The Official #6 [2] Tennessee vs. #3 [1] Purdue Game Thread, 2:20 PM ET, ESPN

[utvolpj]

Aidoo did nothing this game. It's clear. Barnes took him out and he didn't get back in. He was given multiple chances.

Yep he was absolutely benched tonight

 

[vols 30]

Aidoo was a real disappointment on both sides of the ball.

I get it defensively, but he had to make some baskets today. His shot was short all day. He was intimidated before it even started

 

[Tenacjim]

What was Aidoo’s deal the past two games?

I really hope he has the flu too and no one told us.

 

[wokawoka55]

Those two droughts we had and the refs did us in. Insane to think Edey only called for one foul with all of the moving screens, over the backs and of course my favorite 3 seconds in the lane. Great season though and very entertaining.

 

[DaddyChad]

Refs sucked. We still could’ve won. We just can’t have ZZ cold and basically no offense other than DK. Gainey did have a few big shots. Can’t overcome the refs and have a cold shooting night.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Love to see NC State upset Purdue.

F duke

I don't wish ill on any player but I wouldn't cry if Lurch slipped in the shower

 

[tnvolfan16]

People know that’s not the truth. You just enjoy blaming the coach no matter what. Must suck not to understanding the game.

i think i spread the blame around to more than the coach. you just want to protect them because you pull for them. open your eyes and watch the game

 

[YankeeVol]

Literally NO ONE else did s*** on offense. I don't know WTF was/is going on with Aidoo.

 

[Delmar]

Lmao...so stupid

The nega-Barnes crowd never shows up until a loss. I wouldn’t pay much attention to them.

 

[TheBigOne10]

Was just thinking how clear the message Rick sent was to Aidoo not playing him in the 2nd half, and rightfully so.

 

[BreatheUT]

Yep he was absolutely benched tonight

Sadly it hurt us big. I thought we "had" to put him back in but Barnes didn't. I'm a little empty right now. I think Estrella gave us more toughness than Aidoo.

 

[Jimmyandjoes]

Again, our 3 bigs combined for 4 points. Didn't even make Edey have to guard anyone

 

[Switch 625]

Knecht with 37.

Yeah, meant no one BUT Knecht.

 

[vavolfan6]

I'm tired of this "redemption" story being peddled by Purdue. Virginia already did what they are trying to do, but didn't have some 7ft 4 ogre when they won the national championship.

What Purdue is doing isn't a great story. It's one big kid who is taller than everyone and needs a favorable matchup.

 

[StoneokeyVol]

I don't care who plays Purdue in next game, I just want them to win.

 

[n_huffhines]

Proud of our guys. Seems like asking too much to win that game with that crowd and the way Edey was officiated. I'll never understand letting the biggest guy on the court use his elbows to create space like that while calling defenders for soft ****.

 

[UTK]

Rick Barnes needs to speak his mind like never before about the travesty that took place. People need to get banned from officiating college basketball ever again. Point blank period

 

[TheBigOne10]

Let’s go find some stud transfers and make another run.

 

[cwbytruckers]

It is clear we need a dominant big man.

 

[djohnnyg]

Knecht had great game but those misses from 3 late really killed us.

 

[TrueOrange]

Stinks this season ended the way it did given the expectations, but the Elite 8 is still a hell of a ceiling to have at the year’s end.

 

[volbound1700]

We're not talking about last year, we're talking this year.

I know but lightning struck for Alabama this year. If Alabama had Purdue, I think they would have been sent home too.

However, last year bracket opened up for us and we blew it. That was our chance. You got to take chances when they are available and we didn't. Let's see what happens next year.

 

[vols1221]

I didn’t line the calls by the refs either. But that isn’t why we lost

It's exactly why we lost!! We were the better team, only the whistle saved the game for them!! 25 fouls to 12, 15-5 in the second half. They were every once as physical as we were, difference in the game is THEY got all the calls and we didn't!!! Edey made more FT than we shot as a team!!!!

 

[DuckInAPen]

knecht has went cold

Knecht broke the record for most points scored by a UT player in an NCAA tournament game.

 

[Cartervol]

Our guards and weak inside play cost us this game, and just about every game they lost this year. They have to upgrade there. Vescovi forgot how to shoot. James went 2/3rds of the year cold on offense.. No one clear guy to run offense through on the inside hurt us too.. Missed a lot of free throws too when you need to make the easy ones. Good team. Came up short. Inconsistency finally caught up to them.