University of Tennessee Athletics
VOLUNTEERS TAKE ON GAMECOCKS IN SEC QUARTERFINALS
March 09, 2006 | Men's Basketball
March 9, 2006
Tennessee is hoping its up-tempo style can yield some results in the Southeastern Conference tournament.
The 14th-ranked Volunteers will put coach Bruce Pearl's system to their first major test when they meet South Carolina in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Pearl, who guided Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the NCAA tournament regional semifinals a year ago, was hired to revitalize the program at Tennessee (21-6). He has done that by implementing a full-court style he believes is a dangerous one for opponents in the postseason.
"Usually what's made this system a good tournament system is both in the fact that it is still a little different (in terms of) preparation and it's always been accompanied by depth," Pearl said. "I've never done this with seven or eight guys. These guys have done a phenomenal job considering that."
The Volunteers have won the SEC tournament just four times and have not been to the championship game since 1991. Under Pearl, they won the conference's East division for the first time since 2000.
Tennessee is averaging a league-leading 10.3 steals per game while forcing 18.7 turnovers per game.
"We don't have a very deep roster," said Pearl, who was rewarded with a two-year contract extension Wednesday. "We play an exhausting style."
The Vols' seven-man rotation features All-SEC guard Chris Lofton, who averaged a team-high 17.5 points this season. Lofton led the conference by shooting nearly 47 percent on 3-pointers in SEC play.
Tennessee beat South Carolina (16-14) twice this season, rallying from a 12-point halftime deficit for a 76-69 victory on Jan. 8 and also winning 81-65 at home on Jan. 28.
Pearl said before the tournament the Gamecocks were a "dangerous" opponent.
"There are teams that are seeded low who have beaten some of the best in the tournament," Pearl said. "One of them is South Carolina.
"South Carolina has beaten Florida twice, they had Kentucky beat at Kentucky, they were right there with LSU at the end of the year at home and obviously had us down at their place."
South Carolina advanced with a 59-44 victory Thursday over Mississippi State. The Gamecocks had a season-low four turnovers.
Coach Dave Odom realizes it will be difficult to duplicate that success against Tennessee's pressure.
"I know Tennessee is going to prey on the fact we played today. They're fresh," Odom said.
"We're vulnerable to fatigue. They're not. I'm going to prey on the fact we've got the first-game jitters in the tournament out of the way, and maybe they'll be nervous. Maybe they won't. I don't know."
Reserve forward Renaldo Balkman came through with 12 points to key Thursday's win. Balkman had managed a total of only 26 points over his last five games.
Tennessee and South Carolina have split two all-time meetings in the SEC tournament. The Vols won 70-63 in 1992 and the Gamecocks posted a 75-68 win in 2000.
The winner will face Alabama or Kentucky in the semifinals.
