Tennessee has yet to win a so-called "preseason" tournament in four years under coach Bruce Pearl's direction.
"But we're going to win this one,'' UT senior captain Tyler Smith said. "Write that down.''
The 10th-ranked Vols (2-0) open the 10th annual Paradise Jam tournament in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, at 3:30 today against East Carolina (1-2).
With a win, UT advances to play at 6 p.m. Sunday in the semifinals against the winner of today's game between Northern Iowa (1-0) and DePaul (1-0). The losers of those two games meet at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 7 Purdue plays South Dakota State and St. Joseph's plays Boston College. The games are being played at the University of Virgin Islands' Sports and Fitness Center.
Pearl took the Vols directly off their Wednesday flight to St. Thomas and into the gym so they could get used to their surroundings. Thursday's two-hour practice took place at a local high school.
"We had a good, hard practice,'' Pearl said. "I think the team is focused.''
Smith certainly is. This is his second trip to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam - his first came when he was a freshman at Iowa.
Smith averaged 19.7 for the Hawkeyes in their 2006 Paradise Jam appearance, scoring 28 points in a win over Toledo while posting career highs in field goals (11) and field goal attempts (17). He could eclipse those marks this week, but it's not likely.
"That's not what's important to me; it comes down to us playing well together,'' said Smith, who led the Vols in scoring and assists last season. "I don't have to be the high scorer, and that's fine with me because it's all about doing whatever it takes to win.''
Smith is averaging 11.5 points per game this season, but he didn't score his first basket against UNC Asheville Tuesday until there was under three minutes remaining in the first half.
UT sophomore Scotty Hopson, who's averaging a team-high 20.5 points, said Smith's importance to the team can't be measured by numbers.
"Tyler is our leader and motivator,'' Hopson said. "He makes so many plays; not just on the ball but off the ball. He really holds us together as a team.''
Pearl said Smith's approach is by design.
"Tyler understands he doesn't have to carry the scoring load, and some nights he'll score more than others,'' Pearl said. "He's really perfecting his role as a playmaker and taking advantage of his matchups.''
Smith figures to have his hands full against East Carolina's 6-foot-8, 250-pound sophomore Darrius Morrow, who leads the Pirates with 7.3 rebounds per outing and averages 12.7 points. Morrow signed with South Carolina, but changed over to East Carolina when Gamecocks' former coach Dave Odom retired.
"Tyler's going up against an SEC caliber player, but he's used to that,'' Pearl said. "He's usually giving away some size (at power forward), and he uses that to his advantage on the offensive end. Defensively, he's a warrior, really having to bang inside against bigger guys.''
Coverage: Foxcollegesports.com will stream the preliminary round games today and Saturday.
FSS will televise Sunday's games at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. as well as Monday's third-place game at 6 p.m. and the championship game at 8:30.
Pearl In November Tournament: The Paradise Jam is Pearl's fourth "preseason" November tournament. Here's how the Vols have fared in the others:
n 2006 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off: lost to Butler (44-56); lost to No. 2 North Carolina (87-101).
n 2007 Legends Classic: defeated West Virginia (74-72); lost to No. 15 Texas (78-97).
n 2008 Old Spice Classic: defeated Siena (78-64), defeated No. 21 Georgetown (90-78); lost to No. 9 Gonzaga (74-83).
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Comments » 19
Madkels writes:
Please don't get cocky. Just play hard and win with class!
cdonsbach writes:
GO VOLS!
Brillovol writes:
You can definitely see the progression from year to year in tournament play. All I care about is the SEC tourney this year. Please, oh please bring home a conference tourney trophy!!
Oh_Yes_He_Did writes:
this is the year! by the way, anyone else notice the mouse's ear ad on the homepage? hilarious!
jclowers writes:
Hopefully things will hold firm in the bracket and we can see the Vols give Purdue a shot it would be a battle of Top 10 teams and let us see where we are at talent wise.
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
purdue does not stink
govols26 writes:
Man I really hope the Vols play and beat Purdue. I live in NW Indiana so I'm surrounded by Purdue fans. Seeing as Tennessee hardly ever plays big ten teams this would be for some major bragging rights around here!
Go Vols!
IBleedOrange444 writes:
I work with a Purdue grad and the war of words has already started. He thinks that they will run with us and not try to slow down the tempo. I hope he is right b/c I think that will be a big mistake on their part. I think their starting PG is out with an injury so they'll have an excuse, but 1st we have to get to that game unscathed... one game at a time. Go Vols!!!
rclarkfork#639958 writes:
Should be a good test to see where we stand early in the season. If we get the effort on defense for an entire game that we got in the first 10 minutes of the last game, I think they can play with anyone in the country. It all starts with the point guards and it appears that Bobby is light years ahead of where he was last year on defense. Goins is quick enough to stay with just about any point guard and seems to enjoy that part of the game. This team has a real opportunity to be as good of a team as Tenn has ever put on the floor. They may not have as much talent as the starting five of the team the last year Bernard played but they have way more depth. That can be the difference when the big dance comes along. Looking forward to a good season and no better place to start then winning this tournament.
go_vols_go writes:
This team should be pretty tough. We're returning 4 seniors with experience in Tyler Smith, Wayne Chism, JP Prince, and Bobby Maze. Mcdonalds All American Scotty Hopson is looking deadly from the arc. Not to mention Brian Williams, Renaldo Woolridge, Cameron Tatum all with considerable SEC/NCAA experience. It was sad to see Negadu be sidelined. That kid had a great college basketball career ahead of him and I wish the best for him. That said, We should get a good seed in the tournament and make a great run!
GBO!
BRUUUUCEEE!!!
alfrizzle097 writes:
I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do against a tournament calibur team. We've looked good so far, and its obvious this year's team is much more capable of shooting from more than five feet. I'm just curious to see how that plays out against a team that can actually match up somewhat.
smokymtman writes:
Hope that big mouth of his doesn't have to eat crow! Seems like I've heard that "write that down" guarantee before...so put up or shut up.
spencer1989#206886 writes:
Until you win each game (and the final game)....I wouldn't go anticipating the "sure win" just yet. Just when you think you are unbeatable, you can just as easily have an "off day" and lose ANY game. Instead let's play each game one at at time with the same determination and concentration of winning. Then when you have won, then talk the talk.
cc623 writes:
Some of you people obviously don't watch any college basketball.The idiot that said all the teams stink is a moron.Purdue was a great tournament team last year even after their rise up the top 25 during the season!Their starting PG breaking his foot was a blessing for us but,it would still be a highly contested game...
WhatWouldMJsay writes:
Purdue has a much better defense than the Vols, losing Lewis Jackson doesn't matter, he turns the ball over almost as much as Crompton. Bring your jackets Vols fan, it's going to be raining 3s all night. Boiler Up!
ORANGE5 writes:
Any tv coverage, and where ?
bill#1374014 writes:
Watch out for N. Iowa. Seriously, this tourney is weak compared to others, with Purdue being the main competition. At least they don't have to play UNC or Syracuse (NIT).
alfrizzle097 writes:
It says in the article that you can view the game online, as it will be streamed.
PoochPuntOn3rdDown writes:
105-66 final score sure sounds a lot better than the score of the KY - Sam Houston State game. But we'll get to that later. This TN team is playing together, Pearl has gotten the most out of Tatum, Scotty is playing like Scotty should, Tyler is leading along with Chism, and everyone that played had an assist. Sounds like a fine coaching job, so far. Now as for our friends up I-75....
Yeah, just watched the Sam Houston State - Kentucky game. KY won by 10 and someone named Corey Allmond now holds the Rupp Arena record for three-pointers in a game. So, next time a Wildcat fan references Jodie Meeks holding the scoring record at TBA, you can come back with Corey Allmond. And at least Meeks was from the SEC and not the feared Southland Conference.
Please don't tell me this KY team is a Top 10 team. They don't play defense, they throw lazy, showboat passes, they whine when they think they didn't get a call; in short, this is a team of highly touted individuals that will have a hard time coming together as a team. And John Wall looks lost at times - against Sam Houston State....
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