PlanetVolunteer
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SC has been a jinxed place for the Vols. We only have 5 series wins all time and that included this one.For those who did not see it, our Diamond Vols were a bit flat yesterday. Pitching needs work. The defense was spectacular, especially in the IF. Key dingers when needed pulled it out. So mission accomplished in winning another series on the road. Go for the sweep at noon today.
Could not be happier for Peebles, who is our best defensive catcher. He just needs to focus and relax at the plate like he did with that winning HR. Go with the pitches and quit trying to do too much at the plate. He has a good, level, short swing with some pop. Just a bit anxious at the plate at times.
I know Fischer wanted to play 3B more when he committed, but his work at 1B has been excellent. MLB scouts will take notice. It is good to see Curley at his natural position of 3B, which is what he will play in MLB one day. Not much to add to Antigua - the best defensive SS in college. If he continues to improve at the plate - wow. Kilen has already proven he has it all at 2B and was a quality SS previously. Knowing we have Marin as a freshman super sub at 2B, 3B and SS is a luxury most teams do not have.
The OF is just as good as the IF. Add in Bargo's bat and utility on D. He has finally leveled his swing and is staying back on the pitches, it shows big time. Clark needs to do likewise and he will return to his early season success.
No holes in the line-up and roster at all. Tighten up the pitching and there is zero doubt in my mind they can run it back.
If you want to get mildly depressed look at the cumulative margin of victories of each elite 8 team and guess which side of the bracket has the largest disparities.
Ours
Before today we were like 3rd with 37, but Duke's is obnoxious folks.
Not the team anyone should want to face to make the final, but it's time
Barnes and crew
2 of those 4 were in transition from a missed free throw. So TTU screwing up helped make those happen. That's a 10 point swing if they hit all 4 free throws and don't allow transition 3s.Florida also hit 4 straight 3's in absolutely ridiculous fashion. Not near the worst choke when I think about it.
No doubt they played sloppy, but I think they played exactly the way that got them there.Get past Houston and play our own game. BAMA was sloppy from the moment the ball was tipped til the final buzzer. Duke is a great team but BAMA played pickup ball against a blue blood and found out just how bad that strategy was.
Kentucky beat Duke. So did Clemson. Cinderella’s make the sweet 16 with chaos ball but they rarely go beyond that. BAMA did play how they’ve played all year minus any semblance of a defense (they at least attempted a defense most conference games).No doubt they played sloppy, but I think they played exactly the way that got them there.
I'd also say (how dare you go making me defend Oates's style on a Sunday morning) that I think you have to attack loaded 5* blueblood rosters with chaos and pace. Similar to football. You don't line up and go toe to toe with bigger, better, more talented and more disciplined dudes. You throw them a curveball.
This is why nearly every cinderella has played fast paced, 3 pointer, high tension basketball. You have to lean on variance and hope for the best. If you pack it in and hope to pound away hookshots and between-the-kneesies from the FT line for 40 minutes against a deep, talented blueblood, you're doing exactly what they want.