Talking Points - Christmas Vacation

by Will Shelton on Dec 21, 2009 1:05 PM EST in Rocky Top Talking Points

So, every year around the holidays, Joel, Hooper, and myself all take vacation. They're off enjoying themselves (weather permitting) as we speak, and I'll be heading that way on Thursday. So things might be a little slower than usual around these parts for the next few days, but we'll still have plenty of stuff for the Chick-Fil-A Bowl and Tennessee Basketball, as well as wrapping up the all-decade pieces before New Year's.

That said, here's a delayed look at what's out there on this Monday:

Lane Kiffin thinks the only thing that prevented Bryce Brown from having a great freshman season was Montario Hardesty. The experience should bode very well for him once he becomes the alpha dog in the backfield in 2010. Also from practice: thanks to Jonathan Crompton banging his hand on a helmet, Nick Stephens has seen a lot of work with the ones in preparation for Virginia Tech, which should also give him a leg up on next year (same link).
New WR coach Kippy Brown will earn $300,000 a year in a three-year deal, a significant upgrade from the $170,000 Frank Wilson was making. Still no word on the search for Eddie Gran's replacement at RB/special teams coach; I would think, however, that if it was going to be Jay Graham that would've happened already.
Getting blown out by 22 points - the worst loss of the Pearl Era in Knoxville - will cost you, as the Vols drop to 16th in the AP poll, getting passed by 10-1 Ole Miss at 15th. Kentucky holds at #3, the Purdue team that beat the Vols by one point is #4, and Florida is #18. After a date with North Carolina A&T on Wednesday night in Knoxville, the Vols' next three opponents are receiving votes (Memphis, Charlotte) and the best team in the country (Kansas). The tune-up part of the schedule ends in two days.
Bruce Pearl wants to the loss to USC to be a wake-up call, while Kevin O'Neill has some nice things to say about the Vols, and admits to his own immaturity in leaving Knoxville twelve years ago.
If you can make it all the way through this, you've done better than me.

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I know some of us are enjoying the time well spent with family

but what about all of us who are using RTT to avoid family? ;)

Happy holidays everyone, enjoy the well deserved time off.

RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Hard-on for Hardesty!

by Pride of the Southland on Dec 21, 2009 3:35 PM EST reply actions

Then consider yourself a part of my family.

Just get a ticket out to Wyoming. ;-)

by David Hooper on Dec 22, 2009 12:01 AM EST up reply actions

Nice bowl win, sir!

by memphispete on Dec 23, 2009 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

I love Bruce Pearl but this team still has two cancerous attitudes - Chism and JP

JP still plays matador defense and doesn’t work to rebound. Chism doesn’t have the heart to consistently man up inside and dominate the way his talent would permit. No one on the team rebounds “bigger than his size” by always establishing position and fighting for the ball.

I am afraid that, until Chism and JP go, we will see more of the USC/Auburn letdowns. As a Vol fan who really loves what BP has done for UT basketball, I hope that I am wrong about this team. I hope that this team develops the heart and fearlessness of Lofton, Smith and Bradshaw, but I don’t see it. I see more of last year in this team than I see of Bruce’s first two years.

The polls didn’t drop us far enough. The #11 team got pounded by the #124 ranked team. Kenpom has it right. We should be out of the top 25 – at #28 – and we should stay there until we earn it back.

Now a victory against Memphis or Kansas would get us most of the way there. So would consistent winning streaks in the SEC. C’mon, Vols, show some passion and some character.

by memphispete on Dec 23, 2009 9:39 AM EST reply actions

It's odd on Chism inside

because I think he’s a very solid post defender. But there’s no one on this team that has authority at the rim – Brian Williams is especially soft, Chism would rather be somewhere else on the floor, and when Scotty Hopson has tried to attack the rim there’s been a lid on it. It’s going to require a measure of toughness to even play with Kansas and UK in there.

Then again, South Alabama beat Florida in Gainesville last night, so we’re not alone.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Dec 23, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions