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

#160
#160
BallerVolFan said:
Let’s see some more talk about the game itself. CCM is at Mizzou and not Tennessee. Let’s leave that for the Mizzou fans to discuss. With this being the first conference game as well as the first road game of the year, I’m sure we’ll see some struggles to begin the game. I’m predicting a lower scoring, defensive affair. Free throws and defense will be huge in this game. I believe the first to 70 wins the ball game. Excited to see how our freshman perform in their first road game. With there being pretty much no crowd, it should help a little. Really physical matchup and more than likely some foul trouble. If Tennessee knocks down their free throws and bring the energy on the defensive side, I see the Vols coming out with a win.
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Good post, but I believe 60 will win it. Also if the fouls are called even then I like UT’s chances due their depth.
 
#162
#162
wisvol22 said:
Here's the thing - I think Cuonzo is a good guy, from all accounts his players loved him. But like most others stated, he is a mediocre to slightly above average coach. He'd be a good coach for a program that isn't historically good and could help stabilize the program and maybe get a couple tourney invites here and there.

He's been to three NCAA tournaments in twelve seasons as a HC. One regular season title, two other top three finishes, nine seasons of finishing fourth or worse.

As people have also mentioned, it was incredibly frustrating to see talented rosters come nowhere near close to their potential -

Those 2012-13 and 2013-14 Tennessee teams had three NBA players (Richardson, McRae, Stokes), solid CBB players in Maymon, Barton, Hubbs and Moore and all we got out of it was barely sneaking into the tournament (I believe the 5th to last team in the tournament) and while you can't control your draw, after the first four game against a pretty solid Iowa team, we got incredibly lucky getting to play a UMASS team that has been viewed as a ridiculously overseeded team in recent history and Mercer to a S16. The most frustrating part is that when this team clicked, they were soooo impressive and dang near impossible to beat, however, they consistently didn't play this way or show the effort. Heck, that S16 team was 15-11 at one point!

His Cal teams may have been a bigger indictment. His second Cal team had four draft picks, including Jaylen Brown who went #3 overall along with (Ty Wallace, Jabari Bird, Ivan Rabb (consensus top 10 recruit). This team also included Jordan Matthews who had a very solid college career. What did it get them? A tie for 3rd place in the Pac12 and a first round exit in the tournament. His other teams at Cal were no slouches talent wise either and they didn't sniff the NCAA tournament.

And then for those saying, "well he was a good defensive coach" - actually, he was not really any better or worse than Barnes or Pearl - Pearl was more consistent and Barnes has had more elite defenses. We just think that because Cuonzo brought a slower, Big Ten style of basketball to the SEC. For reference below are the adjusted defense efficiency ratings for these three coaches over the years, I included Tyndall as well for curiosity. (Adjusted by accounting for opponents, tempo, points per possession, etc).

Pearl (starting in 2008 since I don't have the data prior): 24th, 72nd, 16th, and 39th

Martin: 37th, 102nd (this season also includes those infamous Virginia and Georgetown games), and 17th

Tyndall: 146th lol

Barnes: 141st, 50th, 6th, 42nd, 57th, currently 3rd this season.
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Great post, except I have to defend my boy Donnie Lol.

The tallest guy in the starting five was 6'-5'' and we played a 1-3-1 zone all year, by the end of the year we looked pretty good. However any team with shooters was trouble. Any team with shooters and good bigs was impossible....

I'll remember him for drawing up great plays in crunch time and that big come back at Vandy.
 
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#164
#164
Have heard on telecasts that Cuonzo has finally opened up the offense this year. And if so, this is the thing his biggest critics were screaming when he was here. Imo
His teams showed up most nights defensively, but the offense has been so handcuffed until this year how good of a coach he is has been masked by how incompetent his offenses have been. Also jmo
 
#167
#167
I thought Cuonzo was a classy guy who represented UT well. I liked the team’s effort and I liked his basketball philosophies and I really, really wanted him to succeed here because I liked him.

But he wasn’t a good coach when he was here and that’s the simple truth. He only made the tournament one out of three years and his team only got in the 2013-14 tournament because the team closed on a tear as UT was very close to being out that year. In fact, UT had to win a play-in game to get to the tournament and then made the Sweet Sixteen because the team was actually really good. Keep in mind those squads (2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14) all had good talent with Richardson, Stokes, McRae, etc. Cuonzo also struggled at Cal even with players like Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb.

And so, maybe he’s figured it out and grown as a coach. I hope so because, like I said, I always liked him and want him to succeed.
 
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#168
#168
WhatInVolnation said:
I thought Cuonzo was a classy guy who represented UT well. I liked the team’s effort and I liked his basketball philosophies and I really, really wanted him to succeed here because I liked him.

But he wasn’t a good coach when he was here and that’s the simple truth. He only made the tournament one out of three years and his team only got in the 2013-14 tournament because the team closed on a tear as UT was very close to being out that year. In fact, UT had to win a play-in game to get to the tournament and then made the Sweet Sixteen because the team was actually really good. Keep in mind those squads (2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14) all had good talent with Richardson, Stokes, McRae, etc. Cuonzo also struggled at Cal even with players like Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb.

And so, maybe he’s figured it out and grown as a coach. I hope so because, like I said, I always liked him and want him to succeed.
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Agree, and always thought CCM had life experiences (cancer survivor) that his players could learn from that many hopefully will never experience.
 
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#169
#169
Wonder what the over/under will be for this one? Gonna be a helluva lot of defense played in this game. If we can get 'em in foul trouble early, our depth might win the day. Not sure if they have a lot of length, but rebounding will be critical.
 
#171
#171
CAVPUT said:
Wonder what the over/under will be for this one? Gonna be a helluva lot of defense played in this game. If we can get 'em in foul trouble early, our depth might win the day. Not sure if they have a lot of length, but rebounding will be critical.
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132.5
 
#172
#172
cardvolfan said:
Your post is interesting. There are several things you state as facts that are more than likely incorrect, and I disagree with them. Conversely, you do have a couple of points that are spot on.
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The only thing I stated as facts that might not be is that Pearl’s players didn’t respect him. We got season tickets after Pearl’s first season and still have them. I was at every home game after the fact.
During timeouts our players not in the game were goofing off and not paying attention. Brian Williams was probably the worst.
Once Cuonzo took over the demeanor in the huddle completely shifted. Everyone was engaged. Also watching the end of the year DVDs the team didn’t seem to care or pay attention to his speeches in the locker room, unlike his early teams at Tennessee.
When everything went down at Tennessee for Bruce Pearl and former players were interviewed, the ONLY player that had reached out to Pearl was Dane Bradshaw at the time. Without Bruce Pearl, Bradshaw would’ve been a bust that the fans would’ve wanted to transfer down a level. Because of Pearl, Bradshaw made the all decade team. Bradshaw knows it and acknowledged it in his acceptance speech when he said, “there’s been plenty of players like me” but none of them had the opportunity/blessing/privilege (don’t remember) of playing under Coach Pearl. - Bradshaw had a good career at UT, but it wasn’t All Decade team good.
 
#173
#173
volball57 said:
The only thing I stated as facts that might not be is that Pearl’s players didn’t respect him. We got season tickets after Pearl’s first season and still have them. I was at every home game after the fact.
During timeouts our players not in the game were goofing off and not paying attention. Brian Williams was probably the worst.
Once Cuonzo took over the demeanor in the huddle completely shifted. Everyone was engaged. Also watching the end of the year DVDs the team didn’t seem to care or pay attention to his speeches in the locker room, unlike his early teams at Tennessee.
When everything went down at Tennessee for Bruce Pearl and former players were interviewed, the ONLY player that had reached out to Pearl was Dane Bradshaw at the time. Without Bruce Pearl, Bradshaw would’ve been a bust that the fans would’ve wanted to transfer down a level. Because of Pearl, Bradshaw made the all decade team. Bradshaw knows it and acknowledged it in his acceptance speech when he said, “there’s been plenty of players like me” but none of them had the opportunity/blessing/privilege (don’t remember) of playing under Coach Pearl. - Bradshaw had a good career at UT, but it wasn’t All Decade team good.
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So, if Cuonzo had been Bruce he would have made the tournament every year is correct? I doubt you would find very few who agree with that.
 
#175
#175
OrngeJuiceJones said:
132.5
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Missouri actually averaging 75 points per game this year. Martin letting his guys play a little faster because they are a senior-dominated team. I think Tennesee's defense will also force a little faster pace of play. Combine all this and I would expect higher. Possibly 142 unless they're both stone cold.
 
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