Talking Points: Vols winning with defense this season

by Joel Hollingsworth on Dec 16, 2009 7:25 AM EST in Rocky Top Talking Points

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Poll

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

Wayne Chism

29 votes

Charles Hathaway

15 votes

Ron Slay

44 votes

Tyler Smith

7 votes

Vincent Yarbrough

12 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I knew the trivia answer because I remember him doing it...

… but it was very interesting to me that Slay wasn’t even on the list.

Oh, and the link says it’s since 1996, not 1986.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Dec 16, 2009 8:55 AM EST reply actions

Ah

Thanks. Fixing now.

Rocky Top Talk

by Joel Hollingsworth on Dec 16, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

There's that game I was thinking of

speaking of Kevin O’Neill…fourth on that rebounding list is the 42-41 overtime loss to Penn State in ’96

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Dec 16, 2009 9:35 AM EST reply actions

Oops

I was thinking that Chism’s Vandy game was tops. I forgot about that Gonzaga game (which was depressing, so maybe I just pushed it from my memory).

by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 16, 2009 10:45 AM EST reply actions

I will be interested to hear the report by that NBA scout

I will hold out judgement of this team until they start playing more serious competition. I have a few criticisms, but I don’t think people like to hear that when their team is 8-1. I just want to see Tennessee play to their ability – because I think they are very talented.

by golfballs03 on Dec 16, 2009 1:53 PM EST reply actions

I like the picture, too, Joel....

I hated that they called a foul on Maze, because it was a really great play on his part. I thought the refs were very…uh… inconsistent.. in this game. I think they did as much to get the crowd going as anything else. Were they SEC refs?

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti

by sddbaker on Dec 16, 2009 2:57 PM EST reply actions