University of Tennessee Athletics
The @Vol_Hoops Report: Oct. 27
October 27, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Exhibition play is exactly one week away for the Tennessee basketball team, which hosts Pikeville Monday, Nov. 3, at Thompson-Boling Arena (7:02 p.m. ET, SEC Network+).
First-year Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall met with reporters before practice Monday, and he was asked how much the Vols' individual performances in UT's two exhibition contests will affect the way minutes are doled out once the regular seasons begins.
"There are guys who produce in games, guys who produce in practice, and then there are guys who do both," Tyndall said. "You're always interested to see who can play in front of a crowd and who goes out and `competes' rather than `performs'--there's a distinct difference. When the crowd is around, some guys want to perform, pop their jersey and be cool and casual. It's not about that. It's about competing just like you do every day on the practice floor. And we'll get a chance to see who does that on Monday."
Freshman forward Jabari McGhee -- who is one of eight Vol newcomers who could make their Big Orange debut next week -- was asked by reporters what he most wants to see out of the team during the exhibition outings.
"Really just improvement," McGhee said. "We want to show that what we've been doing in practice translates into the games."
Of course, McGhee also had one other big item on his wish list for next Monday's Pikeville game, and it had nothing to do with individual statistics or playing time.
"A win," McGhee said. "That's all I really want is a win. If we get that, I'm happy for the night."
VOLS PREPARING FOR NEW DEFENSE
Tyndall estimated his team has installed 75 to 80 percent of his full-court press and zone defensive schemes."We're definitely improving in that area, through film study and with guys wanting to improve and learn the terminology and our rotations," Tyndall said. "It's a complex defense."
As both returning and new Vols have learned, this zone defense is not a chance to rest up for another offensive set. It is also imperative for everyone to be on the same page for rotations as the ball moves around the perimeter.
"You just have to pay attention," McGhee said. "There are no shortcuts or anything."
McGhee added boxing out on rebounding and getting back on defense are two areas of improvement for the Vols heading into their two exhibition games next week. Tyndall also stressed the importance of blocking out, particularly this season.
"Blocking out is so imperative this year with a team that doesn't have an imposing front line," Tyndall said. "That has been a teaching point every day."
While the Vols continue to install the complex defense, Tyndall said the offensive scheme has been more simplistic. The basic idea: playing fast and staying in an attacking, aggressive mode.
"He doesn't let us freelance on offense, but he gives us the freedom on offense as long as we give everything on defense," McGhee said.
ABOUT PIKEVILLE
Founded in 1889, the University of Pikeville is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, located in Pikeville, Ky. The school is located on a 25-acre campus on a hillside overlooking downtown Pikeville.The Bears won the NAIA Division I men's basketball national championship in 2011 and captured both the Mid-South Conference regular-season and tournament championships last season.
Head coach Kelly Wells is in his ninth season at Pikeville, and six players on his 2014-15 roster previously played at an NCAA Division I school.
The season's first Mid-South Conference coaches poll was released Saturday, and UPIKE was the preseason favorite to win the league.
"Pikeville University is going to have a good team," Tyndall said Monday. "If we don't take care of the ball, it will be a tough night for us.
"The year I beat Louisville (in the NCAA Tournament) at Morehead State, we played the No. 1-ranked NAIA team and got beat in an exhibition game, so I don't think anything can speak more clearly than that. The bottom line is they have more Division I experience probably than we do, and our guys will know that going in, for sure."
Wells, who led the Bears to the program's only national championship, as well as its only two 30-win seasons, was college teammates with Tyndall at Morehead State in the early 90s.
Pikeville plays an exhibition at Kentucky Sunday in Lexington before traveling to Knoxville for Monday night's clash with the Vols.
HOOPERS ASSIST AT VOL-O-WEEN EVENT
Following Monday's practice, the team participated in Tennessee's VOLoween event, an annual function that is planned and executed by UT's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and sponsored by the UT Athletics Department.The event provides an opportunity for children to don their Halloween costumes and enjoy games and trick-or-treating in a safe and family-friendly environment on the indoor football practice field at Neyland-Thompson Sports Center.
Galen Campbell and Ian Chiles are the basketball team's SAAC representatives for this academic year.
For the most up-to-date information about the Tennessee basketball program, visit UTsports.com/basketball and follow @Vol_Hoops on Twitter and Instagram.
