Tennessee Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. — Tennessee captain Tyler Smith was on crutches Friday and on his game Saturday.
Smith’s gritty effort symbolized how the 15th-ranked Vols (10-4, 1-0 SEC) got tough at Georgia (9-7, 0-1)) in their 86-77 win at Stegeman Coliseum.
Smith scored 24 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out six assists, much to the delight of the orange-clad fans that represented at least one-third of the 8,769 in attendance.
“I honestly didn’t think Tyler would play,’’ UT coach Bruce Pearl said. “We practiced the past two days without him, and I game-planned without him.
“There’s swelling, and it’s sore, but I think it was about being from Tennessee for him.’’
Smith said his name wasn’t in the starting lineup Saturday morning, but he begged his way into the lineup by game time.
“Yeah, I can still feel it, but I felt like if I could walk on it, I could play,’’ said Smith, who suffered a deep knee bruise in the loss to Gonzaga Wednesday. “I want to be out there and be a leader, and I thought if the other guys see that, maybe they follow. Tennessee means a lot to me.’’
Junior Wayne Chism (12 points, seven rebounds) got tough, too, exchanging words with Georgia McDonald’s All-American Trey Thompkins and throwing the freshman off his game.
“He made a bucket on me, and turned to me and said ‘Gotcha,’ ’’ the normally amicable Chism said. “So on the other end, I posted him up and drew a foul, and said “Got you! The refs told me to calm down.
“I think me and Tyler kinda got in his head a little bit.’’
Steve Forbes, the Vols’ defensive coaching guru, got in point guard Bobby Maze’s face at halftime.
“Bobby’s the kind of guy who can handle the brutal truth,’’ said Forbes, who grabbed Maze’s jersey. “I consider him a great player, and I knew he could play so much better. He needed a good butt-chewing.’’
Maze, who scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half and tied his career-high with six rebounds, agreed.
“I give a lot of credit to coach Forbes,’’ Maze said. “He grabbed me and told me I haven’t been playing well. He got in my chest. Him getting on me helped me.’’
And Maze helped the Vols. Defense starts at the top of the key, and with Maze locking down the opposing point guard, Georgia struggled to penetrate and move the ball on the perimeter down the stretch.
After trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half, the Bulldogs used a 12-2 run to go up by 10, 54-44, with 12:25 remaining.
But Pearl, still feeling the game was in UT’s control, didn’t call a timeout. Brian Williams made the decision pay off by scoring a bucket inside to kick-start the Vols’ offense.
As is often the case, the defense responded, allowing Georgia just one field goal over the last eight minutes, the sole basket coming with 3.8 seconds left.
UT’s Cameron Tatum showed some tough-mindedness by making his only 3-pointer of the day — after missing his first seven attempts — to tie the game at 71-71 with 4:59 left. The next trip down, Smith drove for a basket to give the Vols a 73-72 advantage, their first lead since the 16:13 mark.
Georgia’s Terrance Woodbury hit a pair of free throws with 3:17 remaining for two of his team-high 18 points, giving the Bulldogs a 74-73 lead.
But UT ran away from there, scoring on four of its next five trips down the floor on an 8-0 run for an 81-74 lead with 1:08 left, and ex tending the run to 13-0 before Georgia hit a three with 3.8 seconds left.
“The team feels better,’’ Pearl said. “This was an important win for Tennessee.’’
The Vols return to action when they play host to Kentucky (12-4, 1-0) at 9 o’clock Tuesday night in a nationally televised ESPN game.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 98
dwa7#337691 writes:
1st....great win.....we were able to do it.
volfan8 writes:
Offense actually looked decent today. When Georgia put that zone on in the first half, everytime we had the ball, our guards were moving and we were driving to the basket.
Were getting better, slowly but surely. 1-0 in the SEC, let keep it goin.
cobbwebb writes:
look i learned 2 yrs ago, to never get excited with a lead, or get too down with a deficit! thats pearls style no lead is safe, no deficit is out of reach!
FortyNinerVol writes:
Wouldn't say that was the best game the Vols have played all year, however they showed they do have a toughness to them that they are going to need if they are going to continue to win on the road in the SEC. Great win CBP.
cobbwebb writes:
nice road win! i will take it! GO VOLS!!!!
Carlitovol writes:
This game shows that even though this team has a long way to go, these guys do have heart and they do have what it takes to win a hard-fought game.
Hats off to Tyler for a great all-around game - especially taking it strong to the rack. B-Maze looked solid and I think he's finally starting to get comfortable with the other guys on the floor...
I really think playing those difficult games against quality competition prior to the SEC schedule is going to pay huge dividends - and this is an example of drawing from those game experiences and digging deep to get an SEC road win.
Bottom line - build on this victory, fellas! Take it to the Cats on Tuesday!
redneckerson writes:
Not a coincidence that their most cohesive team effort came in a game where Scotty (Airball) Hop and Renaldo (If I touch it, I'm shootin' it) Woolridge had their minutes cut even more. Neither has any concept of how to play D and don't really grasp the team concept. The rotation that relies on Smith, Chism, Maze, Tatum, and (I hate to say it) Prince with more minutes for Negedu and less for those two prima-donnas and Brian (Brick Mason) Williams is much more effective. Time to focus on administering a beatdown to the Cats Tuesday.
volpreacher writes:
I guarantee Temple doesn't want a rematch!!!!!
blitzshoot writes:
UT needs a big dominating center inside. I have not seen a team that can go so cold for so long and then start hitting, week in and week out. K-Y boys will come in to prove a point this week. TN needs to push it down the court hard and tenacious defense. They seem to play better thatn just sitting in a half court game.
hmhawk writes:
Thank you my roundball players. Life is good again.
bls8617#370509 writes:
Bruce has to cut down Brian Williams' minutes in the game. For every good thing he does on one side of the court he immediately follows it with something equally as stupid on the other side. With that negativity out of the way, pretty good team effort in coming back so quickly. Georgia is no powerhouse though.
rabidvol1998 writes:
Didn't we win by 2 or 3 against Georgia last year?
This is a road win and the only new information we gained about the team is they can come from behind on the road.
A road win is a road win is a road win.
blitzshoot writes:
Time to get ready for the kittens....I cannot stomach a lost against this bunch. You can bet they will come in fired up. SEC road victory. Go Vols!
lovinwk writes:
Gotta' admit, Going to KY with a win is a GOOD thing! I'm thankful for the "W" and looking forward to taking down the cats. GO VOLS!!
johnlg00 writes:
I could only listen to the game on the UT sports site--not on TV here in NC--but it sounded pretty good to me. It sounded like they are still not playing perfectly, to say the least, having allowed a 20-point turnaround at one point, but they seem to have played hard and well near the end when it counted. And what can you say about Tyler?!?! No way they win this without him. Kesling said he looked a bit hobbled at times, so that had to be a gutty performance. I just hope he didn't aggravate the injury; we'll need everything he's got on Tuesday against the 'Cats. B.Maze seems to have played better, but Kesling said he didn't throw the ball in to Chism a few times when he had good post position and was calling for the ball. No way to know what Maze was seeing, but those are precisely the situations that he should be looking for. All in all, it's very satisfying to open the SEC season with a road win against a division opponent. We've taken care of the 'Dogs; now to get ready to skin the 'Cats! GO BASKETVOLS!!!
bmaples writes:
I cheer for the Kats -- except when they play the Vols or the Cards. After 15 years of living in The Ville, it's so nice to be able to wear my Big Orange garb during b-ball season! In years past, the standard line was "You guys have a basketball team? Huh - coulda fooled me."
Now it's great to wear the big T to the store and just smile at the UK fans. Here's hoping I've got reason for a BIG smile this week! Go Vols!!
givehim6 writes:
Missed the 1st half 1st 10 mins. of the 2nd half was hot-n-cold, then Bruce took his blazzer off and blinded UGA with thouse Orange suspenders then I think UGA gave up and UT got there butts moving, played real good the last 2 mins. Good road win! GO VOLS!
blitzshoot writes:
I moved away a good distance from my office and where my son trains. I will be traveling many miles each night in south Florida. Does anyone know that if I install satelite radio, if I can pick up any UT basketball games or UT sports programming.
CynicalCitizen writes:
Why wouldn't they? They ripped us to shreds, and we are not much better today.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
much better today. My thoughts....
It was not perfect but we drove against the zone consistently instead of playing "pass the ball around the perimeter"...we made enough 3s to keep them honest and while the defense had more than its share of lapses, they played very good defense those last 8 minutes.
In case you guys missed my post earlier in the week, I said that the rotation would shorten upon the entrance to conference play and we saw that. Maze and Tatum looked MUCH more comfortable once they were allowed to get into a rhythm. Hopson showed some good things and should continue to improve. Woolridge has hit a wall and his shot selection is questionable. I was glad to see Ngedu get more minutes.
Let's Ramp it up Tuesday for the Kitties...they are playing well and it will take our best all around effort!
Go Vols!
redneckerson writes:
Hobbsy, can you tell me what good things Hopson did? I mean besides shooting less.
trl_x writes:
ANY road win in the SEC is a good win. Another good offensive rebounding game. But 25 3's is way to many for a poor shooting team. 28% today from 3. And defense is still a problem.
They'll get better and can win a weak SEC @ 12-4. Maybe even 11-5.
1vavolfan writes:
XM carries most of the SEC football and basketball games
johnlg00 writes:
He scored five points in a row at one point. He's not yet the star some thought he was or would be, but he will get better if he keeps at it and gets more selective in his shooting.
ChattVol2485 writes:
An XM radio should be able to get you just about any Big East, ACC, Big 10 & 12,SEC, and PAC-10 football or basketball game you want. Each conference has its own block of 5-6 channels.
I've got an old Delphi, absolutely love it, and rarely listen to any of the local channels. Chattanooga has the worst radio in the world...other than Talk Radio 102.3.
It is a great investment and well worth the $10 a month, especially if you are on the road often.
You'll have a hard time getting reception when you're in the middle of downtown because the buildings block the signal (that's my theory anyway). Other than that it is great.
Go Vols!!!
dopedawg writes:
way to go guys!!!!! Go Vols!!!!
DennisVols writes:
I was at the game (celebrating my son's 18th birthday) and a win is a win but it was sloppy at best at times. Too many missed opportunties, missed free throws and bad passing. UT should have had a 20 point lead by half. The officals didn't make it any better with several questonable calls. I thought CBP was going to come out of more than his sports coat at one time.
They have to get better at the Free Throws.
It was great seeing more Vols fans than UGA fans at their home court.
On a lighter side. My son and I made a purchase at a consession stand that totaled $5.50 and the UGA student needed a calculator to figure the change for a $20. Nothing like higher education. LOL
johnlg00 writes:
He's probably starting to understand that by now unless he is a lot dumber than I think he is. IMHO, he still has a great upside; the growth process for freshmen is not always pretty. I agree that both Scotty and Renaldo still have a LOT to learn about big-time, team-oriented college ball.
Ironcity writes:
I was at this game and Scotty Hopson really looked good not sure what you saw. He is young and I think its good for him to come off the bench. Same as Woolridge. I think he is a guy that when he is hot he can get us a lot of points in a short time however he should never start.
UGA is a weak team and we played lousy in the first half however when we needed it, they got it going.
I was excited to see Maze start playing like a point guard on offense. When he starts getting in the lane things open up. His defense still stinks and I doubt it will get much better but I don't see Tabb doing much to take his minutes away.
murrayvol writes:
I felt the same way when we had Lofton & JuJuan. It seemed they could rain 3s at will. We don't have that guy yet. Every basket is a project. Maybe by March.
blitzshoot writes:
Thanks!
murrayvol writes:
Many among us were expecting a smaller quicker version of Kevin Durant. Not to be.
He's got a great upside but it remains to be seen if he has a Loftonesque work ethic. Few do.
johnlg00 writes:
Agreed. It should be a barn-burner. Just hope we can hold up our end. Hope further that Tyler didn't leave his legs in Athens!
murrayvol writes:
I'm just hoping you don't find someone to compliment those two before Tuesday.
johnlg00 writes:
Great point about Lofton's work ethic. I don't know that Scotty DOESN'T have a good work ethic, but it wouldn't hurt to have someone remind him about Lofton's.
rusty_shackleford writes:
Just got the "Vol Voice" for my Garmin GPS. Everytime I make a correct turn, Bert yells "SWEET!" or "MONEY!". The problem is Bob's voice is always two streets behind and gives only partial information.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
oh, don't get me wrong, he wasn't perfect, but he hustled more, took the ball to the basket a little more.
Progress. Still a long way to go, for him and the team.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
so you call back to back airballs good?
VolCane7979 writes:
Scott Hopson "really" looked good. Please describe what game you saw to the rest of us... who watched him "really" look bad.
OLDVOL writes:
I too live in NC and was able to watch the game on local charter cable channel 4. I think it is channel 64 from Salisbury. Vols looked good down the stretch. Played with emotion and toughness. Still can,t shoot 3s.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
"Rain 3's at will"!
Give you a 4**** for that.
Great pre-doldrums post!
volwalk writes:
Stop the hating on Hopson!!! Some of you guys are idiots and probably never played the game of basketball in your life. If you did, you realize that sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way and the more you push the worst it gets. Hopson is a true freshman with lots of pressure--in time he will find his game for the SEC college level and will be the player we all hoped he would become. Some of you haters are the same ones that were bad mouthing JP after the Gonzaga game. JP played a much better game today with his dribble drive and played a key role in the victory today. Keep improving Vols, there are fans out here that still believe that this year could be very special.
GO VOLS!
Ironcity writes:
I believe one of those was Tatum who look horrible for 30 minutes.
Hopson made a couple of real nice moves into the lane where he dished once and scored once. He showed more commitment on Dee though he still seems lost at times. The fact of the matter is everyone is expecting him to dominate and he just isn't that good. He is however a good ball player with a huge upside.
So many hot shot freshman have a hard time when they are not the star. IT hard for these guys to learn their role and excel within the framework of the team.
Ironcity writes:
I agree with everything your saying. I remember last year when early in the year I read from countless posters (probably some of you Hopson haters) asking why are we playing Tyler Smith? Whats so good about him? Give the kid some time and a break.
redneckerson writes:
Hey Iron, just can't see what you saw with Hopson. I mean, imo, it is good that he played fewer minutes and, therefore, didn't jack up as many rainbows. But the kid just has zero defensive skills and no concept of team basketball- poor kid had a chance to make something happen on the play where he came from behind but he just ran over the GA guy. My hope is that he's been sufficiently humbled to buy into the CBP system.
Maze did seem to grow up some and he at least puts forth the effort on D - need him to be a difference mnaker.
I still think CBP finds a way to break the fillies. Was hoping he would shorten the rotation and he did - hopefully, the young guys will have to buy in to earn more PT going forward.
redneckerson writes:
geez Iron, you seem like a decent guy but come on - "countless" posters questioning playing Tyler???
VOLMAN40 writes:
You sir, are a dillweed. Must be a jealous bama or kensucky fan.............
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
I didn't get a chance to see the game, being at sea and all, but winning on the road is always tough. I think we should give the Vols some credit for coming back and posting a big road win, even when we weren't at our best. WE WILL be ready for UK Tuesday (or is it Wednesday?).
Ironcity writes:
Reds last year I read a bunch of post after the first four games questioning Smith. Its hard to believe now but most fans on this site tend to post based on one play or one game and post.
By the way I looked at the box score and Hopsons numbers weren't to bad he hit 50% of his stots and 50% of his threes. He would have had to miss his next 8 3's to catch up to Tatum.
Not dishing on Tatum because I was excited to see him step up after throwing up 7 bricks then drilling one late which we haven't had a lot of players do.
ncvol writes:
Thanks for being out there for us...They play Kentucky on Tues. at 9pm.
Good game men...Thanks for the extra effort...
Go Vols!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.