Making All-SEC was harder for Smith

Tyler Smith was one of only two repeaters from last year named to the SEC Coaches’ 2008-09 First-Team All-SEC basketball squad that was announced Tuesday.

Getting there this year might have been harder than it was last year for Tennessee’s junior forward.

“I don’t want to say it’s harder but it’s been different,’’ Smith said Tuesday. “It’s been a challenge to come with my game every night.

“Last year I didn’t have to come with it every night. I might have tried but I didn’t have to because Chris (Lofton) and JaJuan (Smith were there to have my back.’’

If Smith won’t say it was harder the second time, his coach will.

Bruce Pearl acknowledged how much attention Smith was paid by opponents because Lofton and Smith weren’t camped on the wings spreading the defense with deadly 3-point shooting this year.

“Tyler has been option number one,’’ said Pearl. “Last year he was option number three, and there’s a different freedom and a different pressure and the lane is wide open.

“Now, Tyler is still getting the ball in situations but it’s much more closed down and the bodies are just as big or bigger.’’

Smith was one of five unanimous choices on the eight-man first-team that was announced leading up to the start of the SEC tournament on Thursday in Tampa, Fla.

Devan Downey of South Carolina was the other repeater.

UT’s Wayne Chism was chosen to the All-SEC second team. Scotty Hopson was on the eight-man All-Freshman team.

As SEC East co-champions, the Vols earned a first-round bye and play Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the winner of Thursday’s Vanderbilt-Alabama game.

Smith improved or maintained his numbers in virtually every statistical category from last year to this one.

He boosted his scoring from 14.9 to 17.1 points a game and his rebounding from 4.9 to 6.0.

His field-goal percentage was almost identical to last year. This season Smith made 44.4 percent of his shots (173 of 390) compared to 44.2 (174 of 394) last season.

His 3-point accuracy improved from 25.4 percent to 29.6 and his free-throw percentage jumped from 72.7 to 75.1, despite getting significantly more attempts this season.

“The best thing Tyler has accomplished this year,’’ said Pearl, “is that he was so worried about not winning a championship this year and that we’re not as good as we were last year.

“We managed to do that (win the SEC East) and his leadership off the court has been better down the stretch.

“It wasn’t as good at portions of the season as it needed to be but it was better (later) and I give him a lot of credit for that.’’

Walk The Line: The Vols spent considerable attention on free throws Tuesday after making only 45.5 percent in a 70-67 loss to Alabama on Sunday.

“That situation has got to be fixed,’’ Pearl said. “We had lots of contests and ran a lot when we didn’t make ‘em and we didn’t shoot ‘em any better today than we did against Alabama.’’

On Top of Kentucky: The Vols made SEC history by finishing ahead of Kentucky in the regular-season standings for the fourth consecutive season.

No team had held that distinction on the Wildcats since the league opened in 1933.

In Need of Seed: Pearl said it is essential for UT to have a good showing in Tampa to improve its NCAA tournament seed.

ESPN.com Bracketologist Joe Lunardi had the Vols as a No. 6 seed on Monday.

“If we win the SEC we’d be a four seed at worst,’’ said Pearl. “If we don’t, we place ourselves in a very difficult situation to advance.’’

To illustrate Pearl’s point, Jerry Palm of Collegerpi.com has UT as a No. 8 seed, which would mean an almost-certain second-round game against a No. 1 seed. Not a good scenario for advancement.

More Smith: Smith was named Tuesday to the U.S. Basketball Writers of America District IV team. Jodie Meeks of Kentucky and John Calipari of Memphis won district player and coach awards, respectively.

THE TEAMS

First Team All-SEC

*Nick Calathes, Florida – G, 6-6, 194, So., Casselberry, Fla.

*Jodie Meeks, Kentucky – 6-4, 208, Jr., Norcross, Ga.

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky – 6-9, 235, So., Huntington, W.Va.

Tasmin Mitchell, LSU – F, 6-7, 240, Jr., Denham Springs, La.

*Marcus Thornton, LSU – G, 6-4, 205, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.

Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State – F/C, 6-9, 210, Jr., Brownsville, Tenn.

*Devan Downey, South Carolina – G, 5-9, 175, Jr., Chester, S.C.

*Tyler Smith, Tennessee – F, 6-7, 215, Jr., Pulaski, Tenn.

Second Team All-SEC

Alonzo Gee, Alabama – G, 6-6, 219, Sr., Riviera Beach, Fla.

Michael Washington, Arkansas – F, 6-9, 239, Jr., McGehee, Ark.

Korvotney Barber, Auburn – F, 6-7, 225, Sr., Manchester, Ga.

^Garrett Temple, LSU – G, 6-6, 190, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.

David Huertas, Ole Miss – G, 6-5, 200, Jr., Humacao, Puerto Rico

Terrico White, Ole Miss – G, 6-5, 211, Fr,. Memphis, Tenn.

^Dominique Archie, South Carolina – F, 6-7, 200, Jr., Augusta, Ga.

^Zam Fredrick, South Carolina – G, 6-0, 203, Sr., St. Matthews, S.C.

Wayne Chism, Tennessee – F, 609, 242, Jr., Jackson, Tenn.

A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt – C, 6-11, 250, So., Sydney, Australia

SEC All-Freshman Team

*JaMychal Green, Alabama – F, 6-9, 220, Fr., Montgomery, Ala.

Courtney Fortson, Arkansas – G, 5-11, 180, Fr., Montgomery, Ala.

Erving Walker, Florida – 5-8, 161, Fr., New York, N.Y.

Trey Thompkins, Georgia – F, 6-8, 245, Fr., Lithonia, Ga.

*Terrico White, Ole Miss – G, 6-5, 211, Fr,. Memphis, Tenn.

*Dee Bost, Mississippi State – G, 6-2, 170, Fr., Concord, N.C.

Scotty Hopson, Tennessee – G, 6-7, 185, Fr., Hopkinsville, Ky.

Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt – G/F, 6-7, 210, Fr., Norrkoping, Sweden

SEC All-Defensive Team

^Quantez Robertson, Auburn – G, 6-3, 200, Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio

Garrett Temple, LSU – G, 6-6, 190, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.

Chris Johnson, LSU – C, 6-11, 210, Sr., Montross, Va.

*Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State – F/C, 6-9, 210, Jr., Brownsville, Tenn.

^Dominique Archie, South Carolina – F, 6-7, 200, Jr., Augusta, Ga.

Devan Downey, South Carolina – G, 5-9, 175, Jr., Chester, S.C.

SEC Coach of the Year: Trent Johnson, LSU

SEC Player of the Year: Marcus Thornton, LSU

SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Justin Knox, Alabama

SEC Freshman of the Year: Terrico White, Ole Miss

SEC Sixth-Man of the Year: Brandis Raley-Ross, South Carolina

SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State

*-Unanimous selection

^-Ties are not broken

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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