TAMPA, Fla. - When Alabama beat Vanderbilt in Thursday's opening round of the SEC tournament, Tennessee's players got their wish. They had a score to settle.
And settle it they did, blasting Alabama 86-62 Friday night to advance to the semifinal round today.
"We had already beaten Vanderbilt twice,'' guard Bobby Maze said after UT's most lopsided SEC tournament win since 1949.
"We wanted to play Alabama. We wanted to get 'em back for that loss on Senior Day.''
Senior Day was last Sunday, when Alabama came into Thompson-Boling Arena and nipped Tennessee's fresh momentum in the bud with a 70-67 upset.
"We had a meeting right after that game,'' said freshman Cameron Tatum. "We felt bad we let the seniors go out like that and we made a vow we were going to get some vengeance back for 'em.
"Especially the way we played that day. We didn't respect the game.''
They respected it Friday night at the St. Pete Times Forum.
They opened the game with a 21-9 run en route to a 43-32 halftime margin.
"We just kept our immediate focus,'' said Tatum. "We came in at halftime and said, 'We're 10 down and don't let up.' ''
They didn't, exploding to a 17-0 start to put the Crimson Tide away for good.
"Our starters did a great job,'' said reserve point guard Josh Tabb. "We came out and stuck it to 'em and kept pounding it in.''
The bench produced one of its better all-around efforts.
Tabb had seven points, two assists and zero turnovers.
Tatum had four points and four assists. Brian Williams got his eight points on 4-of-4 shooting.
UT had 20 assists and only 10 turnovers. Alabama's ratio was badly in arrears.
"We turned 'em over,'' said Williams. "Only four assists with 18 turnovers. I don't think you can win with that.
"Our guys, all 15 of 'em, contributed tonight.''
The Vols even hit 12 of 15 free throws after making only 10 of 22 in the Senior Day debacle.
"We had to show that what happened in Knoxville, that's not us,'' said Tatum.
"We had to show our fans and show the SEC that that's not us. That it was a different team that's coming to the tournament.''
The energy that was missing on Sunday was flowing on Friday. Alabama probably didn't recognize the Vols.
"Any time you lose on Senior Night and come out with that kind of (subpar) effort,'' said J.P. Prince, "wanting to get 'em back is just human nature.
"Coach (Bruce Pearl) told us we want to get 'em back and also we just wanted to show everybody that's watching, all the teams, that we want to make a statement coming out that we're ready to play and we're trying to make this a long weekend.''
Keep Shootin': Scotty Hopson hit UT's first 3-point attempt of the game. The Vols then missed their next 13 of the first half.
"But coach told us to keep shooting,'' said Tabb, "because every shot we had was a good look. They just weren't falling.''
Maze hit a trey to open the second half then UT missed three more before Tabb drained one.
The Vols finished 4-of-24 for 16.7 percent, a duplicate of their marks in a 77-58 loss at Kentucky last month. The season-worst was 2-of-17 for 11.8 percent against UT-Martin.
The SEC tournament record for lowest percentage is 5.3 (1-of-19) by Kentucky in 2002.
Notebook: The 24-point margin was UT's biggest win over Alabama since a 100-64 rout in 1999. … This was only Tennessee's fifth win in 15 SEC tournament meetings with Alabama. … The win was also only the second in six games as a No. 1 seed. … Prince recorded the first double-double of his career with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
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Comments » 24
huntined#565710 writes:
Hope they feel the same way about AUB..if they play as they did tonight they will win big.
MrBamSeydu writes:
Hey Mike, aren't journalists supposed to automatically correct the people they're interviewing when they say things like "'em" over and over to "them"?
It's just kind of annoying to read that.
Either way, glad we rolled Bama. My friend is a Bama fan and all I've heard was how they beat us last week. I told him it was a fluke, and now he believes me.
trl_x writes:
'Scotty Hopson hit UT's first 3-point attempt of the game. The Vols then missed their next 13 of the first half.
"But coach told us to keep shooting,'' said Tabb, "because every shot we had was a good look. They just weren't falling.'''
Great win but I can’t agree with the keep shooting 3’s philosophy when they’re not falling. Good look or not. Fake the 3 and drive.
sidwalkvol writes:
where were the black uni's? I thought I saw an article on here earlier today that we were back in black...
OrangeDew writes:
only black shoes, they were the home team so they wore white
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
what does the bones'es say, ye must consult the bones!
DenverVol writes:
Ain't it great to be a VOL!!!
Stokes44yrs writes:
4am here. I guess Auburn won I fell asleep. Didn't sleep in the UT game. Awesome energy. Great D and great drives to basket. we hit some foul shots!?
OldSmokey writes:
I belive the Tide got ROLLED!!!
belayvol writes:
He was back last night in the BB thread as gatorz2.
seaplane#216536 writes:
I agree with you. The 3's weren't falling. They were having much better success driving to the basket. They still need some work on their put -backs.
It was a pleasure to be in that arena, watching their best performance of the season.
VolJunkie writes:
I'm okay with any philosophy that results in a 24 point win.
Go Vols!
Madkels writes:
I couldn't agree more. We went to line fewer times than last Sunday, but did hit 80% from the charity stripe. If we had driven more to the basket, we would have had more opportunities at the line. Let's hope we keep up a high percentage in free throws!
givehim6 writes:
Just what I was thanking, let's kick the whole states butt.
smokyredbone writes:
And how many wins do you show on your coaching resume!!! STFU! CBP kows what he's doing Dork!!!!
smokyredbone writes:
We scored 50 in the paint!! You know why! Because we did continue shooting from outside!!!That forces them out to cover, had they started falling we would have won by 50. Another Dork who never played and does not understand basketball strategy!
smokyredbone writes:
AMEN!!!!!!!
joeaubie writes:
Questions and comments for the Orange faithful (those who don't want to get in a teeth counting contest):
1. Do you think Auburn is in the NCAA now? I say yes, but of course am biased.
2. Assuming yes, what seeds do you think UT and Auburn are looking like? I think b/n 8 and 12 for Auburn and b/n 5 and 9 for UT, both depending on finish in the SEC tourney
3. Thank you for spanking the Tahd, you're welcome for disposing of the Gators
4. Glad to see the Vols use their inside game, leave it at the hotel today please.
Good luck
VolJunkie writes:
Good luck with that strategy WD ... I hope you hit it really big on Sunday!
Go Vols!
VolJunkie writes:
1) Win today, probably in, lose today, not so much. Really depends on what happens in other conference tourneys, i.e. if a team not already in the NCAA wins the tourney, takes away a "bubble" bid.
2) Hard to assume, a lot depends on the next two games.
4) Yeah, it's amazing what this team is capable of when they convert their inside shots and get on the boards. There is a lot of motivation today, payback is a ... AU is stop #2 on the UT Redemption Tour!
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Go Vols!
Diggs writes:
Posted by joeaubie on March 14, 2009 at 12:02 p.m.
Questions and comments for the Orange faithful (those who don't want to get in a teeth counting contest):
1. Do you think Auburn is in the NCAA now? I say yes, but of course am biased.
2. Assuming yes, what seeds do you think UT and Auburn are looking like? I think b/n 8 and 12 for Auburn and b/n 5 and 9 for UT, both depending on finish in the SEC tourney
3. Thank you for spanking the Tahd, you're welcome for disposing of the Gators
4. Glad to see the Vols use their inside game, leave it at the hotel today please.
Good luck
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
1. Auburn should be in, but if the Vols put a 20+ whipping on them, it might be NIT.
2. Agree with your projections.
3. Your welcome and Thanks.
4. I think you will be disappointed.
Excellent post from someone that is obviously a fan of the opponent. And, here I thought civility was dead...
Diggs
Diggs writes:
Sorry about the extra length post above. Thanks, KNS. I'll figure out when a preview isn't really a preview soon...
Diggs
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
UT should be 6 seed now, will be a 5 seed if win today. I think we can move up to a 4 possible if we blow out LSU.
I think we have to pound it in to Wayne and Brian to win today. I also think Scotty has to have a fine game and JP has to continue to drive.
Stokes44yrs writes:
LSU? Who's LSU? GO VOLS. BEAT MSU!!!!!!!!!!!!
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