Tyler Smith says Paradise Jam slam dunk for Vols

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).

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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