Feb. 25, 2008
Audio: Listen to the entire teleconference at SECsports.com
Vanderbilt basketball head coach Kevin Stallings and Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl discussed Tuesday’s matchup with the national media during Monday’s SEC Teleconference. Find out what each coach had to say about the upcoming game.
Vanderbilt Head Coach Kevin Stallings:
Opening statement:
“We’re coming off a good second half performance against Georgia. I thought we played real well in the second half on Saturday. It’s always a difficult game when we play them. We were happy to get a victory. It was really important that as we came into this four game homestand that we had success. You can’t get anywhere in this league or in the postseason if you don’t have some success at home. We felt like coming into this homestand we needed to play well and do well. Fortunately, so far, we’ve done that. In any event, I thought we responded ok after having a week off. We were happy to get that victory on Saturday.”
How has Vanderbilt changed since the first matchup against Tennessee?
“Our team has gotten a little better at taking care of the ball. I think our defense has gotten a little better. We’ve been able to modify some things offensively to help us. It’s still a matter of execution. Hopefully, we’re a better team than when we played them the first time. I certainly think they’re better from having seen them on tape.”
What were your impressions of Tennessee against Memphis?
“I didn’t see it live. From the tape I did see of that game, it was a very physical, hard fought game. I thought Tennessee won the battle of the boards and was by far the more physical team in that game. That’s what enabled them to win.”
Do you think Andrew Ogilvy has hit the “freshman wall” with his play?
“I thought A.J. hit a wall earlier in the season. I think there’s something real about it. I think most freshmen get to a situation where they get into a little bit of a lull. Some of that was combined with the fact he was sick for about two weeks and was very under the weather. He had some sort of virus, but I think he’s coming out of that. He’s played better, maybe our Florida game notwithstanding, but he’s played better the last few games. He’s coming out of it a little as we go down the stretch.”
Is that “wall” thicker for a guard or a post player?
“I think it depends on the individual. I don’t think the position matters as much as the individual.”
What are your thoughts that despite your excellent record, Vanderbilt has been overshadowed by Memphis and Tennessee?
“I think you get what you deserve. I think we’ve gotten our share of acknowledgement, notoriety, and attention. We’ve had a great year thus far. It hasn’t been overshadowed. Tennessee and Memphis have had great years. They’re getting what they deserve. I don’t feel we’re slighted in the least. Hopefully, we’ll continue to get attention because we’ll continue to play well.”
What has allowed Vanderbilt to reach a point where the team is approaching its greatest win total in a season during your tenure at the university?
“Most of it is recruiting. The ability to get really good players and quality student-athletes in here that have similar goals and beliefs that our coaching staff have is vital. We have a bunch of guys in here that really love to play. When I first took over this program, we had some guys that liked to play and some guys that didn’t like to play. It took us a while to get guys in the program that really love to play and compete. The more we’ve been able to do that, the better our team and program have gotten. I think we’re very clear on the kind of player and person that we need in this program in order to be successful.”
In Vanderbilt history, only two other teams have won more games in a season than this year’s squad. What are your thoughts on that feat?
“I didn’t have any idea about that record. We’re not thinking about that kind of thing. Shan (Foster) and Alex (Gordon) have done a great job over the last couple of years of making our team focus on the concept of just getting better and the process of getting better. If you focus on that process, then you get better because you work hard to achieve that daily goal of being better today than we were yesterday. By the end of the season, you have something. They’ve given us great leadership in that regard for two years. That is continually our focus. It’s been great to have great leadership for the last couple of years. As a result, we’ve been able to have successful seasons, but we’re not focused on records. We’re just trying to win the next game.”
Tennessee Head Coach Bruce Pearl:
Opening statement:
“Vanderbilt is playing very well. The score in Knoxville (in the first matchup with Vanderbilt) was not at all indicative of the kind of game it was. It was a close and well contested game. Vanderbilt did a lot of things to disrupt us. The things they did will probably be even more disruptive on their home floor. They’ve won six (games) in a row. They have done so in somewhat convincing fashion on a couple of occasions. (Vanderbilt has) two of the best players in the league in (Shan) Foster and (Andrew) Ogilvy. They’re a team that’s a real experienced club. They made such a great run last year (in the NCAA tournament). (Vanderbilt was) a game away from the Elite Eight. With the addition of Ogilvy and a cast of characters back (from last season), they’re in position to do it again.”
What does being ranked number one in the country mean at a school where two other sports (football and women’s basketball) have previously been ranked number one?
“The response has been overwhelming here. There will be a lot of talk about the game Saturday regarding `where were you when Tennessee won on the road at Memphis and beat the number one team in the country to become the number one team in the country’? It was that kind of an event. It will have some staying power, but for us, it has very little staying power because we have to go on the road and play a Vanderbilt team that is 17-0 at home. The outcome of that game will have implications on our conference championship. We’ve turned the page (since the Memphis game on Saturday), but the fact that (Tennessee) men’s basketball has been able to get to this point brings us in line with the other men’s and women’s sports. This is where our softball and track and field teams are. This is what the expectation is at Tennessee. The fact that you can point to a number of different sports is why we’re one of the finest athletic programs in the country. This helps add to that.”
With the success of the team this year, what kind of response have you heard from former Tennessee men’s basketball players?
“The text messaging and emails from fans, friends, colleagues, and family have been wonderful. I have talked to Alan Houston, Ernie Grunfeld, Bernard King, Dyron Nix, Reggie Johnson, and Mike Jackson all in the last couple of days.”
Tennessee men’s basketball is the top ranked team in the country for the first time in the program’s history. Will the team be focused for Tuesday night’s game at Vanderbilt?
“It is a short turn around time. We got just a few hours sleep because we got back into Knoxville late in the morning. There was a nice welcome for our team when we got back to the arena. If the kids were like me, they were pretty keyed up. We got together on Sunday. There were a lot of academic commitments for Sunday with tutors knowing we were traveling on Monday after classes. I’m not concerned with the ranking other than it makes the prize even bigger for Vanderbilt or any other team that will play us. To have the opportunity to beat the number one team in the country is an opportunity that is not extended very often. I know it was a big factor for us in our preparation for Memphis. There was almost an air of `everything to gain and nothing to lose (mentality)’, but as far as when we go to Vanderbilt to play, the ranking won’t affect us. We will be extremely challenged anyways because the game in Knoxville was closer than the score. They did a lot of things to disrupt us. They’re playing very well at home. They always play well at home. That’s a tough place to play. We without question are up against it. This team (Tennessee) has been resilient. They have found ways to win or not lose. The road doesn’t get any easier for us.”
Physically and mentally, how much did the Memphis game take out of Tennessee?
“We were exhausted Sunday. I’m hoping on Monday we’ll be better served because we only came in for a little while on Sunday to watch tape on Vanderbilt. We didn’t do anything physical other than stretch and shoot free throws. I’m hoping that by Tuesday night we’ll be ready to go.”
What did Vanderbilt do well in the first matchup in Knoxville to disrupt Tennessee?
“They guarded us physically and at times extended (their defense). We turned it over some.”
