Recently the Tennessee and Iowa athletic departments sat down for a friendly game of go fish. We found this transcript highlighting the final minutes of the match:
Iowa: “Do you have any highly regarded basketball coaches that are interested in Iowa?”
Tennessee: “Go fish”
Iowa: “Crap”
Tennessee: “Do you have any talented young players who made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and might be interested in transferring to Tennessee?”
Iowa: “Dang it! What the …. ?”
Tennessee: “Good game guys.”
First, after basketball coach Steve Alford left for New Mexico, Iowa fans worked themselves into a frenzy that Bruce Pearl was coming “home” to Iowa. The message boards were buzzing that Bruce was their guy and he was coming back to save the program.
Unfortunately, their courtship was over before it ever had a chance to really get started. Pearl’s answer: thanks but no thanks.
Now it looks as if we might not only keep our basketball coach, but take their most promising young player, Tyler Smith.
I have to admit, I’ve been skeptical that Tyler Smith could possibly be headed to Tennessee. However, according to the Tennessean, Smith has already been released from Iowa and plans to transfer closer to his father, who reportedly has cancer. Suddenly it does seem plausible that he could soon be a Vol.
What could Tyler Smith bring to Tennessee? 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals. The three Smith’s (Ramar, JaJuan and Tyler) along side Lofton and Chism would be quite the starting lineup.
A blogger over at mostlynothing.com gives his take on Tyler Smith leaving Iowa.
He wouldn’t be transferring back to Tennessee because it makes basketball sense (clearly it doesn’t). He’d be transferring for personal reasons, those same reasons none of us can fault him for.
I’m not going to get into Tyler’s intentions, we all have to assume that he really does want to be closer to his dad. However, I fail to see how this move doesn’t make basketball sense. He would be playing for one of the top coaches in the country in a system that fits his style of play nicely. Tennessee is a team that, according to early polls, could be a preseason top 10 team next year and has very high post season aspirations.
Discuss Tyler Smith in our Tennessee Vols Forum.
**Edit: It’s now being reported that Tyler Smith has told reporters that he wants to play for Tennessee.
3 responses to “Tyler Smith to Tennessee?”
Amazing blog, buddy! The first little bit was hilarious, and I agree with you: it makes perfect basketball sense for Smith of the Tyler domain.
Thanks Doug, for the comment. I am really excited at the possibility of Tyler Smith coming to Tennessee and the chance that he could play next season.
I agree, it takes our team from SEC favorite/Elite 8 team to Final 4 expectations.
From everything you and I have heard, he’ll be at the Summit this winter.
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