Crakaveli
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GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Fresh off his final game of the season, Tennessee guard Chris Lofton already has some homework.
The 3-point ace needs to find a way to get into the lane.
``It's amazing," said Vols first-year coach Bruce Pearl following his 80-73 second round NCAA Tournament loss to Wichita. ``A player who is a third team All-American doesn't go to the foul line. That's part of Chris' game he has to work on and develop in the offseason."
Lofton didn't shoot a single foul shot in the loss at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Vols could have used his production.
Tennessee only made nine fouls shots on 13 attempts, while the Shockers were a generous 23-for-29 from the charity stripe. Lofton nearly tied a Southeastern Conference record this season for consecutive free throws.
Pearl said he thought Lofton could have shot the Vols past Wichita, but the sophomore and team leading scorer was only 6-for-18 shooting from beyond the arc, tying senior point guard C.J. Watson with 20 points in the loss.
Lofton's foul line prowess could be a strength next season. During the Vols' conference season, he shot 39-of-40 from the free-throw line but went six games in the regular season without a free-throw attempt.
``It's something he'll learn, and it will make him a better player," Pearl said. ``It will make us a better team as well."
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HIGHER BAR: Pearl wasn't quick to laud his first-season accomplishment of almost single-handedly reviving a dead Tennessee hoops program.
``We should have won one more game," he said.
The Vols returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001 until Pearl and won the SEC Eastern Division crown.
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NEEDED OPERATION: Vol utility player Dane Bradshaw said he's likely to have surgery to repair tendons in his left wrist in the coming week. The junior forward and former point guard has taken a beating most of the year playing out of position to fill team needs.
The wrist has been heavily wrapped since Bradshaw injured it Jan. 21 at home against Florida. The effect has been noticeable in his shooting since. Bradshaw was 1-for-7 against Wichita.
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COMING SOON: Tennessee athletics director Mike Hamilton says the proposed Vol basketball practice facility is on target with $9 million of the necessary $14 million already raised. Hamilton wants the totally funding in place before beginning construction. Coffers for the project filled rapidly in Pearl's first season.
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BLING-BLING: Pearl also was rewarded with a contract extension through 2012 that will pay him an average annual salary of $1.3 million. He agreed to the deal on March 8 and signed it March 14. The document just needs the signature of UT President Dr. John Petersen, who is expected to complete the deal this week.
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WELCOME BACK: The Vols will return three starters next season, including Lofton, Bradshaw and junior center Major Wingate. Pearl has already signed a Top 10 recruiting class with four incoming scholarship athletes and one left to give.
Tennessee loses starting point guard C.J. Watson, reserve Stanley Asumnu and Andre Patterson from its lineup. Pearl is continuing to search for a point guard to fill Watson's shoes with the final scholarship in the late signing period.
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MY BAD: Wingate took responsibility for the Vols' late implosion, despite having one of the best games of his career with 15 points, five blocks and seven boards.
``I was OK," he said. ``I wasn't doing anything that everybody else is not capable of doing. I put the whole thing on me. I had two huge turnovers in the second half at crunch time.
``You can't let that happen."
Wingate threw a phantom pass out of bounds with the game tied 65-all and ended the game with a turnover to Shocker Ryan Martin, who dunked for the final tally.
The Vols' lone big man shouldn't be too hard on himself, however. Wingate held Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Paul Miller to just one field goal in the game.
Pearl wasn't surprised by the performance.
``What Major did tonight was no surprise," Pearl said. "I almost predicted it if I could have."
The 3-point ace needs to find a way to get into the lane.
``It's amazing," said Vols first-year coach Bruce Pearl following his 80-73 second round NCAA Tournament loss to Wichita. ``A player who is a third team All-American doesn't go to the foul line. That's part of Chris' game he has to work on and develop in the offseason."
Lofton didn't shoot a single foul shot in the loss at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Vols could have used his production.
Tennessee only made nine fouls shots on 13 attempts, while the Shockers were a generous 23-for-29 from the charity stripe. Lofton nearly tied a Southeastern Conference record this season for consecutive free throws.
Pearl said he thought Lofton could have shot the Vols past Wichita, but the sophomore and team leading scorer was only 6-for-18 shooting from beyond the arc, tying senior point guard C.J. Watson with 20 points in the loss.
Lofton's foul line prowess could be a strength next season. During the Vols' conference season, he shot 39-of-40 from the free-throw line but went six games in the regular season without a free-throw attempt.
``It's something he'll learn, and it will make him a better player," Pearl said. ``It will make us a better team as well."
------
HIGHER BAR: Pearl wasn't quick to laud his first-season accomplishment of almost single-handedly reviving a dead Tennessee hoops program.
``We should have won one more game," he said.
The Vols returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001 until Pearl and won the SEC Eastern Division crown.
------
NEEDED OPERATION: Vol utility player Dane Bradshaw said he's likely to have surgery to repair tendons in his left wrist in the coming week. The junior forward and former point guard has taken a beating most of the year playing out of position to fill team needs.
The wrist has been heavily wrapped since Bradshaw injured it Jan. 21 at home against Florida. The effect has been noticeable in his shooting since. Bradshaw was 1-for-7 against Wichita.
------
COMING SOON: Tennessee athletics director Mike Hamilton says the proposed Vol basketball practice facility is on target with $9 million of the necessary $14 million already raised. Hamilton wants the totally funding in place before beginning construction. Coffers for the project filled rapidly in Pearl's first season.
------
BLING-BLING: Pearl also was rewarded with a contract extension through 2012 that will pay him an average annual salary of $1.3 million. He agreed to the deal on March 8 and signed it March 14. The document just needs the signature of UT President Dr. John Petersen, who is expected to complete the deal this week.
------
WELCOME BACK: The Vols will return three starters next season, including Lofton, Bradshaw and junior center Major Wingate. Pearl has already signed a Top 10 recruiting class with four incoming scholarship athletes and one left to give.
Tennessee loses starting point guard C.J. Watson, reserve Stanley Asumnu and Andre Patterson from its lineup. Pearl is continuing to search for a point guard to fill Watson's shoes with the final scholarship in the late signing period.
------
MY BAD: Wingate took responsibility for the Vols' late implosion, despite having one of the best games of his career with 15 points, five blocks and seven boards.
``I was OK," he said. ``I wasn't doing anything that everybody else is not capable of doing. I put the whole thing on me. I had two huge turnovers in the second half at crunch time.
``You can't let that happen."
Wingate threw a phantom pass out of bounds with the game tied 65-all and ended the game with a turnover to Shocker Ryan Martin, who dunked for the final tally.
The Vols' lone big man shouldn't be too hard on himself, however. Wingate held Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Paul Miller to just one field goal in the game.
Pearl wasn't surprised by the performance.
``What Major did tonight was no surprise," Pearl said. "I almost predicted it if I could have."
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