COLUMBIA, S.C. — Everything about the night said championship.
The Colonial Life Arena was packed to the rafters Thursday and the crowd was rocking. It was Senior Night for South Carolina. It was March. ESPN was in the house.
Even the SEC Eastern Division standings said championship.
And here’s the good news for UT coach Bruce Pearl, who has pulled and tugged at this team all season long, often with no result but frustration:
For 40 minutes, Tennessee played like a champion.
Here’s the better news:
It was the second time in five days Tennessee played like a champion.
The team that started the season with a bull’s-eye on its back has been on a long, strange trip. Ups, downs. Hot, cold. Ankles and knees have been sprained from fans jumping on and off the bandwagon.
But after a sizzling win at Florida last Sunday and an 86-70 romp over the Gamecocks on Thursday night, Tennessee is on top of the SEC East with the finish line in sight.
The Vols come home to Senior Day on Sunday against Alabama with a chance to clinch the East title outright.
This team has spent much of the season answering questions about not living up to expectations — keeping in mind those expectations might have been a bit oversized to begin with under the circumstances.
There was not a hint of underachieving in the Vols’ body of work this particular week.
“It’s the right time to be stepping your game up,’’ UT guard Josh Tabb said Thursday night.
In two tough environments, the Vols definitely stepped up their game this week. Florida hadn’t lost at home all season, South Carolina only once, to Clemson.
If Florida and South Carolina had been the first two rounds of an NCAA tournament bracket, Tennessee would be advancing to the Sweet 16. Furthermore, after watching these past two games, I’d give UT a fair shot at winning in the Sweet 16.
“We’re not talking about that,’’ said UT junior J.P. Prince.
“We’re just focusing on playing one game at a time and nothing about peaking.’’
Oh, but Prince was talking plenty Thursday night.
Near the end of the first half, the teams came out of a timeout and were waiting for the official to put the ball in play.
Prince was paired with South Carolina’s Zam Fredrick near the baseline and yapped non-stop. On and on, he went, a one-way conversation.
Later, Prince explained:
“I just told Zam, ‘Not tonight. I know it’s your Senior Night but it’s not happening.’
“I started out the game saying that and we just continued that conversation the whole game.
“I told him, ‘You’re not gonna win on Senior Night.’ I apologized, though.’’
Prince didn’t just talk the talk. He walked the walk, especially in the second half when he scored 16 of his 20 points.
Among the various items scribbled on his sneakers was:
The Chosen Prince, The Memphis Legend.
The Prince played like a king in the final 20 minutes as Tennessee separated itself from the Gamecocks with authority.
He even hit his second 3-pointer of the season to put the Vols up 61-49. Tyler Smith erupted off the bench in celebration when Prince swished the 3-pointer. Talk about a sign things are going your way.
There were other signs, one, actually, on UT’s opening possession.
When South Carolina came to Knoxville in January, Wayne Chism fouled out without scoring in only 11 minutes. Several of his fouls were the result of Gamecocks hitting the floor at the least contact.
The game Thursday night was only 48 seconds old when Smith went on the drive and South Carolina’s Mike Holmes hit the deck. Smith got the call, Holmes got the foul.
Chism would end up playing 28 minutes this night and announcing his presence with 15 points and eight rebounds.
All the Vols’ most experienced players all played like, well, the most experienced players. Smith was terrific. Prince was electric. Tabb and Brian Williams were more than solid off the bench.
This looked like the team you imagined in a best-case scenario. It’s been a tough road to arrive at this point. Adapting to a new style of play to suit this year’s personnel has been marked by fits and starts.
“For three years we played (uptempo) like South Carolina plays,’’ said Pearl.
“We’ve battled through carving out our identity and we’ve managed to still win the East.’’
So now that the Vols are finally winning that battle, it poses a new challenge, but a welcome one.
“This is the first time since early in the season,’’ said Pearl, “that I’ve got to be concerned with how we handle success.’’
That comes with the territory when you’re playing for championships.
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
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Comments » 44
Rockytop98 writes:
Awesome game and championship for the comeback kids!! GO VOLS!!
CapitolC writes:
GBO - Beat bama
volfan_brian writes:
Are the VOLS getting hot at the best time of the year to get hot?
They damn sure looked unbeatable in the last two games!
bmaples writes:
Here's hoping they have to handle success for, oh, about 10 more games.
Bruce in Louisville
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
You never said that the expectations were a little oversized ? Now did you Mike? Aren't you one of those, pushing pushing, pushing, playing coach? And the other know it all writers doing the same things? We resent you guys not having any backbone, laying stuff on other people to do , things, which you would never dirty your hands with! So go report on the intramural leagues somewhere and keep your opinions to yourselves, you and that bossy know it all John Adams! You said it well when you said the fans jumping on and off the bandwagon, Lord knows you were talking about yourselves, the writers at the kns!
bmaples writes:
And here's to the ladies as well. I'd sure like to see them have to handle success for at least 6 more games. (Pulling for the Sweet 16 streak to continue.)
TooLegit2Quit writes:
Bryan Smith?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
1 - Brian williams was TOUGH in this game; rebounding, scoring, and mostly, just BANGING. Nice job big guy.
2 - Imagine, with a break here there, our record: Memphis, Gonzaga, and LSU where all winnable games.
3 - Tyler looked beter tonight with the passing.
4 - the whole TEAM passed better; it's fun to watch when they set each other up.
5 - Gotta beat Bama; we need the 20 wins, we need the outright East title. We need the momentum.
VolJunkie writes:
Well said ... good post.
UT has had mixed results in the past with good NCAA seeds, maybe a 5 or 6 seed puts a chip on their shoulder and puts them under the radar ... fasten your seat belts!
Go Vols!
wyomingvol writes:
Great Show.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
1 - Brian williams was TOUGH in this game; rebounding, scoring, and mostly, just BANGING. Nice job big guy.
2 - Imagine, with a break here there, our record: Memphis, Gonzaga, and LSU where all winnable games.
3 - Tyler looked beter tonight with the passing.
4 - the whole TEAM passed better; it's fun to watch when they set each other up.
5 - Gotta beat Bama; we need the 20 wins, we need the outright East title. We need the momentum.
Great points. We also could've walked out of Ol Miss with a win.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Williams was more than solid. He made several plays in the first half that went above and beyond... tipping balls, blocking a few shots, chasing down some loose balls, and making SC pay for not double teaming in the deep post.
He played with accumen and showed what he is capable of once he becomes confident in his abilities and sure of his role in the system. Earlier in the season he was trying to do the right things a step too late, a sure sign of thinking about what you should do before you do it. Now he is in the right place already knowing what he should do with the ball.
Great to see his progress.
EnglewoodVol writes:
"Ankles and knees have been sprained from fans jumping on and off the bandwagon.".....it's easy to not support these guys when they don't win every game, but it's not easy to do what they do. win lose or draw this should show you how much these guys love winning for tennessee. whether you feel it or not we're behind you guys all the time. it's been a great season.
AppStVol writes:
I for one am glad to see the team start to come together we look so much better than earlier. I live in Greensboro now and I'm hoping Tennessee will squeeze in here for the NCAA's. But one thing I must say is I'm tired of Bruce Pearl looking like he's on the site of Miami Vice film session. It's one thing to not wear a tie, but please at least wear a button down. He looks like a freakin yahoo. Come on coach. We will be rockin Urbie and Coach Ritch's head soon enough I can't wait. Go get um Lane. GO BIG ORANGE!!
Laydbakvol writes:
It'll be nice to be able to get 20 wins under our belt in the regular season. Way to go!
volfan1985 writes:
Now this is what we have been wanting to see all year! GO VOLS!! get that 20th win!
IdahoVol writes:
Great game - looks like Brian Williams is quickly becoming a fan favorite.
And I have to agree with the bandwagon comment. It is sad seeing how quickly some jumped off this year, only to now jump back on and proclaim they always support the Vols. Reminds me of when I used to live in Memphis around all the Tiger High fans...
eduardo writes:
Go to the fake site big guy and post your lousy comments!!!
eduardo writes:
We're champs and the big blue is not!!!
navyvol writes:
I am ready for the NCAA tourney and I hope we get in Memphis State's bracket!! GO VOLS!!
mogreer_tn#213464 writes:
They play like they would not be denied; if this was not there best game of the season it was one of the best.
I'm still hoping Prince leave the classless behavior out; he often needs to apologize too much after the fact.
Madkels writes:
Where has his team been hiding? Have they been sandbagging? Are they imposters? Man they sure have looked GREAT this week. Looks like they are having fun and playing loose. Let's hope it continues and we don't run into a slow tempo team with a great defense.
Sure wish the SEC tourney was closer to Atlanta. Can't make the trip to Tampa. Go get um VOLS!
auttat writes:
Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.
bugman (Inactive) writes:
let the haters now jump on the bandwagon.
hamsamrick#421285 writes:
Where are all the Memphis fans? I would love to see Kentucky, Gonzaga and Memphis in the next couple of weeks. I love everybody on the team (we fight no matter what the score is) but Hopson and Maze are not ready for a championship run. Hopson is not mean enough, Maze takes bad shots in crucial situations, they both turn the ball over too much and neither one can shoot free throws. Free throws are like putting in golf. Coach Pearl, "Use them sparingly!" Tatum and Tabb are tougher and stronger. Tatum and Brian Williams are playing at a very high level just behind the big 3. Tabb is also playing much better, especially passing on fast breaks. Pearl played Maze and Hopson the last seven minutes against Florida and our 15 point lead shrinked to 3. Pearl played Tatum and Tabb down the stretch last night and we murdered a good team on their senior night at their house. Co-MVP's : Brian Williams and J.P. Prince and Tyler Smith!
Volunatic writes:
Get a job.
Volumni writes:
Grit!
asleep#212036 writes:
How about Auburn? Worst loss of the season IMO.
dma38256#264746 writes:
Later, Prince explained:
“I just told Zam, ‘Not tonight. I know it’s your Senior Night but it’s not happening.’
“I started out the game saying that and we just continued that conversation the whole game.
“I told him, ‘You’re not gonna win on Senior Night.’ I apologized, though.’’
Prince didn’t just talk the talk. He walked the walk, especially in the second half when he scored 16 of his 20 points.
Dont'cha just love it.....
Alphafemale writes:
Whoever saw potential in Brian Williams looks like a genius. Up until this season, I just thought he was a solid body on the floor. He's making real contributions now.
massvolfanatic writes:
I live in Massachusetts and thrilled about the game last night--when we drop out of the top 25 we don't get didly squat coverage up here. You gotta a problem with Pearl's attire? come join me at a Patriots game for crying out loud---Pearl looks like GQ material compared to coach "Hoody". Go Vols!
givehim6 writes:
All the hard time and seeing your pride get brused finally paid off, you guys were not playing like a bunch of super stars wearing the same cloths. You were playing as a super team! Now you have jelled stay that way and you'll do well in the SEC tournament, sweet 16, and maybe more! GO VOLS!
volsfan92 writes:
dead on great post. They are working very hard in practice, after practice, all the time. You can see it in their game play. very proud of this team
volsfan92 writes:
respectfully disagree. Auburn is a strong team that I believe will make the big dance, flying a little under the radar like us. The Auburn loss felt bad at the time but as it turns out that was a tough team. just my .02
volsfan92 writes:
and I guess while I am at it I might as well disagree with the people who thenk KY is gone because of their loss. I still think SEC will send 5 to the NCAA. LSU UT and South Carolina not even a question, but I think Kentucky and Auburn go too. my .02
kevin151 writes:
Prince needs to stop show-boating. 90% of the time he is awful but played his best game of the season last night.
volsfan92 writes:
well i just checked Lunardi's predictions, he is currently saying only 3 SEC teams in the NCAA but puts us in as a 6 seed
straightshooter writes:
Now that is more like it Vols! Best game hands down of the year regardless of how good or bad SC is. Passing, aggressively going to the hoop and dishing off when nothing was there. Breaking the press for dunks, few breakdowns on defense! This was a solid all around effort. I doubt they can shoot the 3 that hot every night but if they keep up the other aspects of the game like this, who knows how far they can go. Good to see the bigs and Freshmen step up and play like we thought they could play before the season began. Just hope this isn't a strange one bust out game wonder.
Biggie writes:
Prince needs to watch it...that big mouth could cost us a T at a bad time.
How about Holmes? What a flop artist!!! I think the refs got wise to him.
Colliervol writes:
You must mean we could have walked out of Auburn with a win. We lost to Ole Miss by 16 and slept-walked through that one. Thank goodness we woke up.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
BW was a force last night, no question. He will probably never be the smoothest skater on the pond, but he seems to have pretty sound instincts for the game for someone with as little actual playing experience as he has.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree that the Auburn loss looked worse at the time than it does now, but it was just the idea that we got so badly out-hustled, as everybody connected with the team admitted, that hurt so much. We lost by one lousy point and could have won if we could have gotten one lousy defensive rebound off a missed free-throw, one of the most basic plays in basketball! Altogether, we gave up, I think, 14 offensive rebounds to a team that is shorter than we are at every position.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree. IMHO, he could have been teed up several times for taunting if the refs were so inclined. With Valentine on the floor, I'm surprised Prince got away with all that jaw-jacking. When he plays well, he can be great but I am still not completely sold on his head for the game, and the wrong action at the wrong could cost us a close game somewhere down the line.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Meant to say, "the wrong action at the wrong time could cost us".
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