Battle 4 Atlantis: The Aftermath

[SJAVol32]

Good write up by Seth Davis

The good and bad after Battle 4 Atlantis, Stan Van Gundy talks, more « SI.com

"Tennessee (Fifth place: lost to UTEP 78-70; beat Xavier 64-49; beat Wake Forest 82-63)
The good: I keep hearing how “talented” the Volunteers are, and they do have good players. In the end, though, this team is not going to get very far by being prettier than their opponents. It needs to be tougher, and you could see that identity being forged last week. The Vols did a good job playing through their two beasts on the block, 6-8 junior forward Jarnell Stokes (54 points, 34 rebounds, 60 percent field goals in three games) and 6-8 senior forward Jeronne Maymon (32 points, 20 rebounds, 61 percent shooting). Maymon even added eight assists — all the more reason why Tennessee needs to run its offense through the post. “We call ourselves a ‘tougher breed.’ That’s how we have to play and compete,” coach Cuonzo Martin told me. “If we try to play any other way, we’re not going to be very successful.”

"The bad: Tennessee has an awkward dynamic at point guard. Antonio Barton, the 6-2 senior who transferred in from Memphis, spent his previous three years playing shooting guard with some limited minutes as a backup point. He is a catch-and-shoot scorer, not a playmaking lead guard, and that is not what this team needs. Freshman Darius Thompson is more of a traditional point, but he is not ready to take over full-time. So Tennessee is a work in progress at the most important position on the floor."

"The other issue for Tennessee at the Atlantis was outside shooting. The Vols were 3-for21 from three-point range in the loss to UTEP, 2-14 against Xavier and 4-11 vs. Wake Forest. Martin promised me that “we’re a better three-point shooting team than we showed,” but until we see evidence, the Vols can expect to see a lot of sagging defenses."

 

[snapcracklepop]

CCM better get us to the promised land this year.

 

[rickyb712]

who is seth davis. did he play basketball or is he a writer. think darius thompson is ready to lead this team. if we learn to shoot free throws and stop shooting the 3 so much and drive to the hoop we be lot better. we do have 2 pretty good rebounders in there

 

[Volballfan]

The write up mirrors exactly what I posted after the WF game.

 

[k-town_king]

who is seth davis. did he play basketball or is he a writer. think darius thompson is ready to lead this team. if we learn to shoot free throws and stop shooting the 3 so much and drive to the hoop we be lot better. we do have 2 pretty good rebounders in there

We should shoot the threes. We just need to hit them. Free throws are a problem.

 

[Lefteye]

We should shoot the threes. We just need to hit them. Free throws are a problem.

They are but not as big a problem as the effort from the tip.IMO I am tired of the "Joe Cool" demeanor that this team shows, until they get down 10-15 points.(and CCM and Stokes are my main culprits) Forgetting about offense or defense for a minute, for some reason this team thinks it can play at 75% effort and win games.


Sadly they cant.

Hsving said all that CCM is our guy this year and he and the players deserve everybody's support until/unless a total collapse occures. And 6-2 does not a total collapse make. The 2 losses have been frustrating but not season killers.

 

[SJAVol32]

We should shoot the threes. We just need to hit them. Free throws are a problem.

Why do you think free throws are a problem?

We're shooting 68% as a team from the FT line. It's not terrible. Not many teams will shoot over 75% for the season. Get it up a few percentage points it'll be fine.

 

[Lefteye]

Why do you think free throws are a problem?

We're shooting 68% as a team from the FT line. It's not terrible. Not many teams will shoot over 75% for the season. Get it up a few percentage points it'll be fine.

2013-14 NCAA Division I College Basketball Team Statistics - ESPN

Granted its early but their are more than you might think. And its a concern because despite what a lot of people want to think UT is not talented enough to leave those free points out there.IMO

 

[SJAVol32]

2013-14 NCAA Division I College Basketball Team Statistics - ESPN

Granted its early but their are more than you might think. And its a concern because despite what a lot of people want to think UT is not talented enough to leave those free points out there.IMO

Averaging 27 free throws a game or so. You're going to miss some free throws. I want us to capitalize on some points but each player missing a free throw here and there makes it look worse. FT's aren't the problem though Shot selection and defense are the problem.

 

[Lefteye]

Averaging 27 free throws a game or so. You're going to miss some free throws. I want us to capitalize on some points but each player missing a free throw here and there makes it look worse. FT's aren't the problem though Shot selection and defense are the problem.[/QUOTE]

I hear that! The defensive struggles baffle me too. :no:

Would be nice if we transitioned into a 2-3 after our presses, like every other team in the country. Its harder to pick up a man after getting your press broke.

 

[OrangeAllDay]

Averaging 27 free throws a game or so. You're going to miss some free throws. I want us to capitalize on some points but each player missing a free throw here and there makes it look worse. FT's aren't the problem though Shot selection and defense are the problem.[/QUOTE]

I hear that! The defensive struggles baffle me too. :no:

Would be nice if we transitioned into a 2-3 after our presses, like every other team in the country. Its harder to pick up a man after getting your press broke.

But if they don't play like they're down 10 it won't matter

 

[Lefteye]

But if they don't play like they're down 10 it won't matter

Indeed. That is really my only frustration so far. No excuse for not playing with a chip on your shoulder after 2 close NCAA misses in a row.

 

[calban]

Averaging 27 free throws a game or so. You're going to miss some free throws. I want us to capitalize on some points but each player missing a free throw here and there makes it look worse. FT's aren't the problem though Shot selection and defense are the problem.

Even though we played badly in both losses we left 12 on the line with a 4 point margin and 16 on the line with an 8 point margin.
Might be a matter of opinion that we'd of won if a couple of guys had done better at the line, but it sure begs the question.

 

[cncchris33]

2013-14 NCAA Division I College Basketball Team Statistics - ESPN

...UT is not talented enough to leave those free points out there.IMO

This

 

[cncchris33]

Averaging 27 free throws a game or so. You're going to miss some free throws. I want us to capitalize on some points but each player missing a free throw here and there makes it look worse. FT's aren't the problem though Shot selection and defense are the problem.[/QUOTE]

I hear that! The defensive struggles baffle me too. :no:

Would be nice if we transitioned into a 2-3 after our presses, like every other team in the country. Its harder to pick up a man after getting your press broke.

Been saying that for three seasons now. If we even implemented the threat of a zone, it would make teams prepare for it. We are so predictable defensively, and not practicing a zone makes us that much more susceptible to it in a game.

 

[SJAVol32]

Even though we played badly in both losses we left 12 on the line with a 4 point margin and 16 on the line with an 8 point margin.
Might be a matter of opinion that we'd of won if a couple of guys had done better at the line, but it sure begs the question.

I agree. We can't leave that many points at the line. That's why I said each player missing 1 here and there makes it seem worse. I think if we can get up to 72% as a team we win a lot of games. We can't go 0-2 at the line. And our best FT shooters have to hit shots.

 

[Lefteye]

Been saying that for three seasons now. If we even implemented the threat of a zone, it would make teams prepare for it. We are so predictable defensively, and not practicing a zone makes us that much more susceptible to it in a game.

Agree 100%. Everytime they press they need to fall back into that zone. And use active hands for petes sake. Even if our anticipation isn't as good as some teams, long active arms can still be effective in a zone.

 

[cncchris33]

Agree 100%. Everytime they press they need to fall back into that zone. And use active hands for petes sake. Even if our anticipation isn't as good as some teams, long active arms can still be effective in a zone.

Our team makeup is perfect for a zone defense. Long, tall, athletic perimeter players and undersized rebounding machines in the post.

I don't get it. Never have. And it's (zone D) total absence allows opposing coaches the luxury of not even having to prepare for it.

 

[Lefteye]

Our team makeup is perfect for a zone defense. Long, tall, athletic perimeter players and undersized rebounding machines in the post.

I don't get it. Never have. And it's (zone D) total absence allows opposing coaches the luxury of not even having to prepare for it.

And b4 we get the hair splitters to correct us, UT has ran it some this year, but not nearly enough for teams to prepare for it, like you said.

 

[cncchris33]

And b4 we get the hair splitters to correct us, UT has ran it some this year, but not nearly enough for teams to prepare for it, like you said.

True. It's been nothing but a token look on a couple possessions. I want us to actually use it to our advantage.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

2013-14 NCAA Division I College Basketball Team Statistics - ESPN

Granted its early but their are more than you might think. And its a concern because despite what a lot of people want to think UT is not talented enough to leave those free points out there.IMO

In wins we shoot about 72%, in losses 52%.

Coincidence?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Been saying that for three seasons now. If we even implemented the threat of a zone, it would make teams prepare for it. We are so predictable defensively, and not practicing a zone makes us that much more susceptible to it in a game.

Am I the only one that has noticed us play 2-3 multiple games this season, usually after pressing?

It's been very ineffective which is why it hasn't appeared more.

 

[cncchris33]

Am I the only one that has noticed us play 2-3 multiple games this season, usually after pressing?

It's been very ineffective which is why it hasn't appeared more.

I think it's been ineffective because we don't spend enough time working on it. One or two possessions of ineffective play will lead a coach back to where he is comfortable. If they dedicated themselves to really making it a part of the defensive plan, they have the personnel for it IMO.

And like I said, practicing it more often would also teach us how to attack it more effectively when teams use it against us.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I think it's been ineffective because we don't spend enough time working on it. One or two possessions of ineffective play will lead a coach back to where he is comfortable. If they dedicated themselves to really making it a part of the defensive plan, they have the personnel for it IMO.

And like I said, practicing it more often would also teach us how to attack it more effectively when teams use it against us.

Have you seen it anywhere detailing how much we practice it?

We have issues still in our man to man defense, not sure taking time away from that is a great idea.

 

[cncchris33]

Have you seen it anywhere detailing how much we practice it?

We have issues still in our man to man defense, not sure taking time away from that is a great idea.

Come on BTO, spare me the rhetorical questions. Of course I don't know how much they work on it, but common sense would lead one to believe that we either spend very little time on it, or we are simply inept in regards to it. We don't use it much ourselves and we look completely lost playing against it. Zo has stated that his philosophy is man-to-man for what that's worth.

I'm not sure how feasible it is to jump into it in the middle of a season, but I wish they would focus on it much more in the offseason so that is a realistic option. It would be nice to have options, especially in light of the fact that we are struggling with man-to-man defense at times.

You don't have to agree with me.