#9 in preseason AP poll

#76
#76
TheMookieMonster said:
It’s just easy for journalists to pick on Tennessee at this point and make themselves sound smart. Whatever. Doesn’t really matter.

I will say that 2nd blurb is hilarious though. Acting like us losing Uros and ORN our “two most important players” in the Duke win is going to impact our offense negatively is just funny.
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Yep, we’re an easy target and the Uros comment was pretty dopey. It also reads like he wrote this up before watching the Mich St exhibition and then had some second thoughts.
 
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#77
#77
Let's face it sports writers cant keep up with the changes like some here do

I remember a young Tennessee sports writer a few years back who wrote up a story on the Vols team and left out 2 key starters like they werent there.
 
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#78
#78
Volprofch05 said:
Don't shoot the messenger, but we were tied for most votes (4 out of 12) for team in the preseason top 10 that will disappoint the most. We're probably an easy target for that though. Hopefully, we'll prove them wrong!

theathletic.com

College basketball predictions: Which preseason Top 10 team will fall on hard times?

Not all teams that start out highly ranked end that way. Which team will disappoint relative to expectations this season?
theathletic.com theathletic.com

View attachment 591801
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Some fair concerns, and let's face it, picking against Tennessee to make any noise in March is just safe and easy. It may happen again and I wouldn't blame anyone for counting on us to flame out. Go prove 'em wrong.
 
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#79
#79
cncchris33 said:
Some fair concerns, and let's face it, picking against Tennessee to make any noise in March is just safe and easy. It may happen again and I wouldn't blame anyone for counting on us to flame out. Go prove 'em wrong.
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I am concerned that there doesn't appear to be any replacement/upgrade for Uros & ORN. Aidoo/Awaka are probably what they were last year or marginally better. No depth or offensive go-to down low in games where it's needed.
 
#81
#81
Clad in Big Orange said:
I am concerned that there doesn't appear to be any replacement/upgrade for Uros & ORN. Aidoo/Awaka are probably what they were last year or marginally better. No depth or offensive go-to down low in games where it's needed.
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If you are basing this off just the MSU game, I wouldn’t. Tennessee will not face a more experienced or talented front court all year than what MSU had in Sissoko, Hoggard, and Hall. That is a Senior and two 5th year Seniors. Carr might be a freshmen, but he is also probably the most athletic player we’ll face. Just a freak talent.

If Awaka and Aidoo struggle in November and December then I’ll worry. But that was great experience for them and they’ve seen the best they’ll face all year now.
 
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#82
#82
Clad in Big Orange said:
I am concerned that there doesn't appear to be any replacement/upgrade for Uros & ORN. Aidoo/Awaka are probably what they were last year or marginally better. No depth or offensive go-to down low in games where it's needed.
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Awaka is much improved, IMO, based on what he did for Team USA and in Italy. Aidoo will probably be somewhat improved, as well. In the end, Nkamhoua only gave you his best effort every 5th or 6th game, and Uros brought a toughness, but it came with an edge that crossed the line too often. I believe we can easily replace their production with a combination of different, and likely smaller lineups.
 
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#83
#83
Clad in Big Orange said:
I am concerned that there doesn't appear to be any replacement/upgrade for Uros & ORN. Aidoo/Awaka are probably what they were last year or marginally better. No depth or offensive go-to down low in games where it's needed.
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I would argue JJJ at the 4 is an improvement over most Nkamhoua games
 
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#84
#84
Clad in Big Orange said:
I am concerned that there doesn't appear to be any replacement/upgrade for Uros & ORN. Aidoo/Awaka are probably what they were last year or marginally better. No depth or offensive go-to down low in games where it's needed.
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I agree that the post play is a concern. We have pretty good guards, but Barnes’s TN teams have suffered from frequent cold shooting games. What can this team do to avoid the shooting droughts that have plagued us for so long?
 
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#85
#85
OrngeJuiceJones said:
What does @Backwards K think now?
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Feel just like I did last year when the Vols smoked Gonzaga in an exhibition led by Tyreke Key's 26 points......this team (just like last year's team) has a chance to be very good.

Y"all seem like you think I'm gonna be upset if the Vols win. All along, I have thought this team could be a FF contender if they gel over the course of hte year. Glad they smoked Mich St but one game does not a season make. I think this team will only get better as the year goes on and I hope they are at the top 10 level at the end of the year. I plan to enjoy the season and watching this team grow.
 
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#86
#86
Weird bump i know, but with all the uncertainty about Chaz and Dunbar, I feel like it’s fair that this time last year (after playing those international games too) we still didn’t know much about 2023/24 team. Speculation about DK being good, sure, but no one knew how it was going to go down. Let’s just see how this plays out
 
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#87
#87
swchandler1988 said:
Weird bump i know, but with all the uncertainty about Chaz and Dunbar, I feel like it’s fair that this time last year (after playing those international games too) we still didn’t know much about 2023/24 team. Speculation about DK being good, sure, but no one knew how it was going to go down. Let’s just see how this plays out
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Yes. Very weird bump. I’d have that examined by a physician.
 
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#91
#91
Being ranked at 9 means CRB has earned some respect. He is returning 1 starter and the 6 and 7 men on the squad. The rest of our starters will likely be transfers mostly from small schools. I would have thought we'd be top 15 to start the season. 9 is awesome with our OOC schedule. I think we only have 13Miami 25Illinois and maybe 20Baylor(tourney) as our only ranked OOC games. Weak as that schedule is if we can ace it it wont matter. Starting at 9 helps us a lot. Getting excited for this weak OOC schedule lets our team get time to gel. SEC schedule is ok...14Arkansas 15A&M, 16Kentuckyx2, 18texas, and 24Bama. they have us as the top team in the SEC? Kinda surprising. Not that they deserve it but I thought they'd give Arkansas and Kentucky more love. Auburns and Miss State no where to be seen.
 
#92
#92
berryvol said:
We finished last season in the sweet 16 (without maybe the most important player on the roster), got eliminated by a final four team, kept everyone of consequence, and added multiple dynamic scoring options. You’re right, absolutely nothing to suggest top 10.
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You had me until the kept everyone of consequence part.... almost all our projected starters are gonna be transfers lol. We lost 7 players 4 of whom were starters the 5th was our backup post and 2 young guys we spent time developing. Of our top 8 guys in minutes played we return 3. Aidoo and Awaka are not of consequence? Honestly Awaka blows my mind because he went to Arizona to be a backup maybe he saw himself being recruited over? Dynamic is an interesting term to use.

That being said the SEC seems fairly low-ranked this season (even though we did get 5 teams in) so maybe that contributes to it. Gonna be a fun season to watch.
 
#93
#93
pimo1 said:
You had me until the kept everyone of consequence part.... almost all our projected starters are gonna be transfers lol. We lost 7 players 4 of whom were starters the 5th was our backup post and 2 young guys we spent time developing. Of our top 8 guys in minutes played we return 3. Aidoo and Awaka are not of consequence? Honestly Awaka blows my mind because he went to Arizona to be a backup maybe he saw himself being recruited over? Dynamic is an interesting term to use.

That being said the SEC seems fairly low-ranked this season (even though we did get 5 teams in) so maybe that contributes to it. Gonna be a fun season to watch.
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Not reading all that, we probably agree. Check the date on my original post lol
 
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#98
#98
Backwards K said:
Too many questions to be ranked that high at this point.
--Who is gonna be able to score in the paint?
--Who can beat their man off the dribble and finish at the rim?
--Who is gonna defend quick guards?
--Who will be the consistent 3 pt shooter to take some pressure off Vescovi?

Should be a good team but I don't see how they can be ranked that high at this point.
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.
 
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#99
#99
swchandler1988 said:
Weird bump i know, but with all the uncertainty about Chaz and Dunbar, I feel like it’s fair that this time last year (after playing those international games too) we still didn’t know much about 2023/24 team. Speculation about DK being good, sure, but no one knew how it was going to go down. Let’s just see how this plays out
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We were stopped by a team with a rare Lurch of college basketball.
 
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