Tennessee Men's Basketball
The Florida Gators were in town, ESPN College Basketball GameDay showed up and fans staged a “White-Out,’’ wearing OUTLIVE cancer screening T-shirts.
“Everyone felt the energy,’’ Tennessee junior Tyler Smith said. “We were having fun again.’’
The good times led to the Vols continuing their dominance over the Gators with a convincing 79-63 victory Saturday before a less-than-capacity crowd of 20,984 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
UT’s fourth-consecutive win over Florida — and coach Bruce Pearl’s sixth out of seven games against Gators coach Billy Donovan — brought the Vols (13-7, 4-2 SEC) within a half a game of SEC East Division leaders Florida (18-4, 5-2), Kentucky (16-6, 5-2) and South Carolina (16-4, 5-2).
Scotty Hopson led the Vols with a career-high 20 points, including a 4-for-6 performance beyond the 3-point arc as UT hit a season-high 12 treys.
Smith scored 16, Wayne Chism had 12, Bobby Maze added 11 and J.P. Prince dished out nine assists.
The Vols led by as many as 23 points in the second half on two occasions, after a Hopson trey capped a 10-2 run to make it 49-26 at the 16:01 mark, and again at the 14:36 mark when Cameron Tatum hit a 3-pointer to make it 52-29.
“We knew this was a must win, and you can put the ‘must’ in bold letters,’’ said Tatum, who scored nine points on 3-of-6 shooting beyond the 3-point arc. “Since the Old Spice Classic (Thanksgiving weekend in Orlando, Fla.), that was the first time we got back to Tennessee basketball, sharing the ball, and everyone playing good.’’
The Vols had lost four of their last five home games entering the game.
Florida, meanwhile, had won 12 of its last 13. But the Gators had cooled off considerably by the second half, as they couldn’t get closer than 10 when a Nick Calathes drive made it 64-54 with 4:41 left.
The Vols led from the opening tip and were up 39-22 by the half, holding the Gators to their lowest first-half points of the season.
Chism had five of his 12 points through the first 20 minutes, but he was busy doing his damage everywhere else, particularly on Calathes.
Chism drew a defensive foul on Calathes at the 18:22 mark, and 1½ minutes later, Chism drew a charge from Florida’s all-star point guard, sending Calathes to the bench with his second foul.
Pearl said he chose to switch on the Gators’ ball screens, taking advantage of Chism’s athleticism on the perimeter.
“Wayne is a very special player because he’s a big man that can move his feet, and that’s rare,’’ Pearl said. “There are very few centers in this league that can guard a point guard, and he can.’’
When Calathes returned to the game late in the first half, it wasn’t long before Chism caused him more problems, guarding the inbounds pass tightly and forcing a five-second violation on Calathes.
Calathes, who leads the SEC in assists and finished with a game-high 21 points, turned the ball over four times and scored just six points in the first half when the game was in the balance.
“I think it was a combination of our guys not shooting well and Tennessee playing very good defense,’’ Donovan said. “You have to give them credit, they stepped up and knocked down some 3-pointers, and that was big for them.’’
The Vols return to action at 8 p.m. Wednesday when they travel to Fayetteville to play Arkansas (13-6, 1-5).
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 200
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Ho Hum Bruce spanks little Ricky again...
King53 writes:
who is you're daddy Billy D???? I know the answer...it is most definitely BRUUUUUUUUUUCE Pearl!!!!!
volaboard writes:
Where are the Hopson haters tonight?
volfan8 writes:
Embarassing Florida never gets old..especially on ESPN with our recruits in the house, and national audience watching from home. Go Vols!
ZWVol11 writes:
Pretty good night overall for me. I love beating Florida in anything. Plus it was a bonus to sit right beside all of the recruits and CLK. I even did my part to try to get Marlon Brown haha. I'm glad we played defense and the crowd was completely into it the whole game. I believe we made an impression on ESPN's College Gameday crew today
Bruce_Pearl_Fan writes:
Great Win! Back in a tie for 1st in the East, in the loss column anyway.
PS Scotty, please quit air balling free throws. It's a little annoying.
surfmaster writes:
Where the h*ll are all the lizards that troll this site. Show yourselves cowards. 6-1. Not bad for a "servicable" coach, huh Gatorzzzzz????
VolPatrick writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
thirdsaturday writes:
3SIB live blogged the game: http://3rdsaturdayinblogtober.wordpre...
Career night for Hopson!
gohawks1 writes:
Please don't summon the lizards.
bmaples writes:
Unbelievable. Completely dominated the Gators -- and I frankly think they would have done so if they hadn't hit a single 3. They would simply have driven or gone to Chism and Williams.
And the best part of the whole win was their defense. If they can keep playing D like that, they may make a run in the conference after all.
Great win. Totally focused. Proud to watch this team tonight.
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
Where's DCFlorida? Pearl owns ya', bud . . . .
TommyJack writes:
BolivarBob and ol' TJ called this. Pay up, guys.
BTW, It seems as if Dicky Vitale has now completely lost it. Man!
allvol9 writes:
It's great to be a Tennessee Vol! Great performance...national tv....white out looked great. Pearl owns Florida!
VAvolfanRON writes:
Whoever that team was in white.....lets keep them!!!!!!!
they looked real good...
and yea, Hopson was REAL good......
Now, honestly ask yourself, each '3' that went up.....were you saying 'yes' or 'no'..... i just kept saying...this one for sure wont go in!!!.....lmao.......Vols, thanks for proving this nayseyer wrong
volwalk writes:
Gators are 1 and 7 vs Bruce's Vols.....have a drink on that!
Smallmike4pres writes:
Well that was an a&* whipping. Is it just me or do the Gators constantly get the most retarded looking players year in & year out? Calickthis, Noah, Brewer, Hodge, Werner. It's no wonder Teblow gets all the women, look at what he is competing with.
Titan writes:
gatorzz - where are you? BP owns Billy D!!!!!
VAvolfanRON writes:
hey people....let's be civil to the interlopers.......we are americans...not just UT....now, i understand when they fling phooey...(i actually said phooey)....but, lets show some class....be beyond the immature jerks....
SPEVol writes:
That was a punch in the mouth to the Gators. It's good to beat them, even if we were playing them in darts or table tennis.
wildberry14 writes:
the student section went crazy for marlon brown. and they painted the rock for him. i dont know how we could possibly miss out on him
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
What did Marlon and the boys think of all the Orange and White? Any reactions?
volpreacher writes:
Anyone have any hints as to which way any of the recruits are leaning. Tonight had to be a great impression. If they think 20,000 are loud, what about 106,000? Commit guys, we need you.
SFOrange writes:
thats better. good intensity tonight. lights out on 3s. tight d in first half. team needs to get stamina to bury a team after building a big lead. via ESPN crowd seemed loudest/best of season by far.
givehim6 writes:
Great Win! I was not going to watch, but TG I changed my mind. Where have thoses 3es been all year? Hope the win impressed the recruits. Wonder how long it will take before we see a gaytured fan on here?
VAvolfanRON writes:
Laz...but the interview with Billy D was cool......He showed some class....(unlike the football coach).....
but, you are right....if he took acid....he'd see only orange!!!!!!...lol
ZWVol11 writes:
Well they definitely liked the alley oop to Tyler that got most of them up on their feet. I noticed a lot of the parents were just in awe of what was going on all the spirit in the place I think it really impressed them the most. I will say this Marlon has a real firm handshake and his mom was in an orange blazer. She really looked like she enjoyed herself even caught her singing rocky top a time or two
wildberry14 writes:
trust me, marlon was impressed. kiffin treated him like the number 1 guy for sure. and tana patrick stayed the whole time and was into the game.
sayhitomaggie writes:
I honestly don't see how ANY recruits can go into that atmosphere and NOT want to come to UT. It was just beyond amazing! The student section was so pumped and I really hope that we can be that way for all the games (wishful thinking I KNOW).
Beating the Gators, making an awesome impression to gameday, and high fiving Lane Kiffin. I'd say it's been a good day. :-)
coach75 writes:
i'm suprised areyoukiffinme and his nazi propoganda hasn't found something to pick out that was wrong with that win. funny that those Gators have not reared their ugly head.
King53 writes:
BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE Pearl!!!!
VAvolfanRON writes:
coach....come on....we all know about areyoukiffinme....
dont stoop.......lets talk about this win and what an impact it made...........
GO VOLS
miamiVOL writes:
Where is GATORzZZzzZZ?ZZZ?Z?
VolPatrick writes:
If she is singing Rocky Top, its over! What a weekend to bring all of the guys in. Things are looking up yall!
VAvolfanRON writes:
I think gatorZZ will show up....but, who cares..we all lose..
be respectful....i dont like alot of his posts.....he is too biased....but, jeesh guys.....
King53 writes:
this has got to be a good sign....
abnermc writes:
I thought some of the Gator players quit in the 2nd half ,particularly Calathes.Anybody else notice.
VAvolfanRON writes:
this game had to have had an impact.....20,000+ fans.....in basketball...im sure they havent experienced that.....the 105,000 at neyland.....they cant imagine.....
ZWVol11 writes:
Yea I wouldn't be running my mouth too much they have 4 national titles in 2 sports the past 3 years but it is fun to beat them
volwalk writes:
I watched it on tv and wow didn't we look gooood...way to go students!
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
Great Win tonight!
I thought that their defense tonight was the best of the season. I hope we see more of that the rest of the season!
They said something on TV about the players going through shooting drills late into the night and again this morning. It must have raised their confidence because they did not look hesitant at all.
I hope this was the light coming on for Hopson because he looked outstanding tonight and made good decisions.
The Vols have a tough one Wednesday in Fayetteville against a wounded, mad Arkansas team. Need to be focused and ready.
Go Vols!
VAvolfanRON writes:
ZWVol.....lmao...i understand.....as long as it's in fun.....
go for it
tnman1025 writes:
I was saying from the beginning of the game that we just couldn't rely on the 3 all game...I was glad to be proven wrong.
As I've said in another board, it was soooo good to see EVERYONE have a good game.
That said, we won't be shooting lights out like that the rest of the season so we have to keep going to the post with Chism, Williams and Negedu.
Great game Vols!
P.S. This game couldn't have been any better for the recruits we had in TBA. I hope they all go home knowing that they could have 107,000+ fans cheering them on like the fans did for the basketball team tonight.
VAvolfanRON writes:
i want to take the time to personnally thank the people that went to game........thanks for being there...except for students...that's expected....lol......
i need to go for my masters.....i wonder if the ladies look the same??...(maybe, but without gray)lmao
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
good game-----crowd was in it--players played good with fire, Hopson dispite 2 more airballs had a game well take every time, tyler shaved the nasty beard and his shot got smoother too as result, Bruce was animated and worked up a good sweat,and Erin Andrews was hotter than ever--BP prob took a cold shower at half since she got the arm around him some---this is more like it!---i just hope we dont think this 3 fest wasnt an aberation and start settling for 3s again going forward---we got to get the ball into the middle to get better
BDavis writes:
Bringing out Eric Berry was the perfect move to get the recruits attention.
ZWVol11 writes:
Well CLK and Eric Berry seem to be the second coming of the Beatles on this campus. I would have made 200 bucks tonight if I had a dollar for every person that came up to them for an autograph or picture. But they handled it with class. There was one funny moment when a little boy wearing a florida shirt came up to CLK and Kiff joked trying to take his shirt off and told him to get out of there (all in a joking way) CLK really seems like a people person and I really enjoyed just watching him interact with the recruits while he was down there
gohawks1 writes:
Was I hearing things or did Dicky Vitale say that no SEC team could finish in the top 8 of the Big East?
volbballfan writes:
this was a great game for the entire team. i think bruce is making the necessary adjustments and is getting a feel for what players play the best together. it seems like that both Tabb and Maze have taken to the line up changes. at the end of the day they are both playing the same minutes they were, but it it makes one or both of them play better by changing it up i am all for it. again, great team victory tonight!!!
halloffamebowler writes:
Now that statement was as useless as tits on a bore hog.Never say anything about things a person has no control over.We are born with whatever and cannot control nature ,(unless you're Michael Jackson).You can however control what you say and do.
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