BigOrangeBasketball.comTennessee Basketball

For those who believe that Scotty Hopson and Tyler Smith had bad games Sunday night  against Purdue, you’re right.  But the Vol who is killing Tennessee right now is J.P. Prince.

Prince has started all five games for the Vols so far this season.  He’s averaging 2.4 points per game and is shooting 31% from the field and 40% from the foul line.  And, oh by the way, Prince did not score a point against the Boilermakers.

What makes Prince even more problematic for Tennessee is that he is no threat to score outside of a layup or dunk.  Against man-to-man defense, this allows Prince’s man to sluff off Prince and clog the middle or double team someone else.

Against top-10-caliber teams which Purdue certainly is, you can ill afford to give someone 19 minutes who is that unproductive.  It will be interesting to see if or when Bruce Pearl juggles his starting lineup in the games ahead.

All in all, I think you have to be pretty pleased with Tennessee’s performance against Purdue.  The Vols went toe-to-toe with one of the nation’s best teams and could just as easily won as lost.

The press was effective when employed.  Although Melvin Goins was a little shaky at the point last night in relief of Bobby Maze, overall that position looks much better than it did a year ago. Wayne Chism outdueled Jujuan Johnson, one of college basketball’s best centers.  Tennessee’s half-court defense was still better than it has been and made some nice adjustments in the second half.

Win or lose, this was a good game for Tennessee to play.  The Vols won’t face a more well-coached, physical team all season, save for possibly Bill Self and Kansas.

The Vols didn’t get their feelings hurt, and didn’t take their toys and go home in this one.  They were in it until the end, and that’s a good sign.