Official Game Thread - SECT: Friday, 1pm (ESPN) vs. MSU

[BowlBrother85]

The selection committee is judging them. Losing a game in the SECT is one thing, but losing the way they did is very concernin. This is March, not December.

Once again, there is no evidence that the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee weighs conference tournament games when it comes to seeding.

 

[posivol]

would love to see him add about 20-25 pounds of muscle in the offseason. He gets backed-down way to easy.

ha has weak hands as well

 

[Raiford62]

There is no way to sugar coat this loss. Aidoo plays good against average centers, but he will back away from the good centers. Awaka is too short and he can rebound but that is it. No offensive game except maybe around the basket. ZZ just went crazy. Trying to dribble thru everybody and some reaching defense. JJJ and Vescovi, don't know what to say. Vescovi's fakes aren't doing anything because he is not going to shoot and when he does he can't throw it in the ocean. The complimentary players are awful right now. I will give it to Mashack, he is one hard playing dude. He deserves playing time. Very disappointing loss.

 

[Ttucke11]

We are in full turmoil I see lol. This game determines nothing. Neither does the seeding. Let's wait another week or two before we come to all of our conclusions.

 

[PKT_VOL]

ZERO offensive production from Santi and JJJ will spell an early exit from the NCAA tourney, more than likely first weekend in the 2 vs 7 matchup. Hell if Knecht shoots poorly I'm not even confident about the 2 vs 15 matchup. Thought Santi/JJJ would be stalwarts this year. They've been just the opposite and now in such a funk offensively they are a liability. Needed to have developed some of the younger players to be ready to play meaningful minutes now. Maybe as freshman/sophs they could play more freely and hit a few shots. Can still prove me wrong but the disappearance of Santi/JJJ late will be a lasting stain on their Vol careers.

Agreed. I know Barnes doesn't trust them over the veterans come March, but he should have developed them more during the season and bite the bullet now.

Believing Vescovi and JJJ are suddenly going to get it together moving forward is the definition of insanity.

 

[Volstylexx]

After winning the SEC tourney a few years and it not helping us out in the slightest bit seed wise. I don't care for it anymore. They would have found a way to screw us out of a one seed anyway. I can't stand conference tourneys.

Agree. Move it up one day to finish on Saturday at least.

The committee has told us the Sunday final doesn’t matter for two years in a row now. Did you guys hear them say Lunardi said last night that Sunday wasn’t going to impact the seed line for the committee bc the bracket would be finalized by Saturday night?

 

[Rocky Top T]

Losing the game isn't the worst part, getting totally dominated is!!!!!!

 

[GBO18]

The committee has told us the Sunday final doesn’t matter for two years in a row now. Did you guys hear them say Lunardi said last night that Sunday wasn’t going to impact the seed line for the committee bc the bracket would be finalized by Saturday night?

Yea which just sounds crazy. No reason to have any conference tournament finals on Sunday then. Conferences do it for the money obviously.

 

[BowlBrother85]

I don't think the tournament affects the seedings, at least it has never changed ours even after winning it. That being said we were a 2 and still a 2. These last 2 games will dispel all the national championship, final 4 talk and this team can come back down to earth. They had to earn the SEC regular season championship and they did it. How will they react now? I would hate to be playing them with their backs against the wall.

Hopefully, they will play with something to prove next week. The most concerning part really is what this team looks like offensively whenever Knecht is something less than extraordinary. It's ugly.

 

[LakeMaryFLVol]

So when does game start? ,, Whoops that was a few players after last night

 

[LakeMaryFLVol]

Disgusting

 

[GoodTimeVol]

I’m sorry you aren’t smart enough to know Barnes has been coaching for about 40 years.

Lol buddy it’s not hard flesh out your statements, if your are going to point out criticism provide context

 

[Volstylexx]

Hopefully, they will play with something to prove next week. The most concerning part really is what this team looks like offensively whenever Knecht is something less than extraordinary. It's ugly.

They become one dimensional when Aidoo doesn’t produce, and it puts immense pressure on the guards to hit from outside. As many have said, the matchups are what matters most come March. Pray with all your might we don’t see a team with a strong big before the sweet 16.

 

[Volstylexx]

 

[Dadof2Vols]

As much as I'm trying to pull some silver lining out of this, I can't. I just hope this was a nightmare matchup for us. Losing by almost 20 in a loser goes home setting, with a huge fanbase advantage, and the 2nd best player in the country is demoralizing. No other way around it.

This was not a matchup nightmare. It was a formula for beating UT MBB.

if refs are not calling it tight, man up every one 1-1. Let DK do whatever he wants from outside and let no player from UT into paint without lower body contact. With lower body contact UT will shoot ~40% or less in paint. 1-1 on outside everyone else but DK will shoot ~30% from outside of paint and you win.

With that game plan you only lose if the refs call it tight on the defense especially body shots in paint or multiple UT players other than DK get hot FROM OUTSIDE OF paint.

Look at the losses and you will see.

 

[BowlBrother85]

I like the self-awareness .... but who is to blame for that, Rick? Hopefully, they will have a good week of practice.

 

[GBO18]

Hopefully DK comes out like his hair is on fire. He likes to lay back at the beginning of games. Don’t need to do that in the NCAA tournament.

 

[Dougie_D]

I’m wondering if we got too comfortable. Winning the regular season w/ 1 game left at home and then having a double bye in Nashville.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

That actually concerns me more than make me feel better.

 

[GoodTimeVol]

I’m wondering if we got too comfortable. Winning the regular season w/ 1 game left at home and then having a double bye in Nashville.

Do ppl forget 2022? Lol how many times does this need to be posted

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Meh ... We are a 2 seed, but that's not a stretch. In fact, we are probably the 2 seed in North Carolina's region.

That would be good draw.

 

[Volstylexx]

That actually concerns me more than make me feel better.

The law of averages says we return to the mean.

 

[Ratvol]

We laid an egg. We’ll rest up and get ready for the Big Dance.
meanwhile I’m pulling for Auburn to win the SEC tournament.
Go Bruce.

 

[Volstylexx]

That would be good draw.

Current bracketology has us matching up with 10 seed Michigan State in the 2nd round (south regional). The three seed in that bracket would be a better matchup for us, imo.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Easily the biggest mystery of the season and one of the biggest during the Barnes era. Both what happened to his offensive confidence and why he keeps eating up minutes over someone like Mashack/Gainey/Carr.

RB spent to much time early/middle time of season trying to find SV from 3 years ago and JJJ consustency instead of getting more minutes for others, now the price will be paid for not having more options.