Photo by Keith Srakocic, Associated Press
Tennessee's John Fields (25) blocks a shot by Pittsburgh's Ashton Gibbs (12) in the first half of the NCAA college basketball game in the SEC-Big East Invitational in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010.
Photo by Keith Srakocic, Associated Press
Pittsburgh's Brad Wanamaker (22) scores in front of Tennessee's Brian Williams (33)in the second half of the NCAA college basketball game in the SEC-Big East Invitational in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010.
PITTSBURGH - Tennessee came into the Steel City in attack mode, anxious to prove its worth against the Big East's best Saturday afternoon.
Led by a career-high 27 points from junior Scotty Hopson, the 11th-ranked Vols scored a convincing 83-76 men's basketball victory over No. 3 Pitt before a partisan crowd of 15,166 at the Consol Energy Center as part of the SEC-Big East Invitational.
"I knew what we were up against, said Hopson, who scored 16 of his points in the first half as UT cruised to a 37-25 lead by halftime. "I knew I had to make plays and stay in attack mode for us to win.''
The Vols entered the game as 8-point underdogs but led by as many as 21 in the second half. At 7-0, UT is off to its best start in Bruce Pearl's six-year tenure at UT.
Pittsburgh (10-1) led only once, when Brad Wanamaker scored the first basket of the game for two of his team-high 21 points.
A Hopson 3-pointer gave UT a 28-17 lead at the nine-minute mark of the first half and triggered a 7-2 run. The Panthers didn't get closer than eight until there were 11 seconds left in the game.
"They got us in a hole and we just didn't recover,'' said Panthers coach Jamie Dixon, whose teams had won 57 consecutive non-conference games in the city of Pittsburgh dating back to a 69-66 loss to Bucknell on Jan. 2, 2005. "They just beat us at our game.''
UT senior Melvin Goins made sure of it, scoring 11 of his career-high 19 points in the final two minutes, most of them coming from the foul line.
The Vols collectively connected on 12 of 14 free throws in the final two minutes to stave off Pitt's final, furious rally.
Cameron Tatum, who scored 14 points, had a pair of free throws down the stretch after finishing 4-for-6 shooting from the floor.
"We knew they play tough, and they play physical,'' Tatum said. "We had to match their level of intensity and toughness.''
The Vols got Pitt's attention early, as the Panthers hadn't trailed by more than eight points this season prior to Saturday.
"Tennessee had a good first punch and we just didn't respond,'' Wanamaker said. "They brought it to us and they just kept coming.''
Hopson was relentless, most notably with 14 1/2 minutes remaining after Pitt cut the lead to single digits and forced Pearl to call a timeout.
The Consol Energy Center was rocking with gold-clad Pitt fans sensing a comeback before Hopson drove the lane and banked in a shot high off the glass.
A Trae Golden steal on Pitt's ensuing possession led to Hopson pulling up in the lane, drawing contact, and adjusting his shot in mid-air.
"Scotty made play after play,'' Goins said. "We all know he can score, but when he made that 'and-1,' when he drew the foul and adjusted his shot, I knew this was going to be remembered as a great game for him.''
Pearl, who picked up his 450th career coaching victory and ran his record to 7-7 against top-5 teams, said Hopson is evolving.
"It was a big game on the road, on a big stage, and Scotty made some tough baskets,'' Pearl said. "You can see his development.
"Our seniors know they need Scotty, and Scotty knows he needs to score for us to win.''
While Hopson's 10-for-13 shooting performance was sure to make the highlight reels, the importance of Tennessee's defense and rebounding can't be overlooked.
The Panthers entered the game with the top rebounding margin in the nation, but the Vols out-rebounded them 34-32 despite UT's three tallest players - Brian Williams, John Fields and Kenny Hall - fouling out.
Pearl had hoped Saturday would be the debut of 6-foot-7, 258-pound sophomore transfer Jeronne Maymon, but the UT office of the provost decided to withhold his eligibility until grades are made final.
"I didn't even think about it once the game started,'' said Pearl. "This was a big road win, and it helps us in every way.
"But now we've got Oakland, and they lost to No. 7 Michigan State by one point (77-76) today.''
The Vols play the Golden Grizzlies (5-5) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
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Comments » 218
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
What a win! Go Vols!!!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Yeah Vols. Won even with all the fouls.
eb502us#225637 writes:
Great win, couldn't play much better, save for the last four minutes. Perhaps Hopson is finally getting it.
mlynn1 writes:
This team is pretty good! Great win.
Go Big Orange.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Where are the Hopson haters!!!!??? LOL LOL LOL
bigdisbig writes:
What a great showing. Big East is OVERRATED as usual. GO VOLS!!!
Ironcity writes:
Great win! When Hopson's feeling it he looked like a man among boys! If the refs call it remotely even UT wins by 30.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor say hell yea!
Bones never lie.
Go Vols!
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
For real. The officiating was as bad as I've ever seen it.
asleep#212036 writes:
Looks like Pearl may actually have him a team instead of individual players. Hopson is becoming the player he was recruited to be and Goins is playing point the way it must be played on Top 5 teams. They still have some tough non-conference games left and then the SEC East but right now they look confidant and poised, with a swagger we haven't seen in a long time. If they still look this good in March, who knows? Go Vols!!!
Razzle writes:
Fantastic win!!! Pearl is the man.
Titan writes:
Unfortunate that folks will look at stats and see that the free throws were not all that lopsided - only because Vols shot a ton of them in the last couple minutes as Pitt fouled to the end. For quite some time there, I thought the gold team was Vandy and we were playing in Nashville. Game wouldn't have been close without Pitt going to the line over and over and over . . .
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
A few things...
The Vols absolutely DOMINATED the game, from start to finish! They owned a top-5 team in what may as well have been a home game for them! Hopson was doing whatever he wanted out there, but it was a great TEAM effort all around...
Since people want to talk about investigations, may I humbly suggest the NCAA pan its microscope to today's officiating crew? The worst calling of a basketball game I've ever seen! Really, over 30 fouls? How many did Pitt get, like negative one or something? Intentional foul against the guy who slung BW to the ground that wasn't called, what the hell does it take? Does the guy need to pull out a 9mm and shoot him, for god's sake?
Pearl and the Vols are on a "f(#& you" tour of the NCAA, and I'm loving every minute of it!.
One more thing.... Jay Bilas is the only guy on ESPN with a brain... Hope he runs in '12.
Tilley1 writes:
Great post! Last 5 minutes took an hour to play, though I know we made some turnovers and dumb fouls during that time, Pitt got away with everything. Would have been at least a 20 point win in Tennessee. GREAT WIN, GBO!!
pupvol writes:
agreed, they had to almost decapitate somebody to get a foul called on them!
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
WOW...What a game, great offense and defense! Can't play much better than that...just saying!
VOLS....TCB.....KOKO.....GBO!!!
TopTenn writes:
The Big East Champs............The Tennessee Volunteers.
LEXKYVOLS writes:
Hey coaches and media, how do you like us NOW!
BillyVol writes:
D E F E N S E
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
They like us so much that the Vols will inch up one spot to #10, while Pitt goes down to #8.
vol_4_fan writes:
May have been the biggest win considering the oppenent, site & history Pitt has in non confernce games. Go Vols!
huntined#565710 writes:
GREAT WIN !!! Pearl had them ready to play and they really wanted this game.. National t.v. and even the espn crew were talking good about our VOLS.
stratocaster54 writes:
1. Holly Cow! This team's for real! GBO!!!
2. Scottie Hopson is in the house!
3. Hat's off to the refs, you did a great job! NOT!
4. Self-absorbed Jay Bilas needs to get over himself. I'd be willing to bet my salary that he couldn't pass a lie detector test.
baldingalum writes:
Great win! One of the worst officiated college basketball games I have ever seen. Bilas pointed out several times how lopsided it was. And guess what, it didn't matter.
This is a very, very good team. And a deep one.
FatElvis writes:
Scotty, I'm sorry I called you a McDonald's happy meal. You are the up sized BIG MAC deal. Big win for the Vols and CBP.
stratocaster54 writes:
B-e-l-i-e-v-e in the ORANGE!
theoldbear writes:
I don't think I can ever remember announcers commenting on the officiating and the SEC commissioner the way I heard today. Wow!
Jay Bilas is a VOL fan?
This was a great win! Melvin Goins is THE
MAN! The way he kept his composure, went to the line and nailed FTs in the final minutes was what a point guard is supposed to do.
I have to say it. There were times in this win when I thought I was watching a Ray Mears coached team. And that, folks, is a compliment from the old bear!
GO VOLS! CRACK THE TOP TEN THIS WEEK!
asleep#212036 writes:
It was bad but to be fair, Big East teams play a very physical style of ball and as such, they know how to foul and not get called as well as how to coax a call when they need it. SEC teams as a rule do not play that kind of ball so the foul situation shouldn't be all that surprising. Further, those were Big East refs in a Big East arena and the math on that one isn't hard. That's why home court in basketball is so important - almost every call in a basketball game is a judgment call, not procedural like football. Judgment is so subjective. Officiating with coaches and players you know playing in front of a raucous home court crowd can get in the refs' heads just like the players. Strong work to persevere and overcome. Great win and bodes well for our future. Go Vols!!!
NYvolFan writes:
Cool...win #2 of 3 on-the-road versus the Little East. Even without the Refs even closely calling it fairly. I was worried about the layoff, but the coaches certainly stepped up big time. Melvin is the man! Hopson was awesome, Brian played tough, Cam is also the man!
Go Vols...Top 5 Baby!
richvol writes:
The officiating was so biased that it looked crooked. It was called evenly until Tennessee started to dominate. Then the refs tried to keep it respectable or we win by 25 to 30. If Slive would do his job he would file a complaint to the Big East but good luck with that.
Bilas was right about one thing...Slive had no business interfering with the NCAA penalty on Pearl by adding one of his own. I have no respect for Slive. He is terrible.
Great win by the VOLS.
Down_The_Field writes:
YES!
OrangePride writes:
The zebras did what they could to keep Pitt in this game, but Tennessee out hustled them, out coached them, and out played them all afternoon. Tennessee, as 8 pt dogs, really showed this country and the media something today. They are all eating large portions of humble pie and ya gotta love it. It is certainly Great to Be a Tennessee Vol!
CoverOrange writes:
Tennessee will always lead in fouls because that is the way they play defense - contest every shot.
I had convinced myself over the past many years of watching college ball that traveling was when you took 6 steps instead of 5 but I guess the Big East defines it as leaning forward. Never seen so many traveling calls..both ways.
b16VOLster writes:
Should have counted as 2 wins (Pitt&Refs)
tnbigg writes:
Dang.
TNVOLNTX writes:
How can you say anything bad about Bilas? He's the only sports guy on the national scene to give Tennessee a fair shake. He slammed Slive for Pearl's suspension and constantly pointed out how lopsided the calls were against UT. It was actually refreshing to hear an announcer not pile on for a change.
orangecountyvols writes:
Vols,
Several things. First, congratulations on going up there and gutting it out.
Next, and this was done without Maymon, Woolridge, and Bone for great depth.
Finally, I am hoping the esteemed Commish Slive was listening to Jay Bilas. This sent a nationwide message to how a lot of people feel about the power play by this guy.
Only negative was how the 21 point lead evaporated in the last 4 minutes. And yes, the parade to the free throw line was a big plus for the Panthers.
People can struggle to run down this Tennessee basketball team, but game after game they are making the trolls and naysayers look like fools.
Welcome to the top 10 guys.
baldingalum writes:
On point number 4 - WHAT!?! Bilas continually noted how biased the officiating was against Tennssee. He commented, "Who do I give my $100 to? Tennessee is running a clinic."
He was also spot on about Mike Slive and his overstepping his bounds on the suspension.
samjrr writes:
We want the Blue Devils!
TeeBall writes:
Will a southern team playing in the north ever get a fairly officiated game? This game was as badly officiated as the Ohio State game from a few years ago. The only difference was that Pitt didn't make their free throws otherwise they would have won. The refs certainly did their part to help them. Geez !!!
NYvolFan writes:
Exactly about Bilas' Slive comments...it's NOT his job to penalize Pearl...
And just think...Bruce Pearl stepped up to help Slive and the SEC by accepting to play this game at Pitt...nobody else would!
BigBadVol writes:
Wasn't there an article earlier that pretty much said we couldn't match up? This team is for real!
johnlg00 writes:
Agree with all except for the bit about Bilas. I know, I know, he took a pretty hardcore position about CBP's NCAA troubles, but nearly everything he said about the actual game, including CBP's coaching, was overwhelmingly positive toward the Vols, IMHO.
fpcoach writes:
A very impressive win by a determined, well coached team.
Scotty has decided he wants to be a pro.
The tougher team was wearing orange.
Pretty good Oakland team coming to Knoxville.
Enjoy the win but it means nothing if you lay an egg against them.
Celebrate tonight, go to work tomorrow.
GBO
NYvolFan writes:
I heard Duke lost their point guard, perhaps for the season, today.
Go Big Orange!
VolQB writes:
Great win. Really a game to learn how to win and how they can easily lose.
Hitting free thows at end saved their butts. One of the basketball commandments to winning is not to foul EVER when you are winning trying to run the clock. Vols played very stupid the last 10 min of second half.
It's early in the season. So, I hope their basketball intelligence increases each game. Apparently, our bench is not deep enough to bench players after bone head needless fouls.
johnlg00 writes:
Actually, I thought he looked more like RUTH'S CHRIS'S top-of-the-menu entree today! I have been as hard on Scotty as anyone on here, but he was THE MAN today! He was almost completely in control in every situation. He may not shoot that well from the 3-pt line every time out, but he didn't waste too many moves otherwise.
danisavol writes:
wow, I mean wow. The worst officiating I have ever seen, and we still win handly. GO VOLS
db11_cn writes:
The Big East isn't overrated, UT is just better. Only worry is that they don't peak early or hit a wall with Bruce away for 8 games. And for that chancellor who didn't want Maymon to play - -tough luck sis!
NYvolFan writes:
Has anyone seen this boggus article by this guy namned Dexter Rogers? If this guy is getting paid for this, he needs to be FIRED immediately. I would in a split-second if he worked for me.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/53...
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