bleedingTNorange
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- Jan 9, 2012
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On Kenny Hall's situation:
"Kenny Hall, his status is day-to-day. It is whenever I decided to bring him back, if I bring him back this season."
On the team's ball-handling and shooting at Alabama:
"It is just a case of, when you watch film, we were 4-of-20 from three. We missed about 12 really good looks from three - that's part of it. When you miss those shots, they were good shots; it wasn't like they were forced shots. When you miss those shots, that is part of the game. We didn't do a very good job of handling the press, especially the second half. We work on dribbling up the court and back and that crossover, making moves; we do it every day against any press. We didn't do a good job of handling the press. We weren't in the right rotations. In the second half, we weren't aggressive as far as attacking the rim against their press. But you have to give those guys credit in making the next rotation. We did do a very good job of handling, especially our best two guys, as far as handing the ball - Trae (Golden) and Jeronne (Maymon). When those two guys are not handling it well, it's going to be a long night."
On Maymon reaching is full potential:
"He is getting there. We went back and forth yesterday talking on the phone. For him it is just the next step. I actually watched Draymond Green at Michigan State, because I had him at the World University Games, he is a very talented player. He and Jeronne are very similar. I think right now he has a better shot from the perimeter than Jeronne and I think Jeronne is probably better defending other areas. They are very similar. The only key right now is Draymond has a better stroke from the 3-point line."
On how Maymon will get to his fullest potential:
"Really I want Jeronne to be Jeronne Maymon. I think he can be great at being that. But I have talked to him about expanding his game from the 3-point line since Day 1, just really improving his 3-point shot because he is a good ball-handler he can take big guys and can take guards off the dribble. But now it is about taking care of the basketball more than anything. Because he can make good decisions, but just not turning the ball over. I have said since day one that the next phase for his game is really knocking that 3-point shot down. He doesn't have to shoot five or six a game, just one or two, loosen up the defense. Also going off the dribble and making plays, because he has a variety of moves, facing up, backing guys down. He is a good basketball player."
On evidence Maymon can hit 3-pointers:
"Oh, yes. He knocks it down in practice. But he plays to his strengths. It took me three years of college to really feel confident on knocking 3-point shots down and shooting consistently. It is a confident level for him and what he feels. It is not like I'm forcing him to take and make shots. It's when he feels comfortable shooting the ball. We will spend a lot of time this spring and summer getting his shot down from the 3-point line. If he can knock that top of the key three down with his ability to go off the dribble, he will be tough to defend. He is tough now."
On the team's improvement during the SEC season:
"I just think time; consistently working on the things it takes to be a good team. Our approach is the same stuff we preach on defense; the guys just finally figured it out. We are on pace to be one of the best, in Tennessee history, to hold teams to a defensive scoring percentage in SEC play. It is consistently doing the things we preach every day. I think the guys, I wouldn't really saying buying in, but believing and understanding the importance of defending at a high level. You can still play offense, you can still score, you can still shoot the ball, you can still play offensively, but you have to be able to defend at a high level. The best team in the country is one of the best defensive teams in the country right now. They don't average 90 points a game, but they defend at a high level."
On the offense's play affecting the defense:
"When watching film, we didn't defend well at all. That is the great thing about our guys - they understand it before I say it. I didn't have to say it after the game; they didn't feel like we defended well. Those are the strides we have made as a team. There was a lot of breakdown from our standpoint finishing box outs, chasing rebounds, rotating on drives. We did a poor job defending. We are still working toward being an elite defensive team, and I don't think we are there yet."
On Golden's performance at Alabama:
"He didn't play bad against Alabama; the turnovers were bad. What I talked to him about more than anything was that was the first game, outside of those four that we won, that he wasn't as vocal on both ends of the floor. Not necessarily his production on the floor but he wasn't as vocal as we needed him to be and that he's been in the past four games."
On seeing more zone from Mississippi:
"When you watch them on film, they kind of play what works. If the zone is working, they'll stick with it. If their man is working, they'll stick with that as well. But for us, we're a little bit better at home against the zone with our cutting and moving, and also having confidence to take and make shots."
On McRae's progression this season:
"He's done a good job of getting better. We need him to be confident to score, making and taking good shots, being aggressive, not necessarily settling for a lot of perimeter shots but also attacking off the dribble. You know, cutting through the lane. Not necessarily posting up but getting around the rim and making plays, going to the offensive glass - because he has a variety of moves. He's gotten a lot better. But his approach in practice has gotten better so that's why he's better."
On McRae taking pride on defense and not letting his offense affect the rest of his game:
"He's smart enough to say it. No, he's done a good job. He has. It takes time. He's a guy who's been built to score all his life. His ability to defend is blocking shots and gambling and trying to get steals. For us, we need him to be strong and fight through ball screens, to be tough, to rebound. And he's done a good job rebounding. It's just him really taking pride in doing those things because it's not like he didn't have the ability to do it. It's just a matter of him doing it and understanding that in order for him to play, this is what he has to do."
On how many SEC teams will land in the NCAA tournament:
"Right now, you would probably say on paper maybe five, six. The guys, just on paper and I haven't done a lot of homework with RPIs and all that, you've got Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt. Alabama is one of those teams, and Mississippi State - so there are five bona fides regardless of what happens unless somebody falls completely on their face. There are five legit, and outside of that you've got other teams hovering in there if they can win some games down the stretch and also play well in the tournament.
On Tennessee being one of those teams hovering:
"I think so, if we're consistently doing what we need to do. But it's one game at a time. We've got a ways to go. It's finishing strong and also winning games in the tournament."
:hi:
"Kenny Hall, his status is day-to-day. It is whenever I decided to bring him back, if I bring him back this season."
On the team's ball-handling and shooting at Alabama:
"It is just a case of, when you watch film, we were 4-of-20 from three. We missed about 12 really good looks from three - that's part of it. When you miss those shots, they were good shots; it wasn't like they were forced shots. When you miss those shots, that is part of the game. We didn't do a very good job of handling the press, especially the second half. We work on dribbling up the court and back and that crossover, making moves; we do it every day against any press. We didn't do a good job of handling the press. We weren't in the right rotations. In the second half, we weren't aggressive as far as attacking the rim against their press. But you have to give those guys credit in making the next rotation. We did do a very good job of handling, especially our best two guys, as far as handing the ball - Trae (Golden) and Jeronne (Maymon). When those two guys are not handling it well, it's going to be a long night."
On Maymon reaching is full potential:
"He is getting there. We went back and forth yesterday talking on the phone. For him it is just the next step. I actually watched Draymond Green at Michigan State, because I had him at the World University Games, he is a very talented player. He and Jeronne are very similar. I think right now he has a better shot from the perimeter than Jeronne and I think Jeronne is probably better defending other areas. They are very similar. The only key right now is Draymond has a better stroke from the 3-point line."
On how Maymon will get to his fullest potential:
"Really I want Jeronne to be Jeronne Maymon. I think he can be great at being that. But I have talked to him about expanding his game from the 3-point line since Day 1, just really improving his 3-point shot because he is a good ball-handler he can take big guys and can take guards off the dribble. But now it is about taking care of the basketball more than anything. Because he can make good decisions, but just not turning the ball over. I have said since day one that the next phase for his game is really knocking that 3-point shot down. He doesn't have to shoot five or six a game, just one or two, loosen up the defense. Also going off the dribble and making plays, because he has a variety of moves, facing up, backing guys down. He is a good basketball player."
On evidence Maymon can hit 3-pointers:
"Oh, yes. He knocks it down in practice. But he plays to his strengths. It took me three years of college to really feel confident on knocking 3-point shots down and shooting consistently. It is a confident level for him and what he feels. It is not like I'm forcing him to take and make shots. It's when he feels comfortable shooting the ball. We will spend a lot of time this spring and summer getting his shot down from the 3-point line. If he can knock that top of the key three down with his ability to go off the dribble, he will be tough to defend. He is tough now."
On the team's improvement during the SEC season:
"I just think time; consistently working on the things it takes to be a good team. Our approach is the same stuff we preach on defense; the guys just finally figured it out. We are on pace to be one of the best, in Tennessee history, to hold teams to a defensive scoring percentage in SEC play. It is consistently doing the things we preach every day. I think the guys, I wouldn't really saying buying in, but believing and understanding the importance of defending at a high level. You can still play offense, you can still score, you can still shoot the ball, you can still play offensively, but you have to be able to defend at a high level. The best team in the country is one of the best defensive teams in the country right now. They don't average 90 points a game, but they defend at a high level."
On the offense's play affecting the defense:
"When watching film, we didn't defend well at all. That is the great thing about our guys - they understand it before I say it. I didn't have to say it after the game; they didn't feel like we defended well. Those are the strides we have made as a team. There was a lot of breakdown from our standpoint finishing box outs, chasing rebounds, rotating on drives. We did a poor job defending. We are still working toward being an elite defensive team, and I don't think we are there yet."
On Golden's performance at Alabama:
"He didn't play bad against Alabama; the turnovers were bad. What I talked to him about more than anything was that was the first game, outside of those four that we won, that he wasn't as vocal on both ends of the floor. Not necessarily his production on the floor but he wasn't as vocal as we needed him to be and that he's been in the past four games."
On seeing more zone from Mississippi:
"When you watch them on film, they kind of play what works. If the zone is working, they'll stick with it. If their man is working, they'll stick with that as well. But for us, we're a little bit better at home against the zone with our cutting and moving, and also having confidence to take and make shots."
On McRae's progression this season:
"He's done a good job of getting better. We need him to be confident to score, making and taking good shots, being aggressive, not necessarily settling for a lot of perimeter shots but also attacking off the dribble. You know, cutting through the lane. Not necessarily posting up but getting around the rim and making plays, going to the offensive glass - because he has a variety of moves. He's gotten a lot better. But his approach in practice has gotten better so that's why he's better."
On McRae taking pride on defense and not letting his offense affect the rest of his game:
"He's smart enough to say it. No, he's done a good job. He has. It takes time. He's a guy who's been built to score all his life. His ability to defend is blocking shots and gambling and trying to get steals. For us, we need him to be strong and fight through ball screens, to be tough, to rebound. And he's done a good job rebounding. It's just him really taking pride in doing those things because it's not like he didn't have the ability to do it. It's just a matter of him doing it and understanding that in order for him to play, this is what he has to do."
On how many SEC teams will land in the NCAA tournament:
"Right now, you would probably say on paper maybe five, six. The guys, just on paper and I haven't done a lot of homework with RPIs and all that, you've got Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt. Alabama is one of those teams, and Mississippi State - so there are five bona fides regardless of what happens unless somebody falls completely on their face. There are five legit, and outside of that you've got other teams hovering in there if they can win some games down the stretch and also play well in the tournament.
On Tennessee being one of those teams hovering:
"I think so, if we're consistently doing what we need to do. But it's one game at a time. We've got a ways to go. It's finishing strong and also winning games in the tournament."
:hi:
