BTO’s UT-Martin Postgame Report

[KTrain]

I disagree about the refs swallowing their whistle, I think it favors the Vols with the way we play physical defense. Jmo

About the most physical team I've saw so far is Auburn. They really get away with a lot and Broome has been there so long and I do think he's a likeable guy and refs are human and know him well and Pearl is great at working refs. Us vs Auburn will be a barn burner @ Auburn and I think we just play them once.

 

[tn4elvis]

Team looks to be another contender, should be a fun season.

Only weaknesses I really see are lack if backup pg and don’t think we have anybody we can throw it to in the post to get a bucket. Last part may help in some respects to fully embrace the more modern space the floor for 3’s and driving approach.

We need to get out and run. It looks like Igor and Dubar want to get out and fill the lanes after a missed shot.

 

[VolArmy74]

One thing will certainly happen as the season progresses. Lanier is going to see his 3 point percentage drop by 4-5+ points, I hope we can find enough offense to make up for that inevitable decline over the course of the season. He's 16-28 from three vs our P4 competition, a crazy 57 percent.

 

[gainesvol82]

Man, I love me some Cade Phillips. He continues to impress with his ability to play above the rim on offensive putbacks, lobs and rebounding on both ends. Kid is instant, electric energy. Pairs very well with Okpara.

 

[KTrain]

One thing will certainly happen as the season progresses. Lanier is going to see his 3 point percentage drop by 4-5+ points, I hope we can find enough offense to make up for that inevitable decline over the course of the season. He's 16-28 from three vs our P4 competition, a crazy 57 percent.

His over 50% is unsustainable over the season highest ever was Travis Ford Kentucky 92-93 season 52.8% at a Power school
Micah Mason had a 56.0% 2013-14 at Duquesne for highest ever including Power and FCS

 

[bleedingTNorange]

One thing will certainly happen as the season progresses. Lanier is going to see his 3 point percentage drop by 4-5+ points, I hope we can find enough offense to make up for that inevitable decline over the course of the season. He's 16-28 from three vs our P4 competition, a crazy 57 percent.

I’ll take that bet, currently 49.1%

 

[bleedingTNorange]

His over 50% is unsustainable over the season highest ever was Travis Ford Kentucky 92-93 season 52.8% at a Power school
Micah Mason had a 56.0% 2013-14 at Duquesne for highest ever including Power and FCS

Koby Brea might have a chance to break that this year, currently 69% and on high volume, finished 50% last year.

 

[VolArmy74]

I’ll take that bet, currently 49.1%

I would hope you win. It will be the greatest shooting season in Vol history if he stays in that range from 3 all season.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

I’ll take that bet, currently 49.1%

If he’s over 45% for the year I’ll be ecstatic.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I would hope you win. It will be the greatest shooting season in Vol history if he stays in that range from 3 all season.

Higgins and Lofton twice have both been 44%+ on the season

 

[bleedingTNorange]

If he’s over 45% for the year I’ll be ecstatic.

I think 44-45% is absolutely realistic for him, he’s just too good of a shooter and this offense is balanced to where he continues to get really good looks

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I would hope you win. It will be the greatest shooting season in Vol history if he stays in that range from 3 all season.

Would think Lofton holds that honor, 46.5% from 3 on 6.5 attempts from 3 per game.

 

[Tenacjim]

Well Baylor scored 62 on us
and they scored 91 yesterday
3 games before playing us Baylor scored
104
104
99 vs St John for comparison in our tournament

Exactly. Baylor is still 5th in Offensive Efficiency on KenPom even after we shut them down. That’s a VERY good offense.

 

[VolArmy74]

Higgins and Lofton twice have both been 44%+ on the season

44 I can see. 49 from 3 on his volume would be legendary.

 

[Orangeblooded615]

Man, after last year's game, I can't wait to play Auburn again. Gunna be a great game.

 

[cardvolfan]

1. Workman like performance from the Vols, lead wire to wire and just gradually continued to expand the lead and hold total control all game long. The offense was a bit cold from 3 or it would’ve gotten uglier quicker, but the defense was elite and set a new record for fewest points allowed in TBA at 35, impressive stuff.

2. Lanier & Milicic continue to show they are offensive forces, Lanier is not hesitant about letting it fly and that’s a good thing, he’s efficient enough that that’s what you want, he was a little cold tonight but still gets you 18pts on 16 shots, Igor has a near double double with 9pts and 13rbds, he continues to impress me.

3. Speaking of double doubles, Okpara reached that mark with 10pts 11rbds and threw in 4 blocks in just 21 minutes, thought that was arguably his best showing to date which is a nice trajectory to see. Zeigler almost had himself one also as he finished with 11pt and 9 assists and just 2 turnovers, continuing to put that possible anomaly in the rearview mirror as he takes great care of the ball while still continuing to learn his new teammates.

4. With their performance mixed in with other results around CBB the Vols moved up to #2 nationally on KenPom which is obviously a great feat. They have a Top 10 offense (#9 currently), while not sacrificing on the defensive end as they overtake the top spot and are now the #1 defensive team in the country per KenPom. The balance this team has shown on both ends of the court has really been impressive, the only time Tennessee has had a Top 25 offense under Barnes was the last year of Admiral/Williams/Bone, their offense ranked #3 but their defense that year ranked 42nd, last year with Knecht our offense ranked 28th to end the year and we had the elite defense at #3. All that to say that this team up to this point is showing a balance on both ends that I’m not sure we’ve ever seen from a Barnes team at Tennessee, I’m sure at various times it has been there, I think last year it might’ve sneaked in for a few days, but never have they finished Top 25 on both ends of the court, never mind Top 20, or Top 10 like they currently are. Truly impressive stuff we are seeing as well as unprecedented up to this point.

7. Game deservedly didn’t have much concern, but you move to 7-0 on the year and in convincing fashion, and avoid any potential horrible resume lost, always a good thing. Vols should move up to probably 3 or 4 in the next update to the AP poll and as already addressed currently sit at #2 nationally on KenPom, as good of a start to the year as anyone could’ve hoped for. Your 3 toughest remaining OOC games are all up ahead in order, starting with Syracuse here in Knoxville, they haven’t appeared to be very good and we should be a heavy favorite, but gotta come ready to play, still a P5 team with talent. After that is a neutral site game against Illinois and then the toughest test as we travel to play Illinois, then followed by 3 buy games. Going 2-1 in this 3 game stretch would absolutely be acceptable and still a W to go 12-1 OOC, but definitely feels like if this team continues to play at this level they’ll have a very real shot to go undefeated in OOC and enter SEC play as potentially the #1 team in the country, at worst Top 3.


GBO!!!

I love the past narrative from posters who said you can’t have a really good offense if you play great defense. Kind of debunks that myth.

 

[cardvolfan]

Solid performance tonight. Offense didn’t look that sharp, but I’ll attribute some of that to the bland opponent the day before Thanksgiving. My only concern is while we rebounded exceptionally well, we didn’t really do much scoring damage in the paint. I’m hoping this isn’t a trend. I’d like to see us be balanced on offense and not have to be a 3-point specialist team.

Still a lot of room for this team to improve, which is a good thing this early.

I was concerned about this too until Barnes spoke about it post game. He said he knew going in UTM was going to deny the post and the Vols would be shooting from the perimeter a lot.

 

[VolGee4]

Solid performance tonight. Offense didn’t look that sharp, but I’ll attribute some of that to the bland opponent the day before Thanksgiving. My only concern is while we rebounded exceptionally well, we didn’t really do much scoring damage in the paint. I’m hoping this isn’t a trend. I’d like to see us be balanced on offense and not have to be a 3-point specialist team.

Still a lot of room for this team to improve, which is a good thing this early.

We dominated the paint against Austin Peay. We had like 64 paint points. So, this team is capable.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I love the past narrative from posters who said you can’t have a really good offense if you play great defense. Kind of debunks that myth.

"The game has changed"

 

[Larkin]

1. Workman like performance from the Vols, lead wire to wire and just gradually continued to expand the lead and hold total control all game long. The offense was a bit cold from 3 or it would’ve gotten uglier quicker, but the defense was elite and set a new record for fewest points allowed in TBA at 35, impressive stuff.

2. Lanier & Milicic continue to show they are offensive forces, Lanier is not hesitant about letting it fly and that’s a good thing, he’s efficient enough that that’s what you want, he was a little cold tonight but still gets you 18pts on 16 shots, Igor has a near double double with 9pts and 13rbds, he continues to impress me.

3. Speaking of double doubles, Okpara reached that mark with 10pts 11rbds and threw in 4 blocks in just 21 minutes, thought that was arguably his best showing to date which is a nice trajectory to see. Zeigler almost had himself one also as he finished with 11pt and 9 assists and just 2 turnovers, continuing to put that possible anomaly in the rearview mirror as he takes great care of the ball while still continuing to learn his new teammates.

4. With their performance mixed in with other results around CBB the Vols moved up to #2 nationally on KenPom which is obviously a great feat. They have a Top 10 offense (#9 currently), while not sacrificing on the defensive end as they overtake the top spot and are now the #1 defensive team in the country per KenPom. The balance this team has shown on both ends of the court has really been impressive, the only time Tennessee has had a Top 25 offense under Barnes was the last year of Admiral/Williams/Bone, their offense ranked #3 but their defense that year ranked 42nd, last year with Knecht our offense ranked 28th to end the year and we had the elite defense at #3. All that to say that this team up to this point is showing a balance on both ends that I’m not sure we’ve ever seen from a Barnes team at Tennessee, I’m sure at various times it has been there, I think last year it might’ve sneaked in for a few days, but never have they finished Top 25 on both ends of the court, never mind Top 20, or Top 10 like they currently are. Truly impressive stuff we are seeing as well as unprecedented up to this point.

7. Game deservedly didn’t have much concern, but you move to 7-0 on the year and in convincing fashion, and avoid any potential horrible resume lost, always a good thing. Vols should move up to probably 3 or 4 in the next update to the AP poll and as already addressed currently sit at #2 nationally on KenPom, as good of a start to the year as anyone could’ve hoped for. Your 3 toughest remaining OOC games are all up ahead in order, starting with Syracuse here in Knoxville, they haven’t appeared to be very good and we should be a heavy favorite, but gotta come ready to play, still a P5 team with talent. After that is a neutral site game against Illinois and then the toughest test as we travel to play Illinois, then followed by 3 buy games. Going 2-1 in this 3 game stretch would absolutely be acceptable and still a W to go 12-1 OOC, but definitely feels like if this team continues to play at this level they’ll have a very real shot to go undefeated in OOC and enter SEC play as potentially the #1 team in the country, at worst Top 3.


GBO!!!

@bleedingTNorange how much fun are we having so far? I love seeing these kids develop and with Dubar starting to show his value with Phillips giving solid minutes and a very confident attitude, this is a dangerous team. Watching a lot of college basketball lately and I'm thinking how they would play against our defense and it just makes me smile.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

@bleedingTNorange how much fun are we having so far? I love seeing these kids develop and with Dubar starting to show his value with Phillips giving solid minutes and a very confident attitude, this is a dangerous team. Watching a lot of college basketball lately and I'm thinking how they would play against our defense and it just makes me smile.

The defense is very good, obviously, this is among the more versatile and balanced teams Barnes has had, on both ends. They can play small and be effective defensively, or they can play big and be just as effective, Mashack and Igor are key pieces to that puzzle, both are very good and versatile on both ends.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

I like the team, but still can’t get a read on where we are on the spectrum of good to great. I think Illinois looks like our first test. They’re a solid well-coached team. I can see us handling the first part of our conference schedule well, and entering the murderer’s row of January 21-28 ranked in the top five. That run of games will determine where we sit in the conference and give us a good look at how we’ll fare in Match.

 

[Dr H Lecter]

I like the team, but still can’t get a read on where we are on the spectrum of good to great. I think Illinois looks like our first test. They’re a solid well-coached team. I can see us handling the first part of our conference schedule well, and entering the murderer’s row of January 21-28 ranked in the top five. That run of games will determine where we sit in the conference and give us a good look at how we’ll fare in Match.

I’m much the same. We look so good on defense that it’s scary. And our offense overall looks really good and balanced. But I’ve been watching a lot of basketball, and nearly every SEC team looks much improved. This will be a great season to watch SEC basketball with several teams capable of winning the whole thing, including Tennessee. I’m amazed at Barnes’s ability to build a team.

 

[cncchris33]

I like the team, but still can’t get a read on where we are on the spectrum of good to great. I think Illinois looks like our first test. They’re a solid well-coached team. I can see us handling the first part of our conference schedule well, and entering the murderer’s row of January 21-28 ranked in the top five. That run of games will determine where we sit in the conference and give us a good look at how we’ll fare in Match.

I agree. I think Baylor was a legit test, though. Not so sure Louisville wasn't. Hostile early road game against what is, it turns out, maybe a pretty good team.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

I agree. I think Baylor was a legit test, though. Not so sure Louisville wasn't. Hostile early road game against what is, it turns out, maybe a pretty good team.

I don’t disagree. Baylor may be one of the most talented teams in the country. They haven’t put it together yet. We made them very uncomfortable, and that was encouraging. Illinois just looked good against Alabama and Arkansas (known commodities to us) and I think they’re a step up in maturity and team development. I think we’re very good. I think we might be great eventually. I haven’t seen what a talented big or a great defensive team does to our game. I’m waiting for some more data before I start escorting us into the championship game. You’re right that we will/should get credit for Baylor and Louisville as meaningful wins. I hope they’re a part of many more.