bunch can string together a few more and go into the SEC tourney with some momentum (or they could just as easily think they figured it all out tonight and blow the rest of the season). I'm hoping for the former!
And, in the credit where credit is due department: 16 assists for the team, guys on he floor, Hopson looked like there may be hope after all, and the game plan did a good job of neutralizing State's strengths.
ozoney#235138 writes:
omg so many of you are so quick
to judge pearl and the team.
have you ever played comptitive bball?..prolly not
shut your mouth and watch..that's all you can do..if you aren't with us, you are against us...arse hole
gnm53108 writes:
That would make my day but just dont see it.It would shock me if the Titans paid Albert 10%,12 mill a year,of their total salary cap.Thats the figure thats being thrown around by the Albert camp.
coach75 writes:
this team is still going to depend on tyler. but the tyler they will depend on has to be the tyler from last year that knew when to take shots and when to play team ball. this tyler is nowhere as good as last years. he is very selfish. as long as that doesnt run off on the rest of the team from here on out we have a good chance at the dance. you know that if vandy beats sc and ky loses and we beat florida we could be tied for first again. sec is very even but not that good this year.
jhawk628#252090 writes:
Dude, that's Pearl's offense against the zone: penetrate and then kick it out for a three, or drop it to a forward, or take the shot.
It's not pretty.
givehim6 writes:
Ugly win but still a good W. Good hustle by most, great game by Hopson, need to see more of this for the last three games! Need a good showing in the SEC tournament, and we will see were that will put use.
gnm53108 writes:
If we play better than 500 the rest of the way were in.
I have to agree about the lack of excitement with a 7ish seed.
But Bruce has us spoiled and I'm loven it.
johnlg00 writes:
I only heard the last few minutes of the game, but it sure seemed like we were trying to give it away. On about our last five or six possessions, we either turned it over or we attempted a shot with less than half the shot clock gone, then made at least three fouls late, including the on the 3-pointer you mentioned. The words "game situation", along with an awareness for what is required at certain times, are meaningless to these guys. I would love to play poker with them because they would be drawing to inside straights all night! You just rarely see GOOD teams do that kind of stupid stuff more than once in awhile, while WE do it a good half-dozen times a night! As I have said before, I am a fan and I am for these guys all the way, but they sure do make it hard sometimes. Oh, good win; I could have easily seen us lose to that bunch.
johnlg00 writes:
Aren't we all(;-P)?
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
you have to win your games to advance regardless of where you seeded and thus really doesnt make a difference
utucla writes:
a win is a win....but even in victory this team can play some stupid basketball....lets see how things go in FL before we start talking ncaa....remember...its been up and down all year....i fear another down time come saturday...we'll see...
volstasis writes:
This is off the subject, but did anyone else hear that Kiffin is moving Aaron Douglas fron TE to OT?
johnlg00 writes:
I have noticed that, too. He seems to be forcing everything. I think he feels the pressure to carry this team and that sometimes leads him to try things that just don't need to be done right then. And when he isn't forcing it, he seems passive; like you said, he just doesn't seem to have any rhythm to his game and hasn't had it since before Christmas. In the Vandy game, he looked as relaxed and confident as I have seen him this year, but we haven't seen that often.
RockyTop writes:
You can't jump into the air and then start looking around to see if there is someone to throw the ball to. You need to know what direction you're going and either shoot or make the pass. Personally, I think Tyler needs to get rid of that mouthpiece. That thing spends more time hanging out of his mouth than it does on his teeth. I think it has even blocked a few of his shots. (Just kidding)
johnlg00 writes:
Good attitude!
johnlg00 writes:
Good points! Agree that the positives outweighed the negatives tonight, but we still just don't know how to finish games. Our utter cluelessness in late-game situations is going to kill us at some point. I guess it is an improvement that tonight at least it was ONLY in the last two minutes that their brains started leaking out of their heads, instead of the whole game, as they did against UK, AU, Ole Miss, etc.
VOLKING writes:
CBP said that if we beat Miss. St. then we were probably in the NCAA. I think we have to have 20 wins and that's gonna be tough. I think we lose at South Carolina and beat AL at our place, but Florida is a mystery game to me. We have had Donovan's number the last 3 years and I hope we can do it again. Even if we beat the Gators, that still only puts us at 19 victories. That means we have to at least win one in the SEC tourney...and we all know what happens to UT there. So, here's to hoping we can gut it out over the Gators and smack the Tide. Good luck boys.
johnlg00 writes:
Agree! Albert is good, but, DANG, he wants a lot of money! I don't know who could or would pay him that, but I doubt the Titans will! He also seems somewhat injury-prone. Has he even had a season where he played all 16 games? I could be wrong, but I think he missed a couple this year, for all his big numbers when he did play.
johnlg00 writes:
You got that right! The trouble is that we don't have very good judgment about which of those things to do when. All too often, somebody jumps into the air with the ball not knowing what he is going to do, and that is where all the bad passes and forced shots come from.
johnlg00 writes:
Given our thin numbers on the O-line, I was pretty sure SOMEBODY had to be moved, though I didn't know anybody had been moved.
chrisw2967 writes:
this team will not get a 5 or 7 seed. they will be lucky to get into the tourney.they have to win 2 of the 3 they have left to even feel good about their chances.if not then they will have to make alot of noise in the sec tourney.
I have no ideal what maze was doing fouling a 3 point shooter.
PepperGrinder (Inactive) writes:
He is a bit on the heavy side. Pushing 300 just about.
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