Is Kentucky gonna be a problem?

#127
#127
Volfan1000 said:
This could be a game where Cade Phillips gets a few minutes of playing time if the fouls pile up inside.
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It’s going to surprise me if Cam Carr or DJ Jefferson see the court again this season (short of a very one sided game). I’m starting to wonder if that’s going to be the case for Cade Phillips as well. Phillips has only played one minute since the conference games started. Oddly, he played the most minutes (12) at UNC.
 
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#128
#128
Thunder Good-Oil said:
It’s going to surprise me if Cam Carr or DJ Jefferson see the court again this season (short of a very one sided game). I’m starting to wonder if that’s going to be the case for Cade Phillips as well. Phillips has only played one minute since the conference games started. Oddly, he played the most minutes (12) at UNC.
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Yep. Not counting on Cade at this point. Hurts my heart but give me some JP!
 
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#133
#133
Thunder Good-Oil said:
It’s going to surprise me if Cam Carr or DJ Jefferson see the court again this season (short of a very one sided game). I’m starting to wonder if that’s going to be the case for Cade Phillips as well. Phillips has only played one minute since the conference games started. Oddly, he played the most minutes (12) at UNC.
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I know Barnes wanted Vescovi back, but I honestly wonder if the return of JJJ and Vescovi is going to be worth it? Would we be all that much different record wise if JJJ and Vescovi were gone and the young guys were getting their minutes? I know next year wouldn't look quite so intimidating if the youngsters had gotten more seasoning this year. We're getting something like 16 points and 10 rebounds between JJJ and Vescovi. ON is giving Michigan 16/7. Just not what I think most expected when Vescovi and JJJ returned for "one last ride". Hope it turns out to be the right choice. This can be a special team/year, but right now, I'd not put someone elses money on it.
 
#135
#135
CAVPUT said:
I know Barnes wanted Vescovi back, but I honestly wonder if the return of JJJ and Vescovi is going to be worth it? Would we be all that much different record wise if JJJ and Vescovi were gone and the young guys were getting their minutes? I know next year wouldn't look quite so intimidating if the youngsters had gotten more seasoning this year. We're getting something like 16 points and 10 rebounds between JJJ and Vescovi. ON is giving Michigan 16/7. Just not what I think most expected when Vescovi and JJJ returned for "one last ride". Hope it turns out to be the right choice. This can be a special team/year, but right now, I'd not put someone elses money on it.
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I think that the biggest factor is ZZ returning. I don’t think he was expected back before SEC play and probably not at full speed for a good while after returning. They worked together all off season without him - preparing to go with Gainey and Knecht and Dilione. Then ZZ is back and Dilione has been slowed with his health. So complete disruption from what was expected. I think that this mix of players can still improve over the next several weeks. There’s still an opportunity to be a special team.
 
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#136
#136
I live right in the heart of these blue bloods listening to their hype all year long. A VOLS win in corrupt arena would be a late Christmas present. Been there many times my VOLS took them down in corrupt arena. None more special than seeing Chris Lofton hanging 33 points on them at home.
 
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#137
#137
Thunder Good-Oil said:
I think that the biggest factor is ZZ returning. I don’t think he was expected back before SEC play and probably not at full speed for a good while after returning. They worked together all off season without him - preparing to go with Gainey and Knecht and Dilione. Then ZZ is back and Dilione has been slowed with his health. So complete disruption from what was expected. I think that this mix of players can still improve over the next several weeks. There’s still an opportunity to be a special team.
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Couldn't believe that Barnes didn't grab another PG from the portal. The thought of going with Dillione or Gainey at PG for an extended period is shocking to me. Staff knows far better than I, but it still surprised me. Hope we'll not be caught in that position again. Still, my biggest disappointments are Vescovi and JJJ. Know defense is a big thing with Barnes and obviously, they do what he wants in that regard, but they're capable of so much more offensively. Both seem so damned passive. Guess there's only one ball and it's in Knechts hands, but for this team to do much more than it's done historically under Barnes, we have to get more from those two on the offensive end and that's what scares me. I don't believe we can count on those two. History tells me who and what they are. History tells me what is going to happen in March. Hope we find a way to change that. For me, seeing is believing tho.
 
#138
#138
CAVPUT said:
Couldn't believe that Barnes didn't grab another PG from the portal. The thought of going with Dillione or Gainey at PG for an extended period is shocking to me. Staff knows far better than I, but it still surprised me. Hope we'll not be caught in that position again. Still, my biggest disappointments are Vescovi and JJJ. Know defense is a big thing with Barnes and obviously, they do what he wants in that regard, but they're capable of so much more offensively. Both seem so damned passive. Guess there's only one ball and it's in Knechts hands, but for this team to do much more than it's done historically under Barnes, we have to get more from those two on the offensive end and that's what scares me. I don't believe we can count on those two. History tells me who and what they are. History tells me what is going to happen in March. Hope we find a way to change that. For me, seeing is believing tho.
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History is telling you that Vescovi isn’t scoring to the level of his prior 2 seasons. So there’s a good chance he can recover his earlier proven shooting form and add more scoring this season. History also tells you that JJJ’s scoring ebbs and flows with his health. Was our second best scorer in the first half of this season but has dropped off a cliff since the hand wrap appeared. Who knows if he will heal fully this season, but it’s possible. Could view the glass as half full.
 
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#139
#139
CAVPUT said:
Couldn't believe that Barnes didn't grab another PG from the portal. The thought of going with Dillione or Gainey at PG for an extended period is shocking to me. Staff knows far better than I, but it still surprised me. Hope we'll not be caught in that position again. Still, my biggest disappointments are Vescovi and JJJ. Know defense is a big thing with Barnes and obviously, they do what he wants in that regard, but they're capable of so much more offensively. Both seem so damned passive. Guess there's only one ball and it's in Knechts hands, but for this team to do much more than it's done historically under Barnes, we have to get more from those two on the offensive end and that's what scares me. I don't believe we can count on those two. History tells me who and what they are. History tells me what is going to happen in March. Hope we find a way to change that. For me, seeing is believing tho.
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I’m not surprised. In addition to Gainey and Dilione at PG, there were also options with SV, JJJ, and JM - all players that had PG experience. Plus those guys fit well when the defense switches on every screen. Even one of the walk ins might have PG skills that could be used in an emergency.

I thought that Gainey was playing his best ball early when he was more of a PG. However, maybe it was versus much lesser competition. It looked to me as though Gainey and Dilione might have been the plan at PG. Then ZZ came back really quickly and everything expected to happen didn’t.
 
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#140
#140
walkenvol said:
History is telling you that Vescovi isn’t scoring to the level of his prior 2 seasons. So there’s a good chance he can recover his earlier proven shooting form and add more scoring this season. History also tells you that JJJ’s scoring ebbs and flows with his health. Was our second best scorer in the first half of this season but has dropped off a cliff since the hand wrap appeared. Who knows if he will heal fully this season, but it’s possible. Could view the glass as half full.
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Barnes or somebody on the staff has said that UT hadn’t played close to a complete game yet with everybody playing up to their potential.

One thing seems clear. The UT is peaking too early rants aren’t going to be in play this year.
 
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#141
#141
CAVPUT said:
I know Barnes wanted Vescovi back, but I honestly wonder if the return of JJJ and Vescovi is going to be worth it? Would we be all that much different record wise if JJJ and Vescovi were gone and the young guys were getting their minutes? I know next year wouldn't look quite so intimidating if the youngsters had gotten more seasoning this year. We're getting something like 16 points and 10 rebounds between JJJ and Vescovi. ON is giving Michigan 16/7. Just not what I think most expected when Vescovi and JJJ returned for "one last ride". Hope it turns out to be the right choice. This can be a special team/year, but right now, I'd not put someone elses money on it.
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I very seriously doubt we are a Top 5 team and a 2 seed today without JJJ & Vescovi both on the roster
 
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#142
#142
walkenvol said:
History is telling you that Vescovi isn’t scoring to the level of his prior 2 seasons. So there’s a good chance he can recover his earlier proven shooting form and add more scoring this season. History also tells you that JJJ’s scoring ebbs and flows with his health. Was our second best scorer in the first half of this season but has dropped off a cliff since the hand wrap appeared. Who knows if he will heal fully this season, but it’s possible. Could view the glass as half full.
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True enough, but if an injured/sick JJJ giving us virtually nothing on offense right now is still better than our youngsters, it's incredible to me. I'm glad we're not going for the one and dones and depending on development, but geez are we getting guys THAT far away from being able to help us?
 
#143
#143
bleedingTNorange said:
I very seriously doubt we are a Top 5 team and a 2 seed today without JJJ & Vescovi both on the roster
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Perhaps, but without knowing how the youngsters would look with this much of a regular season to grow, I have to wonder if we might not be better positioned heading into the back half of the season and more importantly, March if Vescovi and JJJ hadn't returned. We'd also know a lot more about where are needs are going into next season. Yeah, we're all in due to Knecht this season and rightfully so. I'm sure you can learn a lot in practice, but even with that, there's no substitute for real game minutes. Hate to sound ungrateful for what both those guys have done. Not the case. Just a lot of frustration where they're concerned on my part I guess. Expected so much more from those two veteran players.
 
#144
#144
The shooting problem this team has, not including DK, makes it impossible to predict any games outcome. They could win by 30 or lose by 20. It's the weirdest problem I have seen on a basketball team. When that funk hits none of them can make a basket from free throw, 3 pointer, mid-range or right in front of the basket, they miss dunks. Sometimes it hits at home but most of the time on the road. I wonder if it will effect them tonight on the big stage? My feeling is they will snap out of it and bring home the win.
 
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#145
#145
VOLtaism said:
The shooting problem this team has, not including DK, makes it impossible to predict any games outcome. They could win by 30 or lose by 20. It's the weirdest problem I have seen on a basketball team. When that funk hits none of them can make a basket from free throw, 3 pointer, mid-range or right in front of the basket, they miss dunks. Sometimes it hits at home but most of the time on the road. I wonder if it will effect them tonight on the big stage? My feeling is they will snap out of it and bring home the win.
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And that's the most frustrating thing of all to me. No player will be "on" every night. Just figured that those games where Knecht doesn't have it that Vescovi and/or Gainey would be on and vice versa. Just goes to show that you can't depend on the 3 ball to always be there. An OG like me will always choose an offense that runs inside to out. Know that's not the game anymore, but it's such a crazy thing to head into a tournament and "hope" you're on and that you don't find yourself in a gym that bothers your shooters or you have to use a different ball in the tournament than you do in the regular season.
 
#146
#146
CAVPUT said:
Perhaps, but without knowing how the youngsters would look with this much of a regular season to grow, I have to wonder if we might not be better positioned heading into the back half of the season and more importantly, March if Vescovi and JJJ hadn't returned. We'd also know a lot more about where are needs are going into next season. Yeah, we're all in due to Knecht this season and rightfully so. I'm sure you can learn a lot in practice, but even with that, there's no substitute for real game minutes. Hate to sound ungrateful for what both those guys have done. Not the case. Just a lot of frustration where they're concerned on my part I guess. Expected so much more from those two veteran players.
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More likely back to bubble watching.
 
#147
#147
CAVPUT said:
Perhaps, but without knowing how the youngsters would look with this much of a regular season to grow, I have to wonder if we might not be better positioned heading into the back half of the season and more importantly, March if Vescovi and JJJ hadn't returned. We'd also know a lot more about where are needs are going into next season. Yeah, we're all in due to Knecht this season and rightfully so. I'm sure you can learn a lot in practice, but even with that, there's no substitute for real game minutes. Hate to sound ungrateful for what both those guys have done. Not the case. Just a lot of frustration where they're concerned on my part I guess. Expected so much more from those two veteran players.
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JJJ’s recent play ok, but I’m not sure how you look at Vescovi (even though he’s having a down year by his standards) and think that a true freshman would be a better move.
 
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#148
#148
CAVPUT said:
I know Barnes wanted Vescovi back, but I honestly wonder if the return of JJJ and Vescovi is going to be worth it? Would we be all that much different record wise if JJJ and Vescovi were gone and the young guys were getting their minutes? I know next year wouldn't look quite so intimidating if the youngsters had gotten more seasoning this year. We're getting something like 16 points and 10 rebounds between JJJ and Vescovi. ON is giving Michigan 16/7. Just not what I think most expected when Vescovi and JJJ returned for "one last ride". Hope it turns out to be the right choice. This can be a special team/year, but right now, I'd not put someone elses money on it.
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JJJ was a bonus in that he took no ones spot, but if Santi doesn't return, we probably bring another transfer guard to replace him, which effectively would have likely kept the young players where they already are (unless that transfer turned out to be a bum).
 
#150
#150
VOLtaism said:
The shooting problem this team has, not including DK, makes it impossible to predict any games outcome. They could win by 30 or lose by 20. It's the weirdest problem I have seen on a basketball team. When that funk hits none of them can make a basket from free throw, 3 pointer, mid-range or right in front of the basket, they miss dunks. Sometimes it hits at home but most of the time on the road. I wonder if it will effect them tonight on the big stage? My feeling is they will snap out of it and bring home the win.
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Lose by 20? 🤭 They haven't lost by double digits all season
 
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