Tennessee Volunteers v. Alabama Crimson Tide: open game thread

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 5:12 PM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Basketball

Update [2008-1-29 23:19:21 by Joel]: Vols win, 93-86. Not the best of their game, but they finished well. More tomorrow.

	January 29, 2008, 9:00 EST TV: ESPN Radio: Vol Network XM Radio: 199 Phone Broadcast: TeamLine Live Stats: RollTide.com
17-2 (overall) 4-1 (SEC) No. 7 (AP) No. 8 (USA Today)		12-8 (overall) 1-4 (SEC) NR (AP) NR (USA Today)

Tennessee		Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	PPG	RPG	APG
F	1 Tyler Smith	6-7	215	So.	13.1	5.9	3.7
F	4 Wayne Chism	6-9	242	So.	8.9	6.0	1.0
G	5 Chris Lofton	6-2	200	Sr.	14.5	3.1	2.1
G	2 JaJuan Smith	6-2	195	Sr.	13.9	3.1	2.4
G	12 Ramar Smith	6-2	200	So.	8.9	2.3	2.5
Alabama		Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	PPG	RPG	APG
F	23 Demetrius Jemison	6-7	234	So.	5.2	5.0	1.4
F	35 Richard Hendrix	6-9	255	Jr.	19.4	10.2	1.8
G	1 Mykal Riley	6-6	185	Sr.	13.3	4.9	1.8
G	4 Brandon Hollinger	5-11	167	Jr.	6.5	1.5	3.3
G	12 Alonzo Gee	6-6	219	Jr.	15.9	7.8	1.2

Wow. Have we really not won in Tuscaloosa since 1998? Huh.

Stuff to watch for:

Arc
Arc
A triple double from Tyler Smith (it could happen)
Arc
Ramar Smith to keep his place in the starting lineup
Former starter and consummate team player Jordan Howell to be cheering from the bench
Frustration in the form of too many blocked shots, and
Arc

. . . Go Vols! Hulk smash Tide!

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Comments

One more "to watch for"

Speed. The more we make them run, the better our chances.

by David Hooper on Jan 29, 2008 5:40 PM EST reply actions

Watch for...

...the end of any effectiveness from Ryan Childress. He should have waited to propose until after the season!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 8:54 PM EST reply actions

Game On!

Bammer gets the tip; turnover!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 9:07 PM EST reply actions

Converts!

Lofton drive, dish to Chism-dunk-foul...plus 1!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

And . . .

. . . we're off. One defensive possession, one TO.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:07 PM EST reply actions

HOLY BEGEEZ!

Half court alley-oop?! YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 9:09 PM EST reply actions

Very nice!

I hope Coach is recruiting some more Smiths.

by wvvol on Jan 29, 2008 9:09 PM EST reply actions

Whoa!

Nice half-court oop!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:09 PM EST reply actions

Mark Gottfried (?)

is gonna sic his wife on the refs if they aren't careful.

by wvvol on Jan 29, 2008 9:11 PM EST reply actions

Fired Up!

Hulk has the boys fired up tonight! Already 3 turnovers by Bama and we're only 2 mins in. Vols are up 7-2. Lookin good.

Nevermind. Now 7-5.

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 9:12 PM EST reply actions

I like the pace

Let's run!

by wvvol on Jan 29, 2008 9:12 PM EST reply actions

How huge is that A

at mid-court? Gigantic. Wow. Nice move by Prince. These guys are flying.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:15 PM EST reply actions

I don't miss Wimp

and that ugly-butt sport coat. Just a thought.

by wvvol on Jan 29, 2008 9:15 PM EST reply actions

TOs and pts

Seven turnovers for nine points already.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:18 PM EST reply actions

yikes

So much for the OOB play.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:19 PM EST reply actions

Prince is great, but . . .

. . . very inconsistent.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:21 PM EST reply actions

It is so good to see Duke

Love having him back.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:22 PM EST reply actions

We need his size

just hope he doesn't overdo it. I don't know if any of you guys remember Hank Gathers, but I don't want to watch that happen again.

by wvvol on Jan 29, 2008 9:27 PM EST up reply actions

No doubt

I think, though, that that's partly what prompted all of those tests and the caution with Duke.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

Wayne lost his headband

don't they bring spares?

by wvvol on Jan 29, 2008 9:28 PM EST reply actions

Maybe he could use his skivvies

as a headband. After all, how close do you think any Bammer would guard him with a pair of tighty-whiteys on his head? ;)

by David Hooper on Jan 29, 2008 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

orange

Are the orange ones new?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:31 PM EST up reply actions

Ooooh! Tech on Pearl

The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:28 PM EST reply actions

Mad.

The taunts towards Bruce do not please. Hulk get mad!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 9:29 PM EST reply actions

JaSmith

Hulk mad JaSmith.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:34 PM EST up reply actions

Headband?

Chism? No headgear? What gives?

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 9:30 PM EST reply actions

The way he wears it

it might be a wristband stretched out

by wvvol on Jan 29, 2008 9:32 PM EST up reply actions

I bet Jajuan won't do that again

He knows he messed up and I bet he pays the team back treble.

by wvvol on Jan 29, 2008 9:34 PM EST reply actions

I have a theory. Last year sometime, JaJuan did something similar. Can't remember exactly what it was -- might have been the same thing. At the end of a game we were winning or something. He didn't dunk again all season, and I'm thinking it was an edict from Pearl as punishment.

Notice that the next steal, he didn't even dunk it? Lay up. Repeat of last year?

So maybe it was a momentary lapse. Or maybe he didn't learn.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, but if

this 5-9 white guy can dunk, then surely Ja..

oh, wait, I can't dunk.

Never mind.

by David Hooper on Jan 29, 2008 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

This is tough

My 6 month old daughter is sleeping 4 feet away from me. She almost got woke up when JP hit that 3.

by wvvol on Jan 29, 2008 9:37 PM EST reply actions

difficult task

It takes years to perfect the stifled outburst. My eldest is 11, and I never really got it straight. Made the dog wet the carpet during the Kentucky football game back in November.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

Hendrix

did he just try to moonwalk there?

by wvvol on Jan 29, 2008 9:45 PM EST reply actions

So far,

Alabama's at 39% field goal shooting. If I remember the article correctly, 47% is UT's magic number.

by David Hooper on Jan 29, 2008 9:46 PM EST reply actions

Foul?

Wasn't that a foul on Crews?

And wasn't that basket interference?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:46 PM EST reply actions

Wait...

So we have Chism, Crews, AND Williams, and can't get the ball in the paint? This is set to be another looong evening if we only shoot 20% from behind the arc.

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 9:48 PM EST reply actions

That was kind of

a creepy commercial. With the heads on the arms.

Weird.

Did anyone else see that schmuck with the "41-17" sign in the crowd? I hate alabama.

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 9:49 PM EST reply actions

41-17

Makes sense. You know, considering we're watching a footba...

Wait. Nevermind. You'll have to excuse him, sir. He's from Alabama.

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 9:53 PM EST up reply actions

You can't be too hard on him..

the home crowd was chanting "just like football" toward the end of the Georgia game on saturday.

But I liked that!

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 9:55 PM EST up reply actions

Man!

It's like the Bermuda triangle down there.

Hey! That's our Hulk!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:52 PM EST reply actions

What in the world........

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 9:54 PM EST reply actions

Bruce Pearl, jacket off

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

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 9:55 PM EST reply actions

Seriously

the man is dead.

And this is basketball.

Put up the stupid hat.

The most ridiculous fan "tradition" in college sports.

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 9:58 PM EST reply actions

"Tebow Effect"?

The Gators Basketball team is integrating God, err, Tim Tebow into their program for 'inspiration' or some garbage like that.

Maybe it's time that we ask Peyton Manning to follow around the BasketVols this time of the year. Heck, it's not like he's doing anything this time of the year!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

Are you kidding?

He has an early start on commercial-recording season! No time to waste!

by David Hooper on Jan 29, 2008 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

Halftime stats!

I needs them!

by David Hooper on Jan 29, 2008 10:01 PM EST reply actions

Halftime stats

University of Tennessee		University of Alabama
13-42 (31.0%)	Field goals	12-31 (38.7%)
3-15 (20.0%)	3-Point FGs	3-8 (37.5%)
4-9 (44.4%)	Free throws	6-11 (54.5%)
31 (17-14)	Rebounds (Off-Def)	22 (7-15)
8	Steals	4
1	Blocks	5
7	Assists	9
12	Turnovers	12
0.58	Assist/turnover	0.75
12	Pts off turnovers	10
8	2nd-chance points	4
7	Bench points	12
20	Points in paint	18
2	Fast break points	8
1st-05:37	Last field goal	1st-02:49
8 (1st-09:20)	Largest lead	2 (1st-02:49)

Well?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:05 PM EST reply actions

Bench points

not a good omen for the Big Orange.

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 10:08 PM EST up reply actions

I see...

Bad shooting on our end. Yeeargh.

Look at those rebounds! Especially on our offensive end. (If you'd have told me that before the game started, I would have assumed a blowout by now, though.)

Last field goal. Gah.

Assist/turnover. We're turning it over way too much.

by David Hooper on Jan 29, 2008 10:08 PM EST up reply actions

Backwards

The whole thing just looks backwards. Turnovers equal? We have more points in the paint? They have more fast break points?

And how about those shooting percentages? We've been wanting our FT % to be better than our FG and 3FG %, but not this way. 44, 31, and 20? Sheesh.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

Why Jimmy Dykes????

Why???

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 10:12 PM EST reply actions

MONEY!!

Chism hits his 3pt for the half!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:14 PM EST reply actions

Get up Chism!

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 10:15 PM EST reply actions

Chism down

Not good. Looks like he's lost his wind.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:15 PM EST reply actions

OOB TO!

Woo!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:16 PM EST reply actions

That was some big hair

with the orange scarf.

She must be from the Jonesborough area.

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 10:16 PM EST reply actions

Hey, now

I live in Jonesborough.

Or do you mean some other state?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:18 PM EST up reply actions

Oh,yeah

I mean Kingsport, yeah, Kingsport.

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 10:20 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, yeah

Lots of big hair up there. Completely different than Jonesborough. Definitely.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:40 PM EST up reply actions

Busy night, Joel?

I just noticed you're serving time on 3SIB, as well. Yikes.

by David Hooper on Jan 29, 2008 10:17 PM EST reply actions

Oh, a bit

It's Tennessee-Alabama after all.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:20 PM EST up reply actions

Number 5 is alive!

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 10:17 PM EST reply actions

OOB TO!

Woo again!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:18 PM EST reply actions

And Another!

More importantly, we're converting them into points; something we struggled with in the 1st half.

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:20 PM EST up reply actions

Ramar "chain netz" Smith

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 10:19 PM EST reply actions

No!

No, Jimmy Dykes! Don't spread that news!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:22 PM EST reply actions

That's two on Dykes

And I liked him before tonight!

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 10:23 PM EST up reply actions

Killer Instinct

Press on guys...go for the throat! Don't be satisfied with a 10 pt lead. Nvm. 8 pt lead on a monster jam by Bama.

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:24 PM EST reply actions

Seriously

I would sleep WELL tonight with a 25 point blowout.

As I say that--we are in "lose the 10 point lead" mode.

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 29, 2008 10:25 PM EST up reply actions

It's that dratted zone!

[scooby doo villain voice]

And I would've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for that middling zone defense!

[/scooby doo villain voice]

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

Check that once more

6 pt lead.

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:26 PM EST up reply actions

Woo for them!

Nice dunk. Bum.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:24 PM EST reply actions

Gee-whiz

Good lord...sombody get in Gee's face!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:33 PM EST reply actions

Have to give it to Dykes

He certainly knows what he's doing.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:42 PM EST reply actions

Zone Defense

Seems like we have tremendous struggles vs. the zone defense, whether it's 2-3, 3-2, 2-1-2, or whatever. Why? It's not like it's some scheme that was just invented or anything.

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:43 PM EST reply actions

Thought

I think that Pearl's system is built on space -- giving the guys room to work. If the defenders don't follow the ball carriers, the space disappears.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

yeah but...

..."space" can be created.

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:48 PM EST up reply actions

yeah

Yep, but harder with the zone. They just camp out.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:53 PM EST up reply actions

Lofton loaded

He is most definitely back.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:44 PM EST reply actions

Gee-whiz, Part II

How does Gee get the foul every-single-time he leans into the defender? Just not right.

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:50 PM EST reply actions

sigh

Guess it wouldn't be so bad if the refs would at least call it even. UT being called with charges as often as they're being called for Gee's lean ins.

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:55 PM EST up reply actions

Good thing

we're hitting threes.

We can't stop them from second chance points.

Aerobab, did you call Dykes and feed him the Gee Whiz line?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:54 PM EST reply actions

No

I'm certain he's following along on RTT.com. He's stealing proprietory information from US!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 10:56 PM EST up reply actions

Finally

A good defensive possession.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 10:58 PM EST reply actions

JaSmith!

Woo for 3!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 11:00 PM EST reply actions

Ugh

'Bama, shot and a foul.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 11:01 PM EST reply actions

Sleep?

Joel, are we all that's left? I know we're up by a deuce, but there's still over 2 mins left!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 11:02 PM EST reply actions

The rest are stressed?

Perhaps?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

Close games

We're 3-0, they're 2-2.

Close is six points or less.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 11:03 PM EST reply actions

83-49?

Wow...didn't know it was that far out of reach for Bama!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 11:03 PM EST reply actions

MONEYYYYYY!

Lofton who?! JaSmith burries yet another from outside the arc!!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 11:04 PM EST reply actions

"Mark's Madness"

...is silenced. UT is up 5 with 1:02. UT just got trapped on the inbounds, but managed a TO.

Whew!

by Aerobab on Jan 29, 2008 11:06 PM EST reply actions

Recovery

Yeah, JaJuan's done that twice this game. Bad decision followed by a good one. This time, it was picking the ball up there. Not good. Calling timeout. Good.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 11:11 PM EST up reply actions

We're done

Not a great game by the Vols, but a great close.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 11:14 PM EST reply actions

Vols win, 93-86

Go Big Orange!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 29, 2008 11:15 PM EST reply actions

Good win

It's hard to pull that off against an inspired team (feelgoods everywhere after beating Auburn), a height mismatch, and odd officiating. Now the real test comes. Will fatigue be a factor against MSU?

by David Hooper on Jan 29, 2008 11:19 PM EST reply actions

Thanks again, Joel

for the thread and the communication.

Here's an oddball stat for you: UA had 50% FG shooting, yet UT won. Not that it's all that out there, but that's the only win UT has had when the opposition shoots 47% or better. (Likewise, they've never lost when the other team is below 47%.)

by David Hooper on Jan 29, 2008 11:35 PM EST reply actions

What an evening

My frickin' power went out at halftime. I had to listen to the Alabama feed on Sirius in the car. Why does Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, and I think Kentucky get to broadcast their games on Sirius, but UT is with the rest of the SEC on XM?

Anyway, glad we toughed it out and got the win. It was funny listening to the Bama broadcasters when Lofton would hit a 3. They would barely mumble it, "uh Lofton makes the 3 pointer, uh, that means we geT THE BALL NOW! Yay for us!"

by wvvol on Jan 30, 2008 12:39 AM EST reply actions

I figured it out

The question I posed earlier...I realized it as soon as it bit me with 1:00 left in the game.

Power. Outage.

I too, followed WVVol's lead and raced to the car for the final minute. Glad we pulled that one out.

by Aerobab on Jan 30, 2008 7:41 AM EST reply actions

That,

and I had to take care of my neighbor's dogs before they did their business inside the house. I was away from the computer for quite a while in the second half.

by David Hooper on Jan 30, 2008 9:48 AM EST up reply actions