University of Tennessee Athletics
The @Vol_Hoops Report: Dec. 4
December 04, 2014 | Men's Basketball
The Tennessee basketball team enters the month of December with a 2-3 record, but five of UT's six games this month take place at home at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Volunteers are looking to establish some homecourt momentum, and that opportunity begins with a Saturday afternoon clash against Kansas State (4-3) as part of the 2014 SEC/Big 12 Challenge (3:17 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
"We have a great deal of respect for Kansas State," Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall said. "We know they play in a great league. The Big 12/SEC Challenge is obviously a nice deal for our league and their league ,and all the TV stuff that comes with it. But it's just the next game on our schedule, one that happens to be against a very good team that has experience and size, and they're well coached."
This is the second year of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The Vols were one of four SEC teams that did not participate in the inaugural challenge, as the Big 12 has just 10 teams compared to the SEC's 14. The SEC went 3-7 in last year's challenge.
Tickets for Saturday's game remain available by calling 1-800-332-8657 logging on to UTtix.com or visiting the UT Ticket Office at Thompson-Boling Arena.
A point of emphasis in practice this week is to cut down on fouling. Through five contests, the Vols lead the nation with an average of 26.2 fouls per game. The team has already had six players foul out during that time.
"Our style of play lends to fouling a little bit, but also we've got eight newcomers trying to learn how to guard at this level," Tyndall said. "It's the hardest thing to guard off the dribble. Guys are hand-checking and we're picking up a lot of fouls, and in some cases, 90 feet away from the rim."
Tyndall said he is considering a few schematic changes during games to keep opponents off the free-throw line, including not pressing as aggressively early in both halves.
One change has already been imposed in practice: calling fouls. In the last few days, coaches have started whistling to stop play for fouls in scrimmages and game scenarios, something they had done very rarely during preseason and season practices.
As junior Kevin Punter reminded the media, the old sports saying goes, "How you practice is how you play."
Senior Josh Richardson agreed with that sentiment. He has one of the Vols' six foul disqualifications this season, leaving the court with five fouls in the opener against VCU for the first time in more than 100 games played in his UT career.
"I've been telling guys, we can't play in practice like we play in the game or we're all going to foul out, which is what's been happening," Richardson said.
For Tyndall and the Vols, the key now is striking the balance between practicing aggressively and training to foul less when it comes time for tipoff.
"We want our practices to almost be like a football practice," Tyndall said. "Physical, aggressive and a lot of contact. I think that mentality helps you in a lot of ways, particularly with rebounding the ball and having physical toughness in regards to getting loose balls, but we're just fouling too much and we had to back off. Hopefully, it'll help."
HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS EVIDENT
Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall and his staff have shown high aptitude for making halftime adjustments this season.
While the Vols have yet to lead a game the half, they boast a +2.6 scoring margin in the second half, outscoring the opposition 35.8 to 33.2 over the final 20 minutes of regulation.
"(Our staff) does a good job of paying attention to what the opposite team has been doing in the first half and tweaking things," Vols senior Josh Richardson said. "They really get us ready to go back out there and play--keeping our heads up, keeping us positive going into the second half.
Tennessee also has enjoyed a higher shooting percentage in the second of games this year. The Vols have shot .418 in the first half and .452 in the second.
Junior guard Kevin Punter told reporters Thursday that the players need to take it upon themselves to start strong from the opening tip and execute at a higher level before the halftime buzzer.
"After the first half, the staff always tells us what we did wrong and what we need to do," Punter said. "But I think for us as a unit, we need to find that out for the first half and get it going."
ABOUT KANSAS STATE
The Volunteers have never previously faced K-State on the hardwood.
Tennessee's all-time record against current members of the Big 12 Conference stands at 10-16.
K-State posted a 20-13 (8-8 Big 12) record last season and earned its fifth straight NCAA Tournament berth.
Wildcats forward Stephen Hurt is a native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and began his career at Lipscomb. He leads his team in rebounding with an average of 4.7 per game. K-State's top scorer is sophomore guard Marcus Foster, who averages 14.9 points per game while shooting .477 from 3-point range.
"They're very well coached," UT assistant coach Beau Braden said of the 4-3 Wildcats. "They play with a lot of toughness--a lot of grit. They're big and strong and physical on the inside. They're a wide-bodied, `not afraid to hit you' type of team."
Kansas State director of athletics John Currie has occupied that position since May 2009. Prior to that, Currie worked more than 10 years in the Tennessee athletic department, rising to the title of executive associate AD (overseeing external operations, as well as the men's basketball program). Currie received his master's degree in Sports Management from UT in 2003.
#LUNCHWITHDONNIE
First-year Vols head coach Donnie Tyndall had lunch with UT students Thursday at PCB Café in Presidential Court.
He spent more than an hour posing for photos, signing autographs and letting the students know how much the team needs their energy and enthusiasm at games this season.
"I've done that everywhere I've been," Tyndall said. "It's an opportunity to let the students get to know me a little bit. You always want them to get to know you and your players. That helps in regard to corralling the fans in and making our place a tough place to play."
Since his hiring in April, Tyndall has made close to 175 appearances in an attempt to meet and embrace Tennessee fans and students.
"We're going to have some pizza for the student section Saturday before the game," Tyndall said. "I just want them to know how important they are and spend some time with them in hopes that they'll come out and support us in this homestand here in December."
Students are encouraged to arrive early Saturday, as Tyndall will help distribute free Papa John's to the Rocky Top Rowdies. Gates open at 1:45 p.m., with pizza distribution set to begin around 2:25 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information about the Tennessee basketball program, visit UTsports.com/basketball and follow @Vol_Hoops on Twitter and Instagram.
