KNOXVILLE — The game seems like an eternity ago, but it’s been just two short months since a 1-9 Austin Peay team came into Thompson-Boling Arena and embarrassed Tennessee by shooting 73 percent in the second half and bagging a 74-70 upset.
After that game, the advice to Vol fans offered in this space was not to panic, to give new coach Cuonzo Martin time to implement his system. The fundamentals of the game he believes in — motion offense, tough man-to-man defense, sharing the ball, daily skill development — are just too solid to fail, provided they can be properly implemented.
Consider them on the way to being properly implemented.
Evidence of that came again on Wednesday night, when the Vols blasted Arkansas, 77-58, to extend their winning streak to four games. What the 16,000 or so fans that showed up to Thompson-Boling Arena saw was an example of how Martin is going to run this program the rest of the season and the rest of his time in Knoxville. With some exceptions during a brief Arkansas rally in the second half, the Vols contested shots, valued possessions, shared the wealth (of the seven players who scored for Tennessee, six of them reached double figures), and were prudent in their shot selection.
After the game, Martin was quick to point out that the Vols have a long way to go. But outside of Kentucky, what team do you think is playing the best basketball in the Southeastern Conference right now?
A compelling argument could be made in favor of the same team that lost to Austin Peay two months ago.
As far as teaching moments go, Martin couldn’t have asked for a much better opportunity. The message — if you don’t defend, you can lose to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Slowly, the Vols began to get the message. And the same team that surrendered 45 percent shooting to its non-conference opponents is limiting Southeastern Conference teams to 41 percent. That may not sound like much of a difference, but the three or four prevented baskets that lower defensive field-goal percentage represents have made the difference between winning and losing as the Vols, 14-12 overall, suddenly find themselves tied for fourth in the SEC at 6-5. And if Vanderbilt were to loss at Ole Miss on Thursday night, they’ll be tied for third.
The question now becomes, how far can the Vols take this little roll of theirs? Could they win enough games to earn a bid into the NCAA Tournament?
Recent precedent would suggest not. Alabama was 12-4 in the SEC last season and didn’t get an NCAA bid because its overall body of work didn’t impress the selection committee. Similarly, the Vols didn’t do much damage in the first two months of the season, and even their biggest non-conference win, over Connecticut, has been devalued by the Huskies’ struggles in Big East play.
Still, it’s intriguing to ponder.
Some might wonder whether the committee might take into consideration the addition of Jarnell Stokes. The talented freshman from Memphis has beefed up the Vols’ front line so quickly that they didn’t even miss Kenny Hall, who was suspended by Martin, against Arkansas. It’s possible. The committee certainly factors the loss of a player into the equation.
Another point to ponder: What if Tennessee won the rest of its league games to finish 11-5 and grabbed a couple of more wins in the SEC Tournament?
If you listen to Martin and his players, that sort of thinking is getting way too ahead of the game.
“We’re not even thinking about (postseason play),” senior guard Cameron Tatum said. “We’re taking it one game at a time. We’re just trying to get better every day.”
Spoken like a true convert to Martin’s way of doing things. And Tatum is far from the only one.
Asked what Martin said to the Vols after they took a 17-point lead into their locker room at halftime, junior forward Jeronne Maymon just shrugged.
“His demeanor doesn’t change,” Maymon said. “He’s the same guy when we’re up 20 or down 20. We just keep playing defense and executing the offense. We just play hard.
“That’s all he stresses. He doesn’t change.”
