Izzo, Michigan St. end Vols' tourney run

If you look at the stats for Michigan State's 70-69 win over Tennessee, you'll see that they were about as close as the score was.

The Vols shot 24-of-48 from the field (7-of-16 from 3-point range), the Spartans shot 24-of-52 (6-of-18 from 3-point range). Tennessee was 14-of-21 on free throws, while Michigan State went 16-of-21 from the charity line. On the glass, each team had 24 rebounds. Both teams were also careful with the ball, giving up just 10 turnovers each.

On paper, it was close. Really close. Yet the Spartans are the ones wearing the Final Four hats and t-shirts, hoisting up the regional championship trophy and getting the CBS post-game interviews, while the Vols sat with their heads in their hands, reliving each moment that could have gone the other way and maybe changed the outcome of the game.

You could blame Brian Williams for missing two free throws that would have tied the game with less than five minutes left. You could blame the refs for missing some foul calls on Michigan State in the paint. You could blame J.P. Prince for getting two fouls in three seconds, leading to an 8-1 run by the Spartans while he was on the bench.

The fact of the matter is that each of the nine Vols who took shots during the game missed at least one. That's pretty much how it goes in every game at any level. Unnecessary analysis of every play is pointless, especially since the game is over.

If you're looking for the real reason why the Vols lost, look no further than Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo.

In 15 seasons as the head coach, Izzo has accumulated a 363-144 record and taken the Spartans to 13 straight NCAA Tournaments. In his fourth season, he led Michigan State to its first Final Four since 1979, and the Spartans won the national championship the next season. Since winning the national title, Izzo has made it back to four Final Fours, including a championship game appearance last season.

Izzo has a strong argument to say he's the best coach in the country. Saying the Vols didn't win because of avoidable mistakes is just getting it wrong, because it degrades Izzo and his team of their accomplishment. They advanced two rounds without starting point guard Kalin Lucas, who led the team in scoring this season.

Against a Vols team that had dominated its past two opponents inside the paint, Izzo hit the mark on his defensive strategy. Michigan State made a non-factor out of Wayne Chism, who terrorized Ohio State inside in the Sweet 16, holding him to just three points in the second half. The Spartans held their ground in the paint, forcing the Vols to play on the perimeter for much of the game.

When the game came down to the wire, it was clear that Izzo and his players had been there before, and UT head coach Bruce Pearl and the Vols had not.

On the last Michigan State possession after Scotty Hopson made one of two free throws to tie the game, there was apparent confusion about defensive assignments, forcing Prince to bite the bullet and commit a foul with two seconds left. When the Vols had 1.6 seconds left to inbound the ball and get a 3-point attempt, they completely botched the play when Prince, a not-so-adept long-range shooter, took a half-court shot that was nowhere close to the rim.

Maybe the players didn't execute instructions, but blame ends up falling on Pearl. However, he shouldn't have to face too much fire. After all, he did just deliver Tennessee's first Elite Eight appearance and nearly had them in the Final Four as a six-seed.

The Vols survived a scare against San Diego State, found their stride against Ohio, held on to beat a national player of the year in Evan Turner and Ohio State, then stayed close and played a solid brand of basketball against an elite defensive team in Michigan State, all while several people picked UT to lose in the first-round.

There's no shame in putting forth true effort and coming up short. No shame at all.

Sometimes the ball just doesn't bounce your way.

Chism wills Vols to first ever Elite Eight

There are so many storylines for the Vols making their first Elite Eight in school history with a 76-73 win against Ohio State.

Wayne Chism's performance takes the cake.

The senior scored 18 of his team-leading 22 points in the second half, dominating inside the paint. It was clear that Chism was not willing to let his UT career end without making history. After two previous trips to the Sweet 16 with no victories, Chism willed his team to the next round, giving the Vols the lead twice in the final six minutes.

And talking to Bill Raftery after the game on national television, Chism could have been cocky and gloated in the moment. Instead, he kept things classy and calm, making it apparent that even this isn't satisfying enough of an accomplishment to put things in cruise control the rest of the way.

Seniors J.P. Prince and Bobby Maze were also big contributors in the historic win. Prince, who had 14 points, mostly avoided his usual bonehead plays, and even stuffed Evan Turner on a desperation 3-point attempt that could have tied the game. Maze added a quiet 10 points, but helped the Vols defense keep the Buckeyes' shooting in check.

It was appropriate that Chism dominated the floor after entering the second half trailing to Ohio State. He is the only current Vol who played in the 85-84 Sweet 16 loss to Ohio State in 2007. In that contest, he logged just six points in 17 minutes of play while watching his team give up a 17-point halftime lead to the eventual national runners-up.

Seriously, though: of all five of Bruce Pearl's UT squads, it would be this one that made it to the Elite Eight.

We all know about "the incident," so I won't even talk about it or do any hyperlinks. But after losing three players indefinitely and permanently dismissing two-time All-SEC player Tyler Smith, the makeup of this team seriously changed.

This would have been a very understandable time to curl up and die. Instead, they banned together. They played some ugly basketball, lost a few bad games, but eventually found their way.

Despite an improbable recovery of the season, the Vols continued their signature poor postseason play in the SEC Tournament, including a 73-45 romping from the hands of Kentucky, they looked poise to be another NCAA Tournament burnout.

Instead, the Vols took their six-seed, played like they actually had a chip on their shoulder (instead of just making the claim) and made history.

But the Vols might not be finished just yet. Tennessee can advance to the Final Four with a win Sunday over Tom Izzo and Michigan State.

That's no small task, even though the Spartans lost Kalin Lucas to injury in the second round of this tournament. Michigan State has been here before, and the Vols obviously haven't.

But so far in this tournament, the Vols look like a team that won't be satisfied with an Elite Eight bid.

It appears they know there's more history that can be written.

(Read the original story at TNJN.com)

Vols beat Ohio, move on to Sweet 16

Solid performance, Vols. You took Option Three, and I'm eating my words.

UT advanced to its third Sweet 16 in four years with a 83-68 win over 14th-seeded Ohio Saturday. The Vols didn't just avoid another upset bid like they did against 11-seed San Diego State Thursday, they proved that they were the better team.

There's one main reason Tennessee won: the Vols outscored the Bobcats 58-12 in the paint.

It's no secret that Tennessee's half-court offense has been shaky this year, as it usually consists of the Vols passing the ball around the perimeter and taking a contested jumper with the shot clock winding down. But hats off to Bruce Pearl and his staff for understanding what they had to do to win the game. They kept play inside the arc, only shooting 14 3-pointers (they made five).

The Vols also had a solid defensive night against guards Armon Bassett and D.J. Cooper, who combined for 55 points 10-of-18 3-point shooting in Ohio's first round upset of Georgetown.

Bassett, who averaged over 29 points a game in Ohio's last five games, was held to just seven points in 40 minutes of play. That's a testament to Bobby Maze, who has has successfully defended multiple high-scoring guards this season.

Depth also played a role in the game, with Tennessee's bench outscoring Ohio's 28-16. It should be noted that DeVaughn Washington scored all 16 of those point, and while he didn't start, he did play all but two minutes of the game. In Ohio's 97-point outing in the first round, its bench only accounted for 10 points.

Now the Vols get to play in the Sweet 16, where things really start heating up. They'll play the winner of the 2-10 match-up of Ohio State and Georgia Tech.

The Vols have always played better as the underdog (refer to the 2007 tournament), so they could do well against the two-seed Ohio State. Since few of these Vols were around when Ohio State came back from 17 points down to beat the UT 85-84 in 2007's Sweet 16, I'm not even going to say that revenge will be a factor. But after seeing how Tennessee responded against Kansas and Kentucky, I imagine they would elevate their play against the Buckeyes.

Georgia Tech would be the other option for the Vols in the round of 16. The Yellow Jackets were one of the last at-large teams placed in the tournament, and pretty much only made it in because they gave Duke a close game in the ACC Tournament.

Although Georgia Tech has been inconsistent this season, it features three players with NBA talent. ESPN Insider has power forward Derrick Favors projected to be a top-five pick in this year's NBA Draft, while Gani Lawal and Iman Shumpert are rated as potential first-round picks, too. Their size alone could bother the Vols, as Favors is 6-10, and Lawal is 6-9.

What some of these Vols will remember is getting smacked by Louisville in 2008's Sweet 16, 79-60. Between that and a first-round exit last year, there has to be a bitter taste on the some of these guys' tongues.

Expect Wayne Chism, as well as the other seniors, to lift this team on their shoulders in hopes to do something no other Tennessee team has done: reach the Elite Eight.

(Read the original story at TNJN.com)

Vols escape Aztecs, will need more to advance

The Vols have found their niche in college basketball this season as the clumsiest thieves around.

Despite being the only team in the country this season to knock off two teams that were at one point ranked No. 1, the sixth-seeded Vols were one of the popular upset picks of the first round. Many thought they would fall in their matchup against 11th-seeded San Diego State.

Tennessee escaped with a 62-59 win Thursday against the Aztecs, but only after breaking a decorative vase, having the watch dog gnaw on their legs and setting off the alarms.

But hey, they got away, and you can't really complain about that. For the sake of argument, though, let's do just that.

UT received a sixth-seed for the NCAA Tournament, which many felt was too low for a team that won 25 games. As if that wasn't a big enough slap in the face, CBS analyst Seth Davis immediately picked the Aztecs to upset the Vols, which seemed to influence many brackets around the nation.

Along with the bitter taste of last year's first-round exit from the NCAA tournament and last week's 29-point thrashing at the hands of Kentucky, one would think Tennessee would put everything they had into looting this year's event for everything it was worth.

Thursday night, however, saw a team that, once again, had an inexplicable lack of drive and motivation.

Within minutes it was clear that SDSU was not a team to be scared of. The Vols had definitely knocked off bigger foes. But UT just couldn't, or maybe wouldn't, runaway with a game that could have been theirs with much less nailbiting.

Credit where credit is due, Tennessee did some things well. The Vols shot 47 percent from beyond the arc and only committed 10 turnovers. Those are numbers belonging to great teams.

As tends to be a trademark with the Vols though, the box score did not describe everything. There were a lot of air balls, they didn't have a scathing defens, and no Vol had an overall commanding presence that the tournament tends to demand from winning teams.

Yes, a win's a win, and the name of the game in postseason play is 'survive and advance.' Especially for these Vols, who perennially struggle in postseason play. But you can't convince me they played like a team that truly deserves a Sweet 16 spot.

With 14th-seeded Ohio's upset of third-seeded Georgetown, it appears that Tennessee's road to their third Sweet 16 in four years has become much easier, although, Ohio should not be underestimated in the slightest. The Bobcats shot over 50 percent from 3-point range and had two players combine for 55 points Thursday.

There are three scenarios that can occur Saturday afternoon:

1. The Vols lose: They come out slow and are blindsided by Ohio's ability. The Vols can't escape the hole they dig for themselves, giving a disappointing end to the careers of three seniors who have been heavy contributors.

2. The Vols win: They play with an unconvincing matter, not their very best effort, but just well enough to get by.

3. The Vols dominate: They play competitive and tough basketball from the get-go, handling a team that they are better than, giving them plenty of momentum and confidence heading into the Sweet 16 and beyond.

Obviously, as a UT fan hope for Option three. I'm not expecting this team to make some crazy run for a National title, but I expect to see heart. I expect to see pride. I expect their best effort.

Because as we've seen this season, when the sincere effort is there, this team can accomplish very special things.

(Read the original article at TNJN.com)