If you care at all about who Bruce Pearl starts on the floor in Friday's exhibition game, you're one up on the Tennessee basketball coach.
"It really isn't important to me who starts, but it may be important to the players,'' Pearl said. "It's more important we understand what we're trying to do.''
Pearl said the Vols have yet to shift into game mode, even though their 7:30 p.m. exhibition opener against North Alabama on Friday night at Thompson-Boling Arena is fast approaching.
"We're in training camp mode still,'' he said. "We've had three contact practices in a row. I'd never do that during the season.''
The Vols will scrimmage today in Thompson-Boling as Pearl continues to implement offensive and defensive plays.
"I'm looking for us to play well (Friday) given what we have in so far,'' Pearl said. "We've got about 25 percent of our offense and 75 percent of our defense in, but we're nowhere close to where we need to be.''
Pearl said he planned on going 12 deep against North Alabama.
"I want to do a lot of evaluating,'' he said. "I want to see what happens when the lights come on.''
As for who ends up starting where, Pearl said there are myriad possibilities.
Point Guard - Bobby Maze, Melvin Goins.
Shooting Guard - Scotty Hopson, Cameron Tatum, Skylar McBee
Small Forward - J.P. Prince, Tatum, Steven Pearl
Power Forward - Tyler Smith, Wayne Chism, Renaldo Woolridge, Kenny Hall, Pearl.
Center - Wayne Chism, Brian Williams, Hall.
Tabb Update: Senior Josh Tabb, who is indefinitely suspended from team activities, is back in his hometown of Carbondale, Ill., caring for his mother, who is ill.
There has been speculation Tabb might transfer to be closer to home, but Pearl said he had no comment on Tabb's family situation.
Staying Late: Hopson, Woolridge, McBee and Hall stayed nearly two hours after Tuesday's practice to get in extra shooting.
The players competed in a 3-point circuit-shooting competition.
Most know about Hopson and Woolridge's 3-point tendencies, and many in the Knoxville area are aware of McBee's schoolboy hero status at Grainger High School, but the 6-foot-9 Hall also has proved to have surprisingly good touch.
"You guys have more energy than you did in practice!'' UT assistant Jason Shay quipped as he left the gym.
Shay, a former Iowa walk-on, beat Hopson and Woolridge in a 3-point shooting contest last season and has been bested at UT only by former Vols' All-American Chris Lofton.
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Comments » 18
Rockygrass writes:
Can't wait for the season to begin, it's going to be a fun one boys!
AceVentura writes:
I had no idea Jason Shay could bang 3 pointers. That's awesome.
govols2010 writes:
has anyone heard anything about Tabb leaving the program for family reasons, not necessarily a season long suspension?
Slystone writes:
Recruiting rumour has it Tarik Black will be in town this weekend. A must get for the Vols.
MidTennVol writes:
Love to hear about this focus on the 3. We really, really need to find a perimeter threat again.
VOLKING writes:
THis is on ESPN's SEC Hoops preview about Coach Pearl. There is more there to read, this is for the morons and lopers who say Pearl is a poor coach.
ESPN HOOPS PREVIEW--TENNESSEE
One day, the coaching job Bruce Pearl turned in last season might come to be regarded as one of his best.
After losing Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith, Jordan Howell and Ramar Smith, Pearl found himself with a guard-poor group that had only two players shorter than 6-6. He had no pure point guard, and no speedy lockdown type to create havoc in his trademark press, which he ultimately had to shelve. Worse, three-point shooting, a deadly weapon in Pearl's first three seasons, became a liability; the Vols ended up shooting .315 in the Southeastern Conference, last in the league.
Throw in the usual array of injuries, egos, personal problems, etc., and it was a miracle the Vols managed to win 21 times, impressive that they tied for first in the SEC's Eastern Division and groundbreaking that they advanced to the finals of the league tournament. They hadn't played in the league title game since 1991 and hadn't won the tournament since 1979.
rclarkvols#224537 writes:
I hope we focus on getting Harris and Pinkston out of New York. Tarik Black will end up at Memphis.
golfballs03 writes:
I think you're right. Harris is a must, and we need to keep after Pinkston. What about Jelan Kendrick?
golfballs03 writes:
Selby said that Tennessee was still on his list of schools. Is that false? I can't understand how you go from liking a school enough to commit then to not even considering them. If this really is all about Nike, the kid needs to get a clue. LeBron wore Adidas in high school, do you think that somehow changed his status w/ Nike when he went pro??? What a joke, if it were that big of a deal, Marcus Jordan wouldn't be playing at UCF - an adidas school.
MikeInTN writes:
Re: T. Black...good luck on getting a guy Memphis wants!
Major_Magilicutty writes:
Boy oh boy...if Steven Pearl starts a game I won't watch the rest of the season. The kid is not good at basketball. In any case, I'm really excited about our Vols this season. Should be a fun ride.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
^Sarcasm about S.Pearl
Major_Magilicutty writes:
^only about not watching the rest of the season though...the kid stinks!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Not fair. He will never light up the scoreboard, but he does lots of other things that every team needs SOMEONE to do, like rebounding, setting screens, playing defense, and scrapping for loose balls. He also will never start unless most of the team comes down with swine flu or something. He likely will never play more than five minutes at a time or even that much total in most games.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
All these potential line-ups don't mean much at this stage, but I'm surprised Tyler isn't listed at the small-forward position. Several other players are listed at more than one position. He would seem to be a natural fit there if the team "goes big" with Williams or Hall and Chism playing the posts.
Hoops43 writes:
It's obviously a problem now. He is refusing to wear the Adidas stating he only will play in the Jordan Brand. Adidas is all up in arms about it. Contractually he must wear the Adidas or wear shoes that show no logo of any sort.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
Well, comparatively speaking, he's the weakest link, IMO.
I've seen better decision making, shot selection, and passing on High School JV teams. He's strong and he's a presence in the block, but he doesn't strengthen our team very much when he's on the court.
All the same, I don't question his effort and support him as a Vol...I just don't think he's very good.
miketnvolsfan writes:
It time to hit the hardwood boys and i think the tennessee family is going to witness one something great from this team this year....IT GOING TO BE HUGE.......I SAID ITS GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL...LETS GO BIG ORANGE
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