BTO’s Georgia Postgame Report

[Vols410]

Some observations from today's game ...

#1 Aidoo's black shoes were as hideous looking as JJJ {Important stuff first)
#2 Dillione probably needs Gaineys minutes now.
#3 I hope Gainey has not been Tyreked this year. We need his offense!
#4 Our offense has to change. We cannot win from the arc. Teams give that up and are sinking inside to stop penetration. They know we are gonna go flat for 7-9 minutes in each game. In the final few minutes Barnes turned that off and went KD man to make as the starting point of the offense and we got better.
#5 ZZ just repeatedly took the ball to the rack late and scored or was "fouled" (refs sucked on 2 of them, but consistently sucked both ways) every single time.
#6 I am shocked at how CRB did not take advantage of the Aidoo matchup in the post until the final 5.
#7 SV needs his offense to go INSIDE the arc. Misses way to many 3s wide open.
#8 UGA was 14 of 20 from 3 with @ 5 min left today. IDC who u play, your fortunate to win when they are hitting 70%! Looked like layups until the final chaos shots that dropped them to ONLY 50%
#9 Did I mention Aidoo's shoes?

That’s a lot of offensive complaints for a team that scored 85 points.

 

[lefthander]

Some observations from today's game ...

#1 Aidoo's black shoes were as hideous looking as JJJ {Important stuff first)
#2 Dillione probably needs Gaineys minutes now.
#3 I hope Gainey has not been Tyreked this year. We need his offense!
#4 Our offense has to change. We cannot win from the arc. Teams give that up and are sinking inside to stop penetration. They know we are gonna go flat for 7-9 minutes in each game. In the final few minutes Barnes turned that off and went KD man to make as the starting point of the offense and we got better.
#5 ZZ just repeatedly took the ball to the rack late and scored or was "fouled" (refs sucked on 2 of them, but consistently sucked both ways) every single time.
#6 I am shocked at how CRB did not take advantage of the Aidoo matchup in the post until the final 5.
#7 SV needs his offense to go INSIDE the arc. Misses way to many 3s wide open.
#8 UGA was 14 of 20 from 3 with @ 5 min left today. IDC who u play, your fortunate to win when they are hitting 70%! Looked like layups until the final chaos shots that dropped them to ONLY 50%
#9 Did I mention Aidoo's shoes?

#4 is spot on . Unfortunately that is the only way we score at MSU and yesterday. # 8 is concerning because those were uncontested 3s same as Hubbard at MSU for the most part. Where is the three line defense?

 

[CAVPUT]

Great write-up as always. I’ll admit the pretty putrid middle 20-minutes shook my faith today and I didn’t think there was a snowball’s chance in hell we’d win that game, but we did. That’s a great, great win.

I don’t think I would have ever believed we would win a game where the opposing team shot basically 50% from 3. Until the final minute where Georgia had to throw up a couple of prayers, they were a sizzling 48-50% the entire second half and made 14 from the perimeter. Insane.

It’s also a great sign that we have seen this team erase 2nd half deficits of 15 and 12. Obviously, we have to stop getting in such huge holes, but last year’s team would never have had the offense to climb back in it.

It’s also really nice to see us finish strong in a close game on the road. I remember last year basically any game that was close at the under 4 timeout, we would urinate down our own leg and lose. We got to the under 4 timeout tied on Wednesday, and lost. It was really encouraging to see this team clamp down on defense and finally finish strong.

It was no coincidence that the moment JJJ left the court in the 2nd half at the U8 timeout we went on our huge run. Mashack was a menace on defense and the entire team played so much better with JJJ on the bench. Easily the worst game he has played as a Vol. It boggles the mind.

There really isn’t anything else to add about Dalton Knecht other than HE IS HIM. That is why I think this team, no matter if we win the regular season title or not, can go far in the big dance. We haven’t had “that dude” to do something like that in years.

I’ll just close by saying I thought depth was going to be one of our strengths this year, and I banged that drum all through the non-conference, but right now depth certainly looks a bit concerning. Gainey has vanished. JJJ has hit a wall. Mashack isn’t a reliable scoring threat although the offense has improved, and we’re getting nothing from our freshmen (as expected). We can’t expect Dalton to average 25+ ppg in SEC play. We have to get him some help. I have confidence someone else will pick up the slack outside of ZZ, but if we don’t get more from JJJ and Santi on offense it’s going to be hard to achieve our goals.

I just don't get JJJ and Vescovi. So far, it's not the swan song I expected from those 2 super seniors.

 

[livefaith]

That’s a lot of offensive complaints for a team that scored 85 points.

Yeah, good point. Too - there. It was actually a phenomenal win v a home team that shot 3 pointers like that.

 

[LibertyVol]

Yeah, good point. Too - there. It was actually a phenomenal win v a home team that shot 3 pointers like that.

One of the best wins I can remember in a while. The guys just kept at it until they got it done. Georgia played well and shot lights out.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

There’s a lot less load management this year vs previous years.

 

[Redheads]

1. Ultimately it doesn’t matter the fashion, a win is a win and a loss is a loss, good teams find a way to win even when things aren’t going your way and on the road in conference play that is an even tougher task as Tennessee found out earlier this week, however to their credit they got the job done this time.

2. We’ll start with the positive, Dalton Knecht was an absolute dude for the 2nd straight conference game and appears to have figured some things out which is obviously a great sign. Having a guy you can go to when you need a bucket, or late in the game when you’re trying to close it out is a great luxury. Zeigler offensively looked good again, he’s really hitting that floater now which is an added piece to his game and very effective…he had way too many first half turnovers but he was much better the second half and he’s been great in that area so I can look past that this time. Both dudes have started out conference play strong and are obviously huge parts to our seasons success.

3. Now the negative…that’s one of the worst games I’ve seen JJJ play, and that’s adding to a really bad current stretch of games. I noticed the wrap on his right hand and not sure what he’s got going on, maybe that’s something to attribute it to, but man, he was really bad on both ends. Even when he’s been bad offensively in the past you could count on his defense, he was getting blown by today and became unplayable for Barnes in that 2nd half, who went with Mashack for much of that comeback.

4. We looked great against Ole Miss and I said at the time it was our best, most complete game, we followed it up with 2 not so complete performances to put it nicely. I say that to say, I think this team is still a ways away from their best basketball, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Now you don’t wanna take a bunch of L’s and hurt your NCAAT seeding, but some struggle wins like today, and a “good” loss here and there isn’t the worst if it causes lessons to be learned, guys to find their roles and the team improve as a whole. Vescovi is still not playing like anyone expected, JJJ has regressed to not great form, as quick as it appeared Mashack was taking a step forward he seems to have taken a step back. Lots of room for individual improvement and team improvement, but taking lessons while getting wins isn’t a bad thing.

5. I don’t want to make a definitive statement and say it is what it is, but I’m pretty close…Jonas Aidoo was really good today after being terrible last game, but Georgia didn’t have a competent post to put against him either. It feels like Aidoo is a solid option, but against the games best posts he’s going to struggle and we as a team will struggle as well to defend it, it will continue all season to be something to watch with each opponent we face, what do they have in the post and how will Aidoo match up. Today he was really good, 10pts 15rbd 5blk, that’s the potential, unfortunately against the games best the stat line hasn’t looked like that.

6. If I had told you a week ago Tennessee would average 81ppg this week you almost certainly would’ve taken it and been pretty confident we would’ve gone 2-0. Our defense was not very good this week and if we weren’t Tennessee and had Barnes as coach I’d be a bit worried for sure, but because of that reason I think you aren’t as worried. But I say that to point out that even though or offense is streaky or can go cold they are still putting up points, and now are up to a season high #20 offensive rating on KenPom, that is really good and what everyone was hoping for. The defense being what needs “work” is something I much rather see and have to deal with, especially considering we have guys like Vescovi, JJJ and Gainey who all are capable of shooting MUCH better than they currently are.

7. Big picture Tennessee went 1-1 this week which was what they needed to do, 2-0 would have been great and likely have Tennessee up to #2 or #3 in the new poll, but as we’ve learned winning on the road in conference is TOUGH. Tennessee now goes back home for 3 of their next 4 with the 1 road game being Vanderbilt, definitely some potential to rattle off a few wins. Florida is a solid team with a pretty good big man in Tyrese Samuel, should be a solid matchup. We said 7-2 or better was the goal in the first 9, they’re 2-1, so 5-1 over the next 6 is the goal now, obviously with each win you have more wiggle room, but winning these next 4 would really get things looking up again.



GBO!!!

Great write up, as usual. A couple of points I have.
1. We seem to have this same script an awful lot. We come out playing our motion offense where everyone touches the ball and end up shooting a whole bunch of 3s in the first half. It’s pretty and all if the shots are falling. Meanwhile, our opponents all identify a matchup they like and just isolate it and play one on one driving to the basket. The result is we get a bunch of fouls, usually on Santi, Mashack, Aidoo, Awaka. The other team shoots at least twice as many FTs as us in the first half. They also have no one in foul trouble because we shoot a bunch of 3s and you don’t get fouled doing that. Second half, we start driving the ball and the foul thing evens out. I wonder if it’s because we always play offense in front of our bench so it’s easier for Barnes to get them to run what he wants. Need to mix it up a bit. Run the DK high ball screen stuff some earlier instead of when nothing else works.
2. Our motion is great, but we have several guys who the other team doesn’t help off of to stop them from driving. Santi, for one. When he drives, everyone knows he rarely drives to score, just to kick out for a 3, so no one leaves their man. The only 2 guys we have that drive and look to score consistently are ZZ and DK. The scout is in. Take it to the basket and at least try to draw fouls. When was the last time we had a team in foul trouble in the first half?
3. Post play. Aidoo‘s stats looked good at the end but does anyone believe Georgia had a single competent big guy? We’ve got to find a way to get it down there early in the game and at least draw some fouls. Awaka too.
4. Miss St. Anybody watch the Alabam-Miss St game last night? Close game. Tolo Smith did the same thing to them. Drew foul after foul. Difference is he shot about 50% from the line (missed 2 at the end that could have tied it). I think that’s much more the norm for him. The little freshman that hit all those 3s also looked very human. Our game with them was just an aberration.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I just don't get JJJ and Vescovi. So far, it's not the swan song I expected from those 2 super seniors.

I don’t think this is how anyone expected their final season to go, but I guess the good thing is that would mean there is still a lot of room for them to play their best basketball later in the season for once. If that’s the case, this team’s ceiling is as high as any in the country. It’s huge “if” though.

 

[TMvol10]

I just don't get JJJ and Vescovi. So far, it's not the swan song I expected from those 2 super seniors.

JJJ has been our best overall player this season until the last 2 games. It’s one week. He’ll snap out of it

 

[JCP201]

JJJ wasn't good yesterday his offense AND defense vanished. That's not like him, something is off- may be an injury or sickeness.

 

[vol94]

That’s a lot of offensive complaints for a team that scored 85 points.

I don’t the comments were complaints, rather than observations. I agree TN should go to the rim and less three balls. All shooters go into slumps but going to the rim will reduce length of droughts.

 

[CDB]

Yeah, I disagree w the assessment of Gainey. I guess the coaches tell him to shoot as he jacks up a three when he comes into the game. Then he fouls on defensive side.

I hope he can improve but his minutes must be limited.

You forgot to followed by a turnover.

 

[LibertyVol]

JJJ has been our best overall player this season until the last 2 games. It’s one week. He’ll snap out of it

I was watching the game again. He is not off much. It looked like time his shot has gotten a little flat.

 

[CDB]

Did you just turn the first half off? He got blown by repeatedly by Demary. He got it sorted by the end, but he was awful on that end for over half the game.

He was overconfident in his defensive ability and misjudged Demary’s speed. As you said, he made adjustments as good ball players do. He is a very good defensive player with a high basketball IQ. Leave him on the court and he will figure it out. Same with ZZ.

 

[i2amavol]

Great write-up as always. I’ll admit the pretty putrid middle 20-minutes shook my faith today and I didn’t think there was a snowball’s chance in hell we’d win that game, but we did. That’s a great, great win.

I don’t think I would have ever believed we would win a game where the opposing team shot basically 50% from 3. Until the final minute where Georgia had to throw up a couple of prayers, they were a sizzling 48-50% the entire second half and made 14 from the perimeter. Insane.

It’s also a great sign that we have seen this team erase 2nd half deficits of 15 and 12. Obviously, we have to stop getting in such huge holes, but last year’s team would never have had the offense to climb back in it.

It’s also really nice to see us finish strong in a close game on the road. I remember last year basically any game that was close at the under 4 timeout, we would urinate down our own leg and lose. We got to the under 4 timeout tied on Wednesday, and lost. It was really encouraging to see this team clamp down on defense and finally finish strong.

It was no coincidence that the moment JJJ left the court in the 2nd half at the U8 timeout we went on our huge run. Mashack was a menace on defense and the entire team played so much better with JJJ on the bench. Easily the worst game he has played as a Vol. It boggles the mind.

There really isn’t anything else to add about Dalton Knecht other than HE IS HIM. That is why I think this team, no matter if we win the regular season title or not, can go far in the big dance. We haven’t had “that dude” to do something like that in years.

I’ll just close by saying I thought depth was going to be one of our strengths this year, and I banged that drum all through the non-conference, but right now depth certainly looks a bit concerning. Gainey has vanished. JJJ has hit a wall. Mashack isn’t a reliable scoring threat although the offense has improved, and we’re getting nothing from our freshmen (as expected). We can’t expect Dalton to average 25+ ppg in SEC play. We have to get him some help. I have confidence someone else will pick up the slack outside of ZZ, but if we don’t get more from JJJ and Santi on offense it’s going to be hard to achieve our goals.

First of all, good writeup as usual BTO.

I thought the last 3 minutes of the first half was crazy. We were hitting on all cylinders up to that point, and then I think we shot two airballs and couldn't hold onto the ball at all. Whatever caused that needs to not happen again.

I think for some reason people don't want to believe it, but our players are human. When they have injuries, their play usual suffers. That was true for ZZ and Vescovi (took time off for family). I think it was also true when Knecht had the ankle injury. Now, it probably true for JJJ. They may not be making excuses, and that is a good thing, but we certainly have the right to acknowledge the reality.

I keep on thinking that we need to bring the freshmen big men, when we struggle. If nothing else, it will rest our top two. I guess we trust coach on this, but its a shame we can't get 10 minutes out of them. It might end up saving us come tourney time.

 

[ColinS]

#4 is spot on . Unfortunately that is the only way we score at MSU and yesterday. # 8 is concerning because those were uncontested 3s same as Hubbard at MSU for the most part. Where is the three line defense?

Everybody freaks out about the free throw discrepancy but when we start taking it to the basket we get to go to the line too. We ended up catching Georgia in free throw attempts late in the game because we started running their offense and they started running ours jacking up wild jump shots. Aidoo deserves some of the credit for this because he shut them down inside.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

That’s a lot of offensive complaints for a team that scored 85 points.

.

 

[Jrobin]

He brick handed a couple of passes today that would have been easy layups

Man that pass from Dillion would have brought the house down lol.

 

[kckempf]

I looked at 2 NBA 1st round mock drafts, today. Knecht was 20th in one and not in the other. What it means ? I don't know. Probably be drafted in the early 2nd round, right now, imo

It means he's 23 years old and plays okay defense.

 

[omghulkhands]

It means he's 23 years old and plays okay defense.

Yeah.

He is gonna play high level professional ball. I’m just not sure it will be in the NBA.

There have been games this season where he was scoring high teens and I felt his defense and turnovers were still causing him to be a net neutral or even a net negative on the court. And that’s college ball.

but other games he looks all world offensively and component on defense.

I think he has a chance if he can just be a slightly below average NBA defender.

 

[cardvolfan]

I think Santi is the key player on whether this team wins the SEC or not. If he returns to any of his all-SEC forms, this team has their 3rd threat on offense. Which opens up the pick and roll with Aidoo and ZZZ, Knecht and Santi. Then JJJ can be the glue guy and Mashack can be the defensive stopper. Awaka can do his thing. Everything Gainey and Dilione brings is gravy. I wanna see a little Estrella and Phillips, but that's probably wishful thinking. While I'm wishing some Carr minutes, too. But, Santi has to return to the all-SEC player he was the last 2 years or we won't accomplish what I think we can. Ha-ha, like I know anything. Jmo

Santi is actually 8-20 from three over his last 4 games. 40% is not too shabby. More shots would be good because I truly believe he’s a rhythm shooter, but I doubt we will see him ever get back to the shot volume he had BC (Before Knecht).

 

[Hoosierbilly]

Is Gainey helping any right now? He misses every shot and turns the ball over. So someone else needs those minutes until he gets his shot back. Play him in pickup games till he gets his shot back! I don't know but we need someone else scoring from that position!

 

[cardvolfan]

Is Gainey helping any right now? He misses every shot and turns the ball over. So someone else needs those minutes until he gets his shot back. Play him in pickup games till he gets his shot back! I don't know but we need someone else scoring from that position!

My question is, and has been, what is going on in practice? Is he nailing threes? The other question I have is how Gainey’s father’s position relates to, or not, playing time. Barnes has to be in a pickle over this dilemma. Also, how might this relate to team chemistry amongst the players? Is there friction or resentment? I don’t pretend to know anything, but I do wonder.

 

[LibertyVol]

Santi is actually 8-20 from three over his last 4 games. 40% is not too shabby. More shots would be good because I truly believe he’s a rhythm shooter, but I doubt we will see him ever get back to the shot volume he had BC (Before Knecht).

I think Santi is playing well. He is trying to facilitate more than score. That is called a team player. Tennessee does not need him to score a lot of points like in the last couple of years.

 

[cardvolfan]

I think Santi is playing well. He is trying to facilitate more than score. That is called a team player. Tennessee does not need him to score a lot of points like in the last couple of years.

I think Santi is playing well. He is trying to facilitate more than score. That is called a team player. Tennessee does not need him to score a lot of points like in the last couple of years.

Agreed. I think there is still a misconception lately that his shooting is still bad. It’s not exceptional, but has gotten better. The defense, his basketball savvy, his rebounding, his assists make him a vital cog. My main issue is that he seems to put himself in harm’s way of an officials’ whistle because he reaches unnecessarily too often and picks up some inopportune fouls.