BTO’s Tarleton State Postgame Report

[cardvolfan]

Yeah, but he did it in spurts against the teams in Maui too. He’d score 15+ in the first half and then kinda disappear.

Personally, I think the ankle is still bothering him some. I know he didn’t miss any time, but it really hasn’t been very long.

It’s definitely bothersome right now according to Barnes.

 

[cncchris33]

Another item of note I've not seen mentioned is just how bad the officiating was in this game. There were at least 4 out of bounds calls that they just flat out missed. They were clear as day live on TV. Lots of physical play that went uncalled. 80% of then went against TSU, too. I felt bad for them. Given Teddy Valentine and Chuck Jones were two of the officials, this isn't surprising.

 

[Lukusw]

I saw the game in person. Tarleton looked pretty athletic and capable. Not a very inspiring win, but I'll take it, especially with some of the recent scores across basketball.

For the SEC "sky is falling" predictions (like "at least 4 teams ahead of us" and "we are a middle of the pack" team), please look at all the teams with the same scrutiny.
KY - lost to UNC Wilmington at home, 2 losses to our 3 on an overall weak schedule (SOS 166 vs our 20).
Auburn - loss to App State and only played 1 ranked team.
Bama - 5 losses. Best win is...Oregon?
Ole Miss - undefeated but beat Detroit Mercy by 1, UCF by 2, Sam Houston by 3.
We can go on.

We can be disappointed with TN in a game without declaring them terrible or not good or failures. We are a very good team with the potential to be great. Have we played up to our potential? No. Is that frustrating? Yes. Does it destroy the value of this team or season? Absolutely not. Are we still really good? Yes.

P.s. I thought this was Gainey's best game in over a month. Fingers crossed.

 

[Plateauvol]

Maybe your best write-up to date, and it has nothing to do with the play on the court. It has everything to do with fan expectation.

That Tarleton State team is not a bad team. I don't care if the majority of our fans have heard of them or not. Playing without their head coach, on the road, they held their own for a long time in that game despite shooting 30% for the game and 2-22 from 3. They were 8-3 coming in and a top-200 KenPom team. That isn't overly impressive on the surface, but it's as good or better than most buy-game teams that come in to TBA to collect a check and a butt-whipping.

And you're right, this isn't football, and upsets are far more likely to happen, especially in a lull game like this ahead of a long holiday break. On the football field, it's 22 vs 22 and you can withstand a couple guys not showing up. On the court, it's 5 vs 5, and if one guy doesn't show up, that's 20% you're looking to compensate for. That is why you see upsets.

Playing flawlessly in December and beating teams by 30 or 40 points has done nothing for us in years past. And those same fans complaining now that we aren't clobbering these teams don't seem to care what happened in December when we lose in March. Now, all of a sudden, those games matter despite the fact that we are winning them.

If those fans are going to judge our success in our March, then they can't make any determination about anything based on how we win in December. The hypocrisy is unreal.

Spot on! If I could give you 10 likes, I would.

 

[The Dog]

1. Probably a tougher win than many folks expected, especially those unfamiliar with Gillespie or that team, even though the final spread ended up right about as expected. They play a physical brand of ball, they ugly things up and don’t back down…kudos to them for sticking around, pairing that with a team that’s not 100% healthy and is looking forward to a 10 day holiday break, and not a shock that it was close for awhile, but also kudos to Tennessee for executing and pulling away late when they could have made it a bit nerve racking.


2. Not tons of positives, feel like by far the biggest was Zeigler again looking more and more like himself, that’s been a continued road map that he’s been following and continues to look like an upward trajectory. He’s started finding his outside shot, now finishing around the rim and we saw a lot of stop and go change of pace from him that was very effective last night, have to think he continues getting better and better.

3. Knecht is going through a rough patch, not a huge shock given he’s never faced competition like this night in and night out and that he’s also banged up. There’s some things he can do better and also the staff can do better to help him out and I think this break will be good for both parties on that front, not overly worried about him and think he will respond well.

4. I get people want to see Tennessee play flawless every time out, and dominate every inferior opponent, but this isn’t college football, college basketball is a much different animal. Look around the college basketball slate on any given night and you’ll see Top 25 teams struggling against unranked teams, you’ll see upsets that are happening, Tennessee has avoided any of those and that’s why you’ve got a team that’s pushing Top 5 territory come Monday when the new rankings are released. Again, I get the football fan that’s a causal basketball fan doesn’t get this, but they are 2 very different sports.

5. Vols move to 9-3 and another 20pt favorite game awaits them for the finale of the OOC slate, as we’ve said it looks like Tennessee should finish 10-3 OOC which given the teams they’ve faced is a very nice accomplishment and great start to the resume for the NCAAT. I still think we’ve not seen close to the best Tennessee can look, now do we ever, I’m not sure, I hope so, but it’s pretty clear to me that I don’t think we’ve seen really even close to the ceiling yet. This is a March sport as we all know and it’s about playing your best at that time, continue stacking wins and building your resume while also finding and improving as a team, that’s the goal.




GBO!!!

I think after Knecht threw up 37 against UNC, teams made him the priority for their defense. He's getting double teamed and the defense rotates to him when he drives to the basket. So, he is turning it over and getting his shot blocked, more. He needs to give the ball up and not force 1 on 3 shots, of course. Plus, it seems like the better teams try to play him one on one on defense and he destroys it. NC State, GS and TS knew better and collapsed on Dalton. I think he will return to form once the SEC schedule begins and teams play more one on one defense and less double teams. In fact, if Knecht continues to get this much attention when the Vols are on offense, there is a real good chance, he could lead the Vols in assists if he gives the ball up, instead of forcing up shots. Jmo

 

[b_gann]

The funny thing is if Zeigler and Vescovi were just shooting their career averages then we’d be a Top 30 3pt% team in the country…maybe that’s what Barnes is looking at?

Yeah and I think that’s strong support to the argument that we’ve not really came close to playing our best ball yet. Like you said in the OP, we have to find a way to make Knecht more of a weapon.

Just thinking out loud but getting out of some of the motion offense and seeing some designed sets. I’d like to see Aidoo with the ball more up top to run DHO actions with Santi and Dalton. Also a little more Josiah PR to try and get a guard switched on him. He can be a weapon on the post ups.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Another item of note I've not seen mentioned is just how bad the officiating was in this game. There were at least 4 out of bounds calls that they just flat out missed. They were clear as day live on TV. Lots of physical play that went uncalled. 80% of then went against TSU, too. I felt bad for them. Given Teddy Valentine and Chuck Jones were two of the officials, this isn't surprising.

It was really strange when TV Teddy stopped the game to say something to Santi.

 

[lefthander]

It was really strange when TV Teddy stopped the game to say something to Santi.

Really hard to say strange and Teddy in same sentence
Did not see it ,but sense action had probably precluded Teddy being front and center for and while
How he stays in major conference employ is a mystery = Angel Hernandez baseball

 

[Lukusw]

It was really strange when TV Teddy stopped the game to say something to Santi.

Later in the game he openly mocked the acting Tarleton HC for protesting a call. Multiple weird ref moments in that game

 

[cncchris33]

It was really strange when TV Teddy stopped the game to say something to Santi.

Yeah, totally forgot about that one. You don't stop a game to have a conference with a player after obvious contact between two players. And then he openly wonders why people call him TV Teddy or accuse him of making the game about him.

 

[wtmvol]

The offense just doesn’t look good. Some of that is nagging injuries, some of it is just ebbs and flows of 3-pt shooting variance, some of it is due to opponents, and some due to complacency with playing bad teams. I get that. Don’t want to overreact. But the truth is that we’ve had 1 really good offense in the RB era. We consistently defend the hell out of other teams, year in and year out (with the exception of the 1 year we had an elite offense coincidentally…I think…). But nothing we do on offense looks easy. It just never does. So while I do believe this team has a higher ceiling than last year, I’m in a believe-it-when-I-see-it mode on the offensive end of the court, at least in meaningful games.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

The offense just doesn’t look good. Some of that is nagging injuries, some of it is just ebbs and flows of 3-pt shooting variance, some of it is due to opponents, and some due to complacency with playing bad teams. I get that. Don’t want to overreact. But the truth is that we’ve had 1 really good offense in the RB era. We consistently defend the hell out of other teams, year in and year out (with the exception of the 1 year we had an elite offense coincidentally…I think…). But nothing we do on offense looks easy. It just never does. So while I do believe this team has a higher ceiling than last year, I’m in a believe-it-when-I-see-it mode on the offensive end of the court, at least in meaningful games.

This team is different than any during the Barnes' era. It's loaded with talented depth. Maybe not the same as the starting 2019 squad, but much better depth. Actually much more functional depth. Mashack, Awaka and Gainey aren't a downgrade from the starters. JJJ has handled this transition very well. Knecht is a go-to-guy, like we haven't had in a while. The navigation, with the adjusted isolations for him, will take some time to roll into their Hi-Lo, motion offense

 

[Volfan1000]

1. Probably a tougher win than many folks expected, especially those unfamiliar with Gillespie or that team, even though the final spread ended up right about as expected. They play a physical brand of ball, they ugly things up and don’t back down…kudos to them for sticking around, pairing that with a team that’s not 100% healthy and is looking forward to a 10 day holiday break, and not a shock that it was close for awhile, but also kudos to Tennessee for executing and pulling away late when they could have made it a bit nerve racking.


2. Not tons of positives, feel like by far the biggest was Zeigler again looking more and more like himself, that’s been a continued road map that he’s been following and continues to look like an upward trajectory. He’s started finding his outside shot, now finishing around the rim and we saw a lot of stop and go change of pace from him that was very effective last night, have to think he continues getting better and better.

3. Knecht is going through a rough patch, not a huge shock given he’s never faced competition like this night in and night out and that he’s also banged up. There’s some things he can do better and also the staff can do better to help him out and I think this break will be good for both parties on that front, not overly worried about him and think he will respond well.

4. I get people want to see Tennessee play flawless every time out, and dominate every inferior opponent, but this isn’t college football, college basketball is a much different animal. Look around the college basketball slate on any given night and you’ll see Top 25 teams struggling against unranked teams, you’ll see upsets that are happening, Tennessee has avoided any of those and that’s why you’ve got a team that’s pushing Top 5 territory come Monday when the new rankings are released. Again, I get the football fan that’s a causal basketball fan doesn’t get this, but they are 2 very different sports.

5. Vols move to 9-3 and another 20pt favorite game awaits them for the finale of the OOC slate, as we’ve said it looks like Tennessee should finish 10-3 OOC which given the teams they’ve faced is a very nice accomplishment and great start to the resume for the NCAAT. I still think we’ve not seen close to the best Tennessee can look, now do we ever, I’m not sure, I hope so, but it’s pretty clear to me that I don’t think we’ve seen really even close to the ceiling yet. This is a March sport as we all know and it’s about playing your best at that time, continue stacking wins and building your resume while also finding and improving as a team, that’s the goal.




GBO!!!

On point number 3, players such as Aidoo and Seigler and Vescovi and James have stepped up to lead Tennessee in previous games on the offensive end and have shown Knecht that he does not have to shoulder the whole scoring load by himself which is a good precursor for March Madness in that opposing defenses will have no idea who can lead Tennessee in scoring night after night.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

On point number 3, players such as Aidoo and Seigler and Vescovi and James have stepped up to lead Tennessee in previous games on the offensive end and have shown Knecht that he does not have to shoulder the whole scoring load by himself which is a good precursor for March Madness in that opposing defenses will have no idea who can lead Tennessee in scoring night after night.

I have been pulling for Aidoo to become an offensive star, but he has had only one outstanding game. He has had a lot of turnovers in the post and has been having trouble bringing the ball low and giving the ball up. I won why his hands seem to be so weak.

 

[cncchris33]

Aidoo is having a career year despite not being the focal point of the offense. His per 40 numbers are way up from a scoring perspective. He just isn't very strong with the ball. He's never going to be a 20/10 guy every night because we don't run our offense thru him, but he's as much an offensive presence in the paint as we've had since Grant Williams.

 

[Pennheel]

This team is different than any during the Barnes' era. It's loaded with talented depth. Maybe not the same as the starting 2019 squad, but much better depth. Actually much more functional depth. Mashack, Awaka and Gainey aren't a downgrade from the starters. JJJ has handled this transition very well. Knecht is a go-to-guy, like we haven't had in a while. The navigation, with the adjusted isolations for him, will take some time to roll into their Hi-Lo, motion offense

I agree... I think this is one of the better teams in terms of depth that Barnes has had since he's been at Tennessee. I just think it's a matter of everyone getting to gel and being on the same page. There's a lot of kinks to work out,but there's a lot of season to go yet.

 

[tennrich1]

It was really strange when TV Teddy stopped the game to say something to Santi.

I thought the same thing. For many years TV Teddy has gotten his airtime and will not be denied it. He’s so much like Angel Garcia in MLB except I think Garcia is so much worst fundamentally but still get his airtime. I saw Angel one time calling third base in spring training at Jupiter and was almost hit with a line drive because he was flirting with the girl in the stands. We died laughing ever we realized he was OK.

 

[walkenvol]

I have been pulling for Aidoo to become an offensive star, but he has had only one outstanding game. He has had a lot of turnovers in the post and has been having trouble bringing the ball low and giving the ball up. I won why his hands seem to be so weak.

Because he’s a very tall slim athlete who is steadily improving himself in the S&C program. He struggles to hold position against big bruisers also, but he’s much improved from when he started. Everyone develops at a different pace.

 

[chuckiepoo]

You just know you're gonna get some of that when we play teams we've literally never knew existed.

They never knew existed? I wouldn’t include myself in that group, but I’ve lived in Texas 40 years… and I’m absolutely positive the Deacon was aware who that was on the other bench.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Notre Dame?? Wow that is historically a NCAA tourney team…

Flew to Louisville in a single engine Cessna in winter ‘79 for UK vs ND. Remember Kelly Tripucka from that game… spooky flight. Had to drop elevation to avoid excessive icing.

 

[The Dog]

Flew to Louisville in a single engine Cessna in winter ‘79 for UK vs ND. Remember Kelly Tripucka from that game… spooky flight. Had to drop elevation to avoid excessive icing.

Tripuka was a superstar/all-America at Notre Dame and played in the NBA for probably a decade. Kelly was drafted by my Pistons and had some good seasons, but after they traded him, the Bad Boys began.

Edit: traded him for AD, Adrian Dantley

 

[chuckiepoo]

I think after Knecht threw up 37 against UNC, teams made him the priority for their defense. He's getting double teamed and the defense rotates to him when he drives to the basket. So, he is turning it over and getting his shot blocked, more. He needs to give the ball up and not force 1 on 3 shots, of course. Plus, it seems like the better teams try to play him one on one on defense and he destroys it. NC State, GS and TS knew better and collapsed on Dalton. I think he will return to form once the SEC schedule begins and teams play more one on one defense and less double teams. In fact, if Knecht continues to get this much attention when the Vols are on offense, there is a real good chance, he could lead the Vols in assists if he gives the ball up, instead of forcing up shots. Jmo

From your keyboard direcly to the Mind of the One!

 

[cardvolfan]

Another item of note I've not seen mentioned is just how bad the officiating was in this game. There were at least 4 out of bounds calls that they just flat out missed. They were clear as day live on TV. Lots of physical play that went uncalled. 80% of then went against TSU, too. I felt bad for them. Given Teddy Valentine and Chuck Jones were two of the officials, this isn't surprising.

Valentine was strutting like a peacock. It’s kind of interesesting that you can watch him walk and never see his face and you know it’s TV. I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen him at TBA, buts it’s been a minute.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Tobe is the player I key on the most. His only issue is fouls. Aidoo is soft, but he is obstacle in the interior defense. I look as well for the younger players to adjust and get better as the season progresses. The depth of this team is the key. I expect to see fewer scoring draughts/periods in the future.

 

[vol94]

Flew to Louisville in a single engine Cessna in winter ‘79 for UK vs ND. Remember Kelly Tripucka from that game… spooky flight. Had to drop elevation to avoid excessive icing.

Wow, that brings back childhood memories. I recall watching Tripuka on TV in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I was a huge UNC fan living in SW Virginia. I disliked Notre Dame and Digger Phelps, too, but they were always on TV. They had a strong program and I think went to a final four. I think Kelly ended up getting drafted by the Pistons before being traded a few times.