1. We were favored by 22 and won by 36, we move to 5-0 and continue to take care of lesser opponents. Some may look at this and see on the surface 66 points by the opponent but I said pregame that they had a decent offense, add in that they push tempo a bit and that number isn’t a surprise at all.
2. For the first time this year an opponent went over 0.8ppp against us as SJU finished at 0.846ppp, that is still a very good defensive number and continues to look like the 2019 Texas Tech team defensively that played in the national championship. I am impressed at this defense, I knew they had the potential but to have the layoff and time missed this team did and yet be this good defensively UNF rult impressive.
3. On the flip side, after a slow start this team seems to be finding their footing a bit on the offensive side of the ball now too. For the 3rd game in a row Tennessee was over 1.3ppp offensively, they finished tonight at 1.38ppp, a really good number. Now, is that a product off opponent, or this team starting to get things going on that end after a lot of time missed and a slow start? Maybe a mixture of both? I will say after going 9/31 for 29% in their first 2 games from 3 they are 25/61 for 41% from 3 in their last 3 games, I don’t expect them to keep that number but in the middle around 36-37% would be nice.
4. Hard to single any one player out, 6 guys in double digits, JJJ wasn’t but does throw in 7&7 in typical JJJ fashion. Vescovi continues to show he is a guy Barnes loves at that lead guard position and tonight goes for 16/7/5, he’s really improved defensively and even with our depth at guard it wouldn’t be a shock to see him right there with Fulk for MPG, Barnes really likes blonde haired Vescovi.
5. I know some have talked about lineup changes etc, to me there’s no need, and I see no reason, this team is playing extremely well right now and seemingly finding a little grove after a little slow start. I like the freshman being able to come into the flow of the game and going with hot hands from there, there’s also nobody in the starting lineup who I feel isn’t playing well so completely unnecessary to even discuss imo.
6. On a slightly related topic what about my boy, Victor Bailey, oh c’mon, you didn’t think I was gonna mention him?! 25 minutes, 18 points and not just a 3pt shooter either, slashing and getting to the free throw line where he knocks them down at a high rate. Don’t look now but he leads the team in PPG through 5 games, not to shabby for a guy some said was a “waste of a scholarship”. Not saying he continues this pace, not saying he doesn’t, but I think we can all probably agree that he’s a valuable piece to this team and is a nice find/get from this staff, if he continues to develop he’s going to be a key piece to this Tennessee program in the future.
7. Tennessee moves to 5-0, there is absolutely no reason we shouldn’t be 6-0 at the end of this week and headed into what should be a highly anticipated game not many of us expected weeks ago as we open SEC play against Cuonzo Martin and Missouri. This team started a bit slow but that was to be expected all things considered, they’ve arguably looked better and better each game, hopefully we see another step forward in the next game and open SEC play with a win against Missouri.
GBO!
