BTO’s Kentucky Postgame Report

[lostsheep]

Is there any wisdom in starting Mashack over Santi, or is it too late in the season to mess with such a thing?

 

[berryvol]

Haven’t seen anyone post this and I just saw it myself, so tossing it in here. Senior day would be better served to be pushed to after the final game - maybe even allow the players to address the fans then. It’s impossible to turn around and play a basketball game with the fervor needed a mere 5 minutes after an emotional ceremony honoring the final time that some of our best will play in their home arena. I don’t blame JJJ for saying this and for coming out flat, it would be impossible not to for these guys, it’s just unfortunate.




Edit: adding another postgame quote I just saw. Sounds like Barnes is maybe considering a change for next season after how the pregame emotions naturally spilled into the game.

 

[ColinS]

Is there any wisdom in starting Mashack over Santi, or is it too late in the season to mess with such a thing?

Starting doesn't really matter but in a game like that when big time athletic NBA prospects go off you have to lean on Mashack. Though nearly fundamentally perfect defensively Vescovi couldn't hang and Gainey can't guard his grandmother much less a Kentucky guard. In those games you lean on athleticism and length.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Palm still has Tennessee on the 1 line this morning.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/bracketology/

 

[b_gann]

Izzo always said he prays for a tough loss late in the season to clear it out of the system. I still believe this is one of the best five teams in the country. With the right path, we can go far.

We were due a bad game.
Kentucky was hitting shots and making us rotate.
I’d like to see this team get more athletic over the offseason. Games like this show how much we struggle to generate paint touches.
Dalton is special. I didn’t love Barnes benching him for a bad shot. While it was a bad shot, who else was going to keep us in it? Wasn’t anybody outside of Dalton. ZZ came on late but was bad before that.
We kept clawing and stayed in the game. In the grand scheme, this game showed how special Tennessee can be defensively. Stopped a Kentucky machine that was rolling for the most part.

 

[VolGee4]

We were due a bad game.
Kentucky was hitting shots and making us rotate.
I’d like to see this team get more athletic over the offseason. Games like this show how much we struggle to generate paint touches.
Dalton is special. I didn’t love Barnes benching him for a bad shot. While it was a bad shot, who else was going to keep us in it? Wasn’t anybody outside of Dalton. ZZ came on late but was bad before that.
We kept clawing and stayed in the game. In the grand scheme, this game showed how special Tennessee can be defensively. Stopped a Kentucky machine that was rolling for the most part.

I didn’t watch much of the first half, but when was he “benched”? He played 36 minutes. It’s pretty typical that they take him out a minute before a media TO to get him an extra minute of rest.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Other than the fact that this was Kentucky and Senior Night, I'm not torn up about this loss. It doesn't hurt us much in the grand scheme of things. We're still SEC Champs, still have a great shot to make a big March run, and it got a loss out of our system. I will say, however, that I was REALLY hoping that last 3 pt attempt the JJJ took from the corner to tie would have gone in. Hated it for him that it didn't. What a way that would have been for him to end his career at TBA. If he ties it there, I think we win. The place would have gone bonkers and we'd have momentum.

I was at the game and while the fans were good for most of it (at some moments REALLY LOUD), we couldn't get consistently loud because Kentucky kept hitting big shots. Hats off to them.

My voice is still scratchy. I gave my all.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

Why? Why does he have to do that with a super senior? Let's be real here. It's not like a coach can speak something into existence. As chris pointed out, it's 31 games. If "it" were going to happen, one would think "it "would have happened by now. Frustratingly, you really have no one to turn to because you didn't play the young guys more early and all through the regular season. Now, you really have little choice. You have to ride with Vescovi and "hope". Between Gainey and Vescovi, you got 2 pts, 3 rb and 4 asst in 31 minutes in the final home game and what might have secured a 1 seed. Really hard to imagine those 2 guys giving you such paltry numbers in OVER 30 MINUTES of playing time.

I'm not saying it will happen as you've alluded to given it's not happened in 30 games. But at the end of the day part of a coaches job is to motivate players and put them in the best chance to succeed. I am sure he has been and it's probably one of the more baffling things to see Vescovis regression offensively. But if he's going to ride with Vescovi to close out the season then he's also gotta keep working to help get Vescovis mind right and hope gets any mojo back. It might not happen but doesn't mean Barnes shouldn't keep trying to extract whatever he can out of him.

 

[camp_steveo]

The game plan for UK was to hope they don't make all their 3s. There's gotta be a better way.

 

[posivol]

santi has to drive to the basket more and take those contested 3's. he usually heats up after hitting a couple free throws.have to get more from the bench.

 

[Orangeslide]

I think the players relaxed a little after winning and UK came ready to play. My only question is whether this cost us the #1 seed or not.

I’m not sure if they weren’t focused, it’s just so hard to beat 4 top 20 teams in a row. I guess the #1 seed is in question, so we will have to wait and see. I think the biggest factor yesterday was that Kentucky set the tone early in the paint and protected the rim. Aidoo was playing timid after getting his shots blocked early and the same with Awake. Sometimes you tip your hat to your opponent, Kentucky shot lights out from 3 by making 15. Sheppard was shooting 3’s and hitting with conference like they were lay ups. When Kentucky gets hot they are a tough out for anyone and if Edward’s keeps playing like he is they even become stronger. Vols need to regroup and get ready for the big dance, the SEC Tournament is just there, we will see what happens. There’s not a formula to figure out what’s happen to Santi. It’s mind boggling how much he has regressed offensively. Our lack of team production in points may cost us in the big tournament, but I’m hoping for a miracle and Santi sees the light!

 

[jeff1vol]

UNC will be the 4th one seed unless we win the SECT and they lose the ACCT. Book it. Talking heads are already pushing for it. Nobody to blame but ourselves. Win against UK and we probably dont have to worry about the SECT.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

An interesting stat.

 

[kckempf]

An interesting stat.

UK has all of these great players and honestly Cal can coach (though sometimes it's not obvious that he bothers), but they save their best stuff for us, especially if it's Senior Day. They were generally a better defensive team at home this year, too. I was thinking before this game if Kentucky could play with their road defense and their home offense they'd be unstoppable.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

UNC will be the 4th one seed unless we win the SECT and they lose the ACCT. Book it. Talking heads are already pushing for it. Nobody to blame but ourselves. Win against UK and we probably dont have to worry about the SECT.

Nope. Brackets will be set by the time the SECCG is played

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

So what’s the difference? Tell us why?

He can't. His takes are so dumb, I almost feel sorry for him. Almost

 

[jeff1vol]

Nope. Brackets will be set by the time the SECCG is played

Lets hope so. The pundits are now pushing for UNC to be the 4th 1 seed. CBS sports has an article if you want to check it out. But they did beat us head to head, but Im not sure how UNC's resume compares to ours, but its hard to believe their SOS is better than ours at 4.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Lets hope so. The pundits are now pushing for UNC to be the 4th 1 seed. CBS sports has an article if you want to check it out. But they did beat us head to head, but Im not sure how UNC's resume compares to ours, but its hard to believe their SOS is better than ours at 4.

See, but their tournament championship is Saturday night. That could hurt us.

 

[Namorto1]

Right on to both of you. Just so odd that the scenario that should have "set him free" as a perimeter threat has chained him down like no other time in his career. I, too, hope he finds some late season success to cap off his great career, but I think 31 games is enough of a sample size to assume it would be an absolute luxury if he did.

Yes, the complete opposite has developed with Vescovi with DK's presence on the court. Rather than opening up more opportunities for him as a perimeter threat, he has declined many when presented and has shown a lack of confidence we never saw in years past. Hope he busts out of it as Barnes mentioned in the post game.

And further, if he wants to have a career playing basketball overseas, he needs to work it out. He will never be a primary scorer anywhere professionally which is what he was for us over the last few years, when sets were completely run for him to get open. It is a role he needs to figure out in "here and now" and in the years ahead, if he wants to keep playing ball, in my opinion. I've always thought he was less appreciated than he should be and the development of his overall game is unquestionable these last 5 years, but his # 1 skill of perimeter shooting has fallen dramatically. A 1st team all-league player has become an afterthought on the offensive end. If Barnes needs to run stuff specifically for him to get him going, I hope they use the SEC tournament to re-set.

 

[Namorto1]

Why? Why does he have to do that with a super senior? Let's be real here. It's not like a coach can speak something into existence. As chris pointed out, it's 31 games. If "it" were going to happen, one would think "it "would have happened by now. Frustratingly, you really have no one to turn to because you didn't play the young guys more early and all through the regular season. Now, you really have little choice. You have to ride with Vescovi and "hope". Between Gainey and Vescovi, you got 2 pts, 3 rb and 4 asst in 31 minutes in the final home game and what might have secured a 1 seed. Really hard to imagine those 2 guys giving you such paltry numbers in OVER 30 MINUTES of playing time.

Yes, regrettably this is correct. The one area to which an eyebrow can be raised this year is their inability and unwillingness to play what we thought was a strength with our depth and continued with this 8-man rotation. Not depth if you don't use it. Even Ron Slay has stated the obvious. Not part of the practices, but we may have some guys sitting on the bench right now who could help us in the tournament. Really have no idea. It took a few years to get the perimeter threat we needed, so perhaps next year will be the year we actually use our bench more often.

 

[DC_Vol]

An interesting stat.

Well the sun came up this morning. I went to church. Thought about how this team managed to go 3-1 through the grinder to end this season. Reminded myself that this team already locked up a solo SEC championship and still has a ton to play for.

None of it helped though. I’m still pizzed off we lost to Kentucky at home.

It didn’t help that two guys I know who are UK alums that stay quiet as a mouse when they lose both made sure to get in touch after the game. Yup, I’m still a little bitter today.

 

[LittleCat]

Most satisfying win as a UK fan in a long time. I was even down in Tennessee for the weekend. UK played well but I went away really thinking that if UT didn't have Dalton, then maybe this isn't such a great team. So many UT players just seem uninterested offensively. It worked cause Dalton scored 40, but God forbid you have one of those types of games in the ncaat and Dalton isn't hitting them.
Also a really random thing that annoys me is how often Santi pumpfakes.

 

[Pennheel]

Outside of Aidoo and ZZ,most of the time,guys seem to be spectators watching Knecht try to do everything. With Vescovi,I'm starting to think it's mental(the pump fakes when wide open are very annoying) I think it's hard for typical Barnes team that has relied on defense to have such a great offensive weapon.

Hopefully, it's something that's corrected because it's not too late.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Most satisfying win as a UK fan in a long time. I was even down in Tennessee for the weekend. UK played well but I went away really thinking that if UT didn't have Dalton, then maybe this isn't such a great team. So many UT players just seem uninterested offensively. It worked cause Dalton scored 40, but God forbid you have one of those types of games in the ncaat and Dalton isn't hitting them.
Also a really random thing that annoys me is how often Santi pumpfakes.

Ah, look who decided to show up again after being MIA following the L in Rupp.

 

[CornbreadVol]

Most satisfying win as a UK fan in a long time. I was even down in Tennessee for the weekend. UK played well but I went away really thinking that if UT didn't have Dalton, then maybe this isn't such a great team. So many UT players just seem uninterested offensively. It worked cause Dalton scored 40, but God forbid you have one of those types of games in the ncaat and Dalton isn't hitting them.
Also a really random thing that annoys me is how often Santi pumpfakes.

Already locked up a SEC chip. Remind me, when was the last time UK did that in the regular season or tournament?