Tennessee Men's Basketball
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl turned the Vols loose with the SEC Eastern Division title on the line Thursday night.
“That was the difference, coach let us run and gave us the opportunity to make plays,’’ UT junior J.P. Prince said. “He knew they’d run and jump out at us, and he told us he wasn’t going to hold us down calling plays. That showed trust.’’
Tennessee responded with a runaway 86-70 victory over South Carolina before a sellout crowd of 18,000 at the Colonial Life Arena.
“That was as good as we’ve played all year,’’ Pearl said. “We stayed aggressive attacking them.’’
The Vols (19-10, 10-5 SEC) clinched at least a share of their second consecutive SEC East title and third in Pearl’s four years with the win over the Gamecocks (20-8, 9-6).
Tennessee concludes the regular season at noon Sunday against Alabama (16-13, 6-9) in Thompson-Boling Arena before traveling to Tampa, Fla., for the SEC tournament next week.
UT is the No. 1 seed in the East and opens play at 7:30 p.m. Friday against the winner of Vanderbilt (18-11, 7-8) and the West No. 4 seed (Ole Miss, Mississippi State or Alabama).
Pearl likes the Vols’ momentum, and was quick to credit his junior front line for their domination in Columbia.
“Wayne Chism, Tyler Smith and J.P. Prince, those were the reasons people picked us to win this season,’’ Pearl said. “I thought they really stepped up tonight.’’
Smith led the Vols with 22 points and added seven assists and six rebounds. Prince had 20 points and nine rebounds, while Chism had 15 points and eight rebounds.
UT sustained a flurry of South Carolina 3-pointers early in taking a 44-40 lead into the half.
While the Gamecocks were bombing away from outside (9 of 22 beyond the 3-point line), the Vols were dominating in the paint and on the boards, out-rebounding South Carolina 21-9 in the first half and 44-22 in the game.
“They were killing us early (outside) when they were fresh and furious,’’ Pearl said. “But I think our length became a factor. They had to shoot over us.’’
South Carolina made its bid to take over the early goings of the second half when Zam Fredrick scored three of his 16 points on a trey to tie the game at 46-46 with 18:44 left.
But the Vols responded, attacking the Gamecocks’ extended defense as Bobby Maze scored in transition to spark an 8-0 run that Josh Tabb capped with a layup off a new out-of-bounds play drawn up by Pearl.
Brandis Raley-Ross hit a 3-pointer to break the UT run and pull South Carolina back to 54-49 at the 14:55 mark.
But the Vols stayed poised amid the loud, circus-like environment. Chism split a pair of free throws and followed with a 3-pointer, and then Prince hit just his second 3-pointer of the year to pump the lead back to 61-49 with 11:38 left.
South Carolina failed to pull within double digits again as the Vols continuously split the Gamecocks’ traps to score in transition, going up by as many as 20.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 249
hoosier_vol_fan writes:
Finally, Tennessee actually finishes a game.
Congrats on the bye and the SEC East Championship
#1
iowavol writes:
Awesome game, wire to wire. Great job William, Chism, Prince, Smith, Hopson, all. Great patience, great intensity, great focus. Best game of the year.
VOLPhan writes:
Great Performance!! Even Bobby liked us!!
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
Good stuff men. Keep it up and let's roll through the SEC Tourney.
thsvolfan15 writes:
the rest of the sec just said "OH poop!!!"
TommyJack writes:
More defense like that, we win a few more.
ATLVOL23 writes:
Great game! Good team defense and great rebounding effort. Maybe they're starting to gel... Couldn't happen at a better time!
zigvol writes:
Wow we looked great, we play like this and we can compete with any body.
ornglovinyankealum writes:
It's about time. Fun game to watch. Congrats Big Orange!!
ncvol17 writes:
Woo Hoo... Vols pocket a East division crown.. hope we keep it going into the Bama game and then the tourney....BP is the Man... he makes Vol Ball fun
tapeworm writes:
I guess Pearl gets to stay now. Nobody needs bones to predict that.
VolBall writes:
This morning for breakfast I had chicken biscuit. For lunch grilled chicken salad (watchin the waist). For supper ROASTED and SMOKED ROOSTER with Orange Glaze!!
Great effort on Defense and Offense, great sharing of the basketball. We took fight to the cornished hens. Never doubt Pearl. These guys are finally getting it.
Pearl08 writes:
Wow this team is hitting its stride at the right time. Living in Nashville I really hope we get to play Vandy in the quarterfinals, since we play the winner of E5 and W4, and Vandy is locked into the E5 slot. Nothing would be nicer than getting the Dores 3 times in one season. Lets not overlook Bama though as they have been playing better basketball, and I definitely do not want to share this this title with USC. Overall great night, and Bruce has now got 3 SEC East titles in 4 years.
Slystone writes:
Finally decided to play some defense and what did we get - the best game they have played all year. I don't think Kentucky could have touched these guys tonight. Big ups to CBP for putting a great game plan together.
mtownvol writes:
Best game of the year from start to finish. Agree BB that we get a little cute at times but if we keep it to a minimum this team can make a run in the tournament.
volsfan92 writes:
WOOO HOOO! man that was really fun to watch!!!
givehim6 writes:
The big difference in the vols tonight and back in dec./jan. the team play as a team! I knew the Vols had it just had to let it shine congrads Vols, now go blow out bama sunday. GO VOLS!
VolsInYourMouth writes:
It's about time! UT has picked the right time to peak! Now is when you play your best ball! Go get 'em fellas!
I'm enthusiastic about this team right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cornnut311 writes:
Never doubt Bruce Almighty... He has done well with a very young team this year.. They look like they are getting better, or rather more consistent.
VolBall writes:
The SEC East Champion is clad in BIG ORANGE
schymtz writes:
O So Nice! I doubt there were many who dared to believe this was possible after the great embarassment in Lexington but Pearl and these guys! Go UT! Beat Bama!
BubbaVol writes:
Great defense, aggressive offense, and played like a team. This is what I expected the entire season to look like. Hopefully this is a team that is peaking. Saturday will tell if this was just a fluke.
Seriouslyorange writes:
Way to go guys!!!!
Nuttin' like cookin' a dang chicken. Well done!!
Think I saw some beards and chest hair in the stands
on the women of course!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
What?
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Attack that damb asket!
easleychuck writes:
The regular season is a journey, not a sprint. Thank you, guys for showing what you are made of when push came to shove. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
what?
volsfan92 writes:
he meant to say that he and coach Knight liked the dribble penetration esp. vs. the zone and the uptempo push vs. the press going to the rim
bluetick writes:
Most complete game they played all year. I forget which announcer stated early in the season to watch out for the MIGHTY VOLS in post season. They called it correct. How sweet it is. Living in Carolina I'll enjoy reading the paper tomorrow. :)
volsfan92 writes:
JP Prince wow great game
MillisaAnn writes:
Congratulations to Coach Pearl and the Vols on winning the SEC East. Go Lady Vols!!! Go Vols!!!
VolBall writes:
I love these 6:00 cst tips. I watched the whole first half sober.
ydl writes:
Wejust went 8-2 against E division teams -- only losses against KY.
Was in Lex for the game 2 weeks ago, and this is not the same team. We are peaking at the right time. Love to get another shot at LSU. GO Vols!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Hey am I banned ?
Titan writes:
You can stack worthless Conference USAs championships to the moon for all I care - I'll take an SEC East anyday - at least it means something.
hotrodvol writes:
Well for all you jerks that wanted Pearl gone...
come on back we forgive you, welcome back, it's all good!
GO VOLS!!!
volsfan92 writes:
amen
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Whew?
VolJunkie writes:
Yup ... should end all that bs about how many games we need to win to make the NCAA!
Go Vols!
volsfan92 writes:
SC wasn't bad tonight, the Vols were just really really good
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
Besides Lonesome Dove, The Outlaw Jose Wales is the second best movie of all time.
CLKVOL writes:
where are all the t. smith and b. pearl haters at?
volsfan92 writes:
we are a 6 seed right now I think
VolJunkie writes:
Maybe top 25 ... maybe. Hard to go from no votes to ranked. Frankly I like this team playing from the back and having something to prove.
Go Vols!
yeavols#228407 writes:
Gee I miss Gatorzz...never around when things go right for the VOLS. He's only around to throw a dagger. No guts, no gonads, no NOTHING..
yeavols#228407 writes:
and he HAAAAAAAAATEs me
mocsandvolsfan writes:
We must ATTACK the nmad basket vigorously!!!!!
yeavols#228407 writes:
I haven't been this excited since we hired PEARL ROLF
VolJunkie writes:
BTW, Pennington can take his "fire CBP" article and shove it up his double-wide.
And ... in his post-game, CBP gave props to Valentine and his crew. Said they got fooled a couple of times but called a good overall game. After all the names I've called Valentine ...
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Go Vols!
bluetick writes:
Friday the 13th at 7.30pm
http://secsports.com/index.php?change...
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