Question for board about next year's team...

[k-town_king]

You mean like CJ?

Yea, I think he can be that type of player. I was really referring to people who keep saying put 15-20 lbs on AJ and play him at the 5. He just isn't a post player. He would be more dangerous and productive if he improved his ball handling and shooting imo.

 

[Volfan2012]

Aj is not and will never be a center. People please stop trying to make him a 4 or 5. That is our problem. We need true post players that can block shots and rebound. Bulking up 6'8 g/fs is not the solution.[/QU


He is one of the few options the team has inside next season. He is 6'9" played the 4 and 5 in high school it is his ultimate position with Tennessee. He will not be a perimeter player here we have plenty of those guys. Namely Austin, Thompson, Richardson, Cornish, Hubbs, and Moore.

 

[BigZiti09]

Stokes is a Zo recruit.

I understand recruiting guys that fit your system but besides Jordy, who is a Bruce guy we depend on?

Jeronne Maymon

 

[k-town_king]

Aj is not and will never be a center. People please stop trying to make him a 4 or 5. That is our problem. We need true post players that can block shots and rebound. Bulking up 6'8 g/fs is not the solution.[/QU


He is one of the few options the team has inside next season. He is 6'9" played the 4 and 5 in high school it is his ultimate position with Tennessee. He will not be a perimeter player here we have plenty of those guys. Namely Austin, Thompson, Richardson, Cornish, Hubbs, and Moore.

He played on the wing in high school and they list him as a g/f at UT. He may HAVE to play some post in a pinch but that is not his natural position. That is why I said we need another true post player. People think just because you add weight to a 6'8 player it makes them a post . That is not true at all.

 

[VolArmy74]

Cofer will be a much better player as a freshman than Hall was as a senior. Cofer will be a force down low both on offense and defense. May have to teach him how to play his game without fouling, but Stokes has done a good job doing that. For some resin, I think Stokes is likely to stay next year which would really help the team next year.

Cofer weighs 195 pounds. I don't think he's gonna be capable grinding it out down low vs SEC bigs next season to be honest with you. Plus, his high school team only went 18-10 this year. That doesn't seem great if you have a high level NCAA div 1 player on your roster.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Cofer weighs 195 pounds.

Where'd you get that number?

 

[VolArmy74]

Where'd you get that number?

Every recruiting profile lists him at 6'7 or 6'8 and 195-205. Look at him, he's tall and skinny. He's not built like Maymon, Stokes, Hall etc. He's built like AJ Davis.

I think he's a good player, but I don't think he's a down low banger that we need next year as a freshman.

 

[Orangedogsrule]

With the way transfers happen now a days a lot could change as well.

How does the perception of next years team change if Stokes returns and we bring in a graduate transfer PG?

Or if Stokes goes pro, if we bring in a graduate transfer big?

How far is Stokes from getting his degree in Communications Studies? Is that a deal with his family? If so, we could definitely see him back.

 

[Volfan2012]

He played on the wing in high school and they list him as a g/f at UT. He may HAVE to play some post in a pinch but that is not his natural position. That is why I said we need another true post player. People think just because you add weight to a 6'8 player it makes them a post . That is not true at all.

I didn't say it is an ideal situation. When he has played this season he has been backing up Maymon. That job goes off and on to him and Reese. The huge problem with next year's team is no post players and we were recruiting Allen for the last scholarship making me thinking CCM sees him as a post. If that is the way he sees him guess that is where he will play. It is much better for him to play in there at 230 than 212 JMO.

We do have Turman 6'8" 235 saw two different high school games where the big man on the other team was consistently beating him up and down the court. He has a way to go in intensity to play in the SEC. He has the body already gonna have to learn to play hard.
There is Cofer 6'7" 205 and NiDaye a non factor. That is it other than Reese who was also a perimeter player that they have been bulking up.

 

[walkenvol]

I think some discussion, regarding the players coming in versus those that may be exiting, fitting Martin's offense might be as important as rankings.

I'm still trying to figure out CCM's offense as it's not any type of traditional motion offense I've seen.

Passing around the perimeter till you jack a 3 or allow your SG to create a shot isn't the motion offense. Next game bring it down and feed the post (although only the first half even though its working great). Next game walk it across half court. Next game push it in transition.

What am I missing as its like a box of Forrest Gump's chocolates - you never know what your getting?

 

[NYC Vol]

First year team had a bunch of young, mostly highly regarded players that had sat behind other highly regarded veterans, with year or 3 in Tatum's case winning a lot of games, under a great coach. Also had decent size. Kenny Hall might look like an under achiever, but he'd be getting 30 minutes a game on next years team with no sweat.

Next year's young team is high schoolers we're hoping pan out, some guys who occasionally go entire games without scoring as a bench unit, and a highly rated guy who is coming off a season ending injury.

That's my take on it as well. People are correct in saying that first team was also short on experience. But IMO, it wasn't from lack of talent. They were talented guys that were just sitting behind other talented guys. That happens when your program is running well.

I see next year's team as one in which you have guys that will be sophs and juniors that we beat out lower D-I teams for or true freshmen (who we beat out medium regarded D-I programs for). Rankings don't always mean everything, as I'm sure some will point out with a team like Wichita St, but rarely are lower rated players immediately ready to assume a big role on a team. After a couple years in a program, absolutely. But we're hoping that some can contribute right away.

 

[walkenvol]

Yea, I think he can be that type of player. I was really referring to people who keep saying put 15-20 lbs on AJ and play him at the 5. He just isn't a post player. He would be more dangerous and productive if he improved his ball handling and shooting imo.

His height is an asset near the basket. Its unusual to be6'9" and dribble with the 6' guards. If he is to have a productive college career, I believe it will be with a developed body around the paint.

 

[NYC Vol]

What Kenny Hall are people remembering? Moore took over his spot in the starting lineup when Moore was a freshmen. Kenny Hall lacked effort some games and he didn't contribute very much.

Kenny wasn't the greatest but he started 21 of 31 games last year. He avg 4 rebounds in 20 mpg and shot 55%. He's no world beater but he would be All American compared to what we have in the post next year.

 

[NYC Vol]

With the way transfers happen now a days a lot could change as well.

How does the perception of next years team change if Stokes returns and we bring in a graduate transfer PG?

Or if Stokes goes pro, if we bring in a graduate transfer big?

You mean like Antonio Barton??

 

[vol66]

I'm still trying to figure out CCM's offense as it's not any type of traditional motion offense I've seen.

Passing around the perimeter till you jack a 3 or allow your SG to create a shot isn't the motion offense. Next game bring it down and feed the post (although only the first half even though its working great). Next game walk it across half court. Next game push it in transition.

What am I missing as its like a box of Forrest Gump's chocolates - you never know what your getting?

I don't think I'm all that qualified to answer, that's why I asked the question. When I heard Pancratz make the comment and I believe he mentioned McRae as one who does not fit...I was just curious what folks here think.

I don't think it's a different question than how will our players recruited to play in a 4-3 defense adapt to Sunseri's 3-4, for instance.

Just to try to answer your question, maybe CCM is having to adapt and it's been hard to do for him or the players...both?

 

[steino]

He played on the wing in high school and they list him as a g/f at UT. He may HAVE to play some post in a pinch but that is not his natural position. That is why I said we need another true post player. People think just because you add weight to a 6'8 player it makes them a post . That is not true at all.

AJ better commit to playing the 4 or be another Swipperboy. He is not talented enough to play the perimeter on either end of the court. The 4 is a great position for him.

 

[NYC Vol]

I don't think I'm all that qualified to answer, that's why I asked the question. When I heard Pancratz make the comment and I believe he mentioned McRae as one who does not fit...I was just curious what folks here think.

I don't think it's a different question than how will our players recruited to play in a 4-3 defense adapt to Sunseri's 3-4, for instance.

Just to try to answer your question, maybe CCM is having to adapt and it's been hard to do for him or the players...both?

I think what Pancratz was saying is that this team is long on athleticism (good for running) and short on shooting/basketball IQ. We also rebound the hell out of the ball. Push the ball and get shots up. We rebound 40% of our misses. Take bad shots if you want to. We'll get the rebound almost half the time.

That lends itself to creating havoc on the court. Our wings and guards have long ass arms. They should be playing passing lanes and trying to get steals. Our defensive strategy plays against everything we're built for.

In a nutshell, we play offensively and defensively completely opposite of what we're built for.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Every recruiting profile lists him at 6'7 or 6'8 and 195-205. Look at him, he's tall and skinny. He's not built like Maymon, Stokes, Hall etc. He's built like AJ Davis.

I think he's a good player, but I don't think he's a down low banger that we need next year as a freshman.

Right, I was just wondering where you got 195. I see 3 sites have him 205+, and 1 has him 196, so I was just curious. He's a 4 right now. Turman is the 5.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

You mean like Antonio Barton??

Or Deandre Kane.

 

[vol66]

I think what Pancratz was saying is that this team is long on athleticism (good for running) and short on shooting/basketball IQ. We also rebound the hell out of the ball. Push the ball and get shots up. We rebound 40% of our misses. Take bad shots if you want to. We'll get the rebound almost half the time.

That lends itself to creating havoc on the court. Our wings and guards have long ass arms. They should be playing passing lanes and trying to get steals. Our defensive strategy plays against everything we're built for.

In a nutshell, we play offensively and defensively completely opposite of what we're built for.

So, in your opinion, will the in coming players be more suited for what Martin likes to do, less suited, won't make any difference?

 

[Shaun1985]

Hubbs can be a really good player. I'm not sure if he could take over a team like Jordy can but I think he can score like him. I would have really liked if he got to play all season to get the time in before basically coming straight in and Martin depending on him so much. Does anyone have an update on his injury? I know he had surgery but when can he start working out again?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Hubbs can be a really good player. I'm not sure if he could take over a team like Jordy can but I think he can score like him. I would have really liked if he got to play all season to get the time in before basically coming straight in and Martin depending on him so much. Does anyone have an update on his injury? I know he had surgery but when can he start working out again?

He's been shooting

 

[NYC Vol]

So, in your opinion, will the in coming players be more suited for what Martin likes to do, less suited, won't make any difference?

From what I understand, the guards aren't very proficient from the outside. I keep hearing "physical" as a description for them all except Cofer.

I hear Cofer is slender and a gazelle.

So based on all that, I'll let you draw your own conclusions about how that fits. ;

 

[vol66]

From what I understand, the guards aren't very proficient from the outside. I keep hearing "physical" as a description for them all except Cofer.

I hear Cofer is slender and a gazelle.

So based on all that, I'll let you draw your own conclusions about how that fits. ;

I don't no much about the recruits, other than size...haven't seen them play or anything so your probably right.

It does seem like, just on the size that we have and the size coming in, leaving etc...that we won't be seeing the 3 out, 2 in style for much longer.

Thanks for the info.

 

[VolArmy74]

Right, I was just wondering where you got 195. I see 3 sites have him 205+, and 1 has him 196, so I was just curious. He's a 4 right now. Turman is the 5.

Max Preps has him at 6'8 195.