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Young Vols had issues after putting press away
Lack of focus led to second-half lapse
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While disappointed, Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl was a realist where Friday night's exhibition win was concerned.
The Vols scored an 82-51 victory over Division II Tusculum but were outscored after jumping out to a 40-2 lead in the first half.
"In the second half, the score is an issue, no matter how you try to prepare,'' Pearl said. "We didn't press, which means we didn't force tempo, and it became more of a half-court game.''
The Vols, with only two returning players on the floor, struggled to execute in the half-court sets. Pearl said UT must improve to beat Chattanooga in its regular season home opener at 7 p.m. Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
"In the first half we had 17 two-point baskets, but in the second half we only had five two-point baskets,'' Pearl said. "We'll learn a great deal watching the tape.''
UT freshman wing Renaldo Woolridge said there's a lesson to be learned.
"Their team (Tusculum) came out fired up in the second half,'' Woolridge said. "We have to learn to match that. We have a ways to go as far as our preparation.''
Redshirt freshman Cameron Tatum said the Vols' fade was more mental than having to do with scheme.
"We're a young team and we had one of those lapses and lost focus,'' Tatum said. "We know we took a step back not having that same intensity in the second half.
"In the SEC, a bad second half will result in a loss to any team.''
Praise For Scotty: Pearl said freshman Scotty Hopson showed defensive improvement in his second outing.
"Scotty Hopson definitely did a terrific job defensively early,'' Pearl said.
"Defensively, they (all) really gave a much better, more purposeful effort.
"We took Tusculum out of the things they like to do, the pace was up, and it looked like Tennessee basketball.''
The Vols forced 19 of the Pioneers' 25 turnovers in the first half and held them to 15.8-percent shooting the first 20 minutes.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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