Men's Basketball
Tennessee junior forward Tyler Smith is “doubtful” for Saturday’s game at Georgia, according to UT men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl.
Smith, who is averaging 17.2 points per game, suffered a severe bone bruise in his left knee when Gonzaga’s Matt Bouldin inadvertently rolled into his leg in the final minutes of regulation in the Zags’ overtime victory late Wednesday night.
“Tyler is doubtful with his knee, so that will present us with an even greater challenge,’’ said Pearl, whose 15th-ranked Vols (9-4) have lost two straight heading into Saturday’s noon tipoff (TV: WVLT).
“We’ve gone down there and played great basketball, and each time barely got out of there with a win,’’ Pearl said. “Georgia has the deepest and biggest front line in the league.’’
Pearl said that with Smith out, he’ll start Wayne Chism at power forward and Brian Williams or Emmanuel Negedu at the post against Georgia (9-6).
It’s a bigger lineup for the Vols, but with the Bulldogs featuring 6-foot-9 Trey Thompkins at power forward, a bigger challenge.
“Thompkins was a McDonald’s All-American, and he’s a (future) pro,’’ Pearl said. “In Georgia’s last two games, they lost to Georgia Tech and Missouri, but they’ve been playing better basketball.’’
Chism, who has faced his share of big-name front line players, will most assuredly draw the defensive assignment of checking Thompkins
That leaves Williams and Negedu to battle Georgia’s physical center, 6-10 junior Albert Jackson, under the basket.
Pearl said he’s not sure how the Bulldogs will match up with the Vols.
“If Tyler was playing, I’d expect them to play zone,’’ Pearl said. “But without Tyler, they might come after us in man (-to-man defense).
Pearl said if the Vols run into foul trouble on the front line, senior Ryan Childress could see his first action of the season.
Childress suffered a knee injury last spring and didn’t get cleared to play until the Gonzaga game, though he saw no action.
Despite the losses on the court, the possible loss of Smith for this game and J.P. Prince (ankle) still less than 100 percent, Pearl said he feels good about his young team’s recent improvements.
“There are some things we can do that can be effective,’’ Pearl said. “This team has seen a lot of things already this season. Georgia plays a 1-3-1 zone, as well as the 2-3, and we’ve seen all that.
“I think we played better (against Gonzaga) and did a lot of good things.’’
UT started out as a nine-point favorite in Las Vegas, but the line has dropped to 7.5, and that was before Pearl announced Smith is doubtful for the game.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 111
jpmoney writes:
Oh well.
HotlantaVol writes:
I'm glad it's not serious. We will need Smith down the stretch.
TK writes:
I thought they were going to redshirt Ryan since he had missed so much time? If Tyler & Wayne go pro next year. He would give the team front court depth and get a lot more playing time than he will get this year.
Ironcity writes:
Ryan got married this year and plans on starting his life so he has no interest in coming back and as it stands UT really has no interest in him because he would hold back the opportunities of some of the young players
daved writes:
They are not that good yet
orngbluded writes:
It doesnt really matter one way or the other,they still wont play defense.
blitzshoot writes:
I miss John ward calling games, especially basketball. I believe that was his best work. Even in a losing effort, he would put life into the game. Sure could use him now.
asleep#212036 writes:
There is no way Chism leaves early and at this point, I haven't seen anything to make me think Tyler is ready for the NBA either. Just ask Richard Hendrix (my back-door neighbor in Athens. Alabama by the way), the former Bama star, how tough the transition can be. He was drafted in the second round by Golden State, was put in the developmental league after the workouts, and is now out of basketball. He could have used another year to develop his abilities further and it has cost him dearly. Take notice young Vols!
TurboFan writes:
Add to that lack of defense is missing the only player capable of getting the ball in the basket consistently.
drum45 writes:
Fire Pearl!
KENVOL writes:
Can we score without Smith? This could easily be a big L if the team doesn't play.
Ironcity writes:
It wouldn't surprise me if the rest of the team really picks it up. Sometimes I see a lot guys waiting for Tyler to do something. Hopefully the guys will knuckle down and share the ball and run the offense.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Yeah, I too was surprised Hendrix didn't make it. He looked like great pro material to me. Jermereo(sp?) Davidson was another Bama star I thought might be a good pro, but I don't think he is in the League now, either. It's a LOT tougher to make it in the NBA than all too many of these starry-eyed kids realize!
beavbullvol writes:
Go play in the street!!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
This will truly be a test for the Vols without Tyler. UGA is better than the team that won the SEC tourney last year. They miss the stumpy guard--whose name escapes me at the moment--who lit everybody up last year, but they are way bigger and deeper. They AREN'T great, before someone flames me; they did lose to a mediocre GA Tech team, but a win on the road without Tyler will tell us a LOT about this Vol team.
02champs#209256 writes:
I agree 100%. Kesling will never be a good announcer and why don't we upgrade our anouncing while we're at it? I love Bert but Kesling has to go.
TK writes:
I never said I thought they were ready for the NBA. I will say this now....they are not ready. Teams are now backing off Tyler in the open court. He has to show he can shoot better from the outside. Wayne has more upside as far as the NBA. He needs to learn to let the game come to him more than forcing things on the court.
blitzshoot writes:
Goergia's schedule and w/l record with scores to-date.
http://www.bulldogs.com/georgia/baske...
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Even more to the point, we need Tyler as healthy as possible against KENTUCKY next Wednesday! A road loss to UGA without him would hurt us, but a HOME loss to UK, especially if we play him against UGA and he gets worse, would be devastating.
GreerVol22 writes:
ouch, get well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vjvfc...
ncvol writes:
Wish you well, Tyler...Everyone will have to step it up and get their all...Go Vols!
ncvol writes:
I meant that everyone will have to step it up and give their all...Go Vols!
richvol writes:
There seems to be a deeper problem than just not playing defense. I only know what I see taking place on the floor. These guys don't pass the ball to each other when they get in the paint or on a fastbreak. Instead they shoot offbalance ill advised shots or throw up prayers that have no chance.
This is the same problem that causes them to not help one another out on defense.
bmiller#222442 writes:
One thing I noticed in the game against Gonzaga is that Maze never drove to the basket until it was too late in overtime. I have seen his quickness and ball handling capabilities and I know he has the talent to open up the offense by driving and dishing or taking it to the hoop. As far as the defense, or lack thereof, as Pearl stated this team is longer yet slower than all of his previous teams, and his defensive bread and butter is predicated on forcing turnovers. Pearl also stated that he is trying to find the teams defensive identity. Seems to me the team and the coaching staff as well as us fans are experiencing "growing pains" ..... be patient Vol fans all indications are that Pearl and his staff know what they're doing and are on the right track. Never forget the loss of Duke Crews (puff puff) he was a great interior defender and Romar Smith who could take it to the hoop with authority. And please JP no more untimely 3 point bricks.
OG SLOV
bmiller#222442 writes:
Check this out. Cancer is the real enemy! Way to go Brooks
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/st...
oimo2005#352417 writes:
It will probably be better for them in the long run if Tyler is out for a game or two. The same thing happened two years ago when Lofton got hurt. They lost a few games and cost themselves a higher seed in the tourney, but were a better team in the end and were a shot away from knocking off the national runner up in the Sweet 16.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
to each their own but I just honestly dont understand what people dont like about Kesling---you cant win no matter who you are following a legend---I personally think he and Bert team up real good together for BB----like him better on BB than FB
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
and a boat load of unanswered prayers at that
I'd like to see Negedu get the start instead of Williams---i know in listening that Bert likes what Negedu brings in energy and is generally shaking his head I can tell at lots of Williams mistakes--fouls, bad defense,etc
Plasticman writes:
THat's what I have been saying all season that Smith and Chism are not NBA material right now. We have seen alot of great players come thru Knoxville that never made it to the NBA that IMO were as good or better than anyone on this current team (Haislip, Yarborough, Slay, CJ Black) THe NBA is a league of its own and most college players think they can make it there but in reality, only about 1% ever do.
DroopyDrawers writes:
For sure! Kessling called Gonzaga Marquette Wednesday night.
TurboFan writes:
The only thing that really really bothers me is Bertlekamp screaming "money" like a little girl.
If he dropped a couple octaves into the range where Ward always graveled "bottommm" or "and he was foul-duh" it would be alright. But the high pitch "money" scream is not manly.
eduardo writes:
oh brother! I think the other shoe just dropped.
GhostofRobertNeyland writes:
MONEY!!!!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
the thing that bothers me is that Bert don't get to scream "money" like a little girl often enough
xvolx writes:
maybe they will play better without him.
THE_VOL writes:
And you could add about 100 other guys names to that list without even thinking. If a guy isn't a guaranteed lottery pick after his freshman year, he'd better buckle down cause the odds are he's gonna be around for the full four years - unless he just prefers unemployment.
THE_VOL writes:
You are exactly correct. Childress is finished and the ONLY way he gets on the court this year is through injuries and foul trouble. He's not - and never has been - a high major level player and would have been much better off basketball-wise to stay at Milwaukee. He's kinda like a backup QB - everybody loves him til he actually plays.
THE_VOL writes:
Actually I'd rather have him healthy when we play KY on TUESDAY...Wednesday might be a bit too late.
THE_VOL writes:
You're exactly correct - there is a deeper problem. It's called chemistry. It's called putting the team ahead of yourself. It's called sacrifice. This team - in large part - does not have any of the above. I said in the pre-season that there were issues in this regard and was blasted for it but here we are in January and still the same issues. Way too many guys putting the name on the back ahead of the name on the front.
RCanaMoonPie writes:
Who was the poster who declared this team's talent second only to UNC?
I dare say UNC has more talent on their bench than we manage to start. Run and gun basketball is fun when it works but when it goes bad, it gets ugly quick.
Expect Bruce's game to work better in the pros, they don't play defense either.
THE_VOL writes:
LMFAO!! Yeah it's ALWAYS better to play a few games without your best player! I'm actually surprised more coaches just don't sit their best player for a few games each season just to let the others improve and see how the team might develop. A really innovative thought you have there.
richvol writes:
That's what I was alluding to. Chemistry is completely lacking in this squad. There is no flow whatsoever to their game. The Temple and Gonzaga teams were startling in their contrast to our play...I noticed so many times they never broke stride,so to speak,on their way to easy baskets in the paint due to them passing the ball off to someone coming down the lane. This never seems to happen with our guys. Even Maze won't share the ball on the rare fastbreak opportunities we get. Instead he and others insist on shooting a contested off balance shot.
Not screening properly or helping out one another is indicative of this same selfish attitude. What a shame with this much ability on a squad (they are not a team yet).
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Oh, it's WAY less than 1% of college players who make it in the NBA! There are only about 64 players drafted each year--the number varies because of trades; some years a team may have as many as four draft choices while others have none. A certain number of draftees are right out of HS; a considerable number are foreign players. There are well over 300 schools in Div-I alone, and we know many NBA players have come from smaller schools. I'm not sure how much Yarbrough would have helped this team, since, IMHO, he had many of the same faults we criticize in this team, but any of the others you mentioned would REALLY help this team.
CatScratchFever writes:
You are right....the NBA is a different league.
Unfortunately, these young kids do not understand how the college game requires teamwork, team defense and the running of offensive sets to be effective. They are too focused on wanting to "be like Mike", Iverson, and Lebron.
For a coach, it helps him to recruit players to a system that is about uptempo and big individual plays. Unless they can make those plays however, it can make for some ugly losses.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You're right, my bad! Misread the schedule. Another good reason not to play him today, unless he is 100%. Clearly JP tried to come back too early, based on his play against Gonzaga. Sure hope he is better today.
volwalk writes:
I-40 that is!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree with much of what you are saying, but I am wondering at this point if maybe CBP has a different philosophy about taking the ball to the hoop. He may think that by taking the ball straight at the defender, there is a better chance of getting a hoop, a foul, or both. Also, a driver tends to attract more defensive attention, leaving a better opportunity to rebound offensively. Also, executing a good pass on the run is as hard as executing a good shot on the run; with the shot, there is always at least the possibility of a score. The only reason I say that is because the headlong drive to the bucket has been a feature of CBP's teams from the beginning, and, if he didn't want them to do that, he would stop it. I'm not saying that IS what he is thinking, I'm just speculating--actually, I agree with you.
grvol writes:
At least Childress is a BB player. Better than just raw athletes with low BB IQs.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Worse yet, young players don't realize that the truly GREAT pro players are consummate team players. The NBA is not nearly a much of a free-lance league as people think. Every true super-star realizes eventually that he can't do it alone; MJ, Kobe, Shaq, you name him, learned that. The young wannabes would save themselves a lot of disappointment if they would learn it NOW while it can help them GET to the League.
oimo2005#352417 writes:
Of course I would rather have Tyler on the court, especially against Kentucky, but too often everyone is looking for him to create his own offense. We need someone else to show that they can create and carry this team as well.
In '07 with Lofton out, JaJuan Smith averaged 21.2 points. In the five games prior he had averaged 12.4. What playing without Lofton did for the team's chemistry can't really be quantified. In the four games without him, we lost to Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Florida on the road and beat Georgia at home. I would have loved to win those games, but in the end it was JaJuan Smith that led the comeback against Virginia to get to the Sweet 16.
Chism is already hot, but I think this is a perfect opportunity for Prince or Tatum to establish themselves as consistent threats and for Hopson to step up and start living up to some of his hype.
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