Archive for February 3rd, 2008
Here’s how Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist John Adams began his piece in today’s paper on the Tennessee-Mississippi State game.
STARKVILLE, Miss. - If Tennessee needs a reference for the Top 25 voters or the NCAA men’s basketball tournament selection committee, it should look no further than Mississippi State senior Charles Rhodes.
He didn’t just tout UT after the No. 7 Vols’ hard-earned 76-71 victory Saturday night at Humphrey Coliseum. He sent a warning to No. 1-ranked Memphis, whom the Vols play in three weeks.
“Tennessee is one of the best four teams in the country,” Rhodes said. “I guarantee you Memphis is gonna be in trouble when (the Vols come). I’m behind Tennessee.
“I think they will break Memphis’ (home-court winning) streak. Tennessee is the team that can do that.”
Rhodes may be right. Tennessee could certainly beat Memphis on Feb. 23. But I find this comment odd on many levels. Charles Rhodes isn’t from Memphis. He’s never played against Memphis. And this season, he hasn’t even played a team that has played Memphis. And given that Memphis isn’t in the SEC, it’s kind of a non-sequitur to bring Memphis into the discussion. But it also proves one thing: Even though we’re likely to hear from the Tennessee camp that this game isn’t as important as the SEC title, it’s hogwash. This game is bigger than any game Tennessee or Memphis will play in their respective conferences.
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