SB Nation - J.P. Prince

Talking Points: Bruce Pearl wants you at the Wyoming game tonight

Joel — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:31:31 -0000

More photos » by Frederick Breedon - AP

7:00! Thompson-Boling! Running! Scoring! Turnovers! Excitement!

Bruce Pearl turned back into a carnival barker (we love that about him) at a recent press conference, urging fans to buy tickets to the Wyoming game.
This will be as exciting of a game as we've had all year. Wyoming turns people over 21 times a game, and they absolutely will not mind running with us.
Oddly, they're not only runners, they're big, too: 7'2" center and 6'10" power forward. Oh, and they make more free throws than anyone in the country. So yeah, it could be a good game. Let's just hope it's not on CSS. Will's got a preview coming at 10:00 this morning.

Senior J.P. Prince is handling the insertion of sophomore Cameron Tatum into the starting lineup over him quite well ($?), thank you.

Didja know that Tyler Smith is second in the nation in assist to turnover ratio? Bruce Pearl says that's what the point forward position is all about and that Smith and Dane Bradshaw have/had it figured out.

Speaking of Will, he's joined by John Adams today in identifying that 12/17/05 game against Texas in Austin as a defining moment in the Bruce Pearl Era.

Lane Kiffin says he, his staff, and the team are not distracted by the recent reports of NCAA investigations and such. What he didn't add but should have is that it's no thanks to the media who keep reporting the same story with no new developments every day. No, the Chimera is working overtime, weekends and all, in an attempt to close a bunch of potential mid-term recruits.

3SiB compares Lane Kiffin to Michael Corleone.

For those like me who don't follow the NFL, you may be surprised to find that Arian Foster carried the ball 13 times for 34 yards and caught four passes for 54 yards for the Houston Texans this past weekend. I didn't even know he'd been picked up, so good for him.

Sun Belt Classic - Tennessee 75 MTSU 54

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

More photos » by Frederick Breedon - AP

5 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 vs. UNC-Asheville Game Preview

Will — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:23 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

If Bruce Pearl wasn't busy tonight, he'd be in the live game thread too. Also, is that tie reversable?!

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Bruce Pearl goes for his 100th win as Tennessee's head coach tonight against the Bulldogs of UNC-Asheville (7:00 PM EST, Fox Sports South). It's game two for the Vols this season, and the final tuneup before heading to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam Tournament this weekend. The Vols opened the season with an 83-54 win over Austin Peay, and look to improve to 7-0 all time against UNC-Asheville.

The Bulldogs are 0-1 on the year after losing 86-70 at future Tennessee opponent "don't call us UNC-"Charlotte. The Bulldogs got 22 points from guard Chris Stephenson and 15 from Rocky Top League vet J.P. Primm, but were outrebounded by 17 and hacked their way to defeat: Charlotte shot 40 free throws, UNC-Asheville shot 10. For a Tennessee team that continued their yearly struggles at the charity stripe in the season opener (5 for 11), I don't know if that's good or bad.

What I do know is that last year when these two teams met, Tyler Smith recorded the only triple-double in the history of Tennessee Basketball. The Vols got what they expected from Tyler and Wayne Chism in the opener, with each contributing a double-double. You don't want to formulate too many storylines after just one game, but here's what we'll be watching for tonight:

Consistency from Scotty Hopson. We won't truly be able to buy into Hopson's maturation process until we see him play well against good teams, but if you want to believe, the season opener was a good start: Hopson led the Vols in scoring with 16 points and was 4 of 6 from beyond the arc against Austin Peay - will he play that well again, and can we expect that sort of performance from him all season?
Who gets more minutes: J.P. Prince or Cameron Tatum? Prince is the starter and the seasoned, multitasking veteran, but Tatum was right behind Hopson on Friday night against Austin Peay with 15 points on 3 of 6 beyond the arc, and got 22 minutes to Prince's 17. As rotations continue to be established, this will be an interesting battle to watch.
Will we get to use "Skylar McBee....FOR THREE!" The Vols' walk-on shooting specialist went 0-4 in his opener, though he showed up well in all other aspects. Everyone in the arena wants to see him get hot, a factor that's increased by the memories of Chris Lofton plus the anemic three point shooting the Vols put up last year (31.5%). He needs to knock one down to breathe a sigh of relief...and then let's see what he can do.

We'll be here with the live game thread for tipoff at 7:00...see you then.

Thoughts From Scrimmage: A few things to watch for during the Tennessee game tonight

Hooper — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:32:36 -0000

by Wade Payne - AP

about 1 month ago: In this photo taken on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, left, instructs Wayne Chism during NCAA college basketball practice in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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On Tuesday this week, I was fortunate enough to have the spare time available to attend the open scrimmage of the Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team. My plan had been to compile my thoughts and observations on Thursday, but ... yeah. So with full apologies for the short notice, here are some of the things I noticed.

Tempo = Up. We all know that Bruce Pearl likes the team to play fast. 'Controlled Chaos' is his theme. Watching him run practice on Tuesday, it's clear that he doesn't want a repeat of last year's pace. This team will run. Period.
Point Guards are still a work in progress. Give the points a few games. Remember that Melvin Goins is still new to the team, and that Bobby Maze is going to be leading a different tempo of offense this year than last year. I don't see any reason why they won't be successful, but there will be a bit of adjustment as they play more live-fire games.
Skylar McBradshaw. I know, I know: it's way too early to project a walk-on when he has yet to play an official game for the team. But Skylar McBee is going to be a player you love. He'll have his growing up to do as well, but he's a hard worker and he really exudes a love for his situation. If you're watching on the telly, take note whenever he shoot the ball; the crowd will pull for every single shot.
Wayne Chism is a forward. With Kenny Hall in the rotation, Chism is playing more forward than center. This allows for a lot of options with both Brian Williams and Wayne Chism on the floor at the same time, and also give Chism the chance to shoot threes while having a center available for a rebound.
Speaking of Kenny Hall... he looked really good in practice. He's still new, so give him the proper grace, but he appears to be climbing the learning curve quite nicely.

Scotty Hopson is more physical. He's more willing to take the bumps and to play tighter defense. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see his game take a major step forward this year.
Brian Williams and free throws don't mix. Maybe he just had a bad day on Tuesday, but he did seem to follow the Shaq school of big-man free throws. But to his credit, he most well and he looks to be in very good shape.
Our team has a great scout team. Sure, they're not as physically talented as the regulars, but the scout players do their job very well. They're smart and they know the system. It's a phase of the game that we never see, but you can rest a little easier knowing that our Vols are getting some great workouts during the practice sessions. And Steven Pearl is a very smart player. It appears that he leads the scout team, and does a good job with them.
The offense is more involved than you think. Just listening to Pearl teach the team, you can tell that there are a lot of subtle details that go into the offense. Pearl isn't just a run-and-gun kind of a guy. When the team finds their groove, we should be in for a real treat.
Championship driven mentality. The eyes are on the prize, in a big way. The scrimmage wasn't about getting ready for tonight; it was about getting ready for the Kansas Jayhawks, the Kentucky Wildcats, and the SEC and NCAA tournaments. Bruce has a ridiculously high bar set for the team, and he expects them to learn how to clear it.
Black jerseys? Bruce is very much a traditionalist. Black jerseys will not show up on the road (basketball teams wear white a home and colors on the road). However, he did say that he recognizes the game to be a student-athlete game, and that if a special occasion warranted, he might consider doing it for a home game. It led to one of his more interesting philosophies:
Let 'em hate. In a nutshell, if rivals hate some UT tradition, he wants more of it. Hate the orange? Wear more! Hate Rocky Top? Play it all the time! (With that, I propose that the pep band play only Rocky Top whenever they're on the road with the team.)
Did I mention tempo? They're going to run. No, they're going to run. This team will know what it's like to run all game long. If they can't beat a team straight up, they're going to run them into the ground and win the war of attrition.

Tennessee Basketball Season Preview: Five Questions

Will — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:00:35 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

In Year Five of BruceBall, can the Vols beat Kentucky, bring home another championship and finally make it past the Sweet 16?

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Seven days away from tipoff, the 09-10 Vols prepare to embark on a 30 game schedule as defending SEC East Champions and with every major contributor back. Bruce Pearl has changed everything about Tennessee Basketball in his first four seasons, to the point that we enter this year with a top ten ranking and championship expectations. The overall goals continue to be the same as they have been since Pearl established himself: success is defined now by more than just making the tournament, but by higher seeds and deeper progress, and by winning the division and winning the conference, two things that will require going through our biggest rival from the Bluegrass. The rivalry between Tennessee and Kentucky has a chance to reach unprecedented heights this season, and both have a chance to do something special.

As always, the biggest goal for Tennessee Basketball continues to be the Elite Eight, the promised land that the Vols have never reached, falling thrice in the Sweet Sixteen in this decade. Get there, and hey...we might as well make the Final Four.

This team has the talent, experience and coaching to go far. Exactly how far will be determined by the answers to these questions:

5. How much productivity will the Vols get at point guard?

The Vols have plenty of guys who can score, but need someone who can distribute. Last year Bobby Maze put up numbers that were very similar to what we saw from Ramar Smith: 8.2 points, 3.2 assists, a low shooting percentage from behind the arc...and while Maze was +2 in assist/turnover ratio and did a serviceable job at the position, the Vols need the combination of Maze and Melvin Goins to run the offense with greater efficiency. And on the defensive side of the ball, the point guard will play a key role in answering our second question...

4. How effective will the Controlled Chaos Press be after its absence last season?

Pearl's first three teams may not have been the most talented or later the most experienced, but they played with a certain style: fast, tenacious, leading the conference in scoring while also turning teams over on the defensive end. There was no one better at getting a turnover on an out-of-bounds play, and the Vols used a small, quick lineup to exectue a full-court press that wore teams down. Last year, the Vols traded speed for size at the guard positions, and also lost years of experience with Pearl's system with the departure of Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith. As a result, the Vols stayed away from the press while allowing opposing guards to routinely go off for career nights.

Pearl has promised that the Vols are going back to their old ways this season, but doing so will involve the same personnel stepping up considerably on the defensive end. Josh Tabb was one of Tennessee's best and most experienced defenders, and his departure further complicates this problem. Tennessee has the athleticism with Scotty Hopson, Cameron Tatum, JP Prince and others to run the scheme, but its overall effectiveness will be in question until we see it working regularly again. Will this feel like a Bruce Pearl team again?

3. Can Scotty Hopson make the leap?

The pieces are there: former McDonald's All-American, 6'7" frame that added fifteen pounds in the offseason, occasional flashes of brilliance in a respectable freshman season (9.2 points per game), and word that his jump shot has been altered for the better. Hopson has so much raw talent that I still believe that if he fully harnesses it, he won't be in Knoxville for his senior season. Part of it is determining what kind of player he's going to be - is he going to attack the basket, or is he a jump shooter? - but in all reality, Hopson is capable of being both. The Vols could use more touch from beyond the arc, but Pearl talks about players with the ability to create their own shots, and Hopson can certainly do that as well.

If Hopson makes the leap from potential to reality, not just every now and then but consistently, Tennessee's chances of winning the SEC and playing deep into March increase dramatically. The Vols have two clear scoring options in Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism, but neither can contribute the way Hopson is capable of, from both beyond the arc and slashing to the hole. If Hopson has improved and matured as much as we hope this season, there will be very, very few teams that will out-talent Tennessee.

2. Will the three-point shooting improve, and how much will we rely on it?

I still have to remember that Lofton and Juanny aren't walking through those doors, because we were incredibly spoiled for two great years with both of them in the starting lineup. When the Vols could spread the floor with those guys on either side and Tyler Smith posting up down low, good grief we were dangerous. The Vols may not get back to the days where two guys are knocking down threes over 45% of the time, but things can still improve.

It wasn't just that Tennessee shot poorly from three last season, at 31.5% as a team. And it wasn't just that the wealth was spread around: Josh Tabb was the only player to break 40%, and seven guys took more threes than he did, all shooting between 27.5% (Renaldo Woolridge) and 35.7% (Hopson).

Tennessee was the worst three point shooting team in the NCAA field last season, and still jacked up 33 of them in the game against Oklahoma State. Really, this problem goes back to the first three questions: an inability to run an effective offense outside of jacking threes more often than not, no press and thus little transition game to create turnovers and easier scoring opportunities, and only two guys in Tyler and Wayne - and Wayne likes to shoot as much as anybody - who could create their own shot from inside the arc.

So for starters, the Vols need to run a better halfcourt offense, need the press to create the transition opportunities we all know and love from earlier BruceBall seasons, and need Scotty Hopson to become a scoring threat inside the arc. From there, Tennessee will do less standing around and less settling for threes, and find more balanced scoring and hopefully, more open threes that are knocked down more of the time. After the Florida game in Knoxville last season, Pearl asked if we couldn't shoot the three, or if we had good shooters that just weren't hitting. Relying on the three less will hopefully lead to good shooters hitting them more this season. And the more we get to use "Skylar McBee...for three!", the better.

1. Will this team play its best basketball when it matters most?

That starts in the last five minutes, where in the regular season last year the Vols lost games to Gonzaga (overtime), Memphis (54-52), LSU (79-73), Auburn (78-77), and Alabama (miracle shot). Pearl's first three teams were excellent at winning close games, but last year the list of teams Tennessee beat in crunch time reads like this: Belmont, Arkansas, Mississippi State. The other close wins were the result of dwindling big leads in games the Vols still managed to win.

Being a team that wins games in crunch time will help the Vols become a team that wins games in March. Tennessee was right there in their two biggest games last season, but lost them both on the final possession to Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament Finals, and to Oklahoma State in the NCAA Tournament. The Vols must play with greater confidence and poise in the last five minutes, and the journey of the season must lead to fully realized talent and a fully mature team come tournament time. Last year this team struggled with unrealized expectations, and walked the fine line between success and disappointment. This year, can they come together and improve, so that we're winning these close games instead of losing them?

The pieces are there. Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism are great players in their senior seasons, JP Prince is capable of contributing from everywhere, the team is deep and experienced and could get an even bigger boost from Scotty Hopson. If the Vols can get back to playing what has become Tennessee Basketball under Pearl - running in transition, forcing turnovers, knocking down threes and winning the last five minutes - this team is capable of reaching its goals: standing toe to toe with Kentucky and finishing higher than them in the standings for the fifth year in a row, winning another division and conference title, and reaching the promised land of an Elite Eight/Final Four in March.

(What did we miss? As always, we invite you to leave your questions and answers in the comments...)

Tennessee Basketball Season Preview: The Roster

Will — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:00:34 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

about 1 month ago: In this photo taken on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, Tennessee's Tyler Smith (1) defends against Renaldo Woolridge during NCAA college basketball practice in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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Part Two of our weeklong preview of the upcoming Tennessee Basketball season, which tips off Friday, November 13. Part One - Last Year

If there was ever a season where the Vols could absorb the loss of two contributors in the six weeks before the season opener, this is it. Josh Tabb and Emmanuel Negedu may be out, but the Vols still have 12 names on the roster expected to make contributions. You can see how crowded the picture was before Negedu's cardiac incident and Tabb's withdrawal.

In the long run, Pearl is likely to go with a 10 or even 9 man rotation by season's end. But in the early going, you'll get a look at all of these guys:

POINT GUARD

Bobby Maze returns to put on for Tennessee in his senior season. The transfer stepped into a starting role immediately last season, and logged 25 minutes and 8 points per game. But he wasn't the natural PG fit that Pearl wanted, as Maze averaged only 3.2 assists - he had 11 assists in the season opener against UT-Chattanooga, but never got double figures again. Maze finished with a +2.02 assist/turnover ratio and shot only 31.9% from beyond the arc. The Vols have weapons everywhere and don't necessarily need Maze to score, but to distribute. Look for Maze also to be a key factor in reigniting Tennessee's press on defense.

This year's transfer is Melvin Goins, following in Maze's footsteps. Goins is only 5'11" but goes 195 lbs, and could be a more physical presence at the guard spot. Reports out of practice had him struggling with his shooting touch early, and he'll need to adjust quickly to the Vols' up-tempo style if he's going to be productive as Maze's backup.

PERIMETER PLAYERS

The player the Vols need the greatest improvement from is Scotty Hopson, the McDonald's All-American who will enter his sophomore season. Hopson showed flashes of his potential last season - 16 points against Gonzaga in Orlando, 19 against South Carolina, 20 against the Gators and 21 against Mississippi State - but ultimately averaged only 9.2 points per game. And Hopson wasn't the shooter the Vols needed at times last season, hitting 35.7% from three. To be fair to Hopson, Vol fans were spoiled by the 40+ percentage numbers of Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith. But this season, Hopson has added around fifteen pounds and worked on his shooting touch, hoping for less arc and more net. If Hopson can make the leap from a solid contributor to consistent scorer, look out.

While it's a dangerous thing to call him a perimeter player after his 3 for 24 performance from beyond the arc last year, JP Prince returns for his senior season as one of the most efficient players in the conference. Prince averaged 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block per game last season. Prince is capable of scoring in spurts if the Vols need that - he had 20 in the division-clinching win at South Carolina last year - but is most dangerous along the baseline as defenses are drawn towards the Vols other playmakers, and Prince was often the beneficiary. Prince is a complete player who can go a long way towards helping the Vols get where they want to go.

Junior Cameron Tatum, who the Vols will need to play a huge role in 2010-11, is already pushing for more playing time after averaging 7.6 PPG last year. Tatum is another perimeter player the Vols are hoping has a more successful year shooting the three - last year Tatum was good for only 32.1% from deep. But Tatum did impress with a greater ability in getting to the hole, and is another guard the Vols will need to be quick and aggressive on the press.

And lest we forget, Swiperboy Renaldo Woolridge also plays basketball, good for 2.6 points in 8.8 minutes per game last season. Woolridge is one who lost playing time as the Vols decreased their rotation late in the season last year, but is back with a bigger frame and an equal chance to contribute.

And then there's Skylar McBee. The walk-on gunner from Rutledge is reportedly working his way into the rotation with his ability to hit the three ball, which as we've noted with all of these guys was an ability that was sorely lacking last season. His defensive abilities are yet to be seen, but if he can knock down shots, he could add a key component to a Tennessee offense that still averaged 78.4 points per game while shooting only 31.5% from three.

POST PLAYERS

It's no stretch to say that the Vols have one of the best post combos in the country. That starts with Tyler Smith, who may also see some work at the 3 this season. Smith turned down NBA and European dollars to stay for his senior season in Knoxville, where he hopes to put the finishing touches on not only his game, but a championship run. Smith averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists per contest last season, picking up the first triple-double in school history along the way. He increased his scoring output 2.5 points per game from the 2007-08 season, and scored in double figures in all but two of Tennessee's games. He also dropped a season-high 30 on Vanderbilt. Smith joins Prince as the most complete player on the team, and is on the Naismith Award watch list to open this season.

Tyler is great, but there's been no more entertaining personality on the team in the last four years than Wayne Chism, who is back for one last season. Chism scored 14 points and grabbed 8 boards per game last year, leading the team by far in the latter category. Chism posted six double-doubles last season, including a 26-11 in the win over Marquette and a 15-19 in the overtime loss to Gonzaga. And of course...the big guy can shoot the three. We're going to miss this guy when he's gone.

Back in a supporting role for another year before he'll be asked to take charge in the post next season, Brian Williams will spell Chism, and maybe this year you won't have to hear weight loss stories every time he comes in. Williams is currently listed at 278 lbs - still big enough to take care of business - and gave the Vols 5 points and 6 rebounds off the bench last year.

The lone freshman on scholarship is Kenny Hall, a 6'8" post player from Stone Mountain, GA. The Vols don't need any miracles from him this season (barring injury), but with the loss of Tyler and Wayne after this season, Hall projects to be relied on heavily next season. He should get a few minutes in the post rotation, and we'll see what he's got.

Rounding out the 12 man group expected to fight for playing time is Steven Pearl, now in his junior season. The coach's son doesn't do much offensively, but plays tough and plays hard on the inside defensively, and was good last season in short spurts to give someone else a rest. We'll see how his dad chooses to use him this year.

Poll

Which newcomer are you most excited to see?

PG Melvin Goins

16 votes

SG Skylar McBee

53 votes

PF Kenny Hall

37 votes

106 votes | Poll has closed

BtB 2009-10 Southeastern Conference Preview

Chris Dobbertean — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:27:31 -0000

During the two weeks before Selection Sunday last March, I frequently heard these words (or something close) in conversation, "The SEC is going to get more than two or three bids to the Tourney. How can we not? We're the SEC." Of course, it took another surprising run through the SEC Tournament by a team nicknamed the Bulldogs to keep the Southeastern Conference from becoming (gasp) a two bid league. But Mississippi State became the league's second straight surprise auto bid winner. However, just like Georgia in 2008, the boys from Starkville also lost in the first round after getting a low seed.

But it's not like the two SEC teams who earned at-large bids did much better. Ninth seeded Tennessee fell to Oklahoma State in a tight first round contest, while eighth seeded LSU reached round two, where they were outclassed by North Carolina. Kentucky, Florida, Auburn, and South Carolina all ended up in the NIT, where none of the four managed to make it to New York. Vanderbilt won 19 games and didn't even get a postseason bid. All in all, it was a disappointing 2008-09 for a conference used to postseason success.

The good news for the SEC is that the league should be far better this year, thanks to a couple of major coaching hires (as explained in my Coaching Carousel column) and an infusion of new talent (some of whom are listed in my All-Transfer and All-Freshman team columns). But there's a lot more going on in the league than what happened in Lexington and Tuscaloosa this offseason, which I'll explain after the jump.

Let's first take a look at last season's SEC standings.

Southeastern Conference Standings

(updated 3.25.2009 at 10:42 PM EDT)

East	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
South Carolina Gamecocks	10	6	21	10
Tennessee Volunteers	10	6	21	13
Florida Gators	9	7	25	11
Kentucky Wildcats	8	8	22	14
Vanderbilt Commodores	8	8	19	12
Georgia Bulldogs	3	13	12	20

West	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
LSU Tigers	13	3	27	8
Auburn Tigers	10	6	24	12
Mississippi St. Bulldogs	9	7	23	13
Alabama Crimson Tide	7	9	18	14
Mississippi Rebels	7	9	16	15
Arkansas Razorbacks	2	14	14	16

Now, here are my picks for 2009-10, presented in reverse order. If a school's name appears in red, that's a link to its SBNation site. You can go there for more detailed analysis throughout the season.

West Division

Auburn (last NCAA: 2003) The Tigers fell to Baylor in the NIT quarterfinals last season, a disappointing end to a good season that could've ended in the NCAA Tournament with a marquee win or two. It's going to take a lot for Jeff Lebo's team to reach that level of success this season. Even with the graduation of Rasheem Barrett (9.9 ppg) and Quantez Robertson (6.0 ppg, 3.2 apg), DeWayne Reed (13.2 ppg, 3.7 apg) and Tay Waller (12.1 ppg) anchor a solid backcourt that will give the opposition fits. However, Korvotney Barber and his contributions of nearly 13 points and 10 rebounds a game will be severely missed in the frontcourt, even in Lebo's guard-oriented system. Seniors Brendan Knox and Johnnie Lett will have to step up to fill the void left by Barber's departure, and freshmen Rob Chubb and Ty Armstrong can expect to see playing time as well. Junior college transfer Kenny Gabriel should also see significant time, as he can be a true inside/outside threat for Auburn.

LSU (last NCAA: 2009) Expect the Tigers, last year's SEC regular season champs, to take a step back after the loss of three key starters. F Marcus Thornton and his 21 points per game are gone, so is C Chris Johnson, and the team's heart and soul, PG Garrett Temple. However, LSU still has Tasmin Mitchell, who averaged 16.3 points and 7.2 rebounds last season, while spending time at both small forward and power forward. Guard Bo Spencer is the other returning starter. He's a good shooter (averaging 11.4 ppg while shooting 40% from beyond the arc), but is coming off wrist surgery. Beyond those two, head coach Trent Johnson has his work cut out for him, as none of the other returnees averaged more than 2 points per contest. Expect the newcomers, like G Aaron Dotson (coming off a patellar tendon injury) and Fs Eddie Ludwig and Garrett Green (a medical redshirt last year), to see significant time during the rebuilding process.

Arkansas (last NCAA: 2008) It hasn't been the greatest of offseasons in Fayetteville, where head coach John Pelphrey will suspend at least one player after an offseason rape investigation that resulted in no charges. The possibility of suspensions will make the Razorbacks task of recovering from last season a bit more difficult. The Hogs were in full rebuilding mode last year, but managed to get off to a 12-1 start, featuring wins over regional rivals Oklahoma and Texas. It didn't last, and Arkansas finished bottom of the SEC West with a ghastly 2-14 record. This season, the Razorbacks will again roll out a three-guard lineup in their search for more consistency. That quest starts at point guard, where sophomore Courtney Fortson did a great job of distributing the ball (nearly 6 assists per game), while turning it over far too often (4.4 per game). Rotnei Clark led the nation's freshmen in three point shooting (39.3%), and Stefan Welsh contributed 11.5 oints per game. PF Michael Washington decided to stay in school, which means the Hogs keep their leading scorer (15.5) and conference-leading rebounder (9.8). The biggest reason Arkansas is this low is depth, with only six returning players from last season, Pelphrey will need a lot out of his newcomers to move up the SEC ladder.

Alabama (last NCAA: 2006) Bama alum Mark Gottfried resigned as head coach last January, when it was clear that the Tide would spend a third straight year outside of the NCAAs. Anthony Grant left a good gig at VCU to take the head job, and he's going to try to implement a more up-tempo style in Tuscaloosa. Alabama's biggest issue over the past few seasons has been inconsistent point guard play, especially with Ronald Steele's injuries and eventual departure from the program. Senior Mikhail Torrance (10 ppg, 2.3 apg) moved to the 1 slot after Steele left the program and performed well, though he's more of a natural shooting guard. As Grant implements his offense, watch for 5-9 Anthony Brock and Andrew Steele, Ronald's brother, to get time at the point, so Torrance can move over to his natural position. In the frontcourt, Grant has two 6-9 guys who will need to step it up. JaMychal Green had a decent freshman season, but will need to better his averages of 10.6 ppg and 7.6 rpg. Justin Knox, who averaged 5.7 ppg and 5.1 rpg, should be able to increase both those numbers with more time on the court.

Mississippi (last NCAA: 2002) Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy made headlines for all the wrong reasons last season, when he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a cab driver the night before the Rebels faced his former employer, Cincinnati, in the SEC/Big East Invitational. Things only got worse from there, as Miss lost All-SEC guard Chris Warren to a knee injury during that outing. Add in the fact that the Rebels had already lost Eniel Polynice and Trevor Gaskins to injuries, and it's amazing that they managed 16 wins last year. This season, all three guards are back, making the loss of Florida transfer David Huertas almost inconsequential. Zach Graham, the team's best three point shooter, is also back, giving the Rebels perhaps the best backcourt in the league. Kennedy's frontcourt isn't quite as strong. Sophomore Murphy Holloway will have to improve on his 8.4 points and 6.6 boards per game, while 6-8 freshman Reginald Bucker and 6-9 JC transfer DeAngelo Riley will have to contribute immediately. The fact the Rebels don't quite have the inside force to match Miss State's Varnado means they should finish behind their in-state rivals in the standings.

Mississippi State (last NCAA: 2009) Rick Stansbury recruited Renardo Sidney to provide some support for C Jarvis Varnado inside. However, it doesn't look like the NCAA is going to rule Sidney eligible. Stansbury also got a commitment from 7-2 Sudanese C John Riek, who was finally ruled eligible, but will have to sit out the first 9 games of the season. That means Varnado, who fell ill at one point this summer, will likely see some time as the lone big man on the court if Stansbury runs out a four-guard offense, as he did frequently last season. When you have guards like Dee Bost, Ravern Johnson, Barry Stewart, and Phil Turner who can shoot the three well, that offensive strategy isn't a bad idea. However, with the development of 6-8 Fs Kodi Augustus and Romero Osby (and Riek's eventual eligibility), you can expect to see Varnado get far more frontcourt help. Additionally, Varnado only needs 19 blocks to pass Shaquille O'Neal as the SEC's all-time leader in that category (though Shaq did it in fewer games).

East Division

Georgia (last NCAA: 2008) For some reason, Mark Fox decided to leave a Nevada program he (along with LSU head man Trent Johnson) made into a national name. Fox now replaces Dennis Felton at the helm of a Georgia program that has never fully recovered from the Jim Harrick era, which is now six years in the past. After the graduation of G/F Terrance Woodbury (14.0 ppg), Fox is left with only one double-digit scorer from last season. However, 6-9 F Howard Thompkins is a pretty good player to have on your roster. Thompkins averaged 12.6 points and 7.4 boards per game, and should be even better after an offseason spent on the USA's Under-19 World Championship-winning team. In the backcourt, Dustin Ware should start at point guard, as he averaged 7.2 points and 3.4 dimes per game in 2008-09. After that, Fox has a lot of decisions to make, and that means the Bulldogs will probably be rooted to the bottom of the SEC standings yet again.

South Carolina (last NCAA: 2004) In Darrin Horn's first year at the helm, the Gamecocks managed to tie Tennessee atop the SEC East. Even though they only lost guard Zam Fredrick and his 15.5 points per game, Carolina probably won't reach such heights this season. That's not to say that the Gamecocks won't manage to get back to the NCAAs, something they failed to do last year. Thanks to the return of G Devan Downey (19.8 ppg, 4.5 apg, SEC leading 89 steals) and F Dominique Archie (10.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg), the Gamecocks still have some real star power in the lineup. Returning starters Mike Holmes (10.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and Sam Muldrow (5.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg) should provide even more help to Archie in the frontcourt this season, while JC transfer Johndre Jefferson will be expected to spend time at both small and power forward. In the backcourt, Evaldas Baniulis, after averaging a bit more than 6 points a game while shooting 48 percent from behind the arc, is expected to take a more active role in the offense with the graduation of Fredrick, as is 6-5 swingman Lakeem Jackson, a heralded recruit from Charlotte.

Florida (last NCAA: 2007) Has it really been over two years since the Gators last featured in an NCAA Tournament game? While the days of back-to-back championships may be in the rear-view mirror, Billy Donovan's latest group has the chance to finally get off the bubble. Georgetown transfer Vernon Macklin will be eligible this season, and he'll slide into the center position. That will allow Alex Tyus to move back to his natural position, power forward, which will allow Dan Werner to move to small forward. Kenny Kadji should be better in his sophomore year as well, giving the Gators more of a presence inside. More consistency is expected out of swingman Chandler Parsons, whose performances alternate between brilliant and frustrating. In the backcourt, Erving Walker (10.1 ppg, 2.4 apg) will lead the offense after Nick Calathes' departure for Greece. Israeli newcomer Nimrod Tishman could also see time at the point if the NCAA rules him eligible. Impact freshman Kenny Boynton will start at shooting guard. He's expected to be the Gators new three-point threat, though he can also really drive to the hoop.

Vanderbilt (last NCAA: 2008) The Commodores sat at home last postseason, despite finishing the regular season with 7 wins in their last 10. Vandy shouldn't be so unlucky this season. Chemistry should be good, as head coach Kevin Stallings gave up a $100,000 raise so the team could take a scheduled trip to Australia, home country of star C A.J. Ogilvy. Ogilvy averaged 15.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and those numbers should improve if he stays healthier this season. The 'Dores frontcourt boasts an international flavor beyond their Aussie star with Swede Jeffery Taylor (12.2 ppg. 6.2 rpg) a fixture at small forward, 6-9 Cameroonian PF Steve Tchiengang (3.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg) expected to spend more time in the 4 spot, and 6-11 Nigerian C Festus Ezeli (3.8 ppg. 2.6 rpg) expected to both backup and spend time on the floor with Ogilvy. 6-7 Andre Walker may also return to the starting lineup, after suffering an ACL tear early last season. The backcourt may be more US-centric, but it's still talented. Jermaine Beal (12.5 ppg, 3.2 apg) amd Brad Tinsley (11.0 ppg, 2.8 apg) will take turns running the offense, but 6-4 John Jenkins, the USA's highest scoring high school player last season, will get plenty of opportunities to showcase his inside/outside game. Even if he only manages 25 percent of his senior year average, Jenkins should provide plenty of scoring punch for the Commodores.

Tennessee (last NCAA: 2009) The Volunteers return all five starters in their quest to improve on last year's NCAA first round exit. The best news for the Vols this offseason was Tyler Smith's decision to skip the NBA Draft and return for his senior season. Bruce Pearl is glad he doesn't have to replace Smith's 17.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Wayne Chism (13.7 ppg, 8 rpg) will continue to be a force inside, while 6-10 C Brian Williams will need to improve his scoring (5 ppg) to match his rebounding (5.6 rpg). Bobby Maze (8.2 ppg, 3.2 apg) will run the offense, while J.P. Prince and Scotty Hopson, who were forces at both ends of the floor last year, are expected to continue their strong two-way play. Cameron Tatum (7.6 ppg) and Renaldo Woolridge, son of former NBA star Orlando, are going to be Bruce Pearl's key swingmen this season.. Woolridge, who only managed 2.6 points in a little more than 8 minutes a contest, should be improved in his sophomore season. The Vols only personnel loss is a sad story, as Nigerian F Emmanuel Negedu, as he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest last month.

Kentucky (last NCAA: 2008) During my Season Preview series, I've written a fair amount about John Calipari's arrival in Lexington and his stellar recruiting class. Patrick Patterson (17.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg) will lead a strong frontcourt that already features senior Perry Stevenson (7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg), and will be bolstered by the arrival of the 6-11 DeMarcus Cousins and 6-10 Daniel Orton, two highly coveted recruits. And the backcourt will feature the most highly coveted recruit for this season, 6-4 point guard John Wall, who will be responsible for running Calipari's dribble drive offense. If the chemistry works, the Wildcats will quickly be on their way, and the blue half of the Commonwealth will quickly forget about the Gillispie period.

I'm picking Kentucky to win the overall SEC title, so they'll take the league's auto bid in my 2009-10 Final Preseason Bracket, which I will release on November 9. To wrap up this preview, here is my preseason All-SEC team, featuring the best returning players from last season.

Preseason All-SEC Team

Player of the Year: Tyler Smith, 6-7 F, Sr. (Tennessee)

Remainder of the Team
Devan Downey, 5-9 G, Sr. (South Carolina)
Tasmin Mitchell, 6-7 F, Sr. (LSU)
Patrick Patterson, 6-9 F, Jr. (Kentucky)
Jarvis Varnado, 6-9 F/C, Sr. (Mississippi State)

Poll

Who is your pick to win the SEC this season?

Alabama

9 votes

Arkansas

9 votes

Auburn

3 votes

Florida

14 votes

Georgia

2 votes

Kentucky

213 votes

LSU

3 votes

Ole Miss

7 votes

Mississippi State

57 votes

South Carolina

5 votes

Tennessee

68 votes

Vanderbilt

17 votes

407 votes | Poll has closed

Talking points: consequences for death threats edition

Joel — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:18:38 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

8 months ago: Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton (8) throws to a receiver during the first half of the spring Orange and White game Saturday, April 18, 2009, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Browse more photos »

Tennessee football

Consequences for idiots. Clay Travis says its time to prosecute stupid fans for making death threats against players:

What would you think one day if you opened your e-mail folder, and someone had threatened to kill you? You'd probably be shocked, then scared, but you'd also be angry as hell. You'd want that person to have to pay, and you'd probably go to the authorities and make them aware of the threat. Sadly, if you're an athlete at a major college, you aren't even surprised when these e-mails arrive. How have we gotten to this point as a society? I'll tell you, by not making an example of someone, by not showing that emailed threats have serious consequences outside the computer screen.
We're No. 1! The Season of Which We Do Not Speak is first on Track 'Em Tigers's list of the Top SEC Single Season Coaching Failures this Decade. Woo for us.
Lane Kiffin's first $300,000 mistake. According to a memorandum of understanding, Tennessee will owe strength and conditioning coach Mark Smith $300,000 unless they can fire him for (1) gross misconduct; (2) "conduct of such an inappropriate nature thereby bringing the university into public disrepute"; or (3) Smith's "failure to negotiate in good faith to execute the employment agreement within a reasonable amount of time." With $300k on the line, Smith's not likely to engage in anything that could be construed as (1) or (2), and UT's probably not going to want to negotiate in good faith with Smith, so it appears they're in a stalemate. Time to cut losses and move on, unless you want your team in the hands of a disgruntled employee.
No reports of missing shirts, but Lane Kiffin was pleased to host 180 prospects from about a dozen states on a one-day UT Linemen Camp. OL signee Jacques Smith ran a personal-best 4.62 40 at yesterday's UT linemen camp. He's also putting the hard sell on James Stone, who's one of the best prospects in the state and a high priority for UT.
Mostly there. 16 of 22 Tennessee signees are enrolled for the first session of summer class. The rest of the guys are expected to enroll for second session, and at this time, it appears that we will see no academic casualties this year. Woo for that, because we are thiiiiiiiiin.
Single game tickets go on sale on Monday, June 8. Be there with virtual cash on hand.
Go figure. Lane Kiffin, Gene Chizik, and Dan Mullen "aren't exactly five-star recruits," says Kevin Scarbinsky. It's actually pretty well-written and entertaining, but his conclusion that Mullen is the odds-on favorite of the three to succeed because "he's proven the most adept at keeping his mind open and his mouth shut" suggests he's using the wrong criteria to judge SEC coaches.
We're No. 8! Eric Berry is, anyway, on Sporting News's list of the Top 25 college football players. That's low for him, I think.

Tennessee basketball

Welcome home, Chris! Chris Lofton is back in town working out with UT players and coaches. He's got a tryout with the Memphis Grizzlies from June 12-14. He'll then play in the Pilot Rocky Top League and the NBA Summer League, trying to work his way onto an NBA roster.
Just tightening the screws. J.P. Prince says his rehab from shoulder surgery is ahead of schedule.
Or . . . door number three. No longer are the options for star basketball players limited to trying for the NBA and returning to school for a senior season. Now, there's the possibility of being paid very well to play in Europe, and Tyler Smith is giving that possibility due consideration.

SEC

Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins has been tazed and arrested. SB Nation FSU blog Tomahawk Nation is all over the fact that Jenkins is the 24th Gator arrested under Urban Meyer. Also, a reader made the mistake of leaving this comment on TN's Facebook page:
I don't think it's very classy to promote the bad news of other teams (even if it is the hated gaters). I was looking forward to some new, interesting commentary regarding FSU athletics, and unfortunately I haven't found it here. Best Wishes.
That comment triggered this classic response from TN, which you must read.

Melvin Goins is Officially a Tennessee Volunteer!

Hooper — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:27:56 -0000

Today, Melvin Goins made his commitment to UT official by submitting his Letter of Intent and will officially be a BallerVol for the 2009-2010 season. Only the second incoming player for the 2009 recruiting class (the other is forward Kenny Hall), he fills a tremendous need at point guard for a team that suffered in backcourt play - a fault that eventually cost them a chance to go deep in the NCAA tournament.

Goins will be in his first year under Pearl, but there is reason to think he might transition faster than many point guards in a new system. In 2007, he played for the Ball State Cardinals, where he played in 30 games. He then transferred to Mount San Jacinto Junior College for the 2008 season and was named the MVP of the Foothill Conference. It may not sound terribly impressive on the surface, but the number of games played and the MVP season do tell us that he can learn to fit in with a team quickly. With some training and (productive) use of the Rocky Top Pilot League, he may be ready to play straight out of the box.

There is more to be excited about with Goins: at 5'-10" and 190 lbs, he is much stockier and more powerfully built than Maze or West. It's the kind of build that made Byron Eaton of Oklahoma State so successful. He plays a strong transition game with great ball control - something that must really make Pearl happy. If he plays with intensity and speed on the defensive end, he might fill the "JaJuan" role that we missed last year.

Outlook

Through the last basketball season, the most common lament of Vols fans was the lack of leadership in the backcourt. With the end of eligibility of both Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith and the unfortunate loss of Ramar Smith in the offseason, UT went from perhaps the most experienced and cohesive backcourt in the SEC in 2007-2008 to the youngest set of guards in 2008-2009. Most notably, the Vols didn't have a clear lead point guard.

The problem was supposed to be solved by the addition of two new players: Bobby Maze and Daniel West. Maze had a decent season, but there were noticeable hitches in his game that were likely the effect of the transition to Pearl's style of play. Meanwhile, West fell victim to one of the crueller twists of the NCAA knife. Known to be a risky academic case, the NCAA decided to wait until after the fall semester registration deadline to tell West that they were going to reject his SAT retake and deny his scholarship. Saddled with a committed courseload after the drop/add date and with an intense desire to play under Pearl, West decided to stick with UT and pay for school out of pocket until he can get his situation fixed. (As an aside, there is still no word whether West will be eligible next year. I hope he pulls through, especially since the NCAA completely jobbed him by delaying their decision for so long.)

Sometimes, though, time is indeed the greatest cure. Maze has a year under his belt and can spend the offseason tuning his game to Bruceball. If he stays on task, West should have his academics clear and, if he continues with his plan to play at UT, would be a very welcome addition. And now we can add Melvin Goins.

Ideally, all three will be available. Maze is not as pure of a point guard as West or Goins, so he may find more time in the 2 slot if all three play. If so, his experience at point will still be great to have, especially if one of the other two should get injured. The change-up combination is also great; Maze and West play long and lean, while Goins is built like a backcourt bulldog. That should help UT tailor their lineup to play against a wider array of opponents - a luxury that is absolute gold for tournament play.

Logistics

The one issue with Goins coming in is that UT is now one player over the scholarship limit. The problem could be solved if one of the Wayne Chism, Tyler Smith, and J.P. Prince trio leave early. In that scenario, the most likely is Smith and, as much as I'd hate to see him go, it might be the right answer for him and his family. Also, if Emmanuel Negedu continues to improve, Renaldo Woolridge steps up his game, and Kenny Hall has a strong start, the team may actually be in better shape to have the extra point guard without Smith than vice versa. (Not that it's a choice between the two; just an observation.)

Another possibility is that someone loses a scholarship. It happened last year with the departure of Crews and Ramar. Playing the role of the grim reaper, the first name that comes to mind is West. If he doesn't get academically cleared, then his loss would be made up by the gain of Goins at point. No Vols fan should want to see that happen, but it's always a possibility until we know it isn't.

However it works out, we have a new Vol to welcome to the family. It's all orange-tinted goggles right now, but the next season looks like the Vols' year. Even if Smith leaves, they will have an experienced team with a well-built backcourt and the physical diversity to match up against almost any team in the nation.

Tennessee Volunteers unable to beat both Mississippi State and poor officiating

Joel — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:55:22 -0000

I'm sure Will will have a much more reasoned post game for this one, but I want to focus on the last minute of the game. Play-by-play style.

Mississippi State up 61-57 with a minute to play. Vols run a play for Wayne Chism to shoot a three, and he hits it. MSU 61-60. The referees were not involved in this play.
MSU runs some time off the clock and then drives to the basket. The dribbler is seriously not even touched, but he falls down cutting, so a foul is called on Wayne Chism. This is the worst call I have ever seen. Commentators: "Bruce is beside himself." Upon seeing the replay: "Oh my goodness, no contact whatsoever. Wow, that's an anticipation call." MSU hits the first and misses the second. MSU 62, Vols 60.
Vols call time out to set up a play with 12 seconds left. J.P. Prince passes the ball in to Bobby Maze, who passes it back to Prince. Prince takes off for the basket but runs into an MSU guy. One ref calls a foul on MSU and another calls a travel on Prince. I don't know. It looked like he traveled, but the foul may have caused it. The refs decide on the ~~travel~~ foul, which was probably the ~~right~~ wrong call. MSU ball, MSU up 62-60.
Prince at the line. Hits the first. MSU up 62-61. Prince misses the second, but two MSU players knock the ball out of bounds. Vol ball, down by one.
Tyler Smith to in-bound the pass. The refs arms are counting down the five seconds he has to get it done. At four and 3/4, he calls time out. The ref calls a five-second violation. This, too, is a bad call. Not quite egregiously bad like the first against Tennessee, but clearly wrong. Commentators: "Bruce Pearl is beside himself." Yes, again. On the replay: "Oh, boy. I thought he asked for it just before. Most officials would give it to him, too." MSU shooting free throws, up 62-61.
MSU to in-bound the ball with 9.6 seconds left. Prince kicks it out of bounds. Now MSU must in-bound it stationary. They get it to a guy in the corner, and two Vols immediately trap him. He steps out of bounds. Vol ball under their own basket, down by one.
Tyler Smith in-bounds the ball to Prince, who immediately passes it back to Smith, but it's intercepted. MSU player fouled. MSU up by one and shooting two.
MSU hits both free throws to go up by three. Pearl designs a nice play to get Scotty Hopson a three, but he misses. Game over.

This is just the end of the game, too. About ten minutes into the second half, the game thread is rife with complaints about poor officiating and allegations of a conspiracy to get more SEC teams intot the NCAA Tournament. I don't know about that.

What I do know, though, as that there was one egregiously wrong call that went against Tennessee and another that was clearly wrong, all in the last sixty seconds. Look, these guys make mistakes, too, but to be honest -- and I never say this -- this looked worse than just wrong. Maybe it doesn't get to "intentional," but it most certainly was really, really bad.

Oh, well. On to Selection Sunday and the announcements of where and against whom we'll be seeking revenge.