Tennessee Vols’ Smith SEC player of the week

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee junior forward Tyler Smith on Monday was named SEC men’s basketball player of the week.

The 6-foot-7 Smith recorded the first triple-double in the program’s 100-year, 2,338-game history in last week’s victory over UNC-Asheville. He had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists without a turnover in just 26 minutes against the Bulldogs.

Smith, a preseason All-American, has averaged 17.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists in eight games for the Vols (6-1), who rose to No. 8 in Monday’s AP and ESPN/USA Today polls.

UT coach Bruce Pearl said Monday that the Vols aren’t as good as last season’s team was in early December, but that the current group is more talented.

— Wes Rucker