The battle line for the SEC basketball race was officially drawn Tuesday night.
Kentucky is up there.
Tennessee is down here.
The Wildcats came into Tennessee's house and won 90-72. They were an honest 18 points better, at least on this night.
With two league games down and 14 to go before March Madness arrives, everybody now has a better idea what's what.
Tennessee may yet find some traction and make a run at fulfilling its role as preseason favorite. But after Tuesday night, it's clear the Vols have more ground to make up than anyone thought.
UT coach Bruce Pearl, clad in his orange blazer, didn't try to pass off his worst home-court loss as a fluke.
What you saw, he said, was what you got:
"You get a win like that in our place, it's a pretty convincing read.
"We thought we could beat 'em if we played well.''
In a few worrisome areas, the Vols did play well.
Tyler Smith soundly outplayed Kentucky nemesis Perry Stevenson. It didn't matter.
Wayne Chism outplayed the heralded Patrick Patterson in the paint. It didn't matter.
Kentucky was in some serious foul trouble midway through the second half. It didn't matter.
None of that mattered because the Vols had no idea what to do about Jodie Meeks.
Nobody, I would argue, has played a better game wearing a jersey No. 23 since Michael Jordan. And what Meeks did to Tennessee was Jordanesque.
He was simply unstoppable, scoring 54 points. Nobody had ever scored that many in Thompson-Boling Arena.
Nobody had ever scored that many in a Kentucky uniform.
No SEC player had scored that many in two decades, since Chris Jackson got 55 on Ole Miss in 1989.
If a guy gets 54 on you, everything else is pretty much academic. He made 15 of 22 shots, 10 of 15 3-pointers, 14 of 14 free throws.
It added up to a career night for Meeks. He's not the first player to have a career game against Tennessee this year, just the most dramatic.
"Pitiful" was one word Pearl used to assess Tennessee's defense.
What's the fallout for Tennessee?
The Vols didn't lose at home for more than two years. Now they've lost twice in a row.
Tennessee is 10-5. Most UT teams over the past two decades would take that record, no questions asked.
Not anymore. Here are Pearl's three previous teams after 15 games: 14-1 last year; 13-2 in 2006-07; 12-3 his first year.
"This,'' Pearl said, "is not a rebuilding year. We're trying to defend our championship.
"Tonight we were not competitive against a team that's got a chance to win the league.''
One of the joys of Tennessee's basketball renaissance under Pearl has been the ability to stare Kentucky in the eye.
Another, of course, has been dominating Florida. The Pearl-era Vols are 5-1 against the Gators, who were back-to-back national champions during that span.
Against Kentucky, it hasn't exactly been party time. The slate is only 3-4 with a game in Lexington yet to play this season.
And for what it's worth, Pearl hasn't had to face typical Big Blue juggernauts of yore. In his seven meetings, he has faced a ranked Kentucky team only once.
That the Wildcats lost to VMI in Rupp Arena on opening night seems ancient history, a part of another season.
That they're unranked is no doubt temporary.
That they walked out of Thompson-Boling Arena as the new favorite to win the SEC is indisputable.
There's still a long trail ahead. Somewhere, maybe Fayetteville, Gainesville or Tuscaloosa, Meeks won't be Jordanesque and Kentucky will throw in a clunker.
As for Tennessee, it's no longer the team with the bull's-eye on its back. Maybe that works to the Vols' favor.
At any rate, they know where things stand.
Tennessee is down here.
Kentucky is up there.
That's where the line was drawn Tuesday night.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 82
chrisw2967 writes:
Pearl says:"Pitiful" was one word Pearl used to assess Tennessee's defense
well sense he knows its pitiful then he knows he needs to fix it ,along with the off.
RockyTop writes:
Don't you just love it when Chism shoots the 3 at the critical times of the games.
HuntsVOLS writes:
At least Pat Summitt was on ESPN tonight and we found out that our new coach named his youngin' Monte KNOX Kiffin! Go Vols.....still a long way to go in the season and unlike the BCS we still have a shot at winning it all! 10 more wins and we are in!
dvols writes:
funny, jp best on team but cant be coached.... rocky top leaugur...glad yall liked it...ha..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................can anybody shoot the rock... no not tyler or nobody........what a joke...............tired of listeneing to east tn basketball sh@#$@#$ THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT..... HA........KVILLE U NEED THE STATE NOT JUST U
dvols writes:
nice observation strange!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow ,, u see we cant shoot the ball???
4 stars dont mean sldjfa;l
nice house pearl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nice article on the house kns.........
hahahahahahahha
kns and pearl......mmmmuuuwwwaaaa sweet dreams!
VolInIndy writes:
I wonder if Pearl is wishing he had seriously talked to Indiana last year about their job. I wonder if Hopson is sorry that he didn't go to Kentucky. I wonder if Pearl isn't sorry Hopson didn't go to Kentucky. My head hurts; probably from wondering so much before 5:00 a.m. I wonder why I didn't go to bed at halftime last night. I wonder if I'm not sorry Pearl didn't take the Indiana job. I wuh... zzzzzz
RCanaMoonPie writes:
Yea I'd like to see another article on that house too.
Sure beats this team...
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
Folks, it's like this: Pearl is a good coach, and he has done wonders for the program. The players are young and will continue to improve, but we will be lucky to win twenty games. We will never repeat last year's fun and excitement. TN basketball will always be like KY football---have a good team every now and then---maybe win a game or two we shouldn't---BUT, we will never be a serious threat. Last year's honeymoon was nice, but now it is over.
utclassof1992 writes:
2 questions. First, are you a Vol fan? Second, who would you suggest to take the place of Pearl and Kiffin. They sure beat Jerry Green, Buzz Peterson, and the sense of malaise that existed in the football program post 2001. I really would like to know. Come up with solutions instead of flaming us to death.
bigtimevol writes:
the first two sentences are correct. The team IS young, and will get better...and this is not the permanent slide back to mediocrity! A young team has lost some games. We may or may not go to the dance this year. Give it a break! The only thing that would put reeling for the long term is Pearl leaving.
bigtimevol writes:
All of the sudden everyone is a prima donna, elite basketball fan. Tennessee basketball is back on the map for one reason, PEARL. And, a few bad games with a young team doesn't make a season...and a bad season with a young team doesn't make a career. Are you all surprised that 3 first year starters aren't quite up to big time play yet? These posts are UTTER NONSENSE>
VolInIndy writes:
My post was meant to be utter nonsense. I am a Vol, win or lose, class of '75, but I also am a member of Orange Koolaid Annonymous.
My problem with this year's young guys is I don't see the improvement, on either end of the court. Chism is the only guy I see significantly improving. Hopefully we won't have to wait until our frosh are juniors to see adequate improvement. The scary thing to me is we don't have much help coming in next year unless schollys open up and some hidden nuggets are laying around. We need some people who can run Pearl's press other than inbounds plays. That is when we will see Bruce-ball again and not the play UT = career/school records we are beginning to see regularly.
How does West figure into Bruce's defensive scheme?
bluetiger writes:
I can't believe I'm on here trying to make Vols fans feel better after the horrible things said about Memphis,but here I am.
Meeks was a nightmare last night. IMO it would have been tough for any team to deal with his super-human performance.
I think that the Vols will regroup and recover. They have a lot of good games left in them. Just hope one of them is not against Memphis.
Don't throw them under the bus yet.
OK, there I said it. And that's probably the last nice thing I'll be able to say for a long time.
ccantrell#227456 writes:
1st
madisonvillevol writes:
can we at least try a zone? we sure can't play man!
TommyJack writes:
Too early to call for body bags. Pearl will continue to seek improvement on this team. I'll admit that the "Pearl-ball" intensity is lacking, but it ain't over yet. BP didn't get stupid in one year. He will find the right mix on the floor, or guys some guys will sit. Ease up.
rockytopron writes:
I said this a couple of weeks ago and its still true. This is a selfish, soft team. They are counting on their individual talent to win games. How many ill-advised shots did our players take last night? How many bad passes? How many times did the defense "stand around"?
I was taught, that when a player is on fire like Meeks was last night you've got to get physical with him to throw him off. Shameful defense last night.
Maybe this team should do their own laundry for a couple of weeks too.
STNVol09 writes:
Sorry TJ but this team is in serious trouble. Hopson is extremely unimpressive. He has consistently shot 5-6 airballs over the past 4 games. In my day, that spelled "choke" and that performance did not win you a place in the starting lineup. Pearl is coaching his but off and these guys are struck stupid or lazy on defense. If Hopson continues this kind of play, let him transfer to Louisville and open up a scholarship for someone who can execute Pearl's style. Kind of like getting trashed by 39 by the arch-rival in football. This team is in deep trouble.
Volumni writes:
Absolutely! You are indeed a thug loser, as are the Anti-Pearl posters/posers who know nothing about basketball. Go to the Carson Newman website and post there!
If you wonder why Pearl wanted Daniel West so much, now we see. This team has no guards! Maze is the only one, and he isn't strong defensively. We started with four forwards plus Maze. Pearl wanted to get "longer, more athletic" after the Louisville game, and we did, but to the detriment of our speed and pressing, which hid a lot of mistakes. Tyler needs to play inside, with Wayne, and get some quickness in there. A little Maturity goes a long way. Keep the faith.
Basketball_Jones writes:
This isn't Pearls fault, at least not all of it. This team plays with no heart on the defensive end. They have a bunch of cheerleaders who want the crowd in yet they break down and give up an open shot late in the shot clock. NO HEART!!! You have to want to play defense and this team doesn't have 5 guys who wants to at the same time. If one player breaks down (Usually Prince) then it ruins it for the other 4.
Now Pearls fault in all of this is the fact he runs a perimeter based offense with no outside shooters. He has to change that or it will be a long year.
I'm not giving up yet, but thigs don't look so bright as they did with Lofton and Co.
Homermoosevols writes:
BOTTOM LINE: THEY CAN'T DEFEND THE 3PT LINE!!!!!! Every loss this year equates to them giving up the 3 relatively easily.
blitzshoot writes:
Maybe free throws can be thrown in at practice. Embarrassing.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Adjustments were made by the coaching staff. The defense is just too bad to matter. Prince and Hopson get blown by before they even take the first step. Tatum needs to learn not to favor his left foot.
Chism has been incredible. Smith looks off, but then you see the production. Those two are the bright spots.
Maze needs to look for his shot every time down. Don't stop running the offense, but keep an eye out for an open jumper. He can hit them.
Any one of the other guards would score on last year's team. With Jajuan and Chris spreading the ball, the other team can't send three guys at the ball handler when he penetrates. That is something that happened several times last night.
Williams is improving. Needs to react just a half step earlier. He is still adjusting to being over 100 pounds lighter. Some of the rest of us would hardly be here if you took off 100 pounds.
sampears writes:
Guys, this really is a young team. I have heard Coach Don D. say many times it used to be you never played a freshman, usually redshirt to learn the game and get stronger. Also, did we not loose a great point gaurd due to grades that CBP thought would be OK. He saw the issues and not having that extra talanted gaurd hurt. The talent list for 2010 is really good. I think one player for 2009 has signed, 4# center/forward. Bruce knows what he is doing. I see some things improving, but long way to go. Getting down on a young 10-5 team is just wrong! It is hard, we love our vols, but we have one of the best coaches in the nation. He will get this fixed! Go vols!
richvol writes:
It is in deep trouble. I stated yesterday that this squad could not play defense well enough to stop Kentucky...in this case I hate being right.
I thought Josh Tabb was supposed to be a defensive stopper? I'm not blaming him but if a combination of five players can't deny one player the ball then it's worse than bad...it's terrible.
Offensively this squad continues to make stupid choices and only a couple of them show any fight in them.
Again...why is Brian Williams playing instead of Negedu? In one stretch of the game Brian cost us at least 10 points in under 60 seconds. In addition to four missed free throws in a row,which Negedu shoots very well by the way,Williams lost the ball out of bounds twice due to bad hands and was completely out of position to defend three layups. He is just not quick enough to compete in this league yet.
Frankly,if there is not some serious improvement quickly,this squad will not even make the NCAA field. I love Coach Pearl but he is going to have to recruit some smarter and better players that want to work because these guys don't get it and don't move.
Pullingguard writes:
If anyone wants to judge the intelligence of those who post here, just read most of these posts very carefully... The red handkerchiefs are hanging out of the shirt collars..
Pearl has a young team, a very young team, and things will get better as season progresses.. So, all those yelping puppies surely will give him a break... Just be patient wonder links.
MikeHamiltonFan writes:
Blue tiger is actually a basketball fan, like many UK fans, and unlike many of the idiots on this thread posing as UT basketball fans. Meeks went nuts and there is little you can do to stop that, the problem is that so many guards have gone off on TN this year from the 3. So far opp 3 point % is insanely high. The reason is that our defense on the perimeter is unacceptable. Tyler Smith and JP Prince have both been injured, and if you saw Meeks last year, you know what an injury can do to confidence, turnovers etc. When those two get to 100% and when Hopson starts playing defense, TN is better than every team in the SEC except Arkansas. Bruce Pearl teams play better as underdogs, and I think it will help them grow up to be humbled in the way we have been.
My problem is that they seem to lack the drive or the quickness to guard elite players. Bruce Pearl can fix 1, but he cannot fix 2 except through recruiting. I think Prince can get a little faster when fully recovered and with his wingspan can block a 3. Using the offhand to block a 3 without getting body on a guy and sending him to the line is a skill, but it is one Pearl can teach and it is in lots of ways similar to the control required for the inbound sets we harass. I hope JP is the guy to fix it.
Also anyone who has not seen Williams improving this season does not know basketball. He is getting better and better but he was coming from a place where he was very young and inexperienced.
brokebackvol writes:
Thanks for the nice post, BlueTiger - y'all about got bit by the Golden Hurricanes last night - way to pull it out at the last second!
Meanwhile, agreed about Meeks - Volfans should not panic over a loss when one guy gets on fire. Sure it was at home vs Kentucky, but if you have to lose at home, make sure it's a named team. UK is on a roll, and determined to re-establish it's place in the SEC. The conference has been down, otherwise why would the Vols be the preseason favorite?
Basketball is not like football, and there are MANY more games to play. No, this isn't last season, and we will have to support the team as much as the past few seasons under Pearl. He's a good one, and he knows he's got some things to fix, IF THE PLAYERS COMMIT to playing as a team - I still am seeing too much "me" action.
GO BIG ORANGE!
eduardo writes:
I hate Kenlucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CoverOrange writes:
Remember that "stupid" KNS poll a few weeks ago that asked which game UT fans would most like to win? The choices were Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky and Memphis. Who knew the answer was "At Least One".
Who knew that we peaked last November against Georgetown. Just like we did last year at Memphis or Pearl's first year after beating Florida in Gainesville.
Who knew that Hopson and Woolridge would be complete busts as freshman? That Cameron Tatum would have a worse trey percentage than Brian Williams.
mtnsvol44 writes:
Vols talked trash because thats all the talent they had!!! Speaking of trash, just look at all those trashy tattoos on the players. What happened to the clean cut players of the past? They look like street thugs now.
paradisetaxi writes:
Post game show ... can Pearl not finish a paragraph without saying the word Lofton ? Lofton and the press are GONE ! I like ya Bruce but get your head out of our past and deal with the players we have now .. NOW lets get out there and PLAY SOME BALL !!!!!!!!
ckeller18 writes:
Now it begins.
A house divided.....
Is this b-ball or football?
Fullmer lover or hater?
Pearl lover or hater?
We have been here before. Give them a few more losses and everyone will start taking sides just like "I love Fullmer--I hate Foolmer"
BoydsCreekBoy writes:
Call Pearl's juvenile antics "putting us on the map" if you want to, but the price is too high (his salary, TBA refurbishment, etc). I guess you'd also call Pearl's wearing of Coach Mears' Orange blazer a positive too. I love Tennessee's tradition. I grew up with it. I've lived here all my life (for 53 years). If a man who is from Boston can come to Knoxville and put on an Orange blazer to be seen on national TV, then he better know how to win a basketball game.
If you're going to put us "on the map" then perform. Don't keep embarrassing us on national TV. Oh yes, by the way Coach Pearl, can we get rid of the headbands and matching socks?
GR82BAVOL writes:
CBP says it's not a rebuilding year?
No pressure coach.
HtownVol writes:
Can someone tell me why Hopson was so highly recruited? I have seen nothing special about him. We have no reason to worry about him entering the draft! Can we make some free throws. That is the area that has killed us lately. Our defense is terrible! Someone needs to jump start this team. Tyler Smith needs to step up and be a LEADER! And what happened to Negadu? And Prince, he played so much better last year. He has got very lazy! Why does Tabb play so much? He is a descent defender but he has NO OFFENSE! I know people dont like what I'm saying but this is the truth. We need leaders and we have to play to our strengths. Quit letting the other teams decide how we play!
knoxlawvol writes:
You must be a sad human being. I am always hard on UT after a loss in any sport, but you are a vindictive douche. Good luck with life, I hear suicide is always a viable option.
bluetiger writes:
Thanks. I've resigned myself to the fact that somebody in our conference will beat us this year, just wasn't ready for it to be Tulsa last night.
Truthfully, rivalry aside, when I was watching the Tennessee game last night, I felt that it could have been any team in the country last night being beat because of Meek's incredible performance. It was just one of those freakish, once-in-a-lifetime performances, and just unfortunate for Tennessee that they happened to be playing them last night.
cmoore7 writes:
This game is not okay. BUT maybe we will actually peak come tourney time this year instead of peaking in mid-February like we have the previous three years. A lot of basketball yet to be played. Don't have such a sense of entitlement, it's a big part of the reason our football program is recovering from near death.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Stay the course.
DennisVols writes:
I saw it this past Saturday while at the GA game. Poor passing, poor ball handling, poor shot selection and worse than poor freethrow shooting.
At times it looked more like a school yards pick up game than it did a college BB game. I expected that kind of play from GA but not from UT.
Not sure what is wrong, maybe the team leadership (amoung players) or something. They just didn't seem to have that unity on the court.
VolunteerMan writes:
You are, without a doubt, the most negative person on here. I feel sorry for you having to go through life with your attitude. Your life must suck. Good luck with that.
Alphafemale writes:
I think this is an extremely young team that is learning to play together. What happened in the off season seems very unfortunate, but the right decision was made. Don't jump ship yet!
Pullingguard writes:
Pearl should have the players get rid of those headbans..It would be a change, let the sweat roll. This team was not close to Kentucky on speed, ball movement, and penetration to the basket... Defense needs improvement, and Pearl needs to buckle down on this team or they will have a disappointing year...
crappieking writes:
Guys we have to face the facts. It's not that this team doesn't want to play defense, it doesn't know how to play good defense. Also we do not have one pure 3 pt shooter on this team. The press this year is terrible. Teams are breaking it with ease. No way this team makes the dance this year. NIT at best. May'be next year. If I'm wrong, great. I'll eat crow. Another thing that might help. GET RID OF THOSE STUPID HEADBANDS! What do they mean???? If they are supposed to mean team unity, it's not working.
CHS52VOL writes:
Coach Pearl tried a number of defensive adjustments, but none worked. The only "adjustment" I can think of to stop Meeks last night is against the law. Murder is still illegal, isn't it? Even so, we probably couldn't have kept him in sight long enough to shoot him! What a performance! Is it possible someone cloned Michael Jordan?
shipperman#280095 writes:
http://www.firebrucepearl.com
kbart4033#247331 writes:
Vols' pre-season schedule did not toughen the team. It exposed
every Vol weakness: fundamentally unsound defense, clueless
half-court offense, hapless passing, dysfunctional basketball
I.Q. Toughness? None. Vols, Bruce included, should be made to
wear pink headbands.
jhayes1911 writes:
WOW! Don't know if any of you noticed but the picture on the front page is of Wanye "Weezy" Chism and the title of the article "Kentucky is moving on up; Tennessee is moving Down" in reference to The Jefferson's TV show. Strange thinks he is slick! Not so fast my friend!
bdennis278 writes:
Bruce Pearl is the best thing to happen to men's basketball since Ray Mears. This team is very young and just hasn't developed a great chemistry like the past 3. Don't hit the panic button and call for Coach's job yet!! I know it's tough to swallow a loss like that, especially to the team in blue. This team WILL get better. They WILL make the tourney, although don't look for a deep run this year. The talent is there and they WILL grow up.... GO VOLS!!!!!!!!
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