http://content.usatoday.com/communi...res-no-time-to-reflect-on-first-elite-eight/1
Mar 27, 2010
Bruce Pearl: 'There's no time to reflect' on first Elite Eight
ST. LOUIS -- What did it mean? How did he feel?
Tennessee senior Wayne Chism was succinct after Saturday's 76-73 upset of Ohio State. "Blessed," he said. "Real blessed."
He's a part of history. Through all the years and all the NCAA tournament appearances -- a total of 17, dating to 1967 -- the Volunteers had never before played into the Elite Eight. They're there now, carrying a No. 6 seed into Sunday's Midwest Regional final against Michigan State in St. Louis.
The wait has bordered on excruciating. The Vols had reached five previous regional semis, and lost each one. Coach Bruce Pearl was 0-for-3, falling once in the semis with Wisconsin-Milwaukee and twice at Tennessee.
This team knocked off second-seeded Ohio State as Chism scored 18 of his 22 points in a decisive second half. Tennessee outrebounded the Buckeyes 24-14 and outscored them 28-10 in the paint in those 20 minutes.
The short turnaround time allowed precious little time to celebrate the achievement, however. Pearl and his staff worked well into Saturday night.
"This is no time to reflect. This is time to prepare for our next game. I'm happy. I'm proud. I'm proud to tears. I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am, but we've got work to do now. We've got to prepare for a game. We'll reflect when the season's over." --
Steve Wieberg