Pearl is still shuffling deck of Vols

Eighteen games, nine different starting lineups.

And Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl won't hesitate to go with a 10th lineup if he feels it will put the Vols in a better position to win games.

UT dropped to 12-7 and 3-2 in the SEC with Wednesday night's loss to LSU. SEC Eastern Division co-leader Florida (18-3, 5-1) is on deck Saturday (TV: ESPN, 9 p.m.) at Thompson-Boling Arena.

"I knew this team had to improve a lot - as much as any team I've coached,'' Pearl said Thursday on the New Sentinel's Sports Page radio show. "Early in the season we had them ready to go and put them in positions to show what they could do.

"But once the book got out on us, then, as players and coaches as well, you've got to be able to adjust.''

The Vols added another chapter to that book with the emergence of freshman Emmanuel Negedu, who scored a career-high 11 points while playing 15 minutes against LSU.

"If we can get Emmanuel 15 minutes every game, that would be really good,'' Pearl said. "It would be our goal to maintain that rotation right now.''

Negedu getting more playing time means Tyler Smith getting some work at the wing in addition to his power forward starting duties.

Negedu's performance warrants it. He was 2 for 3 shooting from the field against the Tigers, 6 of 6 from the free throw line (he's 25 of 29 on the year), and he even hit a 3-pointer.

"Obviously he had a terrific effort,'' Pearl said. "Emmanuel's attitude has been really good. He's stayed positive. He didn't come here to play five minutes a game, and we told him to stay ready. He did.''

Negedu, a native of Nigeria, has quickly become a crowd favorite with his energetic play and the warrior-like spirit he displays when loose balls are in his vicinity.

"I heard the crowd, they were shouting and yelling at me, and it felt kind of special,'' Negedu said. "If coach plays me one minute, I go hard and I'm happy. Two minutes, I go hard and I'm happy. He is the coach, and he knows what he is doing.''

Negedu said he has maintained his confidence throughout his limited playing time.

"I got the feeling that if I got some minutes I would do well,'' Negedu said. "We are a team, and we are going to come back strong.''

Negedu believes that to be true regardless of how the minutes are distributed or the lineup changes.

The most recent adjustment to the starting lineup Wednesday night was starting Josh Tabb at point guard in place of Bobby Maze.

"Both handled the change. Josh played well at the start of the game and Bobby played well once he got into the game,'' Pearl said. "I thought Bobby was pressing ... I felt maybe he could do more coming off the bench, and I asked him to do more and he responded by getting 10 shots.

"Our chances of winning would be much improved if Bobby could be out there looking to score.''

Maze said he felt like he came off the bench playing with more energy.

"I played with more intensity,'' Maze said. "I don't have any problem coming off the bench, whatever we need to do to win.

"I just hope our fans don't give up on us. We win this game (against Florida), it could turn things around in a hurry.''

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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