It has only been a few short weeks since UT fans witnessed their basketball team go toe-to-toe with Duke and Memphis at the Maui Invitational. After yesterday’s loss to 2-9 Austin Peay, those moral victories in the Aloha State seem like a distant memory.
The Governors hit their last seven shots of the game to capture the 74-70 victory before a very quiet crowd of 14,692 at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Vols led for much of the game, but were burdened with a season-high 18 turnovers and a pesky second-half zone defense by the Governors.
"I thought there was a lot of individual play,'' Coach Cuonzo Martin told the media after the game. "They (Austin Peay) shot 73 percent in the second half; I think that's taking pride in guarding your man and not consuming yourself on the offensive end of the ball.”
The Vols (3-5) were led by Jerronne Maymon with 18pts and 9 rebs. Kenny Hall added a double-double with 12pts and 10 rebs.
Tennessee fans are sure to turn negative on this basketball team and Coach Martin after such an unforeseen loss, which came exactly two weeks after the football Vols failed to reach bowl eligibility after a history-making loss to Kentucky.
This Athletic Dept. is clearly in shambles. But, we must hold onto the hope that the behind-the-scenes shenanigans have trickled down to the court/field in one final blaze of putridity, and we have reached rock bottom at last with nowhere to go but up.
However, the climb up from the depths of despair may get a little harder before it gets easier. The Vols travel to Charleston, SC to take on the College of Charleston on Wednesday night (9pm, ESPN2). The Cougars are 7-1 and are undefeated at home this season.
GO VOLS!!!
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