Tempo problems...

It's no secret: Slowing down the Vols is easy.

Winning a game once you slow them down is another story.

However, the Vols need to change their offensive mindset once tournament play starts, because EVERYONE is going to try to slow the game down against the Vols.

Because the Vols are used to pushing the tempo and gaining extra possessions as a result, they do not hesitate to fire up all manner of shots and play a tad loose with the ball.

When teams slow their offense down, we have trouble adjusting to that. We want to play our usual style of offense while we let the other team play their way while we are on defense.

To win in March, however, I think that Coach Pearl needs to teach his players to value each possession just a bit more. Coach always says that we're not going to change who we are, and I agree with him: we should not change who we are, which is a team that has shooters at all positions and isn't afraid to hoist one from anywhere. We can still be ourselves and value each possession more.

What do I mean by "valuing each possession more?"

We have to recognize that we're not going to get as many bites of the apple on offense when the opponent waits until the shot clock is under 5 each time they have the ball. We have to make our possessions count. This means we need some more feeding the ball into Tyler in the post. We need more driving to the basket. We need more foul shots. Yes, we need more foul shots. Why? I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I would bet that the more FT's we attempt in a game, the better we are at them.

In essence, when teams slow it down, we need to play each possession on offense like we are down 3 or 4 with 2 minutes left. Like the Ole Miss game. Like the Memphis game. Value each possession. Make them count. Get a good look, or get fouled going to the basket. Pump fake and stick it up their nose once in a while.

Just don't do things like throw the ball directly to the opponent after making an incredible defensive play. That's how we will lose games in March. We're better than that. We're smarter than that.

Postgame thoughts: Ole Miss

We won, and that is a good thing. Our home winning streak remains intact (as does the Jacqui Pearl streak!), and we're off to a 1-0 start in league play. Both good things. Also, losing this one would've hurt us more than winning helped us. We MUST hold serve at home.

What upsets me is that I don't feel like the players decided the game by themselves. The officials dominated this game by not taking it over when they should have and by injecting themselves when they shouldn't have. The refs hurt both teams in this one. I'm not saying that they necessarily affected the result, but they undoubtedly affected the game, and not in a good way.

BAD non-calls
1. Chism's mugging on the dunk attempt
2. JaJuan's getting fouled on a layup late in the 1st half
3. numerous walks
4. Kennedy out of the box more than Pearl
5. obvious carry by Warren on a drive

BAD calls made
1. technical on Coach Pearl
2. out-of-bounds to Ole Miss in front of their bench late in game
3. making Ole Miss shoot 1-and-1 instead of 2 shots at the end
4. calling a foul on Tyler Smith where Warren initiated contact and Smith got a clean block
5. offensive foul on J.P. Prince


The non-call on the Chism dunk was probably the most egregious non-call of a foul that I have ever seen.

Can the Vols hold a lead? Do you think that we'll ever, you know, EXTEND a lead that we get? It just doesn't seem the hallmark of Pearl's teams, but hey, it makes for an exciting finish, doesn't it?

That's not to say that Ole Miss didn't earn every bit of their comeback last night. They did. This is not an isolated occurrence, though. Arkansas '06, Kentucky II '06, Auburn '07, Ohio St. II '07. When we get up big, I get nervous, and I wish I didn't have to.

Why did they get rid of the t-shirt gun? Not that I actually enjoy the timeout activities at TBA, but if you're throwing t-shirts, at least give someone a chance outside the first 15 rows, OK?

I'm a Coach Pearl believer, but I think it's time to pull in the reins a bit tighter on Wayne's threes. OK to shoot them when winning by 20. Not OK last night.

I am excited for the prospects of having crowds like last night's for each and every home game from here on out.

If we can win our next two games, I'm betting that we're going to be challenging Memphis for #1 in the RPI. Saw that USC got their three-point guy back from injury, though. Not good.

We could not stop Warren. Not Juannie, not Jordan, not Ramar, not Chris. His outside shot wasn't the same after that airball, though.

Don't you just want to crush Vandy? Yes, I'm looking ahead. It's OK, I'm not playing.