Vandy chokes late to hand 'Vols a win...

Jones vs. Taylor will be a highlight this weekend...

Jones is becoming a real force

    Free throws. That may be the most hated two words in basketball to a coach. Vandy managed to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory by missing three key free throws in the final seconds to allow the Tennessee Vols to send their game with the 'dores into overtime. From that point on it was all Tennessee. The only reason I bring that up is that the Tide plays Vandy in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. The Commodores will be either mad or deflated. It's hard to tell which. The quest for an NCAA bid for Vanderbilt died when the Big Orange pulled off an improbable comeback. 

         If you watched the game it was clear that Vandy was defending the three point basket perhaps believing Tennessee would roll the dice for a last second win without OT. Instead, backup guard Robert Hubbs found a free pass to an uncontested layup to send the game into OT. When Josh Richardson nailed a three to open OT you sensed that Vandy was done. The final score was 76-73.

      Damian Jones, the 6-10 center from Baton Rouge dominated the Vols inside. He had 16 points and 9 rebounds. But he missed 5 free throws. Ouch. When the Tide plays Vandy, Jones will be the best big man on the floor. Taylor will have his hands full. The Commodores missed 13 of 30. The refs gave the Vandy team all the free throws they could shoot per the tradition in a Nashville game. The refs can call them but they can't shoot them. Vandy should have won this game by 10. They were clearly the better team except for the poor free throw shooting. Vandy players get called for so few fouls you'd think they have a direct line to Mother Teresa in heaven. Anyone who thinks that Vandy is going to be an easy game for Alabama at home better think again. The Dores can drain the three, and it doesn't seem to matter if you zone or man them. They will shoot the three on fast breaks by letting an outside shooter lag behind the break and set up ready to gun from the corners.