Lofton’s game-winner, courtesy of the AP
AJC Headline: “Good Ole Rocky Top, WHEW!”
“What the crap!” I said as Chris Lofton launched what was, for all intents and purposes, a beyond-NBA-3-point-range bomb with 11.4 seconds left and the Vols wilting under the South Carolina feel-good script.
No matter that Tyler Smith had been the go-to guy for Tennessee all year in these situations and had FINALLY started to assert himself late in the game. No matter that we could have held for the final shot against a Gamecocks team that simply refused to lose. No matter that Lofton — the senior superstar guard who doubles this season as streakier than a zebra — was 1-for-9 from Trifectaville.
With that patented Lofton flick, the fall-away, kick-out 3 sailed through the net without so much as a nudge against the rim. 89-87 Vols. South Carolina came down, missed a shot, got another chance but couldn’t get the ball in-bounds, and UT won a game it possibly shouldn’t have.
Bruce Pearl said afterward the play was designed to go to Lofton, and it sure looked that way. You want faith? Pearl said the ball HAD TO BE in his best player’s hands with the game on the line. So what that it was a shot from a distance nobody should expect to hit from. It’s Limitless Lofton, after all.
And he saved a shoddy defensive effort by a UT team that looked like it wanted to simply outscore a team rather than actually play on both ends. He saved another SEC tournament embarrassment for the Big Orange — who look anything but big on the conference’s biggest stage. Finally, he saved himself from two CRUCIAL turnovers at critical times.
How do you shoot nearly 70 percent in the second half against a team with a losing record and still need heroics from the best player on the team? You do it by playing no defense whatsoever. The South Carolina guard tandem of Zam Fredrick and Devan Downey combined for FIFTY points. 5-0, I said.
I’m thankful to come away with a win, and I refuse to take anything away from a South Carolina team that played inspired for outgoing coach Dave Odom. This was a team that had lost by more than 20 to the Vols in Columbia and by 33 to UT in Knoxville last Sunday. But they defiantly wouldn’t go away.
Whoever the Vols have to play Saturday — Vanderbilt or Arkansas — may have an advantage after such an emotional win by UT on Friday, but I don’t see it. This was the hurdle. This was the 500-foot wall. And the Big Orange scaled it.
Now, we get to see if Tennessee fans’ biggest worries — getting up for two huge games consecutively — are realized. We’ll see what this team is made of tomorrow, but we got a glimpse today. It was a gutty win, even if it shouldn’t have been so darn close.
It was, and we won. Survive and advance. That’s two words that haven’t described the Vols for 17 years, so pardon me if I’m not too irritated. A win is a win is a win is a win. Even if the Buffalo Wild Wings onion rings and the pressure of the game may have taken a year off my life.
GHOST’S GAMEBALLS
- You’ve got to give one to Lofton and Bruce Pearl. Though we played too much street ball for my liking, Pearl drew up (scribbled on asphalt??) the Lofton play, and the senior made his coach look like a genius. Kudos to Pearl for having supreme confidence in C-Lo and kudos for the Maysville Marksman to make the shot.
- Wayne Chism. Without him, UT would be heading back home again. The sophomore had a career-high 23 points and seven rebounds, and when Tyler Smith was sputtering, Chism consistently made big shots and asserted himself down low. He also had a couple of crucial blocks.
- I know JaJuan Smith had 19 points, but he played too ignorantly at times for me, and though Tyler finished with double figures, he had an awful game. My final game ball goes to Brian Williams, who made enough plays at big moments to help UT to the win. The big guy is growing up right before our eyes.
- QUICK UPDATE: I’d be remiss to not give game balls to Fredrick and Downey. Those guys played their guts out. GO VOLS!!
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As the Chattanooga TFP reporter Wes Rucker noted in his story today, it’s even hard to beat a bad team three times in the same season, apparently.
Jeez.
I don’t think Odom could have asked for more from his players in his last game. They did everything they could to get him one more game in the tourney, and USC did a great job of finding matchups they could exploit.
Odd note:
Besides the obviously lights-out guard play of USC, a clear majority of UT’s fouls were by their own guards. The UT forwards were in much better fouls shape late in the game.
I noticed that, too, Hoop. It seemed JaJuan and J.P. had several very lazy fouls.
Didn’t get a chance to see it. So Pearl designed a play for Lofton to shoot a 25′ jumper to win? He is a great coach!
CD, if Les Miles can get to a NC with that kind of play call, why can’t Bruce?
Wow… I hope we lock Bruce down for a looonnng time. I have enjoyed being a “Basketball” fan. something I never thought I’d be….wow!!
How many times do you see coaches “outsmart themselves” in those situations? I’m glad he went to a strength rather than try to be some sort of genius.
Besides, the trey was taken with enough time for a chance at a rebound or foul. Since the three meant a two-point lead, time could reasonably be left on the clock. A foul would have meant a three-point deficit and about 7 seconds left at worst. Honestly, it was the option that gave UT the greatest number of opportunities and didn’t involve a Jordan Howell-to-Josh-Tabb Alley Oop slam or something of similar nature. All in all, it was a very good play call.
Exceptional game. Both teams availed themselves well. I’ve been saying for weeks the close games UT has played would serve them well come tourney time. Great teams find a way to win and the Vols did just that.