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Vols hope to keep home streak alive against Zags
Gameday Matchup
W-L PF PA HOME ROAD STK L10
GONZ 8-4 76.7 62.5 3-1 1-2 L3
TENN 9-3 84.6 73.8 5-0 2-2 L1
School Info
Jan 7, 2009 GONZ @ TENN 9:00 PM ET
The Zags gave the Volunteers their first loss of the season on Nov. 30 at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla. This time, the teams meet at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, where No. 15 Tennessee (9-3) holds a 37-game winning streak dating back to March 1, 2006.
"We never want to say we're going to have a revenge game. We don't want to go into game putting a lot of pressure into ourselves," Smith, a junior forward, said. "Coming into this arena, we rarely lose in here. That's something we're going to take pride in."
Gonzaga, which looked like a Final Four caliber team in its win at the Thanksgiving tournament, has fallen on harder times since that 83-74 win. The Zags (8-4) have lost three games in a row to No. 5 Connecticut, Portland State and Utah, tumbling from The Associated Press rankings as a result.
That doesn't mean they're any worse than they were in November, Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said.
"It's just going to be so easy, you know, for the national audience or the color commentators or people in the media to go, 'Oh, well they're really struggling," Pearl said, adding that Gonzaga played Connecticut into overtime, lost by only a point at Utah and struggled against a solid Portland State squad.
Pearl said his Vols are a little better now than they were at the Old Spice tournament, but not nearly as improved as they should be. Tennessee's transition defense is a little improved but its ball-screen defense isn't.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few is critical of his own team's growth as well. The Zags are having more trouble scoring -- especially in clutch moments -- since last facing Tennessee.
"Life becomes a lot easier if guys make shots," he said.
Few also is aware that Tennessee is bound to play better on its own floor than away from home.
"They'll be at home and fired up," he said.
Tennessee has played much better at home this season than on the road, having won a close match with Belmont and beating Marquette in front of what was essentially a home crowd in Nashville.
It's a distinction Pearl wishes his team would get past. Hostile road games have exposed Tennessee's lack of toughness.
"The home crowd is not going to defend for us. It's not going to make shots for us. It's not going to show discipline at both ends of the floor. But it certainly can help," he said.
"I know that on Wednesday night we are going to have a great home-court advantage because this basketball team needs it."
Gameday Matchup
W-L PF PA HOME ROAD STK L10
GONZ 8-4 76.7 62.5 3-1 1-2 L3
TENN 9-3 84.6 73.8 5-0 2-2 L1
School Info
Jan 7, 2009 GONZ @ TENN 9:00 PM ET
The Zags gave the Volunteers their first loss of the season on Nov. 30 at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla. This time, the teams meet at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, where No. 15 Tennessee (9-3) holds a 37-game winning streak dating back to March 1, 2006.
"We never want to say we're going to have a revenge game. We don't want to go into game putting a lot of pressure into ourselves," Smith, a junior forward, said. "Coming into this arena, we rarely lose in here. That's something we're going to take pride in."
Gonzaga, which looked like a Final Four caliber team in its win at the Thanksgiving tournament, has fallen on harder times since that 83-74 win. The Zags (8-4) have lost three games in a row to No. 5 Connecticut, Portland State and Utah, tumbling from The Associated Press rankings as a result.
That doesn't mean they're any worse than they were in November, Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said.
"It's just going to be so easy, you know, for the national audience or the color commentators or people in the media to go, 'Oh, well they're really struggling," Pearl said, adding that Gonzaga played Connecticut into overtime, lost by only a point at Utah and struggled against a solid Portland State squad.
Pearl said his Vols are a little better now than they were at the Old Spice tournament, but not nearly as improved as they should be. Tennessee's transition defense is a little improved but its ball-screen defense isn't.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few is critical of his own team's growth as well. The Zags are having more trouble scoring -- especially in clutch moments -- since last facing Tennessee.
"Life becomes a lot easier if guys make shots," he said.
Few also is aware that Tennessee is bound to play better on its own floor than away from home.
"They'll be at home and fired up," he said.
Tennessee has played much better at home this season than on the road, having won a close match with Belmont and beating Marquette in front of what was essentially a home crowd in Nashville.
It's a distinction Pearl wishes his team would get past. Hostile road games have exposed Tennessee's lack of toughness.
"The home crowd is not going to defend for us. It's not going to make shots for us. It's not going to show discipline at both ends of the floor. But it certainly can help," he said.
"I know that on Wednesday night we are going to have a great home-court advantage because this basketball team needs it."
