Jan. 15, 2005

Recap | Box Score | Notes

Tennessee Head Coach Buzz Peterson

“I told our guys after the game that I was disappointed that we lost, but I was pleased with our effort, intensity and determination. The past three years we’ve come in here and not really been in the ball game. Overall, our guys stuck to the scouting report.”

“We had 24 fouls to their 13 We play a lot of zone and really pack it in. The last two games we fouled way too much. I want us to stay aggressive, but we’ve got to do a better job keeping ourselves out of foul trouble.”

“I thought the momentum shifted on the dunk by (Renaldo) Balkman’s. Those are the plays you’ve got to stop. Up until then, I thought we kept the crowd out of it too much. It got really loud after that.”

“Overall we got pretty good shots. You’ve got to give South Carolina credit because when they got down six of seven, they came back.”

On the last shot: “I’m happy with the shot we got. That’s what we wanted, for Chris (Lofton) to come up the middle. It was a good look. It hung on the rim forever.”

South Carolina Head Coach Dave Odom

“It was a victory well-earned. This is by far the best Tennessee has played in this building. Buzz (Peterson) really had them prepared and they played well. That’s what makes this win even more special. They did a good job of throwing the ball into the post. Their backside rebounding hurt us. I thought our second wave of substitutions really helped us in the first half. (Josh) Gonner, (Renaldo) Balkman and (Brandon) Wallace helped turn the tide for us in the first half. I thought Carlos Powell made two outstanding defensive plays. He drew two charges that were big. Tennessee got the shot they wanted at the win. I had a perfect angle at the basket. I don’t see how it didn’t go in. It looked dead center to me. Maybe that’s a good bounce for the Gamecocks. Tre’ Kelley couldn’t have had a worse night. He was horrendous. But, his teammates wanted him in the game at the end. He came off the bench and hit those two big free throws. That says a lot about him.”