Memphis Tigers 54, Tennessee Volunteers 52: Vols merely good until they find a perimeter shooter

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 24, 2009 6:17 PM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Basketball

Sigh. Well, it was a fun game, anyway. I love this series even if Calipari doesn't. Maybe partly because he doesn't.

Something just struck me. This loss is kind of disappointing, but you almost have to feel a little better about the team, don't you? It really feels like it's coming together. The defense is shaping up. Chism is playing consistently well. J.P. Prince is rediscovering himself. Tyler continues to be a force. The balloon is stablizing and becoming more like clay so that when Pearl gives some area attention, the rest of the project holds its form.

At half time, the Vols were winning most of the important stat categories, but each only by a slim margin:

Tennessee really came out cold and complacent to begin the second half. Not sure why, but it just didn't look or feel like they were very focused on the game. It allowed Memphis to get on top and then maintain their lead for the entire second half. In the end, the Vols just couldn't get back on top despite some solid play from Chism, Prince, and Smith, who were all in double figures in points. Smith also had ten rebounds and two assists.

One of the main problems was that the rest of the team scored 14 points combined. The bench, usually a strength of this team, scored only nine points. Also, the team made only two of ten three point attempts and hit only 61% of its free throws while Memphis made five of 15 threes and 78.6% of its free throws. And, as wvvol points out, Memphis' McDonald's All-American had 17 points while ours had one.

If this Tennessee team ever discovers a perimeter shooter, we'll be very, very good. Until then, though, we'll have to settle for merely good.

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Damn good effort.

by kentuckygirl0724 on Jan 24, 2009 6:29 PM EST reply actions

I thought so.

UT shot horribly, but their defensive work was outstanding. That’s not something we could say about this team early in the season.

It’s a relief that this was not a conference game. There’s a lot they can take away from it and a lot they can learn, and the loss didn’t hurt them, SEC-wise.

by David Hooper on Jan 24, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

If it's possible...

….to feel pretty good after losing to Memphis, I may be almost feeling pretty good. Maybe. The defense is most definitely improving. I’m listening to the BP show as I’m writing this, and he is mentioning that he feels good because the guys’ body language remained good throughout the game, unlike in past losses. He says he is seeing real growth. So I remain hopeful of continued improvement. But you’re right, we really need somebody to step up and start hitting three pointers with some consistency.

by sddbaker on Jan 24, 2009 6:40 PM EST reply actions

also...

Did anyone else hear Seth Davis of CBS in the postgame, when asked by Greg Gumbel “Did we see the real Tennessee today?” His answer: “Unfortunately, yes. Tennessee is just not a very good offensive team.” Huh? I suppose he felt like he couldn’t rag on our defense after this game because it was actually pretty decent, so he thought he would just say our offense stinks since it sort of did in this one game. I guess it doesn’t matter that the “real Tennessee” is, what, 7th in the nation in scoring offense? Looks like he’s building his resume to work for ESPN.

by sddbaker on Jan 24, 2009 6:50 PM EST reply actions

IDK

As soon as Gumbel asked the question, I responded “yes” myself. Thus far, it’s just been a season of offensive in-cohesion. Yeah, we have moments of brilliance, but the team hasn’t gelled into what it could be. We continue to struggle from the line, we’re spotty (at best) from behind the arc, and seem to be confused during fast-breaks. I’m not dogging the team by any means, as cohesion takes time to run its course. I’m excited when I see the guys on the floor, opposed to watching the TV between the fingers clinching my face!

Congrats to the Tigers (yeah, it hurts to say it)…as they were the team that cliche-ing-ly “wanted it more”.

Hey, at least they didn’t ruin perfection!

by Aerobab on Jan 24, 2009 7:24 PM EST up reply actions

I see..

your point, and I agree we need to be more consistent. But come on, to say we are “just not a very good offensive team” when we are averaging 83 ppg is a bit ridiculous, don’t you think? If the 8th best scoring team in NCAA Division I basketball isn’t at least a good offensive team, then what does it take to be good?

by sddbaker on Jan 24, 2009 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

The Magician

Again, in a game where we need a bucket, the highly touted scorer Scotty Hopson was nowhere to be found.

28 minutes. 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 1 point.

He should really consider taking this vanishing act on the road.

"I will drink my all for Tennessee today"

by TheGoldfishCowboy on Jan 24, 2009 8:53 PM EST reply actions

Can we expect this kind of foul consistency from the refs all year?

Pearl was noticably upset about the fact that Tyler Smith missed 13 shots in the paint tonight, and fouls were called on only 2 of them. But he’s not Wade or Jordan, he’s not going to get the whistle every time…but it seems like last year at some point they just decided to allow a certain level of contact on Chris Lofton because that’s what everybody was doing. If we continue to struggle from the arc and we keep feeding Tyler/Chism, there’s going to keep being lots of contact from all the bodies sluffing down low. Can we just expect to not get the majority of those calls now?

by Will Shelton on Jan 24, 2009 10:32 PM EST reply actions

It almost seems like the officials call games relative to who’s playing and what their strengths/weaknesses may be, instead of just calling it like they see it. Almost like they are trying to affect the way the game is played…nah…they wouldn’t have that attitude would they? ;-)

by sddbaker on Jan 25, 2009 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

Good luck..

Hey guys just wanted to wish you and your team good luck in the N.I.T this year. Oh and that All American freshman you guys have just may pan out in another five or six years.. 1 POINT, 1 POINT, a McDonald’s All American on National T.V. are you kidding me? Bruce is a great recruiter, tatum, williams, Hopson, not to memtion the thugs he had to kick off the team. The only ones worth mentioning are J.P. and Wayne and we didn’t want them, that’s why they are in Knoxville.

by bentleytiger on Jan 24, 2009 11:57 PM EST reply actions

Stay classy, Tiger High...

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Jan 25, 2009 12:09 AM EST up reply actions

Don't feed the trolls

by BigBeefe on Jan 25, 2009 12:40 AM EST up reply actions

by sddbaker on Jan 25, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

Heh.

With a blue tie, even.

by David Hooper on Jan 25, 2009 3:30 PM EST up reply actions

Great atmosphere, but...

The crowd today was the best I’ve seen for a home game this year. That being said, despite the arena rocking for a close game with arguably our biggest current rival, the biggest cheer I heard was when the football coaching staff was introduced at halftime.

Earlier, when Coach Kiffin sat down in the students’ section in the first half and the students started chanting his name, I turned to my wife and said, “In case you forgot we were a football school…”

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Jan 25, 2009 12:13 AM EST reply actions