@ Missouri 12/30/2020 (Final: TN 73, MO 53)

[therickbol]

Cuonzo's personality and relationship with fans and the media were exacerbated by the fact that he followed the poster boy for those coaching traits. If Cuonzo had followed Jerry Green, his personality wouldn't have been as much of an issue, despite his results. He followed Pearl, though, and it made his absence of personality and fan relation/interaction stick out like a sore thumb. His on-court results only further magnified his shortcomings in the PR department.

Exactly

 

[cardvolfan]

Cuonzo's personality and relationship with fans and the media were exacerbated by the fact that he followed the poster boy for those coaching traits. If Cuonzo had followed Jerry Green, his personality wouldn't have been as much of an issue, despite his results. He followed Pearl, though, and it made his absence of personality and fan relation/interaction stick out like a sore thumb. His on-court results only further magnified his shortcomings in the PR department.

His basketball, to me, was boring. I thought he underachieved based on talent for most of the time he was here. Other than that, I had no animosity, but he didn't go out of his way to endear himself to fans.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

I don’t care about CM.

His offense is really boring and just an overall, a boring coach.

He’s having one good year at Missouri but I don’t think that means anything.

His departure had nothing to do with racism, more with being a bad coach.

 

[butchna]

Buy out the game.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I don’t care about CM.

His offense is really boring and just an overall, a boring coach.

He’s having one good year at Missouri but I don’t think that means anything.

His departure had nothing to do with racism, more with being a bad coach.

2 good years. 20 wins and an NCAAT invitation in a P-5 conference is always a good year.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

2 good years. 20 wins and an NCAAT invitation in a P-5 conference is always a good year.

Still don’t miss him.

I’m happy with Barnes

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Still don’t miss him.

I’m happy with Barnes

I don’t think that anybody would prefer CCM over CRB except maybe that poster that’s always stirring up the racist garbage.

 

[CagleMtnVol]

Bout time for Cuonzo & Mizzou to .....

 

[BruisedOrange]

Vols by 10, bet the house

Not even the dog house. Vegas love some homer bravado.

Our freshmen add so much to our team, and this will be their first time on the road, first time facing an SEC opponent, first time experiencing SEC refs on the adversary's turf, and first time shooting in this arena.

We also might not go too deep into the bench, so more minutes from fewer players means fatigue is more likely to become a factor. To win, I expect either someone will shoot the lights out from three, or one of the freshmen will have a game with no dropoff. Or we will have our defensive game of the year, forcing 6+ possession clock violations.

Win or lose, this game will be a GREAT learning experience for this team.
Win or lose, we will be a much better team (and much sooner) for having played it.

 

[Schasz]

It would be get a road win in their first SEC game. Vols should be favored but winning on the road isn't easy.

 

[ColinS]

It would be get a road win in their first SEC game. Vols should be favored but winning on the road isn't easy.

Agree and crowd noise is far from the only factor that makes winning in the road difficult.

 

[cardvolfan]

I think this Tennessee team will be a great passing team by year's end. Already starting to see some pretty impressive glimpses in the early going. That will only make them that much better. Could be scary good for other teams.

 

[calban]

A typical cuonzo team on the defensive end but untypical on offense. these guys can put the ball in the whole. Jrs and Srs. Battle tested. Road game. Their starters may be a bit better (not by much) but the bench is stacked against them.
I won't predict ,but if we do win this one we can expect a run for the money later on if we stay healthy.

 

[therickbol]

A typical cuonzo team on the defensive end but untypical on offense. these guys can put the ball in the whole. Jrs and Srs. Battle tested. Road game. Their starters may be a bit better (not by much) but the bench is stacked against them.
I won't predict ,but if we do win this one we can expect a run for the money later on if we stay healthy.

Put the ball in the whole, what? The suspense is killing me.

 

[omghulkhands]

Put the ball in the whole, what? The suspense is killing me.

Channeling your inner @Special Ed I see

 

[VolinMichigan]

I'm looking forward to seeing how this team plays against a team with a pulse. St. Joes is probably better than their record indicates, but we haven't really played anyone other than maybe Cincy and that was a while ago. These kids were in middle school when Martin was the coach at UT. It's just another game for them. I'm sure every coach wants to beat the program that fired them, but I don't see why Martin would use that as a motivating factor for his team.

 

[Vol49er]

I'm looking forward to seeing how this team plays against a team with a pulse. St. Joes is probably better than their record indicates, but we haven't really played anyone other than maybe Cincy and that was a while ago. These kids were in middle school when Martin was the coach at UT. It's just another game for them. I'm sure every coach wants to beat the program that fired them, but I don't see why Martin would use that as a motivating factor for his team.

Plus, we didn't fire him

 

[BruisedOrange]

Is gametime on the 30th ever gonna get here?!!! I desperately need its analgesic distraction!

I've been playing rope-a-dope with a kidney stone since I woke up Christmas morning, but it still hasn't punched itself out.
It's been like reliving the entire football season every hour.

 

[Special Ed]

We beat a Colorado team that's 6-1 now and looking pretty good.

 

[chef3531]

It’s sounding like they have a very good team though. It might be the most difficult game of the year other than the Big 12 Challenge.

They have the same roster as last year with a couple of add ons. I'm not sold on them being our toughest test outside of KU. I think they are a good team, but even their own reporters are saying that TN is the class of the SEC. We'll know for sure on Wednesday. Their football stadium is the quietest football stadium I've ever been to, can't imagine their basketball arena being any better.

 

[chef3531]

We still don't have front line guys that can dominate,and 5 guards interchangeable.I like this team but need shooting to improve.Defense can'r bail you out every night!

Defense travels. Don't have to score a bunch if the other team can't score either. Science.

 

[TheMagnificantOne]

A typical cuonzo team on the defensive end but untypical on offense. these guys can put the ball in the whole. Jrs and Srs. Battle tested. Road game. Their starters may be a bit better (not by much) but the bench is stacked against them.
I won't predict ,but if we do win this one we can expect a run for the money later on if we stay healthy.

Vols by 25

 

[vols 30]

The Cuonzo revenge thing ended a long time ago. Can't imagine him seeing it that way.

I doubt any Vol fan has a revenge feeling . Time has passed, and most of us realize Cuonzo is just an average at best coach.

 

[TrapVol]

Rebounding is huge in this game. Both teams will play lockdown defense, and Cuonzo ball will slow the game down, resulting in less possessions. That makes every possession count all the more. Unless one team gets hot or free-throw attempts are uneven, 2nd and 3rd chances will decide this game.

 

[Roustabout]

It’s still an advantage to not have to travel and disrupt the routine. Especially when 2 key players are true freshmen.

These kids are used to riding around in packed SUVs for AAU games. Traveling with a top tier college team is a freaking luxury experience. Trams tend to be more routine when they travel.