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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tyler Smith's offensive versatility is both an attribute and a challenge.
As Tennessee's assist leader, he fosters expectations as a playmaker. As the team's leader in field-goal percentage, he's expected to provide points of his own.
And neither role is more important than the other as UT takes on Butler in the second round of the NCAA tournament this afternoon.
UT's point guard position is in disarray. That puts a premium on Smith's passing prowess.
Based on Friday's first-round games, Smith's scoring could be just as vital to UT's offense.
Butler shut down South Alabama's leading scorer, Demetric Bennett, in an 81-61 first-round victory. Chris Lofton, UT's leading scorer, managed only five points in the Vols' 72-57 first-round victory over American.
If Lofton has similar difficulties, the two Smiths - Tyler and JaJuan - become UT's best options. JaJuan is comfortable in that role. Tyler was more comfortable in that role last year at Iowa.
"This year (his first at UT), we've got so many weapons that I really just let the game come to me and don't take as many shots as I did last year, or have the ball in my hands as much," Tyler Smith said.
His unselfish approach to the game makes him a great teammate. But he might have to become more selfish if UT is to make a strong run through the NCAA tournament.
"When you lead your team in field-goal percentage and you lead your team in assists, it becomes a challenge for you because we rely on him to get guys the ball," UT coach Bruce Pearl said Saturday. "Part of the evolution of Tyler Smith this year was him setting up his teammates in the early portion of the year and then finding ways to score."
Smith is just fine with finding ways for teammates to score. Like Lofton, he has star talent without a star's ego. And in his first season with the Vols, he obviously has been more intent on fitting in than standing out.
His devotion to the team concept is commendable. But this is no time for subjugating your talent.
Former starting point guard Jordan Howell has played his way onto the bench. Ramar Smith, who also has started at the position, is struggling as well. In fact, their play has deteriorated to the point that Pearl has converted forward J.P. Prince into an emergency point guard.
Tyler Smith doesn't need to change positions. He might need to change his approach.
You saw Friday how he can change the course of a game. American was still clinging to its upset hopes when Smith intervened in spectacular fashion with two minutes to play.
Just as Derrick Mercer released the basketball for what he surely thought was a layup, Smith swooped across the court and blocked the shot. Seconds later, Smith assisted teammate Wayne Chism on a layup, then followed up another American miss with a rebound and free throw. Suddenly, a UT lead that had almost dwindled to five points was up to 11 with 1:38 to play.
Smith had 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists against American. But he only took eight shots.
Pearl remembers one of the potential shots Smith didn't take.
"On the last possession of the first half, Tyler came off a down screen and he had an open look, but it wasn't a great look," Pearl said. "He turned it down and handed one off to JaJuan, who got a bad shot.
"So there was an example of Tyler being unselfish but maybe not aggressive enough for his own stuff."
When you ask Tyler Smith how his game has developed this season, he says right up front: "I'm just trying to find my teammates."
That's the playmaker in him talking. But in the NCAA tournament, the shooter inside UT's assist leader needs a voice, too.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by yemmusdarb on March 22, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice article, John.
Tyler is the center of our team. Lofton can be shut down, as has been shown. Tyler is the most consistent player and the best NBA prospect we have right now. I really just hope this whole PG thing works itself out. J.P. hasn't shown GOOD PG play since high school.
Now, let's watch the little immature girls bring up stuff from months ago and tell you that they're not reading your columns.... WHILE THEY'RE POSTING ON YOUR COLUMNS!! Or maybe they'll say you're not worth their time.... WHILE THEY'RE TAKING THEIR TIME WRITING A WHINEY COMMENT!!!
:::Insert womanly John Adams bashers below:::
Posted by BoarderVol on March 22, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll take the bait...you suck John.
Posted by BoarderVol on March 22, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice article though.
Posted by ect1983 on March 22, 2008 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yemmusdarb...as Meat Loaf said--You took the words right out of my mouth
Posted by Plasticman on March 22, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Without TYler Smith, I'm not sure the Vols season is still going right now. IF he does not become a little more selfish, I'm not sure we'll be playing after tomorrow. He needs to get at least 10 shots per game as does Chris Lofton. I'd like to see both of them take 12 shots or more vs. Butler. Tyler has the ability to take over a game if he will become a little more assertive.
Posted by murrayvol on March 22, 2008 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Very much on target John. Tyler's basketball IQ is off the charts so I'm pretty sure he's aware of what's going on around him and what he has to do to keep this team afloat. A lot!
Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on March 22, 2008 at 11:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to say I agree, John. Good eyes, good analysis. Again and again these last few games, Tyler has saved our butts with big plays, big baskets. He could easily score 30 when he's in this groove.
We all know Butler will put a straightjacket on Lofton tomorrow. So don't count on 20 or even 15 from Chris. Jajuan and JP have to step up, Wayne needs to rebound and score inside, and PLEASE DUKE CREWS... this could be your RETURN to glory.
Posted by UTByrd on March 22, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shoot first, ask questions later!
Posted by newtonrail on March 22, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yemmushdarb: is that name and the one on the profile page a fictitious one to cover that you're John's current spouse? You are certainly free with your own diatribes about other posters.
Posted by anthony on March 22, 2008 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope we win, don't you John? Why not let Tyler run point? These announcers just can't believe this ucla game@ It's funny these teams, like Duke, NC, UCLa, Kansas, Pitt, are invincible, only the over=rated teams and lucky ones like us are indisposed to win. Maybe this article ought to say that we have something to prove and time to kick a.....
Posted by rockyknox on March 23, 2008 at 12:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't pay attention to yemmusdarb, bradsummey. He is Adams dyslexic alter ego.
Posted by anthony on March 23, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You know, when Tyler Smith looks for his shot, he usually is triple teamed. If this article means that we'll lose if Tyler doesn't step up, is negative. We can win this game. You might as well say, let Ramar take it to the hoops and let everybody else clean up the glass. Ryan Childress' way of winning. I'd like to win this one for him!!
Posted by LargeOrange on March 23, 2008 at 12:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No Adams jokes tonight, we have a gut check coming at 2:30 and with the churning and chaos going on right now, I just hope we can get through this one and regroup before the next round. GO VOLS!!
Posted by dowdpat on March 23, 2008 at 2:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lofton needs to take more 3 point attempts then Chisim, time to get selfish.
Posted by TheVolMan on March 23, 2008 at 3:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great opening post yemmusdarb - the weenies need a reality check.
Now, away from the womanly business, I agree that tomorrow will be a gut check. Let's hope Pearl has the team clicking because Butler will be ready.
Posted by King53 on March 23, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tyler Smith will have his A game tomorrow...hope the rest of the team does too. Look...the media thinks Butler is going to the final four but we know how to win big games...look back at our season. when games are close we will win more than we loose. We can take these guys and move on to the next round. Chris, Tyler, JaJuan, JP, Chism, Duke, Ramar, Jordan, Tabb, The Chill, and anyone else who takes the floor...BRING IT!!!!
Posted by Bigger_Al on March 23, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
John Adams steals his neighbor's paper.
Posted by johnlg00 on March 23, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Guess the "The Great Chemistry Experiment" is on for this afternoon. Best case scenario: JP takes his new responsibilities seriously and raises his game; Tyler gets it going from the start instead of "waiting for the game to come to him"; Chris seeks his shot more actively and hits a few; JaJuan picks one of Butler's great outside shooters and smothers him, not worrying SO much about his own shot; Wayne and Duke pound the glass, defend strong, and score when necessary; subs do what they do positively and aggressively. Worst case scenario: JP is lost both on offense and defense the whole game; Tyler tries too hard to cover JP's mistakes and never gets in synch; Chris stands around waiting for passes that never come; JaJuan tries to do too much, making too many turnovers, fouling on defense, and taking bad shots; Wayne and Duke never get the ball in scoring position and get out-hustled on the boards by Butler's overachievers. Which will it be, Vols? I vote for getting it together and getting it done! GO VOLS!!! BEAT BUTLER!!! ON TO SAN ANTONIO!!!
Posted by jcvet on March 23, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Post him up and let him shoot turn around 8-15 footers like DeVoe did Reggie Johnson, Dale Ellis and Diron Nix. He could get 20-25 pts. a game like they did. You just don't see many teams doing that anymore. It's all try to shoot a 3 first and hope for garbage pts. when they miss.
Posted by General_Watermelon on March 23, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This may be the best Adams article ever written. I can't believe he wrote it. We need Tyler to take it to the hole. He's the best thing going for Tennessee right now. If he is unselfish, Vols will be packing for K-Town. If he plays aggressively on offense, TN has a chance for Charlotte and the Sweet 16.
Posted by kimzy1961 on March 23, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To all VOL FANS!,
Right now Tennessee is losing by 7 to Dayton in the Tournament!
Huh!?. . . I guess some of you are asking yourselves , "What is this guy smoking?". We're not playing Dayton and the game hasn't started yet!
Let me explain. . . .
CBSportsline.com is sponsoring an Essay contest set up like the basketball tournament, pitting representatives from teams that made it into the NCAA Tourney. awVols1985 was chosen by the tournament admin. to write for the VOLS and is doing a great job of it. But. . ..
He needs your help! There is no cost . . . You don't have to register . . . You don't even have to vote for him if you don't think he deserves the vote. . . But you do have to find the sight and I'm providing a link to the official explanation of the contest and 1 directly to his essay page.
Let's help keep TENNESSEE in the national limelight by helping awVols1985 advance to the round of 16.
Vote NOW ! ! !
Vote AWVOLS1985 ! ! !
GO VOLS ! ! !
The explanation : http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/message....
awVols1985's sight: http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/message....
Thanks for your time and vote!
Posted by knoxsingle on March 23, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I pee, I spell the initials J.A.
Posted by 55Vol on March 23, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yemmusdarb....I write womanly comments because John Adams is irrelevant? Is John Adams trying to coach in this column and tell Tyler what to do? Is he better than Pearl now? Now he is beginning to tread in Pearl's territory. Pearl would not write a column in response to Adams...Pearl would shut him up the old fashioned way. I read this one and was going to pass on any type of comments until I read your wussy comment,
Womanly comment about Adams? Feel again wussy boy.
Posted by 55Vol on March 23, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yemmusdarb....I write womanly comments because John Adams is irrelevant? Is John Adams trying to coach in this column and tell Tyler what to do? Is he better than Pearl now? Now he is beginning to tread in Pearl's territory. Pearl would not write a column in response to Adams...Pearl would shut him up the old fashioned way. I read this one and was going to pass on any type of comments until I read your wussy comment,
Womanly comment about Adams? Feel again wussy boy.
Posted by kimzy1961 on March 23, 2008 at 7:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Real tight battle going on over here at CBSportsLine.com. Tennessee still trails Dayton by
1 percentage point in the tournament! C'mon VOL fans ! Let's get out and vote! Call your family, call your friends call any other SEC fans and tell'em to help! Let's take down the Flyers of Dayton. Surely there are more TENNESSEE fans out there than there are Dayton fans.
Click here http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/message....
If you have already voted, THANKS, and check back for the next round Monday.
GO VOLS ! ! !
GO LADY VOLS ! ! !
Posted by BillVol on March 23, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My gosh, Kimzy, when is this competition over? And how come when I go to your link a general page comes up? I would vote for you if I knew how to do it.
Posted by etsuvol99 on March 23, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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