Wayne Chism admitted it. "Everybody was exhausted,'' he said Wednesday night after Tennessee's 88-71 win over Charlotte.
Exhausted. Relieved. Encouraged.
And grateful. Most of all, grateful.
It's been a draining six days for Tennessee men's basketball.
Guns. Drugs. Mug shots.
Lawyers. Fingerprints. Suspensions.
Who knew what to expect Wednesday night when a pretty good Charlotte team dribbled into Thompson-Boling Arena?
For that matter, who knew what to expect when Tennessee dribbled in?
Minus four players, one of them All-SEC starter Tyler Smith.
Minus a lot of good will, if you've been listening to talk radio and paying attention to the headlines and message boards.
Bruce Pearl didn't need a message board to know this was the biggest test of faith in his four-plus years as UT's coach.
"For the guys that remain,'' he said Wednesday at the noon Big Orange Tipoff Club meeting, "I'd ask you to be there tonight and Sunday (for Kansas), and as we go through this season.
"We're going to need you more than ever.''
They were there Wednesday night. If not in the season's greatest numbers, perhaps in the season's greatest spirit.
The announced attendance was 17,023. No one announced the energy level but it was significant.
"I really appreciate the crowd tonight,'' said Pearl, right off the bat at his postgame press conference. "The guys felt their energy.
"I know it was cold tonight. They (the fans) did not know what to expect.
"I did not know what to expect.''
Fielding a makeshift lineup and a reduced rotation, the Vols rewarded the crowd with as fine a first half as they have played all year.
As the team headed to the locker room for the break, the crowd rose and applauded.
"The people that have your back,'' said Pearl, "are your family.
"Our Tennessee family is pulling together.''
Then the family watched the Vols squander all but six points of a 54-29 lead before re-gathering themselves for a strong finish.
After Scotty Hopson threw down a dunk for UT's 88th point, Bobby Maze dribbled away the final 20 seconds and the first game of the rest of Tennessee's basketball life was in the books.
Exhausted though they might have been, the Vols scattered to the corners of the arena and headed up into the stands to thank their fans.
It was a gesture Pearl used earlier in his tenure here. This was the night to bring it out again.
"I told everybody, 'Thank you for coming,' '' said sophomore Renaldo Woolridge.
"It means a lot. It does - nobody could have come.''
The ones who did and stayed to the finish no doubt appreciated the gesture.
As I turned to leave the court, there was J.P. Prince, his arm around an orange-clad lady, holding her cell phone camera at his considerable arm's length and snapping a picture.
Woolridge, making his first start of the season, admitted he wasn't sure what to expect from the fans when he came out for warmups.
"Honestly, I didn't,'' he said. "This is new to all of us.
"But we wanted them on our side.''
It didn't hurt having Bernard King on their side, either.
The greatest Vol of all-time spoke to the Tipoff Club earlier in the day. Then he spoke to the team before the real tipoff.
"That told me we're family,'' Woolridge said. "Somebody like him comes back and it definitely shows this is a family, this Vol Nation.''
There did arise one discouraging word.
A chant, "bad boys, bad boys, what you gonna do?'' could be heard a couple of times early in the game. It came from a block of Charlotte fans in the upper deck.
But they ran out of steam as the Vols proceeded to show exactly what the remaining good boys were gonna do.
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 28
JustaStudent writes:
I am so proud of the way the team played tonight. They came out with passion and an obvious chip on their shoulder. I believe Wayne Chism now knows this is his team and it showed tonight. If our guys can keep playing like this it can still be a successful season. I don't care who is on the court Sunday, I'm going to be there because they are my team and that's what REAL FANS do!
MareMule writes:
What a great team that stepped up and played tonight. I watched on t.v. and was jumping and cheering more than once. There was a team energy and spirit unlike any that I have witnessed this season. The young men that played tonight deserve a big Thank You from fans and faculty. Not only did they play and exciting game,they were grace and dignity and showed so much class by going into stands after the game and thanking fans for being there.
Volzo writes:
Let there be no mistake about it . . that was a gritty performance by the Vols! I am proud of the product that was on the court tonight. It was refreshing to see Bruce during the timeout following the Charlotte run that cut the lead to six points; Bruce really got after it with his players . . especially Scotty Hopson and Kenny Hall. I think that instance is an example of when Pearl is truly at his best.
newtonrail writes:
I loved it when we finally shut that Charlotte chanting bunch up. I will say though, they are doing something right to get about 100 kids to travel to games. Back to our players, they really looked good. My seats are on the front row of 301, and my brother and I sat there after the game a couple of minutes. When we walked down to Mezzanine level, there are are Chism, Hall, Bone, Maze, Tony Jones and a couple of others. They looked happy, and like they wanted to be at my University.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
I was blown away by the crowd reaction tonight. This is what I've been trying to preach when I say we should be good fans. I think the decent Charlotte turn out had something to do with it but now I know this crowd will be ready for Sunday. In my eyes, this was the Tennessee Nation uniting in tough times. I've been so eager for this to happen to the basketball team and it's probably overdue. CHEER LOUD!! GO BIG ORANGE!!
VolWoman writes:
Mike, great way to end your article. I appreciate the effort by our good guys tonight & the fans as well. I wish I could have been there. Just play hard guys and the fans will be here for you. We aren't rolling over for anyone.
TennHillbilly writes:
Way to go Vols, great job Bruce, and way to go Vol fans. Good attendance, good game, great atmosphere.
I challenge all fans to show up for Sundays game versus #1 Kansas and rock the building. These guys need even more support than was shown last night. Be loud and proud Volunteers.
jmr68ut writes:
Looks like it IS possible to win without hoodlums!!
GBO!!!
GerryOP writes:
It's great ... to be ... a Tennessee Vol!
Good job guys! Thanks for the pride you showed ... for you school ... for your team ... for your fans ... and most importantly ... for yourselves.
MidTennVol writes:
Congrats to all the "good boys" and their coaches. Outstanding win. Now if we can just get Bertelkamp to SHUT UP with all those "Money!" exclamations on the radio broadcasts. I swear it seems like he just can't resist the impulse EVERY single time one of our guys hits a jumper. Yeah, he's a Vol and a good guy but GOOD GRIEF it's annoying, especially to those of us who live overseas and have to listen to games via streaming Vol radio.
You can see/hear what I'm talking about here...http://utsports.tv/mens-sports/charlo...
Get a new repertoire, Bert. John Ward had "string music" and "Grunfeld tickles the twine from nine" and several other COLORFUL comments. And he wasn't even the COLOR man.
And that's allegedly your job, Bert -- COLOR.
I feel better now. Sorry. Congrats again, boys.
MidTennVol writes:
Sorry...here's the link...
http://utsports.tv/mens-sports/charlo...
Brillovol writes:
Addition by subtraction?
PennVol writes:
Maybe we learned the lesson that some average players working as a team have better results than 5 individuals going one-on-one.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I was afraid the crowd might be down, with the cold weather and lots of mixed feelings about the program right now, but I applaud the fans who did make it for showing their support and the team for coming together and playing hard. They were still a little sloppy at times and missed too many open shots, but I never saw any lack of effort. I haven't seen the final stats but it looked to me like the Vols clearly won the battle on the boards. I was also impressed with their unselfishness and way they regrouped after Charlotte pulled close. I suppose it is possible that they will wilt under the pressure against KU, but somehow I think they will give a good account of themselves. I agree completely with the poster who suggested "addition by subtraction". There would seem to be something to that. All I know for sure is that I feel a LOT better about the program than I did Saturday evening! Thanks, CBP! Thanks, guys! GBO!!! TCB!!!
Mule_Days_King writes:
Could not agree more. BBall is where Kesling shines but Bertelkamp is annoying. If I have to hear about defenses "sluffing" or "MONEY" one more time....
Volumnus writes:
I agree! Very good effort by the "Good Boy's"! Let the four gunmen stay gone and these kids do what they can do and cheer them on just like last night. Win or lose you can cheer on good kids who are trying their best!
jman33163 writes:
Great job guys! Really, everyone from CBP to all 9 players left on the roster to the loyal fans that showed up and cheered them on! I haven't lived anywhere close to "the hill" since 1985 so I don't have the opportunity to be there in person but it is great to read this story of how the fans energy was above and beyond what any of the players could have imagined! Stick together Big Orange Nation! We will get thru this dark time and come out on the other side. I hope the TBA is packed Sunday with the same enthusiasm and energy!
Go Big Orange!!!!
VolsToTheWall writes:
those charlotte fans really missed out on being rejected to the real unc. they want to be good sooo bad.
NashvillePreds writes:
Kiffinator
ellerbee123 writes:
My husband and I went. My first game of the season. I had to go to show the boys that have abided by the rules how much I appreciate them. They looked great.
rclarkfork#639958 writes:
Great job by the players and the coaching staff. This was a tremendous effort and if they continue to give this kind of effort, they will win a lot of games. This was a good basketball team that we outplayed, out hustled and out coached. No matter what happens on Sunday we should be very proud of what the coaches and players have accomplished with such a short time to prepare. There were times that the chemistry between this group was outstanding and as I said yesterday this is an opportunity for a few guys to step up and show the talent they really have. It's an opportunity for Chism, Hopson and Maze to show the basketball world what they are capable of doing. It is also an opportunity for Kenny Hall to get the playing time and chance to show his abilities. I think by the end of the year, this will be a blessing. We may not have a lot of depth anymore but there is certainly some talent there. Once Hall puts on a few more pounds he is going to be an animal. He works as hard as anyone we have had in years and is probably the quickest at getting off the floor since Bernard King. I don't think most people realize the potential this kid has but by the end of this season I think the entire nation will know his name. He showed flashes of it last night but the best is yet to come. I believe he will prove to be the best recruit that we have seen in many years. I know there are going to be many people say well he hasn't done much of anything yet but I'm telling you now, I think next year will be his last here and it's not because of trouble either. He will be a high draft choice in the NBA by the end of next season.
snowvol writes:
Right on. I'd like him to go away. Far, far away. Forever. He is the absolute worst I've ever - EVER - heard! Maybe there'd be room in the canoe for him to take Kessling with him.
rockytop4ever writes:
After the last week, I am just as proud as I can be of my basketball team. You can't get a whole lot more thrown at you than these young men have had this week. I applaud them and thank them for making me wear my orange with pride again. Go Vols! Keep your head up and feet on the floor.
mlynn1 writes:
Great coaching and intensity Coach Pearl. You set the tone and the team followed. I'm proud of all of you. Don't let up! Win or lose, all I ask is hustle and leaving it all on the court.
murrayvol writes:
Good post newtie. Enjoyed the read.
murrayvol writes:
Amen to that Gerry.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Like most Vol fans, I'm impressed with what I have seen so far from Hall, but let's not get all that carried away just yet. He still has lots of room for improvement in every skill area, though I agree that he seems to have the kind of motor and heart that can't be taught. Just bear in mind that only about the best 64 players in the WORLD are drafted into the NBA each year. Off what we have seen so far, it would be hard to rate Hall as one of the 64 best players in the SEC right now. Let's at least see if he can play at the level of an SEC starter the rest of this season before we put him in the NBA.
ORANGE5 writes:
Money!Money!Money!Money!I like it alot!!!!!
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