Not making excuses . . .

#1

cbrown

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#1
but being the more desperate team is a huge advantage. MSU played like yesterday was their last game if they lost, because it was - the same for aTm. The margin for error is very slim at this level and if one team is more motivated than the other, that’s usually the difference. Having said that, the effort from Tennessee was certainly disappointing, and I mean mentally not physically. This team, at times, folds mentally and panics when they get punched in the mouth, chucking up 3 after 3. It’s a bit surprising considering how much experience they have. Teams can take away DK if they commit to it and are willing to play 3-on-4 with everyone else. Those other guys on the floor are going to have to produce when that happens. Sadly, they don’t have a track record of consistently doing that.
 
#2
#2
They got out hustled and defended DK aggressively. He became frustrated which put pressure on the rest of the team and they failed. The coaches need to come up with a game plan when DK is double teamed and the other players have to step up and score.
 
#4
#4
Would hope we see this team come out in game 1 and play like it was their last chance to do something (it is). If we draw a scrappy, no-fear, #15 that likes a street-fight style game we could be in trouble. Also a team that relies on the 3 could lure us into a shooting contest and that wouldn't be good with our long range struggles. Hopefully we have a significant size difference and can win in the paint and with rebounding.
 
#6
#6
but being the more desperate team is a huge advantage. MSU played like yesterday was their last game if they lost, because it was - the same for aTm. The margin for error is very slim at this level and if one team is more motivated than the other, that’s usually the difference. Having said that, the effort from Tennessee was certainly disappointing, and I mean mentally not physically. This team, at times, folds mentally and panics when they get punched in the mouth, chucking up 3 after 3. It’s a bit surprising considering how much experience they have. Teams can take away DK if they commit to it and are willing to play 3-on-4 with everyone else. Those other guys on the floor are going to have to produce when that happens. Sadly, they don’t have a track record of consistently doing that.
Good analysis 👊🏼
 
#7
#7
They got out hustled and defended DK aggressively. He became frustrated which put pressure on the rest of the team and they failed. The coaches need to come up with a game plan when DK is double teamed and the other players have to step up and score.
The plan was there. They just weren't hitting. 20% FG will not beat anybody.
 
#9
#9
The plan was there. They just weren't hitting. 20% FG will not beat anybody.
No, it will not. I’ve never understood why they don’t try to get more mid-range jump shots for guys like JJJ and Mashack. While those two aren’t consistent offensive threats, it seems like a better option than taking 33 3’s when they’re not falling. When they struggle on offense it’s like the plan becomes throwing up 3’s like Allan Houston, Chris Lofton, and Dale Ellis are on the floor.
 
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#10
#10
The coaches nor players had zero answers yesterday. Barnes said they got away from the game plan. Hard to imagine a group of seniors responding that way. On floor leadership was pathetic.
Yep. That’s on the players. I’m sure there are things Barnes could have drawn up, but he is not responsible for executing the plan. Sure, he can bench them (and often does), but the inner drive and will to win falls squarely on the players.
 
#11
#11
UT will only go as far as ZZ takes them. When he comes out lethargic and uninspired, we lose.

If I’m not mistaken, on one possession alone he missed 3 attempts at uncontested 3 pointer. Very bad. Vescovi and ZZZ follow his lead, then comes Aidoo with his several missed layups. Can’t write a better script for tournament play.
 
#12
#12
They got out hustled and defended DK aggressively. He became frustrated which put pressure on the rest of the team and they failed. The coaches need to come up with a game plan when DK is double teamed and the other players have to step up and score.
Honestly they needed to take him out in the first half for a reset. They've done it before and it's worked well. Sometimes with him off the floor the other players step up into their roles, and if he comes back in with the right mind set the whole team is back on track.
 
#13
#13
The plan was there. They just weren't hitting. 20% FG will not beat anybody.
So take it to the rim. Problem is that we don't have enough guys capable of doing that. We live and die by the 3 ball. The scout is there on how to beat UT by taking Knecht away and putting the game on everyone else. Many teams in the early rounds won't have the athletes to do it, but our luck says we'll probably find one of those that can.
 
#16
#16
After sealing the SEC title, several players stated, "We are not Done yet!" So prove it!
What is it that Yoda said: “Either do or do not. There is no try” At the end of the day, it’s all about results. An SEC title is a really good result but it can be a whole lot better. When you get spoiled with winning, it’s natural to want more.
 
#17
#17
but being the more desperate team is a huge advantage. MSU played like yesterday was their last game if they lost, because it was - the same for aTm. The margin for error is very slim at this level and if one team is more motivated than the other, that’s usually the difference. Having said that, the effort from Tennessee was certainly disappointing, and I mean mentally not physically. This team, at times, folds mentally and panics when they get punched in the mouth, chucking up 3 after 3. It’s a bit surprising considering how much experience they have. Teams can take away DK if they commit to it and are willing to play 3-on-4 with everyone else. Those other guys on the floor are going to have to produce when that happens. Sadly, they don’t have a track record of consistently doing that.
The anti-dote for teams playing aggressive like MSU did yesterday is MAKE YOUR SHOTS. We didn't just miss 3's, we missed 5 and 8 footers, lay-ups, couldn't hit free throws after being fouled. Doesn't take long before you are down 10 points and getting run out of the building .
 
#18
#18
What is it that Yoda said: “Either do or do not. There is no try” At the end of the day, it’s all about results. An SEC title is a really good result but it can be a whole lot better. When you get spoiled with winning, it’s natural to want more.
They had every incentive to beat MSU after losing to them all season.
 
#19
#19
So take it to the rim. Problem is that we don't have enough guys capable of doing that. We live and die by the 3 ball. The scout is there on how to beat UT by taking Knecht away and putting the game on everyone else. Many teams in the early rounds won't have the athletes to do it, but our luck says we'll probably find one of those that can.
3 out of 5 players on the floor can do that when Gainey, Knecht, and Ziegler are out there. Yesterday we couldn't do it because MSU was disciplined at shutting off the drive, which left open 3s. Hit those and you can get them to chase shooters and leave gaps, making a lot of 1-on-1 opportunities at the rim. On our side we didn't have discipline closing those gaps, much like the first A&M game.

We did in fact try to drive through the contact yesterday, anyway, but there were no easy calls inside, so Knecht's drives often led to a defensive rebound and a fast break since he drive against the flow of the offense, taking away court balance. We needed more discipline in our sets all around. When that happened against A&M, we came back with that discipline and went on a win streak.
 
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#21
#21
Hell, I didn’t want them hanging around & playing Sunday regardless & that was the only way they were getting a 1 seed. I wish they hadn’t played so bad Friday but going home & refreshing isn’t the worst thing that could happen.
 
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#22
#22
Damn this Miss State team is putting it on Aub now. They may be real deal. How did they lose 12 this year?
 
#25
#25
but being the more desperate team is a huge advantage. MSU played like yesterday was their last game if they lost, because it was - the same for aTm. The margin for error is very slim at this level and if one team is more motivated than the other, that’s usually the difference. Having said that, the effort from Tennessee was certainly disappointing, and I mean mentally not physically. This team, at times, folds mentally and panics when they get punched in the mouth, chucking up 3 after 3. It’s a bit surprising considering how much experience they have. Teams can take away DK if they commit to it and are willing to play 3-on-4 with everyone else. Those other guys on the floor are going to have to produce when that happens. Sadly, they don’t have a track record of consistently doing that.

Still kind of sounds like an excuse. I don't care how desperate they were, that effort by us yesterday may have lost to Missouri.
 

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