SB Nation - Bobby Maze

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

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

2 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

6 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 78 ETSU 66 - A Balanced Effort

Will — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:30:20 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

15 days ago: Tennessee's Kenny Hall (20) battles for the ball with ETSU's Micah Williams during the first half of an NCAA college game on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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When you look at the numbers, it looks like the sort of performance you'd be worried about: the Vols shoot only 15 of 24 at the free throw line, are basically even on the boards (33-31 Vols) and are even in three point shooting (both teams 7 of 20) against a team with lesser talent but plenty of fight.

But Tennessee spread the wealth around tonight, 78 points on 22 assists, with nine players scoring five points or more. Between JP Prince's 5 and Tyler Smith's 13, the entire team contributed just enough to keep the Bucs at bay, in a game that was remarkably similar to last week's test against Charleston: the Vols would build leads of 8-12 points, only to see ETSU work them back down to within 3-5 points, led by Justin Tubbs' game high 22 points. But the Vols, again, never surrendered the lead, and ultimately knocked the Bucs out late.

Skylar McBee is the team's best run-starter, and he did it again tonight. He may not see a ton of minutes, but his ability to come in and knock down multiple threes can be huge in sparking the entire team. And since we're still going to reserve some judgment about Scotty Hopson's inconsistency (4 of 14 tonight, though he hit two big shots late), we should probably reserve judgment about the point guard situation...but the combined line tonight from Bobby Maze and Melvin Goins - 15 points, 8 assists, 1 turnover - was excellent. If/when Hopson plays to his potential on a nightly basis, there are plenty of other good pieces coming together alongside Tyler & Wayne.

The Vols move to 6-1 on the year and now get a nine day break for final exams. They'll return next Friday to play MTSU in Nashville in the SEC/Sun Belt Classic. This team is still coming together...but even in non-blowouts over low-major teams, there are good pieces in play.

Paradise Jam: Vols beat ECU 105-66

Will — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:31:31 -0000

Based on what we could gather from the audio only - because none of us wanted to pay eight dollars for the opening round of the Paradise Jam Tournament, Fox Broadband - the Vols kept right on rolling in their third game of the season, beating Conference USA's East Carolina 105-66.

The Vols were sloppy in the first eight minutes, watching ECU jump out to a 19-13 lead. But from there, the Vols went on a 22-3 run and never looked back. It was a big day for Tennessee's guards: Cameron Tatum stayed hot from beyond the arc and finished with 17 points, Bobby Maze had a big day and got 15. And the news continues to be great about Scotty Hopson's maturation process, which looks more and more like the real deal every game: Hopson puts in 25 points before coming out with eight minutes left in the game, shooting 10-of-15 and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Hopson has been the best player on the floor in all three games thus far.

When you combine the great offensive guard play with a swarming defense that forced 35 turnovers and a balanced attack that got 48 points in the paint and 48 points off turnovers, it's all good news for the Vols. Tyler Smith is still around with 13 points, and the Vols utilized an 11 man rotation, including Renaldo Woolridge who had 8 points, to wear ECU out. The Vols shot 13-of-26 from three as a team, and even better, 12-of-14 at the free throw line. All good.

The Vols will now face DePaul in the tournament semifinals Sunday night at 6:00 PM EST (a game we believe will be seen on Fox Sports South or SportSouth). The Blue Demons upset defending Missouri Valley tournament champions Northern Iowa 60-52, a big win for a team that went 0-18 in the Big East last year. The Vols will play Monday evening at some point, depending on the outcome of Sunday's game, with #7 Purdue as well as Boston College, St. Joseph's and South Dakota State lurking in the other half of the bracket.

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.

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: all questions about Lane Kiffin answered in 60 minutes

Joel — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:23:34 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

Yay! No more questions about Lane Kiffin!

Browse more photos »

Tennessee football

The Great Lane Kiffin Debate. Fun of the varied hectic type was had by all last night. Many thanks to cocknfire for setting the thing up, to kidbourbon for sharing in the stings, and for the contributions of many of y'all, including rblakeh, graysnail, Thomas the Terrible, lawvol, and others. If anyone asked me a direct question that I didn't respond to, sorry. It was sort of like being at a party and trying to have eight conversations at once. But the good thing is that there will be no more discussion about Lane Kiffin the remainder of his tenure, because we cleared everything up. Yay for dialogue!
Look! Another cornerback likes Monte Kiffin!
Track 'Em Tigers previews the Tennessee-Auburn game. Evil twins, I'm telling you.

Tennessee basketball

Hoops dudes! Hopson continues to sound like he's the guy now we thought he would be last year, having found confidence and just the right amount of arc in his shot. Bobby Maze, too, as he scored 42 points, had 12 assists, scored the game-winning shot, and was talking about defense. And Skylar McBee -- a distant relation of Marty McFly? -- is getting just what he wants: a chance to earn a scholarship and playing time.

Internal memo

Who says experimentation has to end in college? I'm going to try something different today. Normally, I'd put the SEC and NCAA links down here, but one problem with that is that I'd often miss out on some great stuff from conferences other than the SEC, Bakers 10, and ACC. Why's that? Because of the recent partnership thing between SB Nation college and CBSSports.com. Part of that is that SB Nation college blog headlines are featured on the team pages at CBSSports.com. Another part is that some of the best and most timely posts will be featured closer to the CBSSports.com front pages. That involves humans, and because the SB Nation college league is twice as large as its other leagues, it takes two to read everything and cull the best. I do mine before work in eastern time zone and send them to Peter of Burnt Orange Nation, who does his before in the central time zone, and so we don't have a complete list until later in the morning. So . . . I'm going to try two daily link dumps: one for Tennessee stuff in the morning, and one for the best stuff around the network at lunch. We'll see how it goes. There is some fantastic stuff in the network that doesn't pertain to Tennessee but that should still be interesting to college football fans.
Coming up later today: 3 more reasons to love Layla Kiffin, and the search for the foulest cheese.