If you are counting on a successful run in the NCAA basketball tournaments, you better have great guard play.
Or a go-to player who goes best on a big stage. Or a defense that can suffocate an offense without evoking an official's whistle.
A favorable seeding helps, too. Favorable match-ups might help even more.
But for the University of Tennessee's two tournament teams, something less tangible might be more paramount this month.
Both teams have something to prove. And they have to prove it to their fans.
Ladies first.
The Lady Vols have won the SEC regular-season and tournament championships. They have won 30 of 32 games. But they haven't won enough to convince fans they will advance through the tournament in a manner that befits their tradition.
Much of the skepticism dates back to last March when the Lady Vols inexplicably managed to lose a game they couldn't lose - in the first round to Ball State. "Hoosiers" made more sense.
Even in a championship season, the Lady Vols have acquired doubters along the way. They can thank their coach for that.
Fans haven't forgotten that the Lady Vols just won the SEC tournament. They also haven't forgotten that coach Pat Summitt was questioning her team's consistency during the same tournament.
And a negative shake of the head from Summitt resonates more with hard-core fans than a net-cutting ceremony.
But remember something else: Summitt has berated this team more for its upside than its downside. She has been relentless and repetitive in her motivational ploys, all designed to elicit the Lady Vols' Final Four potential.
No one is mentioning UT's men in the same sound bite with the Final Four. Instead, the Vols already are being bandied about as a popular first-round upset victim on Thursday against San Diego State.
Those aren't just outsiders chirping. They're also UT fans.
Never mind that the Vols were good enough to upset No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Kentucky. Their worst performances - the most recent of which was a 29-point setback against the Wildcats - seemingly have a longer shelf life.
One fact: This team has over-achieved dramatically in winning 25 games despite losing its best player, Tyler Smith, who was kicked off the team before it played a conference game.
Another fact: At this team's best, it's not as exciting as Pearl's first couple of teams, which won over fans with their spectacular 3-point shooting and an eye-pleasing, pulse-quickening full-court game; at its worst, it's downright repulsive.
There's irony in that assessment. Most of the players on this team connect with the crowd. They want to be liked.
You saw that in UT's home-court victories over Kansas and Kentucky. Conversely, it's not a stretch to conclude the Vols would have played better if there had been more orange in a Kentucky-dominated crowd for the SEC tournament semifinals Saturday.
UT fans will be hard to find at Providence this week. But this time, I expect the players to get along without them.
The Vols have worked too hard, overcome too much and looked too good in those historic upsets to exit the tournament at their worst. And their best effort might just carry them all the way to the second weekend.
The Lady Vols won't slow down until they run into the Connecticut dynasty in the Final Four semifinals.
John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 16
kdub writes:
just about all the sites I've seen are picking SDSU which I feel is a good thing b/c it ought to motivate our guys. they need to come out and make a statement by doing what CBP has said which is punch them in the mouth out of the gate. if they play like they did at home against Kenlucky/Kansas and on the road at MSU we'll win by double digits. if we play D with intensity, team ball and rebound for 40 mins we win, if not we r one and done.
CoverOrange writes:
I'll lay a dollar Tennessee will have more fans in the stands than San Diego St.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
IF is a big word--if we play like we did at southern cal and on the road against Ga and again Kent in tourney we will lose by double digit-------Ken Goodman of MSN sports ( ? )says we are so inconsistent its hard to predict with us but he predicts we'll grind out a W
cdonsbach writes:
Vols are going to the Elite Eight.
VolinCalif writes:
Oooh CD. I hate to be on your back but the Vols are going to the Final Four. Now! Now don't laugh,BP is a great coach and these players have shown they can get it done. Just how many teams could have won 20+ with the problems UT Bball had this year? Not many, most would have rolled over and played died. The Guys can get it done. Will they? Don't know but I do believe they can do it.
cdonsbach writes:
I hope you're right!
1vavolfan writes:
Are you serious??We'll see how the Mountain West does in the tournament. Put New Mexico or SDSU in the SEC and they are 9-7 at best in the SEC. They're arent any Air Force's in the SEC.
dalvol writes:
Tweet, I like your thinking, but there is an error in your argument. The Vols only played #1 Kansas once.
kthoma14 writes:
W against Kansas
L at UK
W against UK at home
L against UK in SEC Tourney
=2-2
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
A very tough match-up. The biggest problem will be motivating our guards. If Scotty stands around and if Maze is as inconsistent in this one like he has a tendency to do, it will be a long night. The jeckyl and hyde play is because of these two players playing totally inconsistent all year. Remember what Maze did in the Kansas game? Ky. defense was too quick for him, hope Aztec defense has slower guard play.
Down_The_Field writes:
i originally wanted this team as a 6 seed cause i like our chances on the 2 seed side of the bracket.
this team has talent and with a mixture of anger and motivation, we could be dangerous.
elite 8 wouldn't surprise me.
bkgunter writes:
UK will struggle without the stargazing SEC officiating crews. Honestly, Cousins is in line to be the biggest flopper since Shane Battier. J. Wall is getting Jordan treatment on offense, and the whole bunch bangs away with relative impunity on defense. UT will do better than expected, UK worse.
bryanvolsfan writes:
SDSU and Georgetown are tough match-ups for the Vols, I believe we can get by against SDSU, but G-town not so much. I think these guys have had a heck of a year, that Kansas game was the BEST game I've ever been to, made me proud to be a VOL! We need to be thankful for having Wayne, Bobby and J.P all three kept themselves out of trouble, Im proud of them all.
rockytopron writes:
The Lady Vols are the only team not intimidated by Uconvicticut. They are more afraid of Pat Summitt!
claiborneh writes:
Why does Tennessee need motivation? How about going to a Final four. There is some motivation. It is not surprising for analysts or non-Tennessee people to expect Tennessee to lose. They always mostly do. Not a big time program yet-but getting closer! We'll get there but it's going to take more Parade All-Americans.
Halls3 writes:
UT needs to beat SDSU for Bruce Pearl's sake. He lost some fans with bringing back Brian Williams & another quick NCAA exit off the drubbing received from UK could muster up some dissent in the fan base towards Pearl. Plus, next year this team may not make the NCAA Tourney & Pearl needs to do something this year or it could be two 1 & dones in a row followed by not being in the tourney. I know I may get bashed for this but Billy D's seat began getting warm with some fans last year just 2 years removed from back to back titles. And in Knoxville with what looks to be a football team in ruins as of now, the basketball team needs to produce to keep fans happy.
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