TAMPA, Fla. - Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl arrived at the team hotel with a smile on his face early Wednesday evening.
"We've had two good days of practice where we competed and were able to go live both days,'' said Pearl. "I think our attitude is good; that day off Monday really helped us.''
The Vols worked out in Knoxville on Wednesday before flying to Tampa.
The Vols (19-11) will practice again this morning at the St. Pete Times Forum before attending the opening game of the SEC basketball tournament between Kentucky and Ole Miss at 1 p.m.
"Then we'll meet for an hour on Alabama, and we'll meet for an hour on Vanderbilt,'' Pearl said. "We'll meet again after the Alabama-Vandy game (7:30 p.m.) and go through the scouting report.''
UT assistant coach Jason Shay has the scout for both teams, as he scouted those opponents during the regular season.
Pearl said he expects a challenge in the Vols' opening game at 7:30 p.m. Friday against the winner of tonight's game between the Crimson Tide (17-13) and the Commodores (19-11).
He also said he expects Tennessee to play better than it did in its regular-season finale against Alabama, a 70-67 loss Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
"I still feel like we have some momentum from that three-game stretch we had against Mississippi State, Florida and South Carolina,'' Pearl said. "The big thing is we're focused on doing something at Tennessee that hasn't been done since 1979.''
That would be win the SEC tournament.
Pearl said he believes each game UT wins in Tampa equates to a half-seed higher in the NCAA tournament.
Rough Landing: UT associate head coach Tony Jones said the players were a little more at ease once the plane touched down.
"I think they're more relaxed after our landing, where the plane seemed to nosedive on its approach to the runway,'' Jones said. "It felt like it was going to somersault.
"I think they are in good spirits, ready to go out and have a nice supper.''
Student Tickets: UT students headed to Florida for spring break can buy tickets to see the Vols play in the SEC tournament for a discounted price.
Students with a valid UT ID can get tickets for $10 at the UT player/pass gate 90 minutes before any session in which the Vols are playing.
With a win Friday, the Vols would play at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. Another win puts UT in the tournament title game at 1 p.m. Sunday.
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Comments » 52
therewillbeorange writes:
Coach 'em up BP!
zigvol writes:
Go vols win this tourney.
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
In Bruce we trust!
Volumnus writes:
The plan:
1) Start FAST
2) Finish FASTER
3) Don't forget to FINISH
4) Repeat steps 1 thru 3***
*** note: this plan applies to defense, shooting, driving, especially lay ups and rebounding. If in doubt crank it up and notch just because. Oh and play with heart and desire.
Go Vols, it is officially March!
Halls3 writes:
I honestly see them pissing away a game against Vandy Friday. I mean they're 2-0 against them this year & this team gets arrogant way to easy. Vandy has some players even if they are young & they're no team to be cocky going into a game with.
richvol writes:
I love the Vols...it's just hard to get passionate about this team. About the time they start to play decently they go off the deep end again. "Once more into the breach,dear friends,once more".
golfballs03 writes:
I thought it was Godzilla
VolJunkie writes:
I like the potential match-ups and I like UT's chances in the SECT. I think CBP is right on, every win is worth half a seed. CBP is a great motivator, I'm sure winning the SECT for the first time in 30 years has been a recurring theme this week in practice.
Fasten your seat belts ... Go Vols!
Volumni writes:
Great basketball analysis, and a True Vols Fan!
golfballs03 writes:
I've always questioned a teams motivation in their conference tournaments when they are locks for the NCAA. Jay Wright said the other day, his priority is keeping his players fresh and rested for the NCAA tournament - I suppose even if that means losing in the Big East tourney? Even after great regular seasons, Tennessee has done poorly in the SEC tournament, and I've had a hard time justifying that. It kind of comes down to tournament seeding vs. being rested. Does Bruce Pearl think the same way that Jay Wright does?
Digger writes:
With the Boston College job opening up, I just hope we keep Bruce in Knoxville. It has been rumored this would be one job he would consider taking.
Stay Bruce!!!
b_neas writes:
Put hope in that CBP has labeled these tourney games must wins. Last time we were in must win situation we won at FL, at SC, and home vs Miss St. Make us proud (for like only the 2nd time this season lol) boys.
utucla writes:
sorry...but he's just being honest....sometimes the truth hurts...
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I feel good about this tourney. We do need to win it for a good seeding, but we also need to win to get some pride back (I don't mean arrogance but the good kind of pride).
Go Vols. Beat Vandy(probably). Or Beat Alabama.
eduardo writes:
PRESS!!!!!
golfballs03 writes:
Well I guess last year when we were a 2 seed, even if we had won the SEC tournament, I doubt we would have made a 1 - those spots were pretty much locked up.
This year, I think a 5 is the best we can do if we win the SEC Tourney. That loss to Alabama hurt. It is important that we make it to the Championship game so that we get at least a 6 seed. Otherwise, we'd have to face a 1 or 2 seed in the second round.
VolJunkie writes:
Even Williams has commented that he may keep Lawson out of the ACC tourney. The ACC crown is nice but for UNC, the NCAA is the real dance.
golfballs03 writes:
It's pretty remarkable that since Bruce Pearl arrived, we've earned 2 NCAA tournament 2-seeds in 4 years and have never been lower than a 5 seed (and that was the year we went to the sweet 16 and lost by 1 to NC contender Ohio State). And we weren't even a sniffing the tournament on a regular basis before that.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
I would rather have a 6 seed than a 4 or 5 seed.
As a 6...you get a 3(likely) in the 2nd round, which usually isn't a lot different than a 4.
BUT....if you reach the sweet 16...I would much rather play a 2 seed such as Memphis than a 1 seed like UNC or Connecticut.....Just my opinion.
volwalk writes:
good point...I would like to see us---finally get the SECT monkey off our backs..it would be great for their confidence,pride and give them much needed momentum for the NCAA Tourney. I like were Lunardi has us in his bracketology...we play minn, then Wash and probably meet up with Memphis in the Sweet 16. That would be a great sweet 16 matchup for us.
golfballs03 writes:
I would take a 16 seed if it means we would play Oklahoma. And I'd love a matchup with any Big 10 team. They are all overrated.
kman29 writes:
I think Florida proved with their back to back titles that after winning the SEC tournament you can still turn around and make deep runs. Kentucky use to do it all the time too. So I don't necessarily buy that logic. Although I do think it would be nice if the SEC would end the regular season a week earlier and play the SEC tournament say last week instead of ending it on this up coming sunday 3 days before NCAA tournament.
ETNTigerFan writes:
I'd say anywhere between a 5 and 8 seed depending on SEC tournament. We've seen gifts before by the committee but a 4 seed would seem out of the question for the Vols. Could be wrong though.
Bigger_Al writes:
Let's win this thing.
givehim6 writes:
Think it will be nice this year because, i think Bruce is going to try to make a good showing in the SEC this year.
TotalPackage1 writes:
Your point brings up a question...if UT is building up it's facilities and the atmosphere to "Attract" Star athletes, wouldn't the same apply to "Attracting & Retaining" STAR Coaches? I think what UT is delivering makes it a more difficult place to walk away from.
golfballs03 writes:
I didn't say they don't try to win their games, but their priority is staying fresh and ready to go in the NCAA tournament. Elite teams can make that their priority and STILL win their conference championship. Tennessee isn't one of those elite teams.
tnfaninga424 writes:
Dude I live in metro-Atlanta and that was a bad tornado. There are still windows out of buildings downtown.
I wish the tourney was still in Atlanta. Maybe Tampa will bring better luck.
Good luck in the SEC Tourney guys. Bring an sec championship back to Knoxville! Go VOLS!
ahester3500 writes:
See ya Bruce. If he wants to go let him. Please do not extend is contract for 6yrs. I think we have been down that road.
Colliervol writes:
This has been an up and down year to be sure. But I still say that when this team is focused and plays with some smarts, it has the talent to compete with anybody in the country. It is deep, has size and has a lot of athletes. The real question in either tournament is if they can stay focused more than one or two games in a row. If not, they'll be gone quickly. I had thought till the Bama game that they had finally gotten on track and then they lay that stinker out there.
The enigma to me is that some nights they can shoot well and some nights they can't hit a bull with a bass fiddle. (That along with the penchant to make the dumbest play at the worst possible time.) And the free throw thing always gets me but that's a problem with a lot of teams these days.
VolJunkie writes:
Agreed, I think 5 is as high as it goes. Though it is still hard to believe we would go from unranked to top 20 winning the tourney for a conference that most people feel is having an "off" year.
A good showing in the SECT (playing on Sunday) will go a long way towards generating confidence and momentum. The past three years UT has played as a 2 seed (twice) and a 5, we almost broke through from the 5 spot.
BTW, just looking at the past 3 years, how fortunate are we as fans to have come this far this fast. UT won the SEC regular season last year and have to be considered a favorite to win the SECT this year. CBP has the best winning percentage (.762) of any UT men's bb coach since 1916!
It is great to be a Tennessee Vol ... go Vols!
murrayvol writes:
It looked crazy enough on the telly. Can imagine what it was like live and in color.
murrayvol writes:
Being a lock for the NCAA is good.
Moving from a 6 to a 4/5 seed - priceless.
murrayvol writes:
I have never felt good about this tourney. I have felt hopeful which is what I'm feeling now.
murrayvol writes:
That's about right.
LifetimeVolFan98 writes:
Bruce can make any kind of showing he wants. The players still have to go out and play the game. If they play a good inside-out game, they can beat anyone. They also need to turn over their opponents about 6-10 times per game to get some fast break points. JMO
LifetimeVolFan98 writes:
idiot -
how quickly we forget where this program was for 20+ years since DeVoe left. Spoiled rotten idiot - that about sums you up
volsfan92 writes:
big big difference between an 8 and a 5 seed. and I think there is something in it between a 6 and a 4/5
Vol_Jokes writes:
It's post season play time. That means time for the Vols to go into hibernation. Watch out for those Razorbacks this year.
golfballs03 writes:
Boooo!
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Next year..now we are talking...Bruce will get those two dynamic players we need and Vols will have best team ever, it seems we are lacking two more guys..Bruce will get em.
golfballs03 writes:
D West and Kenny Hall. I know West will play, I would guess Hall will come off the bench like Negedu did this year.
Tiger_Jokes writes:
Good post, too many people want to be negative and don't appreciate the job Coach Pearl has done in only 4 years.
govegetarian writes:
I was staying in the KY hotel last year and my favorite thing about the weekend is all the KY fans who hung around and watched every game but theirs for two days, then couldn't go watch their team. Hilarious.
schymtz writes:
Three in a row! This team has done three in a row: Miss St., Fla, and South Carolina. Play like that! Go Vols!
Ringside writes:
Apologize for getting off subject, but 4life, have you heard anything on Bryce Brown?
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
I pretty much agree. We have a probable 5 or 6 seed now. If we lose in finals, we go a 5 seed, if we win the tourney we go 4 seed.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Nothing logical about a feeling. But I really liked our play at SC and think we can pull it together. We actually looked tired with Bama and I'm HOPING that we're over that win a couple lose one thing.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Pardon me Murrayvol! I wasn't trying to say YOU were'nt logical. I was thinking of my own feelings about the tourney.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Are we pulling for Vandy tonight or do we want to play Bama?
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