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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.
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.