Cuonzo Martin deemed it crunch time two weeks ago.
Tennessee's first-year coach handed out Nestle Crunch bars at the University Center to encourage students to attend games, and the fans delivered at the gate, leading the Vols to a top-five finish in average home attendance in men's college basketball for a seventh consecutive season.
"I was confident the fans would support this team if they played the game the way I expect it to be played,'' said Martin, whose team's average paid home attendance was 17,411. "I think our fans proved that this is a legitimate basketball school. It's a place where great players would want to play and attend school.
"This means so much to our program from a recruiting standpoint and to the players' psyche.''
The fans responded to Martin's candy bar campaign with 17,079 turning out for a Wednesday night men's basketball game against Ole Miss on Feb. 22, positioning the Vols to move ahead of Wisconsin, which was then ranked No. 5 in attendance.
The Vols delivered a 73-60 win over the Rebels before coming through in the crunch themselves, finishing with wins at South Carolina, at LSU and at home in the regular-season finale before a sold-out crowd of 22,172 against Vanderbilt.
No. 1-ranked Kentucky led the nation in average home attendance (23,721), followed by Syracuse (23,618), Louisville (21,503), North Carolina (20,159) and the Vols.
UT freshman Jarnell Stokes said the home crowd against the Commodores played a major role in the Vols' 68-61 win.
Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings was forced to use timeouts each time UT went on a run with the crowd roaring its support,and the Commodores missed their first seven free-throw attempts in the game, finishing 8-of-16.
"If the crowd hadn't shown up like it did, I don't think they would have missed that many free throws,'' Stokes said after Saturday's game. "That was a huge advantage.
"I knew coming in here we always finish top five in attendance, and I plan on that moving up next year.''
The Vols were 14-3 in Thompson-Boling Arena this season.
Stokes Honor: Stokes was named the SEC's Player of the Week on Monday, and he could be named to the SEC All-Freshman team which will be announced today.
Martin said that the Stokes' performance against Vanderbilt was the freshman's best game of the season. He finished with 11 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.
"I think it was a case of him getting a feel for everything,'' Martin said.
Stokes averaged 14.5 points on 76-percent shooting in wins over Vanderbilt and LSU. He also averaged 10.5 rebounds, three blocks and 1.5 steals.
"I think he's a double-double guy,'' Martin said, "even on a bad night.''
Hall Out For SEC: Martin said the suspension of junior center Kenny Hall will be extended through the SEC tournament only one day after telling the News Sentinel he was being "evaluated day-to-day."
Hall was suspended indefinitely on Feb. 15 and has not played in the past six games nor practiced with the team. Hall started the two games before his suspension and was averaging 6.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 20 minutes per contest.
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Comments » 20
doh writes:
I think that is impressive to average that many for this season. Coach Martin deserves all the credit. Way to go.
VolGrad writes:
Stokes averaged 14.5 points on 76-percent shooting in wins over Vanderbilt and LSU. He also averaged 10.5 rebounds, three blocks and 1.5 steals.
"I think he's a double-double guy,'' Martin said, "even on a bad night.''
CCM setting the bar high for his prize HS Senior / College Freshman.
Go Vols!!!
FeelVol writes:
What's your problem Griff,why not find something else to pry in besides Halls' suspension and leave Coach Martin to determine whats best for him and this team,it just seems so obvious to me you really have a problem with how Coach runs his program.Just saying!!!
BleednUrnge81 writes:
sup scooner. you have to admit though, its quite a feat for the vols to once again be in the top 5 and have a change at the ncaa's despite our very low preseason expectations. as always, GBO!!!!!!
UTbassdrummer writes:
You know when it's good news, bc there are only 6 comments. God, if we ever won an SEC tourney this site might lock up from inactivity.
buzz29 writes:
Kudos to the team and fans for making this happen. Go Vols!
johnlg00 writes:
Hope all Vol fans in range of Nawlins show up to support our Vols. Can't have the Blue Meanies fill up the whole place. I'd give a lot to be there. I WILL be in the Greensboro Coliseum if the Vols get their first-round NCAA game there. Kudos to the Vol fans that packed TBA for the Vandy game. As I said once before, it seemed on TV to be one of the best home crowds I have seen there in quite some time.
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
Does anybody know how many people we could actually get in TBA? If we're "sold-out" at 21,172, then we could never rise above 4th in attendance...according to the numbers above.
maxvolfan#217855 writes:
We know we wont be #1 in attendance based on capacity . The important thing is to pack the house to show support. This team can win at home! Go Vols! Loved how the student section was wild and rowdy!
kyvol98 writes:
It was 22,172
Ayres_Hall writes:
Where are the Legion of the Miserable who predicted "curtains" will return to TBA?
I'd say that 5th in the NCAA is darn good. Congrats to the entire men's basketball program and way to go Volunteer Nation.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I WISH I could go to the games. Not possible right now. But I don't go to the Moc games either.sigh.
Go Vols Beat uhhh who we playin'?? OleMiss? You'd think it'd be in the article.
GerryOP writes:
The "Legions" are down under the bridge over Stink Creek. (Is it still called Stink Creek?)
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor believe with all the negative stuff going on last year not many(Pearl fired on March 21) would have ever(including W_D) ever really believed we'd be in this position with only 1 returning starter. Witch Doctor say what you want thats impressive.
Bones never lie.
SevenT writes:
If I have said it once I have said it 100 times Tennessee fans are the most loyal supportive fans in America. To show up in those type of numbers to watch pitiful, no-talent, poor quality basketball is truly amazing.
kcbigorngX writes:
Kentucky fans' idea of quality time is with a 5 gal. bucket and a short pony.
orangecountyvols writes:
You know, we have always suspected that you were not too bright and of course, one of the over bearing trolls here, but you are working on a slam dunk to convince us our suspicions are dead right.
Theo writes:
University of Kentucky - The Rent-a-Center of college basketball.
usnavyvolfan__now_proud_navy_dad writes:
It's not in there, b/c we don't know yet. They play the winner of Ole Miss/Auburn on Friday.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Really I didn't see that IN THE ARTICLE.
I'm not a writer but we're in the tournament right?
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