Texas Review

There’s not much to say about this game. It was just unbelievable. I’m not sure if I have ever witnessed a game like that. This game showed me a lot about this team tonight. They were able to fight back from 15 down at the half, and played great despite losing Jordan Howell to injury, and Dane Bradshaw being no where near 100% with his shoulder injury and sick with the flu. Thoughts on the game:

1) Chris Lofton might be one of the best players in the country. Period. What he showed in this game today was undeniably the best performance I have ever seen from a Vol. Lofton struggled in the first half, having only 8 points in the first half. Then he just got sick in the second half. He had two HUGE threes in the final minute of regulation, including the go ahead three from 27 feet over Kevin Durant. Where would this team be without Chris Lofton?

2) How about Duke Crews and Wayne Chism! Both played great tonight. They seemed to grow up tonight a lot, especially Chism. Wayne really showed me a lot today. He guarded Durant down the stretch and did a great job at it. He had a huge three point shot in overtime, and a great coast to coast drive in the second half. Crews seemed to be a catalyst for the Vols today. He fired up the Vols in the second half, and started them on their run to victory.

3) Ramar Smith had by far his best game as a Vols today. Smith knew he would have to step it up with Jordan Howell being out injured, and he wasn’t helped any by the fact that Dane was hampered by the flu. Ramar played 38 minutes today, scoring 16 points, 9 assists, and 0 turnovers. Wow!

4) Overall, it was a great experience at the arena today. The crowd was really into the game, especially once the Vols fought back to get the game within reach. Lofton’s performance was just ridiculous, but I have become spoiled in expecting stuff like that from him. For those that weren’t there, when Lofton hit that three to put the Vols up at the end of the game, that was one of the loudest moments I have heard in Thompson-Boling Arena.

As if there was any doubt about the Stat Line of the Night…..

Stat Line of the Night:

                TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
Player Name     FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
Lofton,Chris     8-24   7-16  12-13   5  6 11   2  35  1  1  0  1  38