Excuse my optimism

#1
getyopopcornready

getyopopcornready

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#1
But from all reports from practice about Pearl pushing the tempo more, Chism being more vocal and intense, Hopson showing more aggressiveness, would it be safe to keep hope out for a 2nd game in week 2 of the tourney? I might be drinking a little aid, but it just seems that those were 3 main things that got our hopes up last year for a deep run.

I was dead wrong on this team last year, but if all the reports from practice turn out to be true during the course of the season I can see this team getting past the sweet 16. Big IF tho
 
#2
#2
getyopopcornready said:
But from all reports from practice about Pearl pushing the tempo more, Chism being more vocal and intense, Hopson showing more aggressiveness, would it be safe to keep hope out for a 2nd game in week 2 of the tourney? I might be drinking a little aid, but it just seems that those were 3 main things that got our hopes up last year for a deep run.

I was dead wrong on this team last year, but if all the reports from practice turn out to be true during the course of the season I can see this team getting past the sweet 16. Big IF tho
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Please, this team will do no better. I heard that the team was at the Race for the Cure Saturday for 45 minutes. Pearl called off practice that day because the guys told him they were tired from standing at the finish line.
 
#3
#3
getyopopcornready said:
But from all reports from practice about Pearl pushing the tempo more, Chism being more vocal and intense, Hopson showing more aggressiveness, would it be safe to keep hope out for a 2nd game in week 2 of the tourney? I might be drinking a little aid, but it just seems that those were 3 main things that got our hopes up last year for a deep run.

I was dead wrong on this team last year, but if all the reports from practice turn out to be true during the course of the season I can see this team getting past the sweet 16. Big IF tho
Click to expand...

This team can and will compete just write it down and keep somewhere safe this team could easily make the elite 8
 
#5
#5
kiffincrazy28 said:
This team can and will compete just write it down and keep somewhere safe this team could easily make the elite 8
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We should find out soon enough. This team lacked discipline last season, but if they somehow find a way to tone down the mistakes and communicate better on the defensive end, they should be a force come March.
 
#6
#6
getyopopcornready said:
We should find out soon enough. This team lacked discipline last season, but if they somehow find a way to tone down the mistakes and communicate better on the defensive end, they should be a force come March.
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If the players grew up, the coaches stressed defense and it took, and Melvin Goins can hold his own defensively then an Elite Eight isn't out of the question.
 
#7
#7
emainvol said:
If the players grew up, the coaches stressed defense and it took, and Melvin Goins can hold his own defensively then an Elite Eight isn't out of the question.
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I'll keep out hope IF these things take place. If we can win the Virgin Island tourney and go into the KU game undefeated, It will definitely make me a believer.
 
#8
#8
emainvol said:
If the players grew up, the coaches stressed defense and it took, and Melvin Goins can hold his own defensively then an Elite Eight isn't out of the question.
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From what I read, Melvin Goins' strength is keeping people in front of him defensively. That makes me quite confident that he will be better defensively than Maze because Maze probably couldn't keep Shaq in front of him.
 
#9
#9
getyopopcornready said:
But from all reports from practice about Pearl pushing the tempo more, Chism being more vocal and intense, Hopson showing more aggressiveness, would it be safe to keep hope out for a 2nd game in week 2 of the tourney? I might be drinking a little aid, but it just seems that those were 3 main things that got our hopes up last year for a deep run.

I was dead wrong on this team last year, but if all the reports from practice turn out to be true during the course of the season I can see this team getting past the sweet 16. Big IF tho
Click to expand...

I understand your optimism because there is a lot of talent, but wait to see if they decide to play defense. Don't bank anything on this team except 20 wins until you see that.
 
#10
#10
emainvol said:
If the players grew up, the coaches stressed defense and it took, and Melvin Goins can hold his own defensively then an Elite Eight isn't out of the question.
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Emain I agree with you. Glad to see you are going to be one who after an early tournament victory and lots of blowouts will be on board and give Pearl his due.
 
#11
#11
MikeHamiltonFan said:
Emain I agree with you. Glad to see you are going to be one who after an early tournament victory and lots of blowouts will be on board and give Pearl his due.
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After your statements regarding multiple national championship team's lack of half-court defense, I can hardly take your prognostications on this year seriously.
 
#13
#13
There's a lot of time between now and March, but I definitely like where this team sits compared to the start of last season
 
#14
#14
kiffinator13 said:
After your statements regarding multiple national championship team's lack of half-court defense, I can hardly take your prognostications on this year seriously.
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Reading comprehension...

Saying that an emphasis on halfcourt D was not the hallmark of some of the greatest offensive NCAA champions is not the same thing as saying they could not play defense.

Memphis under Cal and the recent Kansas teams would not be the first 5-10 you talked about when you were asked about the best halfcourt defenses...

Nolan Richardson, good or bad defensive coach? Great defensive coach. Claiming that they were different from what Pearl aspires to do is idiotic. Pressing leading to lots of turnovers and easy baskets.
 
#15
#15
UCLA and Pitt, great halfcourt defenses, always will be better than what we end up doing at TN. But some breakdowns on switching screens and some dribble penetration allowed is not going to kill you if you have 15 steals leading to 24 points.
 
#17
#17
MikeHamiltonFan said:
UCLA and Pitt, great halfcourt defenses, always will be better than what we end up doing at TN. But some breakdowns on switching screens and some dribble penetration allowed is not going to kill you if you have 15 steals leading to 24 points.
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You don't neccessarily have to be great at halfcourt defense, but you atleast need to have a pulse. UT didn't show any life in the halfcourt defense. It sort of reminded me of Buzz Ball..

UNC wasn't the greatest halfcourt team last year, but they did enough to win because they communicated well in halfcourt defense and controlled the tempo.. If you can do those 2 things, you have half of what you need to win games.. If not then there's nothing, no matter how great you are at it, you can do that will win games in March.. As evidenced by our early exit in last year's tourney
 
#18
#18
You can play fast tempo and still be good in the half-court. We absolutely need improvement in that area. We could stop no one off the dribble last year. I also think there is a time an place for a good zone defense for particular teams, such as KY this year, although I prefer the man-to-man defensive approach overall.
 
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