SB Nation - Wayne Chism

USC 77 Tennessee 55 - All Questions, No Answers

Will — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:11:56 -0000

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

This about sums it up.

The #9 Vols went to Los Angeles and turned in a horrific performance against the Trojans, in a stunning 77-55 loss. There is nothing good to say about what we saw out there today. There's plenty to say otherwise.

The Value of a Point Guard

Mike Gerrity got clearance from the NCAA to play late last week, a transfer from UNC-Charlotte to USC. He hadn't played collegiate basketball in twenty-one months. And in his first game back, he had 12 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds. Tennessee had no one who could guard him, no one who could prevent him from going coast-to-coast and either scoring or drawing a foul, and didn't learn to watch for the deep ball leaving his hands on the inbounds pass.

It's not just that Gerrity was the hardest working man on the floor; you expect that in part when someone hasn't played in so long and then returns. It's that you saw what a true point guard brings to an offense - something the Vols haven't had since CJ Watson. It wasn't just Gerrity's scoring, it was his poise and leadership. He directed the Trojan offense, distributed the ball well, and provided leadership to the entire team.

This is what Bruce Pearl needs, and has been unable to find. Bobby Maze and Melvin Goins have good qualities, but they're not pure point guards, and they don't bring stability and poise to the offense - they're not leaders. Which raises a much bigger question for the Vols:

Who is the leader of this team?

There is both a personality component and an on-the-floor component to this question, but it's very valid. When the Vols need a bucket, who do they go to? And when the team is in a funk and falling behind, who will pick this team up? Who will put them on their shoulders and turn the tide? Who will carry that responsibility?

Right now, the best-case answer is we don't know yet. And the worst-case answer is no one, because most of these guys faced this question last year.

Is it Tyler Smith? He was nonexistent in the first half and not much better in the second, finishing with 3 points on 1-6 shooting. Is it Wayne Chism? Chism has no problem taking shots, and I'm not even upset about his performance today (3 of 11, 1 of 7 from three)...but the fact that 7 of his 11 shots were threes tells a more troubling story: the Vols got no post game today, in part because USC clogged the lane the whole game, but in part because it's just not there. How often does this team run plays for Chism or Smith on the block? How often did we last year?

Who on this team plays with authority at the rim? Who is the physical presence that can prevent a rebounding performance like today, where the Trojans treated the Vols like children on the block and picked up an inexplicable 43-17 rebounding advantage? I understand lots of things and know we're not always going to play our best game, but I will never understand not boxing out and standing around waiting for the rebound to come to you. While the Vols were standing around, two Trojans recorded double-doubles: Alex Stepheson (19-16) and Nikola Vucevic (15-10).

Who will lead this team?

Playing with poise on offense

Pearl said it before the game: you'd better value possessions against USC, or you're going to lose. The Trojans stacked the lane and dared the Vols to take bad shots, and the Vols were more than happy to oblige:

20 of 58 from the floor, 34.5%
2 of 22 from the arc, 9.1%
13 of 25 from the line, 52%

Tennessee got impatient, tried to play one-on-one, and didn't take advantage of trips to the free throw line. The Vols settled for threes that weren't going down, and had no better option. At no point did we use the phrase "good ball movement" or even "great pass" watching the game today - the Vols played like five individuals instead of one team on offense. In the first half, the Vols went the final 4:30 without making a shot. In the second half, the Vols went another 7:00 without a made basket, and USC put the game away.

Meanwhile, USC was patient and incredibly efficient: the Trojans took only 42 shots, but made 23 of them (54.8%). 3 of 7 from the arc. A merciless 28 of 35 from the line (80.0%). Even though the Trojans turned the ball over 18 times - a number you would've felt good about as a Tennessee fan coming in - their efficiency more than made up for it. Despite playing a seven man rotation, the Trojans didn't tire, they just kept playing their pace, and it worked brilliantly - this is a team that averaged 59 points per game coming in, and thanks to Gerrity and poise, scored almost 80 today. USC beat the Vols in every phase - and that includes the fact that Bruce Pearl got outcoached by Kevin O'Neill.

Where do we go from here?

Well, we go to Wednesday, where the 8-2 Vols will host North Carolina A&T. Then we go to Memphis on New Year's Eve, where these questions will almost certainly present themselves again. And if the Vols don't get answers soon, they're going to keep coming up short.

Tennessee has a bunch of good, talented players. But playing like this, we are not a good team. Who will take charge and show some authority with this team? And who will become the guy or group of guys we can count on when we need points? Until we find the answers to those questions, Tennessee will not be as good as they want to be. If they thought they were already, they got a dose of reality today.

Know Thy Enemy (Tennessee) - Q & A with Rocky Top Talk

Joey Kaufman — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:05:32 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

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While most Trojan fans right now are likely hung up on the December 26th Emerald Bowl against Boston College and SI.com's exclusion of Matt Leinart and Troy Polamalu from their All-Decade team, it is important to note that the USC men's basketball team (4-4) faces top ten ranked Tennessee this Saturday at the Galen Center. After being embarrassed on the road by two notable ranked teams, Texas and Georgia Tech, Saturday's matchup with the Volunteers should provide an interesting test for the Trojans, who are coming off two solid home victories over Sacramento State and Idaho State.

So, with the game just under two days away, I had the chance to ask Will Shelton, of Rocky Top Talk, some questions about the current Tennessee team and Saturday's upcoming contest

1.) Tell us how confident most Tennessee fans are regarding this year team, especially after their 8-1 start (the only loss was to Purdue by one point in the Virgin Islands).

I think most fans are excited about the potential with this team - the vast majority of these guys played together last year on the team that was bounced in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, but with a year of growth and greater consistency, we think the talent is there for this team to get into the second weekend and beyond. The Vols have just enough talent with their best players, combined with a ton of depth (currently using an 11 man rotation), that this team is capable of hurting the opposition in so many different ways. We won't know for sure for another week or so, when the Vols play Memphis, Kansas, and then start the SEC season, but we like where we are right now.

2.) This is now year 5 of the Bruce Pearl era so the folks in Knoxville have certainly grown more accustomed to the former UW-Milwaukee head coach. What about this Tennessee team is distinctly Pearl-like?

The tempo is definitely where Pearl wants it - the Vols are always at the top of the SEC in scoring, and so far it's been no different this year, averaging 84 points per game. Tennessee will utilize a full court press some, and Pearl's teams are always great at defending the inbounds pass. All of those qualities are there. The Vols have been more disciplined in shooting the three this year; it remains to be seen if this team can rely on the three to help them win games like Pearl's first Tennessee teams did.

3.) How does UT matchup against the Trojans' big men Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic?

The Vols will start with seniors Tyler Smith (6'7") and Wayne Chism (6'9") in the post; Chism is a very good post defender and leads the team in rebounds and blocked shots. Brian Williams (6'10" and a banger at 278 lbs) has also played a lot of minutes. Chism is very prone to early foul trouble; if the Trojans can get him on the bench early, their chances for inside success increase dramatically.

4.) So far this season the Trojans have struggled immensely on offense, but have proven to be quite effective on the defensive end. What are their chances of slowing down 6'7" forward Tyler Smith, who is regarded by many as the Vols' top offensive player while averaging 12.2 points and 4.6 assists.

The assists stat you mentioned is one of the biggest signs that Tyler has become a complete player - he's dangerous in almost every way offensively, capable of knocking down the outside shot, slashing to the hole, scoring from the post, getting to the free throw line...but at times he also operates like a point guard and distributes very well to his teammates. Smith hasn't really gone off in a game this season, in part because the Vols are so deep - if you make a concentrated effort to stop Tyler, the Vols can hurt you inside with Chism, or outside with Scotty Hopson or Cameron Tatum. Having said that, I watched Kevin O'Neill put on some defensive clinics in Knoxville back in the mid-90s, he'll come up with a great gameplan to take away what he perceives to be the Vols' biggest strength. Tyler and Wayne are almost always going to get theirs - the bigger question is how well USC can take away the Vols' other options. If the Trojans make the Vols play their pace, the odds of taking away the other options goes up.

5.) How much does Bruce Pearl and Tennessee care about this game? Do they view as just another non-conference game, or is it an opportunity to establish a greater presence on the west coast and California in terms of recruiting?

Since O'Neill coached the Vols from 94-97, it adds an extra level of interest to this game, even though that was long before Pearl or any of these players came to Knoxville. Tennessee does have a contributor from California in sophomore Renaldo Woolridge (Orlando's son), but most recently the Vols have been working on the Atlanta and NYC areas in recruiting the most. This is Tennessee's first true road game, after playing four neutral site games, and last year the Vols really struggled in the non-conference road games, getting blown out at Temple and giving up 92 points at Kansas. We want to see this team go into another team's building and get it done sooner instead of later.

6.) What is your prediction for Saturday's contest?

I think this game will be similar to the USC/Texas game, and several that the Vols have played this year: close in the first half, with the Vols depth making a difference in the second half. If Tennessee pushes the lead in the second half, I'm not sure if USC has enough firepower to fight their way back. I have great respect for Kevin O'Neill and the defense his teams play, I just think Tennessee has too much quantity and quality this time around. I like the Vols 67-60.

Talking Points: Vols winning with defense this season

Joel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:25:54 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

Yes, I've used that picture two times in a row. I like it.

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The Vols held Wyoming to five field goals and 17 points in the second half last night. Generally, UT's defense has been very good this year, with the Vols ranking second in the SEC in scoring defense, field-goal defense, and 3-point defense. So who triggered the turnaround last night? Assistant coach Jason Shay, whom Bruce Pearl credited with the observation that the Cowboys couldn't beat Tennessee in a half court game.

Mike Griffith said in his live blog of last night's game that an NBA scout was not too impressed with Tennessee's players.

Expect a good game for Swiperboy Saturday when the Vols travel to Los Angeles, 20 minutes from Woolridge's home (which must be a mile, if L.A. traffic myths are to be believed), to take on Southern Cal.

Congrats once again to Eric Berry, who now has the distinction of being the first two-time consensus All-American at UT since 1970.

Bray on the way. Much-heralded QB recruit Tyler Bray will be in Knoxville by the end of the week ($?).

Shifting or sifting? Bad news on UT commits Risean Broussard (DT), Pat Harris (DT), and Jose Jose (OL). Broussard is headed to prep school, Harris has academic work to finish before signing, and Jose is headed to South Florida to be abused (or not) by Jim Leavitt instead.

Trivia question of the day, which current or former Vol has the record for most rebounds in a game since ~~1986~~ 1996? Wayne Chism, Charles Hathaway, Ron Slay, Tyler Smith, or Vincent Yarbrough? Answer below before following the link for the answer.

Poll

Which Tennessee basketball player holds the record for most rebounds in a game since 1996?

Horse thieves! Tennessee burgles its way to a 77-58 win over Wyoming

Joel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:32:46 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

5 days ago: Tennessee's Bobby Maze (3) blocks the shot of Wyoming's Afam Muojeke (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, in Knoxville, Tenn. Maze was called for a foul on the play. Muojeke scored 15 points in their 77-58 loss. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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The Tennessee Volunteers rode 29 turnovers to a 77-58 victory over the Wyoming Cowboys this evening at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Bruce Pearl tried to tell Vol fans that it would be a game, and although the final score really doesn't suggest that it was, Pearl was right. At least for a half. In fact, for half of the half, it wasn't just a game, it was Wyoming's game.

The Cowboys came out pistols smoking and opened up with a 7-0 lead. Tennessee spent five minutes ducking for cover, and when they finally warmed up, they began to pull away. But about eight minutes in, the Vols got stuck on a plateau that seemed to vanish into the horizon. From the 12:03 mark to the 5:47 mark, the Big Orange managed only to suck a measly two points worth of liquid out of a spent cactus. Meanwhile, the Cowboys kept joy-riding into the sunset, going from behind seven to in front by nine. Somehow, though, the Vols persisted and narrowed the gap by the half, heading into the locker room up, 42-41.

At that point, Wyoming had completely outshot and outrebounded our guys, but we'd been able to keep things even thanks to 25 points off of 16 turnovers to Wyoming's eight points off of seven. And then in the second half, Tennessee simply pulled away, putting more and more distance between themselves and the Cowboys as the game marched toward its end.

This evening's result was truly a team effort, with Scotty Hopson, Wayne Chism, and Tyler Smith getting 14, 13, and 10 points each, Bobby Maze and Brian Williams each getting 9, and Cameron Tatum and Melvin Goins each contributing 7. Smith also had six assists, two steals, and a block.

Mostly, though, it was the Vols' defense and their ability to create turnovers and capitalize on them that won them the game. The Tennessee players were equal opportunity burglars, forcing eight different guys into multiple turnovers, but they did give some extra attention to Afam Muojeke, whom they forced to give them gifts of double digits.

Tennessee is now 8-1 with two games to go before the season shifts into overdrive with a visit to Memphis on New Year's Eve.

Sun Belt Classic - Tennessee 75 MTSU 54

Will — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:30:16 -0000

More photos » by Frederick Breedon - AP

9 days ago: Tennessee guard Melvin Goins (21) jumps over the defense of Middle Tennessee forward J.T. Sulton and guard James Gallman (34) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)

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Wild assumptions made after listening to the game on the radio:

Tennessee came back from a nine day break for final exams, and in the first half appeared to be following a familiar formula against a mid-major team: build a decent lead, watch the other team work it back within a few possessions, and back and forth we went. The Vols led only 37-30 at halftime with a slower tempo, with MTSU staying in it behind the play of 6'7" senior forward Desmond Yates, who scored 16 in the first half.

But in the second half, Tennessee slowed Yates down just enough (he still finished with 26) to build a lead MTSU couldn't work back from, en route to an eventual 21 point win, 75-54. And again, the Vols did it with balance: the Scotty Hopson thermometer was down again tonight, as he finished with only 4 points on only 4 shots. Wayne Chism was solid (9 points, 9 boards, 2 CHI$$LE!s), and Tyler Smith was quietly the same (7 points, 4 boards, 5 assists).

With their best players scoring in single digits, the rest of the Vols more than picked up the slack: Bobby Maze scored 12, Brian Williams had 6 points and 7 boards, and the player of the game was without a doubt J.P. Prince: 17 points on 6 of 8 shooting, in a huge welcome back game, his first this season in double digits. The Vols proved tonight they can get the necessary contributions from the entire roster, even when the superstars aren't putting up superstar numbers.

Tennessee remains undefeated in what has become an annual neutral site game in Nashville, adding MTSU to the list of teams that includes Oklahoma State, Western Kentucky, and Marquette, all of whom the Vols have beaten at the Sommet Center. Bruce Pearl has repeatedly stated that he wants Tennessee to play a game in Nashville every year - this year it's also the site of the SEC Tournament - and at this pace, why not?

The Vols go to 7-1 on the year, and have six non-conference games remaining before SEC play begins in the second week of January. The competition will build from this point: the Vols host Wyoming on Tuesday night, then travel to Los Angeles to face Kevin O'Neill and Southern Cal next Saturday. The Vols may not be truly tested until the December 31-January 10 stretch that will feature a trip to Memphis (where the Tigers should come in with only one loss, by two points to #1 Kansas), a huge trap game with Charlotte, and a date with the aforementioned Jayhawks. The time for tuneups is almost over...but in lots of different places, the Vols continue to see improvement in these early games.

Tennessee 86 Charleston 69 - Vols pull away late

Will — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:47:19 -0000

More photos » by Michael Patrick - AP

23 days ago: Tennessee guard Scotty Hopson (top) shoots over College of Charleston forward Matt Sundberg, front, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Knoxville, Tenn., Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Patrick)

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The return of Scotty Hopson and an 8-8 night at the free throw line from Tyler Smith were tempered by hot three point shooting from Charleston...for about 33 minutes. Tennessee repeatedly built leads of 8-12 points only to see Charleston work them back down within 3-5. But sparked by a Skylar McBee three, the Vols went on a 15-2 run that finally put the Cougars to bed, as UT picked up their fifth win of the season 86-69.

A decent post-Thanksgiving crowd saw Scotty Hopson finish with 21 points, 7 of 10 from the field and 3 for 3 from beyond the arc, a return to the form he enjoyed in the first three games of the season and his fourth 20+ point outburst of the year. Tyler Smith got it done at the line, and he and Brian Williams helped spell Wayne Chism, who again was on the receiving end of two quick fouls and later picked up a third, getting only five minutes in the first half and only thirteen for the game. Williams and Chism both had 11 points, and BWill also had 7 rebounds in 22 minutes.

Charleston went 11 of 25 (44%) from beyond the arc and got great play from their starters, but only eight points off the bench. By comparison, the Vols got 43 points off the bench in a continually impressive display of depth, and dominated the Cougars inside: +14 in rebounds, + 28 in points in the paint.

The Vols are 5-1 on the year and return to action Wednesday night, hosting an ETSU team that beat Charleston earlier this year, and is currently leading at Arkansas. The Vols will then get a nine day break during final exams before playing MTSU in Nashville on December 11.

Purdue wins Paradise Jam Tournament 73-72

Will — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:17:30 -0000

More photos » by Brennan Linsley - AP

This picture tells the story: the game was close and hard fought, and I guarantee a foul was called on this play.

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When they put tournaments like this together, often times the fields are stacked with two really good teams, and you hope neither slips up en route to the finals. The Paradise Jam got their wish when #6 Purdue and #9 Tennessee made it to tonight's championship game unscathed, and then the first top ten matchup of the young college basketball season delivered, and then some.

In a game that neither team led by more than six points, Purdue survived despite missing three out of their final four free throws, escaping when we got fizzle instead of CHI$$LE!. Wayne Chism's three pointer with five seconds left was way off, and the ensuing scrap for the rebound essentially ran out the rest of the clock, with Purdue controlling as the clock struck zero.

The story of the game seemed destined to be the officiating, not because it was poor but because it was overbearing: 48 fouls in 40 minutes of play, evenly divided with each team picking up 12 in both halves. While Purdue struggled late to finish 19 of 26 at the line (73.1%), a huge bright spot for the Vols came at the line, where notoriously bad Tennessee went 23 of 28, 82.1%.

The lead story there and everywhere is, again, Wayne Chism: the senior went 7-7 at the line, 8-13 from the floor to finish with 24 points. Just as big was a sensational block he made just a few possessions earlier to keep Tennessee in the game, as the Vols almost rallied from down six in the final two minutes. Despite his missed three with five seconds left - and the debate will continue about whether he should've taken it or went to the hole - Chism played a great, great ballgame.

On the other end of the spectrum, we'd like to welcome back to the floor the questions about Scotty Hopson's consistency. After averaging 22 per game in his first three, Hopson has gone 5 of 20 in the last 48 hours, missing from almost everywhere and turning the ball over too much. The competition level for Tennessee goes back down (home against College of Charleston Friday night, followed by ETSU, MTSU in Nashville, and Wyoming before traveling to LA to face USC on December 19), and Hopson needs to find his stroke again and maintain it. It was encouraging to see Tennessee go toe-to-toe with the #6 team in the country when Hopson played so poorly...we'd just all rather see him play well instead, and then we can start winning more of these.

In the end, this was an incredible game that felt like March in November. Hats off to Purdue for getting it done, and hopefully both of the teams we saw on the floor tonight are as good as we think they are - E'Twaun Moore and Robbie Hummel certainly looked like major players. For the Vols, it's the first teaching moment in a loss this season...but there was a lot to like as well. The Vols know they can play with some of the nation's best...now it's time to get better, so next time we're on the right side of the final outcome.

Paradise Jam Finals Preview: #7 Purdue vs. #10 Tennessee

Will — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:15:10 -0000

by Brennan Linsley - AP

about 1 month ago: Purdue's E'twuan Moore scores past an attempted block by South Dakota State's Clint Sargent, during a game in the Paradise Jam basketball tournament, in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. Moore was the top scorer of the game, with 22 points which helped Purdue win 74-63. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

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The marquee matchup everybody wanted will take place tonight in the Paradise Jam Tournament finals, as Purdue and Tennessee square off in the first top ten showdown of the college basketball season. The Vols were untested by East Carolina in their first game in the Virgin Islands, but pushed throughout by DePaul in a defensive battle won by UT 57-53. Purdue has struggled in the first half of both of their Paradise Jam games, but pulled away in the second half each time: they lead South Dakota state by two at the break in the opener before winning by eleven, and led St. Joseph's by only one before outscoring them 54-30 in the second half.

The Boilermakers went 27-10 last year, winning the Big Ten Tournament and advancing to the Sweet 16. They returned six players with starting experience, but lost guard Lewis Jackson to a foot injury. Like all good teams, Purdue can hurt you from inside and outside. The Vols will face one of their most difficult tests of the season in terms of post defense, going against 6'8" Robbie Hummel (13 points, 6 boards per) and leading scorer 6'10" JaJuan Johnson (15 points, 7 boards per). Hummel is also capable of stepping out and hitting the three. Guard E'Twaun Moore dropped 22 on South Dakota State and is the team's second leading scorer.

The contrasting styles of both teams may hold the greatest key to victory: the Vols want to run and have struggled in the halfcourt offense ever since Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith left, while Purdue would love to slow the pace and use DePaul's blueprint with their superior talent to grind the Vols down. If Purdue can slow Tennessee down, will the Vols be able to score in their halfcourt offense? And how will Tennessee defend against Purdue inside?

The Vols will need Scotty Hopson to play well - a good performance against a top ten team will ease everyone's mind about his 2 for 11 display yesterday, but if Hopson struggles again, we'll have to throw that inconsistent label back on him for now. If Cameron Tatum heats up from outside again, even better. We know we'll get the usual from Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism, but will it be more than Purdue gets from Hummel and Johnson?

This will be a great test for the Vols against what should turn out to be the type of team we'll have to beat in March to reach our ultimate goals. Tennessee hasn't won a tournament of any kind in nine years...can this group break the trend and make a huge statement that this team is good enough to achieve its goals and reach new heights this season? 8:30 PM EST, Fox College Sports (simulcast on Fox Sports Net).

For more on Purdue, check out Hammer & Rails.

Paradise Jam: Tennessee 57 DePaul 53, Vols play for title Monday

Will — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:43:04 -0000

More photos » by Brennan Linsley - AP

Since Brian Williams finished 0-3, I'm gonna say this shot didn't go in.

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Everything we'd seen in Tennessee's first three games of the season was absent in the Paradise Jam semifinals tonight. The Vols scored 83 against Austin Peay, a school record 124 against UNC-Asheville, and 105 against East Carolina. And the Vols won those three games by 29, 75, and 39 points. DePaul was 0-18 in the Big East last year and though they upset Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals, most expected this game to be another cupcake tuneup.

But credit the Blue Demons not only for slowing Tennessee down, but giving the Vols a run for their money into the game's final minute. Everytime it looked like Tennessee was going to run away, including a 12 point lead early in the second half, DePaul worked the lead back down. The Blue Demons even went in front with seven minutes to play, though the Vols instantly took the lead back. DePaul closed Tennessee's lead from six to two in the final minute, but a ticky-tack foul with just four on the shot clock sent Tyler Smith to the line, and the senior knocked down both free throws to give the Vols a four point lead with thirteen seconds left, leading to the 57-53 final.

Tennessee advances to play the winner of #7 Purdue vs. St. Joseph's in the Paradise Jam finals, Monday night at 8:30 PM EST. If Purdue advances as expected, the Vols will find out very quickly if tonight's game was an aberration or a real cause for concern.

As several noted in our live game thread, this performance felt a lot like last season: the Vols relied heavily on their two best players in the post, with Tyler Smith getting 14 points and 8 rebounds, and Wayne Chism leading the charge earlier in the second half to finish with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Other than that, Tennessee really had nothing of merit offensively.

Skylar McBee did have an eight point burst at the end of the first half, but Scotty Hopson went 2 for 11, 0 for 5 from 3, and after picking up two dunks in the game's first five minutes, didn't score again. The Vols shot 37% from the floor and just 3 of 12 from beyond the arc. Thankfully, DePaul wasn't any better, at 35% from the floor and 4 of 17 from three.

Tennessee hasn't won a tournament of any kind since the 2000 Rainbow Classic, and if it's Purdue, it'll be a top ten showdown and a great test for where this team truly is. Hopefully, the Vols' shooting touch will return, because Tennessee is going to need more than just Tyler & Wayne to get it done tomorrow night.

Tennessee Volunteers Pummel Asheville, 124-49

Hooper — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:33:28 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

about 1 month ago: Tennessee's Scotty Hopson shoots for three points during the first half of a NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina-Asheville Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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In what may as well have been an exhibition game, the Tennessee Volunteers jumped out to a quick 20-0 lead and never flinched, cruising to a spectacular victory. The game was a complete mismatch, and the Volunteer defense absolutely suffocated the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs, who only made 2 field goals in the entire first half - and the first one after 17 minutes of basketball.

The Vols played fast and furious for the entire game, constantly passing on offense to open opportunities and flat out running up and down the court in transition. In any questions had existed about early season conditioning (which they didn't), those questions were laid to rest. The team never shown any signs of fatigue, and the aggressive man defense kept Asheville at bay until the scout team players were finally entered into the game.

Scotty Hopson continued his early hot streak, leading all Vols with 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. Six Vols ended in double figures: Scotty Hopson, Bobby Maze, Cameron Tatum, Wayne Chism, Melvin Goins, and even Renaldo Woolridge, who was not a part of Pearl's "ten". Tennessee was actually outrebounded 42-41, though most of Asheville's rebounds came well after the game was decided. Tennessee lead in assists (34 to 7), steals (13 to 9), blocks (5 to 3), and had fewer turnovers (12 to 29). The Vols also shot 60% from the floor, 55% from three, and 76% from the free throw line. It was a complete game by a team that played harder and faster than at any point last year. With two solid performances in their belt, the Volunteers appear to have the potential for a very bright season and should be strong competitors in the SEC.