The Knoxville News Sentinel has named Tyler Smith as the 2008 Rocky Top League MVP (Bernard King Award). I’m not sure what took so long, the league has been over since Wednesday and Smith was the obvious choice. Tyler clearly demonstrated that he was the best all around player on the floor and exhibited the type of leadership that Tennessee is expecting from him this season with the graduation of Chris and JaJuan. I believe the public address announcer at Bearden High School said it best on Wednesday night when he continually referred to the gym as ‘Mr. Smith’s house’.
If you are interested in other awards, be sure to check out the article above. The objective must have been to recognize as many of the participants as possible because the winners are numerous (16 awards and 22 winners). Can you guess who won the Dane Bradshaw award (fan favorite)?
Elsewhere on the basketball front, it was just announced that Tennessee will travel to Murfreesboro this season to take on MTSU:
MTSU men’s basketball will play host to Tennessee on Nov. 21, marking the Vols’ first regular-season trip to Murphy Center. Tennessee lost to host MTSU in the 1988 NIT in its only trip to Murfreesboro.
The meeting will be the third of a five game contract and yet another example of Bruce Pearl’s go anywhere and play anyone mentality. Games like this are typically a lose-lose situation as Tennessee learned in a hard fought trip to Chattanooga last December. However, it’s a chance for Pearl to showcase his basketball program in other areas of the state.
MTSU will look to avenge their 109-40 dismantling in Knoxville last season.