NASHVILLE — The trappings weren’t nearly as grand. The combined talent pool wasn’t as deep. TV sets in Saginaw and Boise were no doubt tuned elsewhere.
Yes, by comparison to Tennessee’s visit to Vanderbilt last February, this was a modest affair Tuesday night.
But forget all that. The Vols needed this one more.
UT’s wire-to-wire 76-63 win over Vanderbilt wasn’t scintillating basketball. What it was, though, was exactly what the Vols needed:
A take-care-of-business SEC road win at a crucial juncture of the season.
Bottom line, getting their 12th win this year on Jan. 20 was more important than getting their 25th win last year on Feb. 26.
When these old adversaries met in this oddly configured building last season, the state of Tennessee had suddenly become the mecca of college basketball.
The Vols were fresh from upsetting No. 1 Memphis in Memphis, a 1-vs.-2 showdown that drew a massive national TV audience.
By the time they dribbled into Memorial Gym they were no longer No. 2, having ascended to No. 1 for the first time in the then-99-year history of the program.
Vandy was pretty fair, too. The 18th-ranked Commodores pooped UT’s party with a 72-69 victory. Bye-bye No. 1.
The Vols went on to an SEC regular-season title and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, from which they reached the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year.
Beating Tennessee evidently sapped the ’Dores. They lost four of their remaining six games, got blown out of the NCAA tournament by Siena.
Still, a 26-win season was worth celebrating and none of those 26 worth celebrating more than the one over Tennessee.
That was then. This week, the spotlight shines elsewhere than the Volunteer State.
Vanderbilt hasn’t sniffed the rankings. Tennessee just fell out. Memphis just climbed in, barely in time for Saturday’s visit to Knoxville.
Shan Foster, the 2008 SEC Player of the Year, was nowhere to be found Tuesday. Nor was Chris Lofton, the 2007 SEC Player of the Year.
“Both teams were playing very, very well at the time we played them last year,’’ said UT coach Bruce Pearl. “Shan Foster couldn’t miss.’’
Vandy played a tad better that night.
Sure, Big Orange Country would have enjoyed a win over the ’Dores last year. It would have prolonged the No. 1 ranking that might or might not ever come again.
But rankings are mere window dressing in college basketball. Win or lose here last February, Tennessee was well on its way to a wonderful season. It was on its way to the Big Dance with room to spare.
This year, it’s still to be determined where Tennessee is headed.
A continuation of the good life seemed a sure thing in November. Deep into January, things aren’t quite so clear.
The Vols were 11-5 when they got off the bus Tuesday night. With growing pains evident, they haven’t exactly been tearing it up since the calendar flipped to ’09.
To be 12-5 when they got back on the bus, that’s a big deal. So is 3-1 in the SEC.
“Wins in Nashville are precious and few,’’ said Pearl.
This year, however, they are not quite so few. Illinois-Chicago won by 19 here in December. The Commodores are every bit as young as the Vols. They’re vulnerable.
Like Georgia 10 days ago, this was, in a sense, a must-win for Tennessee. If a road win is there for the taking, you darn well better take it.
Well, the Vols took it. They didn’t have to overturn a 10-point lead like they did at Georgia. They took Vanderbilt’s best shot, then closed it out with authority.
By the time Wayne Chism fouled out with 2:14 to play, having inflicted serious damage on the ’Dores, Vandy fans had either left or were too dispirited to razz his walk back to the bench.
“Neither team is as good right now (as last year),’’ Pearl said. “We’re both trying to get there.
“It’s a good step for us.’’
At this point in an uncertain season, every step counts.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 29
huntined#565710 writes:
GOOD WIN, but I would have liked to won that game last lear so we could have been number 1 for longer than a week
huntined#565710 writes:
year!!! it is late time for bed
givehim6 writes:
Good pay back win! now UM will be looking for a little pay back also, but we need all the wins we can get. So let's keep that D going, and GO VOLS!
ZR writes:
Pearl and TN should have won this by 25 points. This team plays as if they do not like each other.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
If you want to be #1, watch the movie, Assassins!
rusty_shackleford writes:
Amazing what can happen when you play a little defense
alfrizzle097 writes:
Good first half. The second half saw too many open threes. I was a little busy during the game and was only watching out of the corner of my eye, so I'm not sure whether Vandy made some good adjustments or if they just exploited lapses in Tennessee's defense once we got the big lead. I really hope its the first.
Assuming that Chism didn't say anythng particularly profane/provocative, the technical looked like bs.
VolJunkie writes:
I don't care what the rankings are, a win at Vandy is always great and something to celebrate!
Go Vols!
xvolx writes:
worst officiating I've ever seen. when chism was called for technical, vandy coach had his hand up to his mouth right behind official telling the official to call technical. something rotten in denmark. tyler needs a red olay cape in the paint. He never challanged one shot. otherwise; they played a sound, under control game. defense and offence.
DroopyDrawers writes:
agree
The_the writes:
Worst officiated game since the last time UT played.
TommyJack writes:
If Chism isn't wearing that supid-azz headband, no techical is called.
Good coaching job by Pearl in this game. That is all.
westennvol writes:
Rankings don't matter. They are biast anyway, even Brad Nessler said that last night. Quality wins are what's important here. Bottom line: We NEEDED that win last night and we got it! Great Job Guys!
westennvol writes:
P.S. They didn't call anything on Vandy! I HATE when we have to play in that dungeon of an arena!
Volumni writes:
Can't blame it on Stallings! We get worse officiating at home than I saw last night. The SEC officials obviously don't like Pearl.
He's a great competitor, but frankly I am getting worn out by Tyler Smith making a layup and chest-beating all the way back down the floor. Prince got Chism a technical last night with his junk talk. This team taunts and preens more than the worst Memphis or Louisville teams. Just play ball!
They're not fun to watch.
Pearlsofwisdom writes:
I totally agree with you on the News Suckinel. It is by far the worst rag I have ever read. Lets not even talk about the mistakes I often find. Who edits the paper anyway, Jack Daniels??? I disagree with you about Hyams and Pennington. Sure, Hyams is dry and expressionless but he breaks stories and gives useful info more often than most. Pennington has sound opinions and doesn't sugar coat things like some of those University of Tennessee sheep sports talk dudes. Adams is funny and brutally honest. Hubbs I am sure is a good dude, but he looks and sounds like he could star in Revenge of the Nerds V: Nerds With Websites. Chuck Cavalaras face looks like it was run over by a garbage truck. He grosses me out with his chomping away of the fare right on live TV. Why not eat during commercial breaks you pig! Pretty funny what you mentioned about Tyler and his bull fighting mentality to defense. He needs to be tougher in the defensive paint.
I call last nights game a regular tractor pull. Only thing missing was dirt. It seems like both teams were afraid to score. They either couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat or they were afraid to brick one. Good win though for the Large Orange. Illinois-Chicago notwithstanding, MG is still as tough a place to play as most. Now lets take that defensive effort and shove it down the western kitties throats and then show the Gayters the door and roll LSU!!!!
Pearlsofwisdom writes:
Sorry xvolx, it was you I have to credit the ole' towel reference to Tyler Smiths defensive skills in the paint. On the otherside, Brian Williams needs to pay attention when he is in the low post. He gets balls thrown into him often and fields them with his collar bone. BE AWARE BIG BOY!!!!
jasonn1970 writes:
Huge road win keeps this team on schedule for the NCAA tournament - and shuts up the morons complaining about Pearl. Another big game Saturday against Memphis.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Any time that the VOLS play in nashville, they are down 15 to 25 points before the game starts because of the officiating. It started out like that in the first half
when the commode doors got 10 points on free throws to the VOLS' one shot. I don't know what Bruce has done to get the situation changed, but I hope he can keep it up.
I believe one of the announcers said the sec has a new supervisor of officials. Perhaps that is the reason.
I know the sentinel brought a lot of heat to the VOLS several years ago when they severely criticized the officials in a home game against michigan.
Volchaz writes:
I was sitting on the baseline last night. The Refs clearly missed several calls, both ways...At least it was evenly called. The Tough schedule we've had early, prepared us for Vandy. It's not the best product right now, but a definite step in the right direction....GV
richvol writes:
Hamilton really needs to talk to the SEC office about the officiating...it stinks. We get hacked to death anytime we go near the basket and then they call touch fouls on us all night. This is EVERY game...not just last night.
The technical on Wayne was a chickenpoop call.
asleep#212036 writes:
It just shows how important team chemistry (2008) or the lack thereof (2009) can be. Be honest, how many really thought we couldn't replace Lofton (sub-par senior season by his standards) or J. Smith? And nobody was giving any thought at all to the losses of Crews and R. Smith. We had all these returnng stars (Chism, T. Smith, Prince), a couple of breakout guys (Tatum, Williams), and a stud recruiting class headlined by Hopson and Wooleridge. The sky was the limit, right?
Back to reality. Lofton, even on a bad day, could find a way to hit the dagger 3-pointer. J. Smith was a lock-down defender who, more often than not, took their best perimeter player out of his game - remember when only teams with big, aggressive post players could take us down? And sure, Hopson and Wooleridge are definitely a talent upgrade over R. Smith and Crews, BUT they are freshmen, and it shows. Prince has been hurt and to my eye, is still over-rated as a complete player. Williams has not made the same leap this year as he did from '07 to '08. And chemistry! It still looks like we are playing a 5-on-5 pickup game. Last night, and the first 30 minutes against S. Carolina, we played team ball. Good help, fewer poor "highlight show" shots, better help-D, more confidence in each other. That type of play, along with the improved experience, will take us a long way in March. If we revert back to earlier habits, things aren't as bad as they are going to get. I think BP finally has their attention. Go Vols!!!
OrangeRush writes:
Loved the win, which wouldn't have happened without Pearl's decision to start Brian in place of Wayne. Great job, CBP! Can't wait for Memphis to come to town!
RockyTop1 writes:
Simply put, VANDY is still VANDY and TENNESSEE is still TENNESSEE!! GO VOLS slam-dunk the TIGER High on Saturday!!!!
Raynoch writes:
You must have not been watching. They played their best game of the season last night. Team defense was very evident in the first half. That is playing together.
Volumnus writes:
The reason is they most likely don't like each other! The dynamic on the bench, before and after the games certainly bears out your observation.
Volumnus writes:
All and all this was a very good game. They are learning. It is a maturing process. You have a whole lot of stars with a whole lot of ego packed into a small team. There is a ton of room for improvement, but last night was a big step! Just keep moving foward!
Go Vols!
1volk-nowi-tall writes:
Anyone who has watched UT play at Vandy over the past 40-45 years knows the perils of getting the short end of the officiating whistle at Memorial. I believe that indeed the officials do not like Bruce and that for three years Chism has been singled out with ticky-tack fouls. Now he also commits some of the worst fouls of any supposedly good BB player I have ever seen. Fouling at mid-court is never a smart play. But he is not allowed to defend and the opposition is allowed to man-handle our Vols down low. There are so many stories about Vandy's advantage at home, i.e, the kid from Franklin who admitted that he held Allen Houston's jersey all through the game when Wade was coaching. So many that some Vol fans have witnessed. Tom Eades is usually a good official. Last night he was fairly well one-sided, the entire crew gave that impression. And yes there was almost the same number of fouls on each team, but that means nothing. The number was skewed with UT ahead late. It is the calls that are made or not made that matter. SEC officiating is going south from what it was during the Crowell, Rutledge era. Ted Valentine is awful. He is a showboat who hurts UT every time he has one of their games--South Carolina. Does anyone care?
THE_VOL writes:
And you wouldn't happen to have a biased opinion now would you? One thing you - and most fans - forget is that these officials are evaluated on EVERY game and EVERY call/non-call by UNBIASED supervisors. Their jobs depend on calling the game the right way. Do they miss some? Certainly. Just as YOU "miss some" in your own job (if you have one). Are there "make-up" calls. Absolutely. Do personalities conflict at times? Of course. But to suggest that ANY referee goes into a game with a pre-disposed bias toward one team or one coach is comical. It does not happen. Just as everybody always complaining about Valentine is comical. The guy hasn't worked Final 4's because he's bad. Most of you need to read a rule book once in a while or better yet, just go ref a middle school game and see how well you do - now THAT would be funny!!!
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