The Vols get two key pieces back as PG Melvin Goins and SG Cameron Tatum will return to the UT basketball team Tuesday when they travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Super Tuesday. C Brian Williams will remain suspended.

Tennessee has played very well since losing four of their top 8 players to suspension, and have really gutted three straight big wins out. Getting these guys back will improve their depth, give them another lights out shooter/scorer in Tatum and really help with ball handling as Goins is the only true PG on the team.

Given what we have seen from Kenny Hall, Renaldo Woolridge and the rest of the guys off the bench, I don't see this UT team being any worse off than before they dismissed Tyler Smith. If anything, they might be inspired to continue this run with three senior leaders (Maze, Chism & Prince) wanting to go out on a winning note.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ap-t25-tennessee-playersarrested&prov=ap&type=lgns

It seems unlikely that Tatum and Goins will play on Super Tuesday. They may be suited up, but Bruce Pearl has stated these players will have to put in the work and prove themselves deserving of playing time -- and that it won't come immediately, even with reinstatement.

Call me credulous, but I believe Pearl on this one, especially with how well his team has been able to perform without the two gunslingers. At least I want to believe him.

We will see. They are going to lose at home today to Ole Miss...so that game Tuesday will be a big one for Pearl.

That's only a five-point game at the half.

But, I probably would agree with your reservations on the matter if Tennessee does in fact lose today.

Yeah it's only five, but I don't think UT will hang in. Rebels by 9 in the end. You might be right, but I just don't see these guys staying out of the rotation long. If that was the case, he just wouldn't reinstate them.

Azubuike24 wrote:If that was the case, he just wouldn't reinstate them.

Exactly what I was thinking when watching a recent interview of his (where he said it wouldn't be easy for them to earn playing time). Like I said, though, I just want to believe him. These kids need to learn that this idiocy is not acceptable.

Wrong about this one. The Vols are really impressive the way they have gutted these games out.