Are this season's Vols better than the 2023-24 team?

[ColinS]

I’m still deciphering this part. Always trying to learn though.. what do you mean?

Edit.. you mean Gainey, Phillips?

Just generalizing(if that's even a word) that our returning players have improved. Gainey and Phillips are perfect examples.

 

[Fatdad32]

Yes I believe we are

Igor huge rebounder and can stretch people out
Okpara tough player and plays physical

Phillips just keeps getting better

Gainey is physically stronger and is playing well

ZZ is ZZ

Chaz legit is playing as well as Dalton did

Dunbar is gonna keep developing

We’re better athletically and better basketball players

Absolutely love how this team seems to have already bought into their roles

 

[chuckiepoo]

Yes I believe we are

Igor huge rebounder and can stretch people out
Okpara tough player and plays physical

Phillips just keeps getting better

Gainey is physically stronger and is playing well

ZZ is ZZ

Chaz legit is playing as well as Dalton did

Dunbar is gonna keep developing

We’re better athletically and better basketball players

Absolutely love how this team seems to have already bought into their roles

Well reasoned with brevity. Excellent!

 

[sami]

Beating Illinois at their place was a huge win

Absolutely huge. Winning in a hostile environment on the road against a really good team with their leading scorer and leader fouled out - you can't measure how big that was for this team's psyche. Like I said, last year's team loses that game 10 out of 10 times if Knecht and Zeigler fouled out in that spot.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Stay healthy and we will win a sheet load of games!

 

[VOLINVONORE]

I think they are, especially when we have a full roster. One reason is the improved of # 11 # 7. We also are rebounding better and the defense is really good.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Still too early to say, but I think we looked better in nonconference play. Last year’s nonconference schedule was tougher, but this team has walked through everyone but Illinois, and they won that one on the road in a raucous environment with the breaks going against them.

 

[VolCalls]

If this team breaks the Final Four barrier, they will be better than last year.

We need to fill Rupp Arena with orange the first two rounds to help them get to the Sweet 16. After that, anything can happen.

 

[Purplehaze26]

Yes, primarily because of improved post play up to
this point.

 

[orangemadam]

Condensed version of a post I made on another thread.

This is the best overall team from top to bottom that I have ever seen for UT in my
50 yrs of watching, since Ernie/Bernie. No major weakness at any position, and the
best 6th man, imo, in the nation. 2 best vocal leaders I can remember being here.

 

[njvols]

Stay healthy and we will win a sheet load of games!

I think that's the biggest risk, with a short bench...staying healthy. We'll lose some games, and honestly, we don't have a true gauge on things yet, except that there's some really good bball teams in SEC this year...and we'll be in the mix. Florida game in Gainesville will be an interesting game. In the past, teams like Bama, or this year, Kentucy or Florida, who run up 100 points in some games, can struggle against lock down defenses. It's those grind it out teams, like a Miss St that we tend to struggle with the most.

 

[livefaith]

Yes. Here's what I see so far...
1. Better PG play ... healthy
2. Better defense bc our post athleticism is upgraded
3. Offense flows better. Last year we had gridlock until #3 was unleashed. This year were moving quicker and making plays in the middle more. Better athletes in the post.

All are not major changes. But improvements no doubt. #3 is probably the biggest difference. Barnes has shifted to move this O faster in the clock.

Downside. Our depth is not crazy now. Really 8 vs 10. I really wish JP was there for post insurance and I would feel better about our FF / NC possibilities. Could still do it.

 

[Go47]

Yes. Here's what I see so far...
1. Better PG play ... healthy
2. Better defense bc our post athleticism is upgraded
3. Offense flows better. Last year we had gridlock until #3 was unleashed. This year were moving quicker and making plays in the middle more. Better athletes in the post.

All are not major changes. But improvements no doubt. #3 is probably the biggest difference. Barnes has shifted to move this O faster in the clock.

Downside. Our depth is no crazy now. I really wish JP was there for insurance and I would feel better about our FF / NC possibilities. Could still do it.

I agree 100%.

I think overall this year’s team may be slightly better. How far they go will depend on injuries (we have no depth with the loss of Estrella and Carr), Dubar’s development (we will need him at some point to play at a higher level), and matchups when we get to the NCAA tournament.

I think they can make the elite 8 like last year’s team. They are good enough - if healthy - to make a final four. But, it’s basketball. One bad shooting night or one bad matchup and you get bounced.

This team has elite chemistry at this point. 12-6 may win the SEC or get second place.

Milicic is a rebounding machine!

 

[JohnWardForever]

YES! Better overall talent. Lanier doesn't have to carry the entire team , and this team is much better inside (Okpara ^ Aidoo, and Vescovi/JJJ were so inconsistent. Igor rocks! So does Phillips. Gainey is much improved. Zieglar is even better... And they will only improve.

 

[sami]

3. Offense flows better. Last year we had gridlock until #3 was unleashed. This year were moving quicker and making plays in the middle more. Better athletes in the post.

To me, this and the rebounding improvement are by far the biggest factors. Last year it was dump it in to Aidoo or wait for DK to go off, and not much else, which is why we would have those occasional scoring droughts. This movement system and the additional offensive weapons, plus the second (and third) chances from hitting the offensive glass should mean far less of empty possession runs.

 

[EJVOL4LIFE]

Who cares?? All I know is we are undefeated and just whipped the dog crap out of Calipari and the Hogs!!! Go Vols baby!!! Hope the women put it on the Sooners today too!!

 

[Shaun1985]

No. Last year's team had a higher ceiling and more depth. Vescovy never got it going but the potential was always there to explode. You had super sr leadership, more depth in the paint and more ball handlers. It's all about matchups though. Getting a break in the bracket is all the difference

 

[livefaith]

We may rebound better with Igor as well. He was spectacular yesterday.

 

[KnoxToTheBoro93]

Yeah it’s close we have to see how this group finishes but I do think they are better as a team… zz is the best Pg in the Barnes era and I don’t think it’s that close and you can tell by how this team operates… also I think Lanier is a better shooter than DK.. he Isn’t the athlete nor the finisher at the rim that DK was and is but as far as pure shooting I think Chaz is a little better his shot is more compact and it looks easier… I still think DK is the better overall player but this team is constructed very nice and we may finally get that final 4 this year..

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Negative.

 

[Big Orange#1]

Not even close!

 

[TN_Vol_Fo_Life]

In my opinion they certainly can be, and here are my reasons and caveats:

* More places to go for offense in this group, especially if (when?) Igor regains his 3-point stroke. Last year's team was far too dependent on DK, with the only other offensive weapon being the Aidoo post game, which collapsed against any physical team. The Vols can get offense from Lanier, Gainey, Z, the lob game, and if Dubar and Milicic get some consistency from 3 this group will be unguardable.

* I love the offensive scheme this year with all the off ball movement, ball screens and constant actions throughout the shot clock. Last year it was pretty much dump it in to Aidoo or let DK cook. JJJ and SV, much as I loved them, were way too inconsistent to rely on at all. The growth of Gainey has made him a legit weapon in this offense, and teams can't just sit on one player and shut this group down.

* The rebounding, specifically on the offensive glass, is elite and game changing, like we saw today. Guys like Milicic, Okpara, and Dubar are relentless, fitting right in with the balls to the wall approach of Shack and Z. Rebounding and defense will keep you in games where the offense isn't clicking, like we saw in the Illinois game. That's a game we lose 10 out of 10 times last year if DK was in foul trouble like Lanier and Ziegler were.

* Lanier isn't Knecht in that he's not as likely to single handedly take over games, but within this scheme and the threat of other players keeping teams from focusing solely on him, he will be lethal.

* Okpara is a definite upgrade on Aidoo. He knows his role and is getting more comfortable every game. We don't need him to be a post presence on offense in this scheme, but as an offensive rebounder and lob threat, he is invaluable.

* Cade Philips has stepped up in a huge way, and is getting better game by game. Knows his role and is a relentless competitor.

If there is one huge caveat, it is obviously the lack of depth, especially with the bigs. Estrella would have been a huge factor, eating up minutes and offering a post presence and lob threat off the bench. We can't afford a single injury right now going 8 deep, and Boswell stepping up could be incredibly important the deeper we get in league play. But if we have some luck with health, this group has a chance to be really special.

What do you guys think?

Nope

 

[Go47]

Maybe . . . No? Certainly we never got dominated last year as we did tonight.

 

[The Tall Gguy]

I am not sure I have seen a Rick Barnes team quit prior to tonight.