Can we win 2 more ?

[BernardKingGOAT]

If we lost to Bama and UK that would be severely deflating....

Yes, I agree. It's more likely in a binary scenario that we would beat both of them rather than losing to both of them, if you exclude the split. We've beaten both of them, rather handily too. We have handed both of them their asses on a silver platter. We went for 100+ in Rupp. Beat Bama by 20 in TBA. We certainly could lose both but it's not likely

 

[Jimmyandjoes]

We are better than all the remaining teams we play. Do we play better? I hope we are gaining momentum, consistency,and camaraderie down the stretch so that we play consistently. If we get beat by a team that shoots better that day-so be it. It happens. We're a vet heavy,more experienced, better team overall. Let's go play like it and snatch these fools souls!

 

[VolCalls]

I think we beat Auburn by 8-10 points, lose at Bama, beat SCAR by double digits, and the UK game goes down to the wire (50/50).

 

[Sarms58]

We’ll struggle against anyone who comes prepared to play serious defense…that wasn’t Kentucky or Alabama last time we played - they played token D and tried to outscore us. We smoked ‘em. In a fast paced, high scoring game, I’ll take the Vols to win every game remaining.

 

[ZZ13]

Context is important - we had lost our point guard to a season ending knee injury and we’re trying to replace him with our defensive specialist.

That is a good point. Interestingly I haven’t found anyone in the media writing about the SEC race to the finish line (maybe I just missed it). It could be a compelling story since Tennessee plays everyone they are fighting it out with. However, Lots and lots of articles out there discussing what a win here or a loss there does to a teams standing for the NCAAT. So besides interesting, I guess this thread is necessary to do the media’s job for them.

I’ll go with 2-2. Win one on the road we don’t expect and lose one at home we don’t like.

 

[Namorto1]

Approaching tournament time, I really just want to play well, win or lose and play a complete 40 minutes of solid basketball. A&M was a good start and we carved them up to the point where they quit. I don't expect Jaylin Williams will be available for Auburn which should be detrimental on the road, but they were impressive in Athens on Saturday and got contributions from unsung players in many areas and shot lights out from perimeter which is unusual for this squad.

Will be interesting how we defend Broome. He is the best post Aidoo will have seen since Tolu Smith and we need him to try and play him even in the paint. Big test for him if we elect to play him straight up. If so, he needs to take away that baseline. Aidoo and Awaka in the game at the same time has worked well these past 2 games and hope it continues vs necessarily trying to match up with Auburn's personnel who will spread the floor out. I hope we continue to try and push tempo off Auburn misses and not worry about their depth. ZZ and Knecht in open court should cause them problems.

 

[berryvol]

Interesting thread. Sweating out the last four games of the regular season. I’ll be honest. I find them totally irrelevant in the current NCAA basketball model. It’s all about your performance in the NCAAT and most everything else is a far second. And we are solidly in the tournament so play out the string and let’s get that tournament rolling. Did anyone here really care that we were like 4-6 at the end of the regular season last year, after we beat Duke? Probably not. Mostly just were upset we then lost to FAU and didn’t give the regular season a second thought.

This is a misinformed comment, at best. The way we perform during the rest of the regular season and the entirety of the regular season has a direct impact on the tourney - 1 and 2 seeds account for an insanely high number of final four teams historically. If we want to have better matchups and be better equipped for the tourney run we all want, these upcoming games are the opposite of “totally irrelevant”.

 

[berryvol]

Approaching tournament time, I really just want to play well, win or lose and play a complete 40 minutes of solid basketball. A&M was a good start and we carved them up to the point where they quit. I don't expect Jaylin Williams will be available for Auburn which should be detrimental on the road, but they were impressive in Athens on Saturday and got contributions from unsung players in many areas and shot lights out from perimeter which is unusual for this squad.

Will be interesting how we defend Broome. He is the best post Aidoo will have seen since Tolu Smith and we need him to try and play him even in the paint. Big test for him if we elect to play him straight up. If so, he needs to take away that baseline. Aidoo and Awaka in the game at the same time has worked well these past 2 games and hope it continues vs necessarily trying to match up with Auburn's personnel who will spread the floor out. I hope we continue to try and push tempo off Auburn misses and not worry about their depth. ZZ and Knecht in open court should cause them problems.

Agree entirely with your second paragraph. If Aidoo brings it on Wednesday, I don’t see much of a path to victory for Auburn, outside of a complete fluke/aberration shooting performance. If he doesn’t play well, I think Awaka is a solid match for Broome on the glass - but Broome could use his side and skills on the perimeter to win that matchup. Aidoo is massive in that one.

 

[StarRaider]

3-1 is most probable but 2-2 wouldn’t shock me.
Imo, we will be a two seed unless we run the table, which is unlikely.

Agree with this... maybe I should start a new thread every time my brain synapsis complete a thought like the op lol

 

[VOLtaism]

I'm just glad I get to watch these last 4 huge games. Versus the first time we played these last 3 teams, Aido is playing more aggressively offensively, it looks like Awaka has figured out when he goes to the basket the opponents move, and Ziegler is playing with his hair on fire. I think they take the SEC championship. I would hate to be Auburn coming to Knoxville with 4 SEC losses needing a win to stay in the top 4.

 

[vol94]

Interesting thread. Sweating out the last four games of the regular season. I’ll be honest. I find them totally irrelevant in the current NCAA basketball model. It’s all about your performance in the NCAAT and most everything else is a far second. And we are solidly in the tournament so play out the string and let’s get that tournament rolling. Did anyone here really care that we were like 4-6 at the end of the regular season last year, after we beat Duke? Probably not. Mostly just were upset we then lost to FAU and didn’t give the regular season a second thought.

True. I can’t recall the stats but usually hot teams (FAU) do more damage in the tourney. Now, UCONN was the exception last yr. I don’t think conf tournaments mean squat beyond the champion receiving automatic bid.

 

[VolCalls]

True. I can’t recall the stats but usually hot teams (FAU) do more damage in the tourney. Now, UCONN was the exception last yr. I don’t think conf tournaments mean squat beyond the champion receiving automatic bid.

I’d say UCONN was hot going into the tourney last year. They had won 9 of 10 and lost to Marquette, who ended up a #2 seed in the Dance, by two in the Big East semis after the Huskies missed a game-winning 3 at the buzzer.

 

[berryvol]

I’d say UCONN was hot going into the tourney last year. They had won 9 of 10 and lost to Marquette, who ended up a #2 seed in the Dance, by two in the Big East semis after the Huskies missed a game-winning 3 at the buzzer.

People also forget that UConn, as a 4 seed, only played 1 higher seeded team than them all tournament (Zags 3 seed in E8). Outside of being a top 2 seed and getting better matchups the natural way, so much luck is involved in making a run. They were hot to end the year, but got an insanely good draw every single round, even in the championship game.

 

[VolCalls]

People also forget that UConn, as a 4 seed, only played 1 higher seeded team than them all tournament (Zags 3 seed in E8). Outside of being a top 2 seed and getting better matchups the natural way, so much luck is involved in making a run. They were hot to end the year, but got an insanely good draw every single round, even in the championship game.

All true.

 

[Pete Carpet]

Love your handle. The younger ones on here just don't know how true that is. KING of the Volunteers!

 

[Hoosier_Vol]

 

[vol94]

I’d say UCONN was hot going into the tourney last year. They had won 9 of 10 and lost to Marquette, who ended up a #2 seed in the Dance, by two in the Big East semis after the Huskies missed a game-winning 3 at the buzzer.

I thought Barnes said they lost like three out of five or something to that manner. Anyway, this is our best chance to make the finals. Post play is concerning but but Audi and Awaka have improved. If not this yr, I don’t know if it’ll happen in my life time. Go Vols!

 

[VOLnMiami]

Kentucky beat an alabama team who can not play defense, We exposed them the last time we played them..Kentucky just took advantage of them...Kentucky still doesn't show me much...Weak on defense, They give up a lot of points....Auburn is honestly the only team that worries me.

 

[Namorto1]

Better seeding is always the goal as it can help us win games against lessor opponents when we may not be on our A game. Regardless of where we get seeded, Barnes really deserves a break in the tournament. Considering UT's recent experiences:
Last year, we don't lose to FAU in my opinion if ZZ was on the floor at PG.
In 2018-19, that agonizing foul against LaMonte Turner with 2 seconds left, when 3 things had to go in Purdue's favor in that instance (1: took longer than 5 seconds to inbound the ball; 2: Edwards may very well have stepped out of bounds with his right heel; and 3: did he kick out his leg and get the foul) cost Barnes a trip to the Elite 8.
In 2017-2018, we don't lose to Loyola Chicago if Kyle Alexander was available.

I really like this squad and they have already given us some great moments, but it would get lost in the history of disappointments if we can't make it out of the Sweet 16. Such a disappointment would be moderated if we can win the SEC regular season championship, so let's take care of that these last 4 games. On the whole, Knecht just makes us different this year. We have enough parts with really strong PG play and emerging consistent post play to make this the best UT basketball season ever.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I know. I’m saying I don’t believe for a second SC wins their other 3 games and I don’t want to lose to UK. So, I’m fine with losing to SC if that’s our only loss. I bet SC loses in College Station this week. Feel pretty confident in that fact. A&M is a solid team and can’t see them losing 5 in a row.

Yeah, after smoking UK in Rupp I think splitting with them wouldn’t be the worst thing. South Carolina though I wanna crush them similar to what A&M got.

Auburn and Bama are the only 2 teams I think have a real shot at winning SEC regular season besides us. I think South Carolina will loses 2 of their last 4. But we legit could be the only team left to beat either team from Alabama.

 

[VolCalls]

Kentucky beat an alabama team who can not play defense, We exposed them the last time we played them..Kentucky just took advantage of them...Kentucky still doesn't show me much...Weak on defense, They give up a lot of points....Auburn is honestly the only team that worries me.

You are much more confident than most people. Alabama and Kentucky will be out for blood. The only game of these last four that doesn’t worry me is South Carolina, because we’ll be out for revenge.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Also wants to start threads about Aidoo leaving, seems a bit like either a super over the top nega or a troll.

….checking out of this one.

 

[Mccage]

Kentucky looks incredible now finally with all that talent. Bama will be fired up at home after their embarrassing loss. SC at SC won't be easy. Pearl has our number it seems plus they are so physical

Is this suppose to be blue font or is your fandom a little blue?

 

[omghulkhands]

Kentucky looks incredible now finally with all that talent.

My brother in Christ, they lost to LSU 5 days ago

 

[cncchris33]

My brother in Christ, they lost to LSU 5 days ago

Prisoner of the moment mentality, I'd guess.

When UK is on and their offense is clicking, it's easy to get distracted by the shiny trinkets their offense provides. I hate UK with the heat of a thousand suns, but I've been one of their biggest proponents this season because they have so much to offer when everything clicks. Their talent is undeniable. But as I've come to accept, they just won't play defense on a consistent basis, and all the offense in the world can't mask that deficiency without a ton of luck across 6 games in the NCAAT.

Like you mentioned, they just lost to a pitiful LSU team and they are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Even though they beat the brakes off of Alabama, they still have up 95 points. They showed glimpses of defensive life against Auburn and Ole Miss, but looked like a layup line against Bama. They've given up 85 points 7 times in 15 games since the start of conference play.