Volunteers plagued by lack of chemistry
COLUMBIA — It's Bruce Pearl's fourth season at Tennessee. Given how things started for him there, this is when most expected him to have that program in full swing.
But the Volunteers are 5-3 in the league and just 14-8 overall. They need to pick it up to ensure themselves an NCAA berth.
What gives?
Isn't this supposed to be when "his players" are in place to run "his system?" You hear those buzz phrases often to describe a new coach, and especially one that enters with some level of expectation.
But the reality is, even though they were Buzz Peterson holdovers, Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith and a few other guys were more important — especially behind the scenes — than anyone was fully prepared to give them credit for. Those players were the glue for that Tennessee team. They provided a level of consistency in the team's play, particularly the backcourt play.
Tyler Smith is an excellent player, but not one who gets it done without the benefit of good guard play to complement him. That just hasn't happened so far this season.
Bobby Maze has had moments in which he's been terrific. But, in an understatement, those moments have been sporadic.
Scotty Hopson is a good freshman basketball player, but he's not on that special tier of O.J. Mayo, Michael Beasley and the like. He is who he is. He's just not what some expected him to be.
Tennessee is the most athletic team in the league. Pearl can bring in body after body that could run laps around the opponent.
But the sum of the parts is lacking chemistry. And that's a tough one to fix. Effort doesn't create chemistry. Talent doesn't equate to chemistry. Leaders inspire chemistry.
"It's been a difficult year," UT assistant Tony Jones said this week. "We've gone through every approach, to get into them, to relax, to have a mixture and sandwich everything together. The players just have to perform."
You knew this team would have to work for wins, using that athleticism. But there's no excuse for going on the road and losing at Auburn. There's no excuse for getting lit up on your home floor for 54 points by an opposing player, even if he's averaging 25 a game.
It's somewhat surprising that Pearl, college hoops' master of charisma, wouldn't be able to see this chemical reaction coming. Now he's got to figure it out on the fly.
Mighty Meeks
Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks' streak of 20-plus-point games is finally over. He'd scored 20 or more in nine consecutive games, going from the Dec. 29 Central Michigan game to last week's deflating home loss to Mississippi State.
He had 15 in that one.
But what an incredible run for a player whose impact was difficult to read, coming back from injuries that nagged him all of last season.
Meeks is still putting up 25.1 points a game, helped big by that 54-point outburst at Tennessee.
He's all but got the league MVP wrapped up in mid-February. The Wildcats need to play better, though.
Nick Calathes of Florida, Devan Downey of South Carolina and LSU's Marcus Thornton are also going to get some votes for the award.
Missing: Bulldogs
Could Georgia be 0-15 in SEC play when South Carolina visits the Bulldogs on March 7 for the regular season finale? Given Saturday's performance in the Colonial Life Arena — UGA trailed 21-5 and 34-14 early in the game — it seems distinctly possible.
You have to wonder how now-fired coach Dennis Felton believed he could win with this current roster.
Senior Terrence Woodbury would be a good second-option kind of player on a lot of teams around the country. With Georgia, he's options one, two, three ... And it's not as if he doesn't come with any off-the-floor baggage.
The Bulldogs have size and strength, but the posts lack touch and basketball IQ. It's a tough task for interim coach Pete Herrmann.
"You worry about the players continuing to improve each day," Herrmann said. "February is a month when teams improve, or go the other way."
Scoring
1. Jodie Meeks, Kentucky 25.1
2. Marcus Thornton, LSU 20.0
3. Devan Downey, USC 20.0
4. David Huertas, Miss. 19.3
5. Patrick Patterson, Kent. 18.3
3-pointers a game
1. Jodie Meeks, Kentucky 3.65
2. David Huertas, Miss. 2.83
3. Tay Waller, Auburn 2.65
4. Ravern Johnson, Miss. St. 2.52
5. Rotnei Clarke, Ark. 2.33
Rebounding
1. Michael Washington, Ark. 9.8
2. Jarvis Varnado, Miss. St. 9.6
3. Patrick Patterson, Kent. 9.2
4. Korvotney Barber, Aub. 9.1
5. Wayne Chism, Tenn. 8.6
Assists
1. Courtney Fortson, Ark. 6.52
2. Nick Calathes, Florida 6.43
3. Dee Bost, Miss. St. 4.52
4. Devan Downey, USC 4.41
5. Garrett Temple, LSU 4.04
Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/gamecocks.
