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Tennessee doesn't have what it takes
Sports Illustrated staff writer Seth Davis chatted with CNNSI.com about the latest goings-on in the college game: CNNSI.com: One team that's had a rough go of it lately is Tennessee, which is now under. 500 in the SEC. Why has this team underachieved so? Seth Davis: An NBA scout I spoke with recently hit in on the head when he said that Tennessee teases you. Right now the Vols are just not playing up to their potential. This is a team with great athleticism and size, yet they're last in the SEC in scoring defense. They have a veteran backcourt, a senior point guard, but they led the league in turnovers per game. I think it spoke volumes about this team's character when senior captain Tony Harris left the bench while a brawl broke out between Tennessee and Kentucky and then got into a shoving match with a Wildcats assistant. The good news for the Vols is that they do have a pretty easy schedule the rest of the way -- maybe there's some momentum to be had -- but I just don't think they have the character and the chemistry to make you believe they're ready for a breakout performance in the NCAA tournament. CNNSI.com: Less than three weeks to go now before Selection Sunday and the bubble picture is still taking shape. Which teams should we be watching this week? Davis: Here's three for you. First of all, Utah is really coming on strong in the Mountain West, they've won six in a row and they're tied atop the conference standings with BYU -- those two teams actually play each other on Saturday. If the Utes are able to win out and have a good showing in the Mountain West tournament, they'd be in very good position for an at-large bid, which I wouldn't have thought to be the case a few weeks ago. Over in the Big 10, Iowa has really gone into a tailspin with Luke Recker out. The Hawkeyes are down to .500 in the league going into Wednesday's game with Purdue and they have a tough schedule going down the stretch, Obviously the selection committee is going to have to take into consideration the fact that Iowa has been playing without Recker, but this is a team very much in need of a win or two to fortify its position. Finally, out in Conference USA, Marquette really helped its situation by beating Cincinnati for the second time this season. Marquette, however, has a very low RPI rating so I still think they're going to have to win at least three of their last four regular-season games just to stay in the hunt for a bid. CNNSI.com: Denny Crum's situation at Louisville seems to be quickly deteriorating. Is there any way Crum can save his job at this point? What's going to happen there? Davis: It's very doubtful Crum will keep the job. As for what happens, well, that's going to depend a lot on athletic director Tom Jurich, who's also a candidate for the AD position at Indiana. That's going to be a very delicate situation for Jurich because both of those programs could be looking for coaches. Jurich is very good friends with Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy -- the two of them grew up together in Arcadia, Calif. -- but I don't think Eustachy is going to be interested in the Louisville job unless Jurich is the AD there. Of course, if Jurich is making the hire at Indiana, I think he'll want to bring Eustachy there. Just an aside: one of the names that has been bandied about for both these jobs is that of Chicago Bulls coach Tim Floyd, formerly of Iowa State. I talked to Floyd and I think it's safe to say he's not interested in coaching college ball next year, so we can put that speculation to rest. Floyd will be back with the Bulls next season. Sports Illustrated staff writer Seth Davis covers the college basketball beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
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