PG Dynamic Going Forward

[TNVOLFN]

Musselman's Opening Statement after last night's game:

"They're so long, so physicality ... on both sides of the ball. The screen-setting. And then when Zeigler got hurt, they became bigger, taller, more physical probably. They completely out-physicaled us, there's no doubt about it. The loose ball game. The rebounding game. The screen-setting was much more forceful than ours. Yeah, I would say it's the best defensive team that we've played."

We're all devastated for ZZ - kid is all heart and a straight dog - but I wonder what our new dynamic will be going forward? Vescovi at PG? Key (if healthy)? PG by committee? Is there any upside to what Musselman alluded to in his statement (Bold font)?

My concern is that we didn't handle a true full-court press well with ZZ, now it may be an even bigger issue - I don't feel confident with anyone else being able to break the press with their dribble.

 

[PackersVols91]

Mashack has made big improvements in ball handling, so he helped some last night. Having said that, I would press the hell out of this team going forward and I don't understand why arkansas didn't adjust their gameplan

 

[cncchris33]

Musselman's Opening Statement after last night's game:

"They're so long, so physicality ... on both sides of the ball. The screen-setting. And then when Zeigler got hurt, they became bigger, taller, more physical probably. They completely out-physicaled us, there's no doubt about it. The loose ball game. The rebounding game. The screen-setting was much more forceful than ours. Yeah, I would say it's the best defensive team that we've played."

We're all devastated for ZZ - kid is all heart and a straight dog - but I wonder what our new dynamic will be going forward? Vescovi at PG? Key (if healthy)? PG by committee? Is there any upside to what Musselman alluded to in his statement (Bold font)?

My concern is that we didn't handle a true full-court press with ZZ, now it may be an even bigger issue - I don't feel confident with anyone else being able to break the press with their dribble.

My guess is that Santi becomes your main ball-handler and PG with Key and Mashack spelling him. Santi has got to stay out of foul trouble going forward. Edwards may get some minutes by default, especially if Key remains out, but Santi being a senior, he’s going to play as many minutes as his body allows. Take away the USCe blowout, and he’s averaging 35.5 mpg over the last 10, anyway.

 

[JMSqb11]

Musselman's Opening Statement after last night's game:

"They're so long, so physicality ... on both sides of the ball. The screen-setting. And then when Zeigler got hurt, they became bigger, taller, more physical probably. They completely out-physicaled us, there's no doubt about it. The loose ball game. The rebounding game. The screen-setting was much more forceful than ours. Yeah, I would say it's the best defensive team that we've played."

We're all devastated for ZZ - kid is all heart and a straight dog - but I wonder what our new dynamic will be going forward? Vescovi at PG? Key (if healthy)? PG by committee? Is there any upside to what Musselman alluded to in his statement (Bold font)?

My concern is that we didn't handle a true full-court press with ZZ, now it may be an even bigger issue - I don't feel confident with anyone else being able to break the press with their dribble.

ZZ at 5'9" and is replaced with 6'4" Mashack when Santi slides to PG..... On defense, we are definitely in a "different" type of defense.

The length with Santi at PG and Mashack on the floor will make our defense tougher to face.

 

[TNVOLFN]

Mashack has made big improvements in ball handling, so he helped some last night. Having said that, I would press the hell out of this team going forward and I don't understand why arkansas didn't adjust their gameplan

We don't handle full-court traps well, but at least ZZ could break it down with his speed; I honestly don't know why more teams didn't do that to us in the first place - I was always taught to get the ball back to the middle in a trap, but I feel like we're susceptible to dribbling into a corner/trouble.

 

[Stoked]

Mashack has made big improvements in ball handling, so he helped some last night. Having said that, I would press the hell out of this team going forward and I don't understand why arkansas didn't adjust their gameplan

Gonna be hard for teams to press us with the way our defense tires teams out. Teams really have to put in a lot of effort just to score on us. Then you add into the equation that teams are already worn out in the tournament setting.

 

[VolunteerCeltic]

Big loss with ZZ out, but I feel that the team can recover somewhat. Santi was the PG for his first couple years, JJJ can handle the ball, Key can handle the ball and Mashack would get my vote for most improved this season. The sky is not falling. We have a top defense and a team that can play several different ways to win. Dont count them out!

 

[bleedingTNorange]

It just really feels like at this point we have to be the more physical, more effort and want it more team each night going forward AND that refs have to let us play. Last night was another check mark for the fouls stat I’ve been tracking, 20 fouls or more called against us and we are 2-6, less than 20 fouls and we are 20-2, and the 2 losses were Vandy & Missouri where we got beat on buzzer beater shots in games that those teams shot the lights out from 3.

 

[TNVOLFN]

It just really feels like at this point we have to be the more physical, more effort and want it more team each night going forward AND that refs have to let us play. Last night was another check mark for the fouls stat I’ve been tracking, 20 fouls or more called against us and we are 2-6, less than 20 fouls and we are 20-2, and the 2 losses were Vandy & Missouri where we got beat on buzzer beater shots in games that those teams shot the lights out from 3.

Big time reach - stay with me - but maybe this becomes the rally point we look back at and say "that's when we became a different team and won the natty." A rally similar to 1998 when Peyton just graduated and Jamal tore his ACL; of course, didn't hurt that Travis Stephens and Travis Henry were his backups, but you get the picture!

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Gonna be hard for teams to press us with the way our defense tires teams out. Teams really have to put in a lot of effort just to score on us. Then you add into the equation that teams are already worn out in the tournament setting.

This.

Most teams don't press us because with our motion offense and intense defense it's basically asking for your team to expend way too much energy to have legs in the 2nd half. Every team that's ran a bit of press early faded against us, and I think Missouri was the only one that had built a big enough lead for it to not matter that they faded in the 2nd half, but we also bailed them out by playing our worst defensive game of the season. The only team to score 40+ in both halves against us and the only team to score 80 on us this season. Sure them shooting 53.8% from 3 helped them a lot, but we are partly to blame for them shooting that well.

We're not a better team with ZZ out, but we're still a very good team. And we'll be a bigger matchup nightmare, especially if JJJ, Julian and Mashack can all stay healthy and keep playing high level defense their length and athletic ability is hard to handle. 3 guys all 6'4" or taller who can defend 1-4...

Also shoutout to ON and Aidoo both of them were switching and handling perimeter defense against Arkansas' big guards pretty damn well.

 

[TNVOLFN]

This.

Most teams don't press us because with our motion offense and intense defense it's basically asking for your team to expend way too much energy to have legs in the 2nd half. Every team that's ran a bit of press early faded against us, and I think Missouri was the only one that had built a big enough lead for it to not matter that they faded in the 2nd half, but we also bailed them out by playing our worst defensive game of the season. The only team to score 40+ in both halves against us and the only team to score 80 on us this season. Sure them shooting 53.8% from 3 helped them a lot, but we are partly to blame for them shooting that well.

We're not a better team with ZZ out, but we're still a very good team. And we'll be a bigger matchup nightmare, especially if JJJ, Julian and Mashack can all stay healthy and keep playing high level defense their length and athletic ability is hard to handle. 3 guys all 6'4" or taller who can defend 1-4...

Also shoutout to ON and Aidoo both of them were switching and handling perimeter defense against Arkansas' big guards pretty damn well.

Great points!

"We're not a better team with ZZ out, but we're still a very good team."

Definitely a different team and, perhaps, we can leverage that difference to take us farther than we've ever been in the tournament.

 

[JMSqb11]

This.

Most teams don't press us because with our motion offense and intense defense it's basically asking for your team to expend way too much energy to have legs in the 2nd half. Every team that's ran a bit of press early faded against us, and I think Missouri was the only one that had built a big enough lead for it to not matter that they faded in the 2nd half, but we also bailed them out by playing our worst defensive game of the season. The only team to score 40+ in both halves against us and the only team to score 80 on us this season. Sure them shooting 53.8% from 3 helped them a lot, but we are partly to blame for them shooting that well.

We're not a better team with ZZ out, but we're still a very good team. And we'll be a bigger matchup nightmare, especially if JJJ, Julian and Mashack can all stay healthy and keep playing high level defense their length and athletic ability is hard to handle. 3 guys all 6'4" or taller who can defend 1-4...

Also shoutout to ON and Aidoo both of them were switching and handling perimeter defense against Arkansas' big guards pretty damn well.

I fully expect Bruce to press all game or die trying..... Honestly, Saturday should be a good game for us to see if Santi can handle pressure. Lord knows Bruce is going to throwing the kitchen sink at us. If we can manage that and still score 60+, I will feel just fine about the postseason

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I fully expect Bruce to press all game or die trying..... Honestly, Saturday should be a good game for us to see if Santi can handle pressure. Lord knows Bruce is going to throwing the kitchen sink at us. If we can manage that and still score 60+, I will feel just fine about the postseason

Absolutely, Auburn is the worst matchup for us without ZZ. Them having 3 smaller guards who are very quick and can press defensively. If Key is ready to go I think he'll be asked to play a lot of PG...

 

[JMSqb11]

Absolutely, Auburn is the worst matchup for us without ZZ. Them having 3 smaller guards who are very quick and can press defensively. If Key is ready to go I think he'll be asked to play a lot of PG...

Santi vs Wendell Green Jr going to be so funny......

Honestly Mashack and Santi vs Green Jr and KD is gonna be the funky bunch.

 

[kckempf]

Gonna be hard for teams to press us with the way our defense tires teams out. Teams really have to put in a lot of effort just to score on us. Then you add into the equation that teams are already worn out in the tournament setting.

The other part of that is that it’s hard to set the full court press off a rebound. Once you make a shot you can set the press and hope for a sequence of buckets on quick turnovers. Arkansas was not hitting a lot of shots yesterday.

 

[TNVOLFN]

I fully expect Bruce to press all game or die trying..... Honestly, Saturday should be a good game for us to see if Santi can handle pressure. Lord knows Bruce is going to throwing the kitchen sink at us. If we can manage that and still score 60+, I will feel just fine about the postseason

I say it now, calmly, but I'm not going to press the alarm if we struggle on Saturday at PG (I reserve the right to go off the deep end), simply because it will be in a very tough environment and will be the first game without ZZ as starter & our opponent has an opportunity to scheme us.

What will concern me on Saturday, besides not being able to break the press, will be if they pick us up at half court and we just absolutely can't get the ball in the paint or get into our motion on offense - that might be more indicative of our lack of skill at PG.

 

[JMSqb11]

I say it now, calmly, but I'm not going to press the alarm if we struggle on Saturday at PG (I reserve the right to go off the deep end), simply because it will be in a very tough environment and will be the first game without ZZ as starter & our opponent has an opportunity to scheme us.

What will concern me on Saturday, besides not being able to break the press, will be if they pick us up at half court and we just absolutely can't get the ball in the paint or get into our motion on offense - that might be more indicative of our lack of skill at PG.

The one good thing we have going is size at PG with Santi now. He isn't as quick as Mashack so a 6'4" Mashack guarding Wendell Green Jr could be interesting matchup.

At end of the day, this team is mature and deep. They just have to go out and play. Losing ZZ will test their experience and maturity. Also big test for Barnes to make adjustments now that ZZ has forced him to go bigger / longer lineup.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Auburn will now be a very tough out, but it comes at a perfect time to work on breaking down a high pressure press. The upside is that we figure it out and are in a good position moving forward. The downside is that they shut down TN’s offensive attack and provide a blue print for future opponents to follow. This is where having a head coach in his 4th decade should be an advantage over having a young, less experienced guy in charge.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

I say it now, calmly, but I'm not going to press the alarm if we struggle on Saturday at PG (I reserve the right to go off the deep end), simply because it will be in a very tough environment and will be the first game without ZZ as starter & our opponent has an opportunity to scheme us.

What will concern me on Saturday, besides not being able to break the press, will be if they pick us up at half court and we just absolutely can't get the ball in the paint or get into our motion on offense - that might be more indicative of our lack of skill at PG.

Will be interesting to see if they extend pressure full court or half court. When Mashack, JJJ and JP are on the floor with one Big, ORN or Aidoo, or Awaka, and one ball handling guard, if they extend these guys are best prepared to take advantage of the lanes all the way to the basket. We have seen a lot more packing it in than the extended pressure route. Mayshack for sure adds more of that dynamic and Phillips likes it, but gets "physicaled" out when they pack the lane. He did not handle the rugby style of play well last night. Hope he learned from the ORN and Aidoo slams that you have to take it hard to the hole and be ready for contact.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Barn REALLY needs a win. Especially if Bama runs them tonight. If Bama, KY, and LSU (an unlikely outcome versus Missouri) all win tonight then Saturday’s game for TN will be a nothing to lose game. It becomes mostly an opportunity to work on some things minus ZZ.

 

[TNVOLFN]

Will be interesting to see if they extend pressure full court or half court. When Mashack, JJJ and JP are on the floor with one Big, ORN or Aidoo, or Awaka, and one ball handling guard, if they extend these guys are best prepared to take advantage of the lanes all the way to the basket. We have seen a lot more packing it in than the extended pressure route. Mayshack for sure adds more of that dynamic and Phillips likes it, but gets "physicaled" out when they pack the lane. He did not handle the rugby style of play well last night. Hope he learned from the ORN and Aidoo slams that you have to take it hard to the hole and be ready for contact.

Man, if Mashack had a legit finish in the style of Julian Phillips, he'd be the most dangerous man on the court. IMO, he gets to the lane and can get to the basket quicker than anyone we have on the roster.

 

[Walkman]

Big loss with ZZ out, but I feel that the team can recover somewhat. Santi was the PG for his first couple years, JJJ can handle the ball, Key can handle the ball and Mashack would get my vote for most improved this season. The sky is not falling. We have a top defense and a team that can play several different ways to win. Dont count them out!

It’s hard to believe but we might be a better tourney team. It seemed we kept pounding the paint and didn’t settle for 3s that with size and great defense is what wins in March.

 

[cncchris33]

It’s hard to believe but we might be a better tourney team. It seemed we kept pounding the paint and didn’t settle for 3s that with size and great defense is what wins in March.

I think that was the game plan all night, ZZ or no ZZ. Our game plan was to take advantage of our size in the paint, which we did. I don’t think we changed our game plan on the fly due to his injury, so I wouldn’t read much into last night’s result as a barometer of anything resulting from the loss of ZZ.

 

[Zues1]

Did Edwards get in the game last night?

 

[76vol]

I expect to see us get deeper into the 30 sec clock before attempting a shot which will result in poorer shots. Probably less foul shots to.

I'm interested to see if Barnes goes away from the motion offense at all. I don't really see how much he can at this point.