Tennessee Volunteers 79, Florida Gators 63: it must be that it was a must win

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 31, 2009 11:36 PM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Basketball

Bruce Pearl called it a must win. If the team wanted to stay in the running for the SEC, and if they wanted to make the NCAA Tournament, they had to beat the Gators tonight. The team got the message at the tip and took it to heart for the entire game, beating the Gators 79-63.

For one, Scotty Hopson got the message. Coming off a disappointing finish to the LSU game on Wednesday, Hopson tonight led all players with 20 points. He was 8-12 from the field and 4-6 from the three-point line, and he looked like he was having fun. He was making good decisions. He still had a couple of extraordinary clunkers, but mostly, his shot was working.

Tyler Smith got the message, too, nearly hitting a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. He also had four assists. He did not send Dan Werner skittering back to the bench out of extreme fear and anxiety, which was Tyler's only real negative stat.

Wayne Chism? Message received as well. Wheezy also nearly hit a double-double, contributing 12 points and nine boards. He did not hit any threes, but then again, he didn't have to.

Bobby Maze, too. Eleven points on 4-8 shooting and generally led the team well from his point guard position.

I'm sure Will or rbk or someone else will have more tomorrow (or maybe not; surprise!), but for now just enjoy the win. It was a must-win, and win we did. The Vols looked more like a well-balanced team than it has all season. The team showed what it can do when it has an outside game to complement its inside game. It showed that when it gets the message and the message is dire, it responds.

At this time, I don't even know who's up next or when the next game's played, but I do know this: Whatever and whenever it is, it's a must-win. It must be a must-win, or we just might find ourselves right back where we started.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Ugh

I wasn’t expecting to win, but I wasn’t expecting to get thumped either. Perhaps the next time will go better…

by peachy rex on Jan 31, 2009 11:43 PM EST reply actions

Y’all showed some heart in the second, and I think things would have been much different if Calathes hadn’t gotten into foul trouble so early in the first. Thanks again for coming by — really appreciated the insight from the other side.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 1, 2009 8:19 AM EST up reply actions

The defense relaxed too much at times in the 2nd half

but overall this was one of our best defensive outings of the season and it came against an explosive offensive team. We had them frustrated and backpeddling for all but a few minutes of the game, forcing turnovers and bad looks. It looked more like the last three years’ defense (and offense, for that matter) than at any other point this season.

I’m hoping Scotty has had a light bulb moment. He’s too good to stand in the shadows and MUST force his game on the other team. This is twice in two weeks he’s exploded on a team and we need to see more of it.

by thebruceballblog on Jan 31, 2009 11:53 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

We knew that a lapse was inevitable, but fortunately it was short-lived and we’d built a big enough cushion to withstand. I expect Hopson will still have some ups and downs, but hope that his consistency will get consistently better.

The win was great to get, but even more so, I really enjoyed the way they played.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 1, 2009 8:22 AM EST up reply actions

Great game from Hopson!

Although he still passes the ball too lazily, and what is up with the airballed free throws?

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Feb 1, 2009 10:22 AM EST reply actions

too much ~~cowbell~~ elbow

Heard Pearl describe it this week on the radio

With that much arc (dusting the roof, he joked), there’s too much elbow in the shot and therefore too much margin of error. The purpose of the elbow is just to get the hands high enough to shoot it. Just the hands should move, apparently. He said trying to fix it mid-season would do more harm than good. He’s still high on Scotty, though. Freshman, he says.

Go Vols!

by Joel

by sddbaker on Feb 1, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions