ST. LOUIS — Brian Williams scored the go-ahead basket on a tip-in with 32 seconds left, Bobby Maze converted a pair of late free throws and J.P. Prince blocked a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer Friday night, leading Tennessee past Ohio State 76-73 and into the NCAA tournament’s round of eight for the first time.
Wayne Chism finished with 22 points — all but four in the second half — and 11 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Vols (28-8), who pulled out a back-and-forth tussle in the Midwest Regional semifinals.
As the final buzzer sounded, Tennessee players let out screams of joy and sprinted onto the court.
Few expected this from the Vols considering where they were on Jan. 1. Tyler Smith, the team’s leading scorer last season, was dismissed from the team and Williams, Cameron Tatum and Melvin Goins were suspended after a gun and marijuana were found during traffic stop.
But nine days later, Tennessee stunned then-No. 1 Kansas, and the Vols emerged as an even stronger team. Now, they’re one win from the Final Four.
“It sounds real good, and we’re livin’ it up right now,” Chism said.
Tennessee will play Sunday against the winner of Friday night’s game between Northern Iowa and Michigan State.
For the Buckeyes, it’s an opportunity lost. No one appeared to benefit more than Ohio State (29-8) when No. 1 overall seed Kansas was upset by Northern Iowa in the second round. Add in third-seeded Georgetown’s first-round loss and fourth-seeded Maryland’s loss last weekend, and Ohio State had what looked like a clear path to its second Final Four in four years.
To get there, though, the Buckeyes needed more than Evan Turner, a leading contender for national player of the year honors.
“I told our team, ‘It’s our team vs. their six,’” UT coach Bruce Pearl said. “We were a better 10 than their six.”
Turner finished with 31 points, 21 in the second half, but the rest of the Buckeyes were just 3 of 16 from the field in the second half. Jon Diebler, so big for Ohio State in the first two rounds, shot 1 of 7 from 3-point range.
William Buford scored 15 points and David Lighty added nine.
Ohio State had won four of its previous five meetings against Tennessee, including a matchup in the 2007 regional semifinals. But these Buckeyes are far different from that squad, which featured an NBA-caliber roster that included Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook.
These Buckeyes do have Turner. But it’s a game of 5-on-5, not 1-on-5.
After making only three baskets in the first half — including Ohio State’s last with 22 seconds left — Turner surpassed that output in the first 5:12 of the second half. Lighty finally gave him some help, scoring on a layup to put Ohio State in front 59-56 with 7:37 to play.
But Tennessee responded with a 12-4 run, getting contributions from four different players.
Chism, who seemed to get a boost when he took off his bright orange headband at halftime, gave the Vols a 72-70 lead with 1:39 to play. Turner came up with yet another big play, swishing a 3 from just beyond the arc with less than 42 seconds to go. But Williams, a big, bruising center, tipped in Prince’s miss on a layup.
Turner missed at the other end and Kyle Madsen lost the ball under the basket. With less than 13 seconds left, Turner fouled Maze, who after a timeout, coolly blew a kiss to someone in the Tennessee fan section. He made both free throws, giving Tennessee a 76-73 lead.
Turner had two more opportunities — and he’s knocked down last-second shots before. But this time, he missed from deep in the left corner, then got the ball back. With Prince all over him, Turner’s last shot from near the top of the key didn’t even get to the rim.
“Turner got a little bit of a look, but it wasn’t very good,” Pearl said. “Now we’re going to go see if we can live every kid’s dream.”
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Comments » 379
tnsportsman writes:
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! GOOOOOOOOOO BIGGGGGGGGGG ORAAAAAAAAAAAAANGE!
HELL YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
smokeysal22 writes:
WAY TO GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!SHOWED YOUR BIG ORANGE HEARTS TONITE! GREAT JOB!
tnsportsman writes:
BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
Chism was a MAN tonight!
zjames65#628943 writes:
GO V8LS!
utfutbolfan writes:
That's what I'm talking about!!!!!!!
dfreeman writes:
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VOLS!!!!!!! SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET.... OR SHOULD I SAY ELITE!!
nepperso#220348 writes:
This team has a chance to win it all! Go BIG ORANGE!!
crimsonviper writes:
GO VOLS...take it all!!
YOU GOTTA BELIEVE!
lyafarre writes:
How bout them VOLS!!!!
tree_em_smokey writes:
How bout them apples baaaaaaaaby!!!!!! Go VOLS! Chism is a beast. Nice coaching Bruce!
UTByrd writes:
Hot Dammmmmmm! Let's make some more history!
Go VOLS!!!!!
volonthehill writes:
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
elbtenn#502977 writes:
I am a happy boy down here in bamaland!!!!!!
RoadTrip writes:
I am speechless I am so happy!!!!!!
Thanks, guys. You go down in Vol history as the best!!!!
GBO!!!!!
Sovol writes:
You da man Bruce!! Go Vols!!!!!!!!!
richvol writes:
Man o man...what sweet payback
stevefrommemphis writes:
Gordon Gee needs to fire his athletic director like he did at Vanderbilt.
BillyVol writes:
wowowowowowowowowowoowowowowowoowowowowowowow
Wow
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
YEEESSSS!!!!! Take that, haters!!! You earned it Vols!! Outstanding job!!
punkin writes:
Prince blocks superstar Turner's last shot, classic. Turner stomps offthe floor. Loser.
VolInIndy writes:
My trip to Ohio is going to be much more enjoyable tomorrow. Thank you Seniors, Great Game. You too B dub. And the rest as well, Total team effort.
UTByrd writes:
Coach of the Year! Where is Seth Davis?
Go VOLS!!!!!
orangeismydream writes:
how bout them vols and what a game it was.elite 8 here we come and i said its great to be a tennessee vol
BillyVol writes:
They took it to them, and this is what team sports is all about. Great job Coach
RoadTrip writes:
Still waiting for the trolls to tell us how bad CBP is as a coach.
Anybody have Seth Davis' phone number or email address?
tnaseevol writes:
WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GBO------------GBO-------------GBO----------GBO--
Razzle writes:
Bruce Pearl = Coach of the year!
CincyOhVol writes:
How about them nay-sayers! Where are the expert commentators that said we were over-rated and one and done!
Can we get some RESPECT!!!!!!!!!!!!
vol88 writes:
GBO! See you in a day or so, ambulance is on the way to my house. I'm feeling kinda funny. ;-)
utfutbolfan writes:
"Whether you like it or whether you don't. You better get used to it, 'cause we're the best thing going today" GBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TDTN writes:
Imagine what we could do if Hopson would wake up and contribute on offense like he is capable of doing.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
WAy to GBO!!!! One more for the final four!!!!
ssgdebity writes:
HEEEEELLLLLL YEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS GOOOOOOO VOLS. FINALLY THE ELITE 8 HOW SWEEEEEEETTTTTTT IT IS. THAT WAS ONE HECK OF A GAME. THEY PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT. NOW KEEP THE FOCUS. 2 MORE TILL THE NATIONAL TITLE GAME.
tenuscvol writes:
Final Four PT Baby!!!!!
VolInIndy writes:
Seth was on the bandwagon at halftime. Kick him off and run over him.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
They sure owned the floor down the stretch!!
stevefrommemphis writes:
Great victory, Vols! Absolute total TEAM effort -- probably the best in the history of Tennessee basketball!
richvol writes:
Chism put this team on his back in the second half...he refused to lose. Prince was brilliant.
fpcoach writes:
I have visions of Bruce wearing the Orange Blazer a week from monday night. That being said, go W. Virginia.
I about crapped my pants when JP went for the block at the end.
GBO...........SURVIVE and ADVANCE
CincyOhVol writes:
Agreed.
BigOrangeBill writes:
I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. Been following Tennessee basketball for over 60 years now. Ernie, Bernie, ALL OF THEM. And never have they gone this far. I love this team. They have HEART AND SOUL. And if anybody criticize Pearl tonight. they should hang their head in shame. WHAT A COACH. Thanks Coach Pearl and thanks guys, you'really special to all REAL Volunteer fans.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! DID I MAKE MY FEELINGS CLEAR ENOUGH???????????
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
...then back up, and do it again.
ThugTillIDie writes:
Chism and Prince just told Evan Turner, NO! Amazing effort from those two. When they play with passion and have their heads in the game, Tennessee can beat anybody in America. MAKE BRUCE THE FOOTBALL COACH TOO!
thevoice writes:
Dear Selection Committee Members,
Are you embarrassed about giving us a 6 seed now???!!! Ought to be!!!!
CrankE writes:
Sure is good to be the worst team in the Elite 8.
crimsonviper writes:
Total team effort.
But,damn Chism took the heart right out of OSU...sweet..GBO!!
utfutbolfan writes:
That play alone will go down as one of the best ever in TN basketball history.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
nailed it...
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