#5 in Both AP and Coaches’ Polls

[DC_Vol]

UT is due a win over Purdue after the Lamonte Turner BS, this year, and the Music City Bowl. Playing them in the Elite 8 to advance to our 1st Final Four would be glorious.

Dream scenario right here!

 

[vol94]

Given how the last A&M game played out, wouldn’t that be a part of the difficult stretch also?

That could be a difficult game, esp since they manhandled us a few weeks ago. But they aren’t mentioned by the pundits as part of the gauntlet of our schedule: Auburn, @ Bama, @ Jr, KY.

 

[snappervol]

bama is a beast at home. UT loses that one. May be the only one.

We match up well against the Tide. This team does not fear this game, just the opposite as they cannot wait to get there. Here’s to not taking a night off on the way to Tuscaloosa.
Our constant, all game long pressure man just wears you down physically & mentally. It’s so taxing to run fluid O against our man D.
Go Big Orange !

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Chances are, we’re destined for a rematch with Purdue if we make it that far. I feel pretty confident we’d be in their bracket. I would like to avoid them and UConn at all costs, but that’s asking to avoid 50% of the 1-seeds, which feels unlikely.

The ideal region is getting the 2 in the South with Houston. But the committee clearly likes us in the Purdue bracket yet again based on the Top 16 reveal.

Call me crazy, but if we don’t get matched up with Houston, I actually think our 2nd best option is going out West to face Arizona. Sure, we won’t have a great crowd because of the distance factor, but I’d rather face Arizona with few TN fans in attendance than Purdue or UConn with a closer to 50/50 split in the stands.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Chances are, we’re destined for a rematch with Purdue if we make it that far. I feel pretty confident we’d be in their bracket. I would like to avoid them and UConn at all costs, but that’s asking to avoid 50% of the 1-seeds, which feels unlikely.

The ideal region is getting the 2 in the South with Houston. But the committee clearly likes us in the Purdue bracket yet again based on the Top 16 reveal.

Call me crazy, but if we don’t get matched up with Houston, I actually think our 2nd best option is going out West to face Arizona. Sure, we won’t have a great crowd because of the distance factor, but I’d rather face Arizona with few TN fans in attendance than Purdue or UConn with a closer to 50/50 split in the stands.

The reason for Purdue matchups is because they’re getting projected into the Midwest bracket and that’s also the closest spot for us.

 

[VolCalls]

Chances are, we’re destined for a rematch with Purdue if we make it that far. I feel pretty confident we’d be in their bracket. I would like to avoid them and UConn at all costs, but that’s asking to avoid 50% of the 1-seeds, which feels unlikely.

The ideal region is getting the 2 in the South with Houston. But the committee clearly likes us in the Purdue bracket yet again based on the Top 16 reveal.

Call me crazy, but if we don’t get matched up with Houston, I actually think our 2nd best option is going out West to face Arizona. Sure, we won’t have a great crowd because of the distance factor, but I’d rather face Arizona with few TN fans in attendance than Purdue or UConn with a closer to 50/50 split in the stands.

I’m not sold on Purdue. They are knocking on the door almost every year but haven’t sniffed a Final Four since 1980. They seem to always underperform in March.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

The reason for Purdue matchups is because they’re getting projected into the Midwest bracket and that’s also the closest spot for us.

I get it, but if we end up being the Top 2 seed, I would hope we advocate for the South over the Midwest. I’m not sure why we’d prefer proximity over the better matchup, but I’m not a coach so I will trust their judgement.

Houston is a great defensive team, but I don’t have the same anxiety about them scoring at will on us like I do Purdue. Once you get to an E8 you’re facing a good team no matter what, so it likely doesn’t matter, but Edey is the most protected player in all of CBB right now as evidenced by the fouls disparity teams face when playing Purdue, so no thanks on playing them again.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I get it, but if we end up being the Top 2 seed, I would hope we advocate for the South over the Midwest. I’m not sure why we’d prefer proximity over the better matchup, but I’m not a coach so I will trust their judgement.

Houston is a great defensive team, but I don’t have the same anxiety about them scoring at will on us like I do Purdue. Once you get to an E8 you’re facing a good team no matter what, so it likely doesn’t matter, but Edey is the most protected player in all of CBB right now as evidenced by the fouls disparity teams face when playing Purdue, so no thanks on playing them again.

You don’t get to advocate for matchups

 

[TheMookieMonster]

You don’t get to advocate for matchups

If you can advocate for proximity, can’t you say you prefer one location over another though? Like, we know Purdue is going to the Midwest. Can’t we say we prefer whatever location is in the South?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

If you can advocate for proximity, can’t you say you prefer one location over another though? Like, we know Purdue is going to the Midwest. Can’t we say we prefer whatever location is in the South?

If it’s a 20 mile difference then sure, you can make that case, but when it’s 300+ mile difference that is gonna fall on deaf ears.

 

[cncchris33]

Chances are, we’re destined for a rematch with Purdue if we make it that far. I feel pretty confident we’d be in their bracket. I would like to avoid them and UConn at all costs, but that’s asking to avoid 50% of the 1-seeds, which feels unlikely.

The ideal region is getting the 2 in the South with Houston. But the committee clearly likes us in the Purdue bracket yet again based on the Top 16 reveal.

Call me crazy, but if we don’t get matched up with Houston, I actually think our 2nd best option is going out West to face Arizona. Sure, we won’t have a great crowd because of the distance factor, but I’d rather face Arizona with few TN fans in attendance than Purdue or UConn with a closer to 50/50 split in the stands.

I wouldn't mind being bracketed with AZ, either, because I think there is a decent chance they don't make it to the E8, anyway, so if we did, we're likely facing a 4 or 5 seed to get to the F4. Zona hasn't faced an NCAAT team since mid-January, and they got beat in that matchup with Washington St. They play again, this weekend, and that might be the last surefire NCAAT team they play before the postseason. The Pac-12 is Charmin soft and they've not seen competition like they'll face in March.

 

[VolCalls]

If you can advocate for proximity, can’t you say you prefer one location over another though? Like, we know Purdue is going to the Midwest. Can’t we say we prefer whatever location is in the South?

Only the #1 seeds get to select their region & opening round site, after that it’s all up to the committee.

 

[WhenUrVolUrVFL]

Purdue is the last team we want to see in the tourney.. we match up terribly with them in the frontcourt. Purdue and Kansas have too many bigs for us to handle. I think we match up better against any team better than those 2. As far as seeding I think it comes down to the SEC tourney. We win out 1 seed we don't 2 seed. Assuming we finish out reg season at worst 5-1. I think fully healthy this team can win out the rest of the season and tourney fairly easily. They have been tested and grown every week. These last 6 games will show how much we have grown. Hopefully we get to play some young guys tonight so the starters are rested well for A&M revenge match this weekend.

We played Purdue incredibly tough in spite of some ******** officiating. The officiating in that one shell shocked our squad. That phantom tech on Barnes against Purdue completely shifted momentum. We were taking it to them before that.

 

[pimo1]

We played Purdue incredibly tough in spite of some ******** officiating. The officiating in that one shell shocked our squad. That phantom tech on Barnes against Purdue completely shifted momentum. We were taking it to them before that.

I still think despite the results of that game it was not nearly as close as the score. edey only played 26 mins and was in foul trouble with 4 (he still dropped 23 and 10 on us) but both Awaka and Aidoo fouled out they totaled together 2 rebounds and 11 points in 25 combined minutes. We got roasted 44-31 on the boards. JJJ was the defacto center most of the game we were only able to get 12 mins and 1 rebound 4 fouls from Philips and Estrella combined.

Yes, it was a questionably officiated game. But, here is the thing when we play dominant bigs they always get in foul trouble FAST, and with them out we are done on the boards. Estrella and Phillips have done somewhat better as the season goes on but I wouldn't depend on them and Estrella is nursing an injury of late yes? But don't just blame the officials Purdue decided to play a rough and tumble game and it worked to their favor knowing refs are prone to give us bad calls because it's out there we are a team thats is grimy. Does not matter if its true.. I think it's untrue we play good defense but it seems a good number of refs believe it and their perception is our reality..

 

[Orangeslide]

Arizona lost Thursday night. The 1 seed line may be open for the Vols, and these last 5 games are huge for seeding purposes. 4-1 may get us the 1 seed line, 3-2 probably 2 seed line. Don’t think the SEC tournament will have any impact on our seed line. What a great opportunity for our team. These last 5 games should be interesting to say the least. We are very lucky to be in this position. Hell, just go ahead and win out in the regular season and take away any speculation. It all starts Saturday night at 8. Go Vols!