Tennessee Men's Basketball
Now that Tennessee has won three SEC games in a row for the first time this season, coach Bruce Pearl has something different to be concerned about.
"This is the first time since earlier in the season I have to be concerned with how we handle success,'' Pearl said after the Vols' 86-70 win at South Carolina on Thursday night. "We have been in the middle of the SEC race the whole time.''
But not now.
LSU is the SEC champion while the Vols (19-10, 10-5 SEC) have clinched at least a share of the SEC East Division title for the second consecutive year and third time in Pearl's four years at UT.
Pearl wants the SEC East title outright, and he wants UT to do everything it can to improve its seed for what now seems to be a sure NCAA tournament invitation.
About 300 tickets remain for Sunday's final home game (TV: WVLT, noon) against Alabama (16-13, 6-9).
"We have Alabama on Sunday on CBS, and that's obviously an important game for us,'' Pearl said. "Will it be hard for my players? Absolutely. They are young.''
UT junior Wayne Chism said he thinks the team needs to keep improving, and Alabama is another opportunity to get better.
"We're still coming together,'' Chism said. We're believing in each other, and we're almost all the way there.''
Chism said the difference in his game is patience.
"I'm not rushing anymore,'' Chism said. "Sometimes, I was rushing when we'd get behind. I saw it on film.
"So I've calmed down and now I'm making that extra pass.''
UT junior Brian Williams, who came off the bench to get seven rebounds and score six points on 3-of-5 shooting, said the Vols are having fun on the court.
"It felt good ... we dominated in the paint, and that's what we're supposed to do,'' Williams said. "We've won three straight for the first time in a while, and we're looking like a unit out there.
"We've all realized that's the only way we can win, and now we've got so many players creating for one another, and it just feels so good.''
It's the first time the Vols have won three in a row since Dec. 16-19, when UT beat Marquette, Belmont and Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Vols opened the season with five wins before losing to Gonzaga in the title game of the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla.
Smith Honored: UT junior Tyler Smith was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District Team.
Smith is on the District 21 team along with Florida's Nick Calathes, Kentucky's Jodie Meeks, LSU's Marcus Thornton and South Carolina's Devan Downey.
Smith leads UT with 17.3 points per game and 3.6 assists each contest.
RPI/Bracketology: UT is No. 16 according to RealtimeRPI.com rankings released Friday with a strength of schedule that ranks No. 3.
The Vols are projected to be a No. 6 seed in the West Regional, opening the NCAA tournament against 11th seeded Maryland.
According to ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi, who does the ever-changing projections, the SEC would get three teams in the NCAA tournament if the season ended today.
LSU (also a No. 6 seed) and South Carolina (a No. 12 seed) are the other two teams projected to make the field.
Knee Brace: Pearl was wearing a knee brace on his right leg at Friday's practice.
"I'm just trying to get everything straightened out,'' Pearl said, indicating the brace was a precautionary measure.
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Vanderbilt 65, Tennessee 47, Jan. 24…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 32
suPEARLman writes:
time will tell
ballewville6 writes:
3 sec teams in tourney that is awful while the big east will get 8 or 9 provadince may make it with an rpi of 69 while kentucky and flordia with higher rpis will not make it,the sec gets no credit arkansas beat texas and oklahoma and tennessee beat marquette and georgetown while marquette was healthy,they would have finished in 2 or 3 in conference if the pg hadnt been hurt,and sec teams beat alot of other schools that are tourney bound,tennessee should have beat memphis instead of losing 52 to 50 and if they played again tennessee would beat memphis no doubt in my mind and shoud have beat gonzaga if they could have hit their free throws.the vols should be atleast 23 and 6 but will take what they have at this point.
Bigger_Al writes:
Bruce looked like a man possessed on the sidelines the last two games, and the intensity carried over to the team. He could be in a body cast by the end of the season.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
this bama game is HUGE. we need 20 wins, we need the SEC east outright.
not only that, but we are FAVORED, and we must be able to handle that.
dwa7#337691 writes:
prediction:
UT 80
Bammers 77
in a close one...........
thevoice writes:
81-67, BIG ORANGE!
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Ha Ha! Good catch.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
OKEMO say
OKEMO agree with bigger_al
cbp has great spirit with him
volunteers will embarass the tide....
somewhat make up for
football loss
clk has more to say about that soon
OKEMO has spoken
elizabethtonvol72 writes:
Please don't let the success of three in a row go to your heads! That is when any team you play against becomes so very dangerous. Just stay focussed guys. Keep being a team out there on the court and everything will be good. Keep up the intensity, and hard work. Git'r done vols!!!
stayingorange writes:
His stat line may not show it but big B. Williams was a major factor at USC. If he only ended with seven boards, at least 3-4 came on consecutive trips during a UT spurt and that double clutch layup he had was big. Bruce said he would use him with Wayne and as soon as he came in midway through the 1st it gave UT a boost.
Keep it rolling against the Tide. This team is gelling when it counts.
VolJunkie writes:
Could be ... but for your consideration:
Last home game
Senior Day (is Ryan the only Senior?)
National TV (CBS I think)
IMHO, this team will be very focused against AL, maintaining some serious momentum going into Tampa. Some of UT's worst losses this year have been on national TV. Building on UF and USC, a big win tomorrow could help their NCAA seeding. JMO, I could be wrong.
UT - 90
AL - 72
Chicken sandwich! ;)
Go Vols!
tennrich1 writes:
I agree. While we let those games slip (free throws cost us the Memphis, Gonzaga and a couple of other games) we still have put up good numbers against a #3 strength schedule. I had MUCH rather lose a few along the way playing those teams than have an inflated win-lose record against terrible teams. Your fan base with eventually rebell. Thanks Coach Pearl for playing anybody, anywhere, anytime. Its fun!!!!
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
The S. Carolina game was the best they have played all season. Did you see all those base line cuts for easy jams? Where has that been all season? I was frustrated watching them toss the ball around the 3 point line then burn the clock down and try a desperate drive to the basket which was usually blocked or stripped. If it wasn't that it was heaving a 3 point shot with 1 second on the clock. Just a couple of weeks ago I'm thinking NIT with an early exit. Now, they are playing well and can actually win some games in the tournament. Not going to predict a final four appearance but hopefully an opening round win at the very least.
volcycle writes:
UT will lay the smack down:
UT 107
UA 72
dvols writes:
there will be five teams from sec in tourney?
Ironcity writes:
Are you questioning your own comment? I would. The SEC is way down. UF hasn't beaten anybody, UK has so many bad losses and they are stumbling down the stretch. Miss St. had lost 5 in a row. Auburn is playing really well but they have some horrible losses from early in the year and no quality wins on the road.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I hope we play defense!!!
UT 86
Al 68
mocsandvolsfan writes:
We may get 4 in NCAA. depends on SEC touney and last few games. Kentucky's gonna have to win the tourney and Florida needs to win a couple.
I think UT, SC, LSU, and Fl should get in. Probably if Kentucky wins the tourney it'll knock Fl out. Just too many teams with better records that honestly should get chance.
Plus when the unexpected happens to deserving teams in tournaments some of those teams will get in. For example I think Davidson should get in no matter if they win the SC tourney. There are a lot of those type possibilities out there. If I had a vote I'd put 7 ACC Teams in and I hate ACC. 4 would be great for SEC this year!!!
richvol writes:
Tennessee was painful to watch for much of the season. There was no flow or beauty to the game they played. This has changed in the last three games however. The passing that has resulted in easy baskets has indicated that perhaps this team is growing up and finally listening to coach. Great things can happen to a team that is unselfish. The defense is much improved too as they now help one another out.
givehim6 writes:
I'd say Bruce will have the Vols ready for bama tomorrow. Not real sure about the SEC tournament, he has put more effort on the NCAA tournament. GOVOLS!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
This is not a year to gamble. Too many ups and downs. Inconsistency is not Witch Doctor's friend. Neither are those "bones" evidently.
schymtz writes:
"Witch Doctor listen to heart and not bones. Witch Doctor now gamble with friends using monopoly money!%&#! Witch Doctor wife strong big woman! Bones never lie"
Witch_Doctor, you are a wise and fortunate man!...and you add much fun to this board.
Big Blew fans must be dying a a painful death of dreams right now.
Slystone writes:
Not to take away from UT's impressive wins against Florida and South Carolina, but you have to realistically look at the fact that neither of those teams are strong defensive minded teams. When the Vols play a Louisville or Memphis we'll see how well they have progress. Still a good win because what they did was play like a team. I saw more help defense and rebounding than I had seen earlier. Hopefully a mid seed is where I see them. But a good showing and perhaps winning the SEC tourney might help.
volsfan92 writes:
Auburn making apretty good case that they belong in the tourney, Mr. Lunardi notwithstanding: Auburn beating LSU by 16 with a minute and a half left.
GO VOLS tomorrow! BEAT BAMA
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Louisville and Memphis are certainly better than UF and SC, but the Vols are clearly in a better frame of mind to take on a better class of opponent now. The defense is playing as well as it has all season and the ball movement is WAY better. As usual, the key question is whether or not they can continue to play hard and do what is necessary when the pressure is really on against quality opponents.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I think Auburn ought to be in based on how they have been playing recently, which is a major focus for the selection committee. A win or two in the SEC tourney wouldn't hurt them, either.
TigerOne writes:
Wow—tennessee and bama; what a matchup! I hope people don’t decide to clean their gutters or garage and miss this battle of collegiate giants. A chance to win the division is a great, great accomplishment. Shoot for the stars.
I think I have Goosebumps.
77jtpvol writes:
All the seeding talk is fine, but the game against Bama is critical for a number of reasons:
1)securing the Big Dance berth, not just a seeding
2) momentum going into SEC tornament
3) showing the team's ability to fight any complacency
The selection for this year's Big Dance is looking more confusing than in many years. The SEC is down dramatically this year..face it, when a team wins the East Championship with 11 overall losses, including 5 in the conference, and Vols win the East? Haven't seen that since the merger. LSU has fallen off the radar (talk about dropping seeds) and Auburn may have played their way in. SC, Florida and the Mildcats aren't going without a run to the championship game of the SEC. And, though it's hard to conceive, Vandy, with a win today over Arkansas and making it to the SEC Championship game will get a bid. They have quietly put together a 3 game win streak too- Arkansas would be 4 in a row, and would finish 8-8 in conference, 3 games out of first...
Regardless, Bama will play tough in the first 20 minutes, then fall. Vols by 14.
supersteve17 writes:
I wish all of the predictions had been correct. Unfortunately, Bruce was the prophet. This team was NOT ready to play. We missed way too many easy shots and free throws. Didn't really deserve to win. Give bammer credit for playing the type of sagging defense that has been our Achilles heel all season. It hurts perception because it was on CBS national TV. We'll still get a middle seeding, 7-9 in my opinion.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Hey we lost focus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rocky_topper writes:
who says they can't? i believe they can!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I picked the 3rd article on this site to say Go Mocs! I know this is a vols site but I am a huge vols fan and a huge Mocs fan. We aren't likely to meet in the ncaas. Neither is likely to have a run. it'd be nice tho' if eventually in the ncaas I'd have to choose. This year it'd likely be UT. I'd love to see all the Tennessee teams do well...till they play UT. I may have to switch if we play Chattanooga since I graduated from there...but I have been a UT fan longer. I know no one cares. hat's why I chose this article. Maybe there are others torn between teams too.
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