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UT's strengths............they are a good shooting team both from the field and from the FT line. Do not turn the ball over unless they are playing a really quick active team; see both games vs Auburn. In fact their point guard, Jordan Bone seemed to commit more turnovers towards the end of the season once they were playing tougher teams, whereas he was flawless earlier in the season. UT loves to share the ball; usually they always have more assists than the opponent. They sometimes have trouble blocking out on the defensive end, therefore second chance points are something to look for. They have played better D later in the year, but still have trouble defending the three ball. They can run in transition, or beat you in the half court playing a slow team such as Florida or Missouri. They sometimes play down to their opponent; see the game in Nashville vs Vandy, and the only meeting vs Bama at home. If they are locked in, they are hard to beat, just ask Kentucky, Gonzaga etc. Their biggest weakness is just playing with really quick athletic teams. They have trouble staying in front of athletic point guards, but Harper (Auburn) didn't hurt us in that regard as much as last year, and Waters from LSU was out due to illness in the only meeting, but Smart from LSU killed us.
UT's most consistent players are Williams and Schofield; as it's well documented Williams could stand to grow a couple of inches, but he uses his big body as well as anyone to gain position down low; he uses what his momma gave him about as well as anyone I've ever seen. Williams has developed a 3 pt. shot this year, but it's not like he's gonna hit four of five per game like Schofield. The biggest problem with Williams is even though he is a star player he seems to pick up phantom fouls; sometimes sitting him on the bench. Alexander is kinda on and off; part of his problem is he gets in foul trouble, and fouls out of the game often. But, for a big man he has a nice little jump shot and is a good FT shooter. Probably just needs a little more lead in his pencil like Williams and Schofield. Bone, Turner, and Bowden are all very streaky shooters. Bone went five for five from beyond the arc against UK, and scored 27; the next game he only had five points. If the other two go cold it usually last for a few game; luckily both have been hot lately; hopefully for the Vols it will continue into the tourney. Turner can drive to the basket, but his lack of size hurts him around the rim more so than Bowden. Bone is possibly the fastest player in the nation, but he is a straight line type of player; does not have the shake and bake of a Tremont Waters. Fulkerson is not the greatest shooter, but plays tenaciously, and can get up above the rim for a white guy. If Pons comes in you don't really have to bother guarding him, but the guy can jump out of the gym. Most of his points come by way dunks against the smaller schools of the world. Tennessee seems to play better when they work the shot clock, and don't settle for 3's. Feel free to add; there are people on here that know a lot more about bball than I do.
UT's most consistent players are Williams and Schofield; as it's well documented Williams could stand to grow a couple of inches, but he uses his big body as well as anyone to gain position down low; he uses what his momma gave him about as well as anyone I've ever seen. Williams has developed a 3 pt. shot this year, but it's not like he's gonna hit four of five per game like Schofield. The biggest problem with Williams is even though he is a star player he seems to pick up phantom fouls; sometimes sitting him on the bench. Alexander is kinda on and off; part of his problem is he gets in foul trouble, and fouls out of the game often. But, for a big man he has a nice little jump shot and is a good FT shooter. Probably just needs a little more lead in his pencil like Williams and Schofield. Bone, Turner, and Bowden are all very streaky shooters. Bone went five for five from beyond the arc against UK, and scored 27; the next game he only had five points. If the other two go cold it usually last for a few game; luckily both have been hot lately; hopefully for the Vols it will continue into the tourney. Turner can drive to the basket, but his lack of size hurts him around the rim more so than Bowden. Bone is possibly the fastest player in the nation, but he is a straight line type of player; does not have the shake and bake of a Tremont Waters. Fulkerson is not the greatest shooter, but plays tenaciously, and can get up above the rim for a white guy. If Pons comes in you don't really have to bother guarding him, but the guy can jump out of the gym. Most of his points come by way dunks against the smaller schools of the world. Tennessee seems to play better when they work the shot clock, and don't settle for 3's. Feel free to add; there are people on here that know a lot more about bball than I do.