Asking too much from our Freshmen

[Dougie_D]

Our freshmen are continuing to make or break our team. But recently it seemed like they have been asked to take more shots than normal. It’s taking away a few shots I think other players would have made IMO. For the Kentucky game I think they both shot and missed WAY too many 3s. They both like to hit the pull up jumper. Bailey played his usual game. He’s the most consistent player I think. So is JJJ but he was out. Vescovi didn’t hit a single 3 but barely shot his usual! It feels like every player has a role but when a player tries to do much of what they ask for, it will hamper our style

 

[1985Vols]

Our two freshmen are by far and away our 2 best players as far as being able to create their own shots. Springer obviously had his worst outing as a Vol yesterday. It happens. The problem with this team is our coach needs to earn his money and come up with a better offensive scheme . I do not understand what we Are trying to do in our 1/2 court sets other than pass the ball around for 25 seconds and then Jack up a mid range jump shot or clank a 3. No screens, not cutting to the basket, just a lot of standing around. Unless we get out in transition, we are usually inept on offense.

 

[calban]

Our two freshmen are by far and away our 2 best players as far as being able to create their own shots. Springer obviously had his worst outing as a Vol yesterday. It happens. The problem with this team is our coach needs to earn his money and come up with a better offensive scheme . I do not understand what we Are trying to do in our 1/2 court sets other than pass the ball around for 25 seconds and then Jack up a mid range jump shot or clank a 3. No screens, not cutting to the basket, just a lot of standing around. Unless we get out in transition, we usually inept on offense.

Barnes philosophy and coaching style requires hi IQ bold leadership on the floor on game day. He was expecting that from fulkerson this season and struggled to convince him to take the job last season. You can't force people to be what they aint and so he's left with no one to run the team on game day. He rarely does any game day coaching except to holler do your job and yank u when u dont. Barnes expects his players to do what they're taught in practice and follow their scouting reports. He needs a Williams and he aint got one this season. Hopefullly Chandler is that kind of guy next season.
This is my take on the Barnes dilemma, has been since he's been here and I've seen nothing to change the opinion.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Barnes philosophy and coaching style requires hi IQ bold leadership on the floor on game day. He was expecting that from fulkerson this season and struggled to convince him to take the job last season. You can't force people to be what they aint and so he's left with no one to run the team on game day. He rarely does any game day coaching except to holler do your job and yank u when u dont. Barnes expects his players to do what they're taught in practice and follow their scouting reports. He needs a Williams and he aint got one this season. Hopefullly Chandler is that kind of guy next season.
This is my take on the Barnes dilemma, has been since he's been here and I've seen nothing to change the opinion.

JJJ is turning into that guy. He wasn’t going to take that role over Fulk and Pons but since they aren’t running with it he will.

 

[iluvsmesumdooley]

Vescovi is very unreliable, Pons’ only shot is a dunk, and Fulkerson’s just a big, lanky cornpone. It’s up to the freshmen, whether we like it or not. Luckily, we have some serious talent coming down the pike and we should be better when we clear out the deadwood.

 

[cardvolfan]

Vescovi is very unreliable, Pons’ only shot is a dunk, and Fulkerson’s just a big, lanky cornpone. It’s up to the freshmen, whether we like it or not. Luckily, we have some serious talent coming down the pike and we should be better when we clear out the deadwood.

This is an amusing take.

 

[i2amavol]

Our freshmen are continuing to make or break our team. But recently it seemed like they have been asked to take more shots than normal. It’s taking away a few shots I think other players would have made IMO. For the Kentucky game I think they both shot and missed WAY too many 3s. They both like to hit the pull up jumper. Bailey played his usual game. He’s the most consistent player I think. So is JJJ but he was out. Vescovi didn’t hit a single 3 but barely shot his usual! It feels like every player has a role but when a player tries to do much of what they ask for, it will hamper our style

I think you are correct in the first sentence. I have watched teams over decades, and those that rely on Freshmen too much end up being very inconsistent like this year's vols, most of the time.

We have a real lack of talented players on the inside; and those with talent often have a height disadvantage. Even Yves Pons, who obviously is excellent in shot blocking, is challenged in the rebounding department.

With all these deficits, we need all hands on deck. I think we are missing JJJ more than people realize. He is that swiss army knife kind of player that I think so often goes unnoticed. I also think we need more of ORN, not less. If he can step up his game just another notch, I think he could be a vital cog down the stretch (I can't believe I am saying that, after the way I felt about him at the beginning of the season!).

 

[CAVPUT]

Barnes philosophy and coaching style requires hi IQ bold leadership on the floor on game day. He was expecting that from fulkerson this season and struggled to convince him to take the job last season. You can't force people to be what they aint and so he's left with no one to run the team on game day. He rarely does any game day coaching except to holler do your job and yank u when u dont. Barnes expects his players to do what they're taught in practice and follow their scouting reports. He needs a Williams and he aint got one this season. Hopefullly Chandler is that kind of guy next season.
This is my take on the Barnes dilemma, has been since he's been here and I've seen nothing to change the opinion.

Pretty much spot on. The real talent on this team is with the underclassmen, but where are the leaders? Who sets the tone and gives this team its personality? There's no real leadership from the upperclass players. Fulkerson is injury prone and was never cut out to be that alpha on a roster. He's no better than a 6th man on most decent rosters. Pons? JJ? Nope.

This team just isn't built to be consistent. Don't like the make up of the roster(no true PG and zero inside presence) and I certainly don't see us as being mentally strong. Just does not bode well for the SECT or the NCAA. Folks need to appreciate the moments this team is able to provide. Any expectation of a deep run in March is foolish.

 

[savannahfan]

Our two freshmen are by far and away our 2 best players as far as being able to create their own shots. Springer obviously had his worst outing as a Vol yesterday. It happens. The problem with this team is our coach needs to earn his money and come up with a better offensive scheme . I do not understand what we Are trying to do in our 1/2 court sets other than pass the ball around for 25 seconds and then Jack up a mid range jump shot or clank a 3. No screens, not cutting to the basket, just a lot of standing around. Unless we get out in transition, we are usually inept on offense.

I said very much the same thing yesterday (or maybe day before) about our offensive play. Look s like a pickup game after school.

 

[savannahfan]

Barnes philosophy and coaching style requires hi IQ bold leadership on the floor on game day. He was expecting that from fulkerson this season and struggled to convince him to take the job last season. You can't force people to be what they aint and so he's left with no one to run the team on game day. He rarely does any game day coaching except to holler do your job and yank u when u dont. Barnes expects his players to do what they're taught in practice and follow their scouting reports. He needs a Williams and he aint got one this season. Hopefullly Chandler is that kind of guy next season.
This is my take on the Barnes dilemma, has been since he's been here and I've seen nothing to change the opinion.

I once ask our high school coach why we didn't run plays like we had a few years before. He said look down on the floor tell me what kinda grades do the guys have? Now do you know the grades those guys that played a few years ago had? I replied, well our guys for the most part are c & b students. He said yeah the older teams you are talking about were for the most part A students. Now when you come down the court at a fast pace and I hold up a one or a three play, the guard has to "get it" look around figure along with everyone else real fast where and what am I suppose to do..... Takes a pretty smart guy to do that in really short amount of time. So when I have smart quick player, we will run plays or like now we just run and shoot.

 

[Roustabout]

Our two freshmen are by far and away our 2 best players as far as being able to create their own shots. Springer obviously had his worst outing as a Vol yesterday. It happens. The problem with this team is our coach needs to earn his money and come up with a better offensive scheme . I do not understand what we Are trying to do in our 1/2 court sets other than pass the ball around for 25 seconds and then Jack up a mid range jump shot or clank a 3. No screens, not cutting to the basket, just a lot of standing around. Unless we get out in transition, we are usually inept on offense.

No. Good chance both are gone to the NBA. That’s why you recruit elite players. To be elite.

 

[Border Vol]

There are always going to be periods of inconsistency when you have a young team.

 

[calban]

JJJ is turning into that guy. He wasn’t going to take that role over Fulk and Pons but since they aren’t running with it he will.

English verified that in his last interview. Hope he gets healthy soon.

 

[fullmetalvol]

Does Barnes push the inside players to put on muscle in the weight room during the offseason? Our inside guys just get man shoved by big physical players. It would help Fulky and Pons both if they just had more muscle.

 

[TartanTurff]

Losing to a middle of the road Kentucky team in Knoxville on national television is very hard to manage, particularly after beating them and the referees in Rupp earlier, but with little production, rebounds or defensive positioning in the low post, other team are just pushing the defense out to the guards and just daring us to throw the ball inside, Barnes has struggled to put a complete roster of right sized positions 1 through 5 on the floor at the same time since he got here, not sure why, but this season is shaping up to be a stinging disappointment on a season we were expected to win the conference and be tournament ready in March, from all indication we will not do either

 

[firedog28]

Our so called big guys get schooled every night it seems.Add the fact we have no true point guard(Vescovi) can't get it done in this league.Therefore Barnes and his staff are guilty of not recruiting a big man who can hold his own or a point guard.I would start letting Springer run the point and let the chips fall!

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Does Barnes push the inside players to put on muscle in the weight room during the offseason? Our inside guys just get man shoved by big physical players. It would help Fulky and Pons both if they just had more muscle.

Pons with more muscle?

 

[orange_glory]

Historically Kentucky and other blue bloods have little to no regression when letting their freshman (one and dones) play. Why can't Tennessee have that type of production from our freshman?

 

[vegasvolfan]

Our freshmen are continuing to make or break our team. But recently it seemed like they have been asked to take more shots than normal. It’s taking away a few shots I think other players would have made IMO. For the Kentucky game I think they both shot and missed WAY too many 3s. They both like to hit the pull up jumper. Bailey played his usual game. He’s the most consistent player I think. So is JJJ but he was out. Vescovi didn’t hit a single 3 but barely shot his usual! It feels like every player has a role but when a player tries to do much of what they ask for, it will hamper our style

Something is going on at the U that is impacting all of our athletes.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Our freshmen are continuing to make or break our team. But recently it seemed like they have been asked to take more shots than normal. It’s taking away a few shots I think other players would have made IMO. For the Kentucky game I think they both shot and missed WAY too many 3s. They both like to hit the pull up jumper. Bailey played his usual game. He’s the most consistent player I think. So is JJJ but he was out. Vescovi didn’t hit a single 3 but barely shot his usual! It feels like every player has a role but when a player tries to do much of what they ask for, it will hamper our style

When the 3rd-4th year players are not producing and the 2nd year glue player in injured and can n0t plat, the only other players with the skill to score and play defense are the Freshmen. Add that to the fact that we do not have a real PG or a 5 player to score, rebound and play defense, I think the team has played about as physically possible.

 

[VollerNbham]

Pretty much spot on. The real talent on this team is with the underclassmen, but where are the leaders? Who sets the tone and gives this team its personality? There's no real leadership from the upperclass players. Fulkerson is injury prone and was never cut out to be that alpha on a roster. He's no better than a 6th man on most decent rosters. Pons? JJ? Nope.

This team just isn't built to be consistent. Don't like the make up of the roster(no true PG and zero inside presence) and I certainly don't see us as being mentally strong. Just does not bode well for the SECT or the NCAA. Folks need to appreciate the moments this team is able to provide. Any expectation of a deep run in March is foolish.

You hit the nail on the head in my opinion.

 

[Dougie_D]

Pretty much spot on. The real talent on this team is with the underclassmen, but where are the leaders? Who sets the tone and gives this team its personality? There's no real leadership from the upperclass players. Fulkerson is injury prone and was never cut out to be that alpha on a roster. He's no better than a 6th man on most decent rosters. Pons? JJ? Nope.

This team just isn't built to be consistent. Don't like the make up of the roster(no true PG and zero inside presence) and I certainly don't see us as being mentally strong. Just does not bode well for the SECT or the NCAA. Folks need to appreciate the moments this team is able to provide. Any expectation of a deep run in March is foolish.

Is it possible that our upperclassmen are unconsciously giving up their “underdog” mindset because of the highly regarded NBA true freshmen? And they realize how much gifted our freshmen are? It’s hard to be the leader when you can’t teach the student anymore.
What if we had started our freshmen early in season instead of having them “earn” it? I think the purpose wasn’t suppose to let our freshmen take control of the whole team

 

[TNBV]

Does Barnes push the inside players to put on muscle in the weight room during the offseason? Our inside guys just get man shoved by big physical players. It would help Fulky and Pons both if they just had more muscle.

Excuse me? Pons more muscle? Pons problem is he is not 6 10.

 

[golfballs]

They need to take better shots, but part of that means someone else is going to have to step up. I’m mostly looking at Pons. He should be more effective near the rim.

 

[berryvol]

Our freshmen are continuing to make or break our team. But recently it seemed like they have been asked to take more shots than normal. It’s taking away a few shots I think other players would have made IMO. For the Kentucky game I think they both shot and missed WAY too many 3s. They both like to hit the pull up jumper. Bailey played his usual game. He’s the most consistent player I think. So is JJJ but he was out. Vescovi didn’t hit a single 3 but barely shot his usual! It feels like every player has a role but when a player tries to do much of what they ask for, it will hamper our style

Bailey has two good games and we're now calling him our most consistent player. Christ Almighty.