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Tennessee Men's Basketball
Tennessee relied on the same defense it used to top No. 1-ranked Memphis two years ago to beat Kansas on Sunday.
It's called the "10."
The Xs and Os junkies will applaud UT coach Bruce Pearl and assistant/scout Jason Shay for the collapsing man-to-man strategy that disrupted Kansas All-American Sherron Collins the same way it thwarted Memphis' Derrick Rose, the top NBA draft pick, two seasons ago.
But an even bigger key to arguably the biggest win in Thompson-Boling Arena's 23-year history has been the staff's behind-the-scenes management of UT players.
Without the right attitude, the short-handed Vols couldn't have competed with previously unbeaten Kansas, much less scored the 76-68 upset.
Tennessee's reward for the victory was a jump to No. 9 in the AP poll and SEC Player of the Week honors for senior point guard Bobby Maze, who in addition to spearheading the defensive attack on Collins scored 16 points and dished out eight assists.
The Vols were ranked No. 9 a month ago, but the lockerroom climate for some of Sunday's major contributors was considerably different.
Sophomore Renaldo Woolridge, who hit three consecutive first-half 3-pointers and pulled down eight rebounds, was sitting in Pearl's office contemplating his future at this time last month.
"There was a lot going through my mind back then, soul-searching'' said Woolridge, who's starting in place of dismissed senior Tyler Smith after beginning the season as the odd man out of Pearl's 10-man rotation. "Looking back, it's amazing.''
Freshman Kenny Hall, who played 23 minutes and helped limit Kansas big man Cole Aldrich to seven points, also was disappointed with his role at the start of the season.
"I give Kenny and Renaldo, and their families, tremendous credit for hanging in there,'' Pearl said, because in the situation they faced at the start of the season. "You can pack your bags and leave and try to find a greener pasture, or you can stay ready because your time will come.
"Those two guys are the least surprised by their play than anyone else.''
Pearl's understanding and handling of the pair was paramount to their ability to contribute in the clutch.
It has taken a different approach to manage Scotty Hopson and Skylar McBee.
"I'm probably on Skylar more than anybody on the team,'' Pearl said. "I expect him to shoot it, and I expect him to make it, because that's what he does.''
It was 10 p.m. Friday when McBee returned to the arena, some three hours after the Vols completed practice.
"How many people can say they've ever played against a No. 1 team?'' said McBee, who proceeded to launch practice shots. "I didn't even know I was gonna get to play here, and come Sunday, I'll be out there.''
The Grainger County schoolboy legend was more than just out there: His clutch, off-balance 3-pointer that beat the shot-clock buzzer and sealed Sunday's upset with 34 seconds remaining made national headlines.
Hopson, who led the Vols with 17 points, including a thunderous dunk over the 6-foot-11 Aldrich that made ESPN top-10 plays, came to UT a McDonald's All-American last season.
Hopson showed flashes of his potential at times last season, and this season enjoyed strong outings against weaker competition.
But Hopson was doing a disappearing act throughout the first half of Wednesday's game with Charlotte.
Come the second half, Pearl had seen all he could take, and he latched on to Hopson's jersey and gave No. 32 an earful during a timeout.
"Scotty, have I gotten more assertive with you?'' Pearl said with a smile when asked about the confrontation, directing the question to Hopson who was shooting nearby.
Hopson laughed and responded, "Yeah, I thought you were gonna go Bobby Knight on me, Coach.''
A few minutes later, Hopson said he appreciated Pearl turning to tough love.
"Coach Pearl is just trying to get the best out of me, and he did,'' Hopson said. "I'm glad; I need to be more assertive, and I needed to hear that.''
Hopson, previously exclusive at the two-guard, has slid over to play small forward the past two games, enabling the hot-shooting McBee to get more minutes.
"The players certainly responded to the opportunity,'' Pearl said. "One of the great keys has been the elevated play of guys you haven't seen a lot out of.
"They all played significant roles.''
And they did so with smiles on their faces that haven't always been there.
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Comments » 37
zigvol writes:
Man that sure was a great win. Go Vols
Fryinpansvols writes:
I don't know if we can play with that intensity game in and game out, but if we play we that kind of heart and hustle then we will always have a chance to win. Free Throws is the biggest concern though, only hitting 15-29 for a little more than 50%. I'm sure CBP will have those guys working on those in practice this week. GBO!
King_Scuba writes:
We needed that win so bad. We can play a couple more games with this roster and hopefully get at least a couple suspended players back for depth. Should be another good season. Looking for a deep run in the tournament.
Madkels writes:
Hopson laughed and responded, "Yeah, I thought you were gonna go Bobby Knight on me, Coach."
LMAO!
CoachFulmer writes:
My gosh, I love Coach Pearl and this program since hes been here. Hopefully after this big win, we can carry the fight and momentum the SEC and especially to Kentucky.
GO VOLS!
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
I think the team will go as Scotty goes. He is the type that can carry a team on his back if he plays his game. He is much better at the "dribble-drive" and slashing than the 3 pt. shot. Come on, Scotty, take control of this team!!
tractoronthepole writes:
How about we use the 10 defense a little more? If it works, like maybe in March?
byrd4vols writes:
Free throws! Free throws! Free throws!!!!!!!!!!!!GO VOLS GO!!!!!!
stayingorange writes:
Got to keep driving to the basket. We dominated UK by taking it straight at them. Hit the free throws and there's no stopping them. Hopson can be on the top 10 plays after every game going strong to the hoop.
LEXKYVOLS writes:
I think Auburn should be an easy win with the true test, coming off a big win over Kansas, being Ole Miss this weekend. Win those two and I think we may be onto something this season. We may be wittnessing another "Blind Side" story here!
bmaples writes:
I keep expecting to hear shouts of "Rudy! Roooddeeee!!"
Great, great win. They proved they could handle adversity. Now let's see if they can handle success.
TNPilgrim writes:
Great win - hope they don't come out flat against Auburn. They better keep working on the inside game and especially the free throws! Those 3-pointers aren't always going to go down like they did Sunday.
bigorange61 writes:
Like others have said, the free throw percentage has got to improve. Fifty percent at the line will get you beat on the night the three's aren't going in.
Best team effort I have seen in a long time. Steve Pearl was banging with the big guys, hustling, holding his own. I gotta give him props. Of course his free throws were uglier than Prince's (LOL). Work on that Steve.
old_number1 writes:
Someone please help me with this. Why is Pearl not a great free throw shooter? Or Prince? GBO!!
richvol writes:
Okay,here goes...the position the players are put in gives them the chance to succeed. Hopson should have been playing small forward all along and Skyler is perfect for the shooting guard. Hall is a much better and more athletic post than Williams will ever be. Brian plays too soft and is too lazy to get off the floor and dunk the ball...and he gets the ball slapped out of his weak grip whenever he gets it under the basket. Hopson now understands that he MUST be aggressive now that Tyler is gone otherwise no one is going to score. Everyone keeps saying that Chism is the leader and potentially the best scoring option but you never know what he is going to do on any given day...he may score 20 or he may make stupid fouls and sit. He needs to be a rebounder first and keep his arse under the basket. So many times UT shoots from threeland and NO ONE is under the basket...NO ONE. When Kansas shot a three,four guys were under the basket to rebound.
I don't exactly remember when it was during the game but it must have been about 3/4 of the way through the second half when tears started to well up in my eyes. I realized that we had a real chance to win this game and how monumental it would be for us. A mountain had been put in front of these boys and they were climbing it a step at a time. The officiating was heavily in favor of Kansas,two of our senior players were on the bench with fouls,walkons were playing their hearts out and when Mcbee hit that shot the tears started to flow down my face.
I have watched Tennessee football and basketball for over fifty years and I have never seen a Tennessee point guard play a better game than Bobby Maze did Sunday. He took the helm of this basketball team and brought them home. Instead of chaos that we have seen at times in the last two years he played the game of his life and it was magical. I have never been prouder of a UT team in my all my years and I will never forget it. Go Vols.
Cash writes:
The group that is on the floor now should have seen a lot more minutes before the incident. I really have never been impressed with Tyler he seems very one dimensional, Williams can't play the fast game and the other two have not stood out. The group on the floor now will have some let downs, but they HUSTLE. And they will WIN because they do.
The future looks bright now. I wouldn't have said that a couple of weeks ago.
FeelVol writes:
I'd have to agree again with your comments Rich its amazing to me how much hungrier this team seems to be I really like the nine that are competing for us now.I hate to admit it but it seemed Tyler Smiths' game had gotten alittle stale and I hope Woolridges' game will continue to develop good to see him rebounding the way he does.Absolutely the best game I've seen from Bobby Maze since he has been here.I think both Chism and Prince need to play alittle smarter from here on out I was about sick when Chism dribbled the ball behind his back and turned it over at near the end of the game Sun. evening.Great energy and heart,love this kind of effort,keep it coming.
MidTennVol writes:
What really intrigues me is what the starting lineup will be if the three bozos (Goins, Tatum, and Williams) are allowed back on the team.
These "no-chance" nine who beat Charlotte and Kansas have proven themselves with hustle, heart and two solid wins. They have earned their minutes -- even Bone and Pearl.
If BP allows the three bozos back on the team, will they go directly to the end of the bench, take their places in the doghouse, and be the bottom of the rotation? How will their return affect the team chemistry?
In other words, to rest Maze, will BP play Bone and McBee ahead of Goins? Hall ahead of Williams? "Whoever's available" ahead of Tatum?
Again, the no-chance nine have worked hard in practice, done the right things, kept their noses clean, stayed ready, been patient, and performed very well when given their chances. They've also produced two quality -- and unlikely -- wins.
Will be interesting to see how BP handles this if the three bozos are allowed to return.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Prince being a senior and having logged lots of playing time you would think he would be shooting at least 70%..Any guard worth his salt should be near 70%..Considering this has been an ongoing problem this is something Iam sure Bruce has spent time on..Unfortunately rarely do players increase their percentage by working harder at it..Players develop these mechanics in high school..Your either good at it or your not!!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
As usual; no team in the sec is a pushover.Auburn being a cellar team doesn't mean they are a bad shooting team.Downey scorched them for 33 points so they must have some defensive problems.Playing Ole Miss on a quick turn around could present problems..No matter how you slice it to be successful in this league you MUST win your home games
LEXKYVOLS writes:
I would practice their "buts" off and let them "ride the pine" the rest of the season! The maybe next year they think twice before doing something so stupid.
username writes:
Seriously, when does the name calling of these players stop? They made a mistake, right? Right. They deserve suspension, criticism, etc. But the pejoratives are unnecessary and add nothing to the conversation.
An aside: I think they definitely need to earn their playing time, and they need to apologize to their teammates. Contrition can go a long way... except with a few who want to continually brand these kids as "bozos", "potheads", "thugs", etc.
WytheVol writes:
Unfortunately, I agree with you on the free throw shooting. It's a lot like golf... Once the bad habits are developed, even with the best of coaching, it is hard to change the mechanics and develop better shooting techniques once you get beyond high school.
Prince is just not a shooter, period. He's hard to stop when he is on his game and driving to the basket, but the man has the ugliest shot I've ever seen. As far as Pearl goes, I'd say nerves had something to do with his shots. Give him some more minutes and he'll deliver those free throws... From the pine to the hardwood takes some adjustment, coaches son or not...
Volumnus writes:
I agree with you, the "Nine" have earned their stripes. The "toxic three" have earned nothing. I hope that none of them are allowed back for even a sniff of the floor until their cases are complete and we see what the sentence is. Then it just might be in the best interest of the "NO Chance NINE" and the entire program and the institution to extend their suspensions through the end of the season. Personally I don't think we can afford to see them back ever. I think it sends the wrong message to the world. Granted it is not my call and I don't have all of the facts, but it is my Alma Mater and I don't appreciate it being portrayed as "University of Thugs". To date I feel the coaching staff bears as much responsibility as the young adults involved, how the STAFF handles it from this point forward will be as defining as this GREAT win.
MidTennVol writes:
Interesting point, but I completely stand by my branding of the kids in question as "bozos," which is very kind. Their bonehead behavior has earned them that moniker, and perhaps some other pejoratives not so kind.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Prince had gotten better at his free throws for a while, but obviously has reverted back into struggling at the line. I think the more he practices the more he will improve. With Pearl, he hasn't had the opportunity during the games and a lot of game experience to be that great of a free throw shooter. Hopefully, the more he practices the more he will improve as well.
orangeinbama writes:
As long as this group plays like a T-E-A-M as they did Sunday they will be dangerous. Even if the 3's dont fall the team on the floor seems to be able to adjust and at times played a better half court offense than the first of the season. And I mean a minimum of playground stuff...Yeah, I know all about the drive and dish theory, but men running a set play and with all the effort they put in it was a welcome change.. (my 2 cents worth) Congrats Vols!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
That was KU we played Sunday; UK is the team to the north of us. Yeah, it matters; you wouldn't like for people to refer to the Vols as "TU", would you?
Volfan1 writes:
A "Dane Bradshaw/Chris Lofton"-type attitude is on this team....and that is good.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Besides the obvious issues of practice and concentration, there are reasons why neither of them shoot well. As for Pearl, he was a wing player and a good shooter in HS, but in college he has bulked up so he can play inside more. His body has changed but his stroke hasn't caught up. He has also shot VERY few if any FTs in game situations. As for Prince, I'm not sure his shoulder is stable yet after all his injuries and surgeries. His stroke wavers all over the lot with no repeatable groove at all. I don't know how much if any either of them will improve but for now neither needs to be on the floor late in a clutch situation except possibly for defense in Prince's case or because we are out of post players in Pearl's case.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
richvol, lots to like in your 3:06AM--really?!?--post, but I must disagree that the officials were biased against the Vols. For one thing, the KU posters were complaining on their sites that the officials were biased against THEM. The fact is that most college officiating these days is so erratic that refs miss calls ALL THE TIME against everybody.
I agree with another poster who said that Chism seems to get an inordinate number of cheap fouls called against him. Even so, most of his fouls come when tries to take the charge, like his third one just before the half against KU. Every basketball purist LOVES a player who will take a charge, but in reality it is a low-percentage play, the way the game is usually called. On that play, Wayne was too close to that ill-defined "no-charge" area near the basket, he leaned his upper body ever so slightly into Collins as he often does on such plays, and he was trying it against an All-American who is nearly ALWAYS going to get that call in his favor. In other words, it was just dumb to try it, especially with two fouls in the first half. Wayne gets a couple of those against him nearly every game.
JP also has his characteristic "dumb-foul" type. For him, it is most often after he has missed a lay-up and he tries to slap the ball out of the rebounder's hand. That almost NEVER works and it is almost ALWAYS called as a foul. Again, he has been good for a couple of those nearly every game I have seen him play. What is worse, both of those guys now have a reputation for committing those kinds of fouls so officials are LOOKING for them whenever those situations arise. I suppose that could be called another aspect of "bad officiating", but when that happens to a SMART player time after time, he SHOULD conclude that he just can't get away with that and STOP TRYING IT.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
On the subject of avoiding fouls, one thing I have seen UT players do LOTS of times gets them unnecessary fouls defending against drives. Whenever an offensive player is starting to go around a guy, the defender takes a step FORWARD, i.e., at an angle toward the driver, to try to cut off the drive. Even if he then comes to a dead stop, which he rarely does, his motion was TOWARD the driver, so it at least LOOKS like he initiated the contact. What the defender SHOULD do is take a two-footed hop BACK along the path the defender is attempting to take and come to a dead stop. It then becomes much more obvious that the resulting collision if any is caused by the driver and not the defender. Besides, we already know that most players these days will not pull up for the short jumper if they have already decided to drive for the bucket, so he will most likely either charge or take the ball back outside. If he DOES go for the pull-up jumper, the defender is poised to go STRAIGHT UP to challenge that shot without falling into the shooter. Then of course, there is the ever-popular windmill swipe on the attempted shot-block...but I'll save a look at THAT dumb reflex for another time.
NeylandWest writes:
Saturday's win against Kansas will be my future comeback to anyone that ever suggests that we have to sign 5 star talent in order to compete.
huntined#565710 writes:
I just want to thank every VOL FAN that was at that game making noise..I live in FLA so hard to catch a bb game live.It was good to hear them so loud. All I ask is KEEP IT UP!!! As it makes us fans that can't be there so proud of you.
Highlands_Whisky writes:
I second your words of thanks.
From reports I have gotten from friends who attended the game, TBA has never been louder. The noise and atmosphere was palpable through the TV.
So proud of the effort and hustle displayed by these fine young men on both ends of the floor. Hopefully this game will build the players' confidence in themselves and their teammates.
The video from the locker room after the game was great. I am proud to have Coach Pearl at UT.
Lastly, where have all the naysayers gone? Posters after the Purdue game were decrying Pearl's OBVIOUS lack of coaching ability. That guy can flat-out coach some kids up!
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
an excellent post! you were right on with everything you said. I just hope when the 3 get back, that coach doesn't go back into his 10 man rotation. I just don't think the guys get their rhythm going well enough for that. With two of our players sitting most of the game with Ks., we basically had a 7 man rotation and it worked very well.
pridebone writes:
Maybe Coach Pearl would like to try coaching football for awhile?
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