Tennessee Men's Basketball
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The matchup seemed hopeless on paper, and Kentucky appeared just as daunting when it took the floor before a Big Blue mass of 24,402 Saturday night.
But the Cinderella Vols believed they could win, and for 30 minutes the glass slipper fit in Rupp Arena.
"This is a game we could have won,'' said UT senior point guard Bobby Maze, who led the Vols with 15 points. "By losing to Vandy twice, people on the outside had a right to think we'd get blown out.''
The No. 3-ranked Wildcats won, 73-62, but not before 12th-ranked Tennessee threw a scare into them.
Kentucky coach John Calipari said UT coach Bruce Pearl crossed him up by playing a 3-2 zone.
"Let's give Tennessee credit here; Bruce came in and they went to a 3-2 zone, and I will be honest with you, we didn't work on it,'' said Calipari, whose team held a 30-29 halftime lead. "I knew they had that in their arsenal, but I didn't know they would run it because they didn't run it in any tapes we watched.
"In the first half we came out and . . . we didn't look like we knew what the heck we were doing and we didn't.''
Pearl worked the defense in UT's open practices, but the media was asked not to reveal the game plan.
The strategy was designed to limit Kentucky big men DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson, minimizing their size advantage while also keeping Wayne Chism out of foul trouble.
It worked. Cousins and Patterson combined for 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting and Chism didn't run into foul trouble until the final moments.
Pearl said the defense wasn't as effective in the second half when the teams changed baskets.
"It was effective in the first half when I had my guys in front of me; we could kind of help put them in the right positions,'' Pearl said. "In front of Coach Calipari, (Kentucky) was able to have better spacing and get a better handle on it.''
Pearl and Calipari said the Achilles heel of the 3-2 zone is it opens itself to 3-point shots from the corner. But Pearl noticed watching tape that Kentucky was reluctant to shoot from the corners.
UK freshman Eric Bledsoe was mired in a 2-of-19 shooting slump from beyond the arc before he drained two consecutive corner treys after the Vols pulled to 60-56 on a Chism jumper with 6:13 left.
Bledsoe's first trey ignited another 10-0 run and put the game out of reach. The Cats' first 10-0 burst of the second half came after J.P. Prince converted a three-point play to give UT a 52-50 lead with 10:12 remaining.
"It was devastating to see how they were able to capitalize against our zone down the stretch and make shots,'' Maze said. "In the first half, they took the same shots and missed them.''
When Bledsoe wasn't hitting from the perimeter, John Wall sliced through the lane as the Vols' weren't as tight in their zone alignment.
Good Goins: Melvin Goins, who shares time at point guard with Maze, was a bright spot.
Goins scored 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting including 2 of 3 beyond the 3-point arc and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
"I think it was just the game setting that got me going,'' said Goins, who had all charges against him stemming from a Jan. 1 traffic stop dropped on Friday. "I told you this was a dream come true for me, just the whole environment and playing the No. (3) team in the country.''
Sick Scotty: Sophomore Scotty Hopson said he didn't do enough for the team offensively, finishing with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
"I turned down some looks trying to get us better shots,'' said Hopson, who battled flu-like symptoms and was unsure Friday if he'd play Saturday. "I had a little temp, and I tried to battle through it. We played well the majority of the game, but we didn't play a whole 40 minutes.
"There were some things we learned and we made progress. We could have won this game.''
Next Up: UT plays Georgia at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Bulldogs beat the Vols 78-63 in Athens on Jan. 23.
"It's another big, physical team that will try to beat up on us because of our lack of height and size,'' Prince said. "We're not getting enough fast-break points or getting out on the run because we're not getting enough rebounds. We'll just have to man up.''
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee Lady Vols 60, South…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 61
SummittsCourt writes:
The Vols played well for most of the game and showed me something. It's one thing to beat #1 Kansas at home with the emotions the way they were then, but to hang in and put a scare into the #3 team on their floor shows me that this team can do some damage come tourney time.
Ironcity writes:
That would be one more game then UF will probably play in the NCAA
volsoutwest writes:
DC, what does that say for the Gators since we have already done them?
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Not sure why there was a lapse in defense in the last 10 minutes;Wall made some good adjustments driving the lane while we were collapsing inside on Cousins and trying to block out for rebounds..If Bledsoe had not got hot and had Wall not shot 8 or 10 free throws in the last 10;The game would have been very close..Looking back our Forwards are Woolridge and Hall..KY's Cousin and Patterson;Pretty HUGE difference in talent
chrisw2967 writes:
Xavier ended all hope for the gayfors and lil eddie munster.Fla got a 1* to commit to lil eddie though.hahahahaha
gayfors sucks
rbromley7#241642 writes:
Great game until the last 10 minutes. Too bad the Vols did not have any energy left in order to play perimeter defense. They were just a step late in putting some pressure on the shooters. It appeared they just stood there hoping Ky. would miss.
CapStormfield_1 writes:
As a UK fan, I think the local folks are wrong to think they put a 'scare' into UK. I wish UT had.
More to the point. Calipari didn't prepare for the 3-2 zone. I think this is why some UT fans wonder why your defense went 'south' in the 3rd quarter of the game. UK simply worked out the zone and adapted.
This is a strange year for college BB. We all say the SEC is down. I wonder if the whole division is down. Xavier doesn't surprise me, nor Richmond. South Carolina can beat UK. UT can beat KU.
This makes for a possible 'fun' tournament for the lower seeds. As for UK - they're mighty young. And UT? Well they haven't lost any games that I thought they should win. (And I never thought UT would be GA @ GA.)
CoverOrange writes:
Just my opinion, but it seemed to me the last ten minutes was not a lapse of the zone defense but more poor shot selection and nonchalant rebounding on the offensive end that led to transition points by Wall. Had the offense not misfired we wouldn't have noticed the lapse in defense.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
okay, two things I learned today...
any comedian is funny after 6 screwdrivers, and,
I have a guilty pleasure... music by average white band...
what this has to with Vols' Bball, i dunno. Game's over, time to move on. We get KY in our house at the end of the month, and I for one can't wait... GBO!!!!
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Great analysis... contradicts the babble I consistently hear from a certain "spud" we all know...
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
darn you and your positive posting!!! We'll have none of that around here...
BTW, ladies pretty much dished out some whoopazz to the gatorettes.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Let me guess... that's your motto when you go barhopping..otherwise, I don't get it.
eduardo writes:
Anybody else on this board sick and tired of watching this bunch for the last 2 seasons not be able to play Pearl's System?? I cant understand why we havent recruited guys that play his way!! Up and down shooting the 3, pressing from the opening tap. This is ridiculous!!! They need to do some reevaluating of their recruiting!! This is not TENNESSEE BASKETBALL under Pearl!!!!
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Thats what your wife says to you, bless her heart
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
I've recommended this comment be removed...
This comment is wrong on so many levels, don't know where to begin.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
You killed me with that one!!! ROTFLMAO!
azorange writes:
Watching that game, I was so frustrated at times by a lack of smarts on Tennessee's part. At other times, I was amazed by their tenacity on defense and ability to stop Kentucky. They have to realize they can't take plays off and can't lose focus. They can be giant killers and I hope they slay a few more before the season ends. Go Vols!
james#216392 writes:
I never like to blame refs but their was some pretty bad calls on the charges by both Goins and especially Chism and not calling Patternson and Cousins over the back of Prince. Of course, Prince doesn't block out the best either. Wall moved under Chism while he was airborne. 3 point play taken away. but more importantly, the second foul of the half on Wall. I don't think it was intentional, but the SEC refereeing stinks. Why can't we find better officials, period.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
We have to go 3-3 realistically to make the NCAA. At 18-6, finishing 21-9 will be tight. We needed one of those two games last week.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
very true; while Bledsoe and Wall were shooting lights out;the vols were shooting 2 for 12 which was the game breaker.I don't remember the actual numbers but I think we only scored 6 points in that stretch run and I was literally screaming at the TV
Ayres_Hall writes:
The zone worked and was effective but the offense was still four guys standing around and watching Goins and Maze try to make things happen. Until CBP requires some defensive pressure then his "motionless" offense has no chance of producing points. Admit it guys, we hit some last second three point shots that kept it close. Otherwise, we are 20+ point losers.
Okay, we'll win 20 games and go to the NCAA and lose in the first round. So I guess I should be happy (like everyone tells me to be).
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
21 and 9 is pretty realistic..I think the vols will take their frustration out on GA..I also believe we may take KY down at home if we can start shooting better, add one win in the sec tourney and 22 and 8 makes us a 9/10 seed in the tourney
Mule_Days_King writes:
I think the team is somewhere between a 7 and a 9 seed.
Mule_Days_King writes:
Your name should be super_negative_vol_fan. If, that is, you are a Vol fan to begin with.
Second, when did commas become correction punctuation after a question?
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
So.. let me guess... imnotDC, gatorzz, or realityinknox?
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
This guy got an "epic F" in English, methinks.
tennisvol writes:
Yea, UK solved the zone by the All-Americans they had on the floor against walk-ons at various times by UT. Pearl sent a message to teams with equal talent against the Cats to put up that zone against them. We'll see how Vandy plays them this week. Another prime example of Pearl out coaching ole Cal even though UK has much more talent than UT.
CHISMNUMBER1FAN writes:
I agree. BUT then I remember our team of a few years ago when we were playing Miss St and the refs were horrible. But our team over came the bad calls. We had no McDonald all stars on that team but they played their hearts out and refused to lose. Everyone knows if you take out Wayne you pretty much take out our inside scoring chance. I really liked the way Goins has played the last few games; and Maze. But I have never been impressed with Scotty Hopson. I think Steven Pearl is pretty good on defense; he has made some pretty exciting plays as well has Skylar
volaholic45 writes:
Looked to me like at crunch time we tried to answer Bledsoe with Woolridge - didn't work so good.
Also seemed like Kentucky could dial up a foul about whenever they wanted.
carlsusanellis#574472 writes:
I thought we had a good game plan and I believe if we had stayed with it a little longer it might have give us a chance to win.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Let's learn from this loss and move on. Georgia is coming in and they present some of the same matchup problems in the paint we had with ky. We need Williams to step up and give us some quality minutes in this game. And hopefully, we can get more on the perimeter from Hopson and Tatum. If we can get these three guys going (admittedly that's a big if), then we can do some damage in the tournaments.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree. As long as we were executing on our own end, we were in the game. Even though we didn't shoot a great percentage, by working the shot clock down, when the shots did come, we were in a better position to rebound and to play transition defense. The run-out buckets UK got after our quick shots gave them enough of a margin that they could afford to take their time against the zone and set up for the shots they wanted. It was then our misfortune that Bledsoe rediscovered the shooting touch that had deserted him for several previous games.
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
What was to solve? The 3 was open all night long, especially in the corner. Also Williams should not get any playing time, he is horrible and Woolridge should be on the bench with him. Also another strategy that would work great, DO NOT play Prince the last 5 minutes of any game.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Drinking and posting are a terrible combination. I'm still wondering what you meant by your previous one-liner. Just because something HASN'T been done doesn't mean it CAN'T be done. Oh, and for a "super_vol_fan", you surely have a negative attitude. Pretty hard to see how you can call yourself a Vol fan at all if you put them down all the time.
concordvol writes:
Solved the Zone!!! Hitting two long threes?? Heck they tried that in the first half. They did not solve anything, just made some shots and helped by phantom charging calls.
Gumby#1381110 writes:
Was it that UT just actually played badly against Kentucky? Does Phil Fulmers belly remind you of Jello?
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Great link Marc...I have to admit that I did enjoy reading it!
Gumby#1381110 writes:
Will Tennessee find a way to win the SEC tourney? Should Jack Links really be messin with sasquach?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Good one! That stuff surely does seem to mess up people's minds(;-D)!
Gumby#1381110 writes:
Is bigorangekoolaid's mouth going to write a check that his butt can't cash? Did Grandpa Jones ever know what was for supper?
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
I agree! Losing back to back to Vandy and Kentucky isn't the end of the world, these are 2 great teams. I do believe though we have to beat Georgia to stay in the hunt for an NCAA bid.
Mule_Days_King writes:
Kool-aid is just upset that school is out and didn't get his chocolate milk after story time.
It's hard for him when he doesn't hear "Use your nice words" and "I like it when everyone uses their walking feet". Young tykes like him need the constant structure. Don't worry little guy. Your 3rd grade class is reading "Llama, Llama Red Pajama" tomorrow.
Gumby#1381110 writes:
Does bigorangekoolaid truly have a face that only a mother could love? Did Fred Flintstone have big feet?
VolunteerLifer writes:
I don't know if we have to win against GA, but it sure would help. The only other game I see on the schedule that might be a better than 50/50 chance of a win is Arky at TBA. I think we're in with twenty wins, given our RPI and the big win vs Kansas.
osbymartin#581730 writes:
okay as a UK fan can you please tell me at what point in the 2nd half is the 3rd quarter?? Just wondering since they don't play quarters in college.... SC DID beat UK UT DID beat KU not that they can they DID. And UK NEVER worked out the zone at any point. Excellent athletes made some plays and shots. Had nothing to do with working out the zone. Coach Cal didn't have his team prepared plain and simple!!!
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
I guess the reason I feel we have to beat Georgia is because its a home game and a winnable game and if we lose then losing 3 in a row might be hard to rebound from for this team. From a confidence standpoint I feel its a very important game. But like you, I certainly feel like a win against the Dawgs would sure help!
osbymartin#581730 writes:
27th WOW! And they had the nerve to come on here and give us grief about UT arrests huh?? I guess when you wear blinders you only see what you want to see
Gumby#1381110 writes:
I find it hard to believe he is associated with KNS. He claims to be a 35 year alum of UT, I also find it hard to believe since he is so anti-Vol. I would believe however that he is a 35 year alum of Alabama. *LOL*
So could bigorangekoolaid really be a UT alum? Is coach Lane Kiffin loved in Knoxville?
Mule_Days_King writes:
Glass houses...
osbymartin#581730 writes:
no kidding
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.