HoopNotes:It's A Man's World

[orange+white=heaven]

Don't know if Duke Crews is old enough to appreciate the James Brown sound, but he's starting to prove he understands the sentiment of the verse.

For Crews, who has a Pearl for a coach, the SEC may soon become his oyster...

Just one story to put in TheNotes today, and by some coincidence, Crews is in the spotlight.


TheNotes...

tfpOnline:Crews Busts Slump

Duke Crews hasn’t been himself lately.
Fellow Tennessee freshman Wayne Chism realized this when he slapped hands with Crews for Tuesday night’s first substitution and said, “It’s your turn now.”
Four dunks, 18 points and one big Volunteers victory later, Crews can say he’s no longer slumping.

The Wildcats didn’t find much of an answer for Crews, who suddenly rediscovered his game after losing his starting spot amid illness and a rough patch for the entire team.

“It kind of messes with your head when you’re in a slump,” Crews said Tuesday night. “A lot of times when I’m not playing well, I try to force things instead of playing the game like I know how. Tonight I got in the flow of the game and everything just fell in my hands.”

An 18-point effort on 7-of-10 shooting matched a career-high and was Crews’ best total since the Southeastern Conference opener Jan. 7.

“For him to come out of his slump, he chose the right game,” UT guard JaJuan Smith said. “We needed him out there.”

the Kentucky game was played before former Vols star Ernie Grunfeld, who is now the president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards. A Hampton, Va., native, Crews knew Grunfeld because of his role with a nearby NBA club.

“I don’t think it was any coincidence that Duke played one of his best games with Ernie in the house,” Pearl said.

How much energy does Crews bring the Vols? Consider that he scores 10.7 points per victory and 4.9 points per loss.
Right away, Tuesday was different. Crews continually exploited Kentucky’s 2-3 zone defense by driving behind it. He worked the baseline for points and Wildcats fouls. All eight of the Vols’ first-half foul shots went to Crews...

“I just relaxed and let the game come to me,” Crews said. “The guards got me the ball in position to score. That’s what it was.”

Chism added 16 points against the Wildcats, giving him at least that many in three of his past four outings. The two players’ 34 points tied an overtime win over Texas for their most productive game of the season.

“You would just anticipate that the freshmen would physically break down at some point,” Pearl said. “The way those guys trained in the summertime and the fall, and now at this point in the season, they’ve already played more basketball this year than they’ve ever played at any year in their lives.

“But I think they’re all doing well.”

Time to get that elusive road win neighbors..

Go Vols!!!

 

[tidwell]

Said it in the game thread, will say it again... Welcome bac, Duke! :rock2:

 

[tdtnvols2004]

Our frshman are doing great. Ramar, Crews, Chism, Tabb, they are all doing their part in the game.

 

[OWB]

Hopefully he can keep it up. It's a different story when Duke can step up and score while Chism is catching his breath.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

Hopefully he can keep it up. It's a different story when Duke can step up and score while Chism is catching his breath.

Something I don't get about the psyche of players...
How is it that one player can so often be so much better coming off the bench rather than starting??

It's the same game. Why is one guy a better starter, and another a better sub...

 

[VolTSX23]

Thanks OWH.

 

[utvolpj]

Something I don't get about the psyche of players...
How is it that one player can so often be so much better coming off the bench rather than starting??

It's the same game. Why is one guy a better starter, and another a better sub...

Sometimes it's easier to adapt to the flow of the game than create it. Some like to take a moment and see how the game is going before jumping in.

(At least that's what I was doing on the bench )

 

[crazyguy]

(At least that's what I was doing on the bench )

my job was to keep the pine warm....