When Melvin Goins needed to find the best pick-up basketball game in town he knew where to head: San Diego State University.
He never guessed he and his shirts-and-skins colleagues would be playing for real in the Big Dance on the other side of the continent.
Men's Bracket
Goins and his Tennessee teammates practiced in Knoxville on Tuesday, then boarded a plane for Providence, R.I. That's where they meet San Diego State on Thursday night (TV: WVLT, 9:45) in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
"I played against a lot of those guys in the summer time,'' Goins said Tuesday. "I didn't ever think we'd be playing in the tournament, especially in the first round like this. It was just ironic.''
Goins grew up in San Diego. He left in 10th grade for Texas, then, after a freshman season at Ball State in Indiana, he returned to his roots for a year at Mount San Jacinto College, an hour up the freeway from San Diego.
That's where the Vols found and signed him last spring to shore up the point guard position.
Goins knows many of the Aztecs, especially fellow San Diegan Malcolm Thomas.
"I played against him when I was younger,'' Goins said. "Then last year in junior college he actually knocked us out in the game to go to the state championship.''
His closest friend in the program was Richie Williams, last year's point guard, who helped lead the Aztecs to the semifinals of the NIT in New York.
Williams is gone and Goins said San Diego State expressed interest last year in recruiting him to help fill the void.
"I just felt I wanted to get away from home,'' he said. "Tennessee felt like it was a better fit for me.''
A better fit and a good route to realizing his - and every basketball player's goal - playing in the NCAA tournament.
"It's a dream come true,'' Goins said. "It seems like just yesterday when I was at junior college or Ball State University, where we had no chances of ever making the NCAA tournament.''
Another tournament, the SEC one, didn't turn out so hot for Goins. He didn't play well and then was ejected for a flagrant foul against Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins.
"I'm pretty sure I'm not that popular right about now in Kentucky,'' Goins said. "I actually wanted to reach out to DeMarcus and send him some kind of apology.''
More SoCal: UT's Renaldo Woolridge also is a Southern California native with a passing knowledge of San Diego State.
"West Coast ball is different,'' Woolridge said. "There's more shooters, more finesse. It's just different.''
Pearl's Praise: UT coach Bruce Pearl has known San Diego State coach Steve Fisher since both were assistants in the Big Ten during the 1980s. Pearl was at Iowa, Fisher at Michigan.
Pearl said the Mountain West Conference prepared the Aztecs for the rigors of the NCAA tournament.
"This is the best conference out west,'' Pearl said. "This conference is superior to the Pac 10.''
Next Year: Pearl said he would add one more "tough game" to UT's non-conference schedule to pump up the RPI in hopes of getting a better seed.
He also wants the SEC to consider awarding the top four seeds - and first-round byes - to the top four regular-season teams regardless of division. This year, for example, UT and Florida would have received first-round byes rather than Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
"That,'' said Pearl, "will be an East versus West discussion.''
The top four teams in the East this year were 29-2 against the Western Division. The only wins were by Mississippi State in the tournament.
NCAA History: San Diego State is 0-5 in the tournament, its most recent outing an 87-83 loss as an 11th seed to Indiana in 2006.
Tennessee is 13-18, including 9-7 in first-round games.
Chism Honored: UT's Wayne Chism was named second-team All-District 21 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The first team was Cousins and John Wall of Kentucky, Jarvis Varnado of Mississippi State, Devan Downey of South Carolina and Tasmin Mitchell of LSU.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
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Comments » 91
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Bruce is right the MWC is far better than the PAC 10..Goins has been hot and cold..We will need consistent play from the whole bench to get the win..The match ups in this game sets up Maze and Prince to have big games because SDSU doesn't defend well against players that slash and drive to the basket
volnfl writes:
UT 110 SDSU 47
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
As much as I love my Vols, I have to say that looks just a touch on the optmistic side.
CoverOrange writes:
Pearl would do better to berate other SEC teams to up their OOC schedules than getting a change to the tourney. All these SEC teams fattening up on Odorous U. and they still don't make the tourney. Their RPIs hurt the SEC as a whole.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
VOLS 85
SDSU 69
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
nothing wrong with being optimistic and positive but some of us are ears deep in Koolaide--------now where are all these points coming from----you planning on SP lighting it up?
cdonsbach writes:
16 points sounds right. Good call.
wildcatbasketball writes:
UT scoring 110 might be a little optimistic.
Good Luck Vols!!! Hope you win!! but it will not be by 63...NO WAY!!
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
Just win baby!!
I would like 90 to 65 win..
But will take 66 to 65 win..
Advance at all cost..GBO!!!!!!!!
cloudodust writes:
We're good enough to move on to the Regionals but now it must be earned. No gimmes here on out. None. Gotta play them all like Kansas and Kentucky at TBA. Like a good Homie, I have UT beating the Aztecs...GBO
Exfix writes:
Vols 247
Aztecs 6
Ironcity writes:
They were 1-5 against the top three teams in the conference before the conference tournament. I really think we will match up well against them. Call me an optimist UT 77 - SDSU 59
volatile99 writes:
Hey gang.....don't underestimate SDST.
SDST 71
UT 68
The Vols will look past them like they did Vandy on to KY
chrisw2967 writes:
Tn 71
SDSU 59
Tn struggles in the first half and pulls away late
sandiegovolunteer writes:
I am a season ticket holder at SDSU and a VOl alum. Seen almost every game for both teams this year. This will be an incredible game.
Sdsu has some injuries which will help but they have 3 monsters inside that can jump out of the gym. TN will have to fight for every ball.
SDSu was actually
1-1 VS New Mexico and got hosed ona last second call at NM
2-1 vs UNLV
0-2 vs BYU (if you have not seen Fredette play- make sure you watch the Florida / BYU game Fredette is a machine- scored 48 at Arizona this year and 45 against TCU)
Back to this game- you can expect SDSU to be patient and try to get the ball inside to their big men. They are similar on the perimeter to TN and the foul line as well.
IF TN breaks out the press- TN wins game. IF SDSU plays 2-3 zone - it will be a very very close game.
SDSU is fired up for this game.
Vols need to bring the A game and Hopson needs to get physical!!
TN 74 SDSU 72 but if UT turns it over and looks like they do sometimes
SDSU 68 and TN 57
Fryinpansvols writes:
OK Seth Davis wannabe! I think CBP will have The Big Orange ready to play. Its us against the world type of motivation speech from CBP. That's including the selection committee and all the naysayers like yourself! GBO and beat SDSU!
nolancrooks10 writes:
UT 78
SDST 59
nolancrooks10 writes:
I agree but if we do the right things i believe the lead will be lager at the end!
nola_vol writes:
Actually, I think that's CBP's real goal: ASK for the tourney seeding changes, then, when the West coaches predictably resist, REMIND them of their responsibilities to the conference to raise their RPIs.
Kindofa "so, which would you rather do" that forces the West coaches into a debate with each other rather than with Pearl and Donovan.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
Even a blind chipmunk can find an acorn once in a while..Doh!!!
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
sad to say, but the result will probably depend on how Scotty plays. I think it will be a 5 point differential, but don't know which way. Hope the Vols!!
HOSSFLY writes:
what worries me is sdsu's success against mew mexico and how the "experts" love new mexico. also a concern is wondering if the vols are through pouting.
GO VOLS !!!!
UT 83
sdsu 75
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Ideal situation would be to press early;get points on turnovers and get them on the ropes before the half...Problem is everytime we get momentum and a nice 14 point lead; Bruce puts in the scrubs and the next thing you know we're nursing a 5 point lead!!! Bruce is h#ll bent to keep player minutes below 30..With all the TV timeouts in a tourney game the starters should be able to play longer..Iam all for subbing to keep players fresh but bringing in 2 and 3 players at one time ALWAYS ends up in turnovers and lost momentum!!!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Your probably right..More games than I can count followed that exact pattern!!Just finish STRONG!!!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Iam interested at what Plastic's take is on this match up..Do you agree with Sandie???
VAVol writes:
Appreciate the analysis! I, like you, think this will be a MUCH TOUGHER game than most people think. I think it'll be tougher than their next game against Georgetown (probably) assuming they actually do beat SDSU. Let's see which UT team shows up...
dvols writes:
whoever scores the most points will win!
kazoo writes:
A lot of good teams struggle against solid, lower-seeded teams in the NCAA tourney--and given that I would not really call the Vols good, I fully expect this to be a tight game.
10cvolnga writes:
Just got out of my Back To The Future car after spending tomorrow in Providence. It was a good game, however, we got sloppy again at times. UT - 74, SDSU - 66. If I can get my flux reactor recharged in time, I may go back and watch the UT - Georgetown game this afternoon. GBO!
bigvol662004 writes:
Wrong sport, Sparky! It might be that bad in FOOTBALL, but not basketball....Seriously, as I agree with the analyses I've read on SDSU and what I know of UT'S performance, this could be a closer game than most of us expect. Poor ballhandling/rebounding will get us (or anyone for that matter) beaten, but that's just the way it's been for us this season. Control the tempo, handle the ball and control the boards and we should be fine. UT 66, SDSU 60. GO VOLS!
VOLFAN78 writes:
I would agree with you, but it would be tough for UT to overlook SDST with most of the "experts" picking SDST to win.
UT 68
SDST 60
Ayres_Hall writes:
We need to stop worrying about seeding and JUST BEAT SOMEBODY beginning with this game. Inconsistent play in the NCAA is our MO and I could see us coming in unfocused and unmotivated and leave with an embarassing loss.
The experts are picking SDST because it is one of the games that could go to the lower seed. Don't be too surprised if we lose.
VolInIndy writes:
Yeah, that was a nice behind-the-back move by Wall but not near as good as the Sunday sodomization of the MSU player into the bench that wasn't called. You might recall that enabled KY to win and knock the Bulldogs out of the tournament (which was the right thing, based on their season).
Do you thing Cousins' muscle rebounds where he puts an opponent with inside position into the photogs will fly outside the homecooking of SEC officiating?
Also, I haven't followed recruiting much this year, which semi-pro, one-and-done wonders is Cal adding to the payroll next year to take the place of this year's class of millionaires?
utk1996 writes:
If we win this game, I predict we will advance all the way to the Regional Final. In filling out my bracket, this game scared me more than a potential second round game against Georgetown (name recognition = more respect) and Sweet Sixteen versus Oklahoma State (revenge game because of last year). This is a funny team. We get up for the big name (except UK in SEC tourney) but are prone to let our guard down against other teams. I'm sure the coaches will make sure we're mentally prepared. Tennessee wins 73-68.
fan_vol#1382657 writes:
"Ok that's a little stupid, get real Ok"
schymtz writes:
Brilliant! I wondered who all those "Mr. Sports Guy" commercials were made for. Glad you finally got the lesson down. Just kiddin' {I always thought they were talkin' about me!}
MarkyC writes:
SDSU was actually 2-1 against New Mexico and the only loss was an overtime game where SDSU got screwed on a last second call.
schymtz writes:
Only if CBP pulls Chism for McBee and substitutes Williams for Maze at point guard, then gives him a green light to shoot the three every time down court!
schymtz writes:
Glad to know everybody is in a good humor about this game. Were the experts right about Syracuse being the first #1 seed to lose in the opening round or did ETSU knock off Kentucky? If you forgot to check, for everybody's sake, learn the difference between a reactor and a Flux Capacitor. Else you'll might blow us all way past the Final Four! 74-66 is a good bet, but I'm guessing UT 66 - SDSU 61. If that California team does manage an upset a lot of us will be eating some crow for complaining about a 6th seed.
Orangeblood13 writes:
eh
survive and advance, who cares what the score is
as long as we win by 1 more.
RoadTrip writes:
Truthfully I am ready for next season's team - this one has worn me out. You never know which team will show up. They have a severe case of ADD. How do you keep their attention on defense, rebounding and making easy shots the first time they take them for a full 40 minutes? How do you teach Baby Pearl that you should not try to take a charge on every defensive play? How do you teach Bobby to go 100% on both ends of the floor? How do teach JP to play fundamental basketball and quit trying to be showtime on every play on both ends of the court? How do you teach Wayne to not challenge every short so he can stay out of foul trouble? How do you teach the whole team that it is OK to take 8-12' shots more often, instead of jacking a lazy 3 or going full steam to the rim every time - just to be stripped of the ball. Every third game or so they just go completely brain dead. I just hope it is the third game instead of the first if it going to happen.
When they are "on" - they are wonderful to watch. When they are not - it is just ugly. Either way I am still a fan - GBO!
RoadTrip writes:
Some bad typing in there so overlook the errors.
mlynn1 writes:
Are you talking about ole 5 step Wall?
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
UT 71
SDSU 66
RockyTopRenegade writes:
You forgot to mention Scotty's patented cross-court BALLOON PASS that takes 8 seconds off the shot clock prior to being intercepted for a turnover en route to a momentum changing thunderous dunk for ( fill in blank )
UCFgradVOLatHEART writes:
If Rod Wilks would have played against KY we would have won by 50. Fear the Wilks.
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
CBP will have the Ritalin ready *L*
UKblue02 writes:
If Pearl had a chance to sign Cousins, Bledsoe, and Wall out of high school, even if he knew they were one and done, don't you think he would have done it?
RockyTopRenegade writes:
Well, you have to understand the handicaps that CBP must deal with. Hamilton spent all the money on the Fulmer buy-out.
UKblue02 writes:
I hear you on the buy-out deal lol, i do think the new FB coach is a classy guy and will do you guys proud but like anything else only time will tell.
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