Tennessee Men's Basketball
Auburn was up 34-26 with 4:49 left in the first half when Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl decided to put his toughest lineup on the floor Thursday night.
It wasn’t his most talented unit: walk-ons Skylar McBee, Steven Pearl and Josh Bone joined starters Wayne Chism and J.P. Prince.
The result was a 16-0 Tennessee run and a 38-37 halftime lead before a more conventional Vols’ rotation exploded in the second half en route to an 81-55 victory at Thompson-Boling Arena.
“You’ve got to play tough guys against Auburn, and in SEC play we have to understand the level of physicality and intensity,’’ Pearl said. “We exerted a lot of energy. We had to give a lot of effort because Auburn does, and that’s how they play.’’
The ninth-ranked Vols (13-2, 1-0 SEC) now need to get a lot of rest before Ole Miss (13-3, 1-1) comes to Knoxville for a 1:30 p.m. game Saturday.
Bobby Maze and Prince split the scoring honors for the Vols with 14 points apiece, and Wayne Chism recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds while getting a career-high six steals.
“We took the hit from them, and we came back and hit them,’’ Chism said. “We started pushing ourselves.’’
Maze made the process easier for UT, scoring 12 of his points in the second half while dishing out six of his nine assists.
Auburn (9-8, 0-2) made a game out of it as late as the 18:05 mark, when Frankie Sullivan drove for a layup to put the Tigers up 42-40.
But the Vols responded with a 13-1 run as the crowd of 20,368 at Thompson-Boling Arena loudly urged them on.
Maze hit a jumper at the 17:01 mark, and a few minutes later, Renaldo Woolridge capped the run with a 3-pointer that made it 53-43.
Suddenly, the Tigers’ 3-point attempts weren’t swishing through as they had in the first half (10 of 24). Auburn was just 1 of 11 beyond the 3-point arc in the second half.
“Our adjustment was, we didn’t think they could keep making them,’’ Pearl said.
Auburn coach Jeff Lebo said the Vols’ momentum was too much to overcome.
“When you make them (3-pointers), it is contagious, and when you miss them, it is contagious,’’ Lebo said. “They got on a roll offensively, and we could not score.’’
UT’s defense held Auburn to just six two-point baskets while the Vols shot a season-best 60.8 percent from the floor.
With Chism leading the way, the Vols out-scored the undersized Tigers 48-12 in the paint.
That’s where Scotty Hopson (11 points) and Kenny Hall (10 points) did most of their damage.
“When we were down 12 in the first half (34-22), I wasn’t worried,’’ Hall said. “It was early in the game against an aggressive team with streaky shooters.’’
Pearl’s feisty walk-ons took the fight out of the Tigers, however.
One of the loudest ovations of the night came when Pearl’s son, Steven, left the game after scoring a career-high five points and matching his personal best with three rebounds.
“Steven did a good job because he didn’t get driven on,’’ Bruce Pearl said. “It’s gratifying to see my son so well-received by a crowd that was appreciative of his play.’’
Orange Slices: Pearl improved to 5-0 in SEC season openers. ... Maze had one turnover with his nine assists, improving his assist/turnover ratio to a league-leading 3.24. ... Pearl is 2-2 against Ole Miss.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 73
razin55 writes:
Proud of the effort tonight guys
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
Bobby Maze was the MVP of that game, not Chism. Bobby Maze took over tonight. If he keeps that up, we'll be just fine.
LEXKYVOLS writes:
When big brother is being bad - it is always great to have little brother come in and make everything better. Great win VOLS!
schymtz writes:
This was a dangerous game for UT coupled with a slow start. Second half was filled with A-MAZING MAZE emerging as the point guard UT has been missing and Fantastic D especially by Chism.
Fryinpansvols writes:
Agreed! Bobby didn't even have a turnover I don't think. If he did it was at the end. With a couple minutes left he had 9 assists to no turnovers and that is very impressive! What I like about this team now is there is always somebody stepping up, look at Steven Pearl. Lets get Ole Miss Saturday! GBO!
Down_The_Field writes:
dang, i like this team.
maze gets better.
bruce has to be proud of his son.
LEXKYVOLS writes:
BTW, I would like to go on record to say that hiring Cutcliffe is the worst hire in VOLS history. Even Wade Houston was a better hire than this at least we got Allen in the deal. Instead of battling FLA and GA for 1st place in the East, we will now be battling VANDY and KY to stay out of the cellar year after year.
golfin_blondie writes:
I thought we started off a little flat......but they turned on the jets in the second half. Great to have some GOOD NEWS out of Knoxville. GO VOLS and take it the the final four and then to the NC!
TopTenn writes:
Bobby playing great at the point. He can take us a long way.
Madkels writes:
Great 2nd half! Maze is showing the skills we were told he had. Great team effort by all. But you would think that the coaches son would have a better stroke on the line. What's up with that?
schymtz writes:
Auburn was an excellent example of living and dying by the three - of course it helps if the peremiter is covered at least a little bit - as in the second half!
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Great game tonight, though I was only able to watch the second half. They looked really sharp then!
utken1942 writes:
good game. keep it up
CT_VOL writes:
Dead wrong! Chism rocked. Learn to follow a game.
Frank
68volfan writes:
Rough week men and women come thru for a little relief
LiveFaith writes:
Sounds like Bobby Maze may be pulling a mid-season John Crompton. Wow.
BubbaTN writes:
Finally, we have a Team! This may be the least talented group of guys that Pearl has had in while at Tennessee. But, they play well together and continue to get better!
schymtz writes:
Ole Miss is playin' some ball. GO VOLS!
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
THE VOLS ARE ROLLIN'!!! WOOOHOOO!!! Bobby Maze is absolutley A-MAZING, stellar night!!!
eduardo writes:
If they hire Cut we are now a bball school!!!
HarryHood writes:
Keep up the good work Vols. Take it to Ole Miss on Saturday.
SummittsCourt writes:
great win way to not have a let down game. the experience these guys are getting is priceless.
Go Vols!
baldfan writes:
You are right.even espn called that. Maze has stepped up!
Now, about those tattoos . . .
baldfan writes:
Maze was the catalyst!
schymtz writes:
Kinda' lame board tonight. Lady Vols close call and preoccupation the football coach seem to have taken a toll. Glad it was the fans and not the team that had a bit of a letdown. Great game, TEAM! Beat Ole Miss!
TommyJack writes:
Maze is da solution.
huntined#565710 writes:
KNS please don't use words like STEALS on here..YOU GIVE US SHELL SHOCK!!
VictorKruger writes:
(The following is a summary of the past 67,000 posts for those just now catching up)
Lane Kiffen is definately the biggest looser in history. Leaving after one year is the most rediculous thing I’ve ever seen, and I seen alot. Maybe he can take Hamelton with him to. Its obvious that Cutcliff is not the first choice, so why even hire him…….your going to get what you pade for. Their you have it!
I'm sorry, but I could not resist after reading football blogs for the past 48 hours, and I know how much basketball fans enjoy football comments in the basketball blogs.
Stay in school. Peace out!
stayingorange writes:
Impressive. Do it again against Ole Miss.
GreeneVol_TN writes:
I think he was following the game. Chism played great but Bobby Maze rocked the house. He took over the offense in the 2nd half and was scoring when he wasn't dishing assists left and right. Ask Steven Pearl, he was the benefit of two great passes for scores.
GO VOLS! Play hard! Play strong! Play TOGETHER!
rootin4volz writes:
Chism was all over that ball when Auburn had possession...He was on it like stink on poopy.
cdonsbach writes:
B Maze is on fire.
VolHound writes:
Great game, guys. Keep up the intensity, and we'll be in the mix in the SEC all season. Also should be getting all three suspended players back after the Ole Miss game. (They better have learned something from all this). All the talk of chemistry and these guys are playing like a team. Props to Maze, and Chism on this game. They can split the MVP of this game in my opinion. Good bench production (particularly from Pearl and Hall). GBO! Kiffin Blows.
VOLKING writes:
Stay in school?!! With words like 'looser' instead of 'loser', 'pade' instead of 'paid', and 'their' instead of 'there'.....sheesh. Obviously, you didn't stay in school. Maybe you can write for KNS someday.
Volumnus writes:
Dadgummit! I was in a meeting couldn't see it or listen to it and I couldn't even check the blackberry... sounds like I missed a great game!
I am glad they did great! GBO!
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Keep up the hard work boys! It is really paying off. Props to ALL the players. I still think Chism is "the man", but Maze and Hopson are playing great, thus making the whole team better. Prince, Hall and the rest of the gang are giving it their all! Great teamwork, great bench play, great coaching and GREAT GAME!!!!!!
VOLS....TCB....KOKO....GBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MidTennVol writes:
Just a suggestion, friend: you might want to consider stop skipping fourth-grade English class.
innocuous_infidel writes:
Maze seems to have acquired a measure of confidence & swagger in his play. You know, we heard for so long that this was Tyler's team - and, seemingly, as Tyler went, so went the rest of the team, most of the time.
It looks to me as though this is becoming Bobby's team - he is coming up big lately, taking the lead, and he is starting to establish himself as a scoring threat - he's even taking a few three's - not too many, thank goodness. Bobby seems to have a fairly high basketball IQ.
Chism has improved some, thankfully, but he needs to quit jacking so many three's when there is no one under the basket.
No one can deny the improvement in the team chemistry since the gang of four pulled the New Year's Day stunt. Hope we can keep it going.
GBO!!
mmynatt writes:
Whenever the 4 "idiots" got suspended I wrote in an earlier post that "maybe this would be better as the team would go to a smaller rotation and thus be leaner and meaner". But there was more hope than knowledge in that, so yes I am very happy for Bruce and the team. Hope they can keep it up!!!!!
FeelVol writes:
Yes I'd have to say the team chemistry is alot better with these nine that are playing,it seems that players are embracing their roles more now than I've seen in a while.I really got excited with some of Mazes' assists and Halls' throwdowns inside.Keep believing in one another.Go Vols!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Big win after Kansas takedown.
Keep rolling Vols! Get Ole Mess.
riverosa writes:
Got to bring our "A" game on Saturday from beginning to end
xvolx writes:
Just don't let the three amigos back on this team.
VolJunkie writes:
Some thoughts on the game:
-Maze needs the ball and the minutes to be effective; 1st half Prince had the ball a lot as did Bone. 2nd half Bobby played most of the game and handled the ball, you saw what happened.
-Defense was a step slow in 1st half, they got caught on a lot of switches and Auburn was hitting everything; 37 points, 30 from 3-point range.
-I love Kenny Hall. He is active, he is intense, he does not give up, and he goes strong inside. Some time lifting weights this summer ... yeah, good things ahead for Mr. Hall.
-Steven Pearl has taken a lot of grief on this board over the years, he is contributing solid minutes on defense and the boards, great to see him get some points last night as well. With more playing time, looks like he needs to practice his free throws!
Apologies for the long post, the past three games have been the most fun to watch in a long time.
Go Vols!
GR82BAVOL writes:
The Basketvols are a breath of fresh air these days...this team plays like a team that has been together for a long time. There is obviously great chemistry.
The "less talented" rotation knows their role. This is paramount to our continued success on the court.
So here's what is a little worrysome to me. If Goins, Williams, and Tatum end up coming back, I hope they are plugged into the lineup the right way. I'd sure hate to see them foul this chemistry.
A big ole thanks to everyone who simply ignored the goofy football posts on this thread. That's the way you do it! If we did it this way with the trolls, we would have very few.
volboy81 writes:
great game...great crowd. Lets all show up Sat...we owe Ole Miss just like we did Auburn!
GO VOLS!!!!
DooleyNoted writes:
Way to go Weeze and Bobby. Why not go after Jim Harbaugh at Stanford for the football job?
give_him_6 writes:
Is it just me, or are we playing better without the "drug-gun-thugs"? It seems like the team is more athletic and really pushing themselves after the supposed "leader" was kicked off. It's just an observation, but the younger guys...Hall and Woolridge, who weren't getting any mins are now looking like a freshman All-SEC and 2nd team ALL-SEC guys. It's just amazing the level of play now versus what we had with the drug guys there. It makes you wonder if the drug guys were really causing a team rift and that contributed to the spotty play. For my two cents worth...kick Williams off and make Tatum and Goins work their way back. Run them till they puke and then run them some more. If want to be part of something, then prove it. If not..boogie on out and give us 2 more scholarships to use.
WytheVol writes:
Maze had that layup near the end and gave it to Pearl. I think Chism gave Pearl his other bucket (can't remember for sure). Either way it was great to see the leaders making sure the walk ons have the opportunity to contribute. Pearl deserved it though, he played tough the whole time he was on the floor. The only thing that could have been better was if Pearl would have sunk that free throw when Hopson went out. Auburn got to pick that, would have loved it if he could have put it in.
What an effort from ALL of these guys. Loved seeing McBee driving to the hoop too. Maze has stepped up and become the man!
PennVol writes:
This "new" team is starting to gel! Bobby Maze is a different player now! GO VOLS!
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.