Rocky Top Talk

Tennessee vs Arkansas Preview

2012-02-15T13:01:10Z

Here's where we make the distinction between "biggest game of the year" - a title reserved for the likes of Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Florida, or Memphis - and "most important game of the year", a title which fits the next three games quite nicely.

Florida won in Tuscaloosa last night, securing their grip on second place in the league and knocking Alabama back to 5-6. But then those lovable Bulldogs of Mississippi State lost their second straight overtime game, falling in Baton Rouge by a deuce. That means the winner of tonight's game between Tennessee and Arkansas will move into a tie for fourth place in the SEC at 6-5. The notion that the Vols could earn a first round bye in the SEC Tournament isn't misplaced optimism - Tennessee will be right there if they win tonight.

Witness the beauty of UT's schedule: there was a four-way tie for fifth place in the league at 5-5 before Alabama lost last night. The Vols' next three opponents are the other three teams in that tie. At this point, if would be disappointing if Tennessee doesn't go at least 2-1 against Arkansas, Alabama, and Ole Miss, especially with two of the three in Knoxville. And if you want to indulge the NCAA fantasy, the Vols need to go 3-0. Do that, and not only would Tennessee be 8-5 in the SEC (with a trip to 1-9 South Carolina to follow) and have the inside track to a first round bye in New Orleans, but their RPI would increase drastically. It currently sits at 112, but the next three opponents are at 62, 38, and 52. Opportunity is now here.

But to continue the fantasy and the great feeling that's been around this program since the win at Florida, the Vols have to win those games. All of that starts tonight against Arkansas.

College Basketball

First, some history. Tennessee and Arkansas have been playing really good basketball games recently:

2011 SEC Tournament: In Bruce Pearl's final victory, the Vols allowed a 16-0 Arkansas run that tied the game with 2:08 to play. But the Hogs wouldn't score again, and Brian Williams and Melvin Goins helped the Vols secure a 74-68 victory.
2011 Fayetteville: In Tony Jones' first game, the Vols tried to rally from a 13 point deficit, and did have the ball with a chance to tie on the final possession, but fell 68-65 when a Tobias Harris three went begging.
2010 Knoxville: Following the huge upset over #2 Kentucky, the Vols might've been feeling a little too good about themselves. Arkansas cut Tennessee's lead to three with thirteen minutes to play. Then Bruce Pearl got a technical foul, and Tennessee responded with a 10-0 run that would lead to an 80-73 victory. We didn't know it at the time, but this team was two weeks away from becoming our greatest of all time.
2009 Fayetteville: On Lane Kiffin's National Signing Day, Tennessee and Arkansas traded baskets on six consecutive possessions in the final two minutes. A pullup-J by Bobby Maze put the Vols in front with five seconds left, and Arkansas finally missed to secure a 74-72 Tennessee victory.
2008 SEC Tournament: The Tornado Tournament found the Vols and Hogs battling in Georgia Tech's arena in the semifinals, and if you like scoring you loved this game: 17 lead changes, Arkansas shooting 44% and the Vols 45% from the arc, 25 from Lofton, 24 from Tyler Smith, 18 from Juanny...and the Vols still lost on Steven Hill's only basket of the game, a turnaround in the final seconds for a 92-91 Arkansas win that may have cost the Vols a number one seed.

But the most important piece of history for this game is from this season: Arkansas is 17-0 in Fayetteville, 0-8 everywhere else.

And most of these losses aren't really even close:

November 18: Houston 87 Arkansas 78 (Little Rock)
December 3: UConn 75 Arkansas 62
December 10: Oklahoma 78 Arkansas 63
January 11: Ole Miss 71 Arkansas 63
January 17: Kentucky 86 Arkansas 63
January 28: Alabama 72 Arkansas 66
February 4: LSU 71 Arkansas 65
February 8: Georgia 81 Arkansas 59

That last one is especially noteworthy: Georgia averages 61.9 points per game, 293rd nationally and dead last in the SEC. But they shot 52.6% from the floor, 9 of 20 from three, and I know some people think rebounding margin is a throwaway stat, but not when it's 42-20. Again: Georgia.

At home, Arkansas has beaten Mississippi State by ten, had Michigan down twenty in the first half before holding them off 66-64, and beat Vanderbilt just two weeks ago 82-74. But on the road, they're barely competitive against anyone. Arkansas shoots 43.6% from the floor, but just 38.3% on the road.

A huge factor to watch tonight in the first SEC battle between Cuonzo Martin and Mike Anderson: what's the pace of play? Arkansas leads the SEC and is 27th nationally in possessions per game. The Vols play a much slower pace, seventh in the SEC and 215th nationally. Clearly, Arkansas didn't handle slowdown ball well against Georgia. Will Tennessee be disciplined enough to not be seduced into playing an up-tempo game?

Arkansas plays fast, but they only turn it over on 18.4% of their possessions. However, they're 310th in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage allowed, probably because they've got guys ready to get out and run instead of crashing the glass. This could be a huge, huge advantage for Tennessee tonight.

Freshman guard B.J. Young leads the way at 14.4 points and 40.4% from three per game. But perhaps the biggest threat is sophomore Mardracus Wade from Memphis, the SEC's leading three point shooter at 49.0%. The guy was 5 for 5 against Georgia, and a lot of good that did, but still...you better guard him.

There's also a size issue here: Arkansas' top five scorers are all 6'5" and under. Jeronne Maymon and Jarnell Stokes, especially if he's healthy, could have a field day inside. It'll be interesting to see if Cuonzo decides to go small and play the Golden-McBee-McRae-Tatum-post lineup against this crew - that's a group that encourages a faster tempo though, so use with caution.

If Tennessee's identity is their defense again, the Vols should be able to frustrate this very young Arkansas team the way they've done Florida and UConn. The Pigs certainly have a complex on the road, and Tennessee has been playing very well at home: 5-1 since conference play began, the only loss a strong effort against Kentucky, four of the five wins coming by double figures, and the other the 60-57 win over UConn. Tennessee knows what they're doing now, and knows how to do it well enough, especially at home, to win a game like this if they play their game and not Arkansas'. I really think that's the biggest thing tonight: keep it slow, play your game, don't get tempted to get out and run. Keep making it about defense, and a team that hasn't won on the road all year shouldn't have enough to get their first one in our house. This team was mature enough to win in Gainesville - we should be mature enough to beat Arkansas in Knoxville.

Tickets are still available - if you're in the area, get out there and support this team's effort. We'll be here live tonight for the open thread, 8:00 PM ET - SEC Network/ESPN3.

Beat Arkansas.

Welcome to the Wayback Machine: Lady Vols 91, Kentucky Wildcats 54

2012-02-14T02:31:44Z

We're not talking Final Four. We promised. Now that that's out of the way, this was the most complete Lady Vol performance since Georgia, and against a team as good as the Miami team which got run off the court by the Lady Vols in the second half. The difference between this game and that Miami game?

Miami kept it close for 20 minutes. Kentucky kept it close for 120 seconds.

If anything, this was less the 2011 Lady Vols team that's been driving us up a wall and more a throwback to one of the many squads that have banners and jerseys hanging from the rafters. Again, this was one night, and we're not talking Final Four, let alone anything after that. This game, though? This was as much fun as you'd expect.

We have Meighan Simmons and Shekinna Stricklen to thank for the enjoyment. Stricklen came out motivated and did what she's capable of - not only be the best player on the court, but act like it. Simmons hit a couple of crucial early threes to put the game out of reach at 10-2 2 minutes in - and while that sounds weird to say, Kentucky's not a good enough shooting team to come back from a 15-point deficit without forcing a bunch of turnovers. Neither of those were happening tonight.

From there, this game started to get a little lopsided. Then it got a lot lopsided. Then it got ridiculous. If the last three weeks were the buildup of pressure, this was the valve releasing. The Lady Vols played smooth, they played relaxed, and they played composed. Against a Kentucky squad that thrives on chaos, they never stood a chance.

Breadsticks could easily go to Simmons, who had 25 points on the night - on 17 shots, no less. The pieces are coming together for her; again, we've seen this with her before, but it feels different somehow; it's not a blip, but a change in approach. If this is legitimate and this keeps up, watch out.

That being said, Stricklen would rip the breadsticks out of Simmons' hands and leave them lying on the floor next to Kentucky's heart. This game was the imposition of will game we've been waiting on, with the stats to show: 8-12 from the floor, 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 18 points in 25 minutes of action. More of that, please.

And yes, there's a reason I haven't talked about Glory Johnson before now. Answers and more notes below the fold.

Why didn't Glory Johnson get more attention against a team she dominated in Lexington? Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but questionable calls - to put it mildly in one particular instance (she got T'd up for bouncing the ball off a Kentucky player trying to get an out-of-bounds call) - limited her effectiveness when the game was still in doubt. She ended up with decent numbers (10 points, 6 boards), but the second half was garbage time.
The defense was fantastic all game. Kentucky never really solved Tennessee's zone, and it showed - 33% from the floor, 21% beyond the arc. They need to drive to get high-percentage shots, and the zone absolutely shut them down.
When you score 91 and empty the bench with 5 minutes to go, the effort's going to be complete. So let's credit Ariel Massengale for her good ball distribution (7 assists / 6 TO, which is good against Kentucky), Vicki Baugh for filling in after Kantner posted up Glory (8 points, 7 boards, dominating the game for minutes at a time), Kamiko Williams for stat-stuffing off the bench (6 points, 4 boards), and Taber Spani for doing some stablizing work (6 points on 2-6 from the floor, so not great, but 3 boards, 2 assists, 0 turnovers, a block and a steal).
It boggles my mind that the Lady Vols had a A/TO ratio of greater than 1 (22:19) and turned it over less than Kentucky (who had 20 TO). That isn't even the most insane stat of the night: the Lady Vols had 19 offensive boards to Kentucky's 9 defensive boards.
Dee Kantner and her crew are horribad. That is all (and since they're committed to being part of the narrative, I'm sure they're happy to be included in this game recap). If Dee Kantner held a party, invited you over, and you attempted to go inside her house, she'd call the neighborhood watch.
I give the crowd an immense amount of credit tonight. That was a vocal crowd, even by TBA standards. Incredible energy - and yes, I give them points for riding Kantner's crew early - and great voice the entire game. The first half even had a bit of gladiator arena feel, and for a brief moment, it felt like we went back in time a few years.
The minor sour grapes: yeah, those 19 TO aren't great, and not all of those were forced by Kentucky. Sloppy passing and slack play will hurt this team down the road (and has hurt them before, obviously), but in fairness, it's hard to focus when there's that much blood on the court.

Next week looks like a two-legged Mississippi road trip - Starkville on Thursday and Ole Miss on Sunday. Keep it up.

Reset: Lady Vols vs. Kentucky, 7 PM EST

2012-02-13T23:06:34Z

February 3, 2012
Knoxville, TN
7:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN2 / ESPN3
Internet Audio: Lady Vols Network
Live Stats: GameTracker

21-3 (10-1 SEC)
#7 (AP)
#7 (USA Today)
RPI: 9

17-7 (7-3 SEC)
#11 (AP)
#11 (USA Today)
RPI: 5

The SEC regular season race is all but sewn up. Even with a loss to LSU and a loss tonight, Kentucky still needs to drop one of their last four games to bring the Lady Vols into a tie for the crown. That's not likely, to put it mildly; Kentucky's other road games are in Tuscaloosa and Starkville (combined conference records of Alabama and Mississippi State: 4-18), and while their home tilts against Vanderbilt and South Carolina are tricky, they're surmountable. (Yeah, this paragraph hurt to type. Let's move on.)

A win for the Lady Vols tonight doesn't really do anything other than sew up the #2 seed come tournament time, which doesn't count for a ton. A loss puts Tennessee in a five-team tie at 8-4 heading into the home stretch including, a two-legged domination of Georgia, and Arkansas coming to Knoxville. (That isn't counting Vandy on the road against LSU and Kentucky, and South Carolina still has to face Georgia, Arkansas, and Kentucky.) In other words, even with a loss it's likely that Tennessee still ends up with the #2 seed.

Oddly, the fact there's so little riding on the game should be for the Lady Vols' benefit. It's a good opportunity for the Lady Vols to get out of their own head a bit. Matter of fact, Rocky Top Talk will make you a deal: play loose tonight and beat Kentucky and we won't start up Final Four talk afterward. Does that sound fair? Good.

Position	Name	Experience	Height	PPG	RPG	APG
G	Meighan Simmons	So	5-10	11.0	2.2	1.5
P	Glory Johnson	Sr	6-2	13.8	9.3	1.2
PG	Ariel Massengale	Fr	5-7	8.1	2.7	5.3
G-F	Shekinna Stricklen	Sr	6-2	14.9	6.4	1.9
G	Taber Spani	Jr	6-1	9.5	3.3	1.7
G	A'dia Mathies	Jr	5-9	15.1	5.3	2.6
G	Bria Goss	Fr	5-10	11.4	4.5	1.6
PG	Amber Smith	Sr	5-6	5.0	1.9	3.1
G	Kastine Evans	So	5-8	7.0	4.0	1.5
G	Brittany Henderson	Jr	6-2	3.7	3.8	0.4

So the last time these two teams faced off, the Lady Wildcats did a great job controlling large portions of the game - the first 32 minutes were controlled by A'Dia Mathies (and yeah, probably the rest of the team, but mostly Mathies with a little bit of Keyla Snowden), and while the Lady Vols did a good job of fighting back ~~before getting hosed on a charging call that wasn't consistent with the rest of the game at al~~l, it wasn't quite enough. Still, it's evidence that there's not much separating these squads; even a little correction or change like playing the game in Knoxville should be enough to swing the balance.

At this point, we know the story with the Ladies and their own heads. The last couple of weeks haven't changed anything, so the less said about it, the better. It's there (and if you haven't read either of those pieces, go ahead and read 'em, if only for a massive spoiler alert in the first and Hooper stealing the title for about 15 future posts in the second), we know about it, we'd like for something to be done about it, there's no guarantee something will be done about it, great.

The offensive game is simple; Glory Johnson should control the interior again (unless our favorite post-hating referee shows up, in which case I may just Fulmerize the game thread entirely), Vicki Baugh should have a blast, and even Alicia Manning should make some hay. That should leave Shekinna Stricklen and Cierra Burdick space on the wing and inside the arc (and hopefully outside the arc, in Stricklen's case), and Taber Spani - who was sorely missed - should get a few looks at least. And yes, Meighan Simmons, I see that you had 20 points on 11 shots in Nashville; keep it up. Ariel Massengale's job is deceptively complex, though; not only does she need to distribute well, but she needs to limit the team turnovers as much as she can.

The defensive game is also straightforward: bleed clock and take advantage of Kentucky's multitude of turnovers. There isn't a great ball distributor on this Kentucky team, nor is there a great shooter (Mathies is more of a driver than a spot-up shooter; of her 34 points in the first meeting, 10 came at the line and one of her two threes was a shot that still blows my mind). Preventing the 'Cats from aggregating a bunch of shots and running up a reasonably-sized lead is paramount, since we've seen that path once already. On a related note, controlling the glass - as always - is a big deal, but I'm not too concerned about that tonight, struggles against Vanderbilt aside.

It's no secret what Kentucky's going to try to do; cause chaos, force quick shots on the defensive end and take quick shots on the offensive end, and use the fact they're taking so many shots to fuel a win. It's effective, obviously (see the first game for what happens when it goes well), so in turn the solution is simple: don't do that. Control the pace. Ariel did a good job in January in her first exposure to this defense, so expecting a similar performance is fair. On a related note, I'd expect to see Briana Bass get a bit more PT than she did in Lexington due to her ball control abilities.

More than anything, just relax. Play your game, Ladies. This isn't hard, even if it feels like it is.

Prediction: 73-68, Tennessee. BassWatch: 9 minutes, first half. Ball control.

SEC Basketball Power Poll - February 13

2012-02-13T17:00:48Z

With three weeks to go, we have a pair of really interesting storylines: can Kentucky go 16-0, and which teams will emerge from the total gridlock behind them? Since conference play began, the assumption has been that this was a five bid league. But right now I could see as few as four or as many as six making the dance, and nine teams have to still be entertaining being among that group in the front or the back of their minds. With an amazing seven teams between 7-3 and 5-5, this is an especially difficult ballot, so as always your comments are appreciated. Read on and watch me stunningly resist the temptation to rank the Vols ahead of Florida.

1. Kentucky - 25-1 (11-0) - RPI 3 - KenPom 2 - BPI 1

Here's the thing with this bunch: they don't feel like it because Calipari's first UK team had so much flash with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, who were both more unique than anyone on this current team, and that 2010 team had all the Year One newness and hype...but this is Cal's best Kentucky team, and it may not be close. The last UK team to go 16-0 in 2003, with Bogans and Fitch? This team would embarrass them. Anthony Davis is a destroyer of worlds in the paint, but you can't say, "Well, we'll just shoot threes", because they're so long with Kidd-Gilchrist and Terrence Jones they block those too. How you get consistently unaffected shots against this team is beyond me. Semi-serious question: at what point does Cal decide to throw a game because he's worried his guys got bored? I could see them losing a second round tournament game because they weren't focused (like Princeton in the first round last year), but otherwise this should absolutely be a Final Four team at worst.

2. Florida - 19-6 (7-3) - RPI 26 - KenPom 19 - BPI 12

The Head to Head Police Department has no comment on the fact that the Gators are ranked above Tennessee. The Gators are still alone in second place in the standings, and are still in second in all three of the metrics listed on our ballot, so they hold at two despite getting dominated by the Big Orange for the second time this season. Before Saturday, we could say that the Gators simply did not lose at home. But in the light of Saturday's loss, the fact that Florida's only road wins this season are South Carolina and Ole Miss is a little more interesting, especially for a team that's getting ready to spend the week in Tuscaloosa and Fayetteville. Good time to catch Alabama without its four best players, eh?

3. Mississippi State - 19-6 (6-4) - RPI 44 - KenPom 72 - BPI 44

I'm glad I'm not a Mississippi State fan, because they would drive me completely insane. One week ago they gave up 88 points at home to an Auburn team that averages 63.6, barely escaping by three points. Not so lucky the next time in a 70-68 overtime loss to Georgia, also in Starkville. When they show up and actually decide to play defense, they've got the best chance to beat Kentucky (February 21 in Starkville). But that's certainly no guarantee on any night with this team, who will play four of their next five on the road with UK the only home date. Tennessee really could pass this team.

4. Vanderbilt - 17-8 (6-4) - RPI 30 - KenPom 30 - BPI 28

Apparently everyone agrees on this team's national worth, who threw some good punches in battling back against the Cats on Saturday night but still didn't have enough in the end like everyone else. Everyone involved with this team knows it will lose its six best players, so now has to be the time. They're at Ole Miss, at Georgia, and home against South Carolina in their next three before the tough finish: at Kentucky, Florida, at Tennessee.

5. Tennessee - 13-12 (5-5) - RPI 110 - KenPom 81 - BPI 84

With Alabama's four best players suspended and Arkansas incapable of winning on the road, the Vols move into the top five on our ballot. Tennessee is still suffering from their non-conference woes with losses to Charleston (RPI 116), Oakland (133), and especially Austin Peay (192). So despite UT's RPI being up 163 spots in that ranking since conference play began, the Vols are still a long, long way from an at-large bid. Still, Tennessee's two dominant wins over Florida are better than anything anyone else after the first four teams on our ballot has done this year. The Vols are 6-5 since conference play began and had their chances to win at Mississippi State and at home against Kentucky, as well as in a costly overtime loss in Athens. Tennessee's next three games are against the other three teams in that four-way tie at 5-5. No fate but what we make.

6. LSU - 14-10 (4-6) - RPI 75 - KenPom 80 - BPI 93

Here's where we play, "Who has the best losses?" The Tigers win that game among their former SEC West competition in the middle here, because their conference losses are at Alabama, at Arkansas, at Florida, at Mississippi State, vs Kentucky, and at Vanderbilt. They then got revenge on both Bama and Arkansas in Baton Rouge, and still own that 26 point win over Ole Miss. This is a team that could get on a serious run if they can beat Mississippi State in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, because after that it's at South Carolina, Georgia, at Ole Miss, Tennessee, at Auburn, and they could win every one of those games. The Tigers have just two wins against the RPI Top 100, but a strong run could boost them from the edge of the bubble conversation to the edge of the tournament itself. We'll see.

7. Alabama - 16-8 (5-5) - RPI 32 - KenPom 28 - BPI 27

They've got strong numbers across the board, but now without their four best players the week they host Florida and Tennessee, where do the Tide go from here? They bounced back nicely in the second half in Baton Rouge after their backups scored just 15 points in the first half, but still failed to get the win. They also lost at South Carolina earlier in the year, which is the Gamecocks' only SEC win. It's hanging by a thread in Tuscaloosa - very curious to see how Anthony Grant continues to handle this.

8. Arkansas - 17-8 (5-5) - RPI 64 - KenPom 93 - BPI 80

At home, they've beaten Mississippi State, Michigan, and Vanderbilt. On the road, they've beaten no one. In their latest effort, they were destroyed by Georgia - the worst scoring team in the league - 81-59. That's good news for the Vols, who will call the Hogs on Wednesday night. They do follow up with Florida and Alabama at home, if they can keep up their strong play there. 17-0 in Fayetteville, 0-8 elsewhere. Don't see that every day.

9. Ole Miss - 15-9 (5-5) - RPI 53 - KenPom 111 - BPI 81

The anti-Vanderbilt, no one can agree on them. I'm leaving them at nine, where we've had them for the last month, until they do something to separate themselves. The Rebels did beat Mississippi State in Oxford. Their other four SEC wins are Georgia, South Carolina, Auburn, and Arkansas (who loses to everyone on the road). They've also lost to Auburn and in that blowout in Baton Rouge. Their RPI gets a huge boost from non-conference games against Marquette, Southern Miss, MTSU, and Dayton. They lost all four of those games, three of them by double figures. Impress me.

10. Georgia - 12-12 (3-7) - RPI 98 - KenPom 120 - BPI 110

Dawgs are riding high off back-to-back wins over Arkansas and at Mississippi State, and they're at South Carolina next. Finding ways to get it done recently despite very little offense.

11. Auburn - 13-12 (3-8) - RPI 132 - KenPom 172 - BPI 142

Losers of three straight, they're off midweek before hosting Mississippi State on Saturday.

12. South Carolina - 9-15 (1-9) - RPI 177 - KenPom 148 - BPI 157

Nine SEC losses, seven by double digits. Yikes.

Talking Points Wonders If We're Joking About the Cage Fighting

2012-02-13T15:01:21Z

Yeah, cage fighting. It's later. But first:

Hoops. The rest of the world may have been surprised that the Tennessee team that had not yet won a road game beat a top 10 team riding a 19-game home winning streak, but Cuonzo Martin wasn't surprised, and in fact, he told the team before the game that Saturday was "the first time we're really ready to win a road game." The players just had that certain something that they'd been missing up until then:

When players walk with a certain type of swagger, a level of confidence — not cockiness, not arrogance — they can play, and they can compete.

Martin also said that the win was the first that the team had won on both ends. It also had some side benefits, the best of which was that it impressed Vol signee Derek Reese and the least of which is that it allowed Mike Strange to finish his work before he got off the plane just by apparently transcribing his taped conversations with fans in the airport. Another bonus is that it elicited this gem from Jarnell Stokes about his flagrant foul:

Basketball is a competitive game, and I wasn't going to let him score. But he's a big guy, and I'm surprised he fell like that.

Heh. Yet Life with Cuonzo means the celebration is short-lived (if not non-existent), and the team is already focusing on building the momentum Wednesday.

Here are the postgame quotes, notes, and YouTube playlist:

Football. VolQuest has a great article on what was happening during the hectic days leading up to National Signing Day for a coaching staff also dealing with staff changes. The staff gives props to AD Dave Hart for pulling out the stops and scrambling the private jets so that the reduced staff could get where they needed to go. Oh, and the chemistry between all of the new guys is coming along swimmingly, thank you.

Is this a joke? Does Tennessee's new training facility really have an MMA cage "so we can go in and fight and all that stuff"? If so, I want to see Dooley vs. Chaney.

Oh, I see. The "92" in this headline refers to the 92 yards to which Alabama's defense held then #1 LSU in the national championship game. It looks like this: (Oh, my drive chart program is broken. Fixing.)

Extras.

How quaint. The News Sentinel is publishing Letters to the Editor. And Lady Vols fans are upset at the appearance of John Adams in their soup.

Self-reporting for fun and profit. Here's the latest edition of Adventures in Overregulation.

Vandy coach James Franklin thinks feet taste like Fritos. Dude is kinda sorta backtracking on post-NSD comments calling out de-commitments for a lack of honor and integrity. There's much more to be said on this, but here's a short version: The adults should know that the term "commitment" in the context of recruiting, while well-established, is a complete misnomer. Sure, we call them "commitments" and "de-commitments," whatever those are, but really, everything is just an "intent" until the guys sign their letters (ironically called "letters of intent"), at which point it becomes something closer to a true commitment. Up until then, you're just trading class rings and sharing letterman jackets. Changing your mind on what you're going to buy before you buy it is different than "breaking a commitment," and the adults show know better. Hey, I understand it's a tough world and recruiting is a hard sell game, and so you want to do whatever you can to close the deal before it can actually be formally closed, but when it doesn't work, let's recognize it for what it is. Perhaps we should just stop using the word "commitment" entirely?

Recruiting Never Sleeps Part Deux: A Look Ahead To Tennessee's 2013 Defensive Class Needs

2012-02-13T13:00:22Z

To get you caught up in case you missed it, here's a link to Friday's offensive breakdown.

The Cliff's: UT has 70 scholarship players on its roster now with 14 signed high school players yet to make it into town. There's the possibility that the Vols could add one more player, but that's still up in the air. With only 13 scholarship players set to graduate after this upcoming season, that means UT can only bring in 14 kids in next year's class.

There will be attrition [check the rules listed in Part I of this two-part series on listing potential defections]. And we're going to operate under the thought that Derek Dooley will not be able to sign a full class of 25 but that the Vols will make it to 23-24 signees for the 2013 class.

NOTE: UT has a lot of defensive backs who can play cornerback or safety. So, we'll do a little projecting below. Again, there could certainly be differences in where I see a player fitting or moving to and where the coaching staff does. Again, as we mentioned Friday on the offensive side, some players may be listed twice.

So, without delaying any longer, let's break down the defensive side of the football.

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMEN [TACKLES/NOSE GUARDS]

Returning players: Sr. Maurice Couch, Sr. Daniel Hood, Sr. Daniel McCullers, Jr. Alan Carson, Jr. Greg Clark, So. Danny O'Brien, So. Trevarris Saulsberry, So. Trent Taylor.

Possible defections/roster questions: I don't see any way that Clark gets any playing time, so he's a possibility to go elsewhere or not be on the team by this time next year. Taylor is already 270, so there's a legitimate possibility that he packs on another 30 or more pounds and stays in the middle. He is going to be another one of those hybrid types, and it'll be interesting to see with Saulsberry's size where he winds up -- inside or out.

Recruiting targets: 2-3. I see the Vols wanting AT LEAST five defensive linemen overall in next year's class. How they sort that out remains to be seen, but with UT graduating three interior linemen -- and likely the three who will get the most playing time, finding help on the inside will be essential. My early guess is the Vols seek two big-body, 300-plus pound types to anchor the 3-4. This is a specialized position that would be best-suited to be filled with a huge player who can still move around some inside. I'll go with two, but that number could swell to three if the opportunity arises.

DEFENSIVE ENDS

Returning players: Sr. Joseph Ayers, Sr. Corey Miller, Sr. Darrington Sentimore, Sr. Marlon Walls, Jr. Jordan Williams, So. Trevarris Saulsberry, So. Trent Taylor

Possible defections/roster questions: Personally, I think Taylor stays outside, and I'm not sure about Saulsberry. Even so, with three graduating players in time for the 2014 class, I know Sal Sunseri will want to load up at this position. It's essential for UT to not miss on defensive linemen over the course of the next two classes. They'll always seek JUCO players who can immediately help, but the Vols really need to beat the bushes for quality four-year players on the lines, too.

Recruiting targets: 3. I'd say the Vols need to get at least three of these guys and potentially even four. Nobody left for 2014 has any proven impact ability. The Vols already have a commitment from Jason Carr, who is a perfect 3-4 defensive end, and they really want Frank Herron out of Memphis too along with Carl Lawson. These are the type of players the Vols are gearing toward, and you HAVE to take at least three. If four want to come, you can't turn them away.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

Returning players: Sr. Jacques Smith, Sr. Raiques Crump, Sr. Dontavis Sapp, Sr. Brent Brewer, Jr. Jordan Williams, Jr. Curt Maggitt, So. LaTroy Lewis

Possible defections/roster questions: Don't look at me like I'm crazy. I'd love to see Brewer move to OLB because I don't think he's good enough in coverage. Will it happen? It's not necessarily likely, but I still think it would be a good fit. Also, I could see Williams keeping his hand down if he continues to grow, but he's a possibility for being an outside backer in the 3-4. Already, UT has told Lewis that's where he'll play. As for defections, I'm not sure Crump or Sapp will ever be entrenched in the linebacker rotation, but they probably aren't going anywhere. I didn't list him, but I guess it's not out of the realm of possibility that Cody Blanc grows into an outside linebacker.

Recruiting targets: 2-3. The Vols have to get at least two players here, even though the two outside linebacker positions in a 3-4 are extremely different. One side is more of a coverage 'backer, and the "Jack" as Alabama calls it, is a big pass rusher. That's the spot Smith, Lewis and possibly even Williams will occupy. Look for Tennessee to go after more kids who could play DE or LB in the 3-4, but two is the minimum they need on the outside.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

Returning players: Sr. Greg King, Sr. Channing Fugate, Sr. John Propst, Jr. AJ Johnson, So. Christian Harris, [hopefully Sr. Herman Lathers, if he gets another year, which is doubtful]

Possible defections/roster questions: This is a big spring for Fugate, who is moving from fullback to linebacker, where he played in high school. If he doesn't fit there, it wouldn't surprise me to see him jump ship. Also not certain Propst is going to be a fit at all anywhere in the 3-4. So, that leaves UT pretty thin on the inside to say the least.

Recruiting targets: 2-3. Same scenario as the outside, the Vols desperately need two true inside linebackers in this class with the late defection of Dalton Santos and Otha Peters from this year's class. The reason I believe the numbers almost have to shake out for Dooley to sign 24-25 is because there are so many needs, and inside linebacker is a place where the Vols simply have no depth. I doubt the Vols would turn down three inside backers if they wanted to come, and they'd just do something with numbers to make them all fit.

CORNERBACKS

Returning players: Sr. Izaeua Lanier, Sr. Eric Gordon, Jr. Justin Coleman, So. Tino Thomas, So. Deion Bonner, So. Daniel Gray

Possible defections/roster questions: None.

Recruiting targets: 2-3. At least. I know that UT has taken very big DB recruiting classes over the past two years, but the Vols have a bunch of targets already at corner for this upcoming class and are sitting pretty with players like Jalen Ramsey and Corn Elder. It just seems like you always want to take two or three defensive backs, and the Vols already have one commitment -- albeit a shaky one -- from potential five-star corner Mackensie Alexander of Immokalee, Fla.

SAFETIES

Returning players: Sr. Brent Brewer, Sr. Eric Gordon, Sr. Byron Moore, Jr. Brian Randolph, So. Geraldo Orta, So. LaDarrell McNeil, So. Cody Blanc

Possible defections/roster questions: None.

Recruiting targets: 1-2, depending on numbers. I'd love to see Tennessee take two safety types, and they already are in decent shape with Ramsey and Vonn Bell out of the Chattanooga area. I don't get some saying this is such a dire position of need. There's some quality players on the depth chart, and there also are a couple of corners who could switch over like Prentiss Waggner has done in his career. Gordon, Moore, Thomas ... all those guys have the body types to play either.

PUNTERS

Returning players: Jr. Matt Darr, So. George Bullock

Possible defections/roster questions: None.

Recruiting targets: None, unless you count Jonathan King, and we discussed him along with the offense.

Wherein Kentucky Basketball Fans Expand Their Vocabulary

2012-02-13T01:28:24Z

Upon seeing this, your first inclination may be that it is fake -- a joke.* No no. It's realer than real deal Holyfield, and at time of publication is still on the front page of merriam-webster.com.

*To be fair, it is hilarious like a joke.

(Hat tip to Card Chronicle -- the excellent SBN site for the University of Louisville Cardinals -- for discovery of this gem.)

Tennessee 75 Florida 70 - Vols Repossess Billy Donovan's House

2012-02-12T00:08:50Z

Nevermind the margin, aided by four garbage threes in the last 35 seconds. Tennessee came into Gainesville and dominated #7 Florida. Again.

Florida hadn't lost at home all year. Over. Tennessee hadn't won on the road all year. Over. Tennessee hadn't scored 75 points since heavy competition began with the second Memphis game. Over. Players not named Renaldo Woolridge were 5 of 37 from the three point line in their last three road games. Over.

And for a season that many were forced to believe would end, at best, with settling for a third-tier postseason tournament we'd never heard of and putting an emphasis on the future? Tonight that's over too. Tennessee goes to 13-12, gets back even at 5-5 in the SEC, and could be in a four way tie for fifth place in the SEC by the end of the night, just a game out of third.

There were lots of ways to finish above .500 and hope the NIT called your name. But none would've helped Tennessee's RPI more than what they did tonight. Now the Vols need only a split in their final six regular season games to get above .500...and right now, a split might feel like a disappointment.

But more on where the Vols go from here in a moment. First, let's talk about how Tennessee imposed their will on the Gators for the second time this season.

The games really were remarkably similar. Tennessee had a banged up Jarnell Stokes this time, who had four points, two rebounds, and two steals in eleven minutes. The Gators were without Mike Rosario and lost Will Yeguete early in the contest, but let's not de-emphasize this win just because Florida was without their sixth and seventh leading scorers.

Both times, Tennessee broke away midway through the first half with key inside play and selective, clutch three point shooting. Both times, the Vols went ice cold midway through the second half. But both times, the Vol defense made sure the Gators did nothing about it.

Today, Tennessee made one shot from the 12:29 mark to the 6:00 mark. Jeronne Maymon added a pair of free throws, but the Vols scored just four points in six and a half minutes. But during that same span, Florida made just one shot. The Gators went 0 for 5 with a pair of turnovers and a pair of missed front ends on 1-and-1s. And Tennessee's lead was never truly in jeopardy. The Vols led 65-51 with 2:25 to play before the game got stretched out with garbage threes and free throws.

Florida shot 41.7% from the floor and 11 of 30 (36.7%) from the arc. But Tennessee's defense still made a difference in forcing 15 turnovers and keeping Florida far away from the offensive glass - the Gators had just five offensive rebounds on 28 missed shots, and three of those came in the final minute.

That, of course, was mostly the work of Jeronne Maymon, who turned in a 15-11 performance despite shooting just 5 of 14 from the field. Jordan McRae, who was big in the first half, added six rebounds and a dozen points. In the Knoxville game, Cameron Tatum had nine but Skylar McBee didn't attempt a shot. Today, Tatum didn't attempt a shot but McBee had a baker's dozen. The Stache was 4 of 7 from the arc and 1 for 1 in taunting the Gator student section.

Balance was again the name of the game: in Knoxville, six Vols had at least seven points. Today, six Vols had at least six points, including the one who may be most responsible for the outcome: Trae Golden, with 17 points and 7 huge assists. The Vols didn't just beat Florida with tough defense, they played a very high IQ brand of basketball on the offensive end, breaking the press and finding the open man with the extra pass more often than not, with Golden leading the way.

But again: everybody contributed, and the Vols continue to be at their best when that's the case. We get nothing from Tatum and almost nothing from Stokes...and we dominate.

Bruce Pearl came in and changed the Florida rivalry with flat out domination: the Vols won eight of the first nine meetings with Pearl and Donovan on the sidelines, including 3-1 against Florida's dual National Champions. But at the end of Pearl's run, Donovan got it back with four straight wins. Tennessee was still right there last year against an Elite Eight Gator squad, losing the two regular season games on the final possession. But this year under Cuonzo Martin, Tennessee has simply done exactly what they wanted to do to what everyone believes is a very good Gator team. Twice. Neither of these games was close, neither of them a fluke.

Tennessee is dominating Florida in basketball, again.

Mandatory Reality Check in the Epilogue

Because some of you will say, "Hey, what about the NCAA Tournament?"

So here's a good swift kick to that question: had the Vols won the overtime games against Memphis and Georgia and not lost the Austin Peay debacle, Tennessee would be 16-9 (6-4) right now, and yeah, we'd be talking tournament. To say nothing of close losses to Pittsburgh, Mississippi State, and Kentucky. While the margin doesn't always matter, every game does count in this thing.

But at 13-12, the question now isn't the NCAA Tournament. I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm simply saying it's easier to win three or four games in New Orleans than to complete the sort of run it would take to earn an at-large bid at this point. So please, let's not talk about Tennessee's NCAA resume right now. Let's talk about Arkansas.

That's who comes to town Wednesday night in what becomes an incredibly important game. Not only are the Vols playing to improve their NIT chances, they're playing to climb the SEC ladder...and the Razorbacks, who also cannot win on the road, are their most direct competition in both races. It's also a nice little showdown for Cuonzo Martin and Mike Anderson in a battle of first year coaches.

Today, the goal is not this tournament or that tournament. It's get better. That goes through Arkansas on Wednesday night, at home where the Vols play very well with what should now be a really good crowd.

Tennessee is on a roll. I'm interested to see how far this roll can take us. But in this thing, you're only as good as your latest win. Tonight, the Vols are very good, and we should all enjoy this. Come Wednesday, let's keep it rolling.

Go Vols.