Patrick Murphy-Racey / Special to the News Sentinel
Tennessee's Skylar McBee shoots a 3-point shot against No. 1-ranked Kansas on Sunday as the shot clock winds down.
Photo by Saul Young
Tennessee's Kenny Hall makes a shot attempt as Florida's Dan Werner goes down.
A year ago they were playing high school ball. Now, they're guarding Alabama and trying to get a shot off against Vanderbilt.
Practices are more intense. Scouting reports are more complicated. On game day, there are no possessions to coast through and catch a breather.
That's why college freshmen sometimes hit a proverbial wall and February is a likely time to hit it.
Tennessee freshmen Kenny Hall and Skylar McBee admit they're working harder than they ever have. But they don't necessarily buy the wall theory.
They're 20 games into college basketball as the 14th-ranked Vols (16-4, 4-2 SEC) head to LSU (9-12, 0-7) on Thursday night (TV: ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
"I don't feel anything unusual,'' Hall said Tuesday. "I don't think I've hit my wall yet.
"You've got to remember I just got started not too long ago, really. I wasn't playing as much early so now, I'm still pretty good.''
Hall, a 6-foot-9 post, played only sporadically through December. After the Jan. 1 incident that got Tyler Smith dismissed and Brian Williams suspended, Hall's role has increased.
He's averaging 21 minutes in SEC play and has started two games.
McBee's role has been more consistent. The guard from Grainger High School averages 15.2 minutes.
"It's been strenuous going through the season,'' McBee said, "but I'm trying to fight through it right now, taking care of my body.
"I worked out a lot during the summer because I knew during the season I was going to have to push myself.''
Both freshmen have had their struggles lately.
McBee is shooting just 30.9 percent from 3-point range - 20.8 percent in SEC play. But he interprets that as a general adjustment to college defenses rather than a freshman wall.
"That's just getting used to the speed of the game,'' he said. "People are longer and more athletic (than high school) and they close out faster.
"That's something I'm working on in practice, getting shots off quicker. Hopefully, I can get used to that and my percentage will go up a little bit.''
Hall is shooting a robust 58.1 percent from the field in SEC play. His frustration came at the free-throw line, where he was 1-of-6 against Florida on Sunday.
"It happens,'' he said. "Every player goes through it. Kobe Bryant went through it.
"I wasn't a terrible free-throw shooter in high school. I'll get over it.''
Coach Bruce Pearl, meanwhile, is keeping a watchful eye for signs of freshman fatigue.
"We talk about it,'' he said. "You face facts. I don't blame Kenny for being tired, what he had to do physically to get ready to play this year, the growth spurt and the weight gain.
"But mentally, they're both OK. Neither one of them has played as much and they're both hungry.''
Summitt At TipOff Club: Pat Summitt is the featured speaker at today's Big Orange TipOff Club. The public is invited at Calhoun's on the River for a noon lunch buffet.
Slay In The House: Ron Slay, the 2003 SEC player of the year, watched practice Tuesday. Slay is recovering from surgery to repair a bulging disc and said he will return to Italy this month.
He plays for Cimberio Varese in Italy's top league.
Dan Proctor draws Tennessee Football…
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Comments » 19
UTByrd writes:
What's up with this article? Hall and McBee may not score many points but they make up for that with their hustle on the defensive side. If they hit the wall, it'll be their defense that will be affected the most.
Go VOLS!!!!!
UTByrd writes:
I apologize for the previous post. I went back and reread and realized the article was about overall performance. Sorry.
Go VOLS!!!!!
dahc writes:
Personally I would like to thank both freshmen for their hard work!!! Keep it up!!!
DRAGtheWATERS writes:
I just like everything about Hall's game except his free throw shooting of course. There is a player in the early 80s he reminds me of but I cant think of the name. He might have played with Tyrone Beaman I think can somebody help me out?
jdcdjc writes:
I am looking for special things out of Kenny Hall before he leaves UT.
hillsborovol writes:
Agreed! If Kenny is close to the basket, he is either going to slam it, or break his opponent's hand on the rim trying.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
As these 2 develop into roles they are fun to watch! There have been moments that I wished McBee could start at point but Maze has really come around nicely. I hope McBee and Bobby start making a few more 3's as well as Tatum.
I love Tatum's energy (on the court). He won't get Hopson's job but he can be a huge factor. I thought he'd get JP's job for a while but JP has shown some quality time lately. We're not the best team in the league today but before the year is over Hall may help get us there. He's a man!! He's not Chism yet but he seems to be more mature than Chism was as a Freshman (well sophomore and Junior too). I can't wait to see him with next years recruits dominating the SEC!!!
FeelVol writes:
I'm not sure he played with Beaman but could it be Reggie Johnson. I love Halls' game as well and am looking forward to increased playing time for him if not this year then next.
johnlg00 writes:
I'm not sure about just when he played or who he played with, but the name that popped into my mind on that question was Willie Burton. He wasn't much of an offensive threat--Reggie Johnson WAS an offensive threat--but he was about Hall's size and build, and he battled hard on defense and under the boards. I think we all expect great things from Kenny as his career progresses.
DRAGtheWATERS writes:
Thanks johnlg & FeelVol I think I might be mixing Willie Burton, Reggie Johnson, and a little of Dale Ellis I was pretty young then born in 72. I checked out UTSports site they have a nice archive of stats.
tneagle writes:
We could use Ron Slay right now. Any update on Brian Williams? I would like to see him in there before we play Cousins and KY.
elmoe writes:
I thought he (& Tatum and Goins) was to face arraignment on Jan 29 but I never heard what shook out.
rab63 writes:
I think maybe you are thinking of Carlos Groves. He was about the same size and played strong in the paint but when he went to the free throw line he couldn't hit the ground with his hat.......
volsfan92 writes:
go vols....beat LSU!!!
Fryinpansvols writes:
Kenny needs to keep working on his Free Throws! We need the free ones Mr. Hall! I know he is a Freshman but we can ill afford another 1-6 performance from the line we games getting tougher down the line. GBO!
johnlg00 writes:
Honestly, Plas, all that ancient history runs together in my mind these days. IIRC, I was responding to a poster who thought it might have been Reggie Johnson. Willie Burton may have hit a game-winner at some point, but he is not among the top 35 career scoring leaders in the media guide, whereas Reggie is FIFTH. I love Kenny Hall as much as anybody else on here, but he will have to go some to be anywhere NEAR the offensive threat Reggie Johnson was. Luckily for all of us, he has plenty of time to get better. He doesn't have to crack the top-10 all-time, but it SURELY would be nice if he could crack the top-20 before he is done!
johnlg00 writes:
Again, I agree except for the offense. I remember Reggie playing with Bernie and Ernie very well. I also remember that Reggie could stick the foul line jumper pretty regularly even as a freshman when teams were trying to cover the other two down low. Kenny just doesn't have that shot yet, though I have faith that he will will develop it in time.
tennboy78 writes:
McBee needs to learn the pump fake and drive past the defender when the defender goes for the block. He does not have to settle for the 3 all the time. Once he starts doing that, it will give him more time and space for the 3, as the defence has to respect the fake possibility.
johnlg00 writes:
Good advice. He doesn't even have to try to take it all the way to the bucket. Pump fake, power dribble in almost any direction, jump-stop squared up, go right up with the jumper. Larry Bird made a Hall-of-Fame career off of that sequence, and he did it regularly against even quicker defenders than McBee faces.
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