Tennessee Men's Basketball
Tennessee made a ferocious run at LSU, but it wasn’t enough to tame the Tigers.
LSU beat the Vols 79-73 before a fired-up crowd of 18,526 at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday night. The Vols have lost four of their last five games at home after winning 37 consecutive games at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Wayne Chism led UT (12-7, 3-2 SEC) with 19 points and freshman Emmanuel Negedu scored a career-high 11 points.
Marcus Thornton led the Tigers (16-4, 4-1) with 29 points and 6-foot-11 center Chris Johnson added 14 points and 14 rebounds as LSU withstood UT’s rally.
The Vols had overcome a 14-point second-half deficit when Chism hit a 3-pointer at the 4:42 mark to give UT its first lead of the night at 69-67.
“You hate to rank the disappointments, but this one ranks at the top,’’ UT coach Bruce Pearl said. “We battled back to take the lead and really felt like we were playing well. We had a rhythm (offensively) and we were defending.’’
But LSU, in dire need of a win over a marquee opponent as it builds its NCAA tournament resume, proved resilient.
The Tigers battled back to reclaim the lead with a 7-2 run, going up 74-71 on Thornton’s three-point play before a Chism putback brought the Vols back within 74-73 with 1:51 left.
LSU’s experience prevailed down the stretch, as the Tigers sank 5 of 7 free throws in the final two minutes while UT’s halfcourt offense went in the tank. The Vols shot 0 for 4 from the floor and turned the ball over twice in the final 1½ minutes.
The most pivotal turnover occurred when Smith stepped on the baseline on his drive after LSU extended the lead to 76-73.
“Tyler drove it, and he drove it out of bounds,’’ Pearl said, “and Marcus Thornton drove it, and he got (a basket) and ‘an-one’ foul.“
The Tigers used a 15-4 run early in the second half to go up by a 61-47 count on a Thornton basket at the 12:45 mark.
But the Vols, sparked by Negedu, answered with a 13-0 burst.
Negedu, whose previous career-high was five points, scored six points during the run that brought UT back to within 61-60 on J.P. Prince’s drive with 9:04 left.
“I get excited about every game I get to play,’’ Negedu said. “I appreciate coach for letting me get in there.’’
The Vols’ run ended when Pearl was called for a technical foul after arguing Johnson stepped out of bounds battling for a loose ball. Replays appeared to show Pearl’s gripe was legitimate.
Thornton drained both ensuing free throws to boost LSU’s lead to 63-60 with 7:08 left.
LSU held a 43-38 lead at the half, leading from the opening tip and going up by as many as nine on three occasions.
Tasmin Mitchell scored all 10 of his points in the first half, but Pearl adjusted, putting Chism on him defensively in the second half and moving Tyler Smith over to guard Johnson.
Pearl played Smith (2 of 7, nine points) at the three (wing) for the first time this season so he could put a larger lineup, with Negedu, on the floor.
The Vols return to action at 9 p.m. against Florida (18-3, 5-1). ESPN’s basketball Gameday set will make its debut in Knoxville.
Old school: Archived photos of UT…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 324
magnum44_37763#269861 writes:
can you say NIT boys and girls?
bls8617#370509 writes:
Let's go out Saturday and support those incoming football recruits!
TennesseeGirl1630 writes:
we thought this was bad? getting killed on by florida with gameday here is gonna hurt.....
dwa7#337691 writes:
well sh*t.............really hard to figure.............this bunch is really underachieving............Tyler Smith and Scotty had an awful game.......Fla will beat us bad....
maybe next year..............oh well
floridavolsfan writes:
The Kifferama---and da Full Monte!!! Vols are back!!!
bigOutfan writes:
good effort from a young team
The_the writes:
NIT
volsrm writes:
Great comeback, but not enough. The last 3 minutes looked like the first 30 minutes.
1963volfan writes:
Question, is Tyler Smith a lottery pick? in my opinion, NO WAY.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
What happened to 71-71?
This team needs to learn how to finish!
redneckerson writes:
I would rather have teeth pulled than watch Scotty (Airball) Hopson play basketball.
floridavolsfan writes:
Freshman will never ever beat seniors-so boys and girls please be patient and just think about next year!! We also may get some home games in the NIT!!!!
lomas98 writes:
I give them a lot of credit for coming back and playing good defense during their run. Overall, another poor performance. Glad to see Negedu playing well and improving. Hopson has absolutely lost all of his confidence, he is hurting this team. He had a number of costly miscues tonight. I don't think they can beat FL on Saturday and that will put them at 3-3 in conference with still road games at KY, FL, SC, AR, Miss. Not looking good for a NCAA berth. We are not a great SEC tournament team historically so asking for a deep run in that is a reach.
edvol writes:
let's just call this what it is...young in some areas -- yes. but smith, chism and jp are seasoned. This is not a good product being put on the floor. they are getting worse not better. no one fears our style, we do not "tire" teams out, knoxville is not a tough place to win and its because this team seems never prepared for game time. consistently getting behind big, consistently playing poor defense and consistently getting outcoached. I like bruce, but this style and this preparation has gotten this program as far as it will go -- the sweet 16. and that hurts to say.
volcycle writes:
Only if we're lucky. This team keeps getting worse. Good coaching should make it better,... shouldn't it?
tnbigg writes:
Dang...
tripper writes:
This is the worst team that CBP has assembled. After 4 losses in our own building, I'm questioning Pearle's recruits or his coaching. I'm still onboard but his players have to perform!!!!
floridavolsfan writes:
Who is Memphisisippi???
richvol writes:
I am losing patience with whoever is responsible for determining the playing time for this team. I have heard it's Jones who makes substitutions but you have to believe Pearl is the final word.
Can anybody on the staff see that Negedu is the best player on the floor much of the time he's in there? Why in the world would you play Hopson or even Prince when all they can do is turn it over and look like gradeschool players? This is getting ridiculous. For GOD's sake wake-up Pearl.
I couldn't believe it when they took him out in the second half after he pulled us even...did you see that block? He was the only one that was effective against Johnson,their big center. He also is our BEST freethrow shooter.
This was a coaching loss all the way...there was no organization or play set up when we took the lead. Just more of this stupid off balance shots by Tyler and Hopson. Hopson turned the ball over at least 8 times during that game.
Sorry,I am sooooo mad. This loss was entirely avoidable.
mattlock writes:
Game Notes:
Tyler Smith will be here next year, he is not, repeat IS NOT going to make a pro team any time soon. If I see him drive out of bounds on the baseline one more time I will have zero hairs left on my head.
Scotty Hopson is on track to set a single season record for most air ball free throws. Glad we play in TBA cause the rafters in Stokley would not be safe with him on the floor. Wow, I hope these are just Freshman jitters.
LSU dove for loose balls, except for Maze and Negedu, we didn't. . .recurring theme. As for rebounds, there were times when there for 4 purple jerseys in the lane and no white ones.
Our pick and roll defense makes average players look like Stockton and Malone back when they wore nuthuggers.
Our basketball IQ could be the lowest in the country.
Wayne Chism continues to carry us. . .just wish he could finish every play around the basket. A lot of times he ends up getting blocked and/or just shooting free throws because he doesn't finish after contact. But that's a small complaint, because he is our best player right now.
I think its time to hold a three point shooting contest on campus. There has to be a Lang Wiseman type somewhere on the Hill. . .this team CANNOT shoot.
I love Bruce Pearl and all he has brought to us, but this team is hard to watch. Here's to hoping it gets better quick or we will be in the NIT
edvol writes:
i appreciate the confidence, really. but this team is NOT going to the NCAA because it is not one of the best 65 teams in America and slowly getting worse than below 65. Poor preparation and poor coaching are to blame for not making the NCAA. a horrible SEC this year, and we'll not make the tournament. that's a shame and has nothing to do with youth
MANVOL writes:
I dont know which is worse the number of turn overs we had or our ignorant, unvocal, sit n stare at the court fans. I heard louder fans at an upward game. We need to be loud and roudy from the tip. I dont know how we ever had a home court advantage to win 37 straight.. Oh, ya i remember, his name was Chris Lofton~!! OUR FANS SUCK!
floridavolsfan writes:
12-7----Minus the cupcakes we are a .500 team!
redneckerson writes:
Where can I get some of those happy pills you're taking?
imjustafan writes:
They blew another one at home. They had LSU on the ropes and couldn't do it! They either play defense and can't score many points or no defense and score a lot of points. Either way they get beat.
Another PG with over 20 pts. against the D. Last year and years before Pearl had guys that seemed to overachieve and this year he has a bunch of street ballers. They better turn it around fast or no NCAA this year.
GO VOLS!
KENVOL writes:
Tyler had better learn to play under contol. He thinks everytime we are close he has to force up a shot. I guess he thinks he is the only one who can make a shot with the game on the line. Granted he has won some for us but he has lost the last 2 for us. Not to mention Hopson. How can this guy be an all-american. So far all he has shown is a decent high school player. He better pick it up and fast. While we have all these players sucking on the court what has happened to Childress? And who are all these guys riding the bench that never play. Can we not cut these guys loose to free up some scholarships?
memphis_vol_fan writes:
After watching tonight's game, Negedu needs to start getting more minutes.
Hopefully CBP can see the energy and athleticism he brings to the floor.
Oh yea, Hopson needs to be benched.
huntined#565710 writes:
Not good for us getting beat in our house..Fla killed GA
tonight and they seem to be getting better while we are not showing any improvement..We had a lot of chances to go ahead in the game and just blew them...bad shots and throwing up threes..Play like this Sat and we lose by 25
If this was a must win game Sat is a must must must win game..I sure hope we can get it together,,,
Volinsider writes:
You're right about that. His stock is dropping fast. Every time he touched the ball down low, I cringed! Turnover or block from a forced shot? Hopson tried to penetrate but fell down almost every time! Chism might be working his way into the draft. He's our best player right now. Too bad Pearl called this a must win even though we knew it was. If confidence was low, that will just about kill it altogether. Sorry I'm rambling on...just very frustrated. A win against the Gators would be a big shot in the arm, but they're playing really well now. Go Vols!
FWBVol writes:
I'm tired of the young team excuse. Basketball is one of the easiest sports to make the transition from high school to college. Michigan went to the finals several years ago with four freshmen starters. North Carolina and Duke have, at times, played more freshmen than we have and continued to be top teams.
Chism and Smith are juniors as is Maze, although he's JC transfer. Tabb and Prince are juniors as well, and Brian Williams is a sophomore. Add to that, Tatum is a redshirt freshman, no freshman pass for him.
We are 2/3 of he way through the season, and that's another reason the freshman excuse is wearing thin for me.
I know the team still has a winning record and such, but IMO in its own way, the basketball team has been just as disappointing as the football team.
oldbasshead writes:
I am pretty frustrated right now and have posted some negative stuff on here. Maybe this team will start playing better at the end of the season instead of worse like they have the past two years.
floridavolsfan writes:
He is learning and trying his best! In Italian they say toostone!!
tripper writes:
This team is aweful!!! How in the hell does anyone think we'll make the tourney ?
MANVOL writes:
Go Vols Beat Florida with no help from the crowd..
floridavolsfan writes:
Bring in Obama!
mattlock writes:
You can't blame this on the crowd, they were down alomst 10 before most people settled into their friggin seats.
edvol writes:
learn to spell. your bitterness might be listened to if you tried spell check. geez
cobbwebb writes:
i 2nd that! and to our memphis friends, winning 3 out of the last 10,you are right, i would say the memphis tigers are second in the state! chism should be option #1, he is playing very good ball right now! hopson is horrible, he should be benched, and never see the floor! now take my last sentence, and insert dane bradshaw for scotty hopson! i heard the same thing danes freshman year! he turned out allright!
mattlock writes:
We lost, you apparently live in Memphis. . .I'll take a loss
floridavolsfan writes:
It's one thing to give them your money now you want our lungs! ARE YOU CRAZY!!!
tennisvol writes:
No home court advantage for this team. The ole saying "not in this house" does not apply this year.
MrBamSeydu writes:
Scotty Hopson is a girl.
Volinsider writes:
Too many jealous vol haters on this site.
richvol writes:
Another thing...does anyone on this team besides Wayne and Negedu want a rebound? No one crashes the boards....EVER! At times there were NO Tennessee jerseys under the basket verses four LSU players. This is pitiful!
Sorry,I'm still mad.
dyoung2020#325368 writes:
itsme, you are a joke. What is your goal here? I understand that you are a Memphis fan, but why do you hate UT so much? I just don't get coming on a Knoxville Newspaper's website and talking trash. Now I'm sure there are Tennessee fans on the Commercial Appeal's website, but come on. Do you feel that bad about yourself that you need to talk trash on a message board? I'm a UT grad, and currently live in Nashville. Guess what? I hope Memphis does well. Why not try being a positive person as a opposed to a hateful one. You will find that your life is much more fullfilling that way. If you have hate in your heart just let it out. But you are becoming almost as annoying as the fools who always post "first" on these message boards.
FWBVol writes:
I hear they are doing another reenactment at the Alamo this weekend and they need you to come and you are needed to try and stop 10,000 Mexicans.
memphis_vol_fan writes:
I hope your right. But if we don't see it on Saturday I don't think it will happen this year.
On a positive note: Chism has been playing balls to wall these last few games.
dvols writes:
wait till rocky top league this summer, woo hoo....glug, glug.......told yall so!
we will beat the gators on sat.
pearl needs to take his shirt back off and get more excitement, the team and east tn peoples thrive on that!
glug, glug
cobbwebb writes:
GET CHISM THE DAMN BALL IN THE CLUTCH!!!!!!!
mattlock writes:
What do you expect, this is the same guy who made his case for keeping Fulmer because he said no one else could recruit people to this place. . .IDIOT
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