2008 Woodie Awards
Pearl, Vols look for fast start
Associated Press
Issue date: 3/21/08 Section: Sports
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Chris Lofton corralled a loose ball, streaked down the wing and zinged a crosscourt pass that led to a rim-shaking, reverse dunk.
Tennessee's star guard was in full flight Thursday, and his teammates followed his cue. Alley-oop lobs, balls ricocheting out of play, coach Bruce Pearl mimicking the arena buzzer and shouting, "Let's go!"
It was 40 minutes of mayhem. And it was just practice - so frenzied that student managers brought cups of water onto the court to give players a break.
"We can't get caught up in Tennessee's fast pace," American sharpshooter Garrison Carr said.
Quite a task for any team. Especially one making its NCAA tournament debut today.
They come from completely different worlds. They did not take on a common opponent this season.
Ranked No. 1 earlier this season, the second-seeded Volunteers (29-4) played nearly half their games against teams that made the tournament. They made plenty of TV appearances, won the Southeastern Conference regular season and finished with the top RPI in the nation.
Yet something is missing. Not only have the Vols never reached the Final Four, they've never even made a regional final.
They enter the East Regional after a sluggish showing in the SEC tournament, squeaking past South Carolina and then losing to Arkansas.
"We know Tennessee basketball is not known for postseason play," Lofton said. "We're not really known as a basketball school."
Not the men's team, anyway. Pat Summitt has done pretty well on the women's side.
At least fans know where the Vols come from. American is trying to establish its place on the March basketball map, and on MapQuest.
"People still ask me, 'American University? Where is that?' And I have to tell them it's in Washington, D.C. So hopefully tomorrow, being on the national scene, people from all over the nation will watch us play," Carr said.
"If we have a good showing, they will remember where American is," he said. "That's what we want to do for the program, let people know that American is in Washington, D.C., put it out there, and help the program build from here."
Tennessee's star guard was in full flight Thursday, and his teammates followed his cue. Alley-oop lobs, balls ricocheting out of play, coach Bruce Pearl mimicking the arena buzzer and shouting, "Let's go!"
It was 40 minutes of mayhem. And it was just practice - so frenzied that student managers brought cups of water onto the court to give players a break.
"We can't get caught up in Tennessee's fast pace," American sharpshooter Garrison Carr said.
Quite a task for any team. Especially one making its NCAA tournament debut today.
They come from completely different worlds. They did not take on a common opponent this season.
Ranked No. 1 earlier this season, the second-seeded Volunteers (29-4) played nearly half their games against teams that made the tournament. They made plenty of TV appearances, won the Southeastern Conference regular season and finished with the top RPI in the nation.
Yet something is missing. Not only have the Vols never reached the Final Four, they've never even made a regional final.
They enter the East Regional after a sluggish showing in the SEC tournament, squeaking past South Carolina and then losing to Arkansas.
"We know Tennessee basketball is not known for postseason play," Lofton said. "We're not really known as a basketball school."
Not the men's team, anyway. Pat Summitt has done pretty well on the women's side.
At least fans know where the Vols come from. American is trying to establish its place on the March basketball map, and on MapQuest.
"People still ask me, 'American University? Where is that?' And I have to tell them it's in Washington, D.C. So hopefully tomorrow, being on the national scene, people from all over the nation will watch us play," Carr said.
"If we have a good showing, they will remember where American is," he said. "That's what we want to do for the program, let people know that American is in Washington, D.C., put it out there, and help the program build from here."
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