NASHVILLE — Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl knows if his 15th-ranked Volunteers want to win a conference championship, they're going to have to beat the best.
They'll have that chance when they face No. 2 Kentucky for a third time this season.
Wayne Chism had 16 points and 15 rebounds, and the Vols beat Mississippi 76-65 in the Southeastern Conference tournament quarterfinals on Friday to advance to the semifinals Saturday with their most bitter rival.
"Kentucky is the best," Pearl said. "They are the best team here. They're one of the best teams in the country and obviously an opportunity to play them and win a championship is something that you relish that opportunity, and we'll prepare and we'll get after them."
Tennessee and Kentucky split their regular-season meetings, with the Wildcats taking a 73-62 win at Lexington on Feb. 13, and the Vols winning 74-65 in Knoxville on Feb. 27.
Against the Rebels, J.P. Prince scored 17 for Tennessee (25-7), which is 7-0 this season when Chism gets a double-double. Cameron Tatum came off the bench to score 15, and Bobby Maze added 13.
With the teams tied at 44, Tennessee went on a 9-0 run punctuated by a jump shot by Tatum to take a 53-44 lead with 13:21 left.
Mississippi (21-10) answered with back-to-back 3s by Chris Warren from opposite sides of the baseline and a free throw by Trevor Gaskins — to trim the Vols' lead to 2.
Tennessee used free throws and paint points to pull away as the Rebels went 5 minutes without hitting a field goal. Mississippi made only 48 percent of its foul shots compared to Tennessee's 70.3 percent free throw shooting.
"We had a couple of plays on the table — open shots, layups, free throws — and we just didn't come through," Mississippi's Zach Graham said.
Warren led Mississippi with 16 points, Graham added 15 and Terrico White had 13.
Coming off a four-game winning streak and a first-round tournament bye, Mississippi was playing to improve its credentials in hopes of earning an NCAA tournament bid. The Rebels had a quality win over Kansas State early in the season, but wanted another resume-boosting win.
The Vols, who have stayed in the Top 25 all season and logged wins over then-No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Kentucky, are playing to improve their seeding in the NCAA tournament.
Both teams looked the part of an NCAA contender early. Tennessee hit 7 of 15 3-point shots before halftime — the Vols only had five 2-point baskets — and Mississippi hit its first six 3s.
A 3-pointer by Graham gave the Rebels an 18-12 lead with 13:05 left in the first half.
Tatum, who hit all four of his shots from 3 in the first half, hit back-to-back 3s from opposite wings followed by a free throw to grab a 24-22 lead for the Vols with 9:29 before halftime. Tatum was suspended for the teams' regular-season meeting after an arrest on drug and alcohol charges, which have since been dropped.
"Cameron Tatum was a huge difference today making four big 3s," Rebels coach Andy Kennedy said. "Despite the way we played out of the gate we went in with a one-point lead simply because he knocked down a lot of shots. "He was someone they did not have the first time we played them. To be honest with you, I thought he was the difference maker."
The teams traded the lead twice more before an 8-0 run by Tennessee that ended with a fastbreak layup by Prince that gave Tennessee a 34-31 lead with 2:26 left in the first half. White hit a layup and tipped in a shot, and the Rebels entered halftime with a 35-34 lead.
Warren was hot from the perimeter, hitting 5 of 12 from behind the arc, but the point guard committed nine turnovers, and Tennessee scored 20 points off the Rebels' mistakes.
It was the same story in the teams' regular-season meeting on Jan. 16, which Tennessee won 71-69 in overtime.
"Down the stretch in these types of games, you've really got to have a lot of energy," Chism said. "You've got to really make plays down the stretch because a lot of teams aren't going to give up because they know what's at stake."
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Comments » 135
osbymartin#581730 writes:
Nice win! Time for UT/UK III!!!!
murrayvol writes:
Good game Vols. Here's hoping there's enough left in the tank for UK.
UT-fan-in-New-Mexico writes:
Well if they can take down the mighty wildcats once... Maybe CBP can suspend a player for the game so the rest will play that much harder and finally win an SEC tournament. GO VOLS!
sherrycook#211302 writes:
Way to go, Vols!
schymtz writes:
76-65! Goody! Chism was fantastic! JP played like a senior and had NO turnovers! Maze was amazing! And what do we win? A shot at the big bleu. GO VOLS! BEAT Ky!!!!
DebKY writes:
Go VOLS!! Beat the Baby Cats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I sure would like to see everybody in arena cheering against Kentucky tomorrow!!!!!
Vols4Ever writes:
LOL !!!
If he didn't, that's why FedEx exists. Hope its pressed as he has to wear it 2 days straight.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
True. 4 in 4 days (maybe) to win the SEC is asking a ton.
But on we go.
98reax writes:
kitty litter
vol_4_fan writes:
Defense-Defense-Defense! Nice game Vols, someone steps up and makes plays to help pick others up, true team work! Anyone want to give SP a heads up on getting fouled hard and leaving the game, not long after the foul shots you could see him ready to get back in. Let's stay positive about this win and get ready for CBP and the Vols to take on the Cats! Go Vols
DCFloridaGatorz69 writes:
FWIW, UK had 3 starters play nearly 40 minutes today. Nobody for the Vols other than Chism played more than 30. And also significant is that UK was ice cold from behind the 3-pt line. Hoping for a good game tomorrow!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Chism! What can I say! I just hope the boys play a better 1st half against KY than this. A win is a win but jeez, these last 2 games were nailbiters....
fpcoach writes:
Well I was wrong about Scotty but right about the Vols. Tounament basketball, survive and advance. I think I saw Scotty's picture on a milk carton. Scotty oh Scotty, where are you. Show up tomorrow if you want to play on Sunday. The TEAM has carried you, it is your turn.
Sweet win, GBO
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
2 keys to beating KY will be keeping our 3 scorers out of foul trouble and hitting at least 65% on FT.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Amen on Hopson fpcoach, he needs a strong 3-pt game or dominate in the paint. The later ain't happenin' for SH against bigger KY. He needs to put on weight.
crimsonviper writes:
Go get it tommorrow Vols.
Ky. can be beat.
Get after em'...........GBO!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Think of it like this: tomorrow is the tie-breaker for TN-KY. GO VOLS!
xliveitup writes:
Tall order to beat kentucky tomorrow, but the whole team played well.
How about Cameron Tatum finally stepping up and hitting some big shots in the 1st half?!
How about Brian Williams with another solid game down low?
This team is really coming together at the right time. This makes it 7 out of 8 wins.
GBO!!!!!!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Tennessee = 8-0 vs. SEC West this season.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Yes catscrathfever, it looked like 3 out of every 5 in the building was in blue. Tall order for the orange but it can be done. Here is something to ponder: which team wants it more? TN will be in 3rd game in 3 days, KY 2nd in a row. Should be a classic.
chl1958 writes:
Thanks VOLS for a fine win;there are no bad wins.
We played determined and gutsy with hearts as big as the moon. Play your best,that is all we can ask!
osbymartin#581730 writes:
Its been a pretty even matchup through the first 2...UK 138 UT 136, UK .395 UT .429 FG, UK .220 UT .250 3pt., UK .684 UT .733 FT...UK +6 Rebs., TOs even and a pair of technicals each! LOL! Just a few numbers to throw out there....
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
You know, if you go to UTSports.com, there is a link there to ask Coach Pearl a question. Why don't you use that link to complain to the one man who can salve your rash?
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
That's good stuff there osby...thx
ArkyVol73 writes:
I was noticing that CatScratch. You'll must have bought every South Carolina, Auburn ticket available. Sure was a lot of blue. Best bring your A team tommorrow, the Vols want to prove that they can shut down that offense without all the home cooking charge fouls that should have been no calls. See ya! GO BIG ORANGE!
75VOLinga writes:
Did you not notice that Steven had two fingers taped, the two he was holding that he landed on when he hit the floor. You're an idiot.
SeanJean writes:
Hopson has been almost comical on the offensive end in this tourney. He looks completely lost. He can't shoot, he can't dribble, he can't finish at the rim. It's really hard to watch, and at this point, I'm not sure why he is still getting minutes. I'd much rather see Woolridge or Tatum on the floor. At least they attack the basket and fight on the glass.
fpcoach writes:
Hopefully we'll see a classic SEC basketball game tomorrow. Should be plenty of tickets available for a UT/Vandy championship game. Or maybe even a Bruce vs Billy final game.
schymtz writes:
Hello, CatScratch! Thought you would probably show up here. You are right about BBN. I admit to envying the fanbase and tradition. Hope it's a great game tomorrow, and, of course, I hope it's an all Tennessee Final. You guys don't really want to play Vandy again, do ya? WE DO.
volfan73120#211815 writes:
That was a good win Vols. Lets take it to the Wildcats tomorrow. Since we beat them when they were #1 in the nation, lets knock them out of #2 also. All of this in the same season. What a rush that would be. GBO
osbymartin#581730 writes:
That would be sweet but they were #2 when we beat them. Kansas was #1.
crimsonviper writes:
Zip it naffy.
You suck.
ArkyVol73 writes:
we beat the #1 team (Kansas), Kentucky was #2, and lost to Purdue which reached #3 by 1 point on the road.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Think about this: TN beating KY then Vandy (after 0-2 against them) to win the 1st SEC tourney in like 31 years.
bryanvolsfan writes:
GO VOLS!!! Great win today, hope Chism plays that well tommorrow. Time to beat the wussy-cats (wouldnt let me use the real word)
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
That would be sweet, but 1. it's looling too far ahead and 2. whoever plays Sunday may be suffering from a let-down after tomorrow.
wildcatbasketball writes:
That will be really tough when 80% of the fans are in blue???
Pepe_Lepew writes:
Calipari has already admitted that he doesn't care that much about winning the SEC tourney. He is looking at the Big Dance, and would not be upset if he got an extra day of rest and prep time...that was, of course, before the Vols were the opponent. Now, its personal. This should be a great game. I hope the Big Orange bring their "A" game tomorrow, we are gonna need it. If we can get Scotty Hopson to show up, I like our chances...Hell, I like 'em even if he doesn't! Been waiting 31 years to win this damn tourney, could this be the one? Go Vols!!!!!!!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Hey! Doesn't that #12 for Miss at the top of this page look like Tyler Smith with that beard??
tdvol1989 writes:
Yeah, it looks like a manageable number of minutes played except for Wayne. He played almost the whole game. Still concerned about the shooting, but you do have to be encouraged that as the game closes, we play better.
It is time for Hopson to show and we definitely have not peaked yet. And, more than beating KY, I would really like another crack at Vandy. I know we have to beat KY to get there, but beating Vandy to erase the sweep would exorcise some demons.
BigHornBuckShot writes:
Great win Vols. Two wins from a 3 seed. Go get em. I hate it that we knocked another SEC team out of the NCAAs, but that is life. Looks like Kentucky, Vandy and Tennessee. That is about it, and that is the way it should be.
BigOrangeScrew writes:
Good win for the Vols. I just don't understand how Scotty is this soft. He makes Vincent Yarborough look like Jordan. Cam and Brian showed up big. Good for them.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
But what about the Gators? Those fans GUARANTEED a Florida invite after that win over the Vols. THey quiet now, huh?
volfan73120#211815 writes:
You are right. I am sorry about that.
wildcatbasketball writes:
Good win Vols!!! Great match up tomorrow between the 2 best teams in the SEC which I have said all along!!! It will be FUN!!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Hey listen.......what's that i hear?...........crickets chirping?........I thought for a minute it might be the Bama or Florida bball teams gearing up for more games.
tdvol1989 writes:
Nice one. You did forget to mention that Calipari has mastered the art of slipping out the back door as the NCAA is knocking on the front door.
DebKY writes:
Calipari maybe able to recruit, but he certainly can't control his players. It just a matter of time before he gets the Kentucky basketball program in trouble! Wall made a public statement that he doesn't listen to Calipari and Cousins, who should have already been called for several flagrant vowels, will get catch it before his one and done career is over!
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ArkyVol73 writes:
BigHorn- I believe Florida will be in the dance for sure and Ole Miss should be there. They beat Kansas State, a team that could make the final 4. They are for real.They also beat UTEP, they deserve to go.
schymtz writes:
Can this be true? MISS ST is the ONLY West Div. team left, going up against FLA tonight? SEMI's look like an all east affair: Vandy vs. Florida & Ky. vs. TENNESSEE! GBO!!!
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