Beat up, knocked down and counted out.
“Pick your motivation,’’ Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said. “We’ve been punched a few times. We’ve got to get up, spit the blood out and fight.’’
The Vols play host to South Carolina tonight (TV: CSS, 7 p.m.) at Thompson-Boling Arena in a game they’re not only supposed to win but also have to win to stay on course for an NCAA tournament at-large bid.
Pearl acknowledged the men’s basketball team’s goal of winning the SEC regular-season title “probably can’t happen,’’ but Tennessee (15-10, 5-5 SEC) will be no less motivated against the Gamecocks (13-10, 4-6).
“I don’t know if people realize that the will of this team is so strong,’’ UT junior Scotty Hopson said. “There’s still a lot to be accomplished, and throughout the season I’ve said we thrive off adversity.
“This team is not done.’’
Nor is it on autopilot. Unhappy with the production at point guard, Pearl has shaken up the rotation.
“We’re going to go with Melvin (Goins) and Skylar (McBee),’’ Pearl announced after Wednesday’s practice. “It’s a position that needs to be shaken up a bit. And by playing Skylar at the point, that also allows me to play Josh Bone more off the ball.’’
In addition to serving as Cameron Tatum’s backup on the wing, Bone also will absorb the backup minutes McBee was playing behind Hopson at shooting guard.
Bone, a salty senior, exudes the type of resolve Pearl’s teams have become known for.
“I hate losing, and I don’t know if I can say anything good comes from what we’ve been through,’’ Bone said. “I just know we have a game against South Carolina that we have to win.’’
The Gamecocks, like the Vols, bring a three-game losing streak into tonight’s game.
Tennessee has won seven straight against South Carolina, and third-year Gamecocks’ coach Darrin Horn has yet to beat Pearl.
“None of that matters, though, because these are different teams,’’ Pearl said. “If you want to say it helps, fine, I’ll take it.’’
South Carolina plays a style of basketball that Pearl knows well, preferring to speed up play and press opponents.
Senior Sam Muldrow awaits those who break the press and dare to venture into the paint.
Muldrow, a 6-foot-9, 229-pounder, is the Gamecocks’ all-time leading shot-blocker (251) and also ranks as the SEC’s active leader in that category.
He averages 4.5 blocks per game in league action.
UT senior post Brian Williams said he plans to use his size (6-10, 272) to his advantage against Muldrow.
“As much as he’s a shot blocker, he’s light,’’ Williams said. “I’ve got to keep him pinned under the backboard and away from my teammates.’’
South Carolina also features the type of quick point guard that has given the Vols fits in the past. Freshman Bruce Ellington averages 13.9 points and 3.3 assists per game, and figures to be a handful for Goins and McBee.
Pearl, however, said he’s confident Goins’ offensive play will improve and McBee will bring energy off the bench.
In fact, it seems everyone wearing Tennessee orange is riding a renewed, and somewhat inexplicable, sense of confidence.
Tobias Harris, whose play has dropped off since he rolled his ankle Jan. 29 at Ole Miss, has his own way of rationalizing the Vols’ virtual elimination from the SEC regular-season race.
“I’d rather win the national championship than the SEC championship,’’ Harris said. “In the long run, where we end up in the (NCAA) tournament will mean the most to us.’’
Orange Slices: Tennessee has opened as an 11-point favorite over South Carolina . . . The Gamecocks are 10-0 when leading games at the half this season. . . . South Carolina is 10-0 when shooting a better percentage than its opponent. . . . UT is 1-7 when trailing with five minutes left.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 92
tmartin writes:
blah blah blah
chrisw2967 writes:
BP sounds like he is on the bottle or something.Mcmiss brings nothing to the court,except TOs,fouls and getting blown by.Oh ,I almsot forgot throwing up Mcbricks.
KNSsports (staff) writes:
xxxxxx is a glitch in the system that took the next-to-last version of the story saved instead of the final version. The story has been corrected. Thanks for pointing it out.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Because Golden has been an offensive force, Chris? This team has some obvious weaknesses and they obviously still haven't gotten the production they need from their role players and backups.
I like the move if only because it gets Bone more minutes. He seems to make good things happens and certainly looks like he understands that being a role player doesn't mean being a passive player.
This team still has potential, but for now they are what their record says they are. Hopefully they can turn it on going into March, because it would be a real shame for a team that looked so promising in December to end up playing in the NIT.
richvol writes:
blah
you are right...show me the money
PennVol writes:
You guys are spot on - we hear this after every loss but the results on the court don't change. This team has very little leadership and very little chemistry.
I believe Bruce has gotten rich and lazy - sound familiar?
midnite__VOL writes:
Is that a fork I see?
VOL75ga writes:
“I don’t know if people realize that the will of this team is so strong," UT junior Scotty Hopson said. “There’s still a lot to be accomplished, and throughout the season I’ve said we thrive off adversity.” Scotty, why do you want to thrive off adversity? Wouldn’t it be better to use the “talent” you’re supposed to have and just win? You make some of the dumbest comments I’ve ever heard.
vol_4_fan writes:
Despite the performance of this team, there will always be negative posters on this board whether they are trying to coach the team or write the article about the team. Try to keep it real people, this is just kids playing games and people trying to do their jobs. We all have bad days but as long as we have another day, we have another chance. Go Vols!
orangegrass writes:
Show us the money Scotty! You have run your mouth for 3 years now and you have shown us that you are inconsistent. For a kid who said he would go to the NBA early, your talk does not back up your walk. Just close your mouth and play ball!
rocky_topper writes:
Yeah, you tell 'em Scotty! Ha!
SummittsCourt writes:
NIT or bust
GreeneVol writes:
Two-game homestand couldn't come at a better time. I hope to see some frustration vented out in a positive way tonight against the Gamecocks.
Good move by Pearl to send a message to Goins & Golden. I'm looking forward to seeing McBee at the point some.
Vol fans are with you Big Orange - good luck tonight!
sheep writes:
Once again I must remind someone that without Mcbees minutes at the point against Georgia, and Vandy we lose. As to the turnovers, he is averaging less than 1 a game, and he is averaging 1 assist a game, which is more than any other shooting guard off the bench. It seems to me that you are insanely jealous, and probably full of hate for white players who hustle. I am sorry that you are simply blind to the facts, which are that the only hope we have to win is a change at point guard. Goins has missed the "game winner" five times this year. Also, when the game is on the line you can forget him passing the ball to anyone, but he is quick to shoot an ill faded 35 footer. It is no wonder his neck is injured, he about snapped it off trying to get to the 3 line when all we needed was a 2. He is selfish, and dosen't know the meaning of "point guard". I agree Mcbee has not shot as well as we all would have liked, but he is still 3rd on the team in percentage, and at least he is willing to be unselfish so that others can be made better. Like it or not Skylar will help us tonight against S.C. We have to win out to make the NCAA, and if we dont make the tourney, you can forget about Bruce comming back next year. This is the reason for the shake up, Skylar has more assists than Goins and Golden in the last 3 games, and has played many less minutes than either of them. So... get off your blame Mcbee horse, because it is hard to blame someone who only plays about 14 minutes a game, and only gets to shoot twice. Place the blame where it belongs, on Bruce, his staff, and the 5 starters that play the majority of the minutes, they have big shoulders, they can handle it.
BAAAAAAAAAAAA Drive Draw and Dish Says the Sheep.
VolFanInTheBoro writes:
and you will still be trolling this site cause you have no life. You're right it gets funnier every week
slee writes:
put pat summit's boy in the game. i think he can do better than hopson and the rest of the team
PeeEllthree writes:
Unbelievable loser fans from other schools on here in the early AM. I can't imagine posting on a UF site at all, much less first thing in the morning. Hey troll fools, how does one become such a clownass loser? Seriously. I don't care that much about what is said, i just can't fathom doing it. Are they KNS paperboys that are posting before and after delivery?
jbocap writes:
Sounds like they've had some positive therapy sessions. OK Vols....put your words into action!
Where is the team that beat Nova and Pitt ?????
dwa7#337691 writes:
what happened to Jermone Maymon?
CrankE writes:
"This team is not done"
That's precisely the problem. The track record points to more fear of the paint, more being outhustled, more last second desperation three point attempts and needless drama.
Let me know when you're done.
brentrod writes:
they are not done. but the bubble will burst if they have another bad loss. the nit is the most likely destination. i hate to pin it all on one loss, but not getting it done at florida was huge. 16-9 and 6-4 in the sec is so much better than 15-10 and 5-5 in the sec. it's disappointing to see this team on the bubble.
tnvolfan30 writes:
They're done...
tmartin writes:
Never heard of him. Is he any kin to Jeronne?
NO_DIGGITY writes:
I know what you mean Gomer. It was similar to Gator fans going at each other during football season when Mike (Steve Sax) Pouncey was snapping the Ball to your Tight End instead of Scott Brantley's nephew. Who is your center next year, Mackey Sasser?
NO_DIGGITY writes:
Your are right, there are a lot of Trolls on here but your self titled Stupid Troll is a good fit for you. OK Nostradumbazz you pick 12 to 13 losses, what are the scores going to be so I can make a Wager?
sol_way writes:
dude, the Germans did not bomb Pearl Harbor!
hikerdude writes:
I think BP is a great coach, but I am really puzzled as to why he is just now realizing that we have a point guard problem. Its been glaringly obvious since the beginning of the year.
crappieking writes:
Well I see KNS perma poofed the idiot trolls Claudettevol and werebetterthanvandy. It took long enough. Now if they can poof cantstandsaban, we can get back to normal. GO VOLS TONIGHT!
onthefieldTN writes:
Have we not been hearing this all year..."we are not done, we have more to give, we need to turn this around, we are better than this, we have a great team", really? When exactly do they plan on "starting"?
Vols_Epiphany writes:
Whether the season is a disappointment, or just ok, or somewhat successful, or incredibly successful, are all judgments that can ONLY be made when the regular season is finished and when it is official as to where we are going to end up. And if we end up qualifying for the NCAA tournament, then only after we are done with that tournament can we make any sort of a judgment.
Right now, the fact of the matter is that our team will have the same record as Kentucky if we beat SC tonight. You guys are carrying on like it is the end of the world...what do you think is going on in the minds of Kentucky fans? I will tell you what is going on...they are pissed off, but are egging their team on to run the table so that they can make a decent run in the tourney.
I havent lost hope in this team. Do I expect them to win the national title? Not by a long shot. But I do expect them to not give up on the season and to at least make it to the tournament.
In all of this discussion, you guys seem to forget that our team has been playing THE #1 MOST DIFFICULT schedule in the entire country. And yet, we have been right there at the end of most of the losses...a bad call, a bad play, a bad shot, a blown timeout from ekeing out wins.
I dont like the PG play, and I dont think we will be "elite" until we get a really good point guard...but the team is good enough to make it to the tourney, and if they do, it will be fun to watch, win or lose.
GO VOLS!
ghost_of_which_doctor (Inactive) writes:
Thanks for kicking off all the trolls KNS!!!
Bye bye DC, Vandy Boy & Claudette!
Na na na na, na na na na
hey hey hey, goodbye!
Na na na na, na na na na
hey hey hey, goodbye!
196SVol writes:
Dude...you just been had! Didn't you ever see Animal House?
196SVol writes:
If they leave, what will you have to whine about?
givehim6 writes:
Hate to say it but this will be your typical UT team under CBP average conference play sweet 16 in the NCAA.
MusicCityVol writes:
Griffith's most telling line there is the 1-7 record when the Vols trail after 5 minutes. We have been bad late in games. That has to change or this team may be on the outside looking in. USC and UGA are MUST wins this week.
Last Second Chances Do Not Favor Vols
http://checkerboardchatter.blogspot.c...
allvols4life writes:
I thought the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
walter1998 writes:
Good point. I got tired of seeing Rocky Top posted 3-times a page. Pretty annoying.
TennVolAlum writes:
Not according to Mr. Blutarski. Have you really never seen Animal House? Wow....
TennVolAlum writes:
Of course it's not over. Pearl has 457 more substitutions to make. (not counting the SEC tourney)
ghost_of_which_doctor (Inactive) writes:
Layla's favorite wine....?
"Taaake me out toooooooo dinner!"
Some teams are regular season teams; some teams are tournament teams. They thrive under the pressure of either win or go home. This group is a tournament team. Just watch and see!
'cause...it WASN"T over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor. Nothing is over until WE SAY IT IS OVER. And this ain't over yet! We just need one stinking win. And then we build from that. Like a freight train picking up stream...here we go...wooh! woooh! Wooooooh!!!!
NYvolFan writes:
That has to be the most hilarious thing I've ever read here.
The irony is that a person that thinks the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor thinks the Vols will make the big dance. I don't see it at this point without an SEC Tourney Championship. Ask Don DeVoe about those chances, he did it last. Sad, but NIT Baby!
Then the liar will be gone. I hate that it will happen, but Pearl dug his own grave, at the expense of our athletic program. Hamilton should join him too, after his African vacation.
NYvolFan writes:
I still can't believe that on National Signing Day, Hamilton was "tweeting" about his trip to Africa, from Africa...no priorities to get this ship straight at all! I wonder what the new TN Governor thinks about all this. LOL. What Daddy?
bobbarbilly writes:
They may not be " done" yet, but if South Carolina sticks the fork in them...they're done.
TennVolAlum writes:
yet another person who has not seen Animal House. how was life in that cave you grew up in?
NYvolFan writes:
Hmmm...wasn't Don DeVoe coaching when Animal House came out? yep!
ghost_of_which_doctor (Inactive) writes:
Gheez, you guys really need to watch Animal House. That could be a required freshman course at COLLEGE! Here is the script from the scene in question...
Bluto: Hey! What's all this laying around stuff? Why are you all still laying around here for?
Stork: What the h#$* are we supposed to do, ya moron? We're all expelled. There's nothing to fight for anymore.
D-Day: [to Bluto] Let it go. War's over, man. Wormer dropped the big one.
Bluto: What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? H#$* no!
Otter: [to Boon] Germans?
Boon: Forget it, he's rolling.
Bluto: And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough...
[thinks hard of something to say]
Bluto: The tough get goin'! Who's with me? Let's go!
[Bluto runs out, alone; then returns]
Bluto: What the frick happened to the Delta I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst. "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my a## from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. DC, he's a dead man! Vandy Boy, dead! Claudette Gator...
Otter: Dead! Bluto's right. Psychotic... but absolutely right. We gotta take these b#@tards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part!
Bluto: We're just the guys to do it.
D-Day: [stands up] Yeah, I agree. Let's go get 'em.
Boon: Let's do it.
Bluto: [shouting] "Let's do it"!
[all of the Vols stand up and run out with Bluto]
TennVolAlum writes:
the poster you decided to rip was OBVIOUSLY quoting animal house. thus, you failed to pick up on the sarcastic nature of it, and decided to be a big man and try to rip him a new one. ironic you're the one with egg on your face, don't you think?
FAIL
brokendownoldvol writes:
YAWN.....
NYvolFan writes:
Just got my Big Orange Newsletter via email. Is the Chief back from Africa? No mention. Have we received the NCAA letter yet? Who would know....
No mention of things that matter...all sales!
exlineman writes:
This is my first time to post on here, but have been reading these blogs for quite some time. I have come to the conclusion that some of these trolls are one and the same person that literally hates Tn.
I happen to love the big orange and would like to comment on this team, but the trolls and some fans will probably lamblast which is ok.
In my opinion, I see alot of petty jealously from a team that is the best in the sec., but can't seem to get over Coach Pearl subbing his son and McBee. Stephen goes all out on defense and could be utilized alot on full court press and Skylar seems to lack tremendous speed, but gives his all when he is playing and could be more useful, if his teammates were not so jealous and set some picks for him. When he gets the ball, it seems someone is telegraphing him and passes it to him when he is covered. Some of the players seem to do Scotty the same way and at times Harris. Harris and Hopson along with McBee could fill up three pointers with great picks.
Coach Pearl is a great coach and the ncaa has milked a small lie into a major issue and is trying to destroy Coach Pearl. There are very few coaches that would tell the truth under the same circumstances, but this just happened to be caught on camera. I don't condone lying, but when has any coach in the country been penalized with the same severity. Just look at the major teams in this league and see what they have got by with minor slaps on the wrist.
This team can win the sec, if they will just get rid of their petty jealously and better work on helping each other with picks and better shot selection. It has never made sense to me for a pg to dribble down court and not be covered and pass to a covered teammate, or pick his dribble up when he allows an opponent to get him covered and could dribble out many times, instead of getting covered by two men.
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