NCAA BK

Tennessee Getting Inside

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Updated Dec 4, 2009 10:04 AM ET
     
 
Despite getting a share of the Eastern Division title for its third division crown in the last four years, Tennessee wasn't all that happy with last season.

After losing the regular-season finale to drop into a tie with South Carolina in the standings, the Volunteers followed with a loss in the championship game of the conference tournament, then were one-and-done in the NCAA tourney.

But those shortcomings seemed to have given some motivation for the Vols this season.

Despite a one-point loss to Purdue when Wayne Chism missed a three-pointer in the closing seconds of the championship game of the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Vols have played with the kind of intensity they showed in coach Bruce Pearl's first couple of seasons.

They bounced back from their first loss with an 86-69 victory over College of Charleston and a 78-66 decision over East Tennessee State.

The Vols have shot the ball well (51 percent), out-rebounded opponents by an average of 38-32, and have averaged fewer turnovers, 13-19, in the early going.

They also were averaging 19 assists a game, three more than last season when they were second in the conference at 16.3 per game.

It's the kind of play they need to continue if they want to challenge heavily favored Kentucky in the division this season.

Tagged: Tennessee

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