Pretenders Masquerading as Contenders

[BernardKingGOAT]

We lost but respectable showing imo.

Lots of points today. Won't be like on Tuesday

 

[i2amavol]

I’ll probably get railed for this but I think we are closer to a pretender than we are contender

As long as we have ZZ to run the show, I don't see any reason that we wouldn't be a contender. We have all the pieces.

 

[All Vol!]

I think many don’t understand how Tennessee keeps winning. We’re averaging 80 ppg and allowing 52. That’s gonna win you just about every game you play.

 

[i2amavol]

They are winning some games by being able to hang on to their leads in the second half - an ability that not every Tennessee team has had in the past. ZZ is worth much more than the stats show, and having experience at every position helps as well.

 

[LeannaVol]

We lost but respectable showing imo.

Florida looked worthy of a high ranking. This conference has some incredible guard play.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

I’ll probably get railed for this but I think we are closer to a pretender than we are contender

Can't state an opinion like this and then hide from backing it up, unless you're just a troll. So....let's hear it....

 

[VOLtaism]

Thought it might be interesting to get opinions and view points on this subject as the SEC season gets underway. The conference is loaded, obviously, but from games played to this point, do you see any SEC teams that are highly ranked, analytically endowed, or otherwise fit the bill for winning the SEC championship that are just pretenders? Who’s getting the acclaim but will fall flat on their face? Bring it, ladies and gentlemen.

I think all you can gather from todays games is that road wins will be tough.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I think all you can gather from todays games is that road wins will be tough.

Only SEC road win today was Vandy at LSU, 80-72.

 

[VolCalls]

I agree with this and would put Mississippi State in that bucket, as well. I also think Ole Miss and Vandy are underrated.

Vandy won at LSU today and is 13-1. Oklahoma’s performance in Tuscaloosa didn’t surprise me at all. I could be wrong on Mississippi State - they looked great today.

What a deep league.

 

[volbound1700]

Oklahoma is 40th on KP, so that’s my vote

Looks like you might be correct.

 

[madbamahater]

I’ll probably get railed for this but I think we are closer to a pretender than we are contender

No one typically goes entirely undefeated, but please explain how they are pretenders.

Arkansas wasn't even competitive yesterday, they were never really in the game. Is this the 1994 Arkansas team? No. Do they have talent and a Hall of Fame coach leading them? Yes.

 

[TheFlash1971]

Come tourney time you’ll find out just what contender you are just as a lot of other teams will also. If your a team that relies strictly on defense then you probably won’t win. Eventually you’ll run into a team that plays good enough defense but they have shooters that just make shots regardless of your defense.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Arky is now 0-2 in SEC and Okie is in the process of taking down the Aggies. It’s gonna be chaos.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Arky is now 0-2 in SEC and Okie is in the process of taking down the Aggies. It’s gonna be chaos.

Aggies coming back. Now have a lead, 71-70

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Aggies coming back. Now have a lead, 71-70

Oklahoma looks like they want it more
SEC is going to end up cannibalizing themselves
edit: Well, looks like A&M wanted it a little more. Both of those teams with 2 losses now.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Wow. Huge Aggie comeback, without Wade Taylor IV.

 

[GAV4L]

Florida and Oklahoma

Agree

We beat ourselves yesterday, if we hit our shots we would've ran the lizardsd off the court

refs didn't do us any favors either

 

[hUTch2002]

Agree

We beat ourselves yesterday, if we hit our shots we would've ran the lizardsd off the court

refs didn't do us any favors either

Nah, Florida isn’t a pretender. They’re a very good team. There was no winning that game Tuesday and that happens. The concerning thing is they fought harder than us the entire game. It’s one game so let’s see how we bounce back Saturday but Florida has no glaring weakness so I don’t see how they could be considered a pretender.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

So about our blowout home win vs Cal’s hogs….doesn’t look so special now.

Man, basketball is so bipolar. This season is going to be an exercise in perspective and just trying to get a decent seeding.

 

[calban]

Tuesday's game was a Fluke. Fla could have stood with their hands at their sides and TN would still have lost by 30. Too early to start ragging on them.

 

[rocketskates]

Nah, Florida isn’t a pretender. They’re a very good team. There was no winning that game Tuesday and that happens. The concerning thing is they fought harder than us the entire game. It’s one game so let’s see how we bounce back Saturday but Florida has no glaring weakness so I don’t see how they could be considered a pretender.

Florida is solid. No shame in a loss to them at Gainesville--a 30 point loss? Not sure about that, but that's the coldest we've shot in recent memory. I'll be concerned if we come out flat against Texas, although given Barnes's history, I doubt that will be the case.