Tennessee Men's Basketball
NASHVILLE — The theme printed on the “White-Out’’ T-shirts Vanderbilt handed out to students before its game Tuesday night against Tennessee was “War on 40.’’
But it was Tennessee taking the fight to the Commodores, and the majority of the 14,507 Vanderbilt fans surrendered with 2½ minutes left, fleeing Memorial Gym when Tyler Smith scored on a three-point play.
Smith’s basket and ensuing free throw gave UT a 14-point lead, and the Vols went on to win 76-63 before boarding their team bus for the trip back to Knoxville along Interstate 40.
Tennessee improved to 12-5, 3-1 in the SEC; while Vanderbilt dropped to 12-6, 1-3.
The Vols led from start to finish, bolting out to a 10-1 lead and holding the Commodores at arm’s length each time they made a run.
“We beat Vanderbilt the way they intended to beat us,’’ UT coach Bruce Pearl said. “Build a wall, play physical defense, make them beat you from the perimeter. We didn’t let a team that’s good in transition beat us in transition.’’
Vanderbilt hit just 34.5 percent of its shots from the field and was 6-of-23 (26.1 percent) beyond the 3-point arc.
The Vols went to Wayne Chism early and often. Chism came off the bench to score 20 points and lead UT scorers.
“I knew Kevin (Stallings) would have a game plan to go at him early,’’ Pearl said, referring to the foul troubles Chism has had in the early goings of past games.
Smith scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half, nine of those points coming in the final 3½ minutes, and J.P. Prince scored a season-high 16 points.
“I feel as close to 100 percent as I have all season,’’ said Prince, who has battled nagging shoulder and ankle injuries this season. “It was good to get my health back.’’
Pearl said it was good to see Chism set the pace. The 6-foot-9 junior dominated play after coming off the bench at the 16:45 mark and hit back-to-back 3-pointers en route to 16 first-half points.
Vanderbilt’s preseason first-team All-SEC center, A.J. Ogilvy, was held to seven points and four rebounds by Chism and fellow post Brian Williams.
The Vols led by as many as 11 points in the first half before settling for a 28-20 half time lead.
Vanderbilt, led by George Drake’s season-high 16 points, scored the first bucket of the second half to get to within six points. But the Commodores could get no closer, and UT led by as many as 18.
“They had some guys make shots and do things they haven’t been doing,’’ Stallings said. “Wayne gets eight points above his average, Prince gets eight points above his average. When they do that, it (winning) is not gonna happen.’’
The Vols return to action at 3:30 p.m. Saturday when they play host to Memphis in a game that will be televised by CBS (WVLT locally). The Commodores play host to Florida at 12:30 p.m. Sunday , also on WVLT.
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Comments » 166
orangecountry21 writes:
Great win. Great defense. Must win. First?
orange_glory writes:
These guys will be ok just give them time
orange_glory writes:
Now it is time for Memphis. Let's get state bragging rights.
volfan8 writes:
Just please!!!!! Carry this over to Memphis. Nothing but humiliating Memphis is acceptable.
allvol9 writes:
This team seems to be coming together. Awesome defense and win. Go Vols!
gnm53108 writes:
Now that would be nice.
Like a ice one beer on a hot summer day.
Beer...uuhhhhmmmmm.
volwalk writes:
Don't forget about JP...as much as some on this site bad mouth him, he is a BIG key to the success of this team. He has been playing hurt the last few weeks and is starting to get better---it definately showed in his performance tonight.
GO VOLS!! We still believe in a special year for this team.
thsvolfan15 writes:
thats the defense we were lacking
good to see hopson taking it to the rim, thats his game
i think everyone is starting to find their identities which is what we was hurting us
givehim6 writes:
Revenge! Thought UT was going to chock 8 to 4 min. left in the game, but the last 3 min. vandy just gave up. Really good D!
cdonsbach writes:
Go VOLS!
Can't wait to harass Coach Cal on Saturday!
cowvols writes:
great win! the kids played their butts off. great to see hopson getting more aggressive! chism is playing great but what a dumb tech foul he got hit with, at the time it was huge! any way, great win go VOLS!
utchris writes:
Good win.
Anyone else see where Calipari is pressing like phooey to get Angel Garcia eligible to play this weekend? Kid has been held out all year and not that TN week arrives, there is more news coverage on it than the inauguration.
1manningfan writes:
JP played great but all around great team effort!!!
whybenegative writes:
I hope everyone can see that this team is getting better. This coach knows what he is doing! If everyone will stay off there back and just be fans we will be alot better!
volwalk writes:
Saturday should be a great atmosphere--Vols coming off a big road win, 22,000 clad in orange, looking to slap our baby sister around again for the 3rd year in a row and oh yea...WE GET TO WELCOME KIFF&CO AND HIS RECRUITS. NICCEEEEE!
govols26 writes:
That was a great hard-fought win in a very hostile arena. I was impressed with the way the young team kept its poise when Vandy made their runs and never surrendered the lead. Prince and Hopson did a great job stepping up when they had to and where too much combined with Wayne and Tyler for the Vandy defense. Best they've played since Thanksgiving weekend in my opinion.
volwalk writes:
One another little tiny detail I forget....this game will be seen across the country on CBS.
GO VOLS!
MrBamSeydu writes:
I wish Brian Williams would realize he's 6'10 270lbs and not 6'1 170lbs. He should not be allowed to dribble more than 1 time per touch and he shouldn't touch the ball period outside of the paint. He tries to finesse and shake people when he's as clumsy as a drunk with his pants around his ankles. If he's not stumbling around, he's fouling.
On a happy note: You can tell Hopson realizes he's allowed to shoot more than just 3's, as he's been charging the basket alot more lately. Also, as much as I hated Chism's technical because it was totally uncalled for on his part.... it's good to see him and the guys having fun. I mean, sometimes I think us fans and everyone involved forget these kids are in college and we take this stuff to seriously. I was just refreshed seeing him laugh and goof off a little bit.
FWBVol writes:
Memorial Gym is one of the toughest places to play in the SEC and for the Vols to go in there and win the way they did is a tribute to the way the team is growing.
I kept on waiting for Vandy to pull pull even, but they never got closer than seven or eight points. It was a great win for this year's team and one that we can build on.
volwalk writes:
Agree, this is the first time we've won there in three tries. This may be the game that we look back on and say this is the game that turned the page for this year's team.
eduardo writes:
Take that candy!!!Youre next overrated and all your memphis thugs!!!Sick em smokey!!!!!
ballewville6 writes:
GREAT WIN BUT TENNESSEE DOSENT GET THE CALLS VANYDY STEPED OUT OF BOUNDS ON BASELINE THREE TIMES THAT WERE NOT CALLED AND UNTIL THE LAST 6 MINUETS WE HAD BEEN CALLED FOR TOUCH FOULS WHILE VANDY WERE FOULING HARD AND GETTING BY WITH IT , IN ALL THERE LOSSES UT HAS BEEN CALLED FOR MORE FOULS, MOST LITTLE HAND CHECKS AND OTHER TEAMS FOUL HARD AND SELDOM GET CALLS BUT I BELIEVE THAT IF TYLER AND SCOTTY AND WAYNE ,JP KEEP PLAYING WELL AND CAMRON CAN GET IN THE GAME ANE BRIAN AND BOBBY AND NEGADU CAN IMPROVE THEIR PLAY WE CAN STILL WIN SEC BECAUSE I DONT THINK MEEKS CAN SCORE 54 THE NEXT TIME,AND THEY CAN WIN ALL THE REMAINING HOME GAMES AND WIN THE GAMES ON THE ROAD AGAINST THE TEAMS WE SHOULD WIN AND WIN A COUPLE 2 OR 3 AGAINST THE BETTER TEAMS WE SHOULD BE ALRIGHT BECAUSE WE ARE YOUNG AND TALENTED AND GETTING BETTER AND NOT SHOOTING AS MANY BAD 3 POINT TRIES AND KEEP GOING TO THE BASKET,CAUSE WE ARE NOT THE THREE POINT TEAM OF THE PREVIOUS YEARS,GO VOLS WE CANT AFFORD TO LOSE MORE THAN TWO MORE REGULAR SEASON GAMES BECAUSE I DONT WANT THIS TEAM TO LOSE 10 GAMES,ID LIKE TO SEE 25 OR MORE WINS AND SEC TOURNEY AND EAST AND REGULAR SEASON TITALS AND A DEEP WAY IN NCAA TOURNEY
volwalk writes:
Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty....are you ready to get your annual beat down????
volwalk writes:
Hey Cal, I know you said your team is dangerous and nobody would want to play you.....We will go ahead and take our chances, come on over to Rocky Top!
coach75 writes:
i can hear vandy already: "Wait till uh, uh ,uh bowling season."
thevoice writes:
See what happens when they play with a controlled offense, don't force shots, don't take 28 3's, hit some free throws, pass the ball around, and play aggressive D? They must have been reading all these posts the last few days. LOL As shown tonight, we have several guys who can step up at any given time. But I think the most improvement so far is the curtailment of the errant 3's and decent D. Way to go Vols, you guys played one of your better games this season.
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
If we had someone who could hit 3 to 5 three-pointers a game we could be really difficult to guard. It would give Tyler and Wayne all kinds of space to work. I don't think Vandy played outside of 15 feet all night. Great win and in a tough environment.
trl_x writes:
Much, much better. Solid D with patience and good shot selection. Nice change-up bringing Chism off the bench. We even mixed in a little zone.
Great win. Tremendous coaching job by CBP.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Nice win, but don't go overboard on the 'D'. Vandy sucked offensively. If you watched, you saw a LOT of open 3 chances for Vandy, and they didn't take them.
Still, other than a time of 2, I saw a lot of defensive effort.
overatedvols writes:
Another example of the high quality basketball that exists in the SEC these days. Vandy was what... 5 for 30 in the first half? Oh, it was the Vols defense.......yea right. Just keep telling yourselves that. It was a really bad team against a bad team.
Funny how so many had quieted down lately and now when you play a team that played absolutely horrible, you're talking again. Only in volville.
4 days till you return to the reality that the vols are bad this season.
gnm53108 writes:
High quality basketball?
Only in volville?
Are you finally seeing the light?
We knew you would.....eventually.
volbballfan writes:
agreed on JP. i have been one of the critics but he really stepped up tonight. i also think Josh Tabb played a really good game. he did not try to do to much and seemed to handle the team fairly well in the half court. as usual, his defense was very good. if he continues to learn the pg position and cuts back on turnover he will be very valuable the rest of the season
PoochPuntOn3rdDown writes:
General Watermelonhead said, and I quote....
"Agree - this should be a blow-out and will only make us mad if we watch."
Wrong again, dude. Does it ever get tiring being wrong all the time?
GO BASKETVOLS!
acevol writes:
What I'm about to say, I hope it does not sound bad, but I wanted to put it out there. I love the passion and intensity Tyler SMith plays with in each game. Gutting it out through injuries and such. However, I've felt through watching the pass few games that he plays street ball a little much. He brings the ball up, he drives out of control and throws a wild shot up that may or may not go in or commits a turn over. I feel like the team for the most part looks like they try to run an half court offense but often when tyler smith gets the ball, he drives to the hole(which isnt all bad) but normally drives in out of control. He has a lot of "raw" ability but I'm not so sure he's playing completely with the team sometimes. Maybe I'm readin too much into it and if I am, I am sorry bc I do like Tyler...but especially after watching a few of his drives tonight, I got that feeling.
VOLKING writes:
yeah...just like last year
VOLKING writes:
I hear you....team defense was very good overall, but Vandy had plenty of open 3 looks, they just couldn't make them.....unlike UK
jsm67vol writes:
It might have been huge had vandy converted the points but they didn't. Agree it was not a good time but he was just excited. Don't like the foul, but at least vandy didn't capitalize on it.
ctownvol writes:
Does Tyler Smith have tear drops tatooed under his left eye?
VolJunkie writes:
Yup ... he did that after his father passed away ...
ctownvol writes:
Ok. I guess I never noticed til last night. Not very observant on my part, huh? Oh well. Good game last night especially on the defensive side by UT. Let's hope it carries over to Memphis.
VolJunkie writes:
Great overall effort, things are really coming together. ESPN announcers gave CBP and the team in general some nice press last night, that was unexpected.
We will carry this momentum into Saturday's match-up with Memphis. While many like to denigrate C-USA, Memphis currently has a 14 RPI ranking with a strength of schedule ranking also of 14; UT has a 28 RPI and SOS of 10. For comparison, FLA has an RPI of 26 and SOS of 86 (that one's for you Gator). Of course you can throw rankings out the window when these teams play, I am glad to see that Memphis is ranked, will make Saturday's win that much sweeter.
Go Vols!
volsfan92 writes:
go VOLS!!
volsfan92 writes:
Great defensive effort....great job Brian Williams...Brian seemed to grab every loose ball near him....he is playing under control and really working with his teammates...great coaching job CBP in that horrible building.....can't wait for Saturday
volsfan92 writes:
agree volJunkie Bilas giving us some respect
Waldorf writes:
Probably the best they have looked since opening night.
Half court game looked night an day better difference than last week. I'm glad Hopson is starting to be more aggeressive on the offensive end and opening up the lanes for other guys. Even when he didn't score he was drawing enough double-teams to open stuff up.
We still need a consistent outside threat, but they did look a lot better.
HtownVol writes:
Hopefully the guys know that they need to play this way for the rest of the year. Everyone knows that this is the most talented team in the SEC, we just have to play like it. And we have seen that we can. But when we lose that focus we lose it bad. When it rains, it pours! Come on VOLS, keep it up. We all know UT is a top 10 team!
feathersax writes:
Way to go VOLS! Beating Vandie in their own "garage" (isn't that what it resembles?) was terrific. Now on to take care of Memphis STATE.
volcycle writes:
I would've totally agreed with you 3 games ago. I believe
Tyler was trying to do too much. If you noticed in last nights game though, he now has the mindset of getting the rest of the team involved and then he starts scoring his points. He had what, 2 points, at the half and only had 10 points with about 3 minutes to go. He has learned to play team ball. The drives are important to this team because it creates opportunities. Out of control at times... yes, when there is good defense, but it is a game of adjustments. You've got to create offense. Defenses don't just open up the lane and let everyone score. Tyler is playing some great team ball at this point.
McLifetimeVolfan writes:
Great game by The Vols,great gameplan by CBP,Vandy is a young team not top 25, but a win in Memorial is huge, this game shows what this team is capable of doing.I think this team is finally gettin it.Last nite Vols played solid team defense,shared the ball, took good shots,and looked more comfortable on both ends of the court than I have saw all season.CP knows what he's doing this team will be ready when tourney starts,Go Vols
volroadwarrior writes:
We beat Big East boys Georgetown and Marquette. They are in the top 15 and we are not ranked. Does anyone see the bias in the media?
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