By Randy Moore
InsideTennessee.com
November 17, 2010
Tennessee's second-round test in the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament is a matter of homeland security. For Brian Williams and Tobias Harris to return to their homeland, the Vols must show better security with the basketball against Missouri State.
Tonight's tip-off is set for 7.
A win tonight earns Tennessee (2-0) a bid to New York City for the NIT semifinals on Nov. 24. No one wants to see that happen more so than Big Apple natives Williams (The Bronx) and Harris (Dix Hills). For Tennessee to advance, however, the Big Orange must take care of the basketball. When the Vols do that, they're pretty good. When they don't, they're pretty vulnerable.
Consider:
- Tennessee committed just 12 turnovers in the exhibition opener and hammered Brevard 91-42.
- Tennessee committed 25 turnovers in Exhibition No. 2 vs. Indianapolis and lost 79-64.
- Tennessee committed just 11 turnovers in the regular-season opener vs. Chattanooga and romped 82-62.
- Tennessee committed 27 turnovers Tuesday night vs. Belmont and led by one inside the final minute before eventually winning 85-76.
The Vols have a lot of new faces in the playing rotation this year, and that creates an atmosphere conducive to turnovers. That doesn't make them any more tolerable for head coach Bruce Pearl, however.
"We had 27 turnovers," he noted following Tuesday's game. "For those who have been at practice, I
