When Tennessee took the big hit, the Vols closed ranks with inspired efficiency. The adrenaline rush, however, is over.
Tyler Smith's absence is looming over Tennessee's SEC season and coach Bruce Pearl is wondering what can be done to shore up the stretch run.
Ten games into the conference race, the Vols are getting beat at the four position, the one Smith played at an All-SEC level the previous two years.
In essence, Wayne Chism is having to go it alone on the inside most nights.
Since Smith was dismissed from the team after his Jan. 1 arrest, Pearl has rotated sophomore Renaldo Woolridge and freshman Kenny Hall in and out of the starting lineup, with walk-on Steven Pearl getting double-digit minutes off the bench.
Woolridge is averaging 2.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in SEC play. His 3-point shooting has dropped off the table since he bombed Kansas with four treys on Jan. 10.
Woolridge is 3-of-21 in SEC play, and only 1-of-17 in the nine games since the conference opener against Auburn. For the record, his one trey was critical in the 61-60 win over Florida.
Hall got off to a fast start in SEC play, but has had only one productive game - South Carolina - out of the past five.
Pearl gives the defense a needed boost, but opponents know he's a minimal threat to score.
"We need better play from the four,'' Bruce Pearl said Monday, "but it's tough to ask that when you're playing against (Kentucky's) Patrick Patterson or (Georgia's) Trey Thompkins.
"But somebody else has got to step forward.''
Who? Perhaps Brian Williams. UT's biggest body is getting a long look in practice to see if he's ready to help against Georgia's huge front line Wednesday night.
Williams has to get back in game shape after a nine-game suspension in which he didn't practice with the team.
"We'll see how close he is to being able to help us,'' Pearl said. "This will be a good opportunity for Brian.''
Elite Eight Forecast: Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated (si.com) has a higher opinion of UT's postseason chances than the average Vol fan does at this point.
At the annual mock bracket exercise conducted by the NCAA - in which selected media fill a bracket - Tennessee was awarded a No. 6 seed. Davis declared the Vols "might be the best No. 6 seed of all time.'' He projected them losing to Syracuse in the regional finals.
Ellis In Town: Vol great Dale Ellis is Wednesday's speaker at the Big Orange TipOff Club.
Ellis was the SEC player of the year in 1982 and again in 1983, when he was a consensus first-team All-American.
He scored 2,065 points for Don DeVoe, then played in the NBA 1984-2001, reinventing himself as a deadly 3-point shooter.
The club meets at Calhoun's on the River at 11:30 a.m. Non-members are welcome.
From Sweden With Love: Jeffery Taylor and John Wall both used the Vols as a springboard to SEC honors.
Vanderbilt's Taylor, a 6-7 sophomore, is the player of the week. He dumped 26 points on UT Tuesday, including 12-of-12 at the free-throw stripe.
Taylor is a guy to watch. He grew up in Sweden because his father, Jeff Sr., played there after Texas Tech and took a Swedish wife. He was sent to Hobbs, N.M., before his sophomore year of high school to live with his grandparents.
He was No. 52 in the Rivals.com class of 2008 and picked Vandy over Texas, Gonzaga and UNLV.
Wall, you already know. He's the SEC freshman of the week after going for 24 against the Vols.
Vols Liked Jenkins: Pearl said UT evaluated and liked John Jenkins, the Vanderbilt freshman from Gallatin.
Jenkins averages 10.4 points and is shooting 45.7 percent from 3-point range. The Vols are hitting 29.7 percent from the arc in SEC play.
"With Scotty Hopson on our roster a year ahead of him, he said, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' '' Pearl said. "Once we got Scotty, that was the end of John Jenkins.''
Jenkins has been compared to Chris Lofton, who set SEC 3-point shooting records at UT from 2004-08.
"That's lofty praise there,'' said Vandy coach Kevin Stallings. "He's a very gifted shooter and we obviously need him going down the stretch.''
Quote of the Week: Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury, asked what impressed him about Kentucky:
"It'd probably be easier to dissect the things you're not impressed with.''
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
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Comments » 19
w4tey#282182 writes:
Considering all the hooey this year Vol fans should be proud of the Vol B-ballers. Hopefully they can beat the teams they're supposed to the rest of the way and get in some solid hits in the NCAA and not be one and done.
theoldbear writes:
Truth is, Wayne Chism is playing out of position, and always has, as a center. He'll play at the forward position at the next level.
If Williams were in shape, I'd start him against Georgia, and play the two "bigs" at the same time.
With a couple of years to grow and lift weights, Kenny Hall may make a power forward. Woolridge is a 3, that is to say a small forward.
Steve Pearl gives his all, but it is all he has to give, and while he's the best frontline defender the Vols have, he's a liability on offense.
This team is Cinderella when they win, and an ugly step sister when they lose!
RoadTrip writes:
Play more zone with Williams in the middle for minutes to spell Chism/Hall. Match-up, 3-2, 2-3, even box and one if you have to. Woolridge needs to sit. Bone needs to come off the bench and spell Goins and Maze - who need to be in the game at the same time for at least 20 minutes. Hopson, Prince and McBee take the rest of the minutes until Tatum is back. The rest sit until mop-up time. Time to get serious or go home.
And let's be clear - Woolridge, Pearl and Tatum sit all of the game barring injury. Tatum gets his shot when one of the three others plays bad - which in Prince's case will be soon. C'mon Bruce - make it happen.
tnaseevol writes:
KU won over TAM in a close one
MANVOL writes:
New line up IMO.
1. Goins
2. Maze
3. Prince (I guess he has to play)
4. HAll
5. Chism
I know what you are thinking what about Hopson? Ya I thought of him..
1Volunteer writes:
I would try working Hopson in at 4 some. He handles himself around the rim better that on the perimeter.
johnlg00 writes:
Good stuff here, except that I am a little bit higher on Tatum than you seem to be. His ankle injury has thrown a major monkey wrench into his development, but if he can truly recover completely by tourney time he can be a key player for us, IMHO. He can bring some energy and production on the nights Hopson decides to take off.
johnlg00 writes:
At least at this point in his career, Hopson is WAY too skinny and timid to bang at the 4 spot. You see guys like Gerald Wallace, who played one year at Alabama but is now an All-Star for the Charlotte Bobcats; he is about Scotty's size--maybe a LITTLE bigger--but is wiry-tough and averages double-figure rebounds in the NBA. Scotty is skinny-weak and doesn't have enough hunger for the ball to come anywhere close to the kind of production a Wallace-type, or even a Tyler Smith type, player gives inside.
rbromley7#241642 writes:
Wonder if Williams did any work during his suspension. Did he go to class? Could he not have worked out on his own?
Gumby#1381110 writes:
Can Brian Williams really be the answer for the 4 spot? Could Barney Fife be a contestant on the biggest loser?
FeelVol writes:
Surely Wayne Chism is the natural at the four spot and let Brian Williams and Kenny Hall anchor the five.
AllVols writes:
In summary, I agree with one thing from this article, Wayne Chism needs help. Scotty Hopson will be a good NBA talent. He has the athletic frame/long wing-span of an NBA player. His up-side and potential to become a great player are looking good. However, one has to admit that he is NOT living up to potential at UT. Consistent shooting and confidence are what lacks in his playing. He's not a team leader in ONE statistic. He really needs to help out. Bobby Maze picks up slack at time with his speed and tenacity, but one guy can only do so much. Next year, thankfully, the four position and PG position are set.
Brian Williams is needed...desperately. I don't care if he is not productive offensively. We need the body size in the post position, quite frankly. His presence will disrupt inside scoring from other teams, like the Kentucky's and Georgia's. Moreover, he is NOT the solution for the four spot. He needs to be inputed at center and move Chism to 4.
Wayne, a 6'9" center, really? He'd be a small power forward at the NEXT level. I think at the next level he should shed a few pounds, become a little more agile and he would have a good up-side.
Orangeyouavol writes:
Oh Look, Its DOUCHBAG John.
johnlg00 writes:
I'm on here all the time, dude. Deal with it.
VolunteerLifer writes:
I like this lineup except reverse Hall and Chism. Problem is, what happens when its time to rotate for Maze and Goins? Does Bone come in for Goins and Hopson or McBee for Maze? Or does Maze slip to the 1 to rest Goins?
And I wouldn't disparage Prince. He is a big part of the glue that holds this team together, especially defensively. Even on offense, he is the only agressive 2 or 3 player we have, always trying to create. True, sometimes it blows up in his face, but I'd rather have that than see him be as passive as Hopson. If only Hopson would try to emulate Prince in his aggressiveness, then we would have a much better team.
ladivolfan writes:
KNS - This would probably generate more comments if it weren't tagged under the Women's Basketball heading but was tagged under the Men's where it belongs.
whenson29 writes:
Like the idea of the zone, it was very effective for all but 5 minutes against Kentucky. Not sure 3-2 is the best idea only because not too many teams (Auburn and Ole Miss withstanding) are big jump-shooting teams in the SEC.
Also, the matchup zone worked pretty well too. So as long as there is communication between Pearl and the PG at the time (Maze or Goins), switching from the matchup to the 2-3 can confuse the offense and get them out of their sets and slow the game down just the way Pearl likes it (most of the time). Maybe even play Chism with Brian and put Chism at the 4 when we go against big frontlines like Kentucky, Vandy, and Georgia.
I understand people are still bitter about all the convicts and how it has kind of put a damper on the season for now, but i think Goins has proven he can contribute and i think Brian Williams and ESPECIALLY Tatum should be given that chance as well. Cameron Tatum is a perfect compliment for the motion offense as an inside, out SG and he and Hopson play much better together and it gives you another perimeter threat and another athletic, long body in the lineup.
I think that if Tennessee can get their heads on straight and their rotation of players figured out then Seth Davis just might be right that Tennessee is the most dangerous #6 seed EVER and could potentially make a HUGE run in the NCAA tourney and even in the SEC tourney.
johnlg00 writes:
Kinda wondered about that myself! Surprised it hasn't been moved before now. You would think SOMEBODY at KNS who is aware of the content of the columns and articles at least READS the site from time to time.
johnlg00 writes:
Good post. I agree with nearly all, except to say that Miss. St. and Arkansas, both of whom we have yet to play, also have several decent outside shooters. Even Florida has players who can hit from outside, though they are streakier than the others I mentioned. For those teams, I think the 3-2 is better since it positions more defenders along the perimeter. The 2-3 is the choice against the better inside-oriented teams.
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