Definitely a surprise, but Tennessee’s new basketball coach is former Missouri State and OVC Coach of the Year Cuonzo Martin… Did not see this coming, but regardless he’s a Vol now.
Archive for the ‘Basketball’ Category
This Is My Coach, No Matter What
Posted 19 Mar 2011 — by Volunteer
Category Basketball
Category Basketball
A real friend doesn’t turn their back on another when times get tough. Regardless of how this season played out, Bruce Pearl never gave up on Tennessee. Bruce Pearl never gave up on Tennessee when other, more prestigious programs came calling with more money and bigger promises. It seems some people on the Hill have forgotten this. Bruce Pearl is and will always be the living symbol of Tennessee basketball no matter what.
Looking To The Future, At Kevin Ware
Posted 07 Mar 2011 — by Volunteer
Category Basketball
Category Basketball
Would Kevin Ware have made a difference for the Vols this season? Guess we’ll find out next year.
According to Scotty Hopson, The Beatings Will Continue!
Posted 04 Mar 2011 — by Volunteer
Category Basketball
Category Basketball
Another night, another couple of ESPN Top 10 facials delivered by Scotty Hopson, like the one above, to the chickens. But in all seriousness, the Vols needed that one like Bruce Pearl needs an NCAA pardon. Hopson goes for 24, while Tobias Harris puts in 25. Great way to get primed for the Kittycats. Maybe it was the shoes. My only worry is that it’s a home game in what used to be an almost unwinable venue until this season.
Two In A Row, Courtesy of Brian Williams
Posted 19 Jan 2011 — by Volunteer
Category Basketball
Category Basketball
Here’s a quick one of Brian Williams’ last second put-back to seal the Georgia game last night. If I find a better highlight video I’ll post it, but this looks to be it as of right now. As for the game, pretty much a defensive chess match with the refs giving neither team much help throughout. Williams just seemed to be in the right place at the right time, which is exactly where the Vols find themselves heading into a weekend matchup against UConn in Storrs.
Besides Williams, Skylar McBee turned in his second good outing in a row hitting two 3s. Meanwhile Scotty Hopson and Tobias Harris each finished with 15 points apiece to get Tony Jones his second win as interim head coach.
Welcome back Bruce! For one game.
Jump Around – Tony Jones style
Posted 19 Jan 2011 — by Volunteer
Category Basketball
Category Basketball
My apologies for the lack of relevant posts on here lately, but after the Vols started out 0-2 in the SEC, I wasn’t in the best of moods – especially when it came to the basketball team. I’ll try to do better.
Since, they’ve managed to reel off two wins in dramatic fashion starting with Saturday’s ESPN coverage of the Vanderbilt game – Tony Jones’ first win as interim head coach. The video above gives a unique twist to the final seconds of the game, with accompaniment from House of Pain’s “Jump Around.” I’ll skip commentating on the all-out war ESPN has decided to wage on Bruce Pearl and instead focus on the week as a sort of get-back-on-track pair of outings for Brian Williams and Skylar McBee. Both were stellar in each win, especially McBee in this one as he went for 10 points with some key 3s. And after a disastrous first half, Scotty Hopson deserves props for keeping this team alive and competitive in the second half.
Bare with me as I search for some Georgia highlights from last night.
Big Night
Posted 06 Jan 2011 — by Volunteer
Category Basketball
Category Basketball
So not only did the football Vols get a HUGE commitment – literally, from Florida offensive lineman Marcus Jackson last night, the basketball Vols got back on the winning side of things by throttling the Memphis Tigers 104-84.
To call it a big win might even be slighting it a bit. Not only have the Vols not looked this good since their win against Pitt earlier this season, but Bruce Pearl begins his 8-game suspension Saturday when the Vols travel to Arkansas. A good time for a big rivalry win and probably better late than never in settling on a 10-man rotation. Shots were falling early – especially 3′s, players were going after rebounds with a renewed vigor, Jeronne Maymon had his best game as a Vol with 10 points, Tobias Harris notched a double-double, Trae Golden dished out 8 assists, Josh Bone and Skylar McBee were knocking down 3′s, and I could go on, but if that team shows up every night they’re aren’t many that can run with them.
The Vols new 10-man rotation looks something like this now: Starting 5 – Brian Williams, Harris, Cameron Tatum, Scotty Hopson and Melvin Goins. Bench 5: John Fields, Maymon, Bone, McBee and Golden. But who’s really to say if Pearl is done with the lineup trimming.
All I know is Tony Jones will be running the show Saturday, let’s hope the inspired group that showed up against Memphis last night makes the trip to Fayetteville on Saturday.
A High, Then A Low
Posted 17 Dec 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Basketball
Category Basketball
Since I was in attendance for the Oakland game the night before last, I’ll try to skip over it and concentrate on the next game (Charlotte) while reminiscing about the Pitt win on Saturday. As one can see by the highlights, the margin of victory was much wider than what the end result shows.
Tennessee has been a much better road team to start the season with big wins against the Panthers Saturday and last month at Madison Square Garden for the pre-season NIT Championship. Still, there are home wins, it just seems the Vols struggle with the home cookin, while striving in less-than-welcoming environs.
Hopson Shines in Win Over No. 3 Pitt
Posted 12 Dec 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Basketball
Category Basketball
A career high 27 points from junior guard Scotty Hopson was just what the doctor ordered for the Vols Saturday as they dispatched No. 3 Pitt in front of an ESPN audience. The win also went a long way in silencing a number of doubters that said the Vol’s pre-season NIT win over Villanova could have been just a blip on the radar. Looks like everyone will be chasing the Vols from now on.
Here’s a great write-up from Dana O’Neill of ESPN titled “Bruce Pearl continues to put Vols on map” following the Pitt game:
“PITTSBURGH — For those who can’t understand the fierce loyalty both the Tennessee fan base and administration have shown Bruce Pearl, let this game serve as your explanation.
Before Pearl, irrelevant would be an adequate word to describe the Tennessee basketball team.
Save a handful of years under Jerry Green a decade ago and with Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld in the mid-70s, the Volunteers have never been part of the conversation. They were living in their proper place in the school’s sports hierarchy, a distant third to football and Pat Summitt. Read More
Champions!
Posted 27 Nov 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Basketball
Category Basketball
Fact: Scotty Hopson – Tournament MVP, Tobias Harris – All Tournament team, Bruce Pearl rolls out of bed with 20 wins.
Now go beat Kentucky and make it two in row against Wildcat teams!
