BTO’s Mississippi State Postgame Report

[cncchris33]

Phillips absolutely had his best game. Now we need this kind of performance to start becoming a consistent norm, which will open things up for SV, Key, and others. Having Phillips able to create his own points the way he showed last night (as well as getting 2nd chance points off rebounds) is exactly what we need to avoid the long scoring slumps that has been the bane of this team the past few years.



The fact that he shot the ball well at the FT line and hit a 3 was really encouraging too.

Just imagine Phillips with 20 more pounds of muscle on him. 6-8 and sub-200 lbs is why he can't finish at the rim in traffic. It would be awesome to see him return for his sophomore year after completely devoting himself to the weight room all offseason.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Just imagine Phillips with 20 more pounds of muscle on him. 6-8 and sub-200 lbs is why he can't finish at the rim in traffic. It would be awesome to see him return for his sophomore year after completely devoting himself to the weight room all offseason.

I would love to see one of these 5-stars stay for a second year. I know JJJ has but he has turned out to be the exception and not the rule. I can only imagine what Barnes would be able to do with Springer, Johnson, Chandler, or Phillips in a 2nd year on the roster. Performances like last night are why I find it hard to believe Phillips will return. He'll flash just enough every now and then to show why his potential will play in the NBA and he'll get drafted late in the 1st round.

 

[cncchris33]

I would love to see one of these 5-stars stay for a second year. I know JJJ has but he has turned out to be the exception and not the rule. I can only imagine what Barnes would be able to do with Springer, Johnson, Chandler, or Phillips in a 2nd year on the roster. Performances like last night are why I find it hard to believe Phillips will return. He'll flash just enough every now and then to show why his potential will play in the NBA and he'll get drafted late in the 1st round.

I have to think Phillips returns unless he just doesn't want to be a student any longer, which was the case with Springer and Chandler. Right now, there is no way that JP is a 1st-rounder.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I have to think Phillips returns unless he just doesn't want to be a student any longer, which was the case with Springer and Chandler. Right now, there is no way that JP is a 1st-rounder.

I would agree right now, but I think he's going to play his way down the stretch into that 25-30 range. I HOPE I'm wrong, because I think Phillips could be really special next year.

 

[Schasz]

Strong 2nd half by the Vols tonight short handed was huge coming off the disappointing KY loss. Really liked the game played by ZZ and JP. Agree it's a positive sign to see JJJ play 34 minutes. He is a key to future success.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Is it just me or do all our opponents of late get to the free throw line way more than us and then despite shooting 65% for the season drop a 85% night on us? smh

State shot 64% from the FT line

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I would agree right now, but I think he's going to play his way down the stretch into that 25-30 range. I HOPE I'm wrong, because I think Phillips could be really special next year.

Right now I see him unlisted in more mocks than I do appearing at all…he’s gonna have to start consistently producing and quick to go from off the board to 1st round lock which is what he’s looking for.

 

[SmokeyLives]

Nice write-up, well done.

I was a little confused with Coach’s rotation tonight, felt like CRB was trying to find something that could light a spark. I felt like we had a spark with ZZ, Julian, JJJ, Tobe, and Aidoo, then he subbed again... I was ready to see Olivier’s minutes cut to nothing, until he turned it on with 10 minutes left in the game - he needed that, I just wish he would establish some consistency.

Anyway, GREAT win by the VOLS on a night when they had every excuse not to get it done.

Go Big Orange!

I’m in agreement with this. Awaka and Aidoo provide the best combo in the paint. I get that Uros is a problem for opposing players at the rim but his rebounding needs huge improvement. The production from Awake seems greater and the upside for him is far higher than UP. ON is very inconsistent.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

I’m in agreement with this. Awaka and Aidoo provide the best combo in the paint. I get that Uros is a problem for opposing players at the rim but his rebounding needs huge improvement. The production from Awake seems greater and the upside for him is far higher than UP. ON is very inconsistent.

It’s a huge luxury to be able to hockey sub UP/ON and Aidoo/Awaka without much if any drop off. Those pairs really compliment each other and give us a ton of matchup flexibility + an awesome bench unit

 

[omghulkhands]

Right now I see him unlisted in more mocks than I do appearing at all…he’s gonna have to start consistently producing and quick to go from off the board to 1st round lock which is what he’s looking for.

I’m starting to see him as a JJJ type of prospect. Really good basketball player. But not sure I see NBA talent. There are lots of really good basketball players that don’t have NBA talent.

 

[beachvol23]

I would love to see one of these 5-stars stay for a second year. I know JJJ has but he has turned out to be the exception and not the rule. I can only imagine what Barnes would be able to do with Springer, Johnson, Chandler, or Phillips in a 2nd year on the roster. Performances like last night are why I find it hard to believe Phillips will return. He'll flash just enough every now and then to show why his potential will play in the NBA and he'll get drafted late in the 1st round.

Of course, none of the earlier players the last three years would admit it, and we did not have full NIL to keep them, but I bet if you ask them all privately, they wish they had stayed! The D/G league whatever they call it next year is a joke and a black hole!

 

[SGMVols]

This is a wild statement that you'll probably never hear CRB to say to any other player. It just goes to show you how hard ZZ plays on defense. Barnes preaches defense first and to tell a player to dial it down really is telling. ZZ is a menace on defense and I can't imagine being a pg and having to be guarded by him for 30+ min a game.

He did that for two reasons

1) he knew Z would have to play the whole game and didn’t want to burn him out

2) because he would be needed the whole game, he couldn’t risk foul trouble

 

[wtmvol]

I would love to see one of these 5-stars stay for a second year. I know JJJ has but he has turned out to be the exception and not the rule. I can only imagine what Barnes would be able to do with Springer, Johnson, Chandler, or Phillips in a 2nd year on the roster. Performances like last night are why I find it hard to believe Phillips will return. He'll flash just enough every now and then to show why his potential will play in the NBA and he'll get drafted late in the 1st round.

Maybe the exception for Tennessee, but overall 5-star players ranked between 18-25 who actually go to college play more than 1 year over 50% of the time. Since 2017, there have been 35 players in that recruiting ranking range (247 composite) that went to college (5 didn't go to college).

1-and-done: 15 (and 6 of those went undrafted)
2+ years: 20

If you move the range a bit to guys ranked between 15-17 like Jaden Springer, it starts to move the needle more towards 1-and-done, though the sample size is too small to draw conclusions. Of the 13 players who went to college, 7 left after 1 year.

I haven't pulled the data for guys ranked higher than 15, but would imagine it starts to skew towards 1 and done pretty quickly as you approach the top 10.

 

[wtmvol]

Of course, none of the earlier players the last three years would admit it, and we did not have full NIL to keep them, but I bet if you ask them all privately, they wish they had stayed! The D/G league whatever they call it next year is a joke and a black hole!

Keon Johnson's got $12.5M guaranteed on his deal. Springer has $10.4M guaranteed. How much higher could they have gone by staying another year? We'll never know, but I'm not convinced they have any regrets. Maybe they go a bit higher and get a bit more, but they also lose a year of making millions that they would have to make up. Plus there's the risk of getting hurt or just falling altogether. KC was always going to have his size work against him. Just not sure how high he would have ever gone.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I’m starting to see him as a JJJ type of prospect. Really good basketball player. But not sure I see NBA talent. There are lots of really good basketball players that don’t have NBA talent.

His handles need to improve, he has to add muscle/weight, his shot from just about everywhere needs to improve. He’s an above average athlete but I wouldn’t put him in the elite athlete territory, and to simply get drafted off of athleticism you’re gonna have to be elite of the elite and that still probably wouldn’t be 1st round.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Keon Johnson's got $12.5M guaranteed on his deal. Springer has $10.4M guaranteed. How much higher could they have gone by staying another year? We'll never know, but I'm not convinced they have any regrets. Maybe they go a bit higher and get a bit more, but they also lose a year of making millions that they would have to make up. Plus there's the risk of getting hurt or just falling altogether. KC was always going to have his size work against him. Just not sure how high he would have ever gone.

It’s getting to where there’s not a massive difference in litter vs. 1st round lock as far as whether or not it’s smart to go, but for most part there is a big difference in 2nd round. You look at Chandler who went early 2nd and set a record for most guaranteed money for 2nd rounder and he was under $5m guaranteed, so for a Phillips if the difference is 2nd rounder vs. 1st rounder it makes plenty of $$$ sense to return.

 

[wtmvol]

It’s getting to where there’s not a massive difference in litter vs. 1st round lock as far as whether or not it’s smart to go, but for most part there is a big difference in 2nd round. You look at Chandler who went early 2nd and set a record for most guaranteed money for 2nd rounder and he was under $5m guaranteed, so for a Phillips if the difference is 2nd rounder vs. 1st rounder it makes plenty of $$$ sense to return.

Yeah, Phillips has a lot to do in the next 2-3 months for it to make $$ sense to leave

 

[BruisedOrange]

Keon Johnson's got $12.5M guaranteed on his deal. Springer has $10.4M guaranteed. How much higher could they have gone by staying another year? We'll never know, but I'm not convinced they have any regrets. Maybe they go a bit higher and get a bit more, but they also lose a year of making millions that they would have to make up. Plus there's the risk of getting hurt or just falling altogether. KC was always going to have his size work against him. Just not sure how high he would have ever gone.

One thing we outsiders undervalue about that kind of money is the amount of personal trainer, skill development, and tutor-coaching a young, developing player can retain.

For players willing to put in the work, they can improve their value more making use of those assets, than they can in an extra year of college using the school's training resources and coaching. Every NBA-aspiring player today knows what kind of regimen Kobe committed to, to become the best.
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[VOLED]

1. What a gut check win…coming off a disappointing L, on the road, MSU is struggling and much like Kentucky really needed a season changing W, find out we are down 2 starters and for much of the first half it looked like how that sounds, a 2 game losing streak and feeling down. Instead Tennessee has a blistering second half putting up 47 points against State and finds themselves crushing to victory, what a performance that was much needed.

2. I typically don’t gush about a singular player in these reports but I’m going to tonight, Zeigler was an absolute monster and while he didn’t play perfect it was an amazing game. Not sure if early on he felt the pressure of knowing he needed to do a lot and thus forced some things, but he cleaned it up and it’s no coincidence that when he did we came back and tied things up going into half. And then he had a 2nd half for the ages, played every second, puts up 16pts 3ast 0to 2stl, great performance from him that was much needed. I’m not sure what Barnes will do moving forward when Key/Santi come back, but I would put some consideration into moving Zeigler back into the starting spot…then again he’s been playing starter minutes so if that works whatever.

3. On a night we were short handed maybe I’m feeling more giving, but gonna shout out Julian Phillips tonight as well, he had his best game possibly all season if not in a long time and we can only hope it’s a lightbulb coming on. 18pts 11rbd while playing 38mins and 50%fg and 50%3ptfg was big time. He showed much more aggression tonight and a competitive edge that has been missing, need to continue to see that from him as the season moves on.

4. Was great to see James able to play 34 mins tonight, hold our breath and hope the knee holds strong, if it does then have to think we might be in the clear on his knee issues and he’s full go the rest of the way which would obviously be huge for this team. Also thought Nkamhoua played a good game, had some frustrating moments but for a guy who’s rebounding has been criticized he came out and from the tip showed an aggressive rebounding attitude we’ve not seen from him, ended up with 9 rebounds in 27mins and while he didn’t score a bunch did hit a big 3 late. Finished with 7pts 9rbs in 27mins, he can do more offensively and clean some things up, but if he’d just bring that effort every night he’d really help this team.

5. That was the first of 2 road games this week, next up is LSU at their place…should have Key back, not sure about Santi. In any regard it’s another game you need to find a way to win, they are not a good team as far as SEC rankings go and it’s another opportunity for a road win before heading back to Knoxville for 2 at home, the second of being the big Texas matchup.


GBO!!!

I think/hope that ZZ and Phillips may have turned the corner. Maybe a little strange to say that about ZZ, but I think he now realizes that he doesn't have to "press" to be the player he wants to be. If he keeps this same attitude and Santi returns then we will be a very tough out.

 

[SN-A-C Orange]

Yea I remember Barnes saying that, but 40 minutes tonight and just 3 fouls, 1 of which was very late…just seems like maybe Zeigler is smart enough/capable of avoiding those early calls, but again not a huge deal if he’s still gonna get 32+mpg.

He really only had one point guard ... he could not afford for ZZ to pick up 2 fouls in the first half ... otherwise it is Julian or BJ at the point. That would have been a nightmare.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

He really only had one point guard ... he could not afford for ZZ to pick up 2 fouls in the first half ... otherwise it is Julian or BJ at the point. That would have been a nightmare.

He said pregame they’d use JJJ at PG if ZZ went off the floor

 

[TennesseeFan07]

Gutsy win for sure.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

He really only had one point guard ... he could not afford for ZZ to pick up 2 fouls in the first half ... otherwise it is Julian or BJ at the point. That would have been a nightmare.

Josiah is a point-forward. I think he played PG in high school. Also, I think that Mashack handles the ball better than he shoots it.

Pretty much everybody can move the ball. It might not be as much of a disaster as many believe. To attack the press they’d need to be passing more and dribbling less. Even Uros has pretty good hands as a high post - he tends to be less reliable as a low post.

 

[brockytop]

All things considered, one of the better wins this season.

Time for Phillips to be close to what he was last night on a consistent basis.

 

[Caculator]

Also, I think that Mashack handles the ball better than he shoots it.

Both his handles and shot are weak.