Tennessee Men's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Tennessee shot holes in Florida's defensive strategy and thwarted the Gators' perimeter attack in their first meeting. But two fouls also figured prominently in UT's 79-63 victory a month ago.
Both fouls were on All-SEC Florida point guard Nick Calathes, who played only nine minutes in the first half.
"What happened here is that Calathes got two fouls in the first half, and we took full advantage," Pearl said. "They played us even in the second half when he was in the game."
Keeping Calathes on the floor is vital to the Gators' chances in Sunday's nationally televised rematch at the O'Connell Center. Tipoff time is 2 p.m. for the CBS telecast (WVLT).
Both UT (17-10, 8-5 SEC) and Florida (21-7, 8-5) enter the game in the running for the SEC East title and an NCAA tournament bid.
Calathes, who leads the SEC in assists and ranks fifth in scoring, played 37 minutes in Florida's loss to LSU on Tuesday despite suffering flu-like symptoms. He finished with just 12 points, six below his average and his lowest output since Dec. 28.
Calathes, who averages 33 minutes per game, has gotten plenty of rest and gained strength since the LSU game but still might not be 100 percent, according to Fred Demarest, Florida's sports information director for basketball.
Thanks, in part, to Calathes' precise - and sometimes, spectacular - passes, Florida leads the SEC in field-goal percentage. The Gators also rank third in 3-point shooting.
And today's matchup, like the one Jan. 31, could come down to just that, shooting.
"The biggest thing for us is how they shoot the ball and how we shoot the ball," Pearl said.
Florida made only seven of 23 3-point attempts at Thompson-Boling Arena while UT, which ranks last in the conference in 3-point accuracy, shot out of character, making 12 of 28 attempts. UT guards Scotty Hopson and Cameron Tatum were a combined seven of 13 from 3-point range.
"They played a zone and backed off," Pearl said. "They said, 'We're not going to let you beat us off the dribble; we're not going to let you post up. If you're going to beat us, you're going to beat us behind the line.'
"And we did."
UT's defensive strategy also will center around the 3-point line.
Last time, UT switched on ball screens, leaving center Wayne Chism and Tyler Smith on Florida's 3-point shooters.
"Wayne and Tyler were quick enough to contend their shots on the perimeter," Pearl said. "It took the 3-ball away from them.
"Now, what adjustments will they make?"
The Gators will need to get more production from forward Dan Werner and guard Erving Walker.
Werner, who has averaged 14.8 points over the last four games, had only seven points and two field goals against the Vols. Walker, a 5-foot-8 freshman, is averaging almost 10 points per game, but managed just three against UT.
Hopson, Pearl's first McDonald's All-American signee at UT, had one of his most productive games against the Gators. He scored 20 points, hit eight of 12 shots and had two steals in 27 minutes.
He also has played well the last two games, scoring 14 against Kentucky and a career-high 21 against Mississippi State.
"His confidence is high," Pearl said. "When he came in here, he was trying to fit in. That's his personality.
"He's so anti-McDonald's All-American. He has a quiet confidence."
All the Vols have reason to be confident against the Gators against whom they have won six of seven games with Pearl at the helm, Three of their last four victories against the Gators have been by a double-digit margin.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284.
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Comments » 201
Stokes44yrs writes:
Go Tennessee Beat Calathes!
orangebass writes:
Pearl owns Eddie Munster. 7 - 1. Go Vols!!
marvinVol writes:
put it on them again Vols!
tractoronthepole writes:
I think Bruce summed up Scotty's personality well. I was wondering if he would ever get in his head or coach him up. Perhaps the best strategy is letting the game come to him. I'm wondering if Pearl's strength is getting the most out of underachievers. Hopefully he will be the type of coach who makes good players great, only time will tell.
Bruce, find us a point guard either on the roster or recruit some that play THE BRUCE PRESS AND TAKEAWAY STYLE!
ravensearay writes:
Remember the teamwork aspect of the game. Take charge of your own destiny. Don't let what someone else does affect your game. It's time for the tough to get going.
WestTennVol writes:
if we hit shots early and gain confidence we win, if we have to play from behind...the crowd will eat our young shooters alive
MrBamSeydu writes:
I wanna see Hopson dunk all over Calathes on a fast break.
Calathes gets my vote for ugliest player in NCAA history (well, okay, 2nd ugliest... Joakim Noah was #1)
golfballs03 writes:
If we can hit a few threes to start out, it will free up our offense tremendously. I like where Hopson is headed here in the last few games, he might be the key to our remaining season.
gohawks1 writes:
UF: x
UT: x+1
HtownVol writes:
Did you watch the last game.. No worries!
ArealVolFan writes:
He meant the last game we throttled your Gators in...and the one before that...and the one before that....and the one before that...and the one before that....
HtownVol writes:
OK I see, you have to act like the last game we played vs. UF didnt really happen, right. I would forget about it also.
WestTennVol writes:
true, but most realistic UT fans will admit we were waaaay overrated, preseason polls acted as if losing your 3 top guards has no impact b/c of one Mcie Ds AA recruit...they also projected Childress as the back up for T. Smith, don't hate on the gators BB to much, Eddie is a class act and they'll be contenders again soon..but so will we..Really look forward to the rivalry. Isn't it what we all hope for anyways, inner-SEC warfare?
1stBaseHelton writes:
This is for all of you Gator fans enjoyment! http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/N7DL...
gohawks1 writes:
Painful memories can very often be suppressed with enough psychological treatment.
gohawks1 writes:
Four stars! Two thumbs up!
Vol_In_Ohio writes:
Back in control of our own destiny with the UK loss to LSU. I don't think we can win three in a row on top of the MSU win, but a top SEC seed is there for the taking.
utucla writes:
better start out fast UT....if not, i see another SEC road blowout....gotta have one of the next two on the road...and don't take a home win for granted against Bama....oh yeah, somebody please make sure Chism shows up for this game...it's about time for his 1 out of 5 "good" games....we'll see....
gnm53108 writes:
This one would be sweet.
Which team is going to show up?
Is Coach Pearl getin em to gel as the finish line approaches?
Go VOLS
VolJunkie writes:
The two early fouls on Calathes in the last game were huge. Frankly, glad to hear he may not be at 100%. Don't care much for UF but that kid can play ball. Looking forward to a good showing from the Vols tomorrow.
Go Vols!
TommyJack writes:
Much depends on which JP Prince shows up.
VolJunkie writes:
TJ, good point, I'm hoping the 11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 0 turnovers JP shows up!
blitzshoot writes:
UT needs to rain some three's as it did in Knoxville.
Free throws and offensive rebounds my main concern.
Down_The_Field writes:
all's well that end's well.
i'm picking my vols to win this one cause pearl always out coaches arthur fonzarelli. it's just a given.
ummmmm......i'll say.....
ut - 83
uf - 78
in a quiet condome.
NorthwestVol writes:
Something about that is very disturbing......
But funny!
Slystone writes:
Vols need a quality road win. A loss here could be a set back in their hope for an NCAA bid.
golfballs03 writes:
I really hate Venderbilt, and I kind of like South Carolina, and that is why it kills me to root for the Commodores tonight...
ArealVolFan writes:
Hardly, you don't bother me. You just spout a bunch of phooey and back it up with inaccurate statements you call "fact". I just like pointing out our dominance over your basketball team. Even if we loose tomorrow. We will still have owned you over the last 4 years. Fact.
utmdm writes:
Now you've gone into a language the gator brains will never understand.
utmdm writes:
Since the gator's sign their name with x, they will definitely lose it on this one.
UKblue02 writes:
Early second half Vandy 61 SC 41, Vandy should call Billy G and thank him for wearing SC down with all those blocks Wed. If the scores holds up makes tomorrows game even more important.
volsfan92 writes:
this team is coming together at a good time
huntined#565710 writes:
Should be a good game but hard to win on the road...ask s.c. about Vandy..And S.C. had a lot on the line..
If we do beat FLA I hope s.c. plays like they did tonight when we play them. But still hard to win on the road anywhere..
tnman1025 writes:
I don't understand what the draw to Florida is this year. Sure Calathes is a great player, but the rest of the team is garbage. And it's especially evident against the Vols. Just look at the last meeting. Calathes had 21 points, but most of those came in the garbage time close the end of the game due to the Vols being up big. I guess you could say Parsons is decent...when he decides to show up. Tyus isn't big enough to do any damage and don't get me started on that thug Werner. He may just be the worst Florida basketball player of all time. With the talent (or lack there of) that UF puts on the floor, it shouldn't even be close.
Now, I know that the Vols have underachieved this year, but Florida isn't exactly teeming with talent either.
Let's go Vols!
tnman1025 writes:
Oh and btw, we take care of business against Florida and SC, and Bama, we win the regular season SEC East title. As of right now, we hold the tie breaker against both UF and SC and Kentucky has one more loss than us.
I think it's definitely doable, even though two of our last three are on the road.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Surely you are underestimating the importance of Calathes' early foul trouble and our highly uncharacteristic 3-pt barrage in that first UF game. True, UF has been inconsistent this year, but that term fits us pretty well also. Also, the game tomorrow is pretty much UF's last chance, short of winning the SEC tourney, to get in the NCAAs if they lose to us. We had BETTER bring our best defensive and rebounding efforts because I don't think our offense will be nearly as good as it was against them earlier.
tnman1025 writes:
DC, leave it to a Florida fan to come to a Tennessee BASKETBALL story and spout off about the football team. Last time I checked, Lane Kiffin hadn't coached a game yet so you have zero idea of what kind of college coach he is. That's great that Florida is National Champs, I've never questioned their talent in football, but it's getting tiresome hearing your phooey about our football team.
John, I know how awesome a night that was for us Vols along the lines of the shooting but the fouls on Calathes were legit, if he hadn't committed them, he may have been able to stay out and contribute. Who knows, it may happen again in Gainesville. I definitely am standing by my statement on Florida's lack of basketball talent. You are free to disagree, but that's how I feel.
BIGEJ writes:
UF...the best teams the penal systems can produce
BIGEJ writes:
Have a great day.....GO VOLS
Down_The_Field writes:
an if i disagree.......are you gonna throw a d-cell battery at me?
VOLorado writes:
too many florIDIOTS on here
Down_The_Field writes:
i'll drink to that.
vols win by 5.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I didn't say Calathes didn't commit those fouls, I said his lengthy absence put them at a tremendous disadvantage on the road against a UT team playing as well as it has all year. I don't even disagree that we are better than them, but we have lost to other teams no better than we were. I still say that we can't expect things to be as easy as they were last time, but I would surely take it if it IS easy; heck, I would take a one-point nail-biter, as long as we win. Agree COMPLETELY about DC's endless, irrelevant trash!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Hate to burst your bubble, but this is a very LIGHT night with regard to the interloping Gator trash! Those no-account light-weights--and our own enablers who respond to them--have clogged up this site worse than a pound of cheese and a box of crackers.
tnman1025 writes:
yeah john, I would take a 1 point nail biter as well. And trust me, I know we have lost to teams we had no business losing to, I was just commenting on the fact that Florida fans come on here and talk about how awesome their b-ball team is and how much talent they have. But the fact is, the talent is just not there outside of Calathes.
Most of the time, I can keep my mouth shut to the interloppers, there are just days where enough is enough.
VOLorado writes:
Hmmmm....
even one florIDIOT is too many
OldNumber7 writes:
There is a reason you will get no respect from Tennessee fans and your self-proclaimed dynasty. Because Ole Miss and Auburn stains still suggest your football team, albeit NC winners, were second place to those guys. And your hoops titles never went through Knoxville successfully - which says we consistently played better hoops than the tourney winner those years. So, I'd take your Narcissician love fest elsewhere - no love from us. I'd trade our 98 perfection title for 2 titles losing to Ole Miss any day.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
vol fan aside you're delusional to not give proper respect to a 2x football NC and 2x basketball NC and acknowedge the legitimacy of both though i admit its hard to do to a trashtalker
DCVolFan writes:
The Washington, DC, market (where I am) is getting the Memphis/Kansas game at 2:00 EST. LAME.
THE_VOL writes:
Well you finally got something right - you ARE a MASTER-BAITER!!!
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