Tennessee Vols test press in final exhibition tuneup

photo Tennessee guard Detrick Mostella (15) speeds around Lenoir-Rhyne guard Conner Lipinski (10) before going up for a dunk during their exhibition game on Nov. 8, 2014, in Knoxville. Tennessee won 77-49.

KNOXVILLE - Donnie Tyndall wanted his Tennessee basketball team turn its full-court press into more steals and points heading into its final exhibition game.

The Volunteers followed their new coach's orders.

With the opener against VCU looming, Tennessee cranked up its press, forced more turnovers and converted them into dunks and layups in a 77-49 win against Division II Lenoir-Rhyne inside Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday night in the Vols' final tune-up before the season.

After forcing three steals in the exhibition opener against Pikeville, the Vols recorded 18 steals on Saturday night and turned 22 Bears turnovers into 31 points.

"That's always an emphasis," said guard Kevin Punter, who scored 12 points. "We had to turn it up a little bit. We was, I don't want to say sluggish, but we were a little lackadaisical, a little slow (against Pikeville). We had to get it going, and we had to speed them up a little bit. That's what we did, we sped them up.

"We were more active and more aware, and we got it going."

The Vols will begin the season bearing the uncertainty surrounding Tyndall, who earlier this week was linked to an NCAA investigation into potential violations that may have occured during his two-year stint at Southern Mississippi.

He had to address the situation after the win, and it won't be the last time he gets questions about it.

"It's not going to be a distraction at all," he said. "I'm not going to comment on that, again, until the end and the whole deal is over. All I'll say is it won't be a distraction, we won't let it be a distraction and it shouldn't be a distraction."

Derek Reese, who scored 14 points and hit two 3-pointers, said Tyndall addressed the NCAA situation with his team prior to its film session before Thursday's practice, when the news first broke.

"We don't really pay attention to it at all," he added.

Josh Richardson, the team's senior leader, said he was unaware of the situation until Tyndall addressed it.

"You've got to address it," he said, "but the fact that Coach Tyndall came up and kind of addressed it right away is good for us. It's good for the young guys to know we can get past it."

Tennessee trailed Lenoir-Rhyne in the early going until Robert Hubbs turned two steals into breakaway dunks. Richardson added the first of his four steals and dunked later as the Vols overcame poor shooting (32 percent from the field, 1-of-11 on 3s) to lead 34-28.

Memphis transfer Dominic Woodson -- all 6-foot-10 and 275 pounds of him -- stole a pass near halfcourt and took it to the rim for a layup in the second half. Richardson had consecutive steal-and-layup sequences later as the Vols pulled away.

"Anything we do defensively," Tyndall said, "it's not just, 'Go play basketball.' There's different rotations. There's different rules. It may look we're just out there and pressing and running and gunning.

"It takes a while to pick up what we do and where they're supposed to be, and I thought we made progress from the first game, learning from the film session. We were better tonight."

Said Reese: "We're going to be a pressing team, so that's what we're going to do all year, every game. We're going to get better and better each game. That's our goal."

In the bonus

Richardson is playing through a minor injury to his right wrist, but de declined to get into the specifics of it. "It's probably one of those things that won't go away right away." ... Guard Devon Baulkman missed Saturday night's game with a shoulder injury, and Tyndall was unsure how long he'd be out. ... Walk-on point guard Braxton Bonds also didn't play as he awaits words on his eligibility after transferring from Liberty.

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