Best Game in a While

Take away any loyalties to teams during Saturday night's showdown in Memphis for a second. That was an unbeleivably good basketball game. When I spoke with my dad yesterday, he was like, "I was sitting at this restaurant eating a salad (yeah, he's gone organic) and drinking a glass of wine. I found myself eating/drinking at the same pace as the first ten minutes of the game was going. I was eating to keep up. I've never eaten a salad so fast in my life."

If you missed it or passed out from excitement, the Vols beat Memphis 66-62 off Beale Street Saturday night in without a doubt the best college basketball game of the year. Basically what happened was the following: Tennessee didn't shoot well, got tough points inside when they needed it, and out coached Memphis. All of those things do not bode well for anyone outside of Knoxville.

Where do you want to start? Let's start with the most important factor of the game. Bruce Pearl out coached John Calipari. The Vols won a game in the 60's. The Vols average some 80 points a night. But their game plan was apparently to beat Memphis in the half court. The Vols showed they can run with anyone, just ask J.P. Prince's six points in 43 seconds. But the key to the game was UT being stronger than Memphis in a fixed situation. They got the ball inside to Tyler Smith and shot well when they needed to. But this was their game plan. Their superior game plan. The Vols showed everyone out there that they can beat you anyway they seem fit...or you see fit. Bruce makes the adjustments. That's how versatile of a team Tennessee has.

Tyler Smith's game winning shot was unreal. Smith, Tyler Smith that is, can make any shot in the paint. Period. Chris Lofton has always been the go to guy for the Vols, but Tyler is so good that when it's time to win the game, you go inside. Wayne Chism played outstanding as well and Brian Williams had a great game on the boards off the bench. But it comes down to the adjustments and going straight at Memphis' NBA sized big men and taking it to them. Not to mention that UT is not a good rebounding team, traditionally. Except they out rebounded Memphis, handedly. Tennessee's depth is extraordinary. Everyone was in foul trouble, but the Vols were so deep that it just didn't matter.

Chris Lofton didn't make a single three point field goal on Saturday. The Vols won. The Vols shot terribly. They won. Again, this goes back to the versatility of the Vols and their exception grit and determination. Lofton's steal and pass from the floor to a streaking J.P. Prince for the dunk was really the turning point in the game. It's about the little things that makes a great team. Tennessee has grinded out a number of big games this year, and might have to do it again at Vanderbilt Tuesday night (anyone have tickets?).

It was pretty great being at the CPM on Saturday night chanting "It's Great To Be A Tennesee Vol" but all things considered, fans of about any other program would agree. That was a high energy, intense basketball game and it was really what college basketball needed as the season has really been lacking a game like this all year. On a personal note, well, you get the point.