ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands - The top NBA prospect on the floor might not being wearing orange today.
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl makes no secret of it: The Vols wanted DePaul's 6-foot-10 center, Mac Koshwal, and they wanted him bad.
"We had him on campus for a visit two years ago, and Mac is a great rebounder who scores well and is playing very well right now,'' Pearl said. "We'll be challenged.''
Tennessee (3-0) tips off against the Blue Demons (2-0) at 6 tonight (TV: FSS) in the semifinals of the Paradise Jam tournament.
Koshwal is averaging 15.5 points and 15.5 rebounds per game this season.
With a win over DePaul, the Vols would play the winner between Saint Joseph's and Purdue for the tournament championship on Monday (TV: FSS, 8:30 p.m.) With a loss, UT faces the loser of the other semifinal on Monday (TV: FSS, 6).
DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright clearly knows what to expect from the Vols.
"Playing fast is one thing, but they get going supersonic,'' said Wainwright, whose team rallied from 10 down to defeat Northern Iowa 60-52 on Friday. "You've got to make instinctive plays against Tennessee; there's not much time to think.''
The Vols enter today's game having put together the highest points toals for consecutive games (229) in school history, eclipsing the previous record of 214 set in 1974-75 when UT beat Missouri 99-77 and Vermont 115-66.
As for Koshwal, Wainwright said his center has played much better than DePaul's record has reflected.
"He's just about averaged a double-double his whole career,'' he said, "and he's done that in the Big East against some of the best teams in the country.''
UT has a budding star of its own in shooting guard Scotty Hopson, who has made national headlines by opening the season hitting 14 of 18 from beyond the 3-point arc.
"Yes, we saw some of DePaul's game, and it is a very good team with a great big guy,'' Hopson said. "But we've got a few big guys, too.''
Pearl said another of his big concerns is the Blue Demons' doggedness.
"Not only do they have one of the best rebounders in the country, this is a team that knows how to keep games close,'' Pearl said. "They have an advantage there, because we haven't had a tough game yet.
"They'll be a hard team to speed up, and they'll play smart. This will be the most aggressive defense we've seen.''
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Tennessee Lady Vols 82, Auburn Tigers 64
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 7
Ringside writes:
Go get'm Vols! Don't let up and smother them on full court press.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
This will be the first test of how the Vols will play a mostly half-court game. DePaul will try to slow it down to take advantage of their big guy and keep the Vols' depth from being a factor.
UTByrd writes:
Wow! 14 of 18 beyond the arc. That'll sure stretch a defense.
Go VOLS!!!!!
GreeneVol_TN writes:
A lot of teams try to slow things down but as Tennessee players are finding out this year, Defense dictates tempo. Steals and turnover tend to speed things up whether you want it that way or not. Clamp down on em guys! Stay in the passing lanes and keep those traps coming. I'm not sure yet if a team can cover our wings and keep Wayne and Tyler from going off on them at the same time.
GO VOLS!
volatil writes:
What channel is this for Direct TV? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Hardrocknox writes:
i am still trying to figure out what channel this for on comcast ,lol . anybody knows that would be great .
volatil writes:
My Dad has it on 263 on Comcast in Murfreesboro.
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