bleedingTNorange
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1. Another wire to wire win over a P4 team, the Vols move to 4-0 against the ACC this year and remain as just 1/3 P6 teams to still not suffer a loss. Miami shot very well from 3 in the first half to keep the game close, Tennessee’s defense ratcheted up and they also cooled and Tennessee yet again had a workmanlike performance as they methodically just pulled away from the Canes, never really allowing the outcome to ever be a question.
2. 2 of the transfers really continue their excellent play, Lanier & Milicic…As I’ve said repetitively Lanier is not Knecht, but he’s about as close as you could have ideally hoped for. Fun stat, through their first 9 games Knecht had 173 points and 3 20+ point games, Lanier has 172 points and 4 20+ point games. Lanier is 1/3 players nationally making more than 3.5 threes a game at over 48% also, his outside shooting is among the best in the nation, he’s also shown a decent mid range game and an above average ability to finish drives, we were all blessed to be able to watch DK but Lanier is quickly making losing him a bit easier on fans.
3. The other transfer continuing to stand out is Igor Milicic, he’s just so smooth and makes things look so easy for a guy his size. It really feels like his best ball is ahead of him which is impressive, he almost always finishes when he drives and needs to probably do a bit more of that, which hopefully will come with time and experience. Similarly he doesn’t need to hesitate on his outside shot, if it’s there he needs to take it, he’s too good of a shooter to be questioning what’s a good shot. He started a bit slow but over his last 7 games he’s averaging like 14/8 on pretty insane percentages from the field, really love what the staff is getting from him and his ability to legitimately play 3-5 is a nice chess piece.
4. Another early season standout, to nobodies surprise, is Zeigler…he’s 1/2 players nationally averaging 12ps/8a/2s on the year, and obviously is playing that same tenacious defense we all have become accustomed to seeing from him. If he can continue to be that floor general and put up those numbers he very well could find himself on some AA lists at the end of the year as well as a potential Cousy Award winner, enjoy this last go around from ZZ, as much as we all miss Knecht it’s really hard to picture watching the Vols without seeing Zeigler on the court.
5. Tennessee continues to shoot well and defend even better, currently boasting the #1 FG% offense to go along with the #4 overall FG% defense, that’s a heck of a combination. It’s gonna be rare that both your shooting goes cold and defense doesn’t show up, because of this Tennessee should find themselves in just about every ball game they play IMO. It’s also why to this point they’ve not had a single game in question at the 5 minute mark, they’ve won every game by double digits, with last nights 13pt victory being their closest margin so far, and if you watched the game you know Tennessee easily could’ve won by more. Right now they’re really clicking on both ends of the court, which as I’ve said before, is really an impressive job by this staff and teams leaders given how many new faces are playing big minutes.
6. Up next is Illinois and this really is a game I’m looking forward to, not only is likely our marquee OOC game, but it should also answer some questions. Obviously a tough team, on the road is a great test, but I’m also curious to see how we hand a really good big man, to this point that’s not been something this squad has had to deal with and could it be something that maybe is a flaw for this squad? Not saying it is, we simply don’t know and haven’t had that test, this game should provide some answers. Ivisic is a 7’1” 255lb euro big man averaging 15 & 9 and shooting 36.4% from deep on 5 attempts a game, but also 65.5% from 2 on 6 attempts a game, meaning he’s an effective scorer both inside and out, should be a great test as he’s one of the best big men and most versatile in CBB this year.
7. The Vols move to 9-0 to start the year, they’ve got Illinois and then 3 buy games that shouldn’t be close, so worst case this should be a 12-1 finish OOC which every single one of us would’ve signed up for preseason and sets this team up in a great spot heading into conference play. The SEC is clearly going to be a grind this year and every game is likely to be a Q1 or Q2 opportunity, so it looks very likely that Tennessee can also boast a resume with no bad losses come March as well. Obviously beating Illinois would give a little more wiggle room in conference play, but either way Tennessee has done a tremendous job setting themselves up to this point to be in discussion for the programs first ever 1 seed.
GBO!!!
2. 2 of the transfers really continue their excellent play, Lanier & Milicic…As I’ve said repetitively Lanier is not Knecht, but he’s about as close as you could have ideally hoped for. Fun stat, through their first 9 games Knecht had 173 points and 3 20+ point games, Lanier has 172 points and 4 20+ point games. Lanier is 1/3 players nationally making more than 3.5 threes a game at over 48% also, his outside shooting is among the best in the nation, he’s also shown a decent mid range game and an above average ability to finish drives, we were all blessed to be able to watch DK but Lanier is quickly making losing him a bit easier on fans.
3. The other transfer continuing to stand out is Igor Milicic, he’s just so smooth and makes things look so easy for a guy his size. It really feels like his best ball is ahead of him which is impressive, he almost always finishes when he drives and needs to probably do a bit more of that, which hopefully will come with time and experience. Similarly he doesn’t need to hesitate on his outside shot, if it’s there he needs to take it, he’s too good of a shooter to be questioning what’s a good shot. He started a bit slow but over his last 7 games he’s averaging like 14/8 on pretty insane percentages from the field, really love what the staff is getting from him and his ability to legitimately play 3-5 is a nice chess piece.
4. Another early season standout, to nobodies surprise, is Zeigler…he’s 1/2 players nationally averaging 12ps/8a/2s on the year, and obviously is playing that same tenacious defense we all have become accustomed to seeing from him. If he can continue to be that floor general and put up those numbers he very well could find himself on some AA lists at the end of the year as well as a potential Cousy Award winner, enjoy this last go around from ZZ, as much as we all miss Knecht it’s really hard to picture watching the Vols without seeing Zeigler on the court.
5. Tennessee continues to shoot well and defend even better, currently boasting the #1 FG% offense to go along with the #4 overall FG% defense, that’s a heck of a combination. It’s gonna be rare that both your shooting goes cold and defense doesn’t show up, because of this Tennessee should find themselves in just about every ball game they play IMO. It’s also why to this point they’ve not had a single game in question at the 5 minute mark, they’ve won every game by double digits, with last nights 13pt victory being their closest margin so far, and if you watched the game you know Tennessee easily could’ve won by more. Right now they’re really clicking on both ends of the court, which as I’ve said before, is really an impressive job by this staff and teams leaders given how many new faces are playing big minutes.
6. Up next is Illinois and this really is a game I’m looking forward to, not only is likely our marquee OOC game, but it should also answer some questions. Obviously a tough team, on the road is a great test, but I’m also curious to see how we hand a really good big man, to this point that’s not been something this squad has had to deal with and could it be something that maybe is a flaw for this squad? Not saying it is, we simply don’t know and haven’t had that test, this game should provide some answers. Ivisic is a 7’1” 255lb euro big man averaging 15 & 9 and shooting 36.4% from deep on 5 attempts a game, but also 65.5% from 2 on 6 attempts a game, meaning he’s an effective scorer both inside and out, should be a great test as he’s one of the best big men and most versatile in CBB this year.
7. The Vols move to 9-0 to start the year, they’ve got Illinois and then 3 buy games that shouldn’t be close, so worst case this should be a 12-1 finish OOC which every single one of us would’ve signed up for preseason and sets this team up in a great spot heading into conference play. The SEC is clearly going to be a grind this year and every game is likely to be a Q1 or Q2 opportunity, so it looks very likely that Tennessee can also boast a resume with no bad losses come March as well. Obviously beating Illinois would give a little more wiggle room in conference play, but either way Tennessee has done a tremendous job setting themselves up to this point to be in discussion for the programs first ever 1 seed.
GBO!!!
