JJJ Vs Florida

[Vol49er]

Josiah took a lot of criticism this week. Well today he was the only player to play all 40 minutes, and he had 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists (vs just two turnovers), 2 blocks, a steal, and was 4/8 from the field, and 2/4 from three. Led the team in minutes, rebounds, assists, and tied for the lead in blocks and steals. Oh, and zero fouls (Fulk had four, Santi and Yves three, JB 2)! We’d have a worse record by several games without him this year, and we’re lucky to have him. I’m excited to see him improve over the offseason and really excel next season

 

[Lankykong]

Yep, he played amazing. I hope he keeps taking 3s confidently

 

[lostsheep]

Josiah took a lot of criticism this week. Well today he was the only player to play all 40 minutes, and he had 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists (vs just two turnovers), 2 blocks, a steal, and was 4/8 from the field, and 2/4 from three. Led the team in minutes, rebounds, assists, and tied for the lead in blocks and steals. Oh, and zero fouls (Fulk had four, Santi and Yves three, JB 2)! We’d have a worse record by several games without him this year, and we’re lucky to have him. I’m excited to see him improve over the offseason and really excel next season

Agree. But the way most of VN will see it is that he missed some free throws at the end and, therefore, he sucks.

 

[Dr H Lecter]

Agree. But the way most of VN will see it is that he missed some free throws at the end and, therefore, he sucks.

No requirement to be half way intelligent to be a fan.

 

[Vol49er]

Agree. But the way most of VN will see it is that he missed some free throws at the end and, therefore, he sucks.

Yeah, and no one who bashed him after Arkansas is going to offer any sort of regret in doing so, people would rather be proud and wrong

 

[Special Ed]

I hope that nagging injury is history now.

 

[VOLED]

We are a different team when he plays like that and it is sorely needed. I think this class of freshman are going to be really good next year. My son was on the court last week and he said that you would be amazed at how big JJJ is. He looks to be almost as tall as Fulky and looks like a Sr physically. Glad he came out of his slump.

 

[tennrich1]

Josiah took a lot of criticism this week. Well today he was the only player to play all 40 minutes, and he had 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists (vs just two turnovers), 2 blocks, a steal, and was 4/8 from the field, and 2/4 from three. Led the team in minutes, rebounds, assists, and tied for the lead in blocks and steals. Oh, and zero fouls (Fulk had four, Santi and Yves three, JB 2)! We’d have a worse record by several games without him this year, and we’re lucky to have him. I’m excited to see him improve over the offseason and really excel next season

I agree. I think with the preseason injury and its lingering around has really caused a lot of problems for him. But getting healthy during the off season should lead to a special year for JJJ next season. We've seen glimpses of his talent and his shooting touch has really developed. I also think with all the experience this team is getting this year, next years team can be really impressive IF we can find someone to consistently anchor and protect the goal. When this team plays smart and limits the turnovers they are pretty good.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

JJJ isn’t a 5* but he’s no where near as bad as some of y’all are making him out to be.

 

[vol94]

Yeah, and no one who bashed him after Arkansas is going to offer any sort of regret in doing so, people would rather be proud and wrong

Long post- sorry.

I admit i was frustrated with his play last week. Rarely do we have a five star player on the basketball roster, so I ignorantly assumed he would be our best player. With that said, he (not any other student athlete) does not deserve abuse after a poor game or season.

I was quickly reminded of that while my wife and I were on the UT campus tour yesterday morning with our two kids (jr high school students). We ran into numerous basketball (JJ was one of them) and football players (Darnell Wright, etc) inside one of the resident halls. They are just kids yet appear different since they are tall, big and have freakish athletic abilities.


Hope JJJ has a bright future!

 

[Vol49er]

Long post- sorry.

I admit i was frustrated with his play last week. Rarely do we have a five star player on the basketball roster, so I ignorantly assumed he would be our best player. With that said, he (not any other student athlete) does not deserve abuse after a poor game or season.

I was quickly reminded of that while my wife and I were on the UT campus tour yesterday morning with our two kids (jr high school students). We ran into numerous basketball (JJ was one of them) and football players (Darnell Wright, etc) inside one of the resident halls. They are just kids yet appear different since they are tall, big and have freakish athletic abilities.


Hope JJJ has a bright future!

Well said. Hope y’all enjoyed the visit

 

[butchna]

Josiah took a lot of criticism this week. Well today he was the only player to play all 40 minutes, and he had 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists (vs just two turnovers), 2 blocks, a steal, and was 4/8 from the field, and 2/4 from three. Led the team in minutes, rebounds, assists, and tied for the lead in blocks and steals. Oh, and zero fouls (Fulk had four, Santi and Yves three, JB 2)! We’d have a worse record by several games without him this year, and we’re lucky to have him. I’m excited to see him improve over the offseason and really excel next season

Nothing ever means everything. Most knowledgeable posters on here (which I don’t include myself as) stated he needed some work on his game and that he wasn’t a one and done...but every other unknowledgeable knee jerk expert with an internet connection have now declared him useless and a bust. Always better to wait and KNOW what you’re talking about.

 

[vol94]

Thanks, VFL49er. We had a good time except for the cold weather, lol. I’ve been to games over the years but was amazed of all the changes since I graduated in 1994. Guess I’m old, lol.

 

[Vol49er]

Thanks, VFL49er. We had a good time except for the cold weather, lol. I’ve been to games over the years but was amazed of all the changes since I graduated in 1994. Guess I’m old, lol.

Yeah the weather has been terrible here for weeks now. Constantly raining/sleeting and sub 40

 

[vol94]

Similar here in the Nashville area. But I’m sure I will complain when it’s 90 degrees in July with w/ 80% humidity

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

Josiah took a lot of criticism this week. Well today he was the only player to play all 40 minutes, and he had 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists (vs just two turnovers), 2 blocks, a steal, and was 4/8 from the field, and 2/4 from three. Led the team in minutes, rebounds, assists, and tied for the lead in blocks and steals. Oh, and zero fouls (Fulk had four, Santi and Yves three, JB 2)! We’d have a worse record by several games without him this year, and we’re lucky to have him. I’m excited to see him improve over the offseason and really excel next season

I thought he was the difference today and played great. Looked like he was moving better as well. He was great defensively considering he played every minute, big time effort! I think he's gonna be a great player.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

He played like a 5-star in the first half today. That bounce pass assist into the paint as he drove the baseline was an NBA level highlight.

 

[sport3500]

James will be the key to any postseason Tennessee success since the opposition will game plan for Bowden, Fulkerson and Vescovi.

 

[Jack Burton]

I thought that a recent stat shared on the radio indicated that JJJ is grading out as the 2nd or 3rd best freshman in the NCAA overall. Maybe they meant SEC? Either way I’ll take it especially since he’ll be back next year. Imagine if he’s healthy all offseason and next year.

 

[pricevol5]

I bashed him last week. For a kid that is billed to be a "jack of all trades", albeit master of none, he struggled with some basketball fundamentals that you learn in middle school, ie closing out shooters, leaving your feet with the ball and nowhere to go.

This alarmed me, I knew what he was supposed to be, not a 20 ppg guy, but an ultimate glue guy/teammate/ makes winning basketball plays guy. He wasn't doing that. Today he did.

Yeah he hit a couple threes, but his biggest plays were the ones he didnt make. He was decisive with the ball, he stayed on his feet against shooters and still came up with a couple blocks, really solid bounce back.

If anything today shows how coachable he is. He obviously watched film and worked hard to fix some correctable things in a short time.

His stats/game/trajectory is still very similar to Brandon Roy & Evan Turner. Hopefully today is the first step in a similar college career and a positive finish to a rocky Freshman season.

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

I bashed him last week. For a kid that is billed to be a "jack of all trades", albeit master of none, he struggled with some basketball fundamentals that you learn in middle school, ie closing out shooters, leaving your feet with the ball and nowhere to go.

This alarmed me, I knew what he was supposed to be, not a 20 ppg guy, but an ultimate glue guy/teammate/ makes winning basketball plays guy. He wasn't doing that. Today he did.

Yeah he hit a couple threes, but his biggest plays were the ones he didnt make. He was decisive with the ball, he stayed on his feet against shooters and still came up with a couple blocks, really solid bounce back.

If anything today shows how coachable he is. He obviously watched film and worked hard to fix some correctable things in a short time.

His stats/game/trajectory is still very similar to Brandon Roy & Evan Turner. Hopefully today is the first step in a similar college career and a positive finish to a rocky Freshman season.

A good sign he has got potential to be great would be to produce similar numbers the next 3 games. I've always thought his potential is to be the best all around player on the floor night in and out. I'd love to see him record his 1st triple double vs Ky.

 

[UTK]

Just stopped by to say we Own UF in hoops

 

[TVOL71]

Barnes is good at developing players, but it takes a year or two (see Williams, Schofield, Bone, etc., also Fulky). If he stays around, I expect James will be very good in year 3, along with some of his younger teammates. GBO.

 

[birdie74]

JJJ appears to be a fine kid who wants to be a good teammate. I believe the nagging injuries have affected his quickness and explosiveness - but more significantly, the injuries have affected his confidence. I also believe he is confused at times about what Barnes wants. Coach is extremely tough on his point guards and also criticizes his players to the media. I like Coach, but I do not like his public criticism. I believe this was a contributing factor to Bone’s early departure. If anything, he needs to accept some of the blame publicly. He can be as tough as he wants behind closed doors.
The Vols will be very good next year. With departures and injuries, this season has been about as good as could be expected.

 

[VOLED]

JJJ appears to be a fine kid who wants to be a good teammate. I believe the nagging injuries have affected his quickness and explosiveness - but more significantly, the injuries have affected his confidence. I also believe he is confused at times about what Barnes wants. Coach is extremely tough on his point guards and also criticizes his players to the media. I like Coach, but I do not like his public criticism. I believe this was a contributing factor to Bone’s early departure. If anything, he needs to accept some of the blame publicly. He can be as tough as he wants behind closed doors.
The Vols will be very good next year. With departures and injuries, this season has been about as good as could be expected.

Excellent post. I've said for a while now that I don't like the public criticism by a coach. These players already have enough pressure on them from us know-it-all fans, school, etc. Coaches can critique all they want in private, but keep it there.