Official Game Thread: #9 Tennessee at #4 Michigan State (3:30 BTN)

#501
#501
TheMookieMonster said:
We didn’t close well or handle the pressure well down the stretch, but I think that is an issue that can be solved with Vescovi and ZZ returning.
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We did answer many of their comeback runs with clutch play, and did it with a multitude of combinations. Last minute was intense and pressurized, but we came out on top, on the road in a hostile environment
 
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#504
#504
Thunder Good-Oil said:
The discussion is about players not living up to VN poster’s expectations. It’s an analogy.

CRB must see something in JJJ. Over 4 years he’s started him in 80% of games he’s played in.
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I think he sees a calming influence and an experienced, steady performer/leader. Not gonna dazzle anyone with his stat line, but he contributes in his own way.
 
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#505
#505
CAVPUT said:
I think he sees a calming influence and an experienced, steady performer/leader. Not gonna dazzle anyone with his stat line, but he contributes in his own way.
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True. He’s not a bruiser like Uros or very flashy either. But his height with his ability to play perimeter offense and effectively defend multiple positions make him very valuable.

JJJ has grabbed a lot of rebounds late in close games.
 
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#506
#506
Scouting reports, game plans in the future will make it tougher on him but having him will help the other guys, SV, JJ, ZZ etc.
 
#509
#509
wmcovol said:
Scouting reports, game plans in the future will make it tougher on him but having him will help the other guys, SV, JJ, ZZ etc.
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The tough thing to extrapolate from scouting reports will be:
Who do you game plan against? Where/How do you game plan defensively against them? Because you must play hard defensively, how do you compensate with your offensive sets and style of play?Just when I had almost forgotten about Awaka, he came into the game today. Seems he has shored up his free throw shooting a bit
 
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#510
#510
Great win that should have never been that scary at the end. I see our inability to make easy under the basket layups at times have carried over from last year. So frustrating! Why are we trying to finesse that stuff into the hoop? Jam those home!! Put your damn elbows in the rim!
 
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#513
#513
TheMookieMonster said:
Based on what I saw tonight, when fully healthy I would expect our starting 5 will be:

Zakai
Santi
Knecht
JJJ
Aidoo

With Gainey, Mashack, and Awaka first off the bench and Dillione getting some run, too. That’s a solid 9 players.
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Just that bench depth alone is going to pay dividends in the grind of a season, not to mention SEC play. I’m really bullish on this team - while some of the issues in the game today needs some work and a few are holdovers from years and years past, the entire flow of the game and the way the team worked together just felt different. We’ve got a lot to be thankful for and a lot to really look forward to with this bunch.
 
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#515
#515
Finally got to watch a replay (thanks Freak). Here's my 2 cents:

1. Knecht: holy freaking cow. He can shoot. He can handle the ball. What I was surprised at was his passing -- multiple lovely dimes, including on PnR. Defense already looks passable. Just might be our best player. And he did it about 7 different ways, so I don't see the potential fizzle like recent transfers-after-exhibitions. That dunk, man.

2. We have multiple drivers: knecht, gainey, mashack. ZZ when he is back. Both Aidoo & Awaka cab play PnR. This factors should immensely help on the night when the 3s don't fall.

3. Ball-handling: got more options than expected. ZZ, Gainey, Mashack, Knecht, Dilione. I'm not worried about the end of the game. We missed 2 of our best end of game players.

4. We won't hit 50% from 3 every game but MAN we have shooters. Knecht & Vescovi in at the same time is going to cause teams headaches. Remember complaints last year about Vescovi "disappearing" in games because the entire defensive blueprint is centered on him? Yeah, teams won't be able to do that this year.

5. Frontcourt:
Based on comments during the game, I thought our guys got destroyed inside. Watching it, we got outplayed by their bigs but Awaka & Aidoo did ok. It wasn't completely one-sided. That might be the best frontcourt we play all year

6. Dilione:
Likewise, I thought Dilione did ok. Freshman for sure. Forced things a few times but you can see the skill set. Made a few nice correct reads. Could still get into the paint. Playing against not top-10 talent will help settle him in

7. How cool was this for an exhibition? Full crowd. Loud. Competitive. So much better prep than beating a little school by 30. I'm so ready for basketball.
 
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#517
#517
TheMookieMonster said:
Based on what I saw tonight, when fully healthy I would expect our starting 5 will be:

Zakai
Santi
Knecht
JJJ
Aidoo

With Gainey, Mashack, and Awaka first off the bench and Dillione getting some run, too. That’s a solid 9 players.
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Very solid. And with Mashack's ability to play 1-4 and Gainey's ability to play any Guard spot, the guys off the bench can be plugged into a number of spots for various starters. And of course, JJJ can play multiple spots, Santi can play PG...so it's not just a really solid 9, but it's very versatile.
 
#519
#519
Lukusw said:
Finally got to watch a replay (thanks Freak). Here's my 2 cents:

1. Knecht: holy freaking cow. He can shoot. He can handle the ball. What I was surprised at was his passing -- multiple lovely dimes, including on PnR. Defense already looks passable. Just might be our best player. And he did it about 7 different ways, so I don't see the potential fizzle like recent transfers-after-exhibitions. That dunk, man.

2. We have multiple drivers: knecht, gainey, mashack. ZZ when he is back. Both Aidoo & Awaka cab play PnR. This factors should immensely help on the night when the 3s don't fall.

3. Ball-handling: got more options than expected. ZZ, Gainey, Mashack, Knecht, Dilione. I'm not worried about the end of the game. We missed 2 of our best end of game players.

4. We won't hit 50% from 3 every game but MAN we have shooters. Knecht & Vescovi in at the same time is going to cause teams headaches. Remember complaints last year about Vescovi "disappearing" in games because the entire defensive blueprint is centered on him? Yeah, teams won't be able to do that this year.

5. Frontcourt:
Based on comments during the game, I thought our guys got destroyed inside. Watching it, we got outplayed by their bigs but Awaka & Aidoo did ok. It wasn't completely one-sided. That might be the best frontcourt we play all year

6. Dilione:
Likewise, I thought Dilione did ok. Freshman for sure. Forced things a few times but you can see the skill set. Made a few nice correct reads. Could still get into the paint. Playing against not top-10 talent will help settle him in

7. How cool was this for an exhibition? Full crowd. Loud. Competitive. So much better prep than beating a little school by 30. I'm so ready for basketball.
Click to expand...
Dillione will be really good by February.
 
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#520
#520
TheMookieMonster said:
Based on what I saw tonight, when fully healthy I would expect our starting 5 will be:

Zakai
Santi
Knecht
JJJ
Aidoo

With Gainey, Mashack, and Awaka first off the bench and Dillione getting some run, too. That’s a solid 9 players.
Click to expand...

Gainey looks like a very capable option as a PG. Since ZZ likes to come off of the bench it won’t surprise me to see Gainey get the starts.

If Gainey turns out to be the real deal, the question I have is which 5 of ZZ, JJJ, SV, Knecht, Gainey, and Aidoo/Awaka are in games at the end. Even Mashack will be in that mix. I guess it will depend on which opposing player is likely to hurt us with his offense and we need to match up with the best defender.
 
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#525
#525
Awesome game today; the only thing that worries me is the fact we beat Gonzaga last year in an exhibition game.
 
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