Finding Home on the Road

Jan. 26, 2015

Monday Press Luncheon Notebook

Rebounds Key in SEC Play

One of Tennessee's biggest struggles against Texas A&M was in rebounding. The Aggies outrebounded the Vols 34-27, with three Aggies having more than five boards.

"Over the course of the last 12 to 14 minutes we did a decent job of making them miss the first shot," Tyndall said. "We didn't block out and they would get second or third shot opportunities. You can't do that against a good physical team."

The Aggies also succeeded in knocking down the shots. Texas A&M's 48.1 shooting percentage was the highest the Vols have allowed in SEC play.

Tennessee's size this season isn't what Tyndall would like it to be, but the team has fought to overcome the adversity on the court.

"There are going to be some nights that even though as hard as we are trying, the lack of size and depth will take its toll," said Tyndall.

Managing Quick Turnarounds

As SEC play continues, Tennessee continues to battle the quick turnaround from game to game.

Of Tennessee's remaining 12 games, there are four instances where the Vols have just two days between games. Come February, there is only one day between the Vols hosting Vanderbilt in Knoxville and a road game against Florida in Gainesville.

"When you don't have a lot of depth and guys are playing significant minutes, there is a fine line between trying to rest them but then losing the edge a little bit," said Tyndall.

In order to continue their success on the court, Tennessee needs to use the days between games to their full advantage.

"You just have to trust your instincts and have a good feel for your team," Tyndall said.

Opponents Key on Richardson

Josh Richardson recently became the 47th all-time member of Tennessee's 1,000-Point-Club. With a season average of 15.5 points per game, Richardson poses as a threat to Tennessee's opponents.

"I think the biggest thing is that they are just trying to make Josh earn every dribble," Tyndall said.

The only teams that have held Richardson to single-digit points this season have been Marquette and Missouri. Tyndall is not surprised that more teams are focusing on defending Richardson.

"It's the nature of coaches doing their jobs and trying to make good players play to their weaknesses or take their strengths away," Tyndall said.

By Brian Rice and Katie Van Veghel
UTSports.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- It is not uncommon for college basketball teams to have a different personality at home then they do on the road.

It is, however, uncommon for a team for the stronger personality to come out to on the road rather than at home. Though Tennessee is 8-2 at home this season, both losses have come in SEC play, the same stretch of the season where the Volunteers are 3-0 on the road.

"I'd like to think we are confident having won some games on the road," head coach Donnie Tyndall said. I was asking our staff the last couple of games, two of the three at least, we have almost played a little bit more nervous in front of our home crowd than we have on the road. I don't know if that is purely coincidental or if guys do feel a little more pressure at home because all the fans are here, and they want to do so well to keep them coming out, if you will."

Both losses at home had the same theme. They were tough, gritty performances where the Vols gave themselves a chance to win the game despite tough stretches, but a scoring drought ultimately doomed both efforts.

They were both also very surprising, considering each followed impressive performances on the road. UT opened SEC play with a 61-47 victory at Mississippi State before falling against Alabama. The Vols had what Tyndall deemed as their best fight all season in a win at South Carolina before Saturday's loss to Texas A&M.

"I don't want to be one of those guys that we lose one and all of a sudden I've got 20 different excuses," Tyndall said. "That is not what I'm about and I don't want to make it sound that way. I just think that maybe because we are at home and they want to play so well for our home fans that they play a little bit tight, if you will. I don't know if that is the case. We are 8-2 at home, so it is not like they have done that very night."

UT now heads back to the road to face Arkansas, the lone home SEC victory for Tennessee this season. That win, like the other two games at home, also saw a Vol scoring drought and a furious Razorback rally in the game's final moments. Tyndall said the effort against Arkansas in the first meeting was good, but will have to reach another effort at Bud Walton Arena, a place he called on of the two loudest environments he had experienced.

"When I was the assistant at LSU, we played [at Arkansas] a couple of times, then we played at Arizona two years ago," said Tyndall. "In my opinion, those two places were the loudest two places I've ever played in. I'm sure it will be another very crazy atmosphere on Tuesday."

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