New brand of "Tennessee basketball"?

#1
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MikeHamiltonFan

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#1
After the Alabama game Bruce Pearl said that what we saw was not Tennessee basketball. He said that the Vols cannot press and they cannot dictate pace currently because of a thin roster.

My question is whether or not that might translate into more success in the NCAA tournament for the Vols. The win against Ole Miss looked like an NCAA type victory and the Vols since the 4 players were suspended have been playing hard nosed defense.

Bruce said "defense and rebounding wins championships" and it seems that his team has bought in. They would be going for their first outright SEC championship that would only come if they can beat a UK team with a lot more talent on paper than they have. That has not stopped Pearl so far, as he has beaten Kansas this year, but in past years defeated Memphis, Texas, UF and even UK in years where we had a talent deficit.

Strange: Calling plays in defense of Pearl GoVolsXtra

I like this new look Vols squad. They still are amongst the best in the country at shutting down the in bounds pass. They still take a good number of 3's. They still try for alley oops and thunder dunks that are fun to watch. Yet I think that they may be committed enough to excellent half court defense that they can put together a string of wins in the tournament. If Bruce Pearl experiences his greatest success using his most against type gameplan, he will be certain that great halfcourt defense is something his teams are prepared to play from here on.

What happens when you have the talent to press sometimes and you play great halfcourt defense and rebound well the whole game? You win by 30. Bring on the stud recruits, just make sure they are willing to play defense as hard as they long for picturesque dunks.
 
#2
#2
Our D has been nothing short of superb..I think we are Top 5 in nation in 3 point Defense, and #1 in SEC in Points allowed
 
#4
#4
It was a disappointing comment, that's for sure. I've argued many times that I don't think Pearl coaches a style of basketball that can win consistently in March. But suddenly out of necessity, here he is coaching in a style that looks tailor-made for the tourney, and he's had unexpectedly great success with it, even with an undermanned squad.....and then he turns around and basically says that he can't wait to drop it and get back to the press. It's mind-boggling.

Pearl has done a great job the last two weeks. I just wish he'd incorporate what he's done into his scheme going forward.
 
#5
#5
Excellent post. I, for one, am holding out hope for an SEC crown and maybe an Elite Eight this year. Wishful thinking, I know, but hoping for the best.
 
#6
#6
This team needs to learn to play with the lead.

If this team could learn to control itself when its gets the lead, it could save itself a lot of heartburn.

UT is fiesty enough and has enough heart to fight back when down by 10+ points. However, when it takes the lead, and has opportunities to extend the lead near the end of a game, the players suddenly lose control.

They try to go show time at the worst possible moment. Or, trying to be conservative, will make the worst possible pass, shot, or dribble.

I love 'em, but if they could exercise self-control with the lead, they would put a lot of these teams away and not have to sweat out the win.
 
#7
#7
Vercingetorix said:
It was a disappointing comment, that's for sure. I've argued many times that I don't think Pearl coaches a style of basketball that can win consistently in March. But suddenly out of necessity, here he is coaching in a style that looks tailor-made for the tourney, and he's had unexpectedly great success with it, even with an undermanned squad.....and then he turns around and basically says that he can't wait to drop it and get back to the press. It's mind-boggling.

Pearl has done a great job the last two weeks. I just wish he'd incorporate what he's done into his scheme going forward.
Click to expand...

yeah I was very disappointed when I heard that comment. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
 
#8
#8
That is just Pearl's style but i agree with yall. If we can find a happy balance of when to press and run like North Carolina of years past then that would be great.
 
#9
#9
Sparingly using the press is a good idea. But using the press as the staple of your defense has hurt us in the past.
 
#10
#10
DyronNix said:
This team needs to learn to play with the lead.

If this team could learn to control itself when its gets the lead, it could save itself a lot of heartburn.

UT is fiesty enough and has enough heart to fight back when down by 10+ points. However, when it takes the lead, and has opportunities to extend the lead near the end of a game, the players suddenly lose control.

They try to go show time at the worst possible moment. Or, trying to be conservative, will make the worst possible pass, shot, or dribble.

I love 'em, but if they could exercise self-control with the lead, they would put a lot of these teams away and not have to sweat out the win.
Click to expand...

Championship teams extend leads. That is a quote from Pearl during the Alabama game.

The interesting thing is that he cannot make layups for them. Chism is the only consistent finisher around the hole, although Hopson has been pretty good there also. Kenny Hall is showing me a lot right now, but he missed a few in close that made me cringe that he is getting the B Williams curse. When as a coach you draw up a good play and the guy misses a layup, you deserve about as much criticism as when you call a play in football and the wide open WR drops the sure fire touch down.
 
#11
#11
MikeHamiltonFan said:
After the Alabama game Bruce Pearl said that what we saw was not Tennessee basketball. He said that the Vols cannot press and they cannot dictate pace currently because of a thin roster.

My question is whether or not that might translate into more success in the NCAA tournament for the Vols. The win against Ole Miss looked like an NCAA type victory and the Vols since the 4 players were suspended have been playing hard nosed defense.

Bruce said "defense and rebounding wins championships" and it seems that his team has bought in. They would be going for their first outright SEC championship that would only come if they can beat a UK team with a lot more talent on paper than they have. That has not stopped Pearl so far, as he has beaten Kansas this year, but in past years defeated Memphis, Texas, UF and even UK in years where we had a talent deficit.

Strange: Calling plays in defense of Pearl GoVolsXtra

I like this new look Vols squad. They still are amongst the best in the country at shutting down the in bounds pass. They still take a good number of 3's. They still try for alley oops and thunder dunks that are fun to watch. Yet I think that they may be committed enough to excellent half court defense that they can put together a string of wins in the tournament. If Bruce Pearl experiences his greatest success using his most against type gameplan, he will be certain that great halfcourt defense is something his teams are prepared to play from here on.

What happens when you have the talent to press sometimes and you play great halfcourt defense and rebound well the whole game? You win by 30. Bring on the stud recruits, just make sure they are willing to play defense as hard as they long for picturesque dunks.
Click to expand...

This is something he should already be certain about. But as of right now, this is far and away the best half-court defensive team Pearl has ever had. And in my opinion, this will end up being the best team Pearl has ever had because of that.
 
#12
#12
LawVol13 said:
This is something he should already be certain about. But as of right now, this is far and away the best half-court defensive team Pearl has ever had. And in my opinion, this will end up being the best team Pearl has ever had because of that.[/QUOTE]

I fully agree about the defense, but we are going to have to improve offensively if we continue to win.
Click to expand...
 
#13
#13
MikeHamiltonFan said:
After the Alabama game Bruce Pearl said that what we saw was not Tennessee basketball. He said that the Vols cannot press and they cannot dictate pace currently because of a thin roster.

My question is whether or not that might translate into more success in the NCAA tournament for the Vols. The win against Ole Miss looked like an NCAA type victory and the Vols since the 4 players were suspended have been playing hard nosed defense.

Bruce said "defense and rebounding wins championships" and it seems that his team has bought in. They would be going for their first outright SEC championship that would only come if they can beat a UK team with a lot more talent on paper than they have. That has not stopped Pearl so far, as he has beaten Kansas this year, but in past years defeated Memphis, Texas, UF and even UK in years where we had a talent deficit.

Strange: Calling plays in defense of Pearl GoVolsXtra

I like this new look Vols squad. They still are amongst the best in the country at shutting down the in bounds pass. They still take a good number of 3's. They still try for alley oops and thunder dunks that are fun to watch. Yet I think that they may be committed enough to excellent half court defense that they can put together a string of wins in the tournament. If Bruce Pearl experiences his greatest success using his most against type gameplan, he will be certain that great halfcourt defense is something his teams are prepared to play from here on.

What happens when you have the talent to press sometimes and you play great halfcourt defense and rebound well the whole game? You win by 30. Bring on the stud recruits, just make sure they are willing to play defense as hard as they long for picturesque dunks.
Click to expand...

We just won the SEC outright two years ago.
 
#17
#17
MikeHamiltonFan said:
We won regular season, we did not win the tournament. The SEC recognizes Miss. State as the SEC champions last year in mens basketball.
Click to expand...

Winning the conference "outright" generally refers to winning the regular season outright without tying with anyone. But, maybe that's just what it means to the mere mortals who aren't genius prognosticators.
 
#18
#18
LawVol13 said:
Winning the conference "outright" generally refers to winning the regular season outright without tying with anyone. But, maybe that's just what it means to the mere mortals who aren't genius prognosticators.
Click to expand...

Don't try to explain it to him, he will just respond by telling you that Wisconsin lost to UW-GB and Northwestern isn't that good.
 
#19
#19
Hasn't Bruce's teams been in the top 2 of conference scoring every year also? If we can combine the two we are looking at a 2 seed...maybe 1.
 
#20
#20
Weather this new style is out of neccesity or not, I could see it going a lot further giving us a chance in slowing down Ky. and Pilling off a big W.
 
#21
#21
Kyle, I think that Wall is better than S Collins, but I was stunned at how effectively we defended him. We also looked better than I thought against the guards of Ole Miss.
 
#23
#23
Amazing how the young talent is revealing itsself i.e. Hall, Woolrige, Mcbee, with some of the so called iconic players are gone i.e. TS. They seem to fit so well into this system. Also CBP has never been able to showcase his own abilities as effectively as he can now with the thinner roster. Reminds me of Jimmy V. taking mediocre teams to championship caliber. Really dating my self!
 
#25
#25
Urinal Mint said:
Tennessee basketball has improved since it ceased to play "Tennessee Basketball"
Click to expand...

I think everyone is thrilled to see how well this team is playing now but let's not act like they weren't successful prior to "the incident."

They certainly are playing well now though.
 
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