Yes, they still think about it.
It will soon be three months since Tennessee's basketball team walked off the court in St. Louis with a broken heart.
For the first time since, the Vols are back in a gym playing before a crowd this week.
Bearden High School will never be mistaken for the Edward Jones Dome. More to the point, the Pilot Rocky Top League and the Midwest Region finals of the NCAA tournament are on opposite ends of the gravity spectrum.
Still, maybe a little healing occurs.
The wide world of sports has moved on from that Elite Eight Sunday in St. Louis. The Final Four. Baseball. Spring practice. The Master's. The World Cup.
When I mentioned Michigan State to several Vols on Tuesday night, it was clear they haven't entirely moved on yet.
"For me, I still can't sleep at night sometimes, thinking about what happened,'' Scotty Hopson said. "And at the same time, I try to put it behind me.''
What happened was Tennessee came this close to going to the Final Four.
Playing in their first Elite Eight game, the Vols were on the brink. They could almost smell the Final Four.
So could Chris Lofton, watching on his computer in Spain.
"I was trying to get a flight home,'' Lofton said Tuesday, "because I was going to the Final Four.''
Hopson was fouled with 11.2 seconds to play. He made the first free throw. Tie game, 69-69.
If he makes the second, UT has a lead and time to set its defense.
But Hopson missed the second shot. Michigan State won the scramble for the ball and rushed down court.
The Vols were a step slow getting back. Draymond Green fed Raymar Morgan alone under the basket.
Brian Williams and J.P. Prince converged. Prince was called for the foul with 1.8 on the clock.
Morgan made a free throw to break the tie, then intentionally missed the second. UT rebounded and got a timeout.
The Vols had 1.6 seconds to move the length of the court.
Prince got the inbounds pass, took one dribble and launched as he straddled mid-court.
The prayer fell short. Spartans 70, Vols 69.
Coach Bruce Pearl embodied the program's pain.
You just don't get over these kinds of losses, he said.
"As much as I want to say I don't think about it, I do,'' guard Melvin Goins confessed after a Rocky Top game. "I do. Every day.
"To be really honest, I don't think there's been a week that's gone by that I haven't watched the game at least three times out of that week.''
And, oh, the what-ifs.
Michigan State loses 52-50 to Butler in the Final Four. Butler loses to Duke 61-59 in the title game.
"Playing Butler in the Final Four,'' said Steven Pearl, "we'd probably beat them and be in the championship game.
"But there are no 'ifs and buts,' so you've just got to move on.''
Move on to what? That's the money question.
"Next time, with one minute left and the game on the line, we know what to do now,'' said Williams.
"That game made us come together as a team, knowing what we needed to do to get to that level again.''
Hunger is the word several Vols used Tuesday night. It's relevant in the offseason to things like conditioning, defense, free throws. Williams said team chemistry is better than he's ever seen it.
Deserve Victory. That's a slogan on UT's weight-lifting shirts.
"When you step on the court,'' Cameron Tatum translated, "deserve victory because of everything you've worked for.''
Did Michigan State deserve the Final Four a little more because it had worked a little harder somewhere along the line? Perhaps. Or perhaps the ball just took one random bounce somewhere in that 40 minutes.
They wonder which, the Vols do, because, yes, they still think about it.
"It was so close,'' said Renaldo Woolridge. "I actually think about it all the time.
"We feel the pain so we can achieve more.''
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
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Comments » 34
eduardo writes:
Man we were right there to move on to the Final 4. I have to admit I think about the scenario all the time too. I also have watched the game at least 20 times. To watch go to CBS Sports NCAA or Yahoo Sports College BBall team sites.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
Man our team is gonna be really good this year. Maybe a faster tempo, guard-oriented game. Jordan McRae looked pretty amazing at the PRTL, Trae Golden was Mr. Basketball in GA (just like Cam Tatum), Tobias Harris obviously, and another big man Jeronne Maymon. Dont worry about the talent we lost, we're not short on that. We have fresh energy, talent, depth, and apparently great team chemistry. Think about how much the players and CBP probably learned last year.
That all being said, I don't think another Elite 8 is that far of a stretch. KEEP IT UP BRUCE! GO VOLS!!!
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Don't worry about the talent we lost? You mean the 3 starting seniors? The leader, Wheezy? I hope we do well, but you are in a dream.
UTfan4life2 writes:
We definatly filled all the spots we lost, and will be upgrades in the future (Tobias Harris, Golden). Only player that will be most missed is JP, unless Hopson fills that void in a way like Evan Turner did for OSU (not comparing the two skill wise).
brokebackvol writes:
I ached for days after that loss in my heart, but I'm still to this day so very PROUD of Bruce and the Team for getting to the Elite 8, and being so close to the Final Four. Considering how many years we have all waited and hoped, seen great players come and go, many a coach has come through K-town.
To the team - dwell on your wonderful success and the pride you have brought to a perpetual nothing basketball program at a football school, and know we may be suffering through a very lean football season. We'll be looking forward to seeing you win a bunch of games this season, and looking forward to another run come March 2011.
To Bruce - love ya man, but stay out of politics.
out_of_town_vol_fan writes:
i have that game on my dvr but i could never bring myself to watching it again...thats torture.
VOLFORLIFE writes:
FREE THROWS!!! FREE THROWS!!! FREE THROWS!!! Guys, if you learned nothing else from last season (and I believe you learned a great deal), please know that a made free throw here and there can spell the difference between a win and a loss (see Michigan State in Elite Eight).
I know all the other drills and the weight lifting, etc., that you work on in the off-season are important, but NONE MORE important than learning to shoot free throws!
Having said that, I can't say how proud I was of Bruce and the BasketVols last season. Looking forward to another great year.
GO VOLS!!!
JUGHEAD
lomas98 writes:
Making a final four can be a once in a lifetime experience for most programs. Most programs are not Mich. St., Duke, NC, Kansas, who get there it seems every year. I would have paid whatever I needed to and dipped into savings to make a final four trip as a fan. TN was that close and I hope they can get back. Its funny that as magical as the tournament was, most of our own fans didn't give us a chance when the bracket came out and saw G'Town as a potential opponet. It's funny what can happen. Can you imagine the fans outcry if we lost in the second round compared to the joyride we were on? Steven Pearl's comments about Butler sum up today's players attitudes and that TN would have probably lost to them.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
You're doing exactly what I told you not to do. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. You are overestimating last year's talent and underestimating this year's. I promise you'll see what I mean when we have more than 25 wins going in to the SEC tourney.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
I'm assuming Tatum will start there. If he's healthy, he'll be great. His offensive game is amazing.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
You lose a little bit of fire-power with Cam compared to JP, but make up with efficiency, and 3-point and free throw capabilities.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
OK, smart azz, you remember what you said here after you watch Scotty play this season.
And I have a feeling that Scotty won't be our first go-to guy.
fUTureVol writes:
With Kentucky losing so much talent (even with their new recruiting class), we should have one of the most, if not the most talented and athletic teams in the SEC and country. Also, a very good blend of talent complimented with experience. With some developing leadership, this team should do nothing but win and the skies the limit!
tmartin writes:
"Next time, with one minute left and the game on the line, we know what to do now,'' said Williams.
What? hitting free throws?
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Morgan being that wide open for a sure two cost us the game..It was hard to watch..Losing Wayne and Prince will be costly; but we have the chance to make up that production with some better playing guards on the perimeter
brentrod writes:
it still hurts. even after the sweet win over ohio st. you have to get back when you miss a free throw. you can't try to stop a point guard of that calibur in the back court. but that like a famous wwII general said... we shall return.
BigVolFaninSC writes:
I appreciate your enthusiasm and hope for next year's team, but one can't just assume that younger players will be able to step in and take the Vols to new heights! I HOPE that this team has enough core experienced players to learn and continue the upward trend of the program, but I would not be surprised if it takes a while for this team to find it's identity. There's just no substitute for experience! As great a young team as Kentucky was last year, they did not go as far in the "Dance" as the Vols...I think because of our senior leaders! I'm not saying that we don't have the talent to be special, just that it's unproven talent at the moment! I do like the direction the program is taking under Pearl! GO BIG ORANGE!!
Digger writes:
If the ref had called a charge (the right call) instead of a block on Prince, he would have stayed in the game. Instead, he sat the bench and we lost our lead and our momentum.
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
Here is the tough part:
while all the focus is on the last minute, if I remember right we kept MSU in the game in the first half because they beat us to a lot of loose balls and got some hustle baskets.
I fall into the trap like any other player or fan, but you often lose games like this early on, by not making plays that you should. Only rarely can a team look back and say 'we where really good the whole game, no mistakes'.
But, yeah, like any other Vol fan, I sure as hell wish the ref had let it go to OT and not decided the game with his whistle AT THAT POINT.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Neither Prince nor Williams appears to be fouling Morgan in the picture given with this article. It looks like a clean block to me, or at least the ball is sufficiently tied up to call it a jump ball.
richvol writes:
The hidden key to this years team is Brian Williams. If he works hard to become more aggressive,and that's a big if,he has the ability to dominate in the paint. Cousins was a freshman and he could take over in the paint and there's no reason that Brian can't do the same. He is just as big...he just needs to be motivated.
Brian started coming on strong after his suspension last season but he is capable of more. He has got to stop taking possessions off and go hard to the rim like Cousins did. His rebounding is pretty good and his passing is excellent. He needs to be an unstoppable force for us and if he does we will be very difficult to beat.
marinevol writes:
I'm the same way. I never replay a loss. But I have watched the basketball victory over Kentucky a few times, and constantly speed-watch the replay of the football wins over Georgia, SC and the beautiful overtime win at Kentucky.
Down_The_Field writes:
thank's strange. any other losses that ripped my guts out that you care to rehash?
pinhead.
hueypilot writes:
I have asked time and again, with no reply from anybody.
Why didn't Pearl pull all his players off the lane on Hopson's second FT? The chance of getting the offensive board was remote and with 11 seconds left MS would have to come down the floor and get a quality shot. They got a layup because Williams chased the rebound toward the corner and was late getting back.
I was shocked that we had players on the foul lane. I would have thought the defense would be deployed up the court and the guards would pick up the man with the ball at half court.
I'm not a coach, but it seemed like the right strategy to me.
volboy81 writes:
I have Kansas, Kentucky and Ohio State on mine. Michigan State....delete.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Brian became more aggressive with each game toward the end of the season. At the end, he was a very aggresssive force on the floor for us. If he maintains that level, we should be fine.
I don't look to him for alot of offense. I see him more as a defender, rebounder, and passer. However, I'd like to be surprised and see more offense from him. But we will have Harris, Lofton, and Tatum to supply most of the offense.
JBVols1698 writes:
WHOA! Even if I feel the same way... It was completely out of line for Steven Pearl to say they probably would have beat butler and been in the championship. Keep your mouth shut about that. Even if I was thinking the same way if I was some scrub sitting on the bench I would NEVER say something like that. It is completely disrespectful to Butler and comes across in a bad way for Pearl, His Dad, and the University.
1vavolfan writes:
IMO the biggest reason we lose that game is poor clock management at the end of the game.Pearl chose not to call a timeout, Scotty shoots the ball with 11 seconds left and I knew we were probably done for.Even if he makes both it gives MSU the last shot and between luck and the officials MSU probably wins.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
That is exactly the right attitude! Having just recently lost the great John Wooden, this is as good a time as any to remember his philosophy to "play against the game, not against an opponent". That means that you do the RIGHT THING ALL THE TIME, not just in clutch situations. If you do that, you won't BE in so many clutch situations and, if you are, you won't be betrayed by bad habits. And, yeah, that loss still tightens my jaws, too!
Mule_Days_King writes:
Haven't seen you on here in a while.
Nice to know you still have fecal matter where your brain should be, BOK.
Idiot.
tapeworm writes:
If Bruce Pearl doesn't put his foot down and prohibit his guys from playing in the Rocky Top League, then we're going to continue to see the bad habits they develop there last until they finally get them out of their system - usually around the end of the season. How many top level college basketball team players participate in this kind of activity during the off-season instead of working on fundamentals (free throw shooting, etc.), defensive skills, and conditioning? Street ball doesn't seem like it should be on the road to success for the Vols.
1vavolfan writes:
The players all play pick up games all summer long. If they aren't playing in PRTL then they are playing somewhere else. In PRTL they are playing against guys like Lofton, Watson, and Bradshaw.I would rather have them playing against this kind of competition than against an intramural team or on a playground.
JBVols1698 writes:
Listen to yourself. Steven Pearl (not Bruce!) has no business saying something like that and you SHOULD know that.
orangecountyvols writes:
Ignoring the meaningless comments from several interlopers here, ( not you Witchie or Pl3 ) the only thing I would agree with some legitimate Vol fans such as you two...........is that we'll take a few games to get used to playing together and becoming a team learning each other's roles.
Since Williams will be the only really big man in the middle, my concern with him are these points:
1. Free throw shooting
2. Converting layups
3. Endurance
4. Staying out of early foul trouble
With added quickness and hopefully better outside shooting, we should be okay. For the ones who have the issue with BP, go tell him what's on your mind, not us. Do you think you can do that? Thought not.
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