University of Tennessee Athletics
Chattanooga-Tennessee Postgame Quotes
November 15, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2008
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Tennessee Head Coach Bruce Pearl: "It is been a really interesting preseason. I have been doing this for a lot of years. We have had to go through so many things with injuries and eligibility and discipline. It has been disruptive to get a handle upon our rotation, but it also forced our hands with the freshmen getting into the rotation. But we are getting guys back - getting Cameron Tatum back a week ago, and getting J.P. Prince back this week - it really helps.
"Bobby Maze has been really consistent. I have been most impressed with his on-the-ball defense. I was just impressed tonight because our weakness is our defense, and they gave a great effort.
"UT-Chattanooga is going to have a good season. They did not play well tonight, but they are a lot better than the way they played. We may have had something to do with that, but I know they are disappointed because they have a really good basketball team. Our pressure was disruptive, and we obviously shot the ball tremendously with 32 assists on 43 baskets."
UT-Chattanooga Head Coach John Shulman: "I made a comment that maybe only North Carolina had better talent, and I may have to stick with that comment. They play hard. They are talented. They shoot it. If they mesh, I think they have a chance to be really special.
"Kevin Goffney is probably our best player, and he goes out in the first minute of the game. But I do not think KG would have scored 39 points.
"We were banking on them missing a few shots. Cameron Tatum is a high-level player. Renaldo Woolridge is a high-level player. Scotty Hopson can score the ball. Tyler Smith is making 2 out of 3 shots. They are as talented - I do not know if I can put them with the Florida team we played that was the national champion - but they are a heck of a lot deeper.
"Bobby Maze had 10 assists, and 1 turnover, he did a great job pressuring the ball. I thought he dominated the game. I was a Jordan Howell fan, and a Chris Lofton fan, and a JaJuan Smith fan, but it is not even close with Maze."
Postgame Notes
- Tennessee home win streak reached 33 wins, tying their longest ever (Jan. 3, 1966, to Feb. 3, 1968).
- The Vols recorded a school-record 32 assists (previous: 31 vs. Tennessee Tech, Nov. 25, 1988).
- Tyler Smith led the Vols with 21 points tonight, the fourth time in his Tennessee career to score more than 20.
- Wayne Chism earned a double-double, the fifth of his career, with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
- Bobby Maze, in his Tennessee debut, scored 12 points and dished out 10 assists. Maze is the first Vol to have more than 10 assists since Dane Bradshaw had 11 against Long Beach State.
