bleedingTNorange
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1. Quite the tale of two halves, but it resulted in a W and that’s obviously waists most important, no matter how ugly it may be. Missouri clearly wanted to muddy the game up, be physical and see how we reacted, in the first half it felt like nobody except Awaka was ready for it. Made adjustments at the half and while the final score made it look closer than it was that was a solid 2nd half from Tennessee winning it 46-38.
2. Not sure if it was the quick turnaround, or playing on the road, or facing a win less team or all of the above, but that was a disappointing team that opened the game. That’s a bad Missouri team and they were in it simply due to effort and physicality, we compounded that with horrible shooting, including at the FT line, too many turnovers and bad rebounding as well. That’s a bad recipe and how you find yourself down on the road to a winless team, but again credit for the Vols for coming back and not suffering a horrible loss.
3. We’ve seen teams try and physical/muddy the game up and us struggle, so not a shock that Missouri did just that, I thought Barnes was slow on the adjustments but credit for going to them and sticking. JJJ was horrible this game and couldn’t handle the physicality, he was removed early in the second half in lieu of a 2 big lineup and playing Tobe Awaka who you can county on bringing the physicality, which he did just that. Aidoo also had a great second half after I’m guessing he was ripped at halftime, Knecht competed all night and after a bad first half Zeigler also responded well in the second half. Barnes has options on that bench, Mashack and Awaka are better suited for physical games than JJJ, that’s a luxury to have, but don’t hesitate to make the move, against a better team it could cost you.
4. Speaking of Awaka, what a great game from him, 22mins 18pts 10rbd 6-8fg 6-7ft, he was a major difference maker and I’m not sure we win that game without him, and he committed just 2 fouls allowing Barnes to play him 13/20 minutes in the second half. Certain games are going to suit him better, but again having him as your backup 5 and able to come in as a physical 4 is a nice luxury to have.
5. I don’t want to beat a dead horse, however we’ve seen this theme so much in tourney losses or big games to where we can’t hit a shot, Santi & JJJ disappear and you’re left wondering how well possibly score or will we be sent home. We’ve seen it a few times this year already and so that’s why we all get nervous watching it, but seeing the move to Awaka, seeing Knecht keep on pressing knowing his shots will eventually fall, Aidoo bringing his game that second half and Zeigler not backing down is a great sign. JJJ & Santi again pretty much no showed offensively, and nobody is going to feel confident that that won’t happen again, and maybe at the most important time, but again that’s where seeing Zeigler, Knecht, Aidoo & tonight Awaka is a little reason for optimism. When the going gets tough, which it has at times, they’re hopefully finding ways to get some buckets and get things going.
6. Big picture that was a game you sure didn’t want to drop, and they didn’t, so no harm done. Come home Saturday for a rematch with a struggling Texas A&M team and a chance to make it 4 games in a row as they enter the much talked about rough 4 game stretch to close out the season. A win Saturday and it really makes a 2 seed all that much more likely with an outside shot at still fighting for a 1 seed, would also build up some additional hype for the following game when Auburn comes to town the following week.
GBO!!!
2. Not sure if it was the quick turnaround, or playing on the road, or facing a win less team or all of the above, but that was a disappointing team that opened the game. That’s a bad Missouri team and they were in it simply due to effort and physicality, we compounded that with horrible shooting, including at the FT line, too many turnovers and bad rebounding as well. That’s a bad recipe and how you find yourself down on the road to a winless team, but again credit for the Vols for coming back and not suffering a horrible loss.
3. We’ve seen teams try and physical/muddy the game up and us struggle, so not a shock that Missouri did just that, I thought Barnes was slow on the adjustments but credit for going to them and sticking. JJJ was horrible this game and couldn’t handle the physicality, he was removed early in the second half in lieu of a 2 big lineup and playing Tobe Awaka who you can county on bringing the physicality, which he did just that. Aidoo also had a great second half after I’m guessing he was ripped at halftime, Knecht competed all night and after a bad first half Zeigler also responded well in the second half. Barnes has options on that bench, Mashack and Awaka are better suited for physical games than JJJ, that’s a luxury to have, but don’t hesitate to make the move, against a better team it could cost you.
4. Speaking of Awaka, what a great game from him, 22mins 18pts 10rbd 6-8fg 6-7ft, he was a major difference maker and I’m not sure we win that game without him, and he committed just 2 fouls allowing Barnes to play him 13/20 minutes in the second half. Certain games are going to suit him better, but again having him as your backup 5 and able to come in as a physical 4 is a nice luxury to have.
5. I don’t want to beat a dead horse, however we’ve seen this theme so much in tourney losses or big games to where we can’t hit a shot, Santi & JJJ disappear and you’re left wondering how well possibly score or will we be sent home. We’ve seen it a few times this year already and so that’s why we all get nervous watching it, but seeing the move to Awaka, seeing Knecht keep on pressing knowing his shots will eventually fall, Aidoo bringing his game that second half and Zeigler not backing down is a great sign. JJJ & Santi again pretty much no showed offensively, and nobody is going to feel confident that that won’t happen again, and maybe at the most important time, but again that’s where seeing Zeigler, Knecht, Aidoo & tonight Awaka is a little reason for optimism. When the going gets tough, which it has at times, they’re hopefully finding ways to get some buckets and get things going.
6. Big picture that was a game you sure didn’t want to drop, and they didn’t, so no harm done. Come home Saturday for a rematch with a struggling Texas A&M team and a chance to make it 4 games in a row as they enter the much talked about rough 4 game stretch to close out the season. A win Saturday and it really makes a 2 seed all that much more likely with an outside shot at still fighting for a 1 seed, would also build up some additional hype for the following game when Auburn comes to town the following week.
GBO!!!
