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    • 2008-2009 Schedule

    Top 25 Moments of the Bruce Pearl Era

    Key Stats Update, 12/1/08
    (national rank)
    Stats are adjusted
    • Pythag: 0.9841 (8)
    • Off. Efficiency: 128.8 (1)
    • Def. Efficiency: 90.0 (60)
    • eFG: 54.9% (35)
    • Opp. eFG: 48.4% (161)
    • O-Reb: 40.9% (22)
    • D-Reb: 25.3% (14)
    • TO: 22.8% (221)
    • Opp. TO: 22.2% (138)
    • Possessions: 75.3 (16)



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    Young Vols have focus issues

    By rbk | December 4, 2008

    Instead of writing a full recap of the game last night I wanted to just make some general comments on where we are. The biggest problem, as I see it, have been caused by focus and attention to detail, particularly on defense.

    Some will say that not everyone is giving full effort but I’m not sure that’s true. Yes, sometimes Scotty Hopson or Renaldo Woolridge or J.P. Prince will have lapses on defense but I don’t think it’s about effort as much as focus. Some of the players, primarily the freshmen, just haven’t gotten used to the full 40-minute attention span that the college game requires on both ends of the floor. It’s not that they aren’t giving maximum effort; it’s just that what “maximum effort” means will grow and change as they mature and accept coaching.

    Scouts have already commented that Hopson is playing with more intensity on both ends than he ever did in high school. He’s getting there, but it’s not like flipping a switch. When you’re just better than everyone else, focus means one thing. When you’re merely a good player alongside other good players, focus becomes far more important and it will take time for the youngsters to fully get a handle on this and learn to cope with it.

    It’s a little more disappointing to see J.P. get yelled at for losing his man defensively or to see Wayne Chism have one of those “where did he go?” games like he did vs. Gonzaga. These guys are juniors and I’d like to see more consistency. Not consistency of effort, mind you; I think each of them is going all out. Both make great plays defensively and can really shine offensively at times. Both are capable of being big sparks that ignite the team. They just aren’t making those plays consistently.

    Wayne almost always plays good defense, but it’s frustrating to see him disappear offensively, or occasionally just pull down 3 or 4 rebounds in 20+ minutes. Still, I think it’s not effort; I think it’s mindset and I think Wayne knows it. He just has to find a way to consistently dig deep and pull out his best. With J.P. I think there is too much focus on making the big play and sometimes not enough focus on the small things. This is why he makes mistakes on offense that get him into bad positions and result in TOs, and this is why he’ll sometimes lose his man on the other end. He’s capable of the spectacular play but sometimes isn’t as steady as he could be because he seeks the spectacular and gets bored with the ordinary.

    This is all just my opinion based on watching the team this year and previous years. It’s heartening because you know the ability is there and we just have to be in the right mental state with complete focus to put together our best basketball– in that state I truly believe we can beat anyone (except maybe UNC right now). On a night that it’s there, we have at least 7 or 8 guys capable of 20 points.

    But it’s also discouraging because we know and see the potential and it’s not coming out every night. Just keep in mind that this team is very, very young and that it takes time for players to fully get a handle on what it takes to keep their level of play up enough to maintain consistency and focus. So don’t get down on them or dog their effort, UT fans. Just watch and enjoy as they mature into more complete and focused players. It’s going to happen.

    If the players needs an example, they need not look further than Tyler. Every night he seems to be giving maximum effort and has a serious, workmanlike approach to the game. He pays attention to the small things despite his ability to do the spectacular, and is the rock so far for this team. If the other guys can grow to even 70% of Tyler’s focus and drive this will be a team nobody wants to see in their bracket in March. Even UNC would probably prefer to avoid this team when and if it peaks.

    Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments » |

    Tennessee 87, UNC-Asheville 69

    By rbk | December 3, 2008

    Key Stats

    • Off. Efficiency: 113.0
    • Def. Efficiency: 89.6
    • eFG: 48.0%
    • Opp. eFG: 44.2%
    • Reb:53-35 Vols
    • TO: 15.6%
    • Opp. TO: 13.0%
    • Possessions: 77

    Stats are up. More commentary to follow either later tonight or in the morning. Initial reaction, stream-of-consciousness:

    Topics: Uncategorized | 8 Comments » |

    BruceBall vs. UNC-Asheville Preview

    By rbk | December 2, 2008

    After a grueling weekend in Orlando for the Old Spice Classic, the Tennessee team will be happy to return to the friendly confines of Thompson-Boling Arena, where they will face UNC-Asheville Wednesday night (7pm. SportSouth). The Vols, at 5-1, have really just entered the tough part of their non-conference schedule. After splitting games with Georgetown and Gonzaga, the Vols have games at Temple and Kansas, in Nashville vs. Marquette, and Gonzaga and Memphis at home all in the next seven weeks. One thing the Vols must be wary of is overlooking anyone in between these slugfests.

    That starts tomorrow with UNC-A. The Bulldogs are off to a rough start, sitting at 3-3 with two of their wins coming in relatively close fashion against lower division teams. They’ve lost three in a row since beating conference rival Liberty at home to Campbell (pythag #174) by 37, to Wofford (258) by five, and to North Carolina (2) by 68. UNC-A has had trouble largely because they are a young team, losing five major contributors from a 23-win team a season ago. Gone are four seniors as well as 7′7″ Kenny George. George is a sad case; we were all impressed and imposed a year ago by his massive size and quiet presence, but it is now doubtful that he will ever play basketball again. A staph infection forced the amputation of part of his right foot, and recovery from such a surgery would be very difficult for a person of any size. George’s massive frame and weight of nearly 400 pounds makes recovery of normal use a far greater challenge. The BruceBall Blog would like to wish Kenny the best in his recovery and success in whatever he does from here on. It will be sad to play UNC-A without seeing him on the floor.

    Who they have: The Bulldogs feature a starting backcourt of J.P. Primm (6′1″ freshman, 10.0 PPG, 5.5 APG) and Sean Smith (6′6″ junior, 10.8 PPG, 13 of 25 3FG), both new to the starting lineup this season. Their frontcourt consists of Reid Augst (6′6″ senior, 11.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG), John Williams (6′4″ sophomore, 10.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.3 BPG), and Jason Ridenhour (6′6″ junior, 8.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG). Only Augst was a starter a year ago, but he has been a solid player for UNC-A throughout his career and provides much needed experience and leadership.

    Three other players have averaged double figures in minutes and appeared in every game: freshman guards Matt Dickey (6′1″) and Chris Stephenson (6′3″) and freshman forward Quinard Jackson (6′5″). Sophomore guard Donovan Jones (6′0″) has appeared in four games but did not play against UNC and I’m not sure if he will play tomorrow. My expectation is for UNC-A to go eight deep and possibly nine if sophomore center Eric Stubbs (6′8″) sees minutes– and seeing as how he’s the only Asheville player in that nine-deep that stands taller than 6′6″, I would think he’d get action.

    What they do well: Not a lot so far this year. Their size and inexperience is so limiting that they just haven’t been able to perform on either end. They do a good job of not putting opponents on the foul line (61st) and they do block a few shots (145th), but those are the only two major stats– either offensive or defensive– in which the Bulldogs rank in the top 20 nationally. In most categories they are 200+. As mentioned above, Smith does his 52% of his threes, which is a great start. As as impressive as that is, it seems he’s a one-trick pony to a large degree — he’s just 6 of 27 from inside the arc.

    Where they struggle: Most areas have given Asheville trouble so far. They rank 287th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 309th in adjusted defensive efficiency, and are ranked 200th or worse in most individual categories. Defense has been a really big problem, with teams shooting an average of 58.2 eFG% (334th of 344) and turning the ball over just 16.8% of the time (323rd). Opponents do well both inside (58.6%) and outside (38.4%) the arc, and statistically it looks like the Bulldogs just don’t do enough to make opponents uncomfortable with the basketball.

    Gameplan/style: At 71.9 possessions per game (adjusted), UNC-A will play at a pretty fast pace, especially if the opponent dictates it. North Carolina ran up 83 possessions, a speed which Tennessee is likely to duplicate if given the chance. UNC-A would rather play inside than on the perimeter, with less than 30% of its shots coming from three. That’s bad news for them considering their lack of height, and the result is that one out of every 11 shots they take is blocked.

    Tennessee should look to attack UNC-A with balance and as fans we shouyld be seeking a dominant game on both ends. Coach Pearl saw a lot of room for improvement coming home from Orlando and this is a game where we should not struggle in any way. I believe we will see an emphasis on getting into the lane and finishing, a problem spot against Gonzaga. The Vols need to get stronger and tougher in the paint and I think UNC-A will be an unfortunate participant in some really physical action inside. No Bulldog that has played many minutes is over 6′8″, and all starters are 6′6″ are shorter. Tennessee will look to exploit this.

    How it will play out: Tennessee should win comfortably. What we need to look for is improvement in specific areas, particularly in decision making and finishing around the basket. We also need to see some better work stopping the dribble drive and contesting perimeter shots, so look for Scotty Hopson, Cameron Tatum, Renaldo Woolridge, and J.P. Prince to catch Bruce’s ire if they continue to have trouble defensively.

    Tyler, Wayne, and Brian should have field days inside, and our length at the wings should mean scoring opportunites inside and out. In the end the score isn’t relevant so much as the level of play in certain areas. Keep an eye on improvement from individual players and team defense, and don’t worry much about the margin– it should be substantial. My call: Vols 95, Bulldogs 60.

    Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments » |

    One more stats note

    By rbk | December 1, 2008

    See the box in the right sidebar? That will be updated regularly– maybe weekly– as the season progresses and should be used by readers for comparison to our opponents and as a general sense of how the team is faring in individual areas. It’s very, very early for these to mean much.

    Two specific notes:

    If you ever have questions about the stats I use or report, feel free to comment. Stats are my thing and I never mind talking about them.

    Topics: Uncategorized | 8 Comments » | Tags:

    Gonzaga 83, Tennessee 74

    By rbk | December 1, 2008

    Key Stats

    • Off. Efficiency: 94.9
    • Def. Efficiency: 106.4
    • eFG: 40.1%
    • Opp. eFG: 62.5%
    • Reb:46-23 Vols
    • TO: 26.9%
    • Opp. TO: 17.9%
    • Possessions: 78

    I’m not sure why but there is no box score on UTsports.com . . . I’m relying on the ESPN box score for the stats and it is often inaccurate. My apologies.

    Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. We didn’t play a great game at either end and missed an opportunity to win an early season title . . . then I had to drive home in the dark and in the rain. Not exactly the finish I was hoping for.

    Still, the Vols played better overall in the tourney than I expected them to. Considering the youth and inexperience, they managed to hold their own against some really good teams. Gonzaga just has a lethal combination of experience and talent and it forced the Tennessee team out of its comfort zone too many times. We will have a chance at revenge in a few weeks and I know the team will be looking forward to that.

    If you want to know why we lost, look no further than eFG: 62.5% for Gonzaga (including 11-20 on threes) and 40.1% from Tennessee including a bunch of point blank misses. There were other factors but hitting shots was the bottom line. If you want to know, with that kind of shooting and a 21-14 TO edge for Gonzaga, how we managed to stay close at the end . . . then look no further than rebounding. We utterly dominated Gonzaga on the glass and got 24 more FG opportunities as a result. It kept us alive, especially late, but we just couldn’t hit enough shots to come all the way back.

    The Zags did a great job getting into the lane, sometimes to finish and many times to kick out to an open shooter. There will be plenty of film to study defensively on this one and I think we will be a better defensive team for this lesson. But, and I know many will disagree . . . the defense wasn’t that bad. An efficiency of 106.4 is not so bad against a team with the firepower Gonzaga has. We did enough defensively to win this game, in fact, despite the three point barrage. We just failed miserably on the other end, and you have to put points on the board to win. A 94.9 is a really ugly figure for a team that had played so well just two days before.

    Individually the game was a mixed bag. The good:

    And the bad:

    All in all this was not a great effort. We are capable of more and that heartens me, as we still had chances to win this game at the end. The Zags will not get a warm reception in Thompson-Boling and our players will be eager to even the score.

    We may have needed a game like this. It would have been easy for the young guys to think we were invincible right about now and getting beat by a better team is a pretty good cure for that. By the end of the year we may be better than Gonzaga– if we continue to mature and grow. But last night the better team won and our players need to make the most of the learning experience.

    The Old Spice Classic was a great experience, for the team and for me as a fan. I wish it had ended better for UT but I had a great time and the team will be better for the lessons learned in Orlando.

    Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments » | Tags:

    BruceBall vs. Gonzaga Preview #1

    By rbk | November 29, 2008

    I wanted to get a preview up for this game since I wasn’t able to do one for Georgetown, but I will keep it more brief than usual since 1) I don’t have much time and 2) we will see Gonzaga again in just a few weeks.

    Gonzaga is coached by Mark Few, a name most should be familiar with. He was very much desired by UT fans in the most recent coaching search, probably unrealistically. He’s had opportunities to leave Spokane and it seems he’s just not interested. Few has done an amazing job with Gonzaga, which is no longer considered to be a mid-major team by most.

    The Bulldogs are 4-0 to start the year and, as of tonight, are ranked #1 in pythag. It’s still early to pay too much attention to this, especially if it is weighted by opponent strength– we just don’t know much about the opponents yet, and Gonzaga’s opponents are probably not quite as strong as they currently get credit for. For what it’s worth, Tennessee is currently 16th.

    Who they have: The Zags are loaded. Their starting lineup has to be one of the best in the nation, with a scary combination of talent and experience. Forwards Josh Heytvelt (6′11″ senior, 15.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG) and Austin Daye (6′10″ sophomore, 14.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG) are as good a frontcourt tandem as you’ll find, and the backcourt of Jeremy Pargo (6′2″ senior, 9.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 7.0 APG), Micah Downs (6′8″ senior, 10.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG), and Matt Bouldin (6′5″ junior, 10.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.8 APG) is steady but explosive with good size.

    What they do well: Gonzaga has done well in just abut every area so far this year, ranking 58th in offensive efficiency and 8th in defensive efficiency. Offensively they shoot well (53.7% eFG) and take care of the ball (38th in TO%), which is what you have to do to put points on the board.

    Defensively they hold opponents to a low shooting percentage (40.3% eFG), clean the glass (15th in D-reb), keep the opponent off the line (19th), and block a lot of shots (42nd). Few teams have played better defensively so far than Gonzaga.

    Where they struggle: You have to nitpick to find much. Offensively they have been average on the glass (153rd) and have done a poor job getting to the line (267th). They also haven’t done a great job setting each other up, ranking just 240th in A/FGM.

    Defensively . . . um . . . well, they’re just 106th in forced turnovers. That’s about it if you’re looking for statistical weaknesses.

    Gameplan/style: The Bulldogs play an up-tempo game, ranking 36th in raw pace at 74.4 possessions per game. This will suit Tennessee but it’s hard to imagine the Vols getting much advantage from this, as Gonzaga will be comfortable with an up-and-down game. Offensively the Bulldogs will shoot the three (34.6% of shots) but much of their scoring in the paint with Heytvelt and Daye, their top two scorers. Defensively they will play very good man defense and with their height will look to challenge and block Tennessee’s shots.

    Oklahoma State hurt Gonzaga by limiting their opportunities on the offensive glass and by closing out on shooters, holding the Zags to 50.0% eFG and just 6-22 from the perimeter. They also hit their own threes to hang with Gonzaga for most of the game. These will be keys if Tennessee is going to win– perimeter play and rebounding. In the paint Gonzaga has an edge but not a big one– as long as Wayne stays out of foul trouble he is capable of a good defensive game on Heytvelt, and Tyler Smith is giving up height to Daye but has advantages in other areas. On the perimeter our guards are going to have to stop dribble penetration and force tough passes, and most definitely close out on the shooters. Their performance defensively may decide the game.

    How it will play out: This is a great matchup; both teams like to run, both teams are long and athletic, and both have good depth. The game may boil down to which team has hot shooters and which gets an edge on the glass to gain an advantage in shot opportunities. Seeing Cameron Tatum go wild from the perimeter yesterday has given me newfound optimism in our perimeter offense, and this will give Gonzaga something more to worry about defensively. One thing the Vols will HAVE to do is win the turnover battle; they’ve been far too sloppy in most games this year.

    It may have been lost on most Vol fans, but Wayne Chism scored 9 points and grabbed 6 boards in his 12 minutes yesterday; he was dominant. He also played very well against Siena and if he can stay in the game, he can have a good day tomorrow. He will be a key player with Gonzaga’s size and talent inside, and I think he’s up to the challenge. Bobby Maze will also be big as he has a tough matchup with Jeremy Pargo. Finally, I think Tennessee needs a big game from one of its wings– Prince, Hopson, Tatum– and at least some scoring and defense from the other two. If the Vols can open it up with strong shooting outside it will make them very tough to defend.

    This one is tough to predict, but I’ll say Tennessee pulls it out: Vols 89, Gonzaga 84 in 85 possessions.

    Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment » | Tags: ,

    Tennessee 90, Georgetown 78

    By rbk | November 28, 2008

    Key Stats

    • Off. Efficiency: 123.3
    • Def. Efficiency: 106.8
    • eFG: 61.8%
    • Opp. eFG: 60.2%
    • Reb:33-26 Vols
    • TO: 17.1%
    • Opp. TO: 27.4%
    • Possessions: 73

    Whew! That was one of the most fun games of any kind that I have ever attended and I’m still catching my breath. The UT fans were rowdy, the players were fired up, and we ended up with a great W over a very good team. I also had the opportunity to sit near Bruce’s father, Bernie– if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting him or being around him at a game, you are missing out. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

    Once again I don’t have a lot of time to review tonight, so I’ll just post the stats so I can go celebrate some more. Were you aware that this is the first game, under John Thompson III, that Georgetown has allowed 90 points? Not bad, I should say. Also, how about Cameron Tatum? What a great time for the young man to catch fire. The offense as a whole was much improved in this game.

    Tomorrow will be a lighter day so I hope to put up more comments. I will say this– this is the best we’ve played in one of these tourneys so far. Win or lose on Sunday, I’m proud of my Vols.

    Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments » |

    Old Spice Classic, day 2

    By rbk | November 28, 2008

    My internet connection here in the hotel is very spotty so I have not been able to get a full post up since yesterday. Hopefully this one will stick.

    I won’t be able to do a Georgetown preview, so please check out Hoya Hoops for all the info you need on the Hoyas. Johnny was kind enough to prepare us a brief outline of his team:

    What You Should Know

    Georgetown is coached by John Thompson III, the son of the Hall of Fame Georgetown coach who led the Hoyas to the 1984 National Championship. The offense they run is a form of the Princeton offense which uses a lot of ball movement and back door cuts. Coach Thompson played at Princeton and was an assistant and head coach at the Ivy League school. Two seasons ago the Hoyas won the Big East Tournament and advanced to the Final Four. Last year they lost in the Big East Tournament Championship game to Pittsburgh and were eliminated by Davidson in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

    Key Players

    The Hoyas graduated four key players from last year’s team, but they still have two experienced players who were a part of that Final Four team – senior guard Jessie Sapp (#21) and junior forward DaJuan Summers (#3). Georgetown also has a very talented freshman center, 6′11″ Greg Monroe.

    Hoya Strengths

    Georgetown is a very solid defensive team. All the starters play excellent on-the-ball defense, and their swarming help defense makes opponents work very hard in every half-court set. Besides the initial defending, the Hoyas have a safety net with the excellent shot blocking of Monroe.

    Hoya Weaknesses

    Besides the four seniors that the Hoyas lost through graduation, two additional players from a season ago transferred, leaving team depth a major concern for Georgetown. There is more depth at the guard positions, but the Hoyas are pretty thin up front, if Monroe gets into foul trouble, the Hoyas will have problems defending or scoring in the post.

    Wild Card

    Georgetown starts four players who can shoot three-pointers; everyone except Monroe. So far this season the Hoyas have struggled from long range, shooting 14-62 (23%), but they are probably not as bad as the numbers suggest. Even though they haven’t demonstrated it this season, they can shoot the three effectively.

    3 Things To Look For

    1) Greg Monroe: He’s an exciting freshman who has shown the ability to score, defend and pass. His early success has come against weaker competition, now he has a chance to prove he can be as good against a Top 25 team.

    2) Jessie Sapp: He is the team captain and leader. Sapp brings toughness, leadership, and composure. Even if he doesn’t score, he can make a major impact on the floor. When he is active while defending, rebounding, or setting up his teammates, good things happen for Georgetown.

    3) Rebounding: Apart from Monroe, Georgetown is not very big. They have a tendency to allow a lot of offensive rebounds, even against teams without high-flying athletes. The offensive glass has been a good way to score for Hoya opponents.

    We are going to the early game as well as our game at 1pm, so I hope to be able to post more late this afternoon. Enjoy the game everyone, and GO VOLS!

    Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments » |

    Tennessee 78, Siena 64

    By rbk | November 27, 2008

    Key Stats

    • Off. Efficiency: 102.6
    • Def. Efficiency: 84.2
    • eFG: 55.2%
    • Opp. eFG: 37.7%
    • Reb:40-39 Saints
    • TO: 25.0%
    • Opp. TO: 23.7%
    • Possessions: 76

    rbk is posting from Lake Buena Vista, FL, and will be attending all of Tennessee’s Old Spice Classic games. I’ll try to provide some thoughts and pictures that really capture the environment as much as possible.

    At times, Tennessee looked dominant. At other times, youth and lack of focus came through and Siena threatened to steal a game in which they had been outplayed. Thankfully, Tennessee had enough brilliant spurts to give them a late lead that Siena couldn’t catch, and the Vols prevailed in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic in Orlando.

    I am keeping this brief because we are in Orlando and well . . . there are things to do in Orlando! But I will say we had great seats (mid court, 2nd row) and from that perspective Tennessee’s athleticism really shines. Siena played a strong game and really threatened the Vols at several points in the game, but it was clear that the Vols’ size and athleticism was wearing on them. Defensively we were very solid against a strong offense, forcing more turnovers than Siena is used to committing and holding them to a very low eFG%, offsetting some rebounding issues on the defensive end. Offensively we were very inconsistent, showing brilliant streaks and really foul stretches– and it was really this inconsistency that let Siena stay in the game. Too sloppy.

    I’ll put up the stats and save further comment for later. Needless to say, I’m pleased with the win and was impressed with how well we played at times against a really solid, experienced team. We will need to be more consistent if we are to get to the finals, though.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Vols. More later.

    Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments » |

    Old Spice Classic features some of nation’s best players

    By rbk | November 26, 2008

    It might be an exaggeration to say you could make an All-American team out of the stars in this week’s Old Spice Classic. Might be.

    While most of America is consuming their turkey and stuffing, some of the nation’s best college basketball teams will be duking it out in the Milk House at Disney’s Wild World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Some of the best players in the nation will be going head-to-head in these games, and I wanted to give you an idea of who’s who and what to watch for as things unfold.

    This is going to be a great tourney for a spectator. Some fans are going to be disappointed though, as not all of these teams can go 3-0. Only one team can win, and only three teams can go home with just one loss. That means at least one of Maryland, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Tennessee will go home 1-2. Some fans of these schools will not be happy, but this can happen in such a stacked field.

    Enjoy the tournament everyone. I’ll be there, in the Milk House, and will do my best to give detailed reviews of the games I see.

    Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments » | Tags:

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