Is this year's team the Vols Most talented team since

[cncchris33]

I'm pretty sure Maymon had to sit out half of the season from transferring from Marquette. He played very little but from what I saw I knew he was going to be good, but not as good as he has become.

Yes, Maymon had to sit out the first semester as part of his transfer, because he enrolled midyear. Similar to what JP Prince did.

I'm not sure what you saw out of Maymon in that half year though to make you think he'd be a good player. IMO, he looked like crap, and still was trying to convince himself, and anyone watching, that he was a SF with perimeter skills. He shot the ball almost every time he touched it in an effort to prove himself in limited minutes, and no double or triple team in the paint seemed to matter.

Needless to say, I was completely shocked at his turnaround under Martin, but I think it had as much to do with his acceptance that he was a bull in the paint, and not a guard.

 

[Stoked]

Yes, Maymon had to sit out the first semester as part of his transfer, because he enrolled midyear. Similar to what JP Prince did.

I'm not sure what you saw out of Maymon in that half year though to make you think he'd be a good player. IMO, he looked like crap, and still was trying to convince himself, and anyone watching, that he was a SF with perimeter skills. He shot the ball almost every time he touched it in an effort to prove himself in limited minutes, and no double or triple team in the paint seemed to matter.

Needless to say, I was completely shocked at his turnaround under Martin, but I think it had as much to do with his acceptance that he was a bull in the paint, and not a guard.

It's crazy that in his sophomore year he came in thinking he was a guard and shot the ball every time he touched it. Now as a senior Martin has to convince him to shoot the ball some. Crazy how the tables turned. But yeah under Pearl, I thought we had another Swiperboy on our hands, but under Martin it looks like we have a similar Chism instead

 

[volbeast33]

Yes, Maymon had to sit out the first semester as part of his transfer, because he enrolled midyear. Similar to what JP Prince did.

I'm not sure what you saw out of Maymon in that half year though to make you think he'd be a good player. IMO, he looked like crap, and still was trying to convince himself, and anyone watching, that he was a SF with perimeter skills. He shot the ball almost every time he touched it in an effort to prove himself in limited minutes, and no double or triple team in the paint seemed to matter.

Needless to say, I was completely shocked at his turnaround under Martin, but I think it had as much to do with his acceptance that he was a bull in the paint, and not a guard.

I totally disagree with this statement....He and Mcrae was the main reasons I thought Zo's first team would be a borderline NCAA tourney team.

Its not about the stats either one of them put up but about the talent they showed. Maymon was beating his man like crazy and was a good rebounder. The game was just moving too fast for Maymon, he was out of control and didnt know where to get his shot from yet. The game slowed down for him now and his talent is showing.

I really think Maymon wanting to be a guard or SF is overblown....I think he wanted to be utilized as more of a point forward which is what is Maymon's strong suit instead of a post up Big.

 

[GoobieVol]

I totally disagree with this statement....He and Mcrae was the main reasons I thought Zo's first team would be a borderline NCAA tourney team.

Its not about the stats either one of them put up but about the talent they showed. Maymon was beating his man like crazy and was a good rebounder. The game was just moving too fast for Maymon, he was out of control and didnt know where to get his shot from yet. The game slowed down for him now and his talent is showing.

I really think Maymon wanting to be a guard or SF is overblown....I think he wanted to be utilized as more of a point forward which is what is Maymon's strong suit instead of a post up Big.

I think both your guys assesments were pretty much spot on. While he was able to beat his man and get to the basket pretty much at will, it was so ugly after that I think it would have taken a psychic vision to believe Maymon's offense would have been that much improved from soph to junior yr.

The one thing that was obvious from day 1 was dudes ability to give 100%. And that was on offense and defense.

Side note: Between him and McRae and Barton, hopefully UT will have 3 coaches on the floor this year.

can't wait GBO!!! :yu:

 

[OrangeAllDay]

I never said the roster was bad, just that it was no where near stacked. I actually said it was above average at best. The one time I used the word average, I was referring solely to the roster and not how the team played or its potential. A good coach with the right system such as Pearl, can take a slightly above average roster and morph it into a good team that plays above their potential and gets winning results. That is exactly what he done with this team in the first 7 games. Besides scoring points off fast breaks and turnovers, that team only had 2 players capable of scoring consistently by creating their own shot. During games when Tobias or Hopson was shut down we became very limited as to what we could do on offense and it usually resulted in a low scoring loss. The Nova and Pitt wins both was very impressive at the time, but by seasons end it was evident from Novas 21-12 record that they was extremely over ranked at 7 when we beat them.

I didn't say you said they were bad I said they were not as bad as you're trying to make it out to be. Which in your words is average at best, and I disagree, that's all.

 

[cncchris33]

I totally disagree with this statement....He and Mcrae was the main reasons I thought Zo's first team would be a borderline NCAA tourney team.

Its not about the stats either one of them put up but about the talent they showed. Maymon was beating his man like crazy and was a good rebounder. The game was just moving too fast for Maymon, he was out of control and didnt know where to get his shot from yet. The game slowed down for him now and his talent is showing.

I really think Maymon wanting to be a guard or SF is overblown....I think he wanted to be utilized as more of a point forward which is what is Maymon's strong suit instead of a post up Big.

If the game is moving too fast, you're out of control, and don't know where to get your shot from, then you quit shooting the ball nearly every time you touch it.

He had a problem letting the game come to him. I don't think the issue of him wanting to be a perimeter-oriented player is overblown either. Its the main reason he left Marquette. They wanted to play him at C/PF and his dad was upset about it and encouraged the transfer.

Now to be fair, the point forward position that Pearl implemented with Bradshaw and T. Smith was probably attractive to Maymon because of the versatility it offered, but his bread is buttered in the paint, and he has thrived in a more traditional role under Martin. It's difficult (well impossible really) to say he would have had more personal success under Pearl in that hybrid point forward role.

 

[cncchris33]

While he was able to beat his man and get to the basket pretty much at will, it was so ugly after that I think it would have taken a psychic vision to believe Maymon's offense would have been that much improved from soph to junior yr.

The one thing that was obvious from day 1 was dudes ability to give 100%. And that was on offense and defense.

This.

 

[volbeast33]

If the game is moving too fast, you're out of control, and don't know where to get your shot from, then you quit shooting the ball nearly every time you touch it.

He had a problem letting the game come to him. I don't think the issue of him wanting to be a perimeter-oriented player is overblown either. Its the main reason he left Marquette. They wanted to play him at C/PF and his dad was upset about it and encouraged the transfer.

Now to be fair, the point forward position that Pearl implemented with Bradshaw and T. Smith was probably attractive to Maymon because of the versatility it offered, but his bread is buttered in the paint, and he has thrived in a more traditional role under Martin. It's difficult (well impossible really) to say he would have had more personal success under Pearl in that hybrid point forward role.

Its the natural progression that a player makes when he takes a step up in talent level. Sometimes a player takes until their junior or senior yr to figure out how to play at that level. Just bc u r playing out of control (TO's) and had difficulty with where to get is shot at.....u dont quit competing.

Maymon is a competitor and wasnt going to back down even if he struggled.....plus he was trying to get more playing time. If he had of shied away in games and practices then he wouldnt have been near the player he was Zo's first yr.

Honestly, the guy I was shocked by his improvement was T Golden....I really didnt think he would be as good as he was Zo's first yr. I was a little disappointed with Mcrae but it took till his junior yr and I thought Hall wouldnt be a star but would be more dependable than he was.

 

[volbeast33]

If the game is moving too fast, you're out of control, and don't know where to get your shot from, then you quit shooting the ball nearly every time you touch it.

He had a problem letting the game come to him. I don't think the issue of him wanting to be a perimeter-oriented player is overblown either. Its the main reason he left Marquette. They wanted to play him at C/PF and his dad was upset about it and encouraged the transfer.

Now to be fair, the point forward position that Pearl implemented with Bradshaw and T. Smith was probably attractive to Maymon because of the versatility it offered, but his bread is buttered in the paint, and he has thrived in a more traditional role under Martin. It's difficult (well impossible really) to say he would have had more personal success under Pearl in that hybrid point forward role.

It's not a true point forward like Pearl but he does alot of the same things such as his passing and scoring more from a face up position while still posting up some. At Marquette he played center and was glued inside. He does not play that role under ZO. That is what the family was upset about.

 

[volbeast33]

I think both your guys assesments were pretty much spot on. While he was able to beat his man and get to the basket pretty much at will, it was so ugly after that I think it would have taken a psychic vision to believe Maymon's offense would have been that much improved from soph to junior yr.

The one thing that was obvious from day 1 was dudes ability to give 100%. And that was on offense and defense.

Side note: Between him and McRae and Barton, hopefully UT will have 3 coaches on the floor this year.

can't wait GBO!!! :yu:

Call me nostradameus LOL Im just kidding.....I have seen it too many times with too many players. Maymon had serious skills he just had to adapt to the college game. Same thing with Pearl and Jajuan Smith....his stats were horrible under Buzz but u could tell by watching him that he wasnt your typical walk on.

 

[cncchris33]

Its the natural progression that a player makes when he takes a step up in talent level. Sometimes a player takes until their junior or senior yr to figure out how to play at that level. Just bc u r playing out of control (TO's) and had difficulty with where to get is shot at.....u dont quit competing.

Maymon is a competitor and wasnt going to back down even if he struggled.....plus he was trying to get more playing time. If he had of shied away in games and practices then he wouldnt have been near the player he was Zo's first yr.

I agree with what you're saying, but there are other ways to compete outside of shooting, or scoring in general. For example, he's proven to be an excellent passer. Find your open teammate instead of taking it to the hole against a double team.

I just think his offensive decision-making left a lot to be desired after his sophomore half-season, and I saw nothing then to suggest he'd become the player he did the following year. He hustled and played pretty good defense though; I'll give him that.

 

[cncchris33]

It's not a true point forward like Pearl but he does alot of the same things such as his passing and scoring more from a face up position while still posting up some. At Marquette he played center and was glued inside. He does not play that role under ZO. That is what the family was upset about.

True. He doesn't have the freedom offensively that he'd have had under Pearl at the position, and you're right about not being glued to the paint. He is more of a traditional PF under Zo, if not a prototypical one, and his limited size sometimes forces him to improvise the position at times. He's probably a blend of true point forward and true power forward.

 

[volbeast33]

I agree with what you're saying, but there are other ways to compete outside of shooting, or scoring in general. For example, he's proven to be an excellent passer. Find your open teammate instead of taking it to the hole against a double team.

I just think his offensive decision-making left a lot to be desired after his sophomore half-season, and I saw nothing then to suggest he'd become the player he did the following year. He hustled and played pretty good defense though; I'll give him that.

Yes and offensive decision making comes from experience....those same plays resulted in alot of points in high school.....he had to learn to compete against better more athletic players....It takes time unless u r a one and done type of talent.

 

[volbeast33]

True. He doesn't have the freedom offensively that he'd have had under Pearl at the position, and you're right about not being glued to the paint. He is more of a traditional PF under Zo, if not a prototypical one, and his limited size sometimes forces him to improvise the position at times. He's probably a blend of true point forward and true power forward.

Well the traditional PF played more on the block/ post up type of game.....todays PF's play more face up and I agree that Maymon is a good combo of both.

 

[volbeast33]

I agree with what you're saying, but there are other ways to compete outside of shooting, or scoring in general. For example, he's proven to be an excellent passer. Find your open teammate instead of taking it to the hole against a double team.

I just think his offensive decision-making left a lot to be desired after his sophomore half-season, and I saw nothing then to suggest he'd become the player he did the following year. He hustled and played pretty good defense though; I'll give him that.

Its easy to see that as a fan but as a player on the floor competing it is harder not to be aggressive and attack. I figured he would figure that part out and was hoping it was Zo's first yr but was positive he would before he graduated.

 

[utknate]

The 2009-10 Elite 8 Vols or the 1976-77 Vols?

2009-10( most talented in recent history)
Wayne Chism
Scotty Hopson
Bobby Maze
JP Prince

1977-78 ( easily the most talented Vols starting 5 ever assembled , not much depth though)
Bernard King
Ernie Grunfeld
Reggie Johnson
Mike Jackson
Johnny Darden

2013-14 (loaded with talent and depth)
Jordan McRae
Jeronne Maymon
Antonio Barton
Jarnell Stokes
Robert Hubbs or Josh Richardson

My vote has to be the 2009-10 since they only had a starting 4 and still made it all the way to the Elite 8

 

[jimallvol]

This yrs team has all the makings to do something really special. GO VOLS!

 

[Chris4Vols22]

I consider the '07 season the best since I've started watching. This year's team is definitely the best since then IMO.