New Vols run away from Auburn 81-55 in SEC opener

by Will Shelton on Jan 14, 2010 9:22 PM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Basketball

Three games later, you'd be hard pressed to argue that the new-look Vols aren't better than the old model. Dismissals and suspensions have done nothing but make this team stronger thus far, as Tennessee's six scholarship/three walk-on rotation was impressive for the third straight outing, beating Auburn 81-55 tonight in the Vols' SEC opener.

Common themes continue to emerge, the first of which being the balance of this new rotation:

Bobby Maze 14 points, 9 assists, 1 turnover
J.P. Prince 14 points
Wayne Chism 12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 steals
Scotty Hopson 11 points
Kenny Hall 10 points, 4 rebounds

The Vols also got four huge threes from Renaldo Woolridge and Skylar McBee (two each)...and hey, you know it's a good night when Steven Pearl has 5 points.

Another common theme continues to be overcoming adversity in a big way, on and off the floor. The Vols almost blew a huge lead against Charlotte, then pulled away. Kansas could've taken the Vols with and early lead or a late comeback, but Tennessee held firm. And tonight, Auburn came out on fire, hitting 10 threes in the first half and building a lead of a dozen...and the Vols responded by erasing that lead before halftime, then outscoring the Tigers 43-18 in the second half.

The competition steps back up in 40 hours, when the Vols host Ole Miss on Saturday at 1:30 PM EST. But this team is tough, balanced, fun to watch and fun to cheer for...and again, they're better. No exaggeration and no cliches involved. And if they can stay healthy and keep moving forward, I look forward to them carrying our university to more good days in the future.

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Good win tonight

It was good to avoid the possible letdown. Now a big game on Sat.

It's simple Cubs in the spring and summer, Vols in the fall and winter.

by cubvol on Jan 14, 2010 9:40 PM EST reply actions

There was certainly a letdown in the first ten minutes

TBA was DEAD and so was the team. The whole game, the team seemed a little less than focused, committing more unforced turnovers than I’ve seen all year. Wayne dropped it a couple times, Scotty stepped on the ball while dribbling (seriously, how is that even possible?), Woolridge dropped one out of bounds for no reason, Prince had some of the worst passes I’ve seen from him this year, two Vols fought each other with no Tiger in sight, knocking it oob. Just seemed sloppy and unfocused.

That said, the sequences that went well went REALLY well. There were some great plays on offense, and the defense played lights out in the second half. It’s amazing to be at a point where we can not bring our A game and still beat an SEC team by 26. And outscoring them by 38 in the last ~28 minutes is quite a feat. Feeling good about this team. Now just have to defend the three against Ole Miss. They shoot it even better than Auburn (and Auburn only had a pair of two-point baskets in the first half).

by Incipient_Senescence on Jan 14, 2010 11:48 PM EST reply actions

Just wait until they have GOOD news surrounding their fellow student-athletes.

Rough couple of weeks in the AD for all.

by David Hooper on Jan 15, 2010 12:01 AM EST up reply actions

Hmph.

Disappointed there are only 3 comments here with the uptick in traffic around here lately, but I understand everybody is hankerin for head coaching news.

I’m so impressed with Bruce and the team. I expect to be accepted to UT Law School in the next few days and I actually find myself really looking forward to seeing Bruce and the basketball team again more than I’m interested in watching the football games in Neyland, don’t get me wrong, I plan on resurrecting my streak of 0 missed home games while living in the Knoxville city limits.

by Prometheus1185 on Jan 15, 2010 12:46 AM EST reply actions

You're right.

Bruceball has gone from a disappointment to the feel-good story of the (very young) year. He likes to say that adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it. I think the results have been very revealing of his character and commitment to his job, players and university.

So Sayth King Zach I

by kingofzachland on Jan 15, 2010 12:59 AM EST up reply actions

Also just noticed the open thread got a large number of hits. :)

by Prometheus1185 on Jan 15, 2010 1:20 AM EST up reply actions

really there wasnt a whole lot to talk about in respect to this game

The team had several miscues in the first half and cut them dramatically in the second half. The only reason Auburn was anywhere near in this game was their three point shooting in the first half. It was ridiculous. As stated by others before, we were sloppy in the first half in ball control but the defense was stifling in the paint.

Also, it was possibly the best game ive seen foul-wise out of this team. Auburn wasnt even in the bonus when there was still like 1:30 to play in the first, while UT was getting two shots.

Lots of heart from these players.

RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!

by Pride of the Southland on Jan 15, 2010 3:16 AM EST up reply actions

I think they can continue...

to be successful, as long as they can stay healthy. I am praying for that one thing in particular for this team (and Wayne’s awesome headband!).

"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 Jan 15, 2010 1:28 AM EST reply actions