Wyoming won't slow down for Vols

Pearls expects Cowboys to press in attempt to keep tempo fast

By Mike Griffith

Monday, December 14, 2009

If any coach in Knoxville knows entertainment, it's Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl.

Pearl has all but guaranteed the ninth-ranked Vols (7-1) and Wyoming (5-4) will put on a show at 7 p.m. tonight at Thompson-Boling Arena.

"This will be as exciting of a game as we've had all year,'' Pearl said. "Wyoming turns people over 21 times a game, and they absolutely will not mind running with us.''

The Cowboys are the biggest team UT has faced this season, featuring a 7-foot-2 center and a 6-10 power forward.

And yet, they prefer the uptempo style, just like the Vols.

"Nobody has pressed us like they will, nobody has been this big,'' Pearl said. "Is scoring 100 (points) realistic? You never know. I suppose there's a chance they won't want to run, but . . . I think they're proud of their style.''

The only time Wyoming hasn't liked running is when its at the free-throw line: The Cowboys lead the nation with 234 made free throws and rank third with 316 attempts.

"It's going to be a track meet,'' UT senior post Wayne Chism said. "I'm looking forward to it, and the fans will enjoy the pace.''

Wyoming is riding a three-game win streak, including a 76-70 win over a Loyola-Marymount team that won at Notre Dame on Saturday.

"This will be the second-best team we've played all year,'' said Pearl, whose team lost to fourth-ranked Purdue. "We didn't call Wyoming; they called us and wanted this game.

"They feel good about this opportunity.''

Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer said he scheduled the game as a measuring stick for his team, which ranks as the third youngest in the country.

"This (UT) team has a chance to go to the Final Four,'' Schroyer said. "It's good for our young players; every year I try to schedule one of the best teams. Last year, we played UCLA.''

Schroyer said he knows what he's up against.

"Tennessee is very well-coached,'' he said. "It's a top-10 team year-in and year-out.''

Hopson Rebound: Scotty Hopson said his one-point outing against Middle Tennessee isn't affecting his attitude.

"I'm not going to get down in any aspect, and when I'm not scoring, it won't affect other parts of my game,'' said Hopson, who leads the Vols with a 13.9-point average. "I didn't take many shots (three), other people were getting good looks, and I wanted to stay in the framework of the offense.

"I'm looking forward to a faster-paced game, and my matchup (versus Wyoming's 6-6 shooting guard) will be different than the smaller guys I've been seeing.''

Hubert Hurt: Junior walk-on point guard Michael Hubert suffered a significant knee injury in Sunday's practice.

"That could be a real blow to our team, and to our scout team,'' Pearl said. "Mike is a guy that can handle the ball against Melvin (Goins) and Bobby (Maze). We're hoping the diagnosis isn't too serious, but it could be.''