Tennessee’s slapstick approach to basketball
by Tony Basilio
While the elite of college basketball compete for supremacy in college hoops this March, Tennessee men’s basketball stands alone. Who wants to be like Duke, North Carolina or Kentucky? Those schools play a different game than our beloved Vols. Basketball is so darned serious for them. At Tennessee, basketball is played for laughs; it’s the funniest thing going on hardwood.
Make no mistake, it was intense around here at one time, back in the Ray Mears era and the earlier days of former head coach Don DeVoe. It has only been in the AD period (After Dale Ellis) that Tennessee has established itself as a comedic endeavor, rather than a competitive one.
Take, for example, last week’s game with Alabama in the opening round of the SEC Tournament. The game was even funnier than the ridiculous final score of 84-49 would lead you to believe.
At one point, Tennessee was down 30, with lumbering sophomore Boomer Herndon playing at low post. Herndon took a pass, squared up, eyed the hoop, took aim and let fly with a beautiful, high-arcing shot. A shot that sailed completely over the backboard. The ball wasn’t tipped; he wasn’t fouled; he just shot it over top of the entire goal apparatus. I was on the floor, doubled up with laughter; Tennessee’s broadcast team of Bob Kesling and Bert Bertlekamp did a double-take in disbelief.
The moment guaranteed Tennessee a highlight on that evening’s edition of ESPN’s Sportscenter, as Herndon’s quail was included in the top plays of the day. Hey, on a day filled with tourney tensions on the frenzied cusp of March Madness, somebody had to provide the comic relief. And laughter has been a faithful companion to all who have suffered through Tennessee hoops for lo, these last 20 years; it’s the only thing we’ve got.
In truth, Tennessee basketball has been laughable ever since All-American forward Dale Ellis walked off campus. When Ellis departed in the spring of ’84, Tennessee was the third winningest team in the first 51 seasons of SEC basketball, behind only Kentucky and Alabama. They were in good company, and the team was feared and respected.
Since then, our slapstick Vols have been the 10th winningest team in the SEC, behind (in order) Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Vanderbilt (yes, Vanderbilt), Mississippi State, and Auburn.
Prior to ’84, Kentucky was the only SEC team that Tennessee didn’t have a winning record against. Since ’84, Tennessee is playing sub- .500 basketball versus not only Kentucky, but also Alabama, Florida (this isn’t football, and this isn’t a misprint), Georgia (the punchline is still coming), LSU (do what?), and South Carolina (yes, that South Carolina). In other words, over the period, Tennessee has a losing record against half the teams in the league.
Since 1984, Tennessee boasts a dismal road record of .260, or about one win in every four tries. Not to be overshadowed, this year’s squad distinguished itself by losing three games by more than 30 plus points on the road. Our guys might not have done much for the game of basketball, but at least they made opposing fans smile.
In the wake of the “Bama Blitzkreig” at the SEC Tourney, one caller to my radio program described the state of UT basketball: “It’s like being out with your buddies on a Friday night around 10 o’clock, and you look over to the driver’s seat and there is a 12-year old-kid behind the wheel.” And Boomer Herndon is lining up an eight-footer.
Think of it this way: The Andy Griffith Show was a comedy classic, and it only aired for eight years as a first-run prime time television show. Tennessee basketball After Dale Ellis begins its third decade next fall, and it’s still going...er, strong. Now that’s staying power.
I’d like to suggest a new UT promotional slogan for the 21st century: “Tennessee Basketball. LOL!”
Tune in and talk sports with "The Tony Basilio Show" each weekday from 3-6 p.m. on the network (670 WMTY-AM, 850 WKVL-AM, 1140 WLOD-AM, 1290 WATO-AM, or 1400 WGAP-AM).
March 18, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 12
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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