KNOXVILLE — It was an embarrassment. That's how Tennessee men's basketball Coach Bruce Pearl and his players described the loss Saturday at Kentucky.
It wasn't just because of the 19-point thumping, or UT's four assists, or even the 4-of-24 shooting from 3-point range.
On multiple defensive plays, UT appeared to give up, players showed little poise, and at times center Wayne Chism, forward Tyler Smith as well as wing J.P. Prince weren't even in the huddle during timeouts.
"You could see Coach just talking to five players and everybody else running around talking to each other," Chism said. "That's not us. Usually we're all crowded around him and we weren't."
When UT (16-10, 7-5 SEC) was winning earlier this season, things were much different.
"We were huddling up together, talking and laughing, and having fun," Chism said. "In the games that we don't, no one is talking together or laughing. It's all serious faces. We don't realize it until you watch the film. It's embarrassing to watch film and you see that."
With Mississippi State (17-10, 7-5) coming to town Wednesday, and with both teams fighting for a spot in the NCAA Tournament, poise and production never have been more vital.
The Vols expect some off-the-court tweaks. It may mirror what the women's basketball team has gone through. Because of the Lady Vols' recent struggles, Coach Pat Summitt has banned her players from their own locker room.
"You have to do some things off the court," UT assistant Coach Jason Shay said. "We haven't come to a conclusion on that. We're still exhausting those possibilities."
Earlier this season, the team's leaders called a team meeting and the results were positive. When freshman Scotty Hopson was asked Monday if another team meeting was needed, it didn't sound like he would round up his teammates.
"Maybe we do need another meeting, but it's not my job to call one," Hopson said.
When Chism was told about Hopson's comment, Chism appeared puzzled.
"We don't just rely on us veterans or the coaches," Chism said. "If (the freshmen) want to call a team meeting, let them call it. We're not going to have a problem. We're going to show up. Sometimes I do think they rely on us too much, but they do look up to us and we have to step up for them."
UT's veterans are quick to point out that the team's struggles can't be blamed on one single person, even when it comes to selfishness, which Pearl pointed to in his comments immediately after the Kentucky game.
"It's all our fault, it's the coaches' fault, it's just not one particular person or the veterans," Chism said. "It's everybody's fault."
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