Another week, another road loss.
Vol coach Buzz Peterson has seen the same result all season – his team enters an opponent’s arena, plays tough early and then gets blown out.
But with youth does come progression. The Vols (12-9, 4-6 SEC) actually led 36-32 at halftime against Alabama Saturday – their first halftime lead on the road all season.
Then reality set in.
“(In Alabama) I told them someone out in California doesn’t care what happens in the first half,” Peterson said. “It’s in the second half that the men are going to step up.
As the youngest team in the SEC, Tennessee apparently didn’t have any men. The Vols would go on to lose 83-70, marking their closest road loss of the season.
But Peterson isn’t looking for consolation prizes with only six regular season games remaining and little time left to impress selection committees.
With only three road games left – two over previously defeated opponents – the Vols’ third-year coach said time is running out.
“A lot of things can happen,” Peterson said. “We’ve still got to go on the road and steal one.
“We don’t have a whole lot of time, but there are some guys trying to figure out things besides me.”
One of those would be Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes. The Rebels (12-9, 4-6) are one of the four other SEC schools – besides the Vols – sitting with four conference wins.
When UT and the Rebels face off Wednesday night in Thompson-Boling Arena, Peterson said the time for separation will begin.
“There’s a lot of us sitting with four losses,” he said. “If you’re wanting to squeak in there (and get a bid) you’ve got to finish on a positive note.”
That’s will not be easy for UT unless it finds a way to attack a zone defense. Poor execution and a lack of aggressiveness from the Vol guards allowed the Crimson Tide to swing Saturday’s game, Peterson said.
He said he expected the same from Ole Miss.
“Unless we work on our in-and-out game I’d expect teams to use the zone (on us),” he said. “We’ve got to attack more and move the ball around.
“Scooter (McFadgon) and C.J. (Watson) are a big part of that.”
Following the loss to Alabama, center Brandon Crump noticed the tentativeness by the Vol guards.
“They needed to attack more,” Crump said. “If they could get it inside, we probably could have had more inside.”
But Peterson said offense wasn’t the only reason for his team’s recent road woes. He faulted himself for the Vols’ fatigue late in the game.
“Maybe I need to look at how and when I sub,” he said. “C.J.’s got a third lung, but the rest of the guys might need something different.
“I’ve tried everything else – leaving early, different practices – so I’ll try different substitutions if that will get us a win (on the road).”
