ridiculous stat to add fuel to the fire

[golfballs]

So, at first glance this does seem odd, but the explanation actually is not really turnovers but more involves both Tennessee's free throw rate AND their opponent's free throw rate. Tennessee's free throw rate is 43 percent (e.g 554 free throws / 1289 field goal attempts) which is in the middle of the pack for the SEC. That being said, their opponent's free throw rate is 33.4 percent (e.g 417 free throws /1247 field goal attempts). So, that's where the extra shots are disappearing to, as Tennessee gets about 6 more free throws than their opponents per game. Further, if we examine made free throws (UT 395 Opp. 286) that basically comes down to 5 more points per game. That's a big deal.
So at this point in this long post you can either yell FAHHRR KUONZO and quit reading OR you can continue reading and I'll try to explain part of why Tennessee has been under performing.
First, quickly read the start of this article by Ken Pomeroy about 3 point shooting defense and how much the percentages are actually controlled by the defending team. If you don't want to do that, the cliff notes version is that you're opp 3P% is more dictated by the teams you are playing and whether or not they are good/having a good day. Hence, it's a luck stat, kind of the recovered fumbles of basketball.
the kenpom.com blog
Tennessee is in 13th place conference wide in OPP 3P% at 35.2%. This doesn't excuse these losses or Cuonzo Martin, but consider that A&M shot 53 %, Kentucky 47 %, and Vandy 40 % in those losses. Those threes made a big difference in those games. If those teams shoot at their average Tennessee beats A&M and Vandy and the UK game is a one possession game. (Tangent on that UK game, they also went 23/24 from free throws AND we went 2/13 from three. It was a game where really aberrant shooting masked just how badly we spanked those guys on the boards. I would love another shot at them in Atlanta.)
Finally, consider that the season isn't over yet. Maybe we'll start to get some good luck in these next 9 games and we'll find a way to go 8-1 or 9-0. That's basically what's happened the past two years.

Tennessee is 312th in luck. Hence a 2-7 record in single digit games

 

[VolGee4]

Defense is huge, not doubt. But their is another D that occurs in our loses, and that is Droughts.

I'm not trying to take a side on which is more glaring. Droughts we had last year, the shady D we didn't really. I just wonder why CCM's bread and butter has become inconsistent.?

I really don't know the reason for some of the poor 3 point shooting defense. I have not been able to watch all of the games. For some reason, Arkansas, OM, and Vandy games were not shown here, and I have not used ESPN3.

But, the last couple of games that I have seen, I have tried to watch Stokes. It appears that Stokes is hesitant in the first half because he doesn't want to pick up fouls and he is afraid of the new rules. He knows his team needs him on the floor. He also isn't moving his feet quickly at times on defense. We also are not helping very well either.

One other thing that would side with the offense argument is that I am definitely a believer in attitude/confidence and how it effects defense. If we are struggling on offense, then we aren't as focused on defense. We have all been on the court, and when you are confident and hitting shots, then you are more focused on defense (and "into" the game).