Tennessee

Tennessee vs San Diego St: Odds & Prediction

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:32:50 -0400

Start: Mar 18 2010 - 9:55pm

Team Previews: #6 Tennessee -- #11 San Diego St

Vegas Odds: Tennessee -3.5

Why San Diego St. will win: The Aztec frontcourt will outperform Tennessee’s big men. Malcolm Thomas and Billy White will control the boards as well as combine for at least twenty points while freshman Kawhi Leonard will also produce. And point guard D.J. Gay will navigate Tennessee’s defense without turning the ball over.

Aztec to Watch: G D.J. Gay - 10 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg

Tennessee can still slap a good full-court press on you, making Gay’s job as the point guard extremely important in regards to the Aztecs’ chances of winning. If he can distribute as well as put up some points himself this becomes a game that SDSU is more than capable of winning.

Why Tennessee will win: Wayne Chism and Scotty Hopson will take over the game offensively and J.P. Prince will make smart decisions on that end of the floor. The Volunteers will force turnovers and control the boards against a San Diego State squad that doesn’t lack for size.

Volunteer to Watch: C Wayne Chism - 13 ppg, 7 rpg, 1 apg

The senior needs to play well against a solid San Diego State frontcourt if the Volunteers are to win. Does he have to score 20+ points? No, but he will need to defend and rebound against the likes of Thomas, White and even Brian Carlwell.

How it will go down: Expect late-game dramatics from one of these teams in picking up the win. The pick here is San Diego State with the freshman Leonard having the last word. Aztecs by a basket.

Betting Pick: San Diego St. +3.5

Real Pick: San Diego St.

SEC in the NCAAs: UK Will Carry the Banner

Jason Brubaker — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:22:19 -0400

Last year, every team in the SEC had plenty of time to watch the Sweet 16 from their couches, as not a single team advanced past the first weekend, confirming what everyone knew all along...the SEC just flat out wasn't good last year.

But things should be different this year, with Kentucky entering the tournament as one of the favorites to win it all, and Tennessee and Vanderbilt in position to advance as well. Even with Mississippi State being left out of the field, the SEC should be able to hold their head a little higher this year. Here's a look at each of teams' tourney predictions.

Kentucky (32-2, 14-2 SEC)

#1- East (vs. East Tennessee State)

Will advance if: The freshmen keep their composure. PG John Wall has been incredibly clutch all season, and Eric Bledsoe stepped up during the SEC Tournament. If DeMarcus Cousins keeps his emotions in check, he can team with Patrick Patterson to form the best front court in the nation. No team boasts as much overall talent as the Cats, and talent wins games in March.

Will go home if: The outside shots aren't falling. The Cats have gone through cold shooting stretches this year, and against a team like Wisconsin or Temple, defensive teams who slow the pace and make you maximize your possessions, the Cats' shooting woes could haunt them. The lack of experience will also be interesting to watch. Can a team with three freshmen in the starting lineup handle the pressure?

Prediction: The Cats' thrilling ride to the SEC Tournament title may have answered some questions about how this young team would react in a one-and-done environment. The Cats have unmatched athleticism in the back court, terrific size in the front court, quality players off the bench, and a swagger that belies their youth. Everything is set up for them to make a deep run, and with at least three players likely headed to the NBA after this season, they should play with a sense of urgency. Expect some tight games along the way, but in the end, the Cats simply have too much talent to go home early, and they should cut down the nets this year.

Vanderbilt (24-8, 12-4 SEC)

#4 – West (vs. Murray State)

Will advance if: AJ Ogilvy gets involved. In the Commodores eight losses, he's averaged 9.2 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. In their 24 wins, he's averaged 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. The 'Dores have balanced scoring with Jermaine Beal, Jeffrey Taylor and John Jenkins averaging double-figures as well, but they need Ogilvy to be a scoring threat in the post if they want to win.

Will go home if: They don't score. Sounds simple right? Well, in six of their eight losses, they failed to reach 70 points, and four times, they failed to even reach 60. When Vandy's offense stalls, they tend to force the issue and abandon their system, leading to rushed shots and transition chances for the opponent. Foul trouble up front has also doomed them at times this year, and if Ogilvy goes out, they could be in trouble.

Prediction: The Commodores should knock off Murray State in the first round, setting up an intriguing match-up in the second round with either Butler or UTEP. Vandy has the talent to beat both teams, but would probably rather see Butler, who lacks the inside presence of Derrick Caracter and UTEP. If they get past this game however, they're likely to match up with top-seeded Syracuse, who probably has too much overall talent for them. Look for Vandy to make it to the Sweet 16, but it would be a surprise to see them advance further than that.

Tennessee (25-8, 11-5 SEC)

#6 – Midwest (vs. San Diego State)

Will advance if: They decide to play. This is a Vols team that has wins over Kansas and Kentucky, yet also lost by 22 to USC, by 19 to Vanderbilt, by 15 to Georgia and by 29 to Kentucky just two weeks after beating them. The Vols have a ton of talent, but don't always play with the intensity they need to. Seniors Wayne Chism, JP Prince and Bobby Maze need to step up to ensure the Vols come ready to play every night.

Will go home if: They lose their focus. Tennessee is an emotional team, and when things don't go their way, they've ended up on the wrong side of some blowouts. Against UK in the SEC Tournament, a tense game against a heated rival turned into a rout when the Vols lost their composure and began trash-talking. How will they handle adversity in the tournament, where emotions are at an all-time high for both teams?

Prediction: The Vols are a scary pick in March. They have the talent to make a run to the Sweet 16, possibly even the Elite 8, if they play to their potential. Scotty Hopson is a special talent on the wings when he is aggressive, and they have a lot of veteran players who can lead them. Unfortunately, that hasn't always happened this year. They should win their first game, but a second-round game against a hot Georgetown team could spell doom for them. The Vols certainly have the ability to knock off the Hoyas, and possibly even Ohio State in the next round, but it's hard to put a lot of stock into them, not knowing if they'll be focused and ready to play each night. Look for them to be home watching the Sweet 16.

Florida (21-12, 9-7 SEC)

#10 – West (vs. BYU)

Will advance if: Vernon Macklin is aggressive. Even at his best, Macklin won't make anyone forget Wilt Chamberlain, but the Gators are 14-4 when he scores in double figures, and just 7-8 when he doesn't. A scoring Macklin gives the Gators an inside presence to balance out the perimeter scoring of Erving Walker, Chandler Parsons and Kenny Boynton, and allows Alex Tyus to play a little further from the basket.

Will go home if: They don't defend. The Gators shoot only 31% from three-point land, and have struggled to score for long stretches this season. They're a very good defensive team, but a few lapses combined with their offensive ineptitude could send them packing early. They've ridden their defense all year, and they need to continue to do so if they want to advance.

Prediction: The Gators struggled down the stretch, losing four of their last five, and some felt they shouldn't even have received a berth. They have a number of close losses this year, and although they play hard, they probably just don't have enough talent to expect a long stay in the dance. They'll need to shut down Jimmer Fredette if they have any chance of knocking off the Cougars, and even then, they'll need to play better on the offensive end than they have for much of the season. If they were to get by BYU, they don't have the horses to run with Kansas State in the second round. Look for the Gators' stay in the Big Dance to be a short one.

Tennessee 2010 NCAA Tournament Preview

Joel Welser — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:18:54 -0400

Tennessee Volunteers

Southeastern Conference (25-8, 11-5)

Big Wins: 1/10 Kansas (76-68), 2/27 Kentucky (74-65), 3/6 at Mississippi State (75-59)

Bad Losses: 12/19 at USC (55-77), 1/23 at Georgia (63-78), 2/23 at Florida (62-75)

Last NCAA Appearance: 2009, First Round loss to Oklahoma State

Coach: Bruce Pearl (7-6 in 6 NCAA appearances)

Why They Can Surprise:

Tennessee has gone through some tough times this year, but Coach Bruce Pearl has done a great job holding his team together. And the senior leadership of Wayne Chism has done a lot to keep this team moving in the right direction. This is not a great rebounding team by any means right now, but they would be awful without Chism. The 6-9 senior is easily leading the team with 7.1 rebounds per contest. Chism is also an effective scorer around the basket or beyond the arc. That versatility would make him a great power forward, but he has to play the five spot on this team, which is perfectly fine for a team that likes to run up and down the floor.

The senior leadership of Bobby Maze has helped as well. The point guard was good last year and he is quickly becoming great this time around. He can score, but his superb assist-to-turnover ratio is much more important to the Volunteers. Another senior, J.P. Prince, is trying to pick up some of the scoring slack. His versatility is impressive as Prince can score, hit the glass, play great defense and even pass very effectively. Scott Hopson is not a senior, but he too has been a staple of the Tennessee backcourt for two years. He is the team’s most consistent outside shooter and, at 6-7, he can often simply shoot over the opposing defender.

Why They Can Disappoint:

The development of Hopson and Prince is so important because of the dismissal of wing Tyler Smith. Smith was the heart and soul of this team and was one of those rare players who could do a little bit of everything. Heading into Smith’s senior year, there was even Player of the Year mumblings around the country. But Smith only lasted 12 games and suddenly he was gone. Three other players were suspended and missed some time, but they all came back. A player who never made it back was Josh Tabb who left the team in November. There has been many times this season where the Volunteers were forced to play with a lot of inexperienced players. But as long as they can survive without Smith, it will make them deeper and better in the long run as players like Melvin Goins and Skylar McBee gain valuable experience and Cameron Tatum attempts to turn into a quality sixth man who can help replace Smith’s scoring versatility.

Who To Watch:

Renaldo Woolridge has started some games beside Chism. While the 6-8 wing is not perfectly suited for the power forward position, he will at least alter some shots and grab some rebounds. The other option, and a player who has been forced into more playing time than most expected, is Kenny Hall. The 6-8 freshman needs to get stronger, but he will have to play some quality minutes along with Brian Williams or Tennessee will get beat against teams with a strong interior presence.

Probable Starters:

Bobby Maze, Senior, Guard, 9.6 ppg, 3.0 apg

J.P. Prince, Senior, Guard, 9.3 ppg, 2.9 apg, 1.6 spg

Scotty Hopson, Sophomore, Guard, 12.5 ppg, 1.2 apg

Wayne Chism, Senior, Center, 12.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.4 bpg

Brian Williams, Junior, Center, 5.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Melvin Goins, Junior, Guard, 5.1 ppg, 1.9 apg

Kenny Hall, Freshman, Forward, 4.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg

Skylar McBee, Freshman, Guard, 3.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg

Cameron Tatum, Sophomore, Guard, 7.5 ppg, 1.1 apg

Renaldo Woolridge, Sophomore, Forward, 3.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 75.0 (54^th in nation, 6^th in conference)

Scoring Defense: 65.2 (90, 4)

Field-Goal Percentage: 46.1 (52, 3)

Field-Goal Defense: 39.2 (19, 3)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.0 (185, 8)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.3 (230, 8)

Free-Throw Percentage: 66.7 (239, 10)

Rebound Margin: 1.1 (155, 7)

Assists Per Game: 14.8 (52, 2)

Turnovers Per Game: 13.2 (128, 7)

Follow Joel Welser's Postseason Capsules & College Basketball Previews on Twitter @Joel_Welser and on his Facebook page. Joel will be back in June for his annual Top 144 Teams in 144 Days preview on CollegeHoops.net

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Poll: Who Will Win the SEC Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:22:19 -0500

Tennesse's OUTLIVE Campaign Raises Over $130,000

Matthew Ryter — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:47:47 -0500

In 2007 the University of Tennessee community had learned that their star player, Chris Lofton, had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Lofton beat the cancer through early diagnosis and treatment and went on to play during the 2007-08 season while battling this disease. With the help and permission from Lofton, Brooks Savage created “OUTLIVE”, a program that attempts to raise awareness and money for cancer research and screenings.

On Saturday, Tennessee hosted #3 Kentucky, a game televised nationally on CBS. It was a perfect opportunity for OUTLIVE to get its message out, selling hundreds of orange t-shirts to create an "Orange Out." The event was a success as well over $100,000 was raised for cancer screenings & awareness.

The creator of OUTLIVE, Brooks Savage, a graduate assistant, started off as a student manager during his freshman year under then coach Buzz Peterson and remains with the team now under Bruce Pearl. Brooks was nice enough last year to talk to CHN about this program and agreed to answer a few questions again this year.

Interview with Brooks Savage, OUTLIVE

CollegeHoops.net: What is the goal of the OUTLIVE program?

Brooks Savage: The main goal of the program is to raise awareness and money towards cancer prevention and early detection screenings. The idea of the screenings is to catch symptoms early. Cancer can be treatable when caught at its earliest stages.

CHN: How far has the program come in its inaugural year? What is the biggest obstacle this time around?

Brooks: Last year OUTLIVE raised more then $93,000 and helped the UT Medical Center provide more then 2,500 free cancer screenings. So far this year we have raised over $130,000. About $223,000 in 13 months.

Last year the story was fresh and new. It’s harder the second time around to figure out ways to appeal to the community and draw attention to it

CHN: Last year’s t-shirts were white and featured a different design. How did you come up with new T-Shirt design this year?

Brooks: We came up with three different t-shirt designs and posted them on the UT website (utsports.com). The fans voted and the most popular design won. The back of the shirt is also different. Last year featured a quote from Chris and this year it has “Together We Make a Difference.” It’s going to take all of us to beat this disease. This year we went with an orange shirt – we want to create an 'orange-out' effect.

CHN: Do you still stay in contact with Chris?

Brooks: Yes, we talk about once a week. He’s healthy and is playing well. He plays in Spain for a team in Madrid called Asefa Estudiantes. His team recently played Ricky Rubio’s team (Editor’s Note: Lofton scored 20 points in 30 minutes in a 79-70 loss to Rubio’s Regal Barcelona team )

CHN: What is an “orange out?” How can people buy a shirt?

Brooks: On Saturday we played host to Kentucky. Tennessee and Kentucky is one of the best rivalries in the country, so we wanted all the fans to wear these shirts to create an “orange out “ effect and also support our fight against cancer. The shirts can be purchased on campus, online, or at the local Walgreens, which has pledged to donate 100% of the proceeds to the UT Medical Center.

CHN: Are there other ideas/events to take OUTLIVE to the next level?

Brooks: We have participated in different events to raise awareness for the program. We hosted a benefit that Florida head coach Billy Donovan attended the night before we played them in Knoxville. He is a first class coach and person and it is great to see the support from other teams. Our team has visited the hospitals to give patients a sense of normalcy. Different sponsors, the local channels and the Volunteer Network are also doing a great job in spreading the word. Coach Pearl and his wife, have been fantastic in promoting it and trying to find new ideas to benefit the program.

You can help Brooks and the UT Medical Center fight cancer by purchasing an OUTLIVE t-shirt online or donating to OUTLIVE.

Also: Watch Coach Pearl talk about the 2010 OUTLIVE Campaign at a weekly press conference.

College Hoops Tuesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:12:41 -0500

Another night and another opportunity for bubble teams throughout the nation to add a solid victory to their resumes. Florida and Louisville have opportunities at home to just that and it's fitting that the coach of one school (Billy Donovan) was coached by the head coach of the other (Rick Pitino). The Gators are coming off of a crucial win at Ole Miss on Saturday in a game that likely was an "elimination match" for the loser. Taking on a Tennessee team that struggles with shot selection, something that was ignored in the Vols' early post-suspension surge, the Gators definitely have a chance to pick Tennessee off.

Wayne Chism led the way in the first meeting, posting a double-double (16 pts, 11 reb) in the Volunteers' 61-60 victory with rebounding (41-32 UT) being a major reason why they won. Overall the Gators are a better rebounding team, ranking fourth in the SEC in rebounding margin while the Vols are fifth. Chism, J.P. Prince and Kenny Hall will need to handle the boards if Tennessee is to win in Gainesville. Vernon Macklin had one of his best games as a Gator on Saturday and when he and Alex Tyus are playing well Billy Donovan's team is that much better. Chandler Parsons and Erving Walker are the two primary options on the perimeter but Walker managed just nine points in the first meeting.

As for the Cardinals and Hoyas this could be the "perfect storm" for Louisville. Georgetown's style doesn't lend itself to blowing teams out of the water, and the combination on their willingness at times to settle for perimeter shots and Louisville's 2-3 zone could mean a win for the home team. Edgar Sosa's played well for much of the season at the point and if Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings can stay out of foul trouble the Cardinals have the ability to frustrate the Georgetown offense. And once again keep an eye on Georgetown's Chris Wright; as he goes so go the Hoyas this season. If he isn't scoring and distributing the Hoyas struggle no matter how much Austin Freeman and Greg Monroe produce.

TV GAMES

7p ESPN Illinois at Michigan
7p ESPN2 Georgetown at Louisville
7p ESPNU Syracuse at Providence
9p ESPN Tennessee at Florida
9p ESPNU Hofstra at Northeastern

OTHER GAMES

7p UNC Asheville at Winthrop
8p Kansas St at Texas Tech
10p New Mexico at Colorado St

ONE PREDICTION

Louisville over Georgetown: Not saying that Louisville's zone is as good as the one that Syracuse employs but they can be bothersome for anyone much less the Hoyas. Add in their full-court pressure that can speed up the tempo and the Cards can definitely pick off Georgetown. Louisville by seven.

SEC News & Notes: Blocks Record, POY, More

Jason Brubaker — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:20:39 -0500

Some SEC News & Notes, as I am trapped inside with around 18 inches of snow on the ground here in Cincinnati. (Yes, I realize other areas of the country have much more than that, but this gives me an excuse to be lazy and stay in front of the television watching college basketball). So without further ado, here's what's happening around the league.

•    Wayne Chism has never been the most popular player amongst opposing fans in the SEC, but even the most ardent Tennessee opponent has to admire his play this year. Since the dismissal of forward Tyler Smith, Chism has averaged 15 points and a little over eight rebounds per game, and has piled up three-double-doubles in that time, including a monster 26-point, 12-rebound effort in a win over Ole Miss. He’s also taken on more of a leadership role, playing through numerous injuries to help the Vols stay on track for the NCAA Tournament.. His inside/outside game causes mismatches for opponents, and he's even played his way onto the NBA radar as a possible second-round pick. If the Vols make any noise this postseason, it's a certainty Chism will lead the way.

•    LSU has been awful this year (0-11 in the SEC), but the play of Tasmin Mitchell shouldn't be overlooked. Mitchell is averaging 17 points and just a shade under 10 boards per game, and should surpass 2,000 career points by the end of the season. He's seen it all during his LSU career, visiting the Final Four as a freshman, suffering a season-ending injury as a junior, and now struggling to lead an undermanned team as a senior. However, his effort has always been terrific, and by all accounts, he's a terrific leader on and off the floor. I'm sure he envisioned a better senior season than this, but regardless, he deserves recognition for a great overall career.

•    The SEC Weekly Awards have been finding their way to Lexington quite a bit this year. Through the first 14 weeks, Kentucky has claimed 12 awards, including ten Freshmen of the Week awards and two Player of the Week awards. John Wall alone has five FOW awards, and his sixth could be on the way after a near triple double against Mississippi State. The next best school? Vanderbilt, with four awards, including two FOW awards for guard John Jenkins.

•    How different would Arkansas' record be if they had Courtney Fortson all season? Fortson was suspended the first 14 games of the season, as the Hogs went just 7-7. Since his return, he's averaged 19 points, five rebounds and six assists, and the Hogs have climbed to first in the jumbled SEC West. Fortson's energy and scoring ability has pumped life in Arkansas, and they're going to be a tough out in the SEC Tournament.

•    His team is just 14-11, and he's likely to go undrafted in the upcoming draft. He doesn't have the exposure of players like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, and, if he wasn't in uniform, he might be mistaken for a team manager. Yet South Carolina's diminutive superstar, Devan Downey, has firmly planted himself in the SEC Player of the Year argument. In conference games, Downey is averaging a shade under 29 points per game, despite being the focal point of every opposing defense. Downey's detractors will point out that his numbers have been inflated because he has taken more than twice as many shots as anyone else on his team, which is currently fifth in the SEC East. However, what he's done this year is nothing short of remarkable for an undermanned team that needs him to score - and score big - to have a chance to win. The Gamecocks' record may prevent him from taking home the award, but I'd have a hard time arguing against him.

•    With five regular season games left, as well as at least a couple of postseason games, it's almost a certainty that Jarvis Varnado will end his career with more blocked shots than anyone in Division I history. The long-armed Mississippi State senior is only 14 blocks shy of tying Louisiana Monroe's Wojciech Mydra, who holds the record with 535 blocks. After Tuesday's loss to Kentucky, Varnado is averaging 4.9 blocks per game, meaning he should be in striking distance of the record during the Bulldogs' Feb. 27 match-up with South Carolina. Of course, he also has 24 career games with seven or more blocks, so he could get there even sooner. It's not every day that an NCAA career record falls, and Varnado should be congratulated on his efforts when he gets there.

•    And finally, to the Mississippi State fans who threw objects on the floor following the heart-breaking loss to Kentucky...grow up. Emotion and passion are what makes college sports great, and we've all been frustrated as fans when things don't go our team's way, but there's no excuse for what happened on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs were undermanned and outclassed in talent, yet played their tails off the entire game and nearly pulled off an incredible upset. But instead of their team being congratulated for their effort, it's the fan base that is getting the headlines, and for all the wrong reasons. I realize that it only takes a few fans to make an entire stadium or arena look bad, but this unfortunately gives a black eye to the entire university. Let's hope this is something we don't see again.

SEC Tournament Watch: Who Will Be Dancing?

Jason Brubaker — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:19:32 -0500

Valentine’s Day for many people involves an intimate dinner, flowers, perhaps some candy, maybe even a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the snow. But for college basketball fans – it means that teams have one month left to earn their dance cards. One more month of proving their worth against conference opponents, trying to build momentum as they enter March.

With the conference season halfway done, the SEC is in decidedly better shape than last year, when Cupid arrived and saw a mess of bubble teams that had no shot of reaching the second weekend. This year, as many as six teams could find themselves dancing, although as always, there’s still a lot that can happen.

Here’s the breakdown right now.

Tournament Locks:

Kentucky: 23-1 (8-1 SEC)

RPI: 6

Strength of Schedule: 51

Key wins: Vanderbilt, at Florida, Mississippi

Bad losses: None

Big games remaining: Tennessee, at Mississippi State at Vanderbilt, at Tennessee

The Cats have hovered in the top five all year, and should be in contention for a top seed come March. Despite some inconsistent efforts and youthful mistakes, they’ve simply been able to overwhelm people with their talent all year. Their non-conference schedule doesn’t look great, especially with North Carolina, Louisville and UConn struggling, but if they continue to win like they have, it won’t matter. With three tough road games left, it’s not unconceivable that the Cats could stumble once more, but barring a major surprise, they should be quite pleased on Selection Sunday.

Tennessee: 18-5. (6-3 SEC)

RPI: 19

Strength of Schedule: 38

Key wins: Kansas, Mississippi

Bad losses: at USC, at Georgia

Big games remaining: at Kentucky, at Florida, Kentucky, at Mississippi State

The Vols have responded better than many thought after the dismissal of star Tyler Smith, but they still have work to do to improve their seed. Since losing Smith, the Vols have knocked off Kansas, but also have dropped a pair of games to Vandy, and struggled to win against Florida and LSU. They still have a pair of games left with Kentucky, and winning one of those would be huge for their resume. Right now, the Vols look to be around a 5-seed, but they could go a couple spots in either direction depending on how strong they finish the season.

Vanderbilt: 18-5 (7-2 SEC)

RPI: 18

Strength of Schedule: 24

Key wins: Tennessee (2), Florida, Missouri

Bad losses: Western Kentucky, at Georgia

Big games remaining: at Mississippi, Kentucky, at Florida

The Commodores are a team to keep an eye on in March. They have veteran leadership, a balanced attack, and are playing well as of late, having won nine of 11 since the calendar flipped to 2010. If they’re able to score an upset of Kentucky in a huge home game on Feb. 20, they could find themselves as high as a three-seed in the NCAA. Right now, they’re probably in 5-seed range along with Tennessee, but they’re certainly capable of climbing higher. Look for Vandy to be a tough out this year in the NCAA Tourney.

Probably Dancing:

Mississippi: 17-6 (5-4 SEC)

RPI: 39

Strength of Schedule: 52

Key wins: at Kansas State

Bad losses: None

Big games remaining: at Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Florida

The Rebels are in good position to make the tournament, but they may need to find another signature win somewhere. They don’t have any terrible losses, with four of their six losses coming to teams ranked in the top 15, and the early season win over Kansas State continues to look better. However, the Rebels need a strong finish to avoid being on bubble watch. If they’re able to get to 10 conference wins, and make a good showing in the SEC Tournament, they’ll likely find themselves in the 8-9 seed range. Knocking off Vanderbilt would be a huge boost for their resume.

On the Bubble:

Florida: 17-7 (6-4 SEC)

RPI: 50

Strength of Schedule: 70

Key wins: Michigan State, Florida State

Bad losses: South Alabama

Big games remaining: at Mississippi, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, at Kentucky

The Gators have been rolling lately, having won six of their last seven heading into a showdown with South Carolina on Wednesday. They don’t always win pretty, and have relied on some late-game heroics more than once, but regardless, they’re still sitting in a good position heading into March. They have two great non-conference wins, and even the loss to Richmond doesn’t look as awful as it did at the time. However, they’re still searching for a big SEC win to add to their resume. If they’re able to hold home court against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, as well as knock off Auburn and Georgia, 10 conference wins should get them into the tournament. They’re certainly not a sure thing, but they’re on the right track.

Mississippi State: 16-7 (4-4 SEC)

RPI: 71

Strength of Schedule: 126

Key wins: Mississippi

Bad losses: Rider, Western Kentucky

Big games remaining: Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee

The Bulldogs have plenty of work to do if they want to dance into March. The good news for them is that they’ll have plenty of chances, starting with a showdown against Ole Miss on Thursday. The Bulldogs also have homes dates with Kentucky and Tennessee, and they’ll probably need both to make their resume more tournament-worthy. Rick Stansbury’s club has some nice pieces, but they haven’t seemed to find a rhythm in conference play, having lost four of their last five. It’s not too late to make a run, but for a team that entered the season with expectations of a deep run through March, they’ve been largely disappointing so far.

On the Outside But Have a Chance:

South Carolina: 14-9 (5-4 SEC)

In all likelihood, the Gamecocks will need to win the SEC Tournament to earn a bid, but don’t count them out. Devan Downey is making a run at SEC Player of the Year, and he’s shown the ability to carry the team through long stretches. Another win over Kentucky certainly wouldn’t hurt, but overall, they still probably need to win out to even think about the bubble.

Arkansas: 13-11 (6-3 SEC)

Like South Carolina, the Hogs probably have too much work left to do to count on an at-large bid, and will need to run the SEC Tournament to get in. However, with Courtney Fortson back, the Hogs are a dangerous team, and they’re playing their best ball of the season right now. They may not win it, but look for the Hogs to at least put a scare into someone during the SEC Tournament.

There’s always next year:

Georgia 10-12 (2-7 SEC)

They may be the best 10-win team in the country, but at the end of the day, they’re still a 10-win team. The Dawgs have some good pieces, but just don’t have enough to compete this year.

Alabama 13-11 (3-7 SEC)

Like Georgia, the Tide can’t be faulted for their effort, but they just don’t simply have enough talent. On the bright side, spring football practice is only a couple months away.

Auburn: 12-12 (3-6 SEC)

The Tigers have attempted close to 600 three-pointers this year. When you’re shooting them at 32 percent, that’s not a recipe for success.

LSU 9-15 (0-10 SEC)

Nothing much to say here. The Tigers just simply aren’t a good team. Help may be on the way next year, but unfortunately, they have to finish this season first.

College Hoops Tuesday Recap: Boilermakers Win in East Lansing

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:33:54 -0500

The wisdom of many (myself included) was that it would be near impossible for Tom Izzo's Spartans to lose a third consecutive game, regardless of whether or not Kalin Lucas was at full strength. Well, Purdue showed just how flawed that thinking was, using a 15-4 first-half run to take the lead for good and surviving a Michigan State rally to win 76-64 at the Breslin Center. E'Twaun Moore led the way with a game-high 25 points, including a crucial three to answer a Chris Allen bucket that cut Purdue's lead to 65-62 with just over four minutes remaining. From their the Boilermakers allowed just two more points in putting the game away, dropping the Spartans into a tie for first place in the Big Ten with Illinois.

"He [Moore] is a very confident player and when he lets the game come to him he can quietly score 25 points," said Purdue head coach Matt Painter after the game. "He made some big plays tonight and some big shots. He has worked on his game and has come a long way, which has put him in a good position (quote courtesy of msuspartans.com)."

JaJuan Johnson added nineteen and Robbie Hummel fifteen in the win, which moved Purdue to within a half-game of the Spartans with the rematch in West Lafayette on February 27th. Getting out to the 47-33 lead at the half was huge for Purdue, who looked more like the team some expected to make a run at the Final Four earlier in the season, because they didn't execute as well while the Spartans made their run. But just as important as having the ability to put together solid margins is to have a player (or players) who can make things happen offensively when the team needs a crucial bucket.

And if Tuesday's finish is a sign of anything it's that Purdue has that man in E'Twaun Moore. "We got it down to three and E'Twaun Moore hit a tough shot behind that ball screen and that's what they do and that's the way he plays and he played well," said Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. As for Michigan State, who next plays at Penn State, they need to find consistent production from Raymar Morgan and Durrell Summers if they're to remain the favorite in the Big Ten as well as make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

Three Key Happenings

1. Go ahead and write Illinois into the NCAA Tournament...in pencil. It's too early to refer to Bruce Weber's team as a lock for the Big Dance but they took one giant leap in that direction, beating Wisconsin in Madison 63-56 to move into a tie for first place. Demetri McCamey (27 points) and Mike Tisdale (19) led the way for an offense that made 53.3% of its shots while defensively limiting Wisconsin to 35.7%. In the second half the Badgers, who were led by 15 points from Jason Bohanon, made just 25.8% of their field goals and whenever they made a run either McCamey or Tisdale would answer. In fact, how well the Illini fair the rest of the season will likely depend on McCamey's play.

"Every time he does something good and you compliment him, he seems to go back to his old ways," remarked Illinois head coach Bruce Weber after the game. "He had a slow start and some turnovers and some bad decisions and then he got clicking and had a great finish to the half. He did some big time things throughout the game; he's really playing like we've wanted to (quote courtesy of uwbadgers.com)." With guard play being such a vital component it should be seen as a sign that Illinois has a realistic chance to win the Big Ten.

2. Texas Tech remains alive on the bubble while likely ending Oklahoma's hopes. Neither team in Norman was going to sew up an NCAA berth with a win but a loss would be devastating to either squad. And after the Red Raiders' 72-71 win in Norman they've kept their hopes alive. Oklahoma was able to cut the lead to three on a couple of occasions but the Red Raiders were able to hold them off, sweeping the regular season and surpassing a team that beat Texas Saturday in the Big 12 pecking order. John Roberson led all scorers with 22 points while Tommy Mason-Griffin scored 16 for the Sooners. But when three of your four starting guards don't shoot well from the field you're going to be punished, as Oklahoma was on this night.

Willie Warren, Mason-Griffin and Cade Davis combined to shoot 11-for-35 from the field, and when you're on a team that lacks consistent bench scoring you need something from all major contributors in order to entertain thoughts of winning games like this as well as remaining a competitive out in games against ranked opponents. This is a lesson the Sooners are likely to remember next season while Texas Tech picked up a crucial road win before taking on a treacherous foursome in Texas A&M, Baylor, Texas and Kansas State.

3. Tennessee's in more trouble than some may think. It's bad enough to lose in Nashville given the Commodores' recent triumphs at Memorial Gym but Bruce Pearl's teams wasn't particularly competitive in their 90-71 loss. Jeffrey Taylor scored a game-high 26 points and Jermaine Beal added twenty as Vandy made 47.1% of their shots on the night. Those numbers simply underline the Volunteers' recent defensive struggles (on the road their defense is similar to what Clemson's press does away from Littlejohn Coliseum) and if they don't correct this area Tennessee is going to be a rather quick out come March.

How can Tennessee improve defensively? One solution is to simply get tougher, especially on the boards. The Commodores were a plus-9 in rebounding margin and Coach Pearl alluded to that in his postgame press conference. "They are physical; they did a great job on the boards. They particular did great on the offensive end. They were more physical than us, they were tougher than us (quote courtesy of vucommodores.com)." Outside of Scotty Hopson (8-12 FG) the Volunteers didn't shoot well from the field and finished with just one less turnovers than the Commodores. And things could become worse before they get better with a trip to Lexington next up for the Vols. Finesse is fine but every once in a while a team needs to throw its weight around.

Top Three Games

1. Vermont 76, Boston University 75 The Catamounts needed an Evan Fjeld layup with 9.4 seconds remaining to move into sole possession of second place in America East. John Holland led the Terriers with 29 points and seven rebounds but Vermont's Marqus Blakely was just as important with 21 points, 12 rebounds three assists and two blocks.

2. Texas Tech 72, Oklahoma 71 See above.

3. Houston 74, Western Kentucky 72 Aubrey Coleman led the Cougars to a road win with 29 points and 11 rebounds, but the game was decided on a technical foul called on WKU head coach Ken McDonald after a foul was called with two tenths of a second to go. Kelvin Lewis made both free throws to provide the final margin. Sergio Kerusch led the Hilltoppers with 19 points.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Tommy Freeman (Ohio) Freeman made eleven of fifteen from the field, scoring thirty points in the Bobcats' 90-74 win over Western Michigan.

2. G Aubrey Coleman (Houston) Coleman accounted for another double-double with 29 points and 11 rebounds in the Cougars' 74-72 win over Western Kentucky.

3. Evansville and Tennessee-Martin These two teams get a special nod due to them both picking up their first conference wins of the season. The Aces knocked off Wichita State 65-62 while the Skyhawks beat Southeast Missouri State 73-70.

College Hoops Tuesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:07:03 -0500

Injuries can be the great equalizer in sports, turning a race that looks to be all but over into a contested sprint to the finish line. Michigan State can attest to that, with point guard Kalin Lucas (ankle) going down against Wisconsin and being unable to play at Illinois in a second consecutive loss on Saturday night. Tuesday's matchup is in East Lansing but none easier, especially if Lucas is unable to go. Matt Painter's Purdue Boilermakers suddenly find themselves with a chance to move to 8-3 in Big Ten play while handing the Spartans their third conference loss, which would mean that four teams (Illinois visits Wisconsin) would end the night with three losses.

Purdue's won five straight, most recently squeaking out a three-point decision at rival Indiana, and their depth's received a boost in the form of point guard Lewis Jackson returning from injury. With Jackson out (he's played just under 14 minutes per game in three games) the Boilers lacked a true point guard to initiate their offense. And as he rounds into form a team that features the versatile Robbie Hummel and big man JaJuan Johnson becomes that much better. Add a defensive star in Chris Kramer (who likely will draw Lucas should the All-American play) and youngsters gaining experience and you've got a team that still should be considered as a Final Four possibility.

Michigan State will need consistent games from Chris Allen and Durrell Summers on Tuesday if they're to take care of Purdue with out without Lucas. Keep an eye on the rebounding numbers; if Purdue can't keep Draymond Green and company off the boards while also keeping Johnson out of foul trouble it's going to be a long night for the visitors. Also of importance in the Big Ten is Illinois' trip to Madison; despite beating Michigan State Bruce Weber's team could use a big road victory (Clemson's diminishing the value of that comeback by the game) on their resume. Vanderbilt hosts Tennessee in the first of two huge games for the Volunteers (at Kentucky on Saturday) and a pair of bubble hopefuls currently on the outside looking in get together in Norman (Texas Tech and Oklahoma).

TV GAMES

7p ESPN Tennessee at Vanderbilt
7p ESPN2 Georgetown at Providence
7p ESPNU Virginia Commonwealth at George Mason
7p BTN Illinois at Wisconsin
9p ESPN Purdue at Michigan State
9p ESPNU Alabama at Kentucky
10p MTN Colorado St at Air Force

OTHER GAMES

7p Vermont at Boston University
7p Akron at Central Michigan
8p Texas Tech at Oklahoma

ONE PREDICTION

Michigan State over Purdue: Definitely a risky pick should Lucas not be able to go or be limited in his return. But it's tough to pick Tom Izzo's team to lose three straight games. This is a tough group who will be able to feed off of the Izzone's energy in holding off the Boilermakers.