Tennessee point guard Bobby Maze is still irritated by the Vols' one-point loss to Purdue in the championship game of the Paradise Jam more than a week ago.
"I have watched a replay of that game eight times,'' Maze said. "We missed so many shots, fast-break and transition. We should have won that game.''
But Tennessee (5-1) didn't, and as a result fell to No. 11 in the Associated Press poll behind one-loss Michigan State and North Carolina.
The Vols return to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday against East Tennessee State, which defeated Arkansas.
UT coach Bruce Pearl said he's hoping that point guards Maze and Melvin Goins start hitting shots at a higher percentage.
Maze correctly pointed out that the point guards are often dishing the ball off on the fastbreak and not getting the high-percentage transition baskets.
"People may not realize we can't crash the offensive boards, either, because we have to get back on defense,'' Maze said, "so we don't get the putbacks."
Without a doubt, that affects the point guards shooting percentage from the floor - but not their 3-point field goal percentage.
Maze is 18-of-42 (.429) shooting from the field and 4-of-13 (.308) beyond the 3-point arc, while Goins is 13-of-35 (.371) from the floor and 3-of-12 (.250) from 3-point range.
The rest of the Vols are a cumulative 43-of-85 (.506) beyond the 3-point arc.
"I'll give both Bobby and Melvin a slight pass for now,'' Pearl said. "Both of them have been playing good defense, and they are focused.''
The Three: Pearl filled in for Lane Kiffin at the Knoxville Quarterback Club on Monday and was asked if he would keep flip-flopping the starters at small forward.
Cameron Tatum started in place of J.P. Prince in Friday night's win over College of Charleston.
"I've said from the start of the season I've got six starters, because Cameron has really worked hard and looked good in practice,'' Pearl said. "Right now, they're both playing better when they come off the bench.''
Both have played 116 minutes this season with Tatum averaging 10.7 points to Prince's 3.3 and holding a 19-13 edge in rebounds. Both have six steals.
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Vanderbilt 65, Tennessee 47, Jan. 24…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 24
Orangeblood13 writes:
gota get some production out of these 2, damn that killed us last year!
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
coach 'em up bruce!!
CoachFulmer writes:
Better get up for ETSU. With Mike Smith's return for N. Florida's game last Sunday and Tommy Hubbard's turn in the spotlight, their gonna be tough. But I think ETSU's best chance to beat UT was last year when we had Tiggs and Pigram. Saying that, these are my two favorite teams and I hope UT pulls one out cause obviously the Vols have alot more to lose.
dwa7#337691 writes:
predict:
UT 77
ETSU 72
it will be close
Ironcity writes:
Have you ever played basketball? Do you know the background of our PG's? Clearly the answer is no. Your comments make you appear totally stupid. Keep posting Pete because the rest of us like to know what idiots see when the rest of us see something else.
FeelVol writes:
ETSU also hung around at Louisville and obviously with Smith back they are gonna really be up at TBA. Hope we're prepared.
richvol writes:
The problem with the point guards is too much dribbling and not enough movement by a lot of guys standing around for several seconds. If we could run a motion offense when forced to play a half court game we would be very difficult to beat. Additionally,Pearl needs to keep Chism and Williams under the basket and work it into them instead of letting them float around the perimeter.
VolunteerLifer writes:
It's important that the point guard be a scoring threat to prevent the opposition from playing 5 on 4 defense. but its more important that the point guard direct the team and keep it in sync. And its also more important that he be solid defensively. Pearl is praising these two guys for their defense, but he has not praised them very much for their performance in directing the team. I think its just as - if not more - important for them to improve in that area as in scoring.
KnoxTennVol writes:
Here we go again, Voice_OF_REASON, is that you? You still wanna deny that Tobias Harris was at that game? Same old Pearl bashing with a new name. Maybe you should have been hired instead of Pearl. What D1 school did you last coach to win anything like the SEC East or make it to the NCAA tournament?
Laydbakvol writes:
Petey,
Do us all a favor and next time you think of posting, just count to ten. Then slowly remove your hands from the keyboard, put them in your pockets, and take a walk to clear your head.
tennesseekilt#206652 writes:
My 2 favorite teams too - yes UT has more to lose so gotta pull for them, but I hope ETSU is able to at least keep it close. They have played a lot of games in a short period, so probably won't be very fresh. We'll see. Having Smith back should help.
Ironcity writes:
I don't ordinarily argue with an idiot but here it go's. Maze played in the EXACT same system at his JC as UT's runs. Unfortunately we were unable to run the press and up tempo system he was use to due to lack of court speed from most of the others on the court. Its still a problem but not as much as it was last year as players have become healthier and quicker due to their hard work. The system is fine but you still have to have the talent to run it. Maze is an average guard who was available in June because he really wasn't that great of a defender. Bruce took him out of desperation otherwise we would have had no point guard on the roster. A lot of the issues at the point stem from players not getting into school and others being kicked out. Quite frankly with virtually no point guard play and the loss of 4 starters last year UT still managed to be the 2nd best team in the conference.
When coach got here the place was a mess. To get UT where we want it to be coach Pearl had to take some chances and with that he has had mixed results. Crews, Prince, Ramar Smith and Tyler Smith are players coach took that came with baggage. So far coach is 2 for 4. Anytime you take JC's or transfers or non qualifiers you take a big risk. Its what had to be done to build the program. As we move into Pearl's 5th year we are starting to see the top 50 players coming to UT. We are starting to see character guys coming to UT. We are starting to see players who everyone in the country wants.
Pete you can spend all your time pointing out things you don't like in a game, I think I could find at least 20 things I don't like every game of every team I watch. The reality is this team plays hard, they are getting better, they are more capable and as their roles settle (its early in the year no reason to play guys 35 minutes), this team will be ready to go come tournament time. Pete have to ask yourself if you want get on this train or do you want to get run over.
Quite frankly I think I speak for everyone but Morristown when I say we all look forward to you getting steamrolled by the Pearl Train!
Ironcity writes:
Wrong again Moron. Mack committed in March long before Maze was on our radar. We only took Maze in June after Ramar Smith was dismissed from the team. Don't let the facts get it the way of your stupidty!
Ironcity writes:
I made a mistake Mack committed in January, not March. UT wasn't even on his list. The only big time program on his list was UK and they didn't offer. Pete if you want to whine, go to the big blue web site, I am sure they would love to have you. If you want anyone here or anywhere to take you seriously, try to come up with information that suggest you have a clue to how the game of basketball is played and try to give us information that actually pertains to UT instead of obscure names like Shelvin Mack.
PoochPuntOn3rdDown writes:
The only buzz I want involves PBR.
AllforTenn writes:
Can't we get a better "Voice of the Vols" than Kesling. He's on there now with the Lady Vols, calling Smallbone "Smallwood" continuously. His squeaky voice on the football broadcasts drives me nuts, and my son won't even listen to the games when he can't get to a TV. Surely, for a school with the funds UT has they can hire a competent voice.
Ironcity writes:
I just got done watching Tra Golden dismantle my sons high school team tonight. I think he had around 35 points. He was by far the quickest player on the floor. He is a slasher who looks about 25 years old.
He did not play point at all but he handled the ball at some point almost everytime down court. He could get to the rim anytime he wanted. Its really hard to judge high schoolers especially in a 40 point blow out but I didn't really see the point guard skills I was hoping to see. I got the feeling he will be a total stud in time but likely will not help UT much next year. He will not find it so easy to score when he is playing against similar athletes.
I will say that from a physical standpoint he looks like a college player already and he is awfully quick and strong.
slov writes:
article says 7pm... govolsxtra 'schedules' shows 730... is that being inaccurate or lazy? thx, kns.
slov writes:
note to self:
dear self, dont mess with IronCity.
Ironcity writes:
Thanks. He is not on the team and no amount of luck can help them.
VOLKING writes:
Just so you know...PETE_BELL is another screenname for Morristownvol. They are one and the the same....Memphis interlopers trying to stir the pot.
askUncleMaze writes:
@ Pete_Bell
I agree with you 100%... Dammmm you took the words out of my mouth.. Everytime B.Maze gets going they take Him out of the game.. This is some BS to me...CBP wont let anybody out shine Tyler mith. Im sorry but T.Smith wont get UT to the Final Four. We prove that last year.. I sat behind the bench @ the Island Jam in St. Thomas. B.Maze shot a pull up jumper from the foul line & it rimed out.. CBP said B.Maze was being selfish & doing his own thing again. Then guess what happens next B.Maze is taken out of the game.. If you want B.Maze to do his thing keep him in the game just like the other Sr's.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Bruce is rotating players alot to see what combinations get the best results; that will continue till SEC opening week.It appears that neither Maze or Goins have the talent to be game changers; it's not their job to have 20 point games; that falls on the other 2 guards..My biggest worry is how much we are depending on Hopson to average 15 or more a game.40% of our points should be coming from Chism;Tyler and Williams; they are our experienced producers and for whatever reason we don't use this advantage..On a good note I believe by mid January Tatum could be a major producer; He always seems to be around the ball; for a guard he rebounds well and inside with the bigs he is fearless...I hope Iam right because his play kind of goes unnoticed and he just seems to have that IT factor..Iam interested if any of you guys are seeing the same thing!!!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
I agree about Maze he's much better than Goins; he needs more time on the floor to get into the flow..The jury is still out on Tyler; He's gotten better at driving the lane and throwing up shots that Jordan himself couldn't make..Pearl has him doing this for one reason and that is to draw the foul..Tyler's strong point has always been the 12 to 15 foot jump shot but instead Pearl had him spend the summer working on 3 point shooting
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.