UT lost because Barnes got outcoached once again in the NCAA Tournament. I love Barnes. I really do. But, Barnes has to put the players on the court that are the most productive per minute played and pull the ones that continue to jack 3's that aren't falling or players that can't be more productive in rebounding, period! Maximizing field goal percentage for your team from the floor, going to the line more, and second chance points due to outrebounding the other team are huge factors at determining the outcome of a game!
In my opinion, here are four very valid reasons UT was outcoached last night. Barnes didn't play the guys that were more productive down the stretch. In my opinion, it comes down to SUBSTITUTIONS based on EFFICIENCY PER MINUTE PLAYED and CHANGING THE OFFENSIVE SCHEME when 3's aren't falling!!! STATS DON'T LIE!!!
Barnes let his guys continue to shoot the 3 when it wasn't falling in the second half. Aidoo, Awaka, Nkamhoua, Plasvic, and James could have had a field day taking the ball to the hole and getting a bucket or going to the line! The continued jacking of 3's when it isn't falling is the EXACT DEFIINITION of LIVING and DYING by 3's. 3-9 in the first half will put you in the 220th position out of 352 teams in Div 1 basketball. But, 3-14 will put you DEAD LAST in 3 pt % out of 352 teams as a season average. TAKE THE DAMN BALL TO THE RACK!!!
Barnes should have done a better job with substitutions. Phillips should have never even played last night. Giving him 12 minutes was a waste. He hasn't been productive most of the year with the amount of minutes he as gotten! Phillips was 1-13 from beyond the 3pt line his last 11 games. Mashack and Key should have got those other 12 minutes that Phillips got! Nkamhou's minutes should have been less with Aidoo and Awaka getting many more as well as Plasvic getting more. It was apparent that ON wasn't having the same game he had versus Duke. Awaka has been productive lately. Awaka getting 1 minute of play was a major mistake.
Plasvic should have played more. He was having a field day taking the ball to the rack in the first half. He should have played more in the second half to take the ball to the hole. Yes, his FT percentage is horrendous. But, get the FAU bigs in foul trouble and get in the double bonus early in the second half. Plasvic shot 40% from the floor, only Aido shot better at 80%.
Awaka and Aidoo should have played more with Nkamhoua going 1-6 from the line and NOT REBOUNDING well last night. Atleast Awaka would have been a rebounding machine. Aidoo had the best shooting floor percentage. Let him shoot and go to the hole more with Awaka in there to rebound!
Barnes should have put pressure on FAU to defend UT. FAU was in the bonus with almost 9 minutes to go due to the pressure on the ball UT had to have on D due to the lack of O production. The O taking the ball to the hole would have balanced out the fouls and possibly put UT in the bonus with 9 minutes to go instead of FAU being there. How about putting some pressure on the other team with the O instead of the D having to be the pressure point EVERY GAME?
Barnes should have given more time to the players that were rebounding the ball consistently. UT should have outrebounded FAU. Yes, FAU had the same number per game as UT during the season, 38. But, rebounding in the SEC vs Conference USA is a whole different beast! UT had 2 bigs and one tall guard in JJJ at 6.6 that were seniors on the floor to rebound! Nkamhoua's rebounding was pathetic last night, ONLY 4 REBOUNDS! JJJ and Vescovi had 6 and 7. Mashack also had 4 from the guard position. Get ON out of the game and another big in the game that will BOX OUT and REBOUND, like Awaka! Why in the world did Awaka only play 1 min with FAU outrebounding UT?
Look below at Awaka's rebounding performance the last six games. Awaka has gotten 31 rebounds in 73 minutes over the last 6 games. That is a rebound every 2 minutes and twenty one seconds! Awaka was also 5-8 from the floor over the last 6 games! If Barne's gives Awaka some minutes in the first half and most of the second half for at least 22 minutes due to ON's play, then UT probably gets 10 or more rebounds that FAU doesn't get for the difference in the game!!!
OPPONENT DATE MINS Off Def TOTAL
ARKANSAS...............02/28/23........15.......5.......3.......8
at Auburn.................03/04/23.........18.......3.......7......10
vs Ole Miss...............03/09/23.........13.......2......3........5
vs Missouri................03/10/23..........8........0.......2.......2
vs Louisiana..............03/16/23...........8.......1.......2.......3
vs Duke.......................03/18/23.........11.......1......2.......3
vs Fla. Atlantic.......03/23/23.......1???..0....0.....0
And what is your college coaching record?