Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl and guard Bobby Maze enjoy the Vols' 124-49 rout of UNC Asheville on Tuesday.
They call it Paradise. So how do a bunch of college guys stay focused on the inside of a gymnasium?
That's exactly what No. 10 Tennessee says it's going to do this weekend at the ninth annual Paradise Jam basketball tournament in the Virgin Islands.
"We're going down there to take care of business,'' sophomore Cameron Tatum said. "We're going to put ourselves in a position to be where we want to be and that's getting the respect we want.''
The Vols (2-0) face East Carolina (1-2) on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The winner advances to play the winner of Northern Iowa-DePaul on Sunday.
The other bracket includes No. 7 Purdue, Boston College, Saint Joseph's and South Dakota State.
The championship game is Monday at 8:30 p.m. and will be televised by SportSouth.
Bruce Pearl, who celebrated his 100th coaching win at Tennessee with a 124-49 romp over UNC Asheville on Tuesday, said the Vols won't be tourists.
"(Pearl) is known for taking teams and doing cultural things,'' Pearl said, "and that is certainly the case in the summer time.''
But this isn't summer time, even though it might feel like it in St. Thomas.
"It's about becoming a better basketball team,'' Pearl said. "We'll certainly see some of the beauty of the Virgin Islands, but this is not a vacation. This is a work in progress.
"We're very fortunate that the University of Tennessee will send us to such a beautiful place with such tremendous competition, for us to try to become a better basketball team.''
If form holds, Purdue and Tennessee would meet in the title game. However, Northern Iowa returns five starters from an NCAA tournament team and is picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference.
If the Panthers beat DePaul, which was 0-18 in the Big East last year, they would be a formidable foe for UT, which has a bad history with MVC opponents in tournament play.
"Whoever comes out of that game, win or lose, will be good,'' Pearl said. "Another step up.''
Sophomore Scotty Hopson thinks the Vols are mature enough to enjoy the tropical surroundings and still get their work done.
"With our four seniors,'' he said, "they're really going to keep us level-headed and keep us grounded. They're going to lead us all the way.
"It's all business wherever we go.''
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Comments » 13
tenuscvol writes:
Catch some rays and drop some treys!....
Let's win it all before heading home...
GBO!
volsunited writes:
just an fyi since the game will not be on TV that i know of friday at 330p it can be seen online at fox college sports here is the site
http://www.b2livetv.com/partner_membe...
BillVol writes:
Good one, AO.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Thanks for the link! I was bummed when I saw that there is no network coverage of the earlier rounds. I'm surprised with our somewhat higher national profile, our entertaining style of play, and the ever-quotable CBP that we haven't gotten into more high-profile pre-season and holiday tournaments than we have so far.
KnoxTennVol writes:
Thanks for the link, I will be ready to watch the Pearl Jam in Paradise now.
scvols writes:
Nicely said...
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Should prove to be some interesting games..I went to the old spice classic last year and it was a blast;the line up they had was the best of the best..We took Georgetown to school but Gonzaga still has our number. It should come down to a purdue vs UT final; which will tell us if we can play with the big boys and play well under pressure. Hummel is an all big ten player and shots at least 50%..GOOOO VOLS!!!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Go Vols beat Purdue!
lomas98 writes:
I think we were in the preseason NIT a few years back and lost to Butler and NC. The Old Spice Classic last year was a great tournament with good teams. I think they have done pretty good in Pearl's first 5 years with preseason tournaments. I forgot about the Big East/SEC challenge last year in Nashville against Marquette. Great game.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You are right to say that those were good tournaments. However, there always seem to be a few each year of which every game is covered on ESPN, even in the small hours of the morning. There are at least two in Hawaii that North Carolina and UConn seem to play in every year. ESPN even shows every game of the Alaska Shootout. There are two or three others like that, such as one in Puerto Rico. We played in a different one there a few years ago that was not as well-covered as the one whose name I can't recall right now.
On the other hand, ONLY the championship game of the Paradise Jam will be carried nationally on cable; otherwise, one must resort to the internet, for which I am grateful, BTW. For the benefit of the inevitable interlopers, let me be quick to point out that I know UT is not as good year in and year out or as well-known nationally as UNC and UConn, but they are as good as at least half of the OTHER teams in those tourneys, so why can't we get our share? Or am I just being too sensitive?
buzz29 writes:
When do people realize that if they do things right, and to the best of their ability, then the "respect" comes along with the effort? Note to Cameron, focus a little more on playing well and a little less on gaining respect.
VolinCalif writes:
My Granddaughter still will not let me live down those Gonzaga games. She's a student at Gonzaga
WLafIndianavol writes:
I live in West Lafayette, IN and would love for the Vols to play Purdue. Purdue coach Matt Painter lives in my neighborhood. A Vol victory would buy me some major clout in the office!
GO VOLS!
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