There wasn't much to enjoy about Tennessee's third loss to Florida and elimination from the SEC tournament, but the last few minutes saw the Vols return to their Bruce Pearl roots by full court pressing the Gators.
Here is hoping this was the beginning of a return of 55.
55 is what Pearl calls his press - it is a 1-2-1-1 press that looks like a man-to-man press. There is a post on the ball with hands up to prevent the long pass (because Tennessee is face-guarding everyone but the farthest person from the ball) who will trap if the ball is thrown the near corner. The two wings have zones where they face-guard whoever comes there. The point guard either plays the lob pass or moves up to be a third face-guarder. The last player, usually a post, should be a good shot-blocker who is basically a safety. Unless the ball is entered into the near corner, the entire defense retreats to play half-court.
For the last few years, Pearl has largely abandoned the press that was once his bread-and-butter. It took Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the Sweet Sixteen and shook the SEC when it first arrived in Knoxville. Now it is never used unless the Vols are down and trying to come back.
Here is why I hope to see it on Friday:
1) Tennessee is not very good. It made sense to me that the Vols stopped full-court pressing when they were contenders. Why press (unless you are Tarkanian or Nolan Richardson or Rick Pitino or John Wooden...) when you are more talented than your opponent? Why open your defense up to easy transition points when you can shut your opponent down in the half court?
Tennessee is not a contender right now. Most Vols fans would secretly be okay with a Michigan win and a competitive showing against Duke. I don't know anyone talking Final Four with this bunch.
If the Vols are not that good, why not press? What is there to lose? Who is going to wear out that cannot be replaced? The only guy I see who MUST be on the floor that could get exposed is Brian Williams. Harris was born to press. Hopson cannot be counted on. Last year, the Vols needed Chism, Prince, and Maze on the floor as much as possible. Not so this year.
2) Michigan could be exposed by the press. The Wolverines have no depth. Pressing Michigan could expose this while the Vols go 10-11 deep and stay fresh. Michigan is also a guard heavy team - that is wear their scoring strength lies. By pressing those guys - making them work just to get the inbound pass - the Vols could take out their legs and make it very tough to make jumpers late in the half or game.
3) Tennessee cannot score consistency. If the half-court offense is no good (and it usually isn't), then why not try to create turnovers and easy baskets? Tennessee used to score in bunches. When was the last time this team scored 6-8 quick points?
Picture this line-up on the floor (and I have seen it this year) - Golden, Bone, McBie, Pearl, Hall. How does this line-up ever score? Why not press?
(Okay - here is the rub: you usually have to score to press. That group would never get to press because of that problem, but you get my point).
4) Duke. Do the Vols want to guard Duke in the half-court or would it be better to take some chances in the back-court? If Kyrie Irving returns to Duke (looks good for him and Duke, bad for us), why not press the kid who has been watching instead of conditioning and who might be rattled by Tennessee's pressure?
I have no idea what happens to Bruce Pearl after this tournament, but I would love to see him and the Vols go down fighting the way they emerged six years ago.
Press 'em, Pearl. Press 'em.
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