Tennessee Men's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - There was a point in Saturday's game when Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said he felt the Vols "had the magic back" at Florida.
It disappeared during the final 25.5 seconds.
Gators guard Erving Walker drove to the rim to score the winning basket with 14.7 seconds left, lifting Florida to a 61-60 men's basketball victory at the O'Connell Center on Saturday evening.
UT senior guard Melvin Goins missed a 3-pointer as time expired after the Vols failed to execute the play Pearl had called.
"This is one of the more disappointing losses in my career,'' said Pearl, who has lost two games since returning last Tuesday night at Kentucky after serving an eight-game SEC suspension. "We had a game plan that we felt could be effective.''
Scotty Hopson led Tennessee with 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, and Brian Williams had 11 points and nine rebounds.
The Vols (15-10, 5-5 SEC) appeared to be in good position to beat the Gators (20-5, 9-2) much of the game.
The upset was within their grasp when junior Cameron Tatum stepped to the foul line for a one-and-one free-throw opportunity with 25.5 seconds left and UT holding a 60-59 lead.
Tatum missed, capping the Vols' dreadful 4-of-10 shooting performance at the foul line, and Walker attacked the rim at the other end for the game-winning basket.
"It's me, it's all my fault. I'm supposed to be a veteran on this team and I'm supposed to be a leader,'' a dejected Tatum said. "I was in position to make some big free throws, and I didn't.''
Pearl, however, was more disappointed with Tennessee's inability to execute on the final play with Florida's rowdy crowd of 12,630 turning up the decibel level in the background.
"If we executed what we called,'' Pearl said, "I have every confidence that we would have scored or got fouled.''
The final play was supposed to end with Tatum or Hopson driving to the basket, depending on which side of the court Goins brought the ball up court.
But Tobias Harris inbounded to Tatum instead of Goins after Walker's basket.
Tatum was supposed to run the floor, but when he saw Goins being guarded on the inbounds, he said he chose to stay back as a safety valve.
"The ball is supposed to go to the point guard,'' Tatum said. "But I thought once I got it, Mel could circle back.''
Pearl said he could see the play going wrong from the outset, but he elected to allow play to continue, not wanting to give Florida an opportunity to challenge an inbounds play and set up its defense in the half court.
Goins searched on the wings fruitlessly as time wound down, and with approximately three seconds remaining, he launched the off-target 3-point attempt.
Time expired before anyone could gather the rebound, and Florida escaped another close call, running its record to 6-1 in SEC games decided by six points or less.
The Vols, meanwhile, saw an opportunity to tie or win a game on the last possession slip away for the sixth time this season.
It was hard to see this one coming; the Vols raced out to a 35-29 lead at the half and out-executed the Gators throughout, grabbing a season-high 14 steals.
"We were certainly fortunate to win,'' said Florida coach Billy Donovan, who has won three straight against Tennessee. "I thought in Knoxville (an 81-75 overtime win) we were the aggressor for 45 minutes, and I thought tonight that Tennessee was the aggressor.''
Hopson opened the second half with a basket to make it 37-29 as the Vols matched their largest lead of the game.
Florida made an 8-0 run midway through the second half and took a 49-47 lead when Walker (16 points) hit a free throw with 7:40 remaining.
Goins answered with a 3-pointer that gave the Vols a 50-49 lead at the 7:04 mark, the first of four lead changes in the closing minutes.
"It's heartbreaking we are so close,'' Hopson said. "Cam is really down on himself, but it shouldn't have come down to that.
"The big thing now is we have to stick together.''
The Vols return to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Thompson-Boling Arena against South Carolina (13-10, 4-6).
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Comments » 355
NYvolFan writes:
Dumb! Dumb! Dumb! Call the timeout LIAR!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Good game overall. Still mistakes killed us. Losing on a lay-up hurts! Losing to florida hurts, but still an exciting game and we lost to the SEC's best team by 1.
huntined#565710 writes:
That was a great effort in this game just wonder why Harris did not play more min.At times all we had to rebound was Williams..Got to give it to FLA on that last trip down but they know to go to the basket when you are down 1..
The_Mayor writes:
...also known as the patented bigorangepusspass and the freeforthemthrow.
VOLKING writes:
Tatum makes both free throws, we win. End of story. Free throws lost the game. Plain and simple.
YokeyouthVol writes:
I just don't get it!!!!! Why do they dribble around until the last second, then jack up a three????? Sit Goins the last minute of the game for the rest of the season.
hallmo11 writes:
I love my Vols so much....but why, oh why, do we
do these same stupid things on the last possession:
1. no time out to set up
2. no drive to basket for a foul or bucket
3. only one desperation three
This is making me very old too soon. AHHHHH!!!!!
bigorangeyankees writes:
Why do we continue to shoot a 3 when we need to drive to the basket just like UF did. We have lost many games this year because of this same nonsense. 2 points wins it or maybe get fouled.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Let me go ahead and put my 2 cents worth in. I am a Pearl supporter. How in the world do you not call a timeout on that last play? Goins is the last one you want to take that shot. I'd rather have Tatum or Bone drive the lane than Goins.
Foul shots again cost us dearly. I won't mention the extreme disparity in foul shots. Was Scotty mugged in the last minute? Coach did a terrible job in this one. We just don't have the X and O's coaches to win the close ones.
TopTenn writes:
Another lost opportunity. Tatum make the free throws. A good eefort, bad result.
DebKY writes:
Why did Pearl not call a time out? Why did he not give the ball to Hopson or Harris?
As I have said all along, Pearl can't win the close games.
Harris is now showing frustration because of all the minutes he sits on the bench. He should be playing him because he won't be here next year.
I will be glad when both Pearls are gone!
This loss was devastating!
Gbovol writes:
Fla. didn't snatch a victory, B. Pearl gave it to them. He had four non scorers on the floor at the same time for an extended time. Even the announcers commented about it calling the worst offensive team. Then leaving Hopson out for an extended time while Steve Pearl was in there committing fouls and playing poorly. With 15.6 seconds and the ball, why didn't he call time out and draw a play to get the ball into either Hopson, Harris or Williams. Instead,Goins ran down the clock from downtown without even trying to find a player open underneath or closer; choosing to shoot from way beyond the 3-point line. Poor coaching from B. Pearl down the stretch cost Tn. this game.
doctorvol#211700 writes:
we have a very tough, physical, defensively intelligent team that plays offense tentatively, and does not value possession. Scared to death on FTs. Once again, great use of final 17 sec - played like there were 4 sec left. Dominated most of game, but missed fts and lazy passes gave it away.
huntined#565710 writes:
Tatum could have put us up by 3 with those foul shots but we had other chances to make points but for some reason we didn't..
Razor784 writes:
Not sure who our worst clutch player is, Harris, Tatum, or Goins. This team is going to go down as one of the worst teams in the clutch in UT history.
graphpro#231211 writes:
Free throws and long runs without points. Can Pearl ever recruit a quality big that can play with his back to the basket. Those special players go to Kansas, Ohio St., Duke, North Carolina... With players like that you can always stop the bleeding with points when you need em'.
newportvol writes:
we have got to be the worst coached team for the last second shot in the country... call the T.O Pearl! Why shoot the desperation 3?? why not drive it to the rim..why not call the to.. why pass the dang ball... We just dont know what to do for the final play.. Thats gotta be all on the coach and PG
PeeEllthree writes:
Nice
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
I would have rather lost by 20, than to lose the way we lost AGAIN, by the way we lost AGAIN.
I know that sounds stupid, but if you have watched all of the games, you know what I'm talking about...without having to go into detail.
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
What the HELL is wrong with Goins? Why does he ALWAYS dribble the clock away and leave us without a shot? And why didn't Bruce call a TO? The sooner we get rid of both Cam and Goins the better off we will be? Melvin gets blown by and gives up the game winning layup. Then dribbles 16 seconds off the damn clock and gives us no chance for a shot. Way to not show up again CAM!!!!!!!!
Rocky_Top_Mama writes:
The past two games Harris has constantly turned the ball over. Tatum hasn't played good at all and should be benched. Goins gave another one away with that shot.
gglardon50#417841 writes:
15 -10.And you guys want to keep this lieing jerk at any cost.Good ,keep him. Same results as football.Middle of the pack
vol98champ writes:
This team would make a Baptist preacher cuss. I think they are poorly coached. What happened? Oh yeh, I remember.
rockytopnation16 writes:
Is anyone else raging mad?
eduardo writes:
Once again our idiot pg does not run the correct play. A play was called on the to before the fts by Tatum. This guy is KILLING US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Laydbakvol writes:
I'm not going to complain about the Vol's efforts. It was a good game and a tough loss. But when you're down by one I can't see tossing up a three at the last second when you had time to drive to the basket and probably draw a foul.
huntined#565710 writes:
Been doing that ALL YEAR Donovan knew when he was down 1 to drive the ball to the basket!!! Most players learn that in 8th grade. Our theory is HIT A BIG 3!! Not smart when you are down one!!!
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Losing is never fun, but this one is going to sting. We don't have anyone but ourselves to blame for this.
Why can't our TEAM figure out how to:
1. Defend the high perimter screens? (Sorry, but the options are limited and not hard to figure out if you played high school ball.)
2. Stop making lazy passes on offense that get turned into easy dunks for the other team?
3. Stop running the clock down in the last seconds of the game only to take a horrendous shot?
4. How many games is it going to take for us to find solutions to 1-3 above?
tpratt60#662482 writes:
How many times has Goins done this at the end of a game?
PeeEllthree writes:
We called TO's early in the year and got the same shots. It's on the pg. Fla's pg went to the rack the last 5 minutes of the game and Melvin passively didn't get within 20 feet of the goal. BP wouldn't have to call so many set plays (that make them robotic) if we had a legit pg. Goins could have held the ball and gone to the line, but thru it to Tatum? Passes it to a player that had a bad game? Up 1? Terrible.
RngldVol writes:
Am I the only one who would rather have Tony Jones as head coach rather than CBP?
huntined#565710 writes:
That makes it 10-5 in last 15 games but you are gaining!!
NYvolFan writes:
Bruce Pearl should be fired for simply not calling a timeout tonight with 14.7 left when past halfcourt.
Dumb. We had this game. Idiot coaching lost it. Not pounding Parsons while limping was dumb. That would have done it alone.
Bruce Pearl is NOT worth the abuse UT has dealt with constantly due to him being a liar. Dumping his wife for a younger woman is not a sign of integrity either.
He needs to go. UT can't HANDLE his choices anymore. Our reputation already is in ruin while our AD is wandering around Africa looking for more kids (or whatever).
Bruce Pearl is a fool. If not for lying to the NCAA about a tiny infraction, for NOT calling a timeout @ Florida tonight with 14.7 to go!
TooLegit2Quit writes:
Done with this garbage. The NCAA needs to do their job so we can clean house and get a coach. I feel bad for these players as they've been absolutely screwed over by Bruce and co.
rdrgtr writes:
game summary:
Florida loses best player but decides to still play him.(COACHING CHOKE)
Tatum misses front end of 1 and 1 that worst case would have sent the game to OT.(CHOKE)
Florida takes the lead driving the smallest guy on the court to the basket. (maybe smallest in the building)
Goins launches up a prayer off balance shot that had no chance of going in. (MATH CHOKE-ONLY DOWN BY 2)
This team does not have a clue how to finish a game.
dcap8424 writes:
We were down by 1 and we get a Melvin Goins fade-away 3 pointer? Is this what we wanted? I hope to God not. You have to drive just like Florida did. Hopson has to touch the ball. Unbelieveable. I never want to see Melvin Goins in the game again.
Hit a free throw Cam!!!!!!!! You're an NCAA athlete. Anybody on our team shoot free throws!? Put McBee in there late in the game at least he can hit them.
Vol_In_Ohio writes:
How does this team have 10 losses???
geraldodell#1377039 writes:
Does anybody know of a dumber coach in the last minute of a game than we have? Got to be the worst coached team in the land over the last minute of a half or end of the game. Have no set play and wont call a time out to set something up. Oh yes, 4 of 10 from the foul line--can you say loser????
tenacjim#211887 writes:
5. Shoot free throws
We're talking years for that one, not games....
huntined#565710 writes:
Never thought I would agree with you but even though we lost it was a great game!!
jfink45 writes:
What we've got here is a "Wizard of Oz" team- no heart,no brain and no courage. This doesn't look like the Pearl teams we're used to. Dumb mistakes and lack of focus killed us.
Vol_In_Ohio writes:
Unofficial poll for alumni:
Did this game ruin Valentine's Day weekend?
My vote - yes!
BleedsOrangeinMO writes:
How many times during the game did we make a great defensive play and steal the ball only to NOT get any points for our effort? Should have had at least six to ten more points at half time. I will always be a VOL FAN but man how many games can we lose and still make the big dance. Guess we will have to run the table during the SEC tourney!!!
RngldVol writes:
I am not sure CBP has the ability to coach a player up. I hate it for Tobias. Why do all the other teams get freshman that are lesser players than Tobias and half way through the season they are beasts?
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
yeah . you shouldnt mention it so you wont advertise your idiocy------theres a foul disparity Einstein because we foul more----------never recall you mentioning it when we are on the right end of a disparity
SEC1 writes:
JUST LIKE FOOTBALL..... DID ANYONE SEE URBAN MEYER CHECKING OUT THE ACTION..... GATORS OWN YA BLVD.
Vol_In_Ohio writes:
Unofficial poll for alumni:
Did this game ruin Valentine's Day weekend?
My vote - yes!
...
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
We have 10 losses because we only have 1 play at the end of a close game. Heave a 33 foot BRICK!!
tnvol4ever writes:
Josh Bone should have been on the floor and Tatum should should not see the floor for awhile. Had Walker missed I'm sure the refs would have called a foul. Refs kept them in it long enough for us to blow it.
NYvolFan writes:
Bruce Pearl is a poor coach, and an embarrasment to UT. Add on cheating on his wife, lying to the NCAA, etc.
NOT calling a timeout tonight with 14.7 once we crossed haflcourt is even Dumber!
Fire his lame butt...what an embarassment to UT!
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