New Year's Day Thoughts

#1

zjcvols

"On a Tennessee Saturday night."
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#1
Let's talk basketball guys. Here are some random thoughts as the Vols approach the SEC part of the schedule.

1. Call me crazy, but this team is not out of the NCAA Tourney picture. Whether they are good enough is an entirely different conversation, but the Vols only have one bad loss against Austin Peay. The other five losses are losses that you can understand. Even the Oakland one (which was on the road and was really bad timing).

2. The Vols though will most likely have to go 10-6 in the SEC, which is a tall task to ask of this team. Stokes will help, but I don't know if he's worth 3 to 4 extra wins at this point. They are going to have to take 2 of 3 from Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt at TBA, and then beat one of Alabama, Mississippi State and the top three east teams to get to 10-6. Not too mention potential trap games at Georgia and Arkansas at home. Again, tough task.

3. The Memphis game is going to be the defining game of the season. While Memphis is down (with a coach on the hot seat), they are still more talented than Tennessee and it is in Memphis. The Vols almost pulled out one in Maui. The question is are they better? I don't know. They beat Memphis (and take care of business vs. Chattanooga), you are on a five game winning streak with some momentum going into the Florida game. Lose, and it's NIT bound.

4. How can the Vols get better?
1. Feed the ball to Maymon and run the offense through him. He's our best player and more importantly, the most consistent one. They need to do a better job of getting him touches and making him the focal point.
2. Rebound the ball. Please. Stokes should help in this department. We have played much better defense the last two weeks, but we are really hurting ourselves on the glass. The Vols held ETSU to 41% shooting last week, but allowed 13 second chance point. Cut those offensive rebounds in half and you win by 12. This team will struggle mightly if they can't rebound.
3. Point guard play. The obvious one. Golden has to play better. His defense will not be good. We have to live with that. But he needs to understand he can get in the lane consistently and make things happen. Don't be passive. Be aggressive and get your team easy buckets.

5. So, what should we expect of this team? I think we get Memphis. I know, I am crazy, but they are in freefall and we want revenge. I like our chances. We'll lose to UConn. They are too good. Our OOC record means 8-7, which isn't bad considering the tough teams we have played. So, what do I think the SEC record will be? I think we can pull off an upset or two. But I also think we'll lose a game or two we should win. 8-8 sounds about right. So overall, that would make our regular season 16-15, which is what a lot of people expected. Not enough for a tourney bid unless we have a major SEC tourney run.
 
#2
#2
Good read. I like the optimism.

Where are we now in RPI?

How is Golden's assist/TO ration compared to the leaders in the SEC?

We all want to blame so much on Golden and I am sure some of it is fair but if we will just come to grips with the fact he isn't going to be a great defender he does do some good things.
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#3
#3
Can't find our RPI for some reason.

Golden has 68 assists to 33 turnovers. 2.06/1.
 
#5
#5
Very Positive read....which is a good thing....

I am not sure but I think 10 - 6 is a stretch.... The addition of Stokes is a difference maker in Rebounding hopefully....and I think he will allow for better coverage on the boards....this will be interesting to watch and see if he can change the dynamics of the team....8-8 I think is very doable...will be happy with 9-7.....

We will see soon enough but your words of optimism are welcomed....
 
#6
#6
Good read. I like the optimism.

Where are we now in RPI?

How is Golden's assist/TO ration compared to the leaders in the SEC?

We all want to blame so much on Golden and I am sure some of it is fair but if we will just come to grips with the fact he isn't going to be a great defender he does do some good things.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

RPI for 2012-01-01 - College Basketball - StatSheet.com
 
#7
#7
Can't find our RPI for some reason.

Golden has 68 assists to 33 turnovers. 2.06/1.

I hate to even give you the RPI(279). Don't mean to be the pessimist but I don't think that RPI is worthy of any tourney talk.

Also I am going to show my ignorance asking this question. What is the bench mark for assist/TO ration for point guards?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#9
#9
Barring a miracle (and 10-6 would be a miracle), this team isn't making the tournament. We can all be as optimistic ad we want if it makes any of you feel better, but it will only set you up for disappointment. Of the four things listed that Tennessee needs to do better, Stokes can only help with one of them.

This team might steal one or two games they have no business winning because they cam get hot from the three-point line, but they will most assuredly lose some they should win.

IMO, 8-8 would be about the best we should realistically hope for. Anything above that would be unexpected realistically.
 
#10
#10
I hate to even give you the RPI(279). Don't mean to be the pessimist but I don't think that RPI is worthy of any tourney talk.

Also I am going to show my ignorance asking this question. What is the bench mark for assist/TO ration for point guards?
Posted via VolNation Mobile

Golden's A/TO ratio is not bad for a player at any other position. At PG, its not great, but not terrible. It's at least a positive number. Ideally, you would like it to be higher from your PG, 2-1 is alright.
 
#11
#11
Barring a miracle (and 10-6 would be a miracle), this team isn't making the tournament. We can all be as optimistic ad we want if it makes any of you feel better, but it will only set you up for disappointment. Of the four things listed that Tennessee needs to do better, Stokes can only help with one of them.

This team might steal one or two games they have no business winning because they cam get hot from the three-point line, but they will most assuredly lose some they should win.

IMO, 8-8 would be about the best we should realistically hope for. Anything above that would be unexpected realistically.

In the next 2 weeks we play Memphis, Florida, Miss State and KY.
I'm sure realism will set in soon enough.
Not that I'm not hoping for a sweep.
 
#12
#12
NIT is a more reasonable goal for this team unless we see some different play going forward with Stokes.
 
#13
#13
Barring a miracle (and 10-6 would be a miracle), this team isn't making the tournament. We can all be as optimistic ad we want if it makes any of you feel better, but it will only set you up for disappointment. Of the four things listed that Tennessee needs to do better, Stokes can only help with one of them.

This team might steal one or two games they have no business winning because they cam get hot from the three-point line, but they will most assuredly lose some they should win.

IMO, 8-8 would be about the best we should realistically hope for. Anything above that would be unexpected realistically.

I don't think we can make the Tourney, I agree.
 
#15
#15
I'd say we all have a better chance at winning the lottery than we have of making the NCAA tourney this year.

All I want to see is effort, play hard and improve every game at this point.

We need to win tonight against a UTC team that isn't that good really, but we could still lose.

UTsports.com has it on Sportsouth, but my guide says Atlanta Hawks hoops. WTH?
 

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