Vols (5-1) are far from polished act

The Tennessee men's basketball team is ranked ninth in the country and is off to a 5-1 start, but the Vols remain a work in progress.

Kentucky freshman John Wall is off to a sizzling start and has proved he has a clutch shot, and Florida is suddenly dangerously resurgent with its win over No. 2 Michigan State.

Whatever is ailing Mississippi State and its Goliath front line in this early season will more than likely be cured before the Bulldogs hit SEC play.

Tennessee is anything but a shoo-in for the conference title; a few decisive wins over mid-major teams mean nothing.

It's not a stretch to say that what happens in December for the Vols - during practices, the individual work after practice, and the players' off-court conduct in their personal time and in the classroom - could determine how far this team goes.

Coach Bruce Pearl identified a potential problem in his preseason press conference when he noted the Vols lost two role players in Josh Tabb and Emmanuel Negedu.

As one coach told me, "role" is a four-letter word, and it's not easy to get players of marquee ability to buy in to accepting less glamorous duties.

It's natural for every player to want to be "The Guy.''

But these Vols need look no further than their senior captain, Tyler Smith, to see a bonafide star operating as a team player.

Smith has the best assist/turnover ratio in the SEC, and his ball distribution and decision-making in the halfcourt has been masterful.

Wayne Chism, too, has shown he can step up in big-time games, in addition to the consistency he's shown getting shots at appropriate times while rebounding and defending throughout the action.

Here's a look at five keys to the Vols getting better in December, and positioning themselves for big wins against Memphis, Kansas, and a run at the SEC title.

Eliminating unforced errors

Pearl called his team out for this as UT hasn't won the turnover battle in any of its past three games (10-14 vs. DePaul, 13-16 vs. Purdue, 16-16 with College of Charleston).

The issue could be the amount of competition. While Pearl only has 10 scholarship players, the quality of talent runs deep.

As players compete (try to prove their worth), some try to do too much rather than staying within the flow of Pearl's gameplan.

This is an issue that should level out by the middle of the SEC season.

Point guard play

It was an area that crippled the Vols last season, as Bobby Maze missed summer workouts and was forced to adjust to more of a half-court game.

Maze has improved defensively, and he appears well-suited for open-court, uptempo transition play.

Juco transfer Melvin Goins has proved an added weapon. A physical, tough defender who has shown the ability to be an explosive playmaker at times.

But this is still an area that must improve for UT to attain championships. Decision making and shot selection are the two key areas.

The three spot

J.P. Prince and Cameron Tatum should hold their own against most every wing they go up against in SEC play, provided they are both playing at or near their peak.

The key is to get both going in the same game; Prince is a penetrator with physical gifts that allow him to be a strong defender when he's asserting himself and a valuable rebounder. Prince has been getting to the rim, but he has struggled to finish.

Tatum is best known for his 3-point touch, but the biggest step he has taken is defensively, where he's showing more resolve and court awareness. Tatum also has shown a penchant for getting to the rim.

Hopson crunch time

Scotty Hopson's skills are undeniable on offense, but he's still scratching the surface of his defensive potential.

Hopson has lit up overmatched mid-major opponents, but he's yet to prove he can get it done against quality opposition (four points vs. DePaul, nine points vs. Purdue).

Purdue's Chris Kramer, the reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year, shut down Hopson. Kramer's accolades aside, he's 6-foot-4 and doesn't possess Hopson's athleticism.

Hopson must work harder away from the ball and come off screens sharper on the offensive end while using his athleticism on the defensive end and "manning up'' when the going gets tough.

McBee's maturation

It's hard to believe a 6-3 freshman walk-on could prove to be the X-factor, but it's true. McBee understands his role with the Vols and scraps every second he's on the court, showing an undeniable desire to win.

McBee has shown prowess defending and hitting the open 3-pointer. His role is to bring momentum and energy, and the quicker he matures and becomes accustomed to the speed of the game, the more effective he'll become.

The Grainger County product has essentially carved himself 15 minutes in the rotation with desire and hard work after little was expected of him.

Mike Griffith covers University of Tennessee men's basketball. He can be reached at griffithm@knoxnews.com.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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