Practice observations...

#32
#32
Chris4Vols22 said:
If starting Skylar gives us the best chance to win, that's great, but I'd say its pretty unlikely since we have Golden, Edwards, and McRae
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McRae has a long way to go to guard the 2. Haven't seen Edwards play, but he'd have to be a 3 pt threat and reliable on D for CCM to play him over a sr.
I also think the coach will play the best players, and not favor a senior. Somebody has to come in and shoot better or more consistently, and play good D to sit Skylar.

I do wonder where, if anywhere, he ranks in any 3 pt category at UT.
 
#33
#33
Spartacavolus said:
McRae has a long way to go to guard the 2. Haven't seen Edwards play, but he'd have to be a 3 pt threat and reliable on D for CCM to play him over a sr.
I also think the coach will play the best players, and not favor a senior. Somebody has to come in and shoot better or more consistently, and play good D to sit Skylar.

I do wonder where, if anywhere, he ranks in any 3 pt category at UT.
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You make skylars 3 point consistency sound like something that's a strong point. His home/road difference was probably one o the worst on the team from 3. As far as overall, yes he had the best %, but not by a whole lot.

As for Edwards, CCM recruited him to start, or atleast play starter minutes, however I see him at the 3, not 2, so that shouldn't mess with skylar. It's gonna be between Jordan, josh and skylar at the 2 IMO.
 
#34
#34
bleedingTNorange said:
You make skylars 3 point consistency sound like something that's a strong point. His home/road difference was probably one o the worst on the team from 3. As far as overall, yes he had the best %, but not by a whole lot.
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I didn't say anything about Skylar's consistency. I said a player would need to shoot with more consistency to oust him.

Skylar is streaky, but he was consistent enough for CCM to go to him when he needed a 3.
 
#35
#35
Spartacavolus said:
I didn't say anything about Skylar's consistency. I said a player would need to shoot with more consistency to oust him.

Skylar is streaky, but he was consistent enough for CCM to go to him when he needed a 3.
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I thought you meant that as he was consistent, my bad. And yes he was enough for CCM to give it to him, but that's not necessarily saying a whole lot.

If jordy can prove he can hit down the open shot I think he gets the nod. Edwards was a very good knock down shooter in his first 2 years, so hopefully it translates.
 
#36
#36
zansdad said:
You mean after Stokes, Maymon, Golden, whomever gets the backup PG minutes and Hall keeping his head straight, then McRae is the key. Right?
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Nah, it's McRae. The first three you named would have to regress for them to be anything other than what we expect. Backup PG is key too. Hall will only be a bonus. We were at our best last year when he was out.

For me, this team will go as far as McRae's improvement will take them.
 
#37
#37
cncchris33 said:
Nah, it's McRae. The first three you named would have to regress for them to be anything other than what we expect. Backup PG is key too. Hall will only be a bonus. We were at our best last year when he was out.

For me, this team will go as far as McRae's improvement will take them.
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Early rumblings are we need a backup PG as well. From what I've gathered McRae has progressed nicely, but the biggest question, is as you mentioned will anyone step up as a backup PG?
 
#38
#38
cncchris33 said:
Nah, it's McRae. The first three you named would have to regress for them to be anything other than what we expect. Backup PG is key too. Hall will only be a bonus. We were at our best last year when he was out.

For me, this team will go as far as McRae's improvement will take them.
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I just see it differently. McRae could miss the entire season and there is enough depth at wing to overcome it. The same cannot be said of the 3 I mentioned. You said they played their best ball when Hall was out last year, that's also when McRae's minutes were going down but you didnt draw the same correlation.

As for Hall, the team played well down the stretch yes, but Hall played against UConn and Florida on the road (while Stokes sat with an injury). Vandy at home is really the only quality win they recorded without Hall playing. Maybe LSU on the road. Hall adds depth and talent that Yemi and Miller cannot.
 
#39
#39
zansdad said:
I just see it differently. McRae could miss the entire season and there is enough depth at wing to overcome it. The same cannot be said of the 3 I mentioned. You said they played their best ball when Hall was out last year, that's also when McRae's minutes were going down but you didnt draw the same correlation.

As for Hall, the team played well down the stretch yes, but Hall played against UConn and Florida on the road (while Stokes sat with an injury). Vandy at home is really the only quality win they recorded without Hall playing. Maybe LSU on the road. Hall adds depth and talent that Yemi and Miller cannot.
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You are reading what they are saying wrong......Yes if we lose those other players it can be more detrimental to the team but they are saying if those three in particular play at the same level as last yr we will be a good team....To be a great team we need better wing play and McRae has the skill set to be a star if the game ever slows down for him and he can play under control.
 
#40
#40
volbeast33 said:
You are reading what they are saying wrong......Yes if we lose those other players it can be more detrimental to the team but they are saying if those three in particular play at the same level as last yr we will be a good team....To be a great team we need better wing play and McRae has the skill set to be a star if the game ever slows down for him and he can play under control.
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I'm reading it just fine, thanks. (didnt realuze there were so many mind readers on this board). I know exactly what they are saying and I still don't agree.

What skill set does McRae posess that is going to make him a star? He can jump out of the gym but that doesn't equate into skill. People need to quit equating athletism with skill.
 
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#41
#41
zansdad said:
I just see it differently. McRae could miss the entire season and there is enough depth at wing to overcome it. The same cannot be said of the 3 I mentioned. You said they played their best ball when Hall was out last year, that's also when McRae's minutes were going down but you didnt draw the same correlation.

As for Hall, the team played well down the stretch yes, but Hall played against UConn and Florida on the road (while Stokes sat with an injury). Vandy at home is really the only quality win they recorded without Hall playing. Maybe LSU on the road. Hall adds depth and talent that Yemi and Miller cannot.
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I agree with you to an extent and I think we are debating the same thing, just from different sides of the spectrum. You are arguing that we can win without McRae, or in spite of him, and I am saying we can be a lot better if he plays up to his level of talent.

I DEFINITELY agree with the athleticism vs talent point. I have been saying it for years and it was my biggest point of contention with Pearl's recruiting strategy. He seemed to value athleticism over skill/talent.

I just think McRae has shown flashes of a legitimate jump shot, slashing ability, and defensive ability to give us all a glimpse of what he is capable of if his head is on straight. I just think he needs to add weight, strength, and cut out the WTH plays. He is a major plus for us if he puts it together. Like you said, we can win in spite of him, but I think we are a better team if he plays to his potential.
 
#42
#42
cncchris33 said:
I agree with you to an extent and I think we are debating the same thing, just from different sides of the spectrum. You are arguing that we can win without McRae, or in spite of him, and I am saying we can be a lot better if he plays up to his level of talent.

I DEFINITELY agree with the athleticism vs talent point. I have been saying it for years and it was my biggest point of contention with Pearl's recruiting strategy. He seemed to value athleticism over skill/talent.

I just think McRae has shown flashes of a legitimate jump shot, slashing ability, and defensive ability to give us all a glimpse of what he is capable of if his head is on straight. I just think he needs to add weight, strength, and cut out the WTH plays. He is a major plus for us if he puts it together. Like you said, we can win in spite of him, but I think we are a better team if he plays to his potential.
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My problem with McRae is he likes to shoot too much. He had the highest shot rate on the team last year. Usually guys like that don't change their stripes. Passive guys usually stay passive and agressive guys usually stay agressive. So on a team with no or few other options, I would be fine with McRae trying to carry the load. However, this team has 2 guys in the post that have extremely high eff fg% and should be getting the bulk of the shots. I don't think that those two things can coexist and thus I don't think McRae is going to be a big factor.

Personally, I think whether Edwards or McBee can defend and hit 40+ 3pt fg% is more important (45% would be even better) What the team needs is are guys that will play without having to take every open shot they see. The ball needs to go into the post every offense trip and I don't think McRae is necessarily well suited for that.
 
#43
#43
zansdad said:
I'm reading it just fine, thanks. (didnt realuze there were so many mind readers on this board). I know exactly what they are saying and I still don't agree.

What skill set does McRae posess that is going to make him a star? He can jump out of the gym but that doesn't equate into skill. People need to quit equating athletism with skill.
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Well you were bringing up injuries and no one was debating that.... he has a lot of skill and is the best guard at getting his own shot, he also can shoot the ball well from outside which he was showing early last season before the competition level stepped up last yr.

he reminds me a lot of Maymon the yr before where he showed a ton of skill but couldn't get off the bench bc the game was too fast for him. Last yr the game slowed down for him and he played under control and within the framework of the offense.

We can be a really good team with our inside play and some better three point shooting but to go really far in the tournament we need an above avg wing player and McRae is most likely to become that.
 
#45
#45
volbeast33 said:
Well you were bringing up injuries and no one was debating that.... he has a lot of skill and is the best guard at getting his own shot, he also can shoot the ball well from outside which he was showing early last season before the competition level stepped up last yr.

he reminds me a lot of Maymon the yr before where he showed a ton of skill but couldn't get off the bench bc the game was too fast for him. Last yr the game slowed down for him and he played under control and within the framework of the offense.

We can be a really good team with our inside play and some better three point shooting but to go really far in the tournament we need an above avg wing player and McRae is most likely to become that.
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Then that would make McRae the key to a deep run in the NCAA tourney not the season. For UT to make a deep run other things must occur first. The premise that Jordan is the key (to a deep run) makes a lot of assumptions. Among those are Stokes continued improvement and willingness to stay in the post, Maymon and Golden being 100% after knee surgery, a solid back up at PG for 10 minutes, who plays the SF, Hall stepping up his game and playing to his potential, Golden taking the next step at PG. All of these are more important to the overall success next season than McRae's development. A team of Golden, McBee, Stokes, Maymon and Richardson/Edwards with Stokes, Maymon and Golden playing at a high level and the others at their norm will have a successful season with or without McRae improving much.

I personally don't think McRae is the key to a tourney run either but if a person made that argument I would be more inclined to buy that than him being the key to the whole season.
 
#46
#46
zansdad said:
Then that would make McRae the key to a deep run in the NCAA tourney not the season. For UT to make a deep run other things must occur first. The premise that Jordan is the key (to a deep run) makes a lot of assumptions. Among those are Stokes continued improvement and willingness to stay in the post, Maymon and Golden being 100% after knee surgery, a solid back up at PG for 10 minutes, who plays the SF, Hall stepping up his game and playing to his potential, Golden taking the next step at PG. All of these are more important to the overall success next season than McRae's development. A team of Golden, McBee, Stokes, Maymon and Richardson/Edwards with Stokes, Maymon and Golden playing at a high level and the others at their norm will have a successful season with or without McRae improving much.

I personally don't think McRae is the key to a tourney run either but if a person made that argument I would be more inclined to buy that than him being the key to the whole season.
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im pretty sure thats what everyone was meaning when they said. the season bc if we dont make the tournament our season is a failure
 
#47
#47
volbeast33 said:
im pretty sure thats what everyone was meaning when they said. the season bc if we dont make the tournament our season is a failure
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That's not what you said. You said win a couple games in the tourney. This team should make the tourney with or without McRae playing well.
 
#48
#48
zansdad said:
My problem with McRae is he likes to shoot too much. He had the highest shot rate on the team last year. Usually guys like that don't change their stripes. Passive guys usually stay passive and agressive guys usually stay agressive. So on a team with no or few other options, I would be fine with McRae trying to carry the load. However, this team has 2 guys in the post that have extremely high eff fg% and should be getting the bulk of the shots. I don't think that those two things can coexist and thus I don't think McRae is going to be a big factor.

Personally, I think whether Edwards or McBee can defend and hit 40+ 3pt fg% is more important (45% would be even better) What the team needs is are guys that will play without having to take every open shot they see. The ball needs to go into the post every offense trip and I don't think McRae is necessarily well suited for that.
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If that's your reason for not liking him, I can roll with that. While, as you said, a tiger usually doesn't change his stripes, I think that flaw can be curtailed by a good coach and a player who wants what is best for his team's success. Is McRae that kind of player? I guess time will tell. I think Zo is the kind of coach that will yank a guy who isn't playing within the team concept. I agree that McRae has trouble discerning good shots from bad and have said as much in this forum ad nauseam. He makes bad decisions far too often, and it needs to corrected for him to be an integral part of our success.
 
#49
#49
I don't think any ONE player is "the key" to a succesful season. I think we can most ill afford to lose golden, but I don't think you can point to any ONE player and say they're they key to a succesful season.

I should have clarified I guess, as beast said, I was referring to NCAA tourney, not season. We should make the tournament this year, now excuse not to. My opinion was just that mcrAe stepping up and performing to his potential would be most beneficial to us, assuming everyone else performed as expected.
 
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#50
#50
bleedingTNorange said:
I don't think any ONE player is "the key" to a succesful season. I think we can most ill afford to lose golden, but I don't think you can point to any ONE player and say they're they key to a succesful season.

I should have clarified I guess, as beast said, I was referring to NCAA tourney, not season. We should make the tournament this year, now excuse not to. My opinion was just that mcrAe stepping up and performing to his potential would be most beneficial to us, assuming everyone else performed as expected.
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exactly....I agree with everything.....im more excited about this yr than any I can remember.....im hopeful for a truly special season.
 
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