BTO’s LSU Postgame Report

[bleedingTNorange]

1. Rewatched the game this afternoon so wanted to put something out there, along with some recap given the crazy week that was college basketball. We saw a brand new lineup that we’ve yet to see this year and it was also the debut of small ball lineup which I mentioned a few days ago was going to be something we see more and more of with JJJ reemergence. Was a great debut as the Vols picked up another conference road win, obviously LSU isn’t very good but you still never take these for granted.

2. It’s now been 6 games since JJJ returned after being out for about a month and had us wondering if we had seen the last of him. In those 6 games he’s averaging 24mpg 11.2ppg 3.3rpg 44%fg 41%3pt 100%FT and seems to be getting stronger each time out. For a team that needed to be better offensively getting him back was huge for us and also gives us the versatility to play small as well which has been where we’ve been most efficient.

3. Another guy who maybe not coincidentally has also been playing very well the last 6 games is Zeigler…averaging right at 30mpg 10.5ppg 8apg 2.5topg 37%3pt 100%FT, he’s really been doing a great job of breaking things down off the dribble and finding guys in good spots to score. He’s always going to be a pest defensively as well, he’s playing some of his best basketball right now from an all around standpoint and could be looking at some all conference accolades come the end of the year.

4. I really liked what Key brought, he played less minutes coming off the bench but he seemed fresher and really hunted his shot which was nice to see. 18 minutes and 7 rebounds from a guard spot is super impressive, obviously some of that is lucky bounces but still was a great effort, if we are going to play small it will require 2-5 to really crash the boards, Key & James did a great job of that I thought for the guards and then Aidoo did as well from the 5 spot grabbing 7 rebounds in just 20 minutes.

5. After the loss to Kentucky the mood definitely had declined, but this team did a good job of getting on the road and picking up 2 wins away from TBA, that was exactly what they needed to do. Now you’ve got a very winnable game against Georgia at home which will then setup for the big one Saturday against Texas, college game day in town, should be a great chance for the Vols to get out there and makeup for the L to Kentucky. With the crazy week of ranked teams losing we did what we needed to and that was go 2-0, tomorrow in the new poll we should be back inside the Top 5 and in mock drafts we are now firmly on the 2 seed line with many projections having us as a 1 seed, gotta take care of business on Wednesday and then huge opportunity for the Vols.



GBO!!!

 

[Volprofch05]

Great report as always! I wonder if part of the decision to start the smaller lineup in this particular game was because LSU rolls with a fairly small lineup (it was clear that the decision was made before it was learned that Uros couldn’t go). Either way, hopefully we see more that group!

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Great report as always! I wonder if part of the decision to start the smaller lineup in this particular game was because LSU rolls with a fairly small lineup (it was clear that the decision was made before it was learned that Uros couldn’t go). Either way, hopefully we see more that group!

I thought they said that Uros was going to start prior to getting sick?

 

[Volprofch05]

I thought they said that Uros was going to start prior to getting sick?

I’m pretty sure the lineup was announced before it was decided that Uros would be out, and I recall the announcers said that a few times in the broadcast.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Probable starting 5 against LSU is

Key
James
Phillips
Nkamhoua
Plavsic

per game notes at utsports.com

 

[VOLtaism]

Certainly better than wondering if we would make the bubble. I saw a different Key out there today, much more confident and looking to shoot. Zeigler is like a little windup toy, relentless, just keeps coming at you. This team can play big, they can play small and they can play fast, many options. If one of the bigs would be more dominant and become a scoring threat that it would be final 4 time. O, please stand up.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

I’m pretty sure the lineup was announced before it was decided that Uros would be out, and I recall the announcers said that a few times in the broadcast.

I found the post from before the game that gave me that impression. I didn’t personally see the notes on utsports.com though so it’s at least second hand.

 

[Volprofch05]

Don’t know for sure but did see this

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Don’t know for sure but did see this

That post would have been from after Uros got sick (he got sick the night before according to the broadcast). I don’t know that it matters much when the decision was made, but the information I have leads me to believe that Uros likely would have started Saturday if healthy.

 

[Volprofch05]

That post would have been from after Uros got sick (he got sick the night before according to the broadcast). I don’t know that it matters much when the decision was made, but the information I have leads me to believe that Uros likely would have started Saturday if healthy.

Definitely could be, but I do recall the commentators emphasizing that the lineup decision had been made before Uros was out, but doesn’t really matter that much.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Definitely could be, but I do recall the commentators emphasizing that the lineup decision had been made before Uros was out, but doesn’t really matter that much.

Yeah. Either way I think that’s one of our strongest lineups and I wouldn’t be shocked if it starts and/or finishes a lot of games going forward.

 

[cardvolfan]

That post would have been from after Uros got sick (he got sick the night before according to the broadcast). I don’t know that it matters much when the decision was made, but the information I have leads me to believe that Uros likely would have started Saturday if healthy.

Barnes commented after the game they had already planned on the small ball lineup even before Uros was affected. Said Uros had been told he wasn’t starting the night before.

 

[Volprofch05]

Barnes commented after the game they had already planned on the small ball lineup even before Uros was affected. Said Uros had been told he wasn’t starting the night before.

The Barnes haterz might think that was just a cover up though

 

[cardvolfan]

The Barnes haterz might think that was just a cover up though

You mean it wasn’t??

 

[walkenvol]

On point #4, is it still small ball when they sub Aidoo in for ON? I don’t see how we can stick with small ball unless ON can become more consistent rebounding, shooting, and defending without fouling. Don’t recall another player during the CRB era that looked like an all-SEC player one game and completely disappears the next. I trust CRB to put our best lineup on the court, but Aidoo and Uros bring skills to the 5 that ON doesn’t. If we want to run more, then couldn’t we just rotate UP and Aidoo every stop in play to keep them fresh if they are having to sprint faster up&down the court? Would of liked to have seen how effective Williams would have been in the post with a 265 pounder leaning and pushing on him.

 

[omghulkhands]

On point #4, is it still small ball when they sub Aidoo in for ON? I don’t see how we can stick with small ball unless ON can become more consistent rebounding, shooting, and defending without fouling. Don’t recall another player during the CRB era that looked like an all-SEC player one game and completely disappears the next. I trust CRB to put our best lineup on the court, but Aidoo and Uros bring skills to the 5 that ON doesn’t. If we want to run more, then couldn’t we just rotate UP and Aidoo every stop in play to keep them fresh if they are having to sprint faster up&down the court? Would of liked to have seen how effective Williams would have been in the post with a 265 pounder leaning and pushing on him.

Having any of Aidoo, Uros or Awaka on the floor would not meet my definition of small ball.

Small ball is about having lots of switch-ability on defense (which those 3 can’t really do)

Being able to run the floor with anybody
(Which they don’t do well)

And being able to spread the floor on offense
(only Aidoo has that ability)

 

[bleedingTNorange]

On point #4, is it still small ball when they sub Aidoo in for ON? I don’t see how we can stick with small ball unless ON can become more consistent rebounding, shooting, and defending without fouling. Don’t recall another player during the CRB era that looked like an all-SEC player one game and completely disappears the next. I trust CRB to put our best lineup on the court, but Aidoo and Uros bring skills to the 5 that ON doesn’t. If we want to run more, then couldn’t we just rotate UP and Aidoo every stop in play to keep them fresh if they are having to sprint faster up&down the court? Would have liked to have seen how effective Williams would have been in the post with a 265 pounder leaning and pushing on him.

Small ball just means not playing 2 true posts, just 1 at the 5, this allows JJJ to play predominately the 4…whether it’s Nkamhoua, Plav, Aidoo or Awaka at the 5 it’s still small ball as long as just 1 of them is in the game.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Having any of Aidoo, Uros or Awaka on the floor would not meet my definition of small ball.

Small ball is about having lots of switch-ability on defense (which those 3 can’t really do)

Being able to run the floor with anybody
(Which they don’t do well)

And being able to spread the floor on offense
(only Aidoo has that ability)

There’s no single true definition but as it relates to Tennessee we’ve played 2 posts majority of the time, switching to 1 post and playing JJJ at the 4 is at the very least “smaller ball” than what we’ve been playing, but imo would count as small ball.

 

[cncchris33]

Definitely could be, but I do recall the commentators emphasizing that the lineup decision had been made before Uros was out, but doesn’t really matter that much.

Yes, Dane Bradshaw was clear in pointing out that Uros wouldn't have started had he been available.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

The logic behind it is playing your best guys the most minutes, we all have different opinions on the 4 posts and who’s better etc etc, but if nothing else that proves that we don’t have just 1 clear cut great post. If you’re listing best players on the team you’re likely getting to 5 or even 6 before you mention a post player, so going “small” maximizes the minutes your “best players” can play.

Zeigler 36/Key 4
Santi 30/Key 10
Phillips 30/Key 10
James 30/Nkamhoua 10
Nkamhoua 10/Plav 10/Aidoo 10/Awaka 10

The biggest thing to watch for will be rebounding, can we continue to rebound well and hold up. In theory we should, you’re playing Phillips & James big minutes and they are 2 of the better rebounders on the team.

 

[omghulkhands]

There’s no single true definition but as it relates to Tennessee we’ve played 2 posts majority of the time, switching to 1 post and playing JJJ at the 4 is at the very least “smaller ball” than what we’ve been playing, but imo would count as small ball.

I agree there is no definition for it. Comparing it to what I see in the NBA is all I know to do, and when teams go small, they basically coalesce into just two positions, frontcourt and backcourt players, and some of those interchange mid-possession. Like, there would be no one out there you could identify as playing the 5/center position.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I agree there is no definition for it. Comparing it to what I see in the NBA is all I know to do, and when teams go small, they basically coalesce into just two positions, frontcourt and backcourt players, and some of those interchange mid-possession. Like, there would be no one out there you could identify as playing the 5/center position.

Yea NBA is a different animal given the elite of the elite athleticism you have, much different than college makeup…and while there’s not as much postgame game in college as there used to be there’s even less in the NBA.

 

[omghulkhands]

Yea NBA is a different animal given the elite of the elite athleticism you have, much different than college makeup…and while there’s not as much postgame game in college as there used to be there’s even less in the NBA.

The Sabermetric-fication of the NBA has basically determined that if your name isn't Jokic or Emiid then posting up is a negative value play.

And I actually agree with that. It's hard to argue with the statistics. Players shoot too well now. They are probably gonna have to widen the court in the NBA within the next 10 years.

 

[rdk4121]

I have to be honest, I don't think I love the small ball lineup, at least with ON at the 5. He's kind of fallen off a cliff the last few games. He can still struggle with the physicality of opposing 5s, but he's probably to good to keep off the court as well (or has the potential to be).

I think I would rather just start Aidoo with ON and Uros coming off the bench. The ON and Uros pairing has been a pretty darn good one all year long, so I think it makes sense to keep it together. Adding Key to the bench to go with those two really can more than keep us afloat.

 

[walkenvol]

I prefer we keep playing the lineup we’ve been using except play JJJ 25 minutes at the 4 and 5 minutes at the 3 if his knees will allow. Cut ON back to 15 minutes at the 4 as he’s taken a huge step back in production the last several games. Start Uros at the 5 and split the minutes there with Aidoo giving more minutes to whoever is being more effective that game. I think we are better defensively with one of the bigs in the game.Find 5-10 minutes for Awaka as he continues to develop.