Does Springer make a difference?

[Thunder Good-Oil]

IMO, no doubt about it. Defenses are attacking TN by pushing Fulkerson away from the basket and playing tight on the perimeter. Springer, more than any other player, would exploit that defensive philosophy.

Keon and JJJ should be taking advantage of those defenses as well. They should improve if it continues. Barnes said in the Missouri post game that he told JJJ and Pons to shoot the ball.

Vescovi can get around that type of pressure defense but hasn’t been able to do much near the basket.

Springer has the quickness to easily get into the paint and the ability to finish.

There’s a reason Springer is often mentioned as a lottery pick. He’s TN’s biggest threat on offense and it’s really not close. Bad offense breeds bad defense.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Pretty obvious from the past 2 games he makes a huge difference. We've got a talented team but not talented enough where you can lose a lottery talent and not experience a significant dip...

Don't think Mizzou's shooting would have been as good if Springer was out there last night.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Aren’t we undefeated with him and winless without him?

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Aren’t we undefeated with him and winless without him?

Essentially yes, Springer played 4 minutes or so against Bama before he got hurt. We miss his athleticism guarding the perimeter more than anything.

 

[USAFgolferVol]

IMO, no doubt about it. Defenses are attacking TN by pushing Fulkerson away from the basket and playing tight on the perimeter. Springer, more than any other player, would exploit that defensive philosophy.

Keon and JJJ should be taking advantage of those defenses as well. They should improve if it continues. Barnes said in the Missouri post game that he told JJJ and Pons to shoot the ball.

Vescovi can get around that type of pressure defense but hasn’t been able to do much near the basket.

Springer has the quickness to easily get into the paint and the ability to finish.

There’s a reason Springer is often mentioned as a lottery pick. He’s TN’s biggest threat on offense and it’s really not close. Bad offense breeds bad defense.

Keon's the 2nd best player on the team. This team will will go as they go. It's their team

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Keon's the 2nd best player on the team. This team will will go as they go. It's their team

Keon’s defense is much further along than his offense. Not having Springer as a scoring threat is killing this team. It’s much easier to play defense after making baskets than after making turnovers. Also, Ticket is a pretty good defender that can fill the absence of Springer on that end of the court. We need Springer on the floor to elevate the offense. He’s probably the fastest player for TN as well. He’s probably the best of the 5 options at bringing the ball across mid court.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Essentially yes, Springer played 4 minutes or so against Bama before he got hurt. We miss his athleticism guarding the perimeter more than anything.

Ticket and Johnson can play defense. This team needs an elite offensive threat which when we have one lots of opportunities are created for the rest that are on the floor. Springer would have been the best option to slow down Xavier Pinson, though. Also Petty, Appleby, Mann, and Locke.

 

[vflgolfer]

When do we expect Springer to be back in the line up? What’s his injury?

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

When do we expect Springer to be back in the line up? What’s his injury?

Barnes said in the Missouri pregame radio interview that Springer was going to be a game time decision after seeing how he was during warmups. It’s best to let him continue to sit if it gets him back closer to full speed for the post season. He was initially injured on 1/2/21 and at that time it was suggested that he could be out for 3 weeks. But he has since re-aggravated his ankle (versus Vandy iirc).

 

[VolPack22]

He’s only a freshman but is the most polished all-around player on the team. He is the X factor.

 

[vflgolfer]

Barnes said in the Missouri pregame radio interview that Springer was going to be a game time decision after seeing how he was during warmups. It’s best to let him continue to sit if it gets him back closer to full speed for the post season. He was initially injured on 1/2/21 and at that time it was suggested that he could be out for 3 weeks. But he has since re-aggravated his ankle (versus Vandy iirc).

Thanks! Ankle sprains can linger if they are treated appropriately.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

He’s only a freshman but is the most polished all-around player on the team. He is the X factor.

Both Springer and Johnson were brought along slowly early on. They’re getting thrown into the fire and TN will only be able to meet expectations if they live up to the hype. I’m refilling my prescription for hopeium.

 

[i2amavol]

It is becoming more and more obvious that this team goes as the freshmen go, and Springer is by far the more important of the two, no matter what people say about potential.

 

[golfballs]

Jaden on vs off

 

[Fullfillmer]

IMO, no doubt about it. Defenses are attacking TN by pushing Fulkerson away from the basket and playing tight on the perimeter. Springer, more than any other player, would exploit that defensive philosophy.

Keon and JJJ should be taking advantage of those defenses as well. They should improve if it continues. Barnes said in the Missouri post game that he told JJJ and Pons to shoot the ball.

Vescovi can get around that type of pressure defense but hasn’t been able to do much near the basket.

Springer has the quickness to easily get into the paint and the ability to finish.

There’s a reason Springer is often mentioned as a lottery pick. He’s TN’s biggest threat on offense and it’s really not close. Bad offense breeds bad defense.

We really have 3 people that can generate their own opportunities and offense and take people off of the dribble. Springer being one of three. Springer is critical at this point to multiple aspects of what we try to do, so when he is out we are dramatically weaker particularly against the Alabama's and Missouri's out there.
We are not getting into our offense quick enough - Springer is one of two guards that are great penetrators. Also, he is physically bigger and stronger that other options and more than holds his own rebounding and defending. We could have used him last night.
The biggest takeaway for me is that we seem to be a finess team with finess players and opponents are pushing our guards further out, filling the passing lanes, anticipating what we are doing and just overall roughing us up. Fulkerson spends more time on the floor than on the court and Pons is Pons. Missouri played well, but that was the exact formula that Alabama used against us. Isolate their quickest guy against us and have him shoot layups, threes, or penetrate and dish to a wide open guy for an uncontested 3.

Keon and Springer are phenominal athletes and players but neither is a true point guard - we have four shooting guards and zero point guards. We have got to shut down the opposing pg's penetration. I think the zone looked promising and there may be times and situations where we have to play it.
Keon and Springer are already worlds better at dribbling and distribution and at covering defensively than they were week 1- but all four guards must get better defensively still.

We will get better and just having Springer available is worth 8 to 12 overall points imho.

I still feel like Pons should never take a three - that's just playing bad percentages that will catch up to you.

 

[cardvolfan]

We really have 3 people that can generate their own opportunities and offense and take people off of the dribble. Springer being one of three. Springer is critical at this point to multiple aspects of what we try to do, so when he is out we are dramatically weaker particularly against the Alabama's and Missouri's out there.
We are not getting into our offense quick enough - Springer is one of two guards that are great penetrators. Also, he is physically bigger and stronger that other options and more than holds his own rebounding and defending. We could have used him last night.
The biggest takeaway for me is that we seem to be a finess team with finess players and opponents are pushing our guards further out, filling the passing lanes, anticipating what we are doing and just overall roughing us up. Fulkerson spends more time on the floor than on the court and Pons is Pons. Missouri played well, but that was the exact formula that Alabama used against us. Isolate their quickest guy against us and have him shoot layups, threes, or penetrate and dish to a wide open guy for an uncontested 3.

Keon and Springer are phenominal athletes and players but neither is a true point guard - we have four shooting guards and zero point guards. We have got to shut down the opposing pg's penetration. I think the zone looked promising and there may be times and situations where we have to play it.
Keon and Springer are already worlds better at dribbling and distribution and at covering defensively than they were week 1- but all four guards must get better defensively still.

We will get better and just having Springer available is worth 8 to 12 overall points imho.

I still feel like Pons should never take a three - that's just playing bad percentages that will catch up to you.

Wait, we played zone last night?

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Wait, we played zone last night?

Yes. A 2-3. Immediately gave up an offensive rebound but it seemed to help when TN made a run. Unfortunately the offense wasn’t producing so the lead was never eliminated.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I still feel like Pons should never take a three - that's just playing bad percentages that will catch up to you.

I don’t agree that he should NEVER take a 3. He’s capable and 2 or 3 per game should be enough. He should never take 8 as he did last night. He might have missed the last 5 after starting out on fire.

The Florida beat down was fueled by Bailey being selfish and continuing to shoot when he was off. Last night I wish that Pons would have moved to the paint after hitting a couple of 3s. We have better options jacking it up from the perimeter. I think that Pons is also being selfish. Those two upperclassmen are showing poor leadership.

Pons needs to post up. When we play with 4 outside and only Fulk in the paint defenses push Fulk to the high post and then we have NOBODY near the basket. If nothing else Pons might draw some fouls if he’s better positioned down low. Pons also doesn’t grab many rebounds when he’s 20 feet from the basket.

 

[cardvolfan]

Yes. A 2-3. Immediately gave up an offensive rebound but it seemed to help when TN made a run. Unfortunately the offense wasn’t producing so the lead was never eliminated.

How many possessions did we use it? I must have been asleep.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

How many possessions did we use it? I must have been asleep.

I didn’t count. They were disguising it a bit and I don’t know if the SECNW announcers even caught it. Bertelkamp saw it. It wasn’t just on one possession.

 

[walkenvol]

Keon’s defense is much further along than his offense. Not having Springer as a scoring threat is killing this team. It’s much easier to play defense after making baskets than after making turnovers. Also, Ticket is a pretty good defender that can fill the absence of Springer on that end of the court. We need Springer on the floor to elevate the offense. He’s probably the fastest player for TN as well. He’s probably the best of the 5 options at bringing the ball across mid court.

What am I missing concerning Keon’s defense as it seems when I watch him specifically, he regularly gets confused on switches and loses the man he’s supposed to cover. Also, like all our other guards he has trouble staying in front of quick guards. He looks impressive one on one against guys without good quickness. Overall, he’s still got a long ways to go on D. JMO

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

What am I missing concerning Keon’s defense as it seems when I watch him specifically, he regularly gets confused on switches and loses the man he’s supposed to cover. Also, like all our other guards he has trouble staying in front of quick guards. He looks impressive one on one against guys without good quickness. Overall, he’s still got a long ways to go on D. JMO

i think that Keon shut down Pippen Jr. He’s being forced to guard players that he’s not best suited for. We could sure use Kennedy Chandler right now.

 

[walkenvol]

i think that Keon shut down Pippen Jr. He’s being forced to guard players that he’s not best suited for. We could sure use Kennedy Chandler right now.

Don’t really call 19 points shutting Pippen down myself, maybe frustrated him somewhat. I view Pippen as more shifty / cagey vs quick. Many posters on here appear to have the impression Keon can shut down any guard he faces and that’s not been happening from my observations. Not inferring he’s bad on D, just not outstanding at this point in the season. JMO

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Don’t really call 19 points shutting Pippen down myself, maybe frustrated him somewhat. I view Pippen as more shifty / cagey vs quick. Many posters on here appear to have the impression Keon can shut down any guard he faces and that’s not been happening from my observations. Not inferring he’s bad on D, just not outstanding at this point in the season. JMO

Keon is better suited to match up with a small forward or a big guard. Without Springer Keon is forced to matchup with smaller, quicker guards.

Pippen was only 5-12 and 1-5. 6 turnovers and only 1 assist. I don’t know who is at fault putting him on the free throw line 8x (7-8). Scotty’s points, turnovers, assists, and 3 percentage were all worse than his season averages.

 

[SPRINGHILLVOL]

Springer creates offense; very strong on defense, has great passing. He is still learning! Tennessee without him
becomes a severely limited team, particularly on offense. This team has very inconsistent guard play. Down the stretch the performance of Johnson, Springer, Bailey, and James will determine how far this team goes in SEC and NCAA.