ST. LOUIS — The Michigan State Spartans aren’t likely to focus a lot of defensive attention on Steven Pearl this afternoon.
The Tennessee junior forward averages less than two points a game. The son of Volunteers coach Bruce Pearl, he hits less than 27 percent from the foul line, hasn’t bagged a 3-pointer all season and has gone scoreless in 17 of the 30 games he’s played.
Even young Pearl admitted on Saturday afternoon, “I was the go-to guy at West (High School in Knoxville). But you have to be realistic. That’s not my role. I’m a defense guy, a rebounding guy. That’s why I’m out there.”
He almost was never out there through the Vols’ first 12 games, averaging right at three minutes a contest. But after Tyler Smith was dismissed from the team after a New Year’s Day arrest and three other players suffered lengthy suspensions, Pearl the father dramatically increased the playing opportunities for his son.
In UT’s last 24 games, young Pearl has averaged 12.9 minutes and 1.5 rebounds. He’s set bone-rattling picks and handed out 18 assists.