Jerry Green knows a lot about Illinois State’s head coach. Now, he’s trying
to find out as much as he can about the Redbirds themselves.
Green and ISU’s Kevin Stallings worked together on Kansas head coach Roy
Williams’ staff. Green, whose stay in Lawrence lasted from 1989-92, then
went to Oregon, where he led the Ducks to the NCAAs for the first time
since 1961.
Stallings, meanwhile, left Kansas for Normal, Ill., to take over as head
coach at Illinois State. After Kevin O’Neill jumped ship for Northwestern
last year, Stallings was one of the favorites to take the Tennessee job.
His reluctance to leave was due in large part to the deep and talented team
he had assembled at ISU.
Now, the coaches’ paths meet again, but this time it is in Sacramento,
Calif., in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The game is extremely
important for both programs.
For Tennessee, it is a chance to garner some respect, a scarce commodity in
recent years in Knoxville when it comes to men’s basketball.
For Kevin Stallings, now in his fifth year at the helm, and Illinois State,
it is a chance to get some national exposure for a program that faces stiff
competition from Illinois, DePaul, Purdue and the rest of the Big Ten for
the best prep players in the state.
It doesn’t matter that the winner will likely be rewarded with a daunting
second-round matchup with defending national champion Arizona. (The
Wildcats face Southland Conference champion Nicholls State in the bracket’s
other game Thursday.) Both teams are fighting for respect on the national
level. You don’t get a shot at knocking off the champs unless you win
Thursday.
“We would love to get a chance to play Arizona in the second round,” guard
Brandon Wharton said, “but we have to concentrate on Illinois State right
now.”
Said Green, “It’s good to be in the tournament and bring Tennessee back to
some responsibility. We’re looking forward to what is an unusual matchup
with Illinois State.”
Unusual is an understatement. Green knows well the fact that his former
colleague had a chance to coach the Vols this season.
“He turned down the job here, and I’m glad he did because I got to take
it,” Green said.
With the selections being announced Sunday night, the team leaving for
California tonight and the game being played on Thursday, there is not a
lot of time for Green and the Vols to familiarize themselves with the
Missouri Valley Conference champions. Nor for the Redbirds to get a good
look at the underexposed Vols.
“I’ve been able to look at one of seven films I’ve got of them,” Green said
Monday. “They are a veteran basketball team and they have perimeter people
who can shoot. (Rico) Hill creates problems. He’s good going to the goal
and he can face up and shoot.
“I think it’s going to be a heckuva game.”
Hill, a 6-6 junior forward who averages 18.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per
game, is the catalyst of a talented squad that was ranked in the top 25 in
many preseason publications.
He is joined in the starting five by four seniors: point guard Jamar Smiley
(7.9 ppg, 6.9 apg), lead guard Steve Hansell (5.8 ppg), forward Dan Muller
(13 ppg), and center LeRoy Watkins (9.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg).
Junior Kyle Cartmill (6.8 ppg) is a dangerous 3-point shooter coming off
the bench. He was 33-of-80 from behind the arc this season.
Illinois State (24-5) will be hindered by the loss of guard Skipp
Schaefbauer (9.0 ppg), who broke his leg in the MVC tournament.
As for the Vols, their depth will be aided by the return of guard Vegas
Davis, who should see action against the Redbirds.
“We are going to use Vegas in the tournament unless something recurs,” said
Green of the sophomore, who has missed 11 games since injuring his left
knee.
Green is also encouraged by the improvement of point guard Tony Harris
throughout the season, although he would like to see his sparkplug use a
little more discretion in the lane.
“If I’m not mistaken, I think he had three charges against Arkansas,” Green
said. “Tony’s got to learn an intermediate spot to his game. When it gets
real crowded, he doesn’t see the spot nine or 10 feet away where he can
pull up and shoot baby jumpers.”
The game against the Redbirds will be an opportunity for Green to catch up
with Stallings. Since taking the job at Tennessee in April, Green has been
a busy man trying to solidify the program.
When asked if he talks to Stallings or fellow former Kansas assistant Steve
Robinson, who led Florida State to an at-large bid in the NCAAs this
season, Green said: “Ever since April I haven’t taken a lot of time to talk
to anybody. I thought this job was a special challenge. I talk to Roy about
every week or so. It’s not that I don’t like Kevin or Steve.”
It’s just that he has been building a winning program at Tennessee, and a
job like that requires complete devotion of time and effort.
Is it working?
“I don’t think there is anybody at UT who won’t be excited about this team
next year when we have Late Night,” Green said.
The Vols will face Illinois State at the Arco Arena in Sacramento at 7:50
p.m. ET on Thursday.
Editor’s Note: The Vols will depart from Thompson-Boling Arena tonight
at about 6:30. Fans are encouraged to come and send the Vols off in
style.
