Tennessee's Tyler Smith kept it simple when summing up Saturday's loss to Memphis.
"We did everything we needed to do to win,'' Smith said. "But we have to make shots.''
A closer look at the Vols' 54-52 loss to the Tigers shows UT won most every key statistical battle: Points in the paint (28-22), points off turnovers (11-4), second-chance points (15-5) and bench points (9-5). The teams were even with six points apiece off fast breaks.
Overall field-goal percentage was virtually even, too, with Memphis hitting 19 of 56 (33.9 percent) attempts to UT's 18 of 55 (32.7 percent).
The difference? The Tigers were a modest 5-of-15 beyond the 3-point line while the Vols were an ice-cold 2-for-10. That's a difference of nine points.
It's worth noting homecourt advantage was all but canceled out by UT's mediocre performance at the free-throw line. Memphis was 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) while the Vols were 14-of-23 (60.9 percent).
"That's all we've got to do, is make shots,'' said Smith, who made one of the two 3-pointers for UT. "If we make those (perimeter) shots, we probably win.
"We're closer than we think.''
That's why Smith said his message to his teammates as they prepare to play host to a key game with LSU (15-4, 3-1 SEC) at 8 p.m. Wednesday is that there is no need for the Vols (12-6, 3-1) to panic.
"We're fine,'' Smith said. "We just have to keep playing hard.''
UT coach Bruce Pearl said as much, taking pride in the Vols' effort down the stretch of the intense battle.
"They should feel good about how they defended, competed and handled adversity,'' Pearl said. "You didn't see any panic. You saw a team stay together.''
As for the perimeter shooting, Pearl said it boils down to practice and confidence.
"Our best perimeter shooters are our most inexperienced guys,'' Pearl said. "It's also about (mental) toughness and confidence; I can't inject them with some kind of confidence drug.''
McDonald's All-American Scotty Hopson would seem to have the most upside, but after a breakout game against South Carolina, he has reverted to his tentative ways.
"It's Scotty staying too unselfish,'' Pearl said. "He wound up playing 18 minutes in the second half . . . ''
And yet, Hopson still finished with just one point and went 0-of-6 shooting from the field.
Junior center Wayne Chism, who continues to emerge as a force, said he's confident the team will turn it around.
"Our team will figure it out,'' Chism said. "They'll learn when to shoot the shots.''
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Comments » 125
volroadwarrior writes:
Just make the free throws and we win.
thevoice writes:
Coach, I sure hope you start running some offensive plays for these guys. Remember how good the ball movement was the last 2-3 years?
memphis_vol_fan writes:
At least two of our players know whats going on. Its to bad basketball is not a two man sport. Somebody else needs to step up if the Vols are going to right this ship.
Go Vols, take the fight to LSU. Were all behind you.
JKW50 writes:
Free throws PLEASE!!!
MrBamSeydu writes:
here's the breakdown:
Tyler Smith
+'s = good penetrator, good motor, glue guy
-'s = tweener SF, bad 3 pt shooter
Scotty Hopson
+'s = smooth, athletic, solid FT shooter
-'s = scared, can't take anyone 1 on 1, arching shot is a little ridiculous, no rebounds or assists per gm to speak of
Bobby Maze
+'s = attitude, speed, low assist/turnover
-'s = needs to penetrate/kick more, too much dribbling, better run 'n gun PG (more natural 2 guard)
Josh Tabb
+'s = defense, attitude, toughness
-'s = not enough of an offensive threat
Wayne Chism
+'s = UTs best player, rebounding, post moves, 3 pt trail shot, intensity
-'s = needs to call for ball, foul trouble
Brian Williams
+'s = rebounding, tries hard
-'s = extremely clumsy, foul trouble, complains about every call against him even if it's a blatent foul
Cam Tatum
+'s = good 3 pt stroke when he's on
-'s = most inconsistent player on team, intensity, no dribble drive at all, often caught standing around
JP Prince
+'s = left handed drive ability, intensity, vision, basketball IQ, athleticism, defense
-'s = can't go right, flat shot from everywhere, horrid 3 pt shooter, needs weight room and shooting drills from beyond 12 ft
asleep#212036 writes:
One thing for sure: as long as the defense continues to improve, we should have a chance in every game. Defensive efforts like the past 3 games would have gotten us a couple of wins (Temple and Gonzaga at home) that we may need come NCAA time. I think Pearl's point is right on - our best perimeter shooters happen to be our inexperienced guys and it shows. Only time can change that. I just hope we grow up quickly because missing the NCAA's, even in a rebuilding year, would be a definite setback for our up-and-coming program. Go Vols!!!
Vol_Jokes writes:
| 54-52
coach75 writes:
what about childress? from what i can remember of him, he shoots the 3 poitner as well as, if not better than anyone but maybe chism and that is scary.
coach75 writes:
66-62 and ruined your perfect season. don't compare scores because it is two different years for both teams. you won this year but i don't see either team going vey far. evans is not that great and if a team doubles him the rest of your players could not compete in the sec, so you would lose 90% of your games. check the last ten years you have only won three times. boy that makes you a powerhouse against tennessee.
Vol_Jokes writes:
54-52
thevoice writes:
Watch the next game. After comparing UT and its opponent on offensive possessions, if you can honestly say we run fewer one-on-one plays than the opponent (any opponent), I'll humbly take back the comment. How many times has T Smith forced it? How much interior passing have we noticed? How much passing in general have we noticed? Again, look at our offensive possessions and take notice as to how much standing around there is. We need motion, and not just in the last few seconds leading up to a shot. Motion creates open lanes, screens for treys, back doors, etc. How many of those have we seen this years compared to recent years past. Plain and simple, the main problem with this team is we don't have a true point guard who can shoot, pass, penetrate.
You may want to try to catch a Duke, UNC, UK or even Belmont game soon to see some motion offense.
And for the record, I've played basketball all my life. Waiting for your gentlemanly reply with some stats/specifics please.
Stokes44yrs writes:
Are you trying to impress people? There was nothing wrong with his comment! Why don't you go read a coaching book if you don't like blogs.
We did need more offense last night! We were up against a tough D. A lot of people on these sights take themselves way to seriously.
Me Too sometimes!
CoverOrange writes:
First of all, this "UT is in Austin" schtick is about the lamest thing on any board.
Secondly, whether you lie or not, you only have one subject, and it is pretty monotonous.
UT has competed with Memphis the past 3 years with Tyler around only two of those years, the stars before this year were second tier players that the coach that recruited them didn't know what to do with. Pearl figured it out.
Memphis is garnering stellar recruiting classes, no arguement. But Calipari can't sign them all and the ones he gets still have to come together as a team. Pearl is making inroads. Memphis is ahead, but the gap has narrowed.
St-chick that. (Do have to agree the witchdoctor thing is lame).
thevoice writes:
Childress will save us.
Stokes44yrs writes:
Good comeback! I guess you didn't need my help.
Ironcity writes:
This team lacks the I's. Intelligence and Intangibles. Outside of Smith none of these guys have grit or the intelligence to make big plays down the stretch (that includes Chism). I think Smith's smarts are negated by the fact that all the other players just stand their when he gets the ball. I really don't expect much to change the rest of the year except maybe we will start shooting the ball better. Lets hope so because they are tougher to watch then a Kevin O'Neal team.
Stokes44yrs writes:
When Bobby takes charge of this team we'll be better. He does need to dribble less, maybe. But sometimes our offense seems confused. We seem to bump into each other too often. Defenses aren't afraid of Maze or any of our guards right now. We're attacking the inside much better until Memphis. Their defense was pretty solid as was ours.
thevoice writes:
Thanks for the back up! LOL
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
No kanasa ruined our season dummy. How could you ruin our season if we made it to the final four. Sounds pretty stupid! If doubling Evans is all you had to do, why couldnt your coach figure it out?? Why couldnt your coach get the ball to your best player,chism(actually the best player on the floor) in crunch time?? Chism put you back in the game by himself and what does the oompa loompa do??? He puts him on the bench. Friggin brilliant move. The refs tried to help but you guys couldnt even hit free throws. Free throws, its all coaching right???
UTVolAlum writes:
FREE THROWS, FREE THROWS, FREE THROWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
Sorry I mean KANSAS before the spell checkers blab
dirtywhiteboy writes:
seems like this team needs to choose an identity and go with it.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Tennessee has not had a 'home court advantage' since the sec decided to hamstring them years ago. The early fouls on Chism are the first indication of the sec intervention into the game. The number of fouls called against the VOLS versus those on the other team is also sec work.
How many foul shots did memphis get in the first half to just one by the VOLS?
rabidvol1998 writes:
FYI - TN had 9 more free throws.
Vol_from_birth writes:
totally agree with you that tenn stands around way too much on offense! i hate when we rebound the ball, dribble up the floor, and then pass it around the 3 point arc for 15 seconds while nobody is moving! i dont understand what the strategy is...
cjraney writes:
Props to the Tigerrrs. We miss that many FTs, layups, & put-backs and we shouldn't expect to win, although we still almost pulled it out.
Chism is exceeding my prior expectations; if he can get more consistent he will be hard to stop.
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
what?? Your whole strategy is that they cant call a foul on every play, so keep fouling. They tried to give it to you. If you hit the front end of the 1-1 dummy you get another shot. If a MEMPHIS player did what chism did (single leg takedown) it would have been a Tech and you know it. By the way........
ITS GOOD TO BE A MEMPHIS TIGER!
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
kosmo, shut up dude. That is lame. your outa here for sure.
Volinsider writes:
Hey, WE__ARE__DIRTYCITY, you are a blithering idiot! You keeping saying Pearl is a bad coach, UT is no good, will not make the dance, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah. When your team barely wins by two points against a bad team that's so poorly coached, it doesn't say much about your team now does it? Sorry lame brain, but you walked right into that one. Think before you speak if you're capable of it! Memphis is average...again!
Stokes44yrs writes:
Very intelligent. Still not impressed.
Stokes44yrs writes:
I'm afraid even He can't do that.
I'm hoping for some fast progression with our guards or more confidence next year maybe. I hope Pearl doesn't let players read any of this.
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
Dont live ther stupid. Your right, we are not that good of a team right now and our best player is a freshman. Still with all our shortcomings, we beat you on your home court in front of the whole country. Its not that big of a deal, Tulsa, that was a big deal. You guys, just dont matter when it comes to basketball. The dance, what would you know about the dance?? your a vul fan.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Tyler, I'll say this again:
You have GOT to sacrifice your offense to be the 'glue' player:
-Bobby can't shoot, and he's scared to finish
-Soctty should have red-shirted, his isn't grown up enough; he'll be great....in 3 years
-Cameron can't drive to the hole
-JP can't shoot 3's
Waht does all this mean?? What it means is that Brian and Wayne are your BEST players. Even you, Tyler, are struggling. You have GOT to work to set up the other guys. That last shot Saturday?? Should've been Wayne, not you.
Tyler, until you give up the ball more, the bball team is going to be mediocre. Last year, you had Chris and Jajuan, and when YOU got the ball, you were to SCORE. This year, when you get the ball, you are to DRIVE and DISH.
JMHO, I don't know jack-sh*t about basketball.
bls8617#370509 writes:
You mean you're right, not your. Jeez
798orange writes:
Correction, UT is in Knoxville, always has been, always will be, no need for further discussion.
Last 10 games we lead 7-3.
Try again with some comments that make sense.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
dumb,whinny comment------no rule that says the foul shots have to be equal---didnt hear much comment from you a few games back when we had about 15 more free throw opps than our opponent---
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
u trying to confuse this fellah with facts?
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
thats, sorry, that's your best reply. Says it all. Just dont lose to Florida this week on national tv at home again. They would be what?? 4 out of 5 at home?? Jeez.
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
Jodie meeks
Slystone writes:
Talk about being immature, wow this guy should be banded from this Site.
bls8617#370509 writes:
Start the sentence with a capitol letter. Also, you don't need that comma extra comma in the first sentence. "Says it all" is a fragment. Not sure, but the sentence after that may be a run-on. Finally, questions only require one question mark. Jesus
bls8617#370509 writes:
Also, I forgot to mention that you should have spared one of those extra question marks for the first sentence.
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
Period after Jesus. Jeez.
ITS GOOD TO BE A MEMPHIS TIGER!
bls8617#370509 writes:
Is it really that good? Let's just be honest. On a scale of 1 to 10 how good is it on a year to year basis? I mean you guys have no championships so I can't imagine that it's that good. Right?
Slystone writes:
The better team won Saturday, time to move on to the next game and hope the Vols have better guard play down the stretch and step it up on the defensive end.
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
{Right?} Is a fragment. To answer your question though, it is that good. You have no idea.
bls8617#370509 writes:
Your writing skills are improving rapidly. Mission accomplished. I know you would never admit it, but deep down you question whether or not you will ever seen them win a championship.
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
Did you mean "see" them?
Slystone writes:
Makes you wonder what this team will be like next year because you know Smith and Chism are gone.
WE__ARE_MEMPHIS writes:
Be careful what you wish for. If only you knew. I am done though. Wont be back until next year. Unless you fellas want to keep it up.
ITS GOOD TO BE A MEMPHIS TIGER! COUNT ON IT!
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