BTO’s Alabama Postgame Report

#52
#52
ColinS said:
Excellent point with number 4. We have passed that test over and over. Tomorrow is a different type of test that we haven't always passed. Big physical half court basketball will be the challenge. I think we have improved in that area but we will find out how much tomorrow night. This will be a completely different game.
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Yup, we’ve really shown of late that we can win in different ways and also on the road, that’s a great sign as far as NCAAT goes. Tomorrow will be another test being on the road, a hungry SC team playing with a chip on their shoulder and a style that has given us trouble at times this year.
 
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#55
#55
bleedingTNorange said:
1. What an effort from our Vols, I had very little expectation of going to Tuscaloosa and leaving there with a win. We started the game pretty strong but Alabama responded and took the lead into the half and held control into the second half, the response from Tennessee in an all around team effort was very impressive as they came back and closed out the game strong. That’s a good team and it’s really hard to win on the road, it’s even harder to come back in that situation, I can’t say enough how impressive that was.

2. As impressive as it was it seemed even more so because they did it without Dalton Knecht having a heater of a game like against Auburn. I think most folks would’ve assumed Knecht had a big game if we were going to come away with a W, but he really struggled to get things going and it was a host of other guys stepping up that made that win possible. It’s great to see that they can win multiple ways, you’ve got that weapon in Knecht, but you’ve also got the surrounding cast that can pick him up if/when needed.

3. 2 guys who really stepped up imo were JJJ & Santi, we don’t need them to be stars, but they have a spot and need on this and they have to fill those roles. JJJ with 11 & 13 and hit some massive shots down the stretch, Santi with 8 & 3 playing great defense and drawing up winning plays lol. Again those guys don’t have to be stars, but they have to bring that effort and aggression from here on out, they are hitting the home stretch of their Tennessee careers, can’t get it back, time to leave it all out there.

4. Alabama is a good team, no doubt about it, they have an elite offense and it’s the best in the country, but I think there’s also something to be said about that matchup for us and look at it big picture. In games not against Tennessee Alabama is averaging about 93ppg, against Tennessee they’re averaging 72.5ppg, and we’ve held them to their 2 lowest point totals of the season, impressive stuff. I think this matchup shows the opposite of those early season struggles going against an elite big, Alabama is guard heavy and lacks a good big, we’ve twice locked them up and caused them all sorts of trouble with the defense from our guards and wings. I think it just further drives home that point, we match up very well against guard heavy teams, the teams that give us some issues typically have a very good big man.

5. I mentioned guys playing their roles, but feel like Jahmai Mashack deserved his own shout out. He was phenomenal and a huge part of our 2nd half come back and win, he hit some massive shots, and of course played his usual elite defense. His minutes will largely be matchup dependent, but he’s got a role and if he plays within himself and confidently he’s shown an improved offensive game, he pairs really well on the court with an offensive group, playing him with Knecht on the court is ideal imo.

6. Big picture, it can’t possibly be overstated how huge starting this 4 game stretch 2-0 is, Tennessee has set itself up beautifully as we enter the last week. By all accounts Tennessee controls its own destiny to their first ever 1 seed, an outright SEC title, and what would likely go down as the best regular season in program history. It sure appears a 2 seed is the floor for the NCAAT as well as a double bye in the SECT, a huge road game comes up against South Carolina on Wednesday and then senior night at home against Kentucky for senior night. Hard to expect the Vols to go 2-0 this week meaning 4-0 in this stretch, but it sure feels like that’s what we are all hoping Tennessee can pull of, it would take a great effort.


GBO!!!
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It seems like the team has laser focus right now. They don't panic when they get behind, they just turn up the defensive pressure. Really want to see them take care of business Wednesday, then take care of the Wildcats Saturday, leaving no doubt they deserve the ranking and the #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
 
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#56
#56
strkr said:
Ok man whatever. Go back and look at our losses and let me know how they both did in those games.

A and M - JJJ - 4 pts, Vesco- 5pts
So. Car- JJJ- 2pts, Vesco- 10 pts
Miss St- JJJ- 3 pts, Vesco- 2 pts

Purdue- JJJ- 3 pts, Vesco- 8 pts
Kansas- JJJ-4 pts, Vesco- 21 pts
UNC- JJJ- 20 pts, Vesco- 0 pts

All I am saying is when they score 8 to 10 pts and play defense and rebound and not disappear - Tenn does a lot better and as ya see in our losses just not a lot of consistency from those two. When they are in sync and playing well and involved our team is a lot better.
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The difference hopefully between the first game and this game will be simple.
We missed 10+ layups and dunks.
A total of 10+ in that first game and shot less than 50% from point blank range.
Hit half of 10 and that is 10 pts+
Hit 8 of those shots and that is 16 pts.
Shot 36%.
Improved team in a different setting with more on the line.
Learned a lot and the Vols will not make the same mistake twice.
 
#57
#57
gainesvol82 said:
Great post.... especially your point about presenting more problems than most teams can deal with.

The odds of enough of our offensive weapons having bad nights to significantly limit the offense is pretty low. Only happened a couple times all year. We have an elite PG, a 3 level scoring NBA wing that can also bring the ball up, multiple good outside shooters, slashers, mid range guys, skilled and physical bigs and an unselfish attitude that looks for the best shot.

It my not always be perfect but it stresses opposing defenses in ways we haven't seen under Barnes.....and then there's still our physical defense. Just a lot to handle in a tournament setting except for the few teams with elite big(s) and enough shooters to kick it out to.
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Advantage Vols for sure.
Reason: Coach Barnes, yes I said. He has the tools to change the lineup on the court in an instance and it appears he gets it.

The Awaka and Aidoo lineup change was brilliant and I was glad to see him move to that in Mid Season vs waiting. The small lineup was also another change I did not expect and again doing it in the season and it showed up at Alabama. The Players responded.

I have no idea if it was planned or not but the final media timeout @ Alabama with Vescovi center of attention with clipboard in hand was genius and says a lot about this team. I would use it as a real recruiting tool because you don't see that at all.

Control and dictate Tempo. Impose your will upon them.
 
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#58
#58
gainesvol82 said:
Stute being out hurts SC a lot. That kid is physical and has given UT problems his entire career, even at Candy. He may not always show up big in the stat sheet but they lost a physical defender that can also get hot on offense and knows playing UT and has typically played us well.
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While I agree, he’s been out the last 3 games and they are 3-0. They’ve adjusted well to not having him.
 
#60
#60
Sudden Impact said:
Advantage Vols for sure.
Reason: Coach Barnes, yes I said. He has the tools to change the lineup on the court in an instance and it appears he gets it.

The Awaka and Aidoo lineup change was brilliant and I was glad to see him move to that in Mid Season vs waiting. The small lineup was also another change I did not expect and again doing it in the season and it showed up at Alabama. The Players responded.

I have no idea if it was planned or not but the final media timeout @ Alabama with Vescovi center of attention with clipboard in hand was genius and says a lot about this team. I would use it as a real recruiting tool because you don't see that at all.

Control and dictate Tempo. Impose your will upon them.
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I personally think that we need to run . SC is a possession for possession type team. Let’s get out and run and make them chase and see what happens
 
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#63
#63
tn4elvis said:
I personally think that we need to run . SC is a possession for possession type team. Let’s get out and run and make them chase and see what happens
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They are good at controling tempo. That's one of the reasons they keep winning. I think you hot the nail on the head on how to beat them but it's easier said than done.
 
#64
#64
bleedingTNorange said:
1. What an effort from our Vols, I had very little expectation of going to Tuscaloosa and leaving there with a win. We started the game pretty strong but Alabama responded and took the lead into the half and held control into the second half, the response from Tennessee in an all around team effort was very impressive as they came back and closed out the game strong. That’s a good team and it’s really hard to win on the road, it’s even harder to come back in that situation, I can’t say enough how impressive that was.

2. As impressive as it was it seemed even more so because they did it without Dalton Knecht having a heater of a game like against Auburn. I think most folks would’ve assumed Knecht had a big game if we were going to come away with a W, but he really struggled to get things going and it was a host of other guys stepping up that made that win possible. It’s great to see that they can win multiple ways, you’ve got that weapon in Knecht, but you’ve also got the surrounding cast that can pick him up if/when needed.

3. 2 guys who really stepped up imo were JJJ & Santi, we don’t need them to be stars, but they have a spot and need on this and they have to fill those roles. JJJ with 11 & 13 and hit some massive shots down the stretch, Santi with 8 & 3 playing great defense and drawing up winning plays lol. Again those guys don’t have to be stars, but they have to bring that effort and aggression from here on out, they are hitting the home stretch of their Tennessee careers, can’t get it back, time to leave it all out there.

4. Alabama is a good team, no doubt about it, they have an elite offense and it’s the best in the country, but I think there’s also something to be said about that matchup for us and look at it big picture. In games not against Tennessee Alabama is averaging about 93ppg, against Tennessee they’re averaging 72.5ppg, and we’ve held them to their 2 lowest point totals of the season, impressive stuff. I think this matchup shows the opposite of those early season struggles going against an elite big, Alabama is guard heavy and lacks a good big, we’ve twice locked them up and caused them all sorts of trouble with the defense from our guards and wings. I think it just further drives home that point, we match up very well against guard heavy teams, the teams that give us some issues typically have a very good big man.

5. I mentioned guys playing their roles, but feel like Jahmai Mashack deserved his own shout out. He was phenomenal and a huge part of our 2nd half come back and win, he hit some massive shots, and of course played his usual elite defense. His minutes will largely be matchup dependent, but he’s got a role and if he plays within himself and confidently he’s shown an improved offensive game, he pairs really well on the court with an offensive group, playing him with Knecht on the court is ideal imo.

6. Big picture, it can’t possibly be overstated how huge starting this 4 game stretch 2-0 is, Tennessee has set itself up beautifully as we enter the last week. By all accounts Tennessee controls its own destiny to their first ever 1 seed, an outright SEC title, and what would likely go down as the best regular season in program history. It sure appears a 2 seed is the floor for the NCAAT as well as a double bye in the SECT, a huge road game comes up against South Carolina on Wednesday and then senior night at home against Kentucky for senior night. Hard to expect the Vols to go 2-0 this week meaning 4-0 in this stretch, but it sure feels like that’s what we are all hoping Tennessee can pull of, it would take a great effort.


GBO!!!
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We can beat anyone in the country, even if DK has an off night. Also, what a luxury to have a guy who has an off night and still gets us 13 points. Kids who average 13 a game make all-conference teams lol
 
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#65
#65
strkr said:
JJJ and Vescovi have to contribute points, rebounds, defense, leadership etc. Their box score can not be goose eggs.
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That’s some John Madden level analysis lmao.

“Generally, the team that scores the most points is going to win the game” 😂
 
#68
#68
Proud Army Wife said:
What Paris has done with them is remarkable and I tip my cap. That said, we have to beat them and shut em up. As soon as we got done beating Bama, their fans were jumping into post game threads/topics and making it about them. That classless sheet ticked me off.
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They're having one of those seasons like we had with Hooker leading the charge. Everything has come together and worse, they really believe. Bound to affect their fans. We'd do the same were the shoe on the other foot. This team led by Vescovi and James just deserves to grab the brass ring. What a great way to end their careers...an SEC regular season championship. Means way more to me than the SECT. Really hope the team shows up in a big way tomorrow night. With the NCAA garbage, our fan base deserves something good happening, too.
 
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#69
#69
Volfan1000 said:
Holding Alabama to 9 of 37 from behind the arc was very impressive.
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If you had told me we would shoot more 3s than the most 3 happy team in the country and still win I would never have believed you. I really felt that our best option was to pound it inside since they don’t really have a big guy in there. All the fouls early took it away. But we found a way. Something is definitely different about this team. There’s a plan B, C, and D that we haven’t had in the past.
 
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#70
#70
@ BTO, I appreciate the time you sacrifice to post your thoughts after each game.

Edit- we can beat you in transition or half court. It’s been fun to watch.
 
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#74
#74
Sudden Impact said:
The difference hopefully between the first game and this game will be simple.
We missed 10+ layups and dunks.
A total of 10+ in that first game and shot less than 50% from point blank range.
Hit half of 10 and that is 10 pts+
Hit 8 of those shots and that is 16 pts.
Shot 36%.
Improved team in a different setting with more on the line.
Learned a lot and the Vols will not make the same mistake twice.
Click to expand...
Tennessee missed a bunch of bunnies, ziegler missed a few layups, and we did not shoot freethrows well. I think Tenn needs to speed the game up a bit with pressure and when getting the defensive rebounds push the ball. We allowed USCe to dictate tempo and a more half court style. Go Vols!!!
 
#75
#75
TheMookieMonster said:
I cannot heap enough praise on Mashack for how he played. He was a menace on defense all night long and rattled Alabama on that end of the court. And to step up and make two huge 3’s in big moments? Fantastic.

He was shooting the ball very well to start the year and then he just stopped shooting. I hope this gives him the confidence to continue to shoot when he is open. If you can get 8 points from Mashack a night, we’re going to be extremely hard to beat.

On the flip side of that is Gainey, who I thought played very well in the first half when he was driving to the basket and drawing fouls. His speed was giving the Tide fits. But then he chucked up 6 3 point shots, most of them in the 2nd half and not a single one went in. I wish Santi or Mashack had the confidence Gainey does, and I wish Gainey had the basketball IQ to know when to stop shooting and to go back to what was working, driving to the basket. Still, he gave us some important minutes in the first half.

3-1 was always the realistic goal during this stretch, but now that we have won the first 2 I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t be very disappointed if we dropped another game.

At this point, I’d prefer to lose to Kentucky at home if a loss was required, because no way do I want to share a conference title with this exceedingly mediocre South Carolina team that has played above their heads all year long. I hope our boys are ready to get some revenge and bury this team. Myles Stute is apparently injured, so they’ll be playing short-handed as well.

I tip my cap to LaMont Paris for the incredible job he has done this year, but that team has no business winning a conference title. 10-3 in games decided by 6 points or fewer and #2 in the KenPom luck metric. Time to end their miracle run.
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