A few things for MTSU

#1
zjcvols

zjcvols

"On a Tennessee Saturday night."
Staff member
Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Messages
89,064
Likes
37,552
#1
1. This should be an easy win. However, the players can't afford to treat it like that. They need to come out with a lot of energy and get the flow going quick.

2. I'm very curious to see if Scotty continues his defense/rebounding crusade. I don't think I've ever seen Scotty be as tough as he was in the tourney. The scary part is that his shot isn't falling consistently yet.

3. I really hope we push the tempo more with Trae Golden in the game. For a combo guard, his passing is very precise.

4. I would bet that the Vols go to Brian Williams early and try to establish him a rhythm.

5. Continue the defensive intensity. The defense on this team is sick (and in a good way this time). Melvin's ball pressure is dynamite, and Cam/Scotty/Skylar have all improved their D from last year. I hope the team remembers what got us the NIT Title.

Go Vols! :hi:
 
#2
#2
Skylar can't stay with any quick guards how do you think his D has improved?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#4
#4
zjcvols said:
1. This should be an easy win. However, the players can't afford to treat it like that. They need to come out with a lot of energy and get the flow going quick.

2. I'm very curious to see if Scotty continues his defense/rebounding crusade. I don't think I've ever seen Scotty be as tough as he was in the tourney. The scary part is that his shot isn't falling consistently yet.

3. I really hope we push the tempo more with Trae Golden in the game. For a combo guard, his passing is very precise.

4. I would bet that the Vols go to Brian Williams early and try to establish him a rhythm.

5. Continue the defensive intensity. The defense on this team is sick (and in a good way this time). Melvin's ball pressure is dynamite, and Cam/Scotty/Skylar have all improved their D from last year. I hope the team remembers what got us the NIT Title.

Go Vols! :hi:
Click to expand...


Most important IMO
 
#5
#5
MCScots4 said:
Skylar can't stay with any quick guards how do you think his D has improved?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

He's better off the ball. Last year guys would torch him off screens, cuts, or the guy would get open on a cut and then blow by him. Sure, Skylar is going to get blown by sometimes. He's a former walk-on. But half of defense is not giving your guy room when you get the ball and he's done better at that.
 
#7
#7
This normally would Qualify as a trap game with Pitt ahead on the schedule, thankfully with so much time before Pitt, pearl probably spent the last few days working strictly on MTSU in practice.

I think MTSU is probably on the same level as UTC, so we should be able to beat them even if we have an off night
 
#8
#8
zjcvols said:
5. Continue the defensive intensity. The defense on this team is sick (and in a good way this time). Melvin's ball pressure is dynamite, and Cam/Scotty/Skylar have all improved their D from last year. I hope the team remembers what got us the NIT Title.

Go Vols! :hi:
Click to expand...

I watched the first half of the Nova game again last night, and Melvin/Scotty are getting slightly too much credit at the expense of the rest of the team.

Watching again, it is clear that it was team defense and positioning that won, not individual defense. Our on-ball defense WAS good, don't get me wrong. But those Villanova guards can play. Scotty, Melvin, and McBee all got beat on the dribble more than once, and every single time there was help there immediately, and rotation to cover passing threats. If the guard backed out or moved the ball, everyone immediately recovered. If the guard took a bad shot, we did a good job rebounding.

I'd give special credit to Brian Williams. On re-watching, he seemed to appear out of nowhere every single time someone got beat, and he played it exactly right. He wouldn't foul, or leave his feet, or get out of position. He would just step in, challenge the drive or shot strongly, and then be ready to step back into defense or rebounding position.

I don't know if credit is due to Pearl, or Forbes, or Houston Freaking Fancher, but that is one well-coached defensive unit.
 
#9
#9
MCScots4 said:
Skylar can't stay with any quick guards how do you think his D has improved?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

He's the worst defensive guard in our 2-deep, but I do think he's improved since last year.

His problem at the moment is that our overall perimeter defense is so good that when teams see McBee on the floor they're gonna go right at him. He'll struggle a bit this year, but I have some hope that he'll be a decent defender next year.
 
#11
#11
zjcvols said:
He's better off the ball. Last year guys would torch him off screens, cuts, or the guy would get open on a cut and then blow by him. Sure, Skylar is going to get blown by sometimes. He's a former walk-on. But half of defense is not giving your guy room when you get the ball and he's done better at that.
Click to expand...

He gave the guy plenty of room against VCU when he went behind the screen and then fouled a threepoint shooter. Terrible play and he's really just a terrible defender. Most of it is not his fault; he's just not athletic enough.
 
#12
#12
zjcvols said:
1. This should be an easy win. However, the players can't afford to treat it like that. They need to come out with a lot of energy and get the flow going quick.

2. I'm very curious to see if Scotty continues his defense/rebounding crusade. I don't think I've ever seen Scotty be as tough as he was in the tourney. The scary part is that his shot isn't falling consistently yet.

3. I really hope we push the tempo more with Trae Golden in the game. For a combo guard, his passing is very precise.

4. I would bet that the Vols go to Brian Williams early and try to establish him a rhythm.

5. Continue the defensive intensity. The defense on this team is sick (and in a good way this time). Melvin's ball pressure is dynamite, and Cam/Scotty/Skylar have all improved their D from last year. I hope the team remembers what got us the NIT Title.Go Vols! :hi:
Click to expand...

I agree; however personally I believe you need to throw Pearl into that group as well. He has played some hard nosed basketball for us.
 
#13
#13
MCScots4 said:
Skylar can't stay with any quick guards how do you think his D has improved?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

You weren't paying attention to how he defended against Villanova guards, some of the best. If you did see the game, you are going on some preconceived agenda. I am disappointed in his 3 point shooting, but his defense looked good in the tourney. I saw him get beaten twice, but those guards beat a lot of people.
 
#15
#15
I could be crazy, but did MTSU ever take the "State" out of their name? I thought I heard they were changing it to MTU.
 
#16
#16
volroadwarrior said:
You weren't paying attention to how he defended against Villanova guards, some of the best. If you did see the game, you are going on some preconceived agenda. I am disappointed in his 3 point shooting, but his defense looked good in the tourney. I saw him get beaten twice, but those guards beat a lot of people.
Click to expand...

The Nova guards aren't really that quick per se, which is why I think he was defending better. If he Ds up like that for the next couple games, I'll get off his back, but he needs to hustle and stop giving stupid stupid fouls.
 
#17
#17
MCScots4 said:
Skylar can't stay with any quick guards how do you think his D has improved?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

just because he is white dont mean he's slow he moves his feet fast and is a great defender. But dont ask me ask villinovas guards.
 
#19
#19
StepCross said:
I watched the first half of the Nova game again last night, and Melvin/Scotty are getting slightly too much credit at the expense of the rest of the team.

Watching again, it is clear that it was team defense and positioning that won, not individual defense. Our on-ball defense WAS good, don't get me wrong. But those Villanova guards can play. Scotty, Melvin, and McBee all got beat on the dribble more than once, and every single time there was help there immediately, and rotation to cover passing threats. If the guard backed out or moved the ball, everyone immediately recovered. If the guard took a bad shot, we did a good job rebounding.

I'd give special credit to Brian Williams. On re-watching, he seemed to appear out of nowhere every single time someone got beat, and he played it exactly right. He wouldn't foul, or leave his feet, or get out of position. He would just step in, challenge the drive or shot strongly, and then be ready to step back into defense or rebounding position.

I don't know if credit is due to Pearl, or Forbes, or Houston Freaking Fancher, but that is one well-coached defensive unit.
Click to expand...

It does need to be said that our off-ball rotation on D is phenomenal. Brian and John have been excellent at being able to cover passing lanes, and helpside D.

However, Scotty/Cam's D left much to be desired last year, and they have really improved, both on-ball and off-ball.
 
#20
#20
Chris4Vols22 said:
I could be crazy, but did MTSU ever take the "State" out of their name? I thought I heard they were changing it to MTU.
Click to expand...

No, it's still MTSU...But, some knuckle heads are wanting a name change. They want to see it changed to the University of Middle Tennessee (UMT). Which I think is stupid. It's MTSU and it should stay that way, imo.
 
#21
#21
MTSU started the game up on Auburn by like 16 or 17 points. Then Auburn went on a huge 30-something to 4 run. That was probably a game MTSU should've won.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top