LEXINGTON, Ky. - Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl revealed the playing status of senior post Wayne Chism will be a "game-time decision" after Chism sat out Friday night's walkthrough at Rupp Arena with a sprained ankle.
As if the challenge of facing No. 3-ranked Kentucky tonight (TV: ESPN, 9 p.m.) wasn't already difficult enough for the 12th-ranked Vols.
The Wildcats (23-1, 8-1 SEC) opened as an 8 1/2-point favorite over Tennessee (18-5, 6-3) Friday afternoon in Las Vegas.
Chism, who averages 13.1 points and seven rebounds, suffered the ankle injury in Tuesday night's 90-71 loss at Vanderbilt.
"We didn't even know he did it during the game,'' Pearl said. "He took the tape off (his ankles) and it ballooned up on him.''
The Vols took Wednesday off, and Chism was not able to practice Thursday or Friday.
With Chism sidelined or limited, the Wildcats' advantage along the front line will be even more glaring.
Kentucky leads the nation with a plus-10.2 rebounding margin, and with an average height of 6-foot-7, the Wildcats are the tallest team in the country.
Freshman post DeMarcus Cousins (6-11, 260 pounds) leads the SEC and is fifth in the nation with 15 double-doubles. Junior Patrick Patterson (6-9, 235) leads the SEC and is fifth in the nation with a .586 field-goal percentage.
"We're just going to have to keep going at them,'' Pearl said. "Kenny Hall is giving away a lot of size, but he'll battle. He'll try to put his body between them and the ball and rebound and use his quickness to beat them to spots.''
Hall, a 6-8, 220-pound freshman, said he played against Cousins on the AAU circuit.
"We went at each other, and I respect what he's doing now,'' Hall said. "Am I intimidated? That's not a word I use. Ever.
"We know we had a tough loss at Vandy, and we know people are expecting us to lie down, but that's not going to be the case.''
Tennessee junior Brian Williams figures to see action for only the second time since serving a nine-game suspension dating back to a well-documented Jan. 1 traffic stop. Williams (6-10, 278) played just two minutes against Vanderbilt on Tuesday.
UT legend Bernard King tried to do his part to inspire the Vols, telling them after Thursday's practice that "We don't lose to Kentucky.''
King's comment got back to the Wildcats' players, according to Kentucky coach John Calipari.
"They asked, 'who is Bernard King?' What number is Bernard King?' '' Calipari told the Lexington Herald-Leader Friday. "He doesn't play for them now; they don't know ... They're like, 'I'm guarding him.' ''
The Kentucky coach's attempt at humor was lost on Pearl, who has been focused on the task at hand in the days leading up to today's battle.
"Here's the deal: you turn it over against them, and you're going to be on SportsCenter,'' Pearl said. "They've got four players ranked in the NBA mock drafts anywhere from one to 20.
"Look at their roster and look at their bench. The guys sitting on their bench beat us twice last year.''
Calipari has made sure his Wildcats are taking the short-handed Vols seriously, too.
"They beat the No. 1 team (Kansas), and as a matter of fact, beat them good,'' Calipari said. "The last time I was highly ranked, he (Pearl) brought a team into Memphis (2008) and beat us.''
Pearl said this Kentucky team is more talented than Calipari's 2008 Tigers, a team that went on to play in the national championship game.
Freshman point guard John Wall, widely considered the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, is just as talented as former Memphis star Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Pearl said.
In fact, these Wildcats have more talent than the Florida teams that won back-to-back national championships earlier this decade, according to Pearl.
"We have got to understand, we're not just facing a talented Kentucky team, but a Kentucky team that will bring elevated play with ESPN GameDay on hand,'' Pearl said. "We're the highest ranked conference team they've played, and we've finished ahead of them four straight years in the SEC.
"They'll be doing all the little things in this type of game.''
Pearl said Kentucky's only potential weakness is it has at times been inconsistent shooting from the perimeter.
"But the last three games, they've shot the ball well at home, and that's a cause for concern,'' Pearl said. "The challenge is definitely formidable.''
Pearl said the Vols can only focus on what they do, and attempt to do it well.
"I'm not worried about getting our guys up to play, because this event speaks for itself,'' he said. "Offensively, we're going to have to be patient and get the ball into the hands of the guys on our team who can shoot it well.''
UT sophomore Scotty Hopson, who was recruited by the Wildcats before choosing the Vols, said he realizes some of the pressure will be on him, particularly if Chism is out or limited.
"I think it helps me that I've played them once already in Rupp Arena, so I have a better idea of what to expect as far as the crowd,'' said Hopson, a former McDonald's All-American from Hopkinsville, Ky. "The big thing for me will be scoring early in the offense, or scoring late. All of our key players are going to have to make plays.
"It's going to take special.''
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Comments » 117
SEC1 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Orangeblood13 writes:
and I have nightmares about "Vol" fans like you
you were probably in line cheering them when we beat Kansas, now dog them
a-holes, go stick your head in the sand
tennesseebee writes:
vols 71 kats 67-Money!
dwa7#337691 writes:
predict.........so sorry...
Vols 48
K men 72
Fryinpansvols writes:
If Chism doesn't play we have no chance. GBO!
JodiRamz writes:
It will be a long ride back to Knoxville if Chism can't play. The Vols don't have a chance for a win or even to keep it a close game without Chism.
SEC1 writes:
If Chism plays you still don't have a chance ,Demarcus cousins and Pat Patterson will eat chisms lunch.
rockytopatl writes:
Oh well. We have no chance without Chism.
Fryinpansvols writes:
Don't say never! People said that about the Kansas game as well. If I remember correctly, we beat South Carolina and Kentucky didn't. GBO!
GoldenWildcat33 writes:
From a Tiger Fan to the Vols. Take care of business and bring the Fat Kat down. Listen to this Vols. When he was at Memphis, he tried to get you removed from the schedule, now he has to face you twice or maybe three times. Believe me, Tiger fans are rooting for you because that is the closest the Tigers will get a game with Kentucky. Wayne will be ready and you guys bring your A game and go get them.
vol_4_fan writes:
If you are a true Vol fan you take you good and bad together. If Chism can go he will, if not we play with what we have left. My suggestion to the negative Vol fan,,,,get another team and site!! Real Vol fans let's stay behind our team. Go Vols
schymtz writes:
VolsRock54 & SEC1: What a way to start on this board! I hope Chism plays and plays well, but with him or without him the Volunteers will show up and give it their best shot. This Kentucky team should be hard to beat and are probably a final four team this year. A loss by Tennessee in Lexington never comes as a suprise. Taking delight in an opponents injury is also not a suprise, but anonymous posters taking cheap shots and believing it is fun or funny is disappointing and plain pathetic. If the whole Tennessee team has to limp back to Knoxville on foot in a snowstorm, there will be fans who know there are real enough reasons but no excuses. Now, the worst I can say to you is what's your excuse? I'll take your word for it but Witch_Doctor? Oh, Guys, be careful of Witch_Doctor for your own sakes. Bones never lie and he may say something that will cause you to lose sleep at night! (My apologies, Witch_Doctor, for dragin' you into this, but please show pity to the pitiful.)
Mule_Days_King writes:
Opportunistic troll strikes again. Bammer troll or Gator troll? Which is it?
Mule_Days_King writes:
What's your excuse?
CoverOrange writes:
you mean this dorky headband?
http://www.joesportsfan.com/?p=13342
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
can we bring back a quasi- 4 corner offense for a moral victory? 54-38
SummittsCourt writes:
Seriously, you are this stupid? Vols will show up with or without Chism and make UK work, but I expect him to play.
SummittsCourt writes:
Where you gonna be when a banged up chism outplays your soon to be one and done cousins?
SummittsCourt writes:
You'll be crying in your fruit loops come sunday morning loser.
dlobh writes:
That shut him up, didn't it? HAH!
rootin4volz writes:
And this was also said after the well-documented arrest of four players on Jan. 1 before we played #1 Kansas. Never say never. You FREAKIN' IDIOT NON-BELIEVERS! YOU EITHER LOVE YOUR TEAM AND BELIEVE IN THEM or you suck. Plain and simple. Go Big ORANGE!!!
TNORANGEDOGDAD writes:
Let's just hope our McDonald's All- American Scotty Hopson does'nt show up like the dollar menu instead of a Big Mac! Chris Lofton had a career night in Lexington to beat his home state team. So, come on Hopson and show us what you were recruited for, SHOW UP and play the game of your life!.
wayoutwill writes:
It's fairly frekin' obvious that you guys are not fans of the mighty Vols;it's obvious that you guys are complete idiot morons when you utter those crow-eating,stupid comments such as "no chance"!The Tn.Volunteers will always have a chance to beat any team in the nation and our chances improved greatly when one lengendary Coach named Bruce pearl came to our school.He will have the Vols ready,Wayne Chism will play in this game and it will be a battle.That is a freakin' fact!
DaddyVol writes:
I'm impressed with KY. They have the best team money can buy.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
If Chism has a hearbeat and he can breathe, I guarantee everyone this......He will PLAY in this game and he will give his all!!! The rest of the team will elevate their game also! I know its hard to win AT Rupp and KY has a great team with many great players, but don't count the Vols out yet! Go Vols......Beat the Cats!!!
VOLS....TCB.......KOKO.......GBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
eduardo writes:
Dont look now but Softy Hopson is tweeting that he may not play because he doesnt feel well. BP please recruit some bball players not just athletes!!!!!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
It's hard not to see this game from a realistic point of view; Coach C((can't bring myself to say his name)) assembled one of the best recruiting classes Ive seen in 15 years and now these players are a cohesive,consistent top#4 team..The Vols are totally out-manned and no matter how much I love this team nothing can change that..Nothing would thrill me more than to see Hopson outplay Wall and see Wayne knocking Cousin's shots into the 10th row but I have seen little from this team that suggests that will happen.....Than again SH#T HAPPENS!!!
james#216392 writes:
Give Coach C a couple years and KY will be on probation and the VOLS will rule again. It would take a miracle to beat KY at KY but miracles happen! When they come to Vol-land, it will be different.
BigHornBuckShot writes:
Barnard King, Barnard King. Enough. You honored the thug, now move on. Do you want your players to be like him? Wasn't he a disgrace to UT when he played. It would be like bringing Leonard Little back to talk to the football team.
wmainhotrods writes:
Kentucky 85 Tennessee 63 I am a vol all the way,but Kentucky is amazing on the court this year.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Well, if he can't go, then someone else HAS to step up their game, like a couple of players did in Kansas win.
rockytopatl writes:
I'll fill your sucky cup with some more Kool-Aid. By the way, anybody who can't even use the space bar isn't qualified to call anyone, especially a fellow Vol fan, "a complete idiot moron."
rockytopatl writes:
I guarantee you nobody on our team has ever heard of Dan Issel -- except maybe Hopson, who is from Kentucky. These kids play basketball -- that's all they do. I see no evidence any of them are true students of the game or its history.
halloffamebowler writes:
We can love our team and believe in them all we want ,but that dosen't change what most likely will be a beat down by Kentucky.I don't want the Vols to lose.We do not have the skills to stay with Kentucky without playing way above our heads like against Kansas. Upsets can and do happen.If Tennessee beats Kentucky,it will be great.If not ,it will still be great if they keep it close.To win this game,I believe they will have to give an even greater performance than the one they gave at home against Kansas.Win or lose,I will still be pulling for the Vols.
rlshepa#259432 writes:
Another person with a brain the size of a marble and a mouth not connected to the marble.
halloffamebowler writes:
Dude,maybe you are the one that needs to get a life.Chism is injured and has been for the past couple of games.You are not real.Adjust your attitude.
straightshooter writes:
So goes recruiting, so goes the top 10 teams in college basketball. As long as the same teams dominate recruiting, they dominate college basketball. So UK will likely blowout UT. Big deal, they should at least on paper with their talent level. Doesn't mean they have a better coach or team concept. College football will always be better than roundball. Harder to dominate recruiting aspect. Link that with how the players are coached up, game plans, etc. underdogs have a better opportunity to pull off an upset or getting ranked in top 10 by years end. Even look at the Superbowl. Caldwell was obviously out coached by Peyton.
lomas98 writes:
Injuries are always going to be part of the game, but Chism is the last player we can afford an injury. I have read we have no chance against KY if he doesn't play. If he doesn't play against any team who is left on the schedule it will be tough, just not KY. It is still long season and there are several games left to prove how good we can be. Go Vols and hang in there tonight. Just start playing better as a team.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Now THAT's funny!
wildcatbasketball writes:
Plasticman--I agree that it will be a tough game for UT. But anything can happen in college basketball. I will say this, if Chism is limited it will be a MAJOR challenge for UT to pull it off. I will say this, it WILL BE FUN to watch.
Take Care
By the way. I am actually in the airport in Knoxville heading to Vegas on business. You stated "your money was on Kentucky but your heart is on the Vols"...You want to me to put any down on Kentucky for you? I know that you are a true VOL fan and would never bet against your team. I just had to give you are hard time....
Enjoy the game tonight!!
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
The truth is, no one knows what's going to happen... we may see the team that played KU, we may see the team that played Vandy... whether Chism can go or not, WE really can't control anyway... just sit back and watch the game and enjoy the ride.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
...and if you're really worried, go back a couple decades and look at their records then! We've got it so good now, and we don't even realize it. GBO!!
rockytopatl writes:
Right on. Now that's a rational analysis, not a "you are full of it you idiot moron we can beat anybody who puts on a jersey every single night" dreamer's rant.
To add one factor you didn't mention: we're on the road. We haven't played a game worth a Confederate dollar on the road yet against a good SEC team. We seem to be pretty good in TBA and pretty lousy everywhere else.
Can we win? Sure. But it will take another Kansas game, this one on the road against a better team, with fewer weapons. I think Kentucky is a lot better than Kansas, by the way. Go Vols!
volball7222 writes:
One day you will find yourself with a Kentucky team that lost 4 starters...or...Coack C will be caught cheating in recruiting (again) and have you blue cats on probation. Paybacks are heck. Our Vols have guts...remember we beat a Kansas team with the a handfull of players and we could do it to the pussycats. There will be nashing of teeth!
wildcatbasketball writes:
FILL UP RUPP BABY for GAMEDAY!!! WOW...what are the fans going to do for 9 hours after gameday is over...any vol fans watching gameday?
No offense Vol fans..Our UK basketball fans are like UT football fans..DIE-HARD....
What a game it will be tonight!!!
rockytopatl writes:
Spock, please turn on the universal translater. This is a language we've never encountered!
asleep#212036 writes:
Uh, unless you are a trainer at UT, you can't be sure about a potential injury either. If you have ever had a taped ankle and twisted it, you would know that with any initial injury, as long as the tape is in place for support and the swelling is delayed, you can still move pretty well. Take off that tape, the swelling comes, the support is gone, and it's a different story. Gamesmanship? I'll go a little ways with you on that one but if I were Pearl, and Chism were not at least 80%, I would hold him out. I would take my lumps in Rupp and get him ready for Georgia at home, a game which we certainly must (and should) win - unless, of course, Chism injures his ankle worse in a futile effort in Rupp. It's all about the NCAA's my friend and right now, a loss in Rupp won't hurt us. Losses at home to Georgia or at South Carolina could be devastating to our tourney resume. Not bagging on you or anyone else but to me, this is a big picture thing, not a one game ploy. Go Vols!!!
johnlg00 writes:
Your heart is in a good place, and I agree completely about Scotty having to have the game of his life, but I don't think Lofton ever beat UK in Lexington.
UKblue02 writes:
100% correct rockytopatl, as i stated on another thread, if someone said it were Lebron James, Shaq, or Kobe then these kids playing now could relate.
brokebackvol writes:
Its a tough game as always, but what program has beaten the Mildcats more than any other?
The Vols. And those mangy cats still have to come to Knoxville.
GBO!!
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