It's DEFENSE, guys. The Vols....

[armchair]

aren't playing it, and that's the main reason they are losing (though there have been a couple of offensive stinkers recently too). Here's the most meaningful stat for the game: Florida shot 53 percent for the game (52.5, to be exact). You aren't going to win games when your opponent is making more than half of its shots. PERIOD. In the second half, florida shot 58 percent! That equates to one thing--TERRIBLE defense.

This team really bothered villanova and pitt with its defense--but it's lost the formula or the effort since. Until these guys start selling out on the defensive end, they will lose--and IMO the Vols are already dangerously close to not making the tourney. You can't be lackadaisical on defense. :hi:

 

[B EaZy40]

key word in this paragraph is EFFORT!! we have none

 

[LWSVOL]

aren't playing it, and that's the main reason they are losing (though there have been a couple of offensive stinkers recently too). Here's the most meaningful stat for the game: Florida shot 53 percent for the game (52.5, to be exact). You aren't going to win games when your opponent is making more than half of its shots. PERIOD. In the second half, florida shot 58 percent! That equates to one thing--TERRIBLE defense.

This team really bothered villanova and pitt with its defense--but it's lost the formula or the effort since. Until these guys start selling out on the defensive end, they will lose--and IMO the Vols are already dangerously close to not making the tourney. You can't be lackadaisical on defense. :hi:

they are distracted, bottom line. it has to be the whole investigation and suspension and all. but it is distractions.

lack of focus.

could be defense suffers one game and offense the next or both in a game. Also could mean there are games where they put everything together.

but overall, they have distractions and lack of focus taking away from their play.

 

[Volbuddy22]

I couldn't agree more to the addage about bad defense. Pearl has mentioned several times about the lack of in your face defense. The comment was directed to our boys not even letting them have an opportunity at even getting the ball, and even if they do get it, their job is to hound the fire out of them and to cause havoc.
My frustrations have been with our Defense and overall effort. Our shot selection, poor passing, unforced errors, low fg%, and many other things have been obvious problems that can be played through with a stout defense. Our losses have been effort and defense issues. I am sure the NCAA distractions have been impactive, but that in my opinion shouldn't affect effort.
If we are not careful, all of this will come crashing down and culminate into a horrible season because they boys will say to themselves, "what's the use," and just give up. That is not what we want or anyone else for that matter.
In summation, there has not been one player I have seen that has played D like he should. Everybody gets beat by other good teams and good players, but not like we have time after time, play after play. My hope is that somewhere deep inside that our boys will stir up some vigor and tenacity and say to themselves, "I'm leaving it all on the floor, and I'm not holding back any longer" Let's Go Vols!

 

[NEVolFan]

Opponents have shot ~50% or beeter in 4 of the last 5 games.

 

[Professor Nono]

Assuming effort is at issue and assuming that it will not improve with the current roster, might I suggest these uniform embellishments for use in the paint:

 

[GBO18]

Opponents have shot ~50% or beeter in 4 of the last 5 games.

Awesome Graph!! :thumbsup:

 

[DyronNix]

You can't overlook how bad our shot selection is in the games we have lost. Goins hefting bricks from 3 land at the worst possible time. Tatum same story. Hopson passing up shots he should be taking (rather him miss than Goins). Those bad shots snowball and we are suddenly out of the game.

Also, in many of these games we have run into a hot shooter(s). Charleston, Florida definitely had players shooting lights out. We are talented enough to overcome hot shooters, but not when we are playing like we have been.

It's not just one thing.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[BasketvolsFan]

You can't overlook how bad our shot selection is in the games we have lost. Goins hefting bricks from 3 land at the worst possible time. Tatum same story. Hopson passing up shots he should be taking (rather him miss than Goins). Those bad shots snowball and we are suddenly out of the game.

Also, in many of these games we have run into a hot shooter(s). Charleston, Florida definitely had players shooting lights out. We are talented enough to overcome hot shooters, but not when we are playing like we have been.

It's not just one thing.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

Most of Goins throw ups are due to us running the shot clock down to 10 seconds before even trying to run any offensive sets. Trying to get into an offensive set with 10 seconds left on the shot clock is not conducive to getting good shots, thus he has to throw up a shot so the shot clock doesn't expire. I don't blame Goins--we need much better coaching in the half-court offense.

 

[Tampavolz]

i think we can all agree the team only shoots from the crease in with any success. In hockey this is a good thing.

but since we cannot shoot the three this year (AGAIN), then defense has to be perfect, as it was against Villanova and Pitt. if BP and TJ can get them up to that level again, we will start winning again. If they can't, we are lucky to get into the NIT.