When Georgia forged an eight-point lead late in the first half Wednesday night, I was transported back to a previous era.
And not a happy one for Tennessee basketball.
I couldn't help but think of the last time Georgia won in Thompson-Boling Arena. The date was Feb. 21, 2001. The Tennessee coach was Jerry Green - but not for long.
First, let's get this straight: the Vols won Wednesday night. They gathered themselves in the second half for what coach Bruce Pearl accurately described as a "gutsy" 69-60 victory.
The 2001 Vols and the 2010 Vols have something in common that prodded that memory. In each case, late-season struggles threatened to undermine their strong work from December and January.
The '01 Vols - who had been ranked No. 4 as late as Jan. 20 - never recovered. The home loss to Georgia extended the swoon and it eventually took Green with it after a first-round NCAA tournament loss to Charlotte.
As for the here and now, the 2010 Vols were coming off a rough week. They got clobbered at Vanderbilt. Despite a game effort, they lost at Kentucky.
With two more road games awaiting - followed by another date with Kentucky - a home loss to Georgia, the last-place team in the SEC East, would have been unacceptable. I don't use the term "must win" lightly but this one qualified.
Georgia is an intriguing team. The record, 11-13 overall, 3-8 SEC, arouses no alarm. But the talent at a couple of positions does.
With sophomores Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie leading the way, the Bulldogs throttled UT last month in Athens, 78-63.
So breaking an eight-year losing streak in Knoxville was hardly out of the question.
"For those of you who were there and those of you who wrote about that game, remember how we were dominated,'' Pearl said Wednesday night.
"We've made enough progress not to be dominated again. We took care of business.''
In the second half, they did. The first 20 minutes were painful to behold and ended with the Bulldogs on top 29-24.
The Vols inched out to a 6-3 lead - and then watched Georgia go on a 12-2 run that included three second-chance baskets. That quieted the crowd to a library-approved decibel level.
Thompkins threw in a you-can't-stop-me sequence for the benefit of the NBA scouts on hand - one of whom, ironically, was Georgia's coach last year, Dennis Felton.
First Thompkins made two throws. Then he blocked Wayne Chism's shot and ripped away the ball. Next, he threw up a shot while being fouled by Steven Pearl that improbably spun into the basket for a 21-13 Georgia lead.
Tennessee's last possession of the half was emblematic: Scotty Hopson's air lob out of bounds over intended dunker J.P. Prince.
"Offensively,'' Pearl said of the first half, "we just had no rhythm, no feel at all.''
Then, out of nowhere, the Vols opened the second half with more rhythm than Michael Jackson.
They scored on 10 of their first 11 possessions, made nine of their first 11 shots.
For a while longer, Thompkins single-handedly kept Georgia in the game. His 24th and 25th points put the Bulldogs up 50-49 with 8:55 to play.
But he didn't score again. And Tennessee's seniors stepped up, accounting for 16 of the Vols' final 20 points to salt away the "must" win.
"I really wanted to put it on these seniors,'' Pearl said. "This is it for them. This is their stretch run.''
Wednesday night was just one game, but I submit it as evidence that this stretch run will end on a brighter note than the one in 2001.
In fact, a more recent stretch run could prove to be more relevant.
One year ago, the Vols responded to a loss at Kentucky with a home-court win. Then they went to South Carolina and Florida, played like champs and stole back-to-back road games to clinch the SEC East title.
There won't be an East title this season, but there's motivation aplenty.
And check the schedule: at South Carolina on Saturday, at Florida on Tuesday.
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
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Comments » 20
Stokes44yrs writes:
Go vols!
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
Building for the CHAMPIONSHIP part of the season...SEC and NCAA's. Just get better every day!!! Go Vols!!!
tmartin writes:
someone help me out. . . what exactly is it that steven pearl can do better than woolridge??? or was swiper suspended for some reason?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Based on what I have seen out of him for most of the season, Steven can do nearly everything better than Woolridge. Oh, I suppose Woolridge can outshoot Steven in a game of HORSE, but Woolridge has rarely scored in a game since Kansas, can't defend, can't rebound, won't dive on the floor, and doesn't set screens. I don't hate the guy but he just doesn't seem to want to be out there and I am glad CBP accommodated him last night.
It is a truism in basketball that there is something a player can do to help his team win every second he is on the floor, even though most of it doesn't show up on the stat sheet and is all but invisible to the casual fan. Steven knows this; Woolridge to this point doesn't.
VictorKruger writes:
Pass, set screens, box out, rebound and defend.
Swiperboy sat because he's had one decent game since Kansas.
utucla writes:
You forgot "hustles" and "plays with heart"...I wouldn't let Woolridge start for a church league team...his two best assets are laziness and stupidity...other than that, he's a great player....
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
Great 2nd half by the Vols! Great job guys!!!
mlynn1 writes:
Great post, I agree 100%
theoldbear writes:
Didn't Woolridge play last night? Oh, I didn't notice! I do seem to remember that Steven Pearl had the basket that gave the Vols the lead in the second half, right? So he was on the floor when the comeback happened.
Woolridge undoubtedly has more potential than just about any player on the Vols roster. Whether he is able to live up to that potential, and match the work ethic of a player like Pearl, remains to be seen.
Great win for the Vols! Now go out on the road and beat the Gamecocks and the Gators. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Woolridge have a great game against either one of them. How he responds to his benching may tell us more about his character than anything else.
Govolsps writes:
I thought Williams played well last night. He showed more want to than usual. I also liked the nine man rotation, leaving woolridge on the bench. Once Tatum gets back, I think we should stick with the nine man and sit pearl down, but pearl did play well last night as well...
tennrich1 writes:
Did anyone notice how trim and fit B. Williams looked? Now, im not ready to coronate him the next Reggie Johnson but any stretch but he did look quicker and more intense...
Orangeyouavol writes:
WOW John Great Post!
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
We jumped from a field goal % of 36.7 in the first half to 56.3% in the second half. Same with free throws: 20% 1st half, 100% second. If we could be consistently in that second half range with our shooting, we'd be serious competition from here on out and into the tourney. Good job stepping up, guys! GBO!
richvol writes:
You are exactly right John and I have been a critic of Pearl getting any playing time but he has become an effective role player on this team and everyone is still waiting to see Woolridge do anything...something...sometime.
Williams did a nice job last night and if he toughens up like a 6'10" 280lb player should he could really help us in the stretch run.
Prince played great last night as well but in the last 3 minutes he threw up a three,threw up a prayer under the basket and tossed an inbounds pass completely over Chism's head and out of bounds. When will coach learn he should not be in the game at the end.
Great hard fought win!
vols345 writes:
What happen to all the haters on here. O they had to go away for awhile because they realize they have no Basketball IQ. Good Job CBP and great job is the second have boys. Play that way for 40 minutes and we will be ok down the road.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Apparently Prince still hasn't figured out that there is a REASON why opponents leave him unguarded on the perimeter. He should stifle at all costs the impulse to heave one up JUST because he is open unless there is no time on the shot clock. He should either work his way in closer or just pass the ball back around. Otherwise, he had just a couple of those head-scratcher plays such as you mentioned, though he continues to be a liability in the last few minutes of a game. I liked what Williams showed last night, too. If he can keep doing as well as he did last night, he could still be an asset to this team.
VOLKING writes:
More rhythm than Michael Jackson? I think his rhythm has been stopped for a while. Two big road games coming up.Get'em both. GBO!
LCfastball writes:
What ? No ( Swiper Boy ) last night ? He was working on a new hit.... " Pickin Pine Out My AZZ !!!!!
jemcrynlds#266342 writes:
Great post, John, but there is a stat that reflects just how much Pearl does for this team, and that's his +/- number. Pearl has the best +/- number on this team, ahead of even Chism and Prince, who are second and third. And this is despite his having played most of his minutes in the much tougher part of our schedule rather then during the November and December games.
So, you're absolutely right when you say that Pearl's contributions to the Vols go way beyond what shows up in the box score.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Very interesting! I'm pretty much a fan of Steven but even I didn't know about his +/- number. I am familiar with the stat, but I don't know where to find it. One reason I find it interesting is that according to one of our more persistent naysayers from a couple of weeks ago, Steven's +/- was negative. That didn't fit what I thought I was seeing on the court, but I had no way to refute him.
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