HoopNotes:I love ya,Tomorrow..

#1
orange+white=heaven

orange+white=heaven

VN GURU
Joined
Feb 16, 2005
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#1
Will tomorrow be the day Ut basketball makes the jump from sweet to elite? I may burst before 10pm Thursday...

TheNotes for the day before the day of...

You'll often hear someone here at TheNation say they wish some of the hoops team mojo would rub off on the football team. That makes these comments from Pearl about wanting his basketball players to be around the football team all the more interesting...

tfpOnline:Estes
Right away, Pearl hoped the tradition and attitude of coach Phillip Fulmer's football team would rub off on his players. He also wanted them to notice how much weight was being hoisted around the room and feel humbled.
Of his immediate decisions at UT, Pearl may like this one the best.
"They know how they have to train, and our football team expects to win," Pearl said. "I wanted my players around that."
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When it matters most, Bruce Pearl finally likes the shape of his Tennessee men's basketball team.
Whereas last year's Volunteers faded down the stretch, "We have not tired this season. We have gotten stronger," Pearl said.

Pearl's reasoning for the excess energy is a deeper nine-man rotation, a scaled-back full-court press this season and, actually, Tennessee's football team. Since his arrival before last season, Pearl has insisted his players lift in the football weight room.
"I think you're seeing the results of that this year," Pearl said. "We couldn't get that at the end of last year because, quite frankly, it probably wore us out a little bit. So we're definitely fresher, and I think conditioning is a factor. It's part of the story of this team."
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Scouting the opponent...
Tony Jones scouted Ohio State in January, so he took the primary assignment for Thursday night. The Vols' other top assistants took potential opponents in Saturday's Elite Eight, with Jason Shay drawing Memphis and, of course, Steve Forbes eyeing Texas A&M.
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Forbes doesn't need to scan much tape. He was a member of the Aggies' coaching staff last season before taking a job under Pearl.
"I'm they're biggest fan when we're not playing them," Forbes said. "When you make something from nothing, you do have to go through a lot, and we went through a lot as players and as a staff. There's a tough, emotional bond I have there with those players."
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On JP Prince..
Tennessee transfer J.P. Prince was home in Memphis on spring break while his new teammates played their way into the Sweet 16.
"I stayed pretty calm," Prince said. "Knowing what's going on, it's a little different than the average fan. You kind of know what play is about to get called or who's about to get the ball in certain situations."

Since his arrival, the touted 6-foot-6 guard has practiced as a member of the Vols scout team. He has also regained strength lost in a prolonged struggle last summer with an infection caused by the removal of his wisdom teeth.
He has added 15 pounds and thinks he's ready to help.
"I don't have that much longer," Prince said. "I have my legs back where I feel like athletically I'm back to where I was junior, senior of high school. It's been a while since I felt that comfortable."
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R-E-S-P-E-C-T...
A week after saying he had retired the respect card due to the Vols' success the past two seasons, Pearl is breaking it out again for the loaded Buckeyes.
"They've got at least three or four NBA players on that roster," Pearl said. "We don't have any NBA players at Tennessee."
As a whole, the national media has favored top-seeded Ohio State to top Tennessee. This isn't lost on Pearl or his players.
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"We don't back down from anybody," UT guard Chris Lofton
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#4
#4
I have never been more nervous/excited about a Tennessee basketball game that I am right now.
 
#7
#7
I don't agree that we don't have any NBA players on our team. I believe that we have at least 3 that have a good shot of playing in the league one day...
 
#9
#9
utvol0427 said:
I have never been more nervous/excited about a Tennessee basketball game that I am right now.
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I second that.

I'm sure he was just trying to motivate the team, but Ramar and Lofton will make it to the NBA, along with Chism possibly.
 
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