Thunder Good-Oil
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- Joined
- Dec 2, 2011
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Getting to the Elite 8 last year takes off a lot of pressure.
The SECT has already been won.
The SEC regular season has already been won.
The AP ranking doubling the entire history of the program has already happened.
A #1 seed is less likely.
The perfect record has been eliminated.
It shouldn’t be a struggle to make the tournament field.
Now UT can just go out twice a week and play hard while the chips fall where they may. Mostly hold serve at home - probably steal a couple of wins on the road.
Somewhat take the target off of their backs. Every opponent won’t be playing like they’re in the NCAAT finals when they face TN.
There isn’t a team that’s practically unbeatable that would be a horrible draw. There is no Edey this year. There are about 10-15 teams that can make the Final Four or better. TN is one of them. Even with a lower seed, getting one upset slots you into the higher ranked opponents draw.
TN has obvious weaknesses. But instead of trying to scheme around them and fight with everything in the tool box every time they play, Barnes can rely on a core group of experienced players to grab wins without using something gimmicky that could pull off a big upset or two, but not be sustainable over a long run.
Barnes is fully aware of where UT’s is deficient. But he should be able to keep his cards hidden and save the work around strategy for the NCAAT. If he reveals possible work arounds now then there will be a lot of game “film” available for opponents to use to pull off W’s in the NCAAT. Dubar for example - he might be ready to be a huge contributor on offense. But he’s not Ernie or Bernie or Dale. Rely on him too much too soon and future opponents will be ready to shut him down.
For now, just get wins without something gimmicky with what is common knowledge about this team with the short bench. Then unleash the full arsenal in the NCAAT.
TL
R
The SECT has already been won.
The SEC regular season has already been won.
The AP ranking doubling the entire history of the program has already happened.
A #1 seed is less likely.
The perfect record has been eliminated.
It shouldn’t be a struggle to make the tournament field.
Now UT can just go out twice a week and play hard while the chips fall where they may. Mostly hold serve at home - probably steal a couple of wins on the road.
Somewhat take the target off of their backs. Every opponent won’t be playing like they’re in the NCAAT finals when they face TN.
There isn’t a team that’s practically unbeatable that would be a horrible draw. There is no Edey this year. There are about 10-15 teams that can make the Final Four or better. TN is one of them. Even with a lower seed, getting one upset slots you into the higher ranked opponents draw.
TN has obvious weaknesses. But instead of trying to scheme around them and fight with everything in the tool box every time they play, Barnes can rely on a core group of experienced players to grab wins without using something gimmicky that could pull off a big upset or two, but not be sustainable over a long run.
Barnes is fully aware of where UT’s is deficient. But he should be able to keep his cards hidden and save the work around strategy for the NCAAT. If he reveals possible work arounds now then there will be a lot of game “film” available for opponents to use to pull off W’s in the NCAAT. Dubar for example - he might be ready to be a huge contributor on offense. But he’s not Ernie or Bernie or Dale. Rely on him too much too soon and future opponents will be ready to shut him down.
For now, just get wins without something gimmicky with what is common knowledge about this team with the short bench. Then unleash the full arsenal in the NCAAT.
TL
R
