The pregame media meal at Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday included scrambled eggs. It was a fitting prelude to the egg Tennessee laid on Senior Day.
Let's be fair to the Vols. They did the heavy lifting last Sunday and again Thursday night.
Placed on the scales of context, road wins over SEC Eastern Division contenders Florida and South Carolina outweigh a 70-67 loss to Alabama.
Before he had even left Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on Thursday night, UT coach Bruce Pearl worried that for the first time in a long time he faced the challenge of how his team would handle success.
Sunday, he got his answer.
And so did the debate as to whether the Vols were genuinely peaking or merely matched up favorably with the Gators and Gamecocks.
Forty minutes of grinding it out with the big, bruising Crimson Tide illustrates that Tennessee still has the issues that have kept it from rising to greatness all season.
The Vols couldn't force the sluggish tempo to their advantage.
Nor could their outside marksmen make Alabama pay often enough for sitting back in a zone defense that smothered Tyler Smith into a miserable 3-of-15 shooting day.
Worst of all, the Vols were atrocious at the free-throw stripe, especially in the second half when they hit only six of 16 attempts. Pinch-shooters picked at random from the stands could have done as well.
"It's not always about effort,'' said Pearl. "Sometimes it's about focus.
"It's lost focus. It's a lost sense of urgency.''
Alabama's hero, Anthony Brock, had both in spades.
Brock, who banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win the game, had attended his grandmother's funeral on Saturday in Little Rock, Ark.
He missed his flight Saturday night and was driven with a sense of urgency through the night by a cousin. He arrived in Knoxville early Sunday morning.
Brock hit all three of his 3-point tries and each of his free throws. Focus apparently was not a problem.
So what's the price tag for UT's lost focus?
Instead of outright Eastern Division champion, the Vols are co-champs with South Carolina. Instead of finishing 11-5, the second-best record in the league behind LSU, they're lumped in with the Gamecocks and Auburn at 10-6.
But that's not the real damage.
"We put a lot of emphasis on this game today related to seeding,'' Pearl said.
"This will hurt our seeding and our chance to advance in the NCAA tournament.''
Tennessee doesn't have to win a game in the SEC tournament this week to merit an at-large bid in the NCAA bracket. That hay is in the barn.
The Vols, however, were and still are playing to improve their seeding. After a couple of nice steps forward, a loss at home to Alabama was a step back.
Pearl thought a fourth-consecutive win would have at least put UT in the discussion for a No. 5 seed. Maybe that's a tad optimistic, but it's a moot point now.
"I told the guys that basically with every win or loss we move up or down half a seed,'' Pearl said.
There's still a chance to move up in Tampa, Fla., this week. Tennessee has a dubious history with the SEC tournament, but this particular edition is going to be compelling.
The SEC might not be a great league this year but it's a balanced league. Furthermore, Tampa is going to be as neutral a site as the tournament has ever seen.
That anybody could beat anybody in any given game is not a cliche.
"The thing we lose sight of,'' said Pearl, "is how competitive and hard-fought this league is.
"It's a tournament that's wide open, up for grabs. The hungry teams that want it the most will have an opportunity to win that championship.''
Tennessee's side of the bracket seems loaded with teams that fit that description.
Auburn and Vanderbilt are playing their best basketball of the season. Alabama has refused to quit under an interim head coach. Florida's NCAA tournament hopes are on life support, which is motivation aplenty.
With all that hunger about, the Vols best not lay another egg.
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
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Comments » 38
VOLS_R_BEST_DEAL_WITH_IT writes:
Second
memphis_vol_fan writes:
This team certainly has the ability to win it this weekend. Hopefully they'll play with that sense of urgency they had last week on the road agains FLA and USC.
doh writes:
THis team just cannot win the close ones this year. A lack of a consistant shooting guard will be our downfall in the ncaa tournament. A team would have to be crazy to try and run with us. Just sit back in a tight zone and watch us bomb away.
ncvol17 writes:
History points to a quick exit in the SEC tourny. If you don't learn from history you are bound to repeat it.
murrayvol writes:
Pearl's right when he says NCAA Tourney seeding is everything. Win a 1st round game at 5 and you play a 4 for the Sweet 16. Win at 7 and you play a 2. Big difference.
beachvol1 writes:
PITIFUL PERFORMANCE!!!!!!!! HOW CAN YOU NOT GET UP FOR THE LAST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON!! TYLER AND WAYNE, THINK ABOUT THIS BEING ON YOUR CHEST IF YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE FOR THE NBA AND REALIZE YOU LEFT WITH THIS ON YOUR RESUME'
zigvol writes:
You guys are always fans when we win and bashing us when we lose. Win or lose I'll always support my Tennessee Volunteers. GO VOLS
VOLS_R_BEST_DEAL_WITH_IT writes:
1) Knoxville has such beautiful scenery and makes memphis look like a phooey.
2) We have more class than you.
3) We own the head to head record vs. you.
4) We own the head tho head record vs. you.
5) We own the head to head record vs. you.
6) Our coach painted his chest at a womans game.
Need I say more? lol
tennezz writes:
UP YOURS!
eduardo writes:
How does Childress not get into the game as this was his last game our lone senior?????????? I dont think that was right!! Afterall I believe he could have hit 4 foul shots that would have won the game!!!
supersteve17 writes:
This is merely fact: any team that does NOT play us in a sagging man-to-man or a tight zone is foolish. We cannot consistently hit outside shots. There have been a couple of exceptions this season, but they are just that -- exceptions. I'm not down on these Vols. I've been to about a third of the games this year, home and away. I will continue to support this team.
I am able to see clearly. I think coach Pearl knows this also. My question is this: Why doesn't every team play us this way? The SEC is too loaded with athletes (if not great basketball players) to be lackadaisical in effort and inconsistent in execution.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
the best attack against the zone is the drive and dish (when you don't have shooters).
I am just amaZed that bruce let tyler just jack phooey up, yet again. the deal is this, still:
tyler and jp MUST drive and dish!!! PERIOD!!! they can get their points in hotodog time, after the game is won. if they do NOT get that, then just end the year now.
Tyler, you are a great young man, but you are being a bonehead. you do NOT have chris and jajuan any more. you NEED to be the guy setting up everyone else. give UP your stats and WIN some frigging CLOSE GAMES!!!!
volaboard writes:
UT was a university before Texas was a state. UT will always be the University of Tennessee.
tractoronthepole writes:
What ever happened to fathervol?
teedub writes:
Freethrows!!!! When will CBP admit that our FT shooting is unacceptable???
Although we played poorly today, it was still a strong enough effort to win the game. Even just an average showing at the FT line and the Vols walk away with the W.
VAvolfanRON writes:
I think we all know it was the free throws.....but isn't it funny, that that is the one thing you practice all your life...i mean, when you are alone in the back yard.....just shooting free throws!!....and then of course making the game winner as time runs out!!!......
VOLKING writes:
This is by far the most confounding season I have ever lived through. Losing our best shooting guards and expecting new guys and freshmen to pick up where the old guard left off was wishful thinking. I expected this to be an inconsistent team because of that fact, but I really didn't think our veterans would be so inconsistent. Plus, if we could make even 50% of our frickin' free throws, we would have beat Tiger High, Auburn and Alabama. We have no half court game to speak of. I honestly expect us to win one game in the SEC and one in the NCAA. Then, Pearl better get us someone who can make a 12-15 foot jump shot!! All the returning guys better shoot 1 million free throws this summer!! BTW, to the interlopers...Gatorzz has no guts (Custer comment about SC game) and itsme and the Tiger High bunch have no brains(3 wins and 7 losses against us in the last 10 games and same # of National Championship banners as us). UMem (Memphis is in Egypt) will choke again this year and Florida won't even be there.
utucla writes:
stupid and lazy is no way to go through life...and neither is it the way to play b-ball...but this team excells at being lazy and stupid...5 straight possessions in a row in which they came up empty in trying to regain the lead....turnovers & missed free throws....enough said....
Halls3 writes:
Sadly enough you do make some good points. UT this year doesn't have character & are more about hot-dogging & chest bumping than past teams. However, I've said this to you many times since Memphis is so great where are all the Championships at? My team has 2 this decade.
MidTennVol writes:
Yep, that was my first reaction. BP knows it and he knows these guys are just not hungry enough to win the SEC tournament.
I'm sure he knows of the Vols curse at the SEC tournament too.
Maybe this team will wake up and surprise us in Tampa. But, as you point out, we have three decades of experience at the SEC tourney that says "fat chance."
mmynatt writes:
We are still not a good basketball program; never have been and apparently never will be. I know BP has done a wonderful job, but we still cannot get the great talent to come here. Duke signs 4-6 McDonald's All-Americans every year it seems. Conneticutt keeps on rolling, as does Louisville. There was no reason for the Vols to lose twice to Ky this year, but they did. This team is ONE-AND-DONE in both the SEC and the NCAA.
richvol writes:
This team doesn't know how to dig deep enough to win these type of games. Talent can only take you so far. The will to win is what Lofton had...that shot against Winthrop while he was falling out of bounds says everything you need to know about him. There is no one on this team that comes close to him.
polymer writes:
One and done, one and done.
MBEACHVOL writes:
I agree, it seems like some of the players are just happy to get a highlight play, and when they do they will let you know about it. To win games it takes the small hustle plays, and things that are not going to make the highlight reels. We just do not have enough of that. Another thing is our "best" players are as inconsistent as any I have ever seen.
MajorVol writes:
When they're focused they are good, when they're not, way less than average. Hit 70% of your free throws and it's over. If you can't get up for BAMA and winning the SEC outright, then your not going to go far in the post season.
Ironcity writes:
We talk about FT's all the time but if you look at history, JaJuan and Wayne hit less then 50% their Freshman years and I believe both were under 60% their Sophomore years. JuJuan was close to 80% when he left a Chism is up over 70%. I guess what I am saying is even though our young guys can shoot the FT's, mentally they are not ready for the moment. I doubt this will change this year. We can only hope that our games will not be decided from the line.
huntined#565710 writes:
THUOGHT THE SAME THING !!! He could have at least played the open few minutes ..He would have done as good as the rest of the players did..
orsco#355138 writes:
This game was an absolute disgrace not only to the team but to the fan base and the University. I agree that Coach Pearl has done wonders with a basketball program that had fallen into shambles. He has done many things right including playing a real schedule ( Unlike the pre-season patsy fests Memphis & Florida play...NOT an OPINION but a FACT).
That being said, in order for us ( The "Vols" ) to not only become but maintain a first tier D-1 program, Coach Pearl is going have to crack the whip and instill some discipline and focus into the players.
How many more point blank range shots do we have to miss before the "hot dogging" and pseudo NBA B.S. is brought to a screeching halt.
The so-called in your face "We are Tennessee" garbage rings pretty hollow when you can't close out a 13 point underdog at home with an outright SEC East title on the line. Not to mention can't even make 50% of the most fundamental shots in basketball.
There's an idea basketball fundamentals. We haven't shown any except in small spurts this season. Smothering, trapping defense and crisp cuts and passes to the open man wins basketball games.
I know a lot of these players say they are expressing themselves with all of these antics. Well, first of all you just ain't that good. Second express yourself by making a layup and shot at least 70% from the FT line and get back to me.
At the end of the day it all falls on Coach Pearl. Don't let being a players coach doom you to the same fate as Coach Fulmer.
No more snowbird showoff dunk attempts ( how many have actually panned out ? ) No more hot dogging and chest bumping. How about some fundamental ABC basketball. It may not be as showy but it fills up the W column. Just ask Bob Knight, Dean Smith or Coach K.
If it cramps some player's style then help them pack their suitcase and I mean no one is exempt ( This means you Tyler, JP & Chism ). Find some players who buy into YOUR system not you buying into theirs.
Coach Pearl, the tail is wagging the dog. It's up to you to change the culture. Are you up to the challenge ?
Colliervol writes:
As noted before, focus has been a problem for this team all year. Sometimes they have it and sometimes they don't. Looking at the tournament schedule, I would normally say it is set up for UT to get to the finals on Sunday if Auburn is the toughest team in the bracket besides us. But, with this team, who knows. Just have to watch and see what happens.
Amazing to me though that, with NCAA seeding on the line, most of the team appeared to be home in bed. The urgency wasn't there and it cost them. Hopefully, they can win the tournament and recover the seeding but I have my doubts they can string together three games in a row without losing interest somewhere along the way.
LifetimeVolFan98 writes:
I couldn't agree more...
Volumnus writes:
I agree with the two of you. Ryan has been a class act! He is no worse at 50% than the players we have had on the floor and he most certainly has more heart! Maybe he should have gone down to the TAT parlour for some new ink and changed his image to fit that of this team! Starting him for a couple of minutes would have reflected some class for the organization. Class seems to have gone out the window for this year. If they started Ryan, Tanner and Justin for the first minute, and then pulled them out, it would have shown some respect for the "4" (YES FOUR) years of effort. And it would not have hurt this abomonation of an effort. Class and respect are not that expensive, and they send a message to quality recruits with heart.
jerseydevilvol writes:
good post, i can remember a time before cbp when this team wasnt even worth watching. I wouldnt care if this team was in last in the sec, if there playin im watching, im not gonna lie though there are times when i do want to throw the tv out the window
MBEACHVOL writes:
AMEN BROTHER.
orangebass writes:
I figured after spending 20 million on Pratt pavilion they wouldnt forget to put down free throw stripes
Seriouslyorange writes:
ITS ME is an idiot and doesn't know history. And I am breaking a rule not to answer idiots, not interlopers per se, but idiots that don't know squat about what they are spouting.
UT (not utex) was founded in 1794. texas wasn't a state yet and would not have been had it not been for DAVID CROCKETT and SAMUEL HOUSTON, both proud EAST TENNESSEANS.
Basically, what I am saying is kiss our UTASS!
shoalcreekvol writes:
I f(a)rt in your general direction
shoalcreekvol writes:
Wasn't Maze's last-second shot against Arkansas?
shoalcreekvol writes:
And yet, UT still won the East (via tiebreaker with SC) and has a first-round bye in the SEC Tournament.
Oh that bad years in other sports were still this successful....
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