Vol Hoops Media Monday

On UT's physicality vs. Kentucky:
"If you go back to earlier in the year when we were playing really good basketball, we were playing (with physicality). We were a good offensive rebounding team and played inside out. A lot of people would think that means you throw it into the post and let them work, but that's not what it really means for us. It's us attacking that area of the floor with a pass, dribble or offensive rebound. If you get the rebound, you kick it back out. In the Auburn game, we defended them well enough in their sets, but we couldn't defend their second shots after they got offensive rebounds. It's a little bit different since Auburn shot 30 threes, but we are getting ready to face another team who does that. I think Kentucky is efficient with their three-point shooting, but they weren't looking for it as quickly as other teams will be. Rebounding is different in a game like that. When you're playing against a team that likes shooting threes, there's a good chance the ball is going over your head if you just turn and go to the basket. We have talked all year about being a team that can finish possessions defensively and then go and get second chances on the offensive end."

On Jordan Bone's status:
"We will practice later today, and we will see where he is at. I expect him to be at full speed. He may be a little winded (from missing practice) or he may be rested. We will just have to wait and see."

On Jordan Bowden's recent slump:
"Like all players, he can go through a slump. He was taking good shots (against Kentucky) that weren't falling. We just thought Lamonte Turner and James Daniel III were doing a really good job and were locked in. If you look at their scoring, it wasn't great, but they had a great command of what we were trying to get done. I've said it before, I don't look at the five guys who start as our only starters. We have guys who come off the bench who we consider starters as well. We are going to play the guys who we feel at can get things done the way they need to get done."

On John Fulkerson's performance against Kentucky:
"He started a year ago. He's a guy that we consider as a big part for what we want to get done. If you miss 10 months, it's tough. I don't care what you are doing to get back. There's probably still some anxiety there, especially when you take the kind of fall that he had and deal with the things he had to deal with. He's a good passer, which he showed the other night. He has the ability to score around the basket. He's a rebounder and can run. We need him to play as hard as he can play. He's not the most physical guy, but he's more physical than he looks. I said it after the game the other night; for us to be the team we want to be, he is going to have to be a big part of that."

On the SEC's parity this season:
"It's still early in conference play to see how things will settle out. I've seen teams lose the first three or four games and then come back to win a conference championship. I've seen teams come out and win five in a row but then come in last. But there is no doubt that our league has great parity from top to bottom. I think we are the best basketball league in the country. If you look at our league and how much its improved, a year ago the SEC proved that we were much better than the perception of it. Right now, it's the best I have seen in a long time. I do think leagues cycle. I was in the ACC when it wasn't very good, and that's why I was able to get two of our teams into the NCAA Tournament without having a winning conference record. The Big 12 had some years where it was okay and then other years that were great. I think this is a great year for the Southeastern Conference. I look at our league right now, and there are no easy games in this league, and it's obvious just by looking at the scores that have happened up to this point. It's a long way to go, and we are just getting started. We will see how it all shakes out in the end."

On Admiral Schofield's performance vs. Kentucky:
"I thought he played the best game that he has ever played at Tennessee in terms of being the player he should be. It had nothing to do with scoring points. It had to do with him making effort plays all around. He showed and used his physicality instead of being a guy that wants to just stay on the perimeter. He threw himself around and made plays. The question now is if he can build off that. There is no question that was the best basketball game he has played from start to finish since he's been at Tennessee."

On preparing for Vanderbilt:
"They can play small and spread you out. They are a very heavy ball-screen team. They rely a lot on driving and kicking the ball out. They are going to shoot 30 threes. They're very similar to Auburn, offensively. There will be a lot of ball screens and shots, so we have to rebound the ball. We put it in the post last year, and they would double-team us every time it went in there, so I would imagine they will do the same thing. We have to be ready to handle those. We will need a good effort on both ends."

University of Tennessee Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Bone

Jordan Bowden

James Daniel III

John Fulkerson

Admiral Schofield

Lamonte Turner

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