Hulk smash Buckeyes: Tennessee Volunteers v. Ohio State Buckeyes open game thread

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 1:28 PM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Basketball Comment 92 comments

	January 19, 2008, 3:30 EST TV: CBS Radio: Vol Network XM Radio: 201 Phone Broadcast: TeamLine Live Stats: UTSports
15-1 (overall) 3-0 (SEC) No. 6 (AP) No. 7 (USA Today)		12-5 (overall) 3-2 (Big Ten) NR (AP) NR (USA Today)

Tennessee		Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	PPG	RPG	APG
F	1 Tyler Smith	6-7	215	So.	13.4	5.8	3.6
F	4 Wayne Chism	6-9	242	So.	9.1	5.9	1.1
G	5 Chris Lofton	6-2	200	Sr.	13.4	3.3	2.3
G	2 JaJuan Smith	6-2	195	Sr.	14.8	3.1	2.7
G	15 Jordan Howell	6-2	200	So.	7.2	1.4	3.0
Ohio State		Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	PPG	RPG	APG
F	21 Evan Turner	6-6	200	Fr.	7.0	3.0	1.9
F	45 Othello Hunter	6-8	225	Sr.	9.2	5.9	0.8
C	31 Kosta Koufos	7-0	265	Fr.	13.8	6.9	0.5
G	14 Jamar Butler	6-1	195	Sr.	15.1	3.9	6.2
G	23 David Lighty	6-5	215	So.	9.4	4.2	2.7

Well, there's no more Oden and no more Conley, but a little revenge for knocking us out of the Big Dance last year is still in order. We played them twice last year and lost by a grand total of three points. Let's multiply that by ten and return the favor this afternoon, whadayasay?

Expect a huge standing ovation, even from me in my living room, for Duke Crews if he gets into the game this afternoon. It's improbable, since he's not even been practicing for a long time, but I could see Pearl getting him some token time just for show. Pearl's like that. And I love it.

Didja know:

that Bruce Pearl's winning percentage of 78.4 ranks third nationally?
that with all of the high-powered scoring machines we have on the team, former walk-on JaJuan Smith leads everyone with 14.8 points per game?
that the Vols have scored 404 points in 16 games just on turnovers?
that the Vols are 38-2 at home since the beginning of the 2005-06 season?

Okay, then. Now you know.

Go Vols! Hulk smash Buckeyes!

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JaJuan

the walk-on title the little known fact about him, since most walk-on's only get garbage minutes and don't lead the team in scoring.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 1:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah,

Go Vols! Hulk Smash!

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What's up with the names?

Doofus and Flighty? Huh?

Oh, Koufos and Lighty. Whatever.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 3:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget

Othello, and yes he is a descendant of Shakespeare.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 3:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Decent start

better than the start against Vandy, at least our shooters aren't ice cold.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 3:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oh!

Wow. Alley oop backwards over-the-head dunk by Prince! Woo!

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 3:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Vols rolling early

12-2 run, Vols up 16-6. Hope we get a huge lead and get to welcome Crews back.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 3:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed!

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Terrwilliger?

Really. Come on with the names.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 3:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

JP

is athletic, the alley oop he threw Tyler against Vandy was beautiful!

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 3:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I love the way . . .

. . . these guys work together to get around picks. There is nowhere for ball handler to go, everybody's covered immediately.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Howdy, Y'all

Just rollin in from minivan shopping!

Looks like it's been a bit of an interesting game thus far. And by interesting, I mean nobody can make a friggin shot!

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 4:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sienna

That's Toyota's minivan, right? Can't go wrong with Toyota. Just bought two Corollas in December. Highly recommend the online department at Rusty Wallace in Morristown.

Not that you asked.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Free Throws

We've needed to improve on them the past 2 seasons and we continue to struggle from the line, it'll kiss us come tournament time if we can't put a team away at the line. Players like JaJuan can't miss.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Kiss should be kill

like the kiss of death!

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't Brian Williams

a news anchor for NBC, he's pulling double duty! UT bench player by day, and tonight he'll cover the South Carolina primary results.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sorta like Clark Kellogg

Ohio State cheerleader by day, uh, never mind.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 4:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Funny

because it's true.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think . . .

. . . that the Brian Williams the news anchor actually played basketball in high school, though.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I played basketball in high school, in fact I was all-conference, so shouldn't I have a news anchor job, I mean if Katie Couric can do it, how hard can it be. zing!

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ramar?

Where has Ramar been this year? Maybe I've just been blind or something, but today is the first time I've seen him on the court.

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 4:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

New haircut

Short, very short, early in the season. Looked a lot different. And I think that Howell had or has the starting spot at point.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aerobab . . .

. . . were you able to meet up w/ CfaJ?

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nope

Never got an email. What a chump!

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

He's hard to reach sometimes. Twins will do that do you, I guess, huh?

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

While we discuss

news anchor qualifications and hair cuts, tOSU has hung around, I'm getting a little nervous. We need to put on a big run to end the half.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You know . . .

. . . there's been a lot of talk about how Tyler sort of makes the team go. He's fantastic, don't get me wrong, but it seems that whenever we're stuck in a rut, Prince is the one who provides the spark.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but

Prince can also get us in the rut with some of his boneheaded plays where he tries to do too much.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Are we watching

the Ohio State home announcing crew?

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 4:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thank god we switch ends next half

this rim ain't been kind.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good play to end the half

Brian Williams catches the ball deep in the post and lays it in as time expires!

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 4:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Halftime stats

Ohio State		Tennessee
28	Points	33
8/26 - 31%	Field Goals	14/36 - 39%
0/7 - 0%	3-Point FGs	2/12 - 17%
12/14 - 86%	Free Throws	3/5 - 60%
24 (8/16)	Rebounds (Off-Def)	19 (7/12)
7	Total Fouls	9
2	Steals	7
3	Blocks	2
6	Assists	6
11	Turnovers	4
6 / 11	Assist/Turnover	6 / 4
0	Bench Points	14
10	Second Chance Points	6
0	Points Off Turnovers	12
	Points In the Paint
	Fastbreak Points

What sticks out?

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I guess the Vols

are pretty good with this turnover thing that everyone talks about. And we're the deeper, more balanced scoring team. If the free throw desparity wasn't so great, we could be on (Duke) Crews control already.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What sticks out?

Easy:

UT 3pt% (still 17% better than tOSU!)
FT discrepancy (attempts and percentage)
UT Bench Points
UT Points off TOs.

tOSU can get to the line and convert. That's all they've got thus far, which I would say still favors the Vols in the end.

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They'll have to live with it

because as I noticed against Vandy, they get called for a lot of fouls that seem, well, ticky tacky, because they play such aggressive defense.

And I 'm sure that's what teams will stress against us in the SEC and NCAA tournaments, which is tough to deal with because the refs one game could be letting them play, and the next game could be called tight, so we gotta be careful, even though I love watching that defense in full attack mode.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In other words, Clark

the refs helped them close the gap.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 4:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Forget the steroids scandal,

Congress needs to investigate the disappearance of Chris Lofton's jump shot.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 4:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not Necessary

Obviously Lofton has been given "anti-performance enhancers". The question is whodunnit.

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 4:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Drive?

Didn't we just see Pearl telling his team to drive to the basket?

Haven't we just shot four long perimeter shots in a row?

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And the Buckeyes take the lead

We're . . . um . . . looking for different word . . . oh well . . . discombobulated.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good word

They miss a shot, a whistle blows. Our guy gets knocked into the 2nd row and the crickets chirp.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ummmm

WHA?! Time to WAKE UP, BOYS!

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

They're running away. Hitting everything. The zone. The zone! THE ZONE!!! SOMEBODY SOLVE THE ZONE!!!

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm speechless

really, we should be killing this team.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Doofus

Doofus leans in and draws a foul on R. Childress. Ugh.

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 4:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

We need a T

Coach Pearl needs to throw a chair or something...

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 4:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I've got

Bring Phil to Thompson-Boling, tOSU can never beat the SEC, in football at least. Or Phil can just eat Othello, Koufos, and Terwilliger, I mean it sounds like a gourmet restaurant menu.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 4:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

All right

Bruce Pearl, jacket off, which he usually does in the second half.

Getting serious now.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Transition

tOSU sure does a good job of getting back on D. Really working against the fast breaks for the Vols.

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 4:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

MONEY!

JuJuan burries a 3 off of a press-turnover! WOOO!

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 4:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

There we go

That's more like it. Make a basket. OOB TO. Three. My favorite play.

And you know, the acronym works for either out of bounds turnover or time out. It's multi-purpose!

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 4:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't look now,

but UNC is struggling against Maryland. It might be an interesting day in the top 10 today.

by Hooper on Jan 19, 2008 5:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

UCLA

is having trouble with USC too

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

MONEY, Times 2!!

Lofton hits from beyond the arc!

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 5:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wow

That was the greatest spin move I ever saw.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oh, no

Pearl's put his jacket back on. Take if off, Bruce! Take it off!

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Is Teddy Dupay

going to be announcing the UT-Florida game?

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Haha

Totally forgot about that five foot-nothin-sharpshooter. Wouldn't kill me either way.

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 5:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The marble city?

Knoxville is the marble city? I've never heard of that. What's that all about?

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I heard that recently too

I have no idea why it's called that, though.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

Sure enough.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

OOB TO

Time out. Woo.

But, um, did Lofton just miss three FTs in a row?

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No!

Just missed the first 2.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You gotta be kiddin

Cosmo Kramer trips over his nose, I mean his feet and Chism gets called for a foul.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Chism's 4th personal

When Doofus trips over his own feet. Not good.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ugly game

I've only watched since 49-49, but all I've seen is ugly.

by Hooper on Jan 19, 2008 5:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes

It's the Ugly Duckling in reverse. Looked good early. Now, not so much. But stay tuned.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Clark says

after a few more one-on-one sessions, Cosmo will be dyn-o-mite!

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

My TV just messed up

It looked like Lofton just shot an airball. I'm calling Toshiba.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Let's just call it a pass

for the assist, and call it good.

by Hooper on Jan 19, 2008 5:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

Call Samsung while you're at it.

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sony, too

Please.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The first words out of Clark's mouth,

"Very impressive by the Buckeyes..."

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Beauty!

Yeah, JuJuan drained another 3-ball...but my gosh, is his shot beautiful or what?!?!

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 5:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Lead back to 10

Depth at work? I heard Pearl say earlier that we may not have the best five in the nation, but that we have the best twelve.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nahh

I'm sure I could put together a great case that we've got one of the best 5 even.

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 5:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Childress thought he was Dr J

but he was wrong.

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Career Day?

We're not carrying over the "Career Day" defense onto the hardwood, are we?

Not sure of the statline, but O. Hunter is destroying us down low. Yikes.

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 5:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Clark says

That wasn't no foul!

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Who Knows

...but we'll take it!

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously,

can we not put these guys away?

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Whew

Bad offensive possession saved by Chism's rebound.

Vols up by three w/ about a minute left to play. TO, TN. Pearl should have something drawn up for 2 or 3.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

HUGE O REB!

Tennessee can kill more clock, but it's much more important that we get another bucket to make it a 2 poss. game! GIT-R-DUN!!

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 5:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Argh

OSU huddled up . . ..

wait . . . nevermind. Lots of screaming here.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wooo!

Vols win 74-69 on a wild finish.

Whew.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Jan 19, 2008 5:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well said

"Whew" about covers it. It's been fun, ya'll. Go Vols!

by wvvol on Jan 19, 2008 5:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In other news

Maryland over UNC
USC over UCLA

UT should move up one slot.

by Hooper on Jan 19, 2008 5:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great Game

Vols Win, 74-69! Good, clean game by both sides with some evenly sketchy officiating.

WOOO!

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 5:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A Few Thoughts

tOSU is going to be a great team come March. I wouldn't be surprised to see them again come tourney time.
Vols MUST. LEARN. TO. SHOOT. FREE. THROWS! I can't figure out why Hulk doesn't force 100+ FTs per day? Does he really rely on our 3pt shooting to be our life-line?
Vols would be unstoppable if "The Discombobulator" could find his shot. It's not far off. Opposition, consider this your warning.

by Aerobab on Jan 19, 2008 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Funny note

I did not see the game at all, I followed the game cast on Yahoo!, and on comments on RTT of course, but as I was driving home I listened to about the last five to six minutes of the game via the Ohio State broadcast on my satellite radio, and they were saying the Vols were getting all of the calls. They even went so far as to ask OSU coach Thad Matta about it post game and he took the high road, declined to comment on officiating and said the ball sometimes doesn't bounce your way and said officiating wasn't the difference and said Tennessee is a great team/program.

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Jan 19, 2008 11:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Officiating

I agree with Coach Matta that officiating was NOT the difference maker. Like I stated somewhere earlier, the refs called this one consistently inconsistent (which is not a bad thing). Ticky-tacky fouls were called sometimes and other quite blatant hacks were allowed to play on. This inconsistant degree of 'fouling' is ok, as long as it's called consistently against BOTH teams, which I believe was the case tonight. It seemed very much like the Subway commercial where the Ref says something to the effect of "I totally blew that call, but it's ok because I'll penalize the other team in the second half for no good reason, just to even things back up."

Quite refreshing. Mmmm...now I need a Club Combo!

by Aerobab on Jan 20, 2008 12:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes and no.

I certainly agree in principle that as long as the inconsistency is called consistently on both teams, the officiating can be considered neutral. Neutral is also exactly what is hoped for with officiating, as well. However, inconsistency also messes with the minds of the players, and can give a psychological edge. If one team has players who are better at pushing past the inconsistencies and playing on, they'll gain an advantage from the officiating, even though the officiating is neutral.

It then becomes a matter of whether you believe that the team with the better psychological edge deserves the advantage, or if you believe it's a gratuitous advantage that they shouldn't have seen in the first place.

Lastly, I don't know which team would have had the advantage in that department, if any advantage even existed. I'm just saying as a general principle that inconsistency in the officiating might change the outcome of a game, even if the officials are fair about irregular calling. I'm not trying t argue the point, just adding a thought to it.

Oh, and I usually go with the Melt on wheat. Some fancy mustard and horseradish on that baby, and we're talking good times there.

by Hooper on Jan 20, 2008 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs