score update... my internet is down

2/20/2008 9:01:37 PM

Lofton just hit his 400th career three pointer!

[Edited on February 20, 2008 at 9:03 PM. Reason : correction #401]

2/20/2008 9:03:05 PM

401

2/20/2008 9:08:24 PM

402!

2/20/2008 9:26:09 PM

this sir is an NC State message board! we play in a vacuum

2/20/2008 9:27:18 PM

FINAL SCORE:

TENNESSEE - 89
AUBURN - 70

BRING ON MEMPHIS!!!

2/20/2008 9:28:48 PM

Tennessee is only the third state to ever have a #1 vs #2 in state game in college basketball.

North Carolina - UNC vs Duke
Ohio - OSU vs Cincy

2/20/2008 10:37:26 PM

Quote :

"A perfect Tenn: Tigers, Volunteers take state rivalry to national stage By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Posted: 2008-02-21 18:10:32 Tigers vs. Volunteers used to mean bragging rights within Tennessee. Come Saturday night, this usually inconsequential state rivalry, struts across the national stage. No. 1 Memphis hosts No. 2 Tennessee - the 38th game between teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2 but only the fifth time the teams are from the same state. "These 1-2 matchups are usually reserved for Tobacco Road or some place in Indiana or Ohio," Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said Thursday. "And the fact that it's in Tennessee is something that I think all high school basketball players and high school coaches and different folks that love basketball in the state of Tennessee are certainly proud of." Cincinnati and Ohio State played each other twice in the 1960s as No. 1 vs. No. 2, and Duke and North Carolina met twice in the 1990s. Those last two games were Atlantic Coast Conference matchups. This game? Well, Memphis belongs to the lightly regarded Conference USA, while Tennessee is in the Southeastern Conference. They are playing for the third time in an eight-year deal in basketball, the sport Memphis uses to get Tennessee to play the Tigers in football. The Tigers (26-0) are putting their perfect record and the nation's longest home-court winning streak at 47 games on the line. "Them. Us. Everybody in the state. It's an ego game," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "That game has been played up to a level that I can't even begin to tell you." It's the game Tennessee didn't want right now. The Vols (24-2) are trying to win the SEC title outright for the first time in 41 years. After Memphis comes an SEC East showdown with No. 20 Vanderbilt in Nashville followed by a visit from Kentucky and a trip to Florida. It's the game Memphis needed right now. Calipari can use it to quiet critics who think his league schedule is too weak when it comes to NCAA tournament seeding. But he would prefer to keep the Vols, and Pearl, out of Memphis' fertile recruiting territory by playing this game on neutral ground - Nashville, the midpoint between the schools. This will be the latest in the season these teams have met except for a 1990 NIT game, and credit for the timing goes to ESPN. The network is taking its "College Gameday" program to Memphis and couldn't have gotten luckier with both schools off to their best starts. Memphis has been the unanimous No. 1 the past three weeks but is enjoying the top ranking for only the second time in school history. Tennessee had never been ranked higher than No. 4 before this season. "It's a great game for the fans, for the student-athletes and students at both universities," Pearl said. It's one point on which Calipari and Pearl can agree. "It's about what's good for the state of Tennessee," Calipari said. "The game at some point does become bigger than me or Bruce and all the institutions." The rankings bring some spark to the rivalry between Tennessee, the state's oldest college, and Memphis, the school derided by Volunteer fans as Tiger High in part for its start as a teachers' school. The rivalry's biggest moment to date came in football. Tigers fans still brag about beating Peyton Manning 21-17 in 1996, Tennessee's lone loss in 21 games between the schools. You can bet Manning, who had to call on help to get tickets for Saturday's game, will hear about it again from someone in the crowd. The Vols also lead 11-7 in basketball. They have won six of the last eight, including 76-58 last season in Knoxville. Each team has been ranked three times when it faced the other, but they've never before met when both were ranked. Asked about the No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup, Rodney Carney, a former Tiger now in the NBA with Philadelphia, had a quick answer. "Yeah, I never would have thought Tennessee would be No. 2," Carney said. The Vols were unranked last season when they led by as much as 21 before beating then-No. 16 Memphis 76-58. Tigers guard Chris Douglas-Roberts said there's no animosity from that loss. "They beat us fair and square," he said. That's not stopped Memphis from selling T-shirts titled "Cat Chow" with bits of Tennessee's signature orange dribbling down the sides. Pearl isn't backing off, either. He met with Vol fans before tipoff in his last trip to Memphis in January 2006. He will do so again Saturday a couple of blocks away from the sold-out FedExForum, where second-row seats were listed at $5,000 apiece Thursday on the Internet. For all the heat this rivalry has generated, it isn't hot enough to get Pearl to take his inflammatory orange blazer to Memphis. "What's on the line Saturday has more to do with a good instate rivalry and some bragging rights, and the winner's going to feel real good," Pearl said. "But that pales in comparison to the pressure of trying to do something that's not been done in 41 years, and that's win an SEC championship."

2/21/2008 9:37:07 PM

Quote :

" Associated Press You may or may not have heard, but Tennessee has a big basketball game coming up this weekend in Memphis. So big in fact that the entire scene is surreal on so many levels that it's hard for many Vol fans to actually get their head around. But believe it people, Tennessee is part of a One vs. Two match-up with Memphis that is not only the biggest regular season game in the program's history, but also the biggest game of the year in college basketball. Tyler Smith and the Vols are firmly on the national stage this week. There are any number of angles and storylines that make this game interesting. And one thing's for certain, if you just leave ESPN in the background over the next couple of days chances are that you will hear plenty of them. That's because this week has suddenly turned into one incredible infomercial for the Tennessee basketball program. The kind of exposure that the Vols are getting around the nation this week is priceless, and may serve to raise their profile as much as anything that's happened since Bruce Pearl has been in town, including last year's run to the Sweet 16. And while I've got a couple of points to make here, I want to start with this one. Know what the best part of the whole set-up for the Vols and Bruce Pearl is this weekend? It's a no-lose situation. That's right. The Vols are playing with house-money at this point. Bruce Pearl is rolling into Memphis like the guy who got hot in Vegas the first night at the blackjack table; paid off his room, his plane-ticket and socked away enough for a few days worth of…ahem..entertainment. And now, after a quick shower and dinner, he's headed back down to the casino floor with a 'what the hell' attitude and a notion of making a run at the dealer's chip rack. Simply put, in the big picture, there is no downside for Tennessee coming out of this game. Make no mistake, winning would be grand, especially for Tennessee fans, but it's not going to have a lot to do with how the season plays out one way or another. And as far as the benefits of playing in the game, all those will have been realized by the time it tips-off, thanks to the week-long media blitz. Some want to argue that a win would be a boost for recruiting. I disagree. The 'win' in this situation as far as recruiting goes is simply being able to show prospects that you're a program worthy of competing on the kind of stage the Vols will be on Saturday night. The tangible benefit of winning the game for Tennessee is that it arguably locks the Vols up for a one-seed assuming the wheels don't fall off for them in the next three weeks. That's certainly worth playing for, but it's also something that's not out of their reach even if they leave Memphis with a loss. Unlikely yes, impossible, no. And while the seeding talk is fun, it's also an exercise in splitting hairs. Barring food poisoning at a team meal, this Tennessee team is headed for an SEC regular season title and likely couple of wins in the SEC tournament. At this point in the season, there's no way Pearl and the Vols are heading into the Big Dance as anything less than a two-seed. Just hearing Tennessee in the discussion of who's deserving of a one-seed alongside the likes UCLA, Duke and North Carolina is the kind of thing that will make you wonder if it's time to start stocking up on canned goods and potable water. Which brings me to the other point I threatened to make earlier, and this one is for you Tennessee fans. (especially the 'prone to ridiculous meltdown crowd, you know who you are) This Saturday, while you're either headed to the game or making your plans around it, just remember how incredible the whole entire scenario is. Appreciate it. And most of all remember just how far this program has come in an unbelievably short time. Here's a quick reminder for you. Three years ago this week Tennessee was coming off a 60-58 loss on the road to Ole Miss that dropped the Vols to 4-8 in league play and 11-14 overall. The vultures were circling around Buzz Peterson and the level of excitement around the program could be measured by all the empty seats in the stands, of which there about 13,000 in the Vols home win over South Carolina later that week. It wasn't that long ago when chances were, at a home game, if you saw someone you recognized sitting in the stands on the opposite side of the court, you stood a good chance of being able to yell at them and get their attention. These days you might not be able to scream at the person sitting four seats over from you and get them to notice you if it happened to be a crucial moment in the game. Fast forward to 2008 and Tennessee is a team that every national pundit is familiar with and has an opinion on. Pearl is a fixture on national talk shows and one of the coaches in the college game that national writers go to for quotes and thoughts on issues not even related to his team. In short, Tennessee basketball matters in a way that was simply unthinkable not that long ago. Appreciate it Vol fans. Win lose or draw on Saturday the program is on the national map and playing on the kind of stage that only a few teams get to enjoy in the regular season. And the best part? This team is playing with nothing to lose on Saturday. Just as Memphis won't be dismissed as a national title contender if Tennessee pulls the upset, the Vols won't be going anywhere if they come back to Knoxville with a loss. The game will be a great measuring stick for both programs, but it's not a make-or-break affair for either side. And truth be known, it's a much bigger game for Memphis in terms of exposure and prestige, as much as John Calipari might want you to believe otherwise. Tennessee is going to be on national television (ESPN & CBS) two more times next week alone against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. The Vols can also expect some national exposure on the weekend in the SEC tournament. Meanwhile, Memphis is about to fade back into the shadows of Conference USA until they pop up at an odd-time to accommodate ESPN during their conference tournament. The Vols have arrived, believe it and enjoy it on Saturday. And as far as house-money goes, don't forget that they have a coach who isn't afraid to double-down on 11, even against a face-card. (Translation: It may be a 'no-lose' situation in the big-picture, but make no mistake about it, Pearl and his team are going into this game looking for a 'W')"

[Edited on February 21, 2008 at 10:12 PM. Reason : d]

2/21/2008 10:11:58 PM

If I had my choice for any coach in the country, Pearl would have to be near the top.

The job he has done so far is amazing considering how bad Buzz was.

2/22/2008 12:30:07 AM

and how shitty the program was for many many years

2/22/2008 12:34:23 AM

Goddamn I'm good

Quote :

"Slave Famous All American 3148 Posts user info edit post line guess time!!! I say Memphis will be giving 6 2/17/2008 11:01:45 PM"

2/22/2008 8:43:08 PM

i'd take Memphis at -6 at home, i think it will be a tight game for about 30 mins but they will separate a little late

2/22/2008 8:47:34 PM

i was denying the hype all week, but i'm actually pretty stoked on watching this game.

2/22/2008 9:19:43 PM

^^Yeah, I tend to agree. the only thing is that memphis is the worst free throw shooting team in the country (literally). That could come back to bite them

^ you're goddamn right

Go Vols! Beat Tiger High.

2/22/2008 9:26:15 PM

eh, i'm not really pulling for anyone in particular.

i'm one of those guys that never buys into the memphis hype because of their weak conference and early tourney exits, but this year they seem to be a little more legit (minus their free throw shooting).

i wouldn't be surprised to see tennessee win. i actually more expect them to.

[Edited on February 22, 2008 at 9:39 PM. Reason : i'm dumb sometimes.]

2/22/2008 9:38:10 PM

I'm pulling for Memphis because they're pretty much a lock for a #1 seed already. I see Tennessee as a threat for the top line in the East just like Duke.

2/22/2008 11:16:16 PM

Vols will win comfortably.

[Edited on February 22, 2008 at 11:21 PM. Reason : ]

2/22/2008 11:21:04 PM

I'd rather Memphis win.

2/22/2008 11:25:41 PM

^^ i don't know that they'll win comfortably. i see it being a pretty close game.

2/23/2008 12:00:57 AM

i hope memphis loses and drops to #20.

but then again, i hate midmajors.

2/23/2008 12:03:06 AM

If you're a heels fan, you root against Memphis if you're worried about playing in Charlotte...its the closest regional site for them too, and they'll definitely get first dibs if they finish unblemished.

2/23/2008 9:55:14 AM

^ Perish that uncomfortable thought! North Carolina having to play the regionals outside of North Carolina?

2/23/2008 10:41:14 AM

^^ Memphis will be in the Houston regional.

2/23/2008 10:42:42 AM

so what is the line?

is it actually memphis -6?

2/23/2008 10:44:21 AM

yup.
http://www.madduxsports.com/college-basketball-lines.php

[Edited on February 23, 2008 at 11:22 AM. Reason : ]

2/23/2008 11:22:23 AM

9 oclock cannot get here fast enough

2/23/2008 11:36:08 AM

Quote :

"If I had my choice for any coach in the country, Pearl would have to be near the top. The job he has done so far is amazing considering how bad Buzz was."

and how quickly he got things turned around at UT, compared with how quickly Milwaukee has gone down the shitter since he left

2/23/2008 11:43:43 AM

Tennessee reminds me alot of Duke this season. (esp the poor ft shooting) I expect Memphis to come out of this one alive in a close one. Memphis will continue to be lord of the flies

2/23/2008 12:56:55 PM

Am I the only one who thinks UT will win by 10?

2/23/2008 2:53:41 PM

Memphis has played a shit schedule and it's going to bite them in the ass tonight.

2/23/2008 3:08:36 PM

vols

2/23/2008 3:20:23 PM

good god...

Memphis bout to run shit tonight....

TENNESSEE EXPOSED.

Memphis by 12

2/23/2008 8:07:44 PM

Quote :

"Memphis has played a shit schedule and it's going to bite them in the ass tonight."

Memphis has beaten Oklahoma, won at UConn, beat (24)USC while they were ranked, beat (5)Georgetown, and (17)Arizona.

i wouldn't say that's a shit schedule. sure their conference is weak, but Memphis has played a pretty decent non-conference schedule.

2/23/2008 8:13:36 PM

I think Tennessee is going to pound the ever loving shit out of Memphis. Just my opinion though

^ and all of those games were nearly 2 months ago

2/23/2008 8:14:37 PM

I don't really know what to expect. Memphis is clearly does two things much better than Tennessee: go inside and play defense (although sometimes they take too many chances). On the other hand, it's been awhile since Memphis has played a solid team.

2/23/2008 8:27:36 PM

^^i wasn't saying memphis is going to win. haha. i think tennessee is going to. just saying that aside from memphis' crap cup-cake conference (holy alliteration!) schedule, they have played decent competition.

2/23/2008 8:30:18 PM

are they really announcing names like it's the superbowl while playing eye of the tiger?

2/23/2008 9:02:54 PM

BOOM!

IT'S ON!

2/23/2008 9:07:29 PM

holy fuck what a shot

[Edited on February 23, 2008 at 9:08 PM. Reason : first couple minutes = ridiculous]

2/23/2008 9:08:24 PM

Quote :

"are they really announcing names like it's the superbowl while playing eye of the tiger?"

this happens every game. what i don't understand is why they only show it for nba finals/superbowl/final four/acc championship game and...this game. its great tv why not show it every game?

2/23/2008 9:10:44 PM

they'll both score more than the suns last night at this rate

2/23/2008 9:11:25 PM

3 much?!

2/23/2008 9:15:06 PM

jesus, i'm tired just watching this!

they'll both have 60 by the half!

2/23/2008 9:15:45 PM

go vols




wish I was on ole rocky top up in the tennessee hills

2/23/2008 9:16:19 PM

pretty redunkulous so far

damn, that 3 was from like 40 feet

2/23/2008 9:16:39 PM

exciting game here

2/23/2008 9:16:47 PM

i kinda wanna stay in and watch it instead of going out. heh.

2/23/2008 9:17:42 PM

Aint' no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top Ain't no telephone bills

2/23/2008 9:18:32 PM

This game is fucking awesome

I hope it goes like this all night

pace favors the VOLS

2/23/2008 9:18:44 PM