30 sec 2 go & up by 3 & we jack up a 3!!!!!!!!!

[VOLtaism]

Vescovi contributes in a lot of ways and is a competitor. He is playing under intense defense by the opposition right now. They have decided to stop him at all costs and see what happens so somebody should be under less pressure. So far it's working.

Let's see how they play with their backs against the wall?

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Difference is that only one of them is a senior and is expected to not shat down his pants when he is called upon at the end of the game. Just like vandy, JP is a freshman, his mistakes are expected. Our guys like SV are expected to make their FTs and bail our freshman out at the end. If that’s not what they’re there for let’s just get a bunch of 1 and dones and stop with the 4 year mid.

It's a team sport.

 

[vol94]

You're off, man. Vescovi took that 3 because the shot-clock was running down and he was wide open. He missed it--which is kind of the way it's gone for us the last two games. We played Missouri's last shot perfectly--he just made a freak shot. It's two freaky losses. We played a solid game against Vandy but couldn't put it away and Vandy shot the 3 extremely well--better than they have all year, I'm sure. Same with Missouri tonight--13 freakin'3's? Hell, that's surely double their average. We've just lost two games on 3's at the buzzer. Sux.

We have ourselves to blame--we played a terrible first half, and in both these games two of our young guys made dumb mistakes in the waning seconds. Key's amazing second half looked to have won it for us--and that sux. ON has got to play better--that's all there is to it. If I'm Barnes I'm in his kitchen the next couple of days....

Barnes may reduce his min, depends on JJJ and Phillips. Barnes said there are some players needing to be consistent. He was referring to ON and most likely ZZ. Awaka played well but has to be smarter down the stretch.

 

[berryvol]

It's a team sport.

Correct. And your seniors should be able to make clutch freebies at the end of the game. No one is arguing that there’s 100 plays during the last two that could make a difference in the outcome. Bottom line is that a 4 year starter that’s our best FT shooter and team leader had a chance to ice both games and pissed down his leg. We had a win in our hands and that lost us that both games at the end. This is a major concern regardless of your thoughts on who the fault lies with.

 

[SGidds]

Vescovi has lost us the last 2 by himself. Don’t know how this is harsh. It’s a fact.

My comment was to the person who said that they have been watching UT basketball for 60 years and that Vescovi and Barnes typify the program because they are “chokers”.

I saw the same thing everyone else did in the two games. If Vescovi knocks down the free throws at the end, Tennessee wins. I also saw Vescovi play for the last three and and a half years and watched him seal several victories by hitting almost every freebie in crunch time. So, to me, labeling him as a ”choker“ doesn’t take into account that he was clutch for most of his career.

Be honest. . . until this week, wouldn’t you have felt pretty good about winning if Vescovi was at the line trying to ice the game?

Since Zeigler had fouled out (also a huge part of why we lost) and James wasn’t available, Vescovi was arguably the best available option.

 

[berryvol]

My comment was to the person who said that they have been watching UT basketball for 60 years and that Vescovi and Barnes typify the program because they are “chokers”.

I saw the same thing everyone else did in the two games. If Vescovi knocks down the free throws at the end, Tennessee wins. I also saw Vescovi play for the last three and and a half years and watched him seal several victories by hitting almost every freebie in crunch time. So, to me, labeling him as a ”choker“ doesn’t take into account that he was clutch for most of his career.

Be honest. . . until this week, wouldn’t you have felt pretty good about winning if Vescovi was at the line trying to ice the game?

Since Zeigler had fouled out (also a huge part of why we lost) and James wasn’t available, Vescovi was arguably the best available option.

Apologies, I totally agree - naming Vescovi and Barnes chokers over this two game stretch is not accurate. Vescovi has done plenty to win us games over the last few years - I’m simply questioning what’s wrong with our senior leadership this season to make them less reliable and able to pick up our underclassman’s slack. This time last year, Vescovi, Chandler, and others, really locked in and owned the court every game. I don’t see any of that from this team, which is obviously very disappointing.

Either way, once again apologize for taking your post out of context, I agree with everything you’re saying.

 

[SGidds]

Apologies, I totally agree - naming Vescovi and Barnes chokers over this two game stretch is not accurate. Vescovi has done plenty to win us games over the last few years - I’m simply questioning what’s wrong with our senior leadership this season to make them less reliable and able to pick up our underclassman’s slack. This time last year, Vescovi, Chandler, and others, really locked in and owned the court every game. I don’t see any of that from this team, which is obviously very disappointing.

Either way, once again apologize for taking your post out of context, I agree with everything you’re saying.

No apology necessary.

I think maybe we’re all a little on edge after the way these last two games have ended.

A win over Alabama would do us all some good.

 

[berryvol]

No apology necessary.

I think maybe we’re all a little on edge after the way these last two games have ended.

A win over Alabama would do us all some good.

Definitely. I said in the regular posters thread - the last 3 losses are not bad in a vacuum. The fact that we have lost them out of the last 4 games is the troubling part. There’s plenty of time left to turn this season around and the spot we are in kinda forces our guys to put up a fight or wilt. I’m excited to see how we respond Wednesday, I’ll be in the building!

 

[TC 83]

No apology necessary.

I think maybe we’re all a little on edge after the way these last two games have ended.

A win over Alabama would do us all some good.

Tn has only allowed two teams to shoot better than 34% from 3 all season and they were both losses this week. Vandy was 40% and Mizzou was 14/26 today. Next best was USC shot 33% back in November. If we make a few FTs/a freshman decides to dunk a basketball we’re 2-0 this week. All the clowns saying this team is trash please go change your diapers cause you’re full of it. TN is a good team. College basketball is a cruel sport.

 

[gainesvol82]

Last two losses have sucked but it has taken the opposition shooting out of their minds from 3, terribly one-sided officiating at times, uncharacteristic lack of clutch FT shooting from SV, silly fouls from ZZ and buzzer beater 3 pointers in both games for us to lose.

I don't care how many FTs we shot in the second half....the first half was atrocious officiating. It was almost comical how bad the zebras were in the first half. Pair that with every ridiculous 3 pointer that Mizzou threw up going in and we should have gotten blown out in this game. Aggressively driving to the basket, relentless team rebounding (especially from Awaka) and Key going off put us in position to win a game that most every team in the country would have lost by double digits.

If Awaka could shoot even 50% from the FT line then we win by 4-6 points. Also, I don't care that ON has an occasional dominant performance like the Texas game....his complete lack of basketball IQ makes him a liability and wildly inconsistent. He should be a 15-20 point and 7-10 rebound guy every game with his blend of size, athleticism and shooting ability but he is only good for an occasional performance like that because he makes so many bone headed plays. I'm ready to see him move on to professional ball in Europe.

 

[Zues1]

Bottom line - if he makes his FTs the last two games we win. Seniors are seasoned so they can pick up the slack for their teammates.

His misses are a microcosm of this team
They appear to be snake bit.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Tennessee simply isn't as talented as the upper tier teams in the SEC, the break downs on offense and defense are constant and much more glaring when we play the teams with experienced talent, Barnes has it all tied up with scotch tape, paper clips and bailing twine, but he can't coach through the more talented teams as evidenced tonight, Tennessee came back and fought hard with a four guard offense and Awaka, which worked well until fundamental break downs cost Tennessee dearly. May not win another regular season game this season except for the Carolina game.

Would like to see Barnes move away from recruiting the foreign players that haven't played competitive AAU basketball in the US for the past 4 - 6 years and stop recruiting projects that improve, but never develop the full basketball skill set of running the court, jumping, shooting, rebounding, scoring, causing turnovers, playing solid defense, game in and game out. NIL will allow more options and more choices, just need solid position players with the full skill set, other coaches can gather that talent, Barnes can too, he just needs to look at how the games are being won and lost, the skill sets on the other teams in the conference and build from there.

The last three losses have been against the lower tier of the SEC, not the upper tier, and our issues are not derived from recruiting players outside the AAU. This team and the players are operating at the lowest level of chemistry and confidence of any Barnes team I’ve ever seen. It seems to be a combination of injuries, poor shooting, and players freezing in key moments. Hard to pin that on recruiting “foreign” players. Your list of basketball skills necessary is comical. I was surprised you didn’t add “frolicking” and “hopping” to it.

 

[Vol4life2]

thought we would press then to maybe trap them and the clock is ticking. with no press they barley had time to make it. Why did we not foul before he gets to half court?

We don’t put them on the FT line up only 2, but you have to press and play full court defense.

 

[Vol4life2]

Barnes may reduce his min, depends on JJJ and Phillips. Barnes said there are some players needing to be consistent. He was referring to ON and most likely ZZ. Awaka played well but has to be smarter down the stretch.

And hit his free throws. ~48% isn’t good enough.

 

[utVolFanInVA]

You're off, man. Vescovi took that 3 because the shot-clock was running down and he was wide open. He missed it--which is kind of the way it's gone for us the last two games. We played Missouri's last shot perfectly--he just made a freak shot. It's two freaky losses. We played a solid game against Vandy but couldn't put it away and Vandy shot the 3 extremely well--better than they have all year, I'm sure. Same with Missouri tonight--13 freakin'3's? Hell, that's surely double their average. We've just lost two games on 3's at the buzzer. Sux.

We have ourselves to blame--we played a terrible first half, and in both these games two of our young guys made dumb mistakes in the waning seconds. Key's amazing second half looked to have won it for us--and that sux. ON has got to play better--that's all there is to it. If I'm Barnes I'm in his kitchen the next couple of days....

MO averages 9.6 made 3s per game. Scouting report for MO is to guard the 3pt line as they are smaller inside. Regarding 3s, the last two games TN has given up 10 vs VAN and 14 vs MO. This is poor defense. Yes, both teams made some contested 3s against TN but majority of them have not been through tight coverage.

 

[savannahfan]

Vescovi jacked up a 3 with about 30 sec left. I thought we would continue to work the paint.We worked so hard to get in the FT bonus, & what do you know, we jack up a 3. Then just like the Vandy game Vescovi misses the FT. Zakai fouls out on some foolish fouls. When we inbounded the ball & it was Vescovi that got fouled, I said to myself "He's Going 2 Miss" Then we don't even try to slow down Missouri on their in pass at all. As far as our defense, we just let Missouri sink in that LONG 3 POINTER!






\\\\\\\\\\\\\\]

Here is something to think about... WHEN HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS FOUL CALLED ON A FREETHROW THAT CAME ON THE LAST FREETHROW SHOT WITH 4-5 SECONDS LEFT? We had no TO left, even the announcers were slow understanding the situation. Our players were at a loss and they never got organized for the final play. Really strange..

 

[VOL_Lyfe]

DC Vol, you sound like a DC politician now.

"Mistakes were made"

 

[whobethis16]

Here is something to think about... WHEN HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS FOUL CALLED ON A FREETHROW THAT CAME ON THE LAST FREETHROW SHOT WITH 4-5 SECONDS LEFT? We had no TO left, even the announcers were slow understanding the situation. Our players were at a loss and they never got organized for the final play. Really strange..

It was not a foul.

 

[imbubbaspitcup]

You're off, man. Vescovi took that 3 because the shot-clock was running down and he was wide open. He missed it--which is kind of the way it's gone for us the last two games. We played Missouri's last shot perfectly--he just made a freak shot. It's two freaky losses. We played a solid game against Vandy but couldn't put it away and Vandy shot the 3 extremely well--better than they have all year, I'm sure. Same with Missouri tonight--13 freakin'3's? Hell, that's surely double their average. We've just lost two games on 3's at the buzzer. Sux.

We have ourselves to blame--we played a terrible first half, and in both these games two of our young guys made dumb mistakes in the waning seconds. Key's amazing second half looked to have won it for us--and that sux. ON has got to play better--that's all there is to it. If I'm Barnes I'm in his kitchen the next couple of days....

There where 7 seconds left when V shot 3! Just remember the most criticized athlete of any UT sport the last 2 years has probably been J Milton for over throwing the football on a few passes. Not interceptions but over throws. So a few missed game winning FT"s will have Vol Fans speaking their minds! Go Vols!!!!!

 

[BondJamesBond]

Bottom line - if he makes his FTs the last two games we win. Seniors are seasoned so they can pick up the slack for their teammates.

Bottom line. Another player, earlier in the game, hits an 8 footer or snags a rebound for another possession and this play doesn't matter. I taught my kids at 7 years old that one player rarely loses a game. To say they did says a lot about your maturity. Do you even do sports?

 

[berryvol]

Bottom line. Another player, earlier in the game, hits an 8 footer or snags a rebound for another possession and this play doesn't matter. I taught my kids at 7 years old that one player rarely loses a game. To say they did says a lot about your maturity. Do you even do sports?

I’m sorry your kids have to suffer through that, because that’s not really how this works. Of course any play that that changes through the course of a game can trigger the game going in a completely different direction, for better or worse. The game could be put away at the end with a FT. This is not arguable. I’m 10 years removed from my sports playing days, but I can recount a game in my head now where I bricked a FT to win us a game. I’d tell you that loss is 100% on me. I’m sure Santi would say the exact same thing about last night and Wednesday.

 

[turbovol]

Even worse it was off the dribble and a step back. Vescovi does not hit 3s where he isn't set.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Bottom line. Another player, earlier in the game, hits an 8 footer or snags a rebound for another possession and this play doesn't matter. I taught my kids at 7 years old that one player rarely loses a game. To say they did says a lot about your maturity. Do you even do sports?

Note to Barnes— Do not recruit this man’s children.

 

[vol94]

And hit his free throws. ~48% isn’t good enough.

We have to go w ZZ, Key, Santi and Phillips or JJJ when healthy. Awaka is our ideal big man as he is outplaying ON and Uros (one good game this yr). But you are correct. Foul shooting is atrocious. Putting him on the foul line is a TN turnover, and most games in March go down to the wire so each possession counts.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Correct. And your seniors should be able to make clutch freebies at the end of the game. No one is arguing that there’s 100 plays during the last two that could make a difference in the outcome. Bottom line is that a 4 year starter that’s our best FT shooter and team leader had a chance to ice both games and pissed down his leg. We had a win in our hands and that lost us that both games at the end. This is a major concern regardless of your thoughts on who the fault lies with.

Nobody's perfect. Santi has been clutch so many times in the past that you should look at these incidents as outliers until and unless it continues. It's difficult to hit free throws with your heartbeat at 120 bpm.