. . World News – USA – No.. 7 Tennessee’s quick starts begin on the practice area

No.. 7 Tennessee was the last college basketball team in the Associated Press Top 25 to start playing. The Vols had a 0-0 record for the first two weeks of the season after positive COVID tests postponed the schedule and disrupted team activities.

But against Colorado on Aug.. December the team hit the race. Then again two games later against Appalachian State. Then again, again and again, with the latest example coming Wednesday night in Missouri.

Tennessee (7-0, 1-0 SEC) had not yet played a street game, but went to the Mizzou Arena in Colombia and took a 23-4 lead against the Tigers in 12th place. The Vols also started the second half with a 23-8 run.

« I think it’s coming from training, » said Tennessee assistant coach Kim English on Friday. “Coach (Rick) Barnes places high demands on our boys. He plays with our guys who watch and take care of the details, as he likes to say. ”

The details provided a 17-2 lead over Colorado in the opening minutes of the season opener. It was a 16-1 lead to start the Appalachian State game, then 23-9 against Tennessee Tech and 20-4 against Saint Joseph’s.

After jumping Missouri early on, the Vols will look for another quick start against Alabama (6-3) on Saturday (6: 3, 1: 0). m. Easter time; TV: ESPN2) at the SEC home opening game in the Thompson-Boling Arena.

English pointed out Tennessee’s exercise habits and explained the early benefits. The Vols were efficient on the offensive as they battled the No.. 1 of the nation competed. 2 Defense day after day in the Pratt Pavilion.

« When we get over insults, we move at a speed that is conducive to the game, » said English. “I tell our boys that every day, in practice, our offense is against one of the best defenses in the nation. Our defense can take action against our offense any day. This iron sharpens the iron mentality and helps our boys a lot when the game starts. ”

And it’s rooted in the effort, something that English noticed before it even got to the staff in Tennessee. He was still on Colorado’s bank in March 2019 when he tuned in to the Vols and Purdue at Sweet Sixteen.

« And I remember thinking, ‘Man, this is a high-level game’ with passing, cutting, speed and gunfire, » said English. “The speed of this game blew me away. ”

English rattled off the players on the floor in that game – « Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone versus Carsen Edwards, Isaac Haas and all these senior players » – and wrote the staff the senior product to the floor.

Then he came to Tennessee, where Williams, Schofield and Bone had started their NBA careers, and realized it was something else.

« I’m going to my first training session, that’s the way it is, » said English. “That is the pace, the heartbeat and the pace of our exercises. Very fast, very tough, very competitive. And the games are the same. ”

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That was the message to this Tennessee team a few weeks ago when the exercises weren’t up to standard. Especially for the young players.

« We told you that you don’t have to raise the occasion (in games), » said English, « You fall to the level of your preparation. We practice really hard here. Falling to the level of our preparation is not a long case. ”

“I’m surprised how hard we continue to compete in games every night,” said English, “and continue to compete in practice every day, and I hope that continues to surprise me. « 

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