Is Key the key to our March success?

#1
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walkenvol

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#1
It’s no mystery our biggest weakness is consistently scoring points. Key is one of our few guys who can create a good shot for himself and CRB is clearly calling on him to take those open looks. Last night his shots weren’t falling, but I don’t recall him taking a bad shot. I’m starting to wonder if our tournament success will hinge on whether Key gets/stays hot?
 
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#2
#2
walkenvol said:
It’s no mystery our biggest weakness is consistently scoring points. Key is one of our few guys who can create a good shot for himself and CRB is clearly calling on him to take those open looks. Last night his shots weren’t falling, but I don’t recall him taking a bad shot. I’m starting to wonder if our tournament success will hinge on whether Key gets/stays hot?
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Key getting hot would REALLY help our odds.
 
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#3
#3
Key is really sort of relegated to mostly a spot up shooter in the SEC. He'll occasionally find a matchup that allows him to utilize that move where he backs his man into the paint and hits that turnaround fadeaway jumper, but the athletes at this level (who now have film on him) can take that away with their length and quickness. He can't get to the rim due to a lack of speed or athleticism, so he's forced to hunt his shot more off picks and shot fakes. He got some decent looks vs Bama, he just couldn't knock them down.
 
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#6
#6
savannahfan said:
I announcers pointed out at one time in the 1st half that we had taken 14 more shots than Bama and were only up by ?? (fewer than 10). I don't care how good you play "d" not hitting shots will get you beat more often than not.. Gotta start hitting at a really better % or we won't be around long in March.
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That’s true to an extent, but we aren’t going to be playing the #1 team in the country every night out. The opponent and their skill level had a lot to do with us only being up 3 with 14 more shot attempts. That stat by ESPN is neat and a fun talking point, perhaps, but if we shoot 45%, we blow them out. Shooting 36.5% with our level of defense is good enough to win most nights. It was good enough to beat a team that was undefeated in conference play and ranked #1.
 
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#8
#8
cncchris33 said:
That’s true to an extent, but we aren’t going to be playing the #1 team in the country every night out. The opponent and their skill level had a lot to do with us only being up 3 with 14 more shot attempts. That stat by ESPN is neat and a fun talking point, perhaps, but if we shoot 45%, we blow them out. Shooting 36.5% with our level of defense is good enough to win most nights. It was good enough to beat a team that was undefeated in conference play and ranked #1.
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I agree, but as I say, will need to do better to go long in March. (stated in a post in response to/in another thread)
 
#10
#10
cncchris33 said:
Key is really sort of relegated to mostly a spot up shooter in the SEC. He'll occasionally find a matchup that allows him to utilize that move where he backs his man into the paint and hits that turnaround fadeaway jumper, but the athletes at this level (who now have film on him) can take that away with their length and quickness. He can't get to the rim due to a lack of speed or athleticism, so he's forced to hunt his shot more off picks and shot fakes. He got some decent looks vs Bama, he just couldn't knock them down.
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Key is athletic, and at 6'2 and 211 pounds, he's got good size for a guard. His overall shooting percentage for the season is 35%, his 3-point shooting is at 36%, which is tied for best on the team along with Vescovi. Key has just got to know when the shot is there for him, and make them more consistently--which can be said for most of our players. Everybody is very up and down.
 
#12
#12
turbovol said:
Key is athletic, and at 6'2 and 211 pounds, he's got good size for a guard. His overall shooting percentage for the season is 35%, his 3-point shooting is at 36%, which is tied for best on the team along with Vescovi. Key has just got to know when the shot is there for him, and make them more consistently--which can be said for most of our players. Everybody is very up and down.
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I can't agree that he is athletic, at least not by SEC standards. He may be the least athletic player on our team, honestly. But I do agree that he can be an elite shooter when he's on. Last night, Bama tried to take him and Santi away and force Tennessee to drive the ball or work it inside, so Key struggled to get open looks.
 
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#13
#13
cncchris33 said:
I can't agree that he is athletic, at least not by SEC standards. He may be the least athletic player on our team, honestly. But I do agree that he can be an elite shooter when he's on. Last night, Bama tried to take him and Santi away and force Tennessee to drive the ball or work it inside, so Key struggled to get open looks.
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I don't know what game you were watching but Key had several open looks last night he just didn't hit them. He's defence has really improved and he just needs to gain his confidence shooting the ball. I believe he will.
 
#14
#14
Mccage said:
I don't know what game you were watching but Key had several open looks last night he just didn't hit them. He's defence has really improved and he just needs to gain his confidence shooting the ball. I believe he will.
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I’m talking about isolated catch and shoot looks. Bama did a good job of closing out on him in those situations.
 
#15
#15
cncchris33 said:
I’m talking about isolated catch and shoot looks. Bama did a good job of closing out on him in those situations.
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I thought it was a mix of both. Teams with Alabama size and quickness will bother him. And, they did last night.

But, he also missed 2-3 wide open. In first half, they ran that usual inbound play for him. No one within five feet of him and he missed a 15-foot baseline jumper.
 
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#16
#16
cncchris33 said:
I can't agree that he is athletic, at least not by SEC standards. He may be the least athletic player on our team, honestly. But I do agree that he can be an elite shooter when he's on. Last night, Bama tried to take him and Santi away and force Tennessee to drive the ball or work it inside, so Key struggled to get open looks.
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Agreed. He struggled a lot getting open looks and I thought Bama hurried him to the point that his looks were less than ideal.
 
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#17
#17
Jax_Vol said:
I thought it was a mix of both. Teams with Alabama size and quickness will bother him. And, they did last night.

But, he also missed 2-3 wide open. In first half, they ran that usual inbound play for him. No one within five feet of him and he missed a 15-foot baseline jumper.
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He can shoot the ball just think he's pressing a bit.
 
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#19
#19
Jax_Vol said:
Yes. He was overly jacked up and long on first 3-4 shots; then over-compensated and barely caught rim short.

Just needs to r-e-l-a-x.

Mush more to life than silly basketball
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I fish the Holler a lot. Eat at Ollie's in Celina where his mother works. He's a great Kid and I'm really pulling for him.
 
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#20
#20
We do not have a go to player. We have a really great defensive team .... we will need to depend on a person to carry us in some games ... but it is likely not going to be the same person each game.
Key one night, ZZ one night, Aidoo or ON in this game or that, ... I want to see if Mashack can string together multiple games like the Alabama game ... and let his offense happen naturally.
Maybe it will be Santi, or JJ or maybe even JP, UP or Awaka.
Go Vols!!!
 
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#21
#21
Key just needs to be that guy that comes in and knocks down open shots. We know he will do his job as far as defense and ballhandling.
 
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