Men's Basketball
Tennessee guard Cameron Tatum, left, passes as he is chased by Ole Miss' Trevor Gaskins on Friday at the SEC tournament in Nashville.
NASHVILLE - Tennessee senior J.P. Prince couldn't prevent a smile from spreading across his face when asked if he looked forward to playing Kentucky in the semifinals of the SEC tournament this afternoon.
"It's another prime-timer, and this is what the fans wanted,'' Prince said. "You can build it up however you want; their freshmen against our seniors, Coach (John) Calipari against Coach ( Bruce) Pearl and Tennessee against Kentucky.
"We're just thankful to be playing.''
The 15th-ranked Vols (25-7) take on the No. 2-ranked Wildcats (30-2) today (TV: WATE, 1 p.m.) in Bridgestone Arena with the winner advancing to the title game at 1 p.m. Sunday.
UT beat Ole Miss 76-65 on Friday, while Kentucky defeated Alabama 73-67 before a crowd engulfed in Wildcats blue.
Tennessee and Kentucky split their regular-season meetings with the Wildcats scoring a 73-62 win on Feb. 13 in Lexington, and the Vols coming back with a 74-65 win in Knoxville on Feb. 27.
"This is the tie-breaker,'' said UT sophomore Scotty Hopson, a Kentucky native. "There's going to be a lot of emotion and passion.''
Kentucky senior Patrick Patterson said his favorite opponents during his four-year career have been Florida and Tennessee - the Gators, because they recruited him.
"Tennessee because of the trash-talking and the physicality of the game,'' Patterson said. "Emotions are flying left and right.''
The Vols are hoping they can defend the post well enough that the Wildcats will be forced to launch 3-pointers left and right.
Kentucky made just one of 13 shots beyond the arc in its win over Alabama, and the Wildcats were just 2-of-22 shooting from 3-point range in their loss to UT in Knoxville.
Kentucky is the tallest team in the nation with an average height of 6-foot-7, and the Wildcats rank in the top five in the nation in rebounding despite being out-rebounded in the past three games.
"If you want to be a champion, you've got to beat the best, and Kentucky is the best,'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "They are the best team here, they're one of the best teams in the country.
"An opportunity to play them and win a championship is something that you relish, and we'll prepare, and we'll get after it.''
Tickets in the upper deck were being sold by scalpers for $400 apiece Friday afternoon.
Senior Bobby Maze pleaded for UT fans to show their support in Bridgestone Arena, where UT has won eight in a row dating back to a loss in the 2006 SEC tournament.
"There's no way they can have 97 percent blue and there's 3 percent orange in here again,'' Maze said. "We're in Nashville, Tennessee, and there has to be more orange in here. I hope our fans get in their cars and vans and drive here to support us.''
Pearl downplayed Kentucky's overwhelming advantage in fan support.
"We are in Nashville, Tennessee, and we're going to try to defend our territory,'' Pearl said. "I understand that we've got some wonderful visitors from the north that rival Tennessee's as the greatest basketball fans in the country.''
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 124
Rockford writes:
Go Big Orange!
OrangeVeins writes:
Amaaaazzzing....I predict a win! First!
OrangeVeins writes:
Damn you got me...lol!
BubbaJ writes:
I can't wait! Wonder who all those Vandy fans will be pulling for? If the match-ups were flipped, I really think most in Orange would be pulling for Vandy to beat UK. Hope we get some help there. Don't know who's hated more in this league Tennessee or UK? For now, I am hoping UK.
oldbasshead writes:
I was at the game today and really felt bad for the UT players. There were hardly any UT fans at the game. It looked and felt like Rupp Arena. UT will be playing in Nashville on Saturday, but it will feel like they are playing in Lexington. Not sure where the UT fans were, but they were a no show in Nashville today.
1963volfan writes:
Did you see the prices for the tickets $400 for upper deck seats on fri, I cant imagine what they will be today.If it is full of big blue fans and im sure it will be,I hope they go home mad and with less money in there pockets.Because if we cant be there, we will be there in spirit,And with moe money in our pockets.GO VOLS BEAT THE CATS!!!!!
VolJunkie writes:
Classic case of multiple personality disorder. First post trashes team and coach, next post "we don't need you here". Though credit where credit is due, first FACT ever posted by Ms. BOK, Nashville is only a slightly longer drive from Lexington than from Knoxville.
Most commonly uttered phrase by BOK in Nashville: "Do you want butter on that?"
Go Vols!
beachvol1 writes:
Talked to a friend who is at the SEC tourn and he said it was nearly all Ky fans, just a maze of blue and it would be like a home game for Kentucky, so hopefully more incenitive for getting fired up....honestly believe if Prince can get back into the Ogre's( Cousins ) head, and somebody(
Tatum preferably) could stay with Wall,that the Vols would have a shot....maybe Wall had his best game of the tournament against Bama...got my fingers crossed that Williams, Chism, and Prince stay out of foul trouble....Hopson needs to stay in the locker room......
eduardo writes:
Time to get with it and treat this like it was the championship!!! Dont back down!!! GBO!!!!
wallandhiker writes:
If you had to choose between sitting at home on the couch in Kentucky or visiting the great state of Tennessee, what would you do?
It's OK. If we win, it helps us even more with the selection committee, because they will look at it almost as a road win. If we lose it won't hurt our seeding, but if we win it sure will bring us up a notch.
pl3 writes:
I always advise not to respond to you BOK, but again you are over the line you freaking coward. Everybody, I'll be at the game and am not in a good mood this morning cause my kids are sick. Someone please tell me what this 'true vol fan' looks like so I can have a chat with him with today. PLEASE! Or BOK, if you are any semblance of a man, I'll be in section 115, EE. Come find me you punk.
stevefrommemphis writes:
Kentucky basketball: a tradition of winning built on a foundation of corruption.
Kentucky fans say Vol fans are jealous of the Kats? Jealous? Maybe of North Carolina or Duke, but Kentucky? Contemptuous is the word. If Kentucky had run a clean basketball program over the years, they'd be just as inept at basketball as they are at football.
Now, Kat fans, spend money in Nashville until you can't spend any more. Then, get out.
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
Win the SEC and I think we're a 2 seed again! Go Vols!!!
Plasticman writes:
I was at the LSU/UT game THur. I tried to find a ticket to the Ole Miss game and there were NO tickets to be found. It was 90/10 people looking for tix vs. people selling them (which were only scalpers). I was planning on staying through the weekend but NO Tickets. KY fans purchased 70% of the tickets months ago. (I bought my 2 tix to the LSU game from a KY fan since they were not playing in Thursday's session). I would love to go but am not willing to pay $400/ ticket.
Plasticman writes:
Right, like you are there!!
VolJunkie writes:
Concession stand ...
Go Vols!
Plasticman writes:
Clean up crew....
VolJunkie writes:
Yeah, I know Marc, sometimes it's hard and these last two posts got to me. Again, I know, that's her intent.
Go Vols!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
your right again; it's a money thing not lack of support..$400 is insane..It's funny..Last year I bought tickets in the 12th row for the championship game in tampa for $40 and ky fans were nowhere to be found..In the end the game will be decided on the court not by some beer drinking KY slobs
LEXKYVOLS writes:
Living in Lexington for 16 years I have gained a lot of respect for the Kentucky basketball fans but it has never been greater than yesterday while at the UK-BAMA game. Looking up and seeing all the blue and knowing what 70% of the UK fans had to pay for their tickets. As for the game, UK has so much more to lose than to gain - they have not played played up to expectations all season, yes they are 30-2 but they only have one quality win this year and that was at Vandy. If they lose this game they go into the only thing that, based on what Coach Cal said, the NCAA tournament not improving on their game since the start of the season and the final result will likely turn out with a loss before they even get to the Elite 8. There is more pressure to win on the CATs than the VOLs and that is why the VOLS will win 68-60. See ya at the game!!
Ironcity writes:
Hopson needs to forget the arena and play like he can. If he is on the locker room or he lets this gym continue to affect his game, the rest of the team will be on the bus back to Knoxville at 5:00PM
LCfastball writes:
Don,t think a Kitty fan has ever made a shot from the seat's have they ?? So the hell with all the blue in the stands... Just take care of business on the court and let the better team ( VOLS ) win..... U.T. by 8.... Go VOLS
VOLstuckINky writes:
if you pay over 400 for a college basketball ticket, you deserve to be taken out back, beat over the head, and your wallet stolen.
VolJunkie writes:
Iron, if we have learned anything about this team it is that they are not reliant on any one player, especially since TS was dismissed. Someone has an off game, others are there to pick it up; have seen that time and again this year. What I hope to see from young mister Hopson (or any player) is that if he has an off day shooting the ball, that he put all his effort into defense, rebounding ... all the things we call "hustle stats."
Go Vols!
BradleyJKinkaid writes:
"Can't talk...make any...coherent sense...been smokin' again."
What in the world have you been smokin'?
TurboFan writes:
Since Ky wasn't in the champ game last year their fans shouldn't have stuck around. But I do remember reports of how many Ky fans traveled to Tampa which is a lot farther than Nashville. UKBB fans travel, it's the one time of year they can leave the state.
gtownvol writes:
Now that is funny. LOL
VOLS_0069 writes:
WE GOT THIS LETS GET AFTER IT VOLS!
vol4tnfan writes:
So far SH has had two off days in a row. How many off days does he need?
grvol writes:
TN has not performed well in the SEC tournament since 1979. KY has won most of em over that time. That is why there is so many UK fans here. Just the facts. I for one would not pay $600.00 to see Vols go one and done as usual. Maybe this year will be different... Go Vols!
wildcatbasketball writes:
GOOD LUCK Vols!! This will be another GREAT game between the 2 best teams in the SEC! It is too bad this game is not the Championship game.
UT is playing their BEST basketball of the year and seem to be peaking at the right time.
Let's lace em up and see what happens!!
I will say this...1-13 from 3 point land (yesterday) and 2-22 (last meeting against UT) will not get it done for UK. We must shoot better from the perimeter.
To All---enjoy the game!!
VolJunkie writes:
That's up to CBP ... my points are:
-This team does not rely on the performance of a single player to win.
-If one thing isn't working for you, pick it up somewhere else; offense comes and goes, defense is forever.
Go Vols!
1vavolfan writes:
Dude, you need some medication or something. Take a deep breath and count to 10.
Navalorange writes:
"their leader is a fraudulent hypocrite!"
I guess this explains your "problem" with UT BB. Your name is "bigorangekoolaid" and you're calling somebody else a fraudulent hypocrite? Seriously? So, you're a "true Vol fan" and you trash CBP and the entire Vol fanbase at one time, hmmm...
Do you really not know that NOBODY out-travels uk. Following uk around is what half their fans do for a living.
If you're really miffed because we have a poor showing, and you're actually a Vol fan, trashing your fellow fans would suggest to me you're actually a Troll. If not, you have a funny way of showing that you're a "fan".
Navalorange writes:
Cool marc, I didn't realize you did fan profiles as well as the players'. LOL
1974Vol writes:
Nice breath of sanity WCB. I see Patterson being the key for the Cats. He's the senior, it's a big game, and I think you guys have to win the game in the paint. Anything can happen, but like you I don't see KY's outside shooting improving enough to carry the day. Patterson doesn’t necessarily have to score a lot of points but he has to keep Chism in check and rebound. Chism is the key for us. Have no doubts he’ll play well, but if he gets in foul trouble and we have to play Hall and Pearl a lot of minutes you guys win by double digits. Looking forward to another great game.
Navalorange writes:
It's highly doubtful that uk will shoot that poorly again against us twice in a row. UT will have to get their offense going from jump street. If our O intensity doesn't match our D's, we're in trouble. If we start slow, it'll be hard to recover BECAUSE uk shot so poorly last time, and will not this time.
byrd4vols writes:
Hey sugar, Hows your boyfriend?
wildcatbasketball writes:
I am not going to stoop to your low class level MORON!!!GROW UP
I really do not know where you are getting your info but you are WAY off in your analogy!!
Maybe you have 0 friends and no life and want to just rant to get folks to respond to your comments because you nothing else to do....This will be my last post to you....unless ...you would like to meet me in an alley somewhere so I can kick you A_____
Get a life, will ya?
rockytopatl writes:
You're right, Bobby. However, and regrettably, it will be more like 85 percent Blue to 15 percent Orange.
vol4tnfan writes:
WC..I'm not sure, but I think he is another of the low lifes that troll this board. Glad you gave it to him good, but it probably went over his head.
Game's about to begin.
So...GBO!
schymtz writes:
Ky really crashing inside, with not much from the perimeter. This is a bit of a strategy switch that is working so far. Didn't want to say this but: cheap fouls on Chism.
eduardo writes:
Rook job by the officials!!!!!!!! What did we expect??
eduardo writes:
It is not even close.....ROOK JOB!!!!!!
Navalorange writes:
Anybody that comes on here and defends the officials after this BS is full of it.
eduardo writes:
How bout that the officials are following the blue into the locker rooms!!! This conf is a freakin joke as far as officiating goes!!!
vol4tnfan writes:
SHAT!!! TN has lowest output of the season, why now?
wildcatbasketball writes:
vol4tnfan
Thanks for the support!!---I hate people that come here and do not have a clue or a life!!!
This guy is moron.....
cobbwebb writes:
wildcats will win the national title... if they can take these officials to the big dance with them! someone smack the s--t outta ashley judd!!!!
cphil writes:
If I were Bruce Pearl, I'd pay the fine just to be able to speak my mind about the screwing the Vols are getting from the officials in this game!
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