The play should have been the beginning of the end, the proverbial straw that broke Middle Tennessee State's back Monday night.
Jarnell Stokes deflected the Blue Raiders' pass, Cameron Tatum hustled to fling the ball back inbounds and opportunistic Jordan McRae streaked down the court for a basket.
Tennessee had a hard-earned 64-56 lead with a little over 7 minutes to play. Thompson-Boling Arena was rocking.
The Vols were 47 minutes from Madison Square Garden and had built the momentum to make it a downhill run.
But basketball is a funny game. And at the same time, a heartbreaking one.
Today, Murfreesboro is celebrating, even more than when the Blue Raiders clinched the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title last month.
Today, James Gallman Sr. is talking trash at the Knoxville steel mill where he works. His son is a Blue Raider hero.
Today, the UT managers are laundering the uniforms for the last time then putting them away for the season.
"They have just finished games unbelievably the last two months," MTSU coach Kermit Davis said of Tennessee.
It was the Blue Raiders who finished this one.
They finished it on a 15-0 run and won 71-64 to advance to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament.
Middle has beaten Tennessee only twice in hoops. The first was in 1988, also in the NIT, the inaugural meeting between the state's two biggest schools in terms of enrollment.
Then the Vols rolled off nine consecutive wins. Four years ago there was a brutal one, 109-40. Last year on this same floor, the damage was 86-56.
"Last time, it was a bad game," said James Gallman Jr. "Last time we got punted.
"Tonight we had to come out here and match their toughness. That's what we did."
The Blue Raiders' win means a lot to anyone associated with the school. It means something extra to Gallman.
He's a junior from Fulton High School. He did his part to help swell the crowd to 12,038. There were parents, stepparents, aunties, a fiancée, a daughter, a whole bunch of Gallmans.
"I thought James was the MVP of the first half," said Davis.
With a number of his teammates struggling with foul woes, Gallman nailed a pair of 3-pointers in the first half and finished with seven points.
The anticipation had been building in the six days since the Blue Raiders knew they would get a shot at Big Brother. Gallman couldn't have written a better homecoming script.
"Oh, yeah," he said. "Middle Tennessee's coming to Knoxville. Aw, that's easy work for Tennessee.
"We're Sun Belt, they're SEC, so they think the Sun Belt's not a big league.
"We proved our point and we proved our point on ESPN."
The MVP of the final seven minutes was Bruce Massey.
"Everybody was tired," said Davis. "Bruce Massey was the freshest guy on the floor. He made all the plays."
Massey sensed the Vols were wearing out, especially his defender, Trae Golden.
"My teammates and Coach Davis came to me," Massey said, "and told me, 'Golden is getting tired. When you get the ball, look to attack.' "
He did. Massey averages 5.6 points a game. He scored eight in MTSU's rally and finished with 20 points to go with his 10 rebounds.
It was, in fact, Tennessee that looked tired and tentative at the end. The Sun Belt guys summoned the energy and are moving on.
"I told our guys," said Davis, "in April we'll go over to my house and celebrate this win.
"But the main thing right now is we get to go on to the next game."
That will be Wednesday night at home against Minnesota for the right to go to New York.
And Davis has been around long enough to know this celebration can't be postponed until April.
"There's a lot of people who have pulled for Middle and for Tennessee on certain occasions in different sports," Davis said.
"When we get back to Murfreesboro, our players will find out exactly that it meant."
Tennessee, meanwhile, has all summer to ponder the one that got away — and to whom it got away.
"They just wanted it more," said a bleary-eyed McRae. "I know we're the better team. We just weren't tonight."
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/strangemike44 and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/strange
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Comments » 63
iadvol writes:
not winning
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Tired of being bad in Basketball and Football....Ready for the first sign of the new era....We need to recruit better. We need at least two freshman next year who will be expected to play in the NBA. No excuses. The cupboard was not bare this year. Cuonzo fan. We need to be ranked all year next year. Let's start now...
flatrock writes:
"the cupboard was not bare this year...?" Our Vols don't have a guard who can start for MTSU- and the Blue Raiders get all 3 back next year. Hint to Vol coaches: all 3 MTSU guards were playing JUCO this time last year...
volthrunthru#658770 writes:
McRae is merely emblematic of the team's problems. Reality is not his---or most of his team's---strong suit.
The better team won. The better team won vs. Ole Miss. Here's news---the better team won vs. Austin Peay. The better team won vs. Memphis (both times.) The better team wins the game.
And sniffling and sniveling afterwards is exactly why this group of players got its chops whacked---they were neither tough enough nor the better team nor able to face the truth.
Winners win. Losers lose.
And whining and crying and telling oneself that "we were the better team" after a kiss is horse-hockey, and undermines the team morale, because it is about believing bullcrap instead of doing what is necessary face reality, which is required to win the game.
Just like the network announcers said---UT was not tough enough to win, and the play of McRae, Richardson and Golden was not very good---especially Richardson and McRae.
It is all about not facing the FACT that he was one of the major reasons his team lost several games this year, including this one and Ole Miss. And to not own up to his selfish ball-hogging, and inability to guard anybody but the ref, except for a couple of blocks, in the games where it really, really counted, is garbage.
And a coach shoulda straightened that out early this season.
THE BETTER TEAM WON in the NIT game in Knoxville! And in the SEC game in New Orleans.
You can tell: Ole miss played in the NCAA. And the team from Tennessee that has a chance to play in NYC in the NIT wears blue, not orange, following Monday's game. And McRae's man was mostly responsible for the point swing that won for MTSU.
McRae, for all his telling everybody who will listen---and for all his love of fans sliding up to him and saying you shoulda been at the NCAA---is missing the point about telling himself the truth.
And usually those who cannot tell themselves the truth do not get better at facing reality. And the SEC is about reality on the court.
No wonder he plays---and several others do, too--like they are in la la land.
Reality is just too much to face, apparently.
With a real coach they would have understood that beforehand. Martin did a poor job of motivating the team---you could tell by the way they played.
Period.
BigOrange_supporter writes:
tough loss, but good job this year overall. Officials were awful on both ends. Toughen up and come back next year. Thanks Cameron for your time and support of UT.
CoverOrange writes:
How many teams in a row made use of the high ball screen to beat us? How many times was it mentioned in press reports by those teams, by reporters, by CCM? How many days were there between Savannah St and MTSU to work on defending it?
brokebackvol writes:
Sad, pitiful loss. Ah well, now we can dream about winning the SEC in football. Congrats to Coach Martin for not finishing #11 in the SEC as predicted.
MikeInTN writes:
Congrats to Coach Davis and The Blue Raiders!
huntined#565710 writes:
Tough loss but when I look back to the start of the season I thought we may win 10-12 games. They were really bad at the start of the season and then looked much improved later in the year. Maybe Stokes helped with that and we had some great wins ( FLA TWICE) and came in second in the SEC. So when I look at the whole year we did more then I thought we would and we took some hard licks on the way. MTSU is a good team and they showed that against us.I have said on here many times YOU GOT TO HAVE A STRONG HEART TO BE A VOL FAN!!!
BrassMonkey writes:
Great season! So what you lost to Austin Peay, Oakland, and MTSU. It doesn't matter. Here in Tennessee we just like to watch sports. Go sports go!
ROCKYTOPBRAD writes:
Should have hired shaka smart.
volaholic45 writes:
15-0 run in last 7 minutes? What a rotten taste to take into the off-season!
SBWB2 writes:
I hate Basketball.
halloffamebowler writes:
I posted after the last game that the Vols showed why they didn't belong in the NCAA tourney. I was blasted for it. Last night that statement was confirmed.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor say congrats Blue Raiders. Witch Doctor say the real shame is they lost in their tourney and they SHOULD have been in the NCAA(pretty good team) Witch Doctor say Duke lost to who? Mizzlo lost to who? Witch Doctor say parity in Bball is getter closer every year. Witch Doctor say no one here (W_D included) would have ever thought this team would win 19 games this year. Witch Doctor say cant wait till next season as Stokes with better conditioning will be a monster with Maymon. Witch Doctor say good job Vols.
Bones never lie.
CrankE writes:
"I know we're the better team. We just weren't tonight."
Denial.
I wish I could go back through the last decade or so and pick out every time that a UT player has come out of a loss and said something to the effect that they ...
- Were the better team
- This is not us
- We can still be a great team
- We can still be a good team
- It doesn't matter what others say about us because we know who we are.
This has gone beyond a fluke or a trend. It is an epidemic of lies that these kids tell the press, each other, and themselves. But where, oh where do they get such ideas?
Dear Athletic Director Dave Hart:
In your next staff meeting with the coaches of the various sports teams of the University of Tennessee, please make it abundantly and overwhelmingly clear to the coaches that such talk is nothing but dishonesty and denial that reflects discredit upon themselves, their coaches, and the University.
Please make it abundantly clear to those coaches that they must bring this denial and dishonesty to an end. Or else. No more bamboo. No more magic dust. No more excuses. No more whining.
Does this require changing the character of each and every inner person? Yes.
Is that difficult and time consuming? Yes.
But if UT produces young men and women who are fed lies about themselves and the outcomes they've experienced, then they will believe them and be ill-equipped to succeed either on the field of play or off of it. What a breathtaking disservice to the student, to the athlete, to the program, and to the University.
There will be no lasting improvement in any sport or endeavor at UT in terms until there is honesty.
Witch_Doctors writes:
*real shame the Blue Raiders SHOULD....
BNL
Witch_Doctors writes:
Water-boarding? haha
Bones never lie.
ProfessionalHandicapper writes:
I hear all this Shaka Smart stuff while UT had a better coach at its door and didnt offer the job. Congrats to Belmont and former Vol Rick Byrd whom made its 5th NCAA Tourney and coach Byrd now has 640+ wins, one of only 4 active coaches. Once again UT refuses to hire its own with a much better resume. Enjoy the Dooley and Martin era, we the others of the SEC are.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor say not as much as we enjoy your "precognition" skills! lol
Bones never lie.
MemphisVOLALum writes:
Honesty according to who? You? So, the AD tells the coaches (according to you), that if anyone says something that helps them deal with a loss they should be be what??? Kicked of that team? Expelled from the University? Executed?
Come on, grow up. These are 18 to 21 year old kids. They may be huge in size but they are kids. Oh and by the way that "dishonesty" you talk about others here might call it confidence. Please learn about sports and the psychology of sports before you comment.
underthehill writes:
Cameron's improvement appeared to me to be the key to this team winning 10 SEC games and finishing 2nd to KY..as bad as he played early I don't think anyone could have predicted his level of play late in the year..a sign of good coaching and Martin seeing what others did not..including myself..I am hoping TN can recruit some better talent ..like Stokes..but I am more than pleased with what they did this year with what they have...
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebaske...
Just thought I would post this link for those crying about having Pearl back. This story broke yesterday. Pearl was a cheater. It goes far beyond a little BBQ. The man isnt to be trusted. I suggest folks read it.
eb502us#225637 writes:
Funny how the only UT quote came from the
biggest piece of dead wood on this team.
McRae may be athletic, but he has little game and ZERO BB IQ. He may be "All RockyTop" but his play isn't anywhere near SEC level and always looks completely lost on the court.
Not trying to pick on him as it's CM's fault he gets the playing time he does, but the truth of the matter is that he is the only one from last years class that has regressed, and he wasn't that good to begin with. Without major improvement this summer, he needs to sit or transfer to a lower division school.
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
Again, read the link and then go to the bottom of the article and read how folks view our hoops program. They obviously don't view us as a program that has been to 6 straight NCAA tournaments. They view us as a crooked program who will do whatever it takes to win. Pearl won some big games while he was here, but ironically the program's image was tarnished. Folks who want him back need to take a 3 year break from hoops. Then IF Pearl gets another job, go cheer for that team.
GerryOP writes:
Honest expectations were exceeded; extravagant expectations were not met and never will be. One year ago this program was in total shambles. A coach who showed no shame over his failures, an entire athletic program with an undefined future in the hands of the NCAA jury, and fans already bashing anything and everything orange.
And what's changed over the past year? We have a basketball coach who offers us hope for the future. We have an athletic department being run by a respected pro. And we have fans continuing to bash anything and everything orange ... simply because our basketVols did not meet and exceed their extravagent expectations.
Hey, I want victory for our Vols as much as everyone else. But, I also see how far we have come in 12 months. This time last year we had no idea where we were and even if we had yet hit bottom. This year we are on our way back up and at least far enough out of the hole to see glimpses of sunlight. If bfore the season anyone would have told us we would have 19 victories this year, some of us would have been ecstatic but most of you would have guffawed the unrealistic expectations.
But keep bashing yawl. This is not Xbox or a fantasy sports league, this is reality. And reality says we are better off than we were this time last year ... but still have a ways to go. Hang on, we'll get there.
proud2btnvol (Inactive) writes:
UT guys often looked like a bunch of individuals, not a team. Coach has to take responsibility for that.
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
Good post. Click on the link I provided. The Bruce Pearl era actually TARNISHED our programs image. Folks outside of the UT fanbase look at our program as a shady/crooked program. Thanks Bruce!
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor said it before..
GerryOP doesnt post enough! Witch Doctor say
you nailed it. Witch Doctor say if we had been in the NCAA and made it to the final 4 and lost these same people would be here complaining.
Bones never lie.
Razzle writes:
Ouch!
killdevil writes:
Final thoughts-Jordan Mcrae lives off big plays-not much of a factor if the going gets tough.He needs the weight room bad!!!!!!!!!
Skylar McBee-had something to prove-I think he did with his toughness on defense-but not at all on offense-i wish he could transition to a point guard-could be a good one.
Maymon-He was hurt last night- atrue warrior-why dont we get the ball to him more-he has to develop the 15 footer touch jump shot.Be a more vocal leader-take charge attitude.
Stokes-great things-but do think he is a bit lazy-that could be a result of not being physically prepared for this level of basketball.
Needs to develop his footwork. This spring and summer are very important to his development.
Golden-he is slower than I thought-no. lateral quickness-we saw him work on pushing ball up the court-driving to the hoop hitting some jumpers-but his lateral quickness was exposed this year by 5 different point guards. We need help with a true point!!!!! Hopefully a lefty.
Cameron Tatum-tried to be a leader but I couldnt see it on the court, he turned the ball over to much for a senior-I thought his overall body strength was below par for the typical SEC player-he needs the weight room.
Razzle writes:
Yes, some think we need Shaka, some think we need Byrd, some think we need Pearl. No way to please everyone. I think Tennessee is lucky to have coach Martin.
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
To make it so bad, this happened somewhere around the same time Pearl was to meet with the NCAA over BBQgate. Not sure if they overlapped or not. But just goes to show how wreck less Pearl was. And Baylors coach arguably has a worse reputation than Cal. So having Bruce's name and our university tied to that dude isn't good pub at all.
Razzle writes:
Looks like it could be a very long while before Pearl is coaching again.
stevefrommemphis writes:
Currently sitting at #2 in SEC and still hope to win the SEC this season. We never know what years Kentucky will be forced to vacate all wins.
BuckettVolz writes:
Lets be real, we were not projected to be world beaters (11 out of 12 in SEC). Finished 4th in the SEC. Coach Martin did a hell of a job, can't wait for next year.
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
Oh, but let's trash Coach Martin and bring Pearl back is what they are saying...and while we're at it, let's trash Zo's recruiting as we sit and watch Pearl's recruits underachieve and continue to get booted for getting high. Folks are so naive.
Razzle writes:
Agree except Tennessee actually finished 2nd.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-baske...
Razzle writes:
If you are really a handicapper, you are a disgrace to your profession.
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
He's a joke! He's to biased to be a handicapper. I've played my fair share of point spreads in my days. Damn near was addicted to it when I was younger, didn't have kids, and had oodles of money to blow. The first thing I learned was to take my emotions out of it. Betting on a team you love will break you if you're not careful. PHCer hates the Vols and loves Vandy and can't differentiate between truth and opinion when discussing these teams. Notice how he boasted about Vandy's baseball team until they started to suck it up this yr. now he's resorted back to bragging on their bowling team, and their hoops team that has become annual choke artists in the NCAA.
GerryOP writes:
But ... but ... but ... Lil' Westie says that Bruce took us to 6 straight NCAA tourneys ... and that's all that matters ... at any price. What kind of people live in West Knoxville and are Republicans?
GerryOP writes:
Who does Vandy play next in the tourney?
tennrich1 writes:
No clue to what you wrote..could be good or bad...WAY too long...try again and shorter...
CoverOrange writes:
Did Cooper play against us in the tourney two years ago?
tennisvol writes:
I think this was a game that came down to the team that wanted it the most - game, set, match - MTSU
VolFanInTheBoro (Inactive) writes:
We will see how the Stallings era does next season with all the players Vanderbilt is losing. They will be bad much like their baseball team is this year
HazardKYVol writes:
I agree, Stokes and Maymon should both be better next year, but you never know how players will respond year after year. It would be nice if Coach Martin could put a little Miracle Gro in their shoes and add some height before next season. He also needs to add a couple of shooters. Even if Maymon and Stokes are monsters next year, it will be hard to win going 1 for 20 from behind the arc. Here's hoping for a good, solid recruiting class for next year.
CrankE writes:
Confidence = saying "we're the better team" after you get beaten on your own floor and letting the opponent go on a 15-0 run to close the game.
Okay...got it.
I didn't think I needed a PhD in psych to comment here, but I'm clearly going to need one to follow UT if that's the definition of confidence.
ball1523 writes:
Some of our fans may be some of the worst in the country. i thought ole miss football fans had unrealistic expectations. our fans may be the worst. Missouri lost to norfolk state. Duke lost to Lehigh. upsets happen all the time. Our team had a decent year. yes they need to make improvements before next year and i believe they will. Coach martin is doing a great job. the fact that this team had a legitimate chance at the tournament and 19 wins shows what an amazing coaching job he did. Go vols.
brokendownoldvol writes:
What a horrible yr for TN fans. Losing the last game of the football season to KY in a horribly coached game and losing the last basketball game to Murfreesboro in a horribly coached game. Things are really looking up in TN.
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