TAMPA, Fla. — “One round and Greyhound!”
That’s what a Kentucky fan shouted in the direction of the Tennessee men’s basketball team Thursday afternoon outside of the team hotel.
As if the Vols (19-11) needed any more reminders of their SEC tournament futility. UT has won the SEC tournament only once — 30 years ago in 1979.
Tennessee will have plenty of motivation for Friday night’s game (TV: WVLT, 7:30 p.m.) against Alabama (18-13) in the St. Pete Times Forum.
Five days ago, the Tide spoiled the Vols’ home finale with a 70-67 victory on a buzzer-beater.
On Thursday night, Alabama played above the rim in scoring a convincing 82-75 victory over Vanderbilt in the first round of the SEC tournament.
“That’s five of six (wins) for Alabama,’’ UT coach Bruce Pearl said after scouting the game from courtside. “I kept expecting Vanderbilt to make a run, but Alabama is just that talented.’’
Junior center Wayne Chism said he knew UT would have a tough match-up regardless of the opponent.
“We’ll have to come out sharper (against Alabama) than we did at our house,’’ Chism said. “We had opportunities, we just didn’t hit the easy shots.’’
Pearl doesn’t expect the Tide to make things any easier on the Vols than it did on Vandy center A.J. Ogilvy, who didn’t hit a field goal until less than a minute was left.
“They play a 2-3 zone, and they’ll pack it in and make us beat them from the perimeter,” Pearl said. “I was very impressed with Alabama tonight.”
Forward Tyler Smith, who was 3-of-15 shooting against the Tide on Sunday, said the Vols will need to bring their best.
“We just came out flat that last game and didn’t play to our potential,’’ Smith said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re up for this one.’’
As for the Vols’ poor history in the SEC tournament — even Pearl-coached teams are 1-3 — Smith said that indeed adds incentive.
“Of course we want to make history,’’ Smith said. “Winning the tournament is something that hasn’t been done since 1979.
“This would be another milestone for the program under coach Pearl.’’
Pearl said he doesn’t think Alabama will be at a disadvantage tonight after playing Thursday night.
“The first game is the toughest, because you’re in a new building, getting used to the rims and the other team has the momentum from their victory,’’ Pearl said. “Alabama has the advantage having played tonight (Thursday).
“Fatigue is not a factor until the third night.’’
The Vols had an hour to take shots in the St. Pete Times Forum on Thursday before having a short practice at the University of Tampa.
“I think our guys are anxious to play,’’ Pearl said. “But they have been businesslike. They stayed off their feet all day and should be ready.’’
The winner of tonight’s Alabama-Tennessee game will play the winner of Auburn’s game against Florida on Saturday (TV: WVLT, 3:15 p.m.).
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
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Comments » 115
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
OKEMO say
vols get 20th win tonight!!
OKEMO has spoken
Musicman74 writes:
Go get the tide, and make them sorry that they have to play us again.
GO BIG ORANGE!!!
stesandangel#663346 writes:
Promises promises.
Who has more pressure on them?UT or Bama.
I'd say the vols do.Should be one helluva tussle.
Roll em Tide.Again.
volwalk writes:
Tennessee will come out tomorrow night smoking and will whip the tide by 15....85-70. BOOK IT!
GO VOLS!
volwalk writes:
back off with your comment. The 20K that showed up just to sleep in their seats were just as responsible. Once again a big crowd that sounds about like 200 people in the arena. I agree that the Vols performed poorly and missed alot of easy shots but don't call Maze out..thats just wrong!
therewillbeorange writes:
Coach 'em up BP!
Slystone writes:
I'm glad someone else notices how dead the crowd is. Wasn't the interior remodeling a few years ago suppose help with getting the place more lively? I guess when you have to factor the human element into the equation it's still the same = dead.
Orangeblood13 writes:
UTFan has been edgey lately lol
He's just pumped up, pay him no mind
We'll be fine, UT by 10
volaholic45 writes:
Crowd noise/enthusiasm starts witht the product on the field/court. And not athletes waving their arms to scold the crowd into getting into getting pumped up, but athletes making plays. It starts on the court and on the field, not in the stands.
eb502us#225637 writes:
I don't see us winning with JP playing more than 18 minutes against Bama. He's too much a liability against the zone.
Tatum, Tabb, and maybe Woolridge need to get his extra minutes. At least they are threat from the perimeter.
Hope Pearl doesn't make the same mistake twice.
bluetick writes:
Bama sure played well today. I hope we thump their @sses!
On another note this is a great article on Bryce Brown. Excellent read and I can't agree more.
http://www.cbssports.com/columns/stor...
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
CBP said all the things I just said about the womens' tourney...Bama will have a bit of an advantage, having played in the gym.
That said, if we attack the basket and drew fouls we can win. That assumes we don't go 10-22 or whatever again.
PS Tell tyler NOT to shoot. ever. just pass and rebound.
chrisw2967 writes:
Woolridge is not a threat , I dont know where you got that at.JP has been playing good of late , maybe you just missed those games.
chrisw2967 writes:
I agree he was a threat but fell apart after the Gtown game.He may be a threat in the future but right now he is not.I wish he would find his confidence again cause we could sure use him right now and in the future.
1manningfan writes:
Black jerseys and new shoes for the game against Bama. Ck the jersey out on Volnation.com. Im 50/50 on the color but i will judge it when i see it at the game, i'll be there.
GO VOLS!!!
TooLegit2Quit writes:
Anybody watching this Syracuse-UCONN game? What a ballgame, in 4OT at the moment, 5OT is possible.
1manningfan writes:
i know its crazy going into 5th ot
tnman1025 writes:
TooLegit, I can't believe this game. Harris for Syracuse had a chance to get the go-ahead lay up, but he can't buy a bucket tonight. What a game!
chrisw2967 writes:
conn and syracuse will still be playing this time tomorrow noght 6ot
TooLegit2Quit writes:
I bet you WVU is absolutely loving this, 6OT's is crazy. Boy I'd hate to be the team losing this game, there's so many opportunities for both teams.
1manningfan writes:
this uconn vs syracuse game is one of the best games i have seen, this is amazing! Both teams are playing their hearts outs.
1manningfan writes:
our Vols are wearing black jersey and new shoes against bama! Ill be there singing Rocky Top with the fans all night long,lol!!!
1manningfan writes:
I cant wait i hope its not a game that goes 6ot, i dont need to age 20 years over a bb game lol!
1manningfan writes:
blow out, i'll second that. I lIke our chances against those alabubbas this time around. GO VOLS!!!
huntined#565710 writes:
That was the best game I have watched..They played 3/4 of another whole game.
bud0323 writes:
Come on Vols crush those crimson turds. Make them pay for what they did to you on Senior Night. Go Vols.
1manningfan writes:
goodnight Vols I have to get some sleep for the games tommorow. Im tailgating starting at noon, so some sleep will help since ill be drunk off my kisser come gametime and game ready. GO VOLS!!!
jimvols13 writes:
Why would they wait until now to unveil a new/exciting jersey/gear? Why not bust out the all blacks against Memphis or against Florida and instead of having a "White out" have a "Black out" to go with the jerseys and the black interior of TBA. That would have been off the chain. Now they are unveiling the new apparel (if this is indeed true) in freakin' Tampa where the arena is going to be mostly empty (why pick a city south of the most southern SEC school? Atlanta makes so much more sense. Tell the ACC to find their own gym!). Awesome marketing right there boys...but this is all assuming this rumor is correct...I hope they hold off and do something intriguing like this next year AT HOME!
utvolz#637682 writes:
I was there and I certainly wasn't asleep. Too bad the Vols didn't give us much to be excited about until the back to back to back treys in the second half. I should have been refunded hald the price of my ticket! And why was the student section only half full again? It was embarrasing they had the "Rocky Top Rowdies" banner hanging in front of their seating area and then be half empty, on national TV!
utvolz#637682 writes:
And I also got up very early Sunday to make the trek to Knoxville from Manchester due to the noon tipoff! Watched the Basevols after the game and then headed to Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) for food and adult beverages. Unfortunately, BWW was the highlight of a long day....
VolJunkie writes:
Don't blame it all on the crowd ... the team sleepwalked to a double-digit halftime deficit ... hard to get up for that. The crowd was very into the game for most of the second half. Don't know how it looked on TV, but up in the cheap seats it was rocking. Just got my voice back on Wednesday!
Go Vols!
VolJunkie writes:
Respectfully disagree. JP was a rare bright spot in the first half last Sunday. He made some good moves to the basket and either scored or drew in the defense. If his teammates had made 50% of their chippies, he would have had 10+ assists. I see more of the same tonight, without all the misses; JP with a double-double.
vol88 writes:
I agree, bluetick.
halloffamebowler writes:
The crowd noise Sunday for the Bama game was non existent.I commented to my next seat neighbor that I had see and heard more from a funeral crowd.He agreed.He said it had been that way all season.The only time I have seen the crowd really into a game this year was the Florida game.Now that all remaining games are on the road,it will be even quiter.Of course , we have had little to yell about this year.
Madkels writes:
Just hit free throws, take it inside and break up the 2-3 zone. EXECUTE! Win Vols Win!
jdcvols#230433 writes:
Glad you are back. but we will be one and done. Bama will win.
tennisvol writes:
Free throws, free throws, free throws. One and out!
MBEACHVOL writes:
The link says we are not expected to wear black jerseys just shoes. Am I reading it wrong.
HtownVol writes:
Is the game going to be on ESPN360? I am in Texas. If not I can usually catch the games on UTSPORTS.com. Any one know??
Also is that post true about us wearing black Jerseys tonight?
CrankE writes:
This is where the rubber really meets the road for UT. They've had some good seasons, even a great season or two. But if they can't win in March, in tournaments when it counts, then it begs a question; Has anything really changed?
I love Bruce Pearl's energy and his approach to basketball. Before we can start naming streets after him or anything like this, his teams have got to perform in the tournaments.
For what it's worth; I'm wearing my orange today in Birmingham, AL.
volsfan92 writes:
UT will definitely win this one. GO VOLS
golfballs03 writes:
Right now Tennessee is an 8 seed. They really need to win this tournament so they can get a 6 seed and have a legitimate shot of making the Sweet 16
volsfan92 writes:
and while I am at it Auburn will beat FL so we will get Auburn Saturday
volsfan92 writes:
golfballs I totally agree that there is a difference between 8 and say 6 or 5. I think it is a huge difference and is the diff bet. playing on the second weekend and not, for anyone but the best 4 or 5 teams in the dance. That is why the SECT matters for us. But I think we are better than an 8 right now, I think we are a 6 now with a chance to move up.
VolJunkie writes:
I agree this should be a good game though I think they will be playing AU on Saturday. LSU beats UK and USC setting up an LSU - UT final ... SECT = UT Redemption Tour!
Go Vols!
VolJunkie writes:
Game is on ESPN 360:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/schedules
Go Vols!
lomas98 writes:
That is the problem. Most great basketball programs have awesome crowds and atmosphere that the team can feed off of. You think Duke, Michigan St., Pitt, even FL wait until the team does something before they start cheering? Isn't the goal of having home court to rattle the other team? I wish they would move the students to the side of the court instead of behind the goal.
shoalcreekvol writes:
I hate Alabama. Peckerheads.
dvols writes:
well if we do happen to lose (we will not) at least the south carolina grads can fill our bus up with gas!!!!!
go vols
DonJuan writes:
"While there is no expectation that Tennessee will wear black basketball jerseys any time soon, the Vols are expected to wear some new black gear this weekend. Reports from Tampa indicate that Adidas shipped a new style black shoe that the Vols will unveil, possibly in tonight’s tournament game." - Volnation.com
No black jerseys, only shoes. And maybe not even the shoes.
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