Entering the last week of the college basketball regular season, Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin sat down with Knoxville media today at his weekly media luncheon inside Thompson-Boling Arena.
UT is 17-11 overall and 9-7 in the SEC, sitting in a sixth-place tie with Arkansas. The Vols face Auburn (9-20, 3-13) on Wednesday night at Auburn Arena (TV: CSS, 9:00 p.m.). The Tigers have lost seven straight and 12 of their last 13 outings.
“Two games left, obviously one on the road at Auburn,” Martin said. “It will be Senior Night so those guys will be hungry. Watching them on film, they compete and they play hard. They just have to find a way to get over that hump because they’re right in there in a lot of games.”
Despite averaging 31.0 points in last week’s loss to Georgia and win over No. 8 Florida, junior guard Jordan McRae missed out on being the third different UT player to be named SEC player of the week in the last four weeks. The honor instead went to Missouri’s Alex Oriakhi, who averaged 18.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and three blocks in wins over South Carolina and LSU.
“(McRae has) definitely put himself in the position as the potential SEC player of the year,” Martin said. “With the way he’s played and the way he’s scored the ball and his numbers in (statistical) categories, he’s right up there.”
After Wednesday’s game at Auburn, the Vols will wrap up the regular season on Saturday against Missouri (21-8, 10-6).
“It’s not necessarily what we have to do (to make the NCAA tournament),” Martin said. “We talk about one game at a time and winning basketball games. We have two games left and we’ve won six of the last seven. For us, it’s trying to win a road game in a tough environment and then trying to win a home game against a very talented team.”
More coming online and in Tuesday’s News Sentinel.
Brendan F. Quinn covers Tennessee men’s basketball. Follow him at Twitter.com/BFQuinn
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Comments » 28
BrassMonkey writes:
First. I just wanted to check on everyone's predictions for last weekends Georgia game. I said they would flop and was personally attacked. They did. Quit being sunshine pumpers and look at reality sometime.
Big_Orange_Aide writes:
I'm not sure why McRae was not SEC player of the week but I know his draft position keeps going up and up. I hope you stick around Jordan; however, I have a feeling your time wearing Tennessee orange is nearly over. I hope Martin does a better job with recruiting too; many of the players he recruited don't seem to be much more than role players or not getting any real quality minutes. Can we make the NCAA tournament? I hope so, but I am also skeptical.
HazardKYVol writes:
Maybe CM should have spent more time on the focus thing last week.
ReeseHallRelic writes:
But don't you almost always "predict" a Vols loss? When you do that, you're bound to be "right" every now and then.
TheViper writes:
I just feel Jordan needs to stay around another year, this chest beating and screaming when he makes a shot is showing a lack of maturity, don't get me wrong he has improved over the year but that won't fly in the pros, besides that I truly think you may see Bruce back on the sidelines soon just a feeling I have.
johnlg00 writes:
Given the way NBA players strut and preen, McRae's demeanor is not that unusual. I think he needs to come back just to try to get stronger and maybe gains a few pounds, but no doubt in my mind that he has the skills to make the League one of these days. As for that feeling about Bruce coming back, just take a couple of Advils and lie down until it goes away.
johnlg00 writes:
Yep, even a stopped clock is right twice a day. (For you younger folks, once upon a time clocks had what they call "hands" that moved around a "dial" except that when the clock stopped, the hands stayed where they were.(;-P))
wilk58 writes:
As I read a lot of these posts reminds me of an old saying. Last job I had was the worst. The new job i am going to is the best. When did Coach Pearl become perfect. Loss of a 20 point lead to OSU, many many missed free throws.
I really wonder how many critics actually played any sports, because if you want to be humbled lace them up. Go Vols
laraccoon writes:
dude , in all fairness you said they would lose to either Georgia or Auburn and one person replied . quit being so dramatic .
Big_Orange_Aide writes:
If he sticks around,I for one would be very happy about our chances next year with everyone healthy and Hubbs. For Martin, there are starting to be a few less reasons for us to not have Bruce in future plans. I think Martin is a really good coach too; his recruiting does seem to be a weakness that might be too hard to overcome. I hope I am wrong.
utvolfan1955 writes:
The reality is that you are a Vol hating troll that always predicts them to lose. Why don't you just admit you hate the Vols and quit your pretext of being a Vol fan. Whenever you post you're often the first one. Maybe you are actually just a pot stirring KNS cubicle flunky
8inarow writes:
It pains me so to see Vols fans going after each other like this!
brokendownoldvol writes:
Ugh...
carbonzip writes:
we are not going to win if Golden, McBee, and others don't conribute a few made shots.
usnavyvolfan_on_duty writes:
Yeah, things would be easier if we could just play FU 3 more times this year.
usnavyvolfan_on_duty writes:
Dude you're a broken clock....and even a broken clock is right twice a day. Congratulations on your accomplishment.
usnavyvolfan_on_duty writes:
aw, man, I duplicated your post! didn't read them all before posting! Oh, well, not like he'll get the message anyway.
laraccoon writes:
8 in a row aint got much going for him , vols whipped the gators in bball, Louisville embarrassed them in football and basketball to end last year . oh well i guess he or she still has food stamps . lol
wigmeister writes:
First, McRea is not ready for the pros. He needs another year to mature and put on some pounds. Second, Bruce won't be back. Too much baggage. Three, I agree CCM's recruits have not been anything to rave about. Stokes can be a force in the league, but too many inconsistencies right now. Think he will continue to improve with Maymon back on the floor next year. Other bigs just don't have enough power and shooting to keep defenses off Stokes. This team needs scorers bad. Don't see improvement in that area with the players we have. The best teams have players that do everything consistently every game, not in spurts! Therefore a coach can plan as he knows what every player will bring to the floor in most games. This team at best is a work in progress. I want them to better, but I am realistic. We might get to the post season, but we aren't good enough at this time to go a long way.
Basketvol writes:
"I said they would flop and . . ."
So by saying they would "flop," you are implying that they are expected to win this game but will lose, right? Which, as others have already pointed out, you almost always do. (How'd your UF and UK picks work out?)
"Quit being sunshine pumpers and look at reality sometime."
By this, you mean we should have realistic expectations for this game, right? So picking the Vols to win a game that they are expected to win (according to your previous statement) is unrealistic?
Perhaps you should look at reality sometime.
8inarow writes:
Yea..it was a tough year. Gators got to the Sugar, and lost in the Elite-8 in BB, while the Vols lost to Vandy and some powerhouse I cannot even remember in the NIT.
Not to mention that the Gators won the SEC Sports Trophy for the umpteenth time and now this factoid:
Through the end of the 2011–2012 school year, the Florida Gators have won 204 Southeastern Conference (SEC) team championships, the most in conference history.
Enjoy
Basketvol writes:
Wow, that's quite impressive. With so much going on for the Gators right now, why do you spend so much time here?
8inarow writes:
1. It is a good site.
2. See point 1.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
All that? AND you still can't beat Tennessee.
HazardKYVol writes:
Good post! Confuse them even more and tell them about the "second" hand. They will never believe it.
johnlg00 writes:
No problem, buddy! That guy is just as much of a cliche as our example of him! If the shoe fits....
johnlg00 writes:
Kids these days are so overloaded on all their social media that they have no time or attention for history. Wouldn't do to confuse them with even more "irrelevant" info!
johnlg00 writes:
And just think how much better it would be if you just "lurked" instead of posting your garbage on here!
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