The Daily Times

KNOXVILLE — It didn’t take Bruce Pearl pacing courtside to beat the Florida Gators in Thompson-Boling Arena. Instead, all it took was a concerted effort on defense and solid shot selection up and down the Tennessee roster.

Cuonzo Martin’s signature win has come early — in the Vols’ first Southeastern Conference game of his inaugural year heading up the program — and it may help set the course for a team that has struggled to find itself through the first 14 games of the season.

“It’s only one game, but ...” is how UT forward Jeronne Maymon, who scored 12 points and defended Florida’s hulking center Patric Young for most of the game, began his characterization of an upset of the No. 13-ranked Gators.

But ... it’s a start, as well as a follow-through on Martin’s reassurances through losses to the likes of Austin Peay and College of Charleston that it takes some time to reorganize a program, especially one that was in disarray after last season and had to adjust to new coaches, new schemes and new players.

The victory also transformed Martin’s emphasis on playing better defense from so many words cast upon the waters of the non-conference season into action, an example of how his team should play for the remainder of the conference run.

But, as Maymon said Saturday after the Vols held the Gators to a season-low 35.7 percent shooting and 56 points, forcing 15 turnovers, “we wanted to start it off strong,” and they did.

Using a slightly different lineup, Tennessee stayed even with the talented Florida starting five and gathered confidence as the first half progressed. The Vols did it without the presence of senior Cameron Tatum, who Martin calls UT’s best perimeter defender, after he picked up two quick fouls and sat the remainder of the period.

“We tried to disrupt their offense and get into the passing lanes,” Maymon said, and the Vols stayed with that game plan more consistently than in any previous outing.

In addition, Tennessee’s players were much more judicious in their shot selection and never appeared anxious or rattled on the offensive side, as they have so many times in the recent past. UT outscored the Gators off the bench 25-1 and against Florida’s big men controlled the paint with 32 points to UF’s 20.

Despite the obvious change in how his players took on the competition, Martin denied any special plan for the Gators or for the opening of conference play.

“We didn’t do anything different, just accepted the challenge and defended,” said Martin, whose expression and tone never indicate whether his team has won or lost.

“Whether it’s a new coach, new team, inexperienced guys or whatever you want to call it, you want to do everything in your power to try to protect your home court then find ways to win on the road. The great ones find ways to win on the road.”

And now the Vols, who like the Gators have struggled on the road, get a chance to measure themselves by Martin’s definition of greatness at Mississippi State on Thursday night.

Leonard Butts is sports editor. Write to him at The Daily Times, P.O. Box 9740, Maryville, TN 37802, or e-mail him at (leonard.butts@thedailytimes.com)

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