Rucker: OK, start worrying about Vols hoops

#1
kamoshika

kamoshika

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#1
OK, start worrying. Surrender? Not even close. Panic? Not quite. Worry? Sure. Yeah. That’s fine. It would be at least a bit weird if you weren’t at least a bit worried at the moment. The Tennessee basketball team struggled offensively Wednesday night for a second consecutive game, and this time the Vols added defensive struggles to that formula. Given that formula, it’s hardly surprising that Tennessee flew back to Knoxville with a second consecutive loss...

...Yes, Tennessee shot 3-of-15 from the 3-point line Wednesday night, and that’s decidedly terrible. Who cares? That’s life in basketball. Sometimes you make shots and sometimes you don’t, and these Vols, as presently constructed, aren’t a good perimeter shooting team. Senior point guard Lamonte Turner — often times a sniper throughout his career — has a bad shoulder and is struggling to make anything longer than a free throw at the moment, and that’s allowing teams to put more focus on fellow senior guard Jordan Bowden, and that’s getting the Vols tossed into the pit of offensive misery for the holidays.

That doesn’t bother me. Not really. What really, really bothered me, though, was Tennessee’s defensive performance at Cincinnati. Just four days after learning — if they didn’t already know, and they should have already known — that great defense still gives you a chance to beat practically opponent regardless of how much you struggle to score, these Vols turned in one of the worst defensive performances I’ve seen from them in a while.
Rucker: OK, start worrying about Vols hoops
 
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#2
#2
Anyone that expected Bowden and Turner to turn into Grant and Admiral in terms of carrying the team this year was overly optimistic IMO.

I'm not worried...this team is what it is in what many expected to be a "down year." I'm just glad a down year now has us still thinking we may make the tourney. We've all lived through many basketball seasons here where the end of season drama was whether or not we'd make the NIT.

Additionally, it's hard to worry a great deal when you look ahead and see the players we have coming in next year.
Go Vols!
 
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#5
#5
If you can't hit 3's and your big men can't score. What does that leave you, dribble drive and hope you can hit foul shots. We all new this was going to be a down year but this team looks lost on the court. That was not a great Cincy team and they scored at will.
 
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#7
#7
"It would be at least a bit weird if you weren't at least a bit weird" ?? That's Sportswriting? My the standards have fallen.
 
#8
#8
kamoshika said:
OK, start worrying. Surrender? Not even close. Panic? Not quite. Worry? Sure. Yeah. That’s fine. It would be at least a bit weird if you weren’t at least a bit worried at the moment. The Tennessee basketball team struggled offensively Wednesday night for a second consecutive game, and this time the Vols added defensive struggles to that formula. Given that formula, it’s hardly surprising that Tennessee flew back to Knoxville with a second consecutive loss...

...Yes, Tennessee shot 3-of-15 from the 3-point line Wednesday night, and that’s decidedly terrible. Who cares? That’s life in basketball. Sometimes you make shots and sometimes you don’t, and these Vols, as presently constructed, aren’t a good perimeter shooting team. Senior point guard Lamonte Turner — often times a sniper throughout his career — has a bad shoulder and is struggling to make anything longer than a free throw at the moment, and that’s allowing teams to put more focus on fellow senior guard Jordan Bowden, and that’s getting the Vols tossed into the pit of offensive misery for the holidays.

That doesn’t bother me. Not really. What really, really bothered me, though, was Tennessee’s defensive performance at Cincinnati. Just four days after learning — if they didn’t already know, and they should have already known — that great defense still gives you a chance to beat practically opponent regardless of how much you struggle to score, these Vols turned in one of the worst defensive performances I’ve seen from them in a while.
Rucker: OK, start worrying about Vols hoops
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Yeah, Wes nailed that perfectly. How many easy layups did they get?
 
#10
#10
VolBricks said:
If you can't hit 3's and your big men can't score. What does that leave you, dribble drive and hope you can hit foul shots. We all new this was going to be a down year but this team looks lost on the court. That was not a great Cincy team and they scored at will.
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We all SHOULD have known, but did you see the preseason predictions from many (most?) of our fans that post here? Without checking, I wouldn’t be shocked if a good portion of the ones standing at the ledge aren’t the same ones who blindly predicted we’d win 22+ games.
 
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#11
#11
kamoshika said:
OK, start worrying. Surrender? Not even close. Panic? Not quite. Worry? Sure. Yeah. That’s fine. It would be at least a bit weird if you weren’t at least a bit worried at the moment. The Tennessee basketball team struggled offensively Wednesday night for a second consecutive game, and this time the Vols added defensive struggles to that formula. Given that formula, it’s hardly surprising that Tennessee flew back to Knoxville with a second consecutive loss...

...Yes, Tennessee shot 3-of-15 from the 3-point line Wednesday night, and that’s decidedly terrible. Who cares? That’s life in basketball. Sometimes you make shots and sometimes you don’t, and these Vols, as presently constructed, aren’t a good perimeter shooting team. Senior point guard Lamonte Turner — often times a sniper throughout his career — has a bad shoulder and is struggling to make anything longer than a free throw at the moment, and that’s allowing teams to put more focus on fellow senior guard Jordan Bowden, and that’s getting the Vols tossed into the pit of offensive misery for the holidays.

That doesn’t bother me. Not really. What really, really bothered me, though, was Tennessee’s defensive performance at Cincinnati. Just four days after learning — if they didn’t already know, and they should have already known — that great defense still gives you a chance to beat practically opponent regardless of how much you struggle to score, these Vols turned in one of the worst defensive performances I’ve seen from them in a while.
Rucker: OK, start worrying about Vols hoops
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Rucker has really improved as a writer and I find myself enjoying more and more of his content.
 
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#13
#13
Special Ed said:
Sans Vescovi and Plavsic, I don't have much hope for this team to do any damage.
Adding one of the two might engender a bit of optimism, but it's going to be a long season.
Click to expand...

are we expecting both of these guys in january?
 
#15
#15
I was concerned when Derrick Walker and DJ Burns left the team. Barnes wasn't able to replace them. Plavsic would have been ideal, but not available right now. This team is missing that bruiser underneath. It was thought Burns or Walker would be that guy. We just don't have that guy right now nor anyone coming so far next year unless Plavsic is eligible.
 
#16
#16
It's mainly Turner and Bowden. Statistically Turner has the worst FG%, most TOs, and least 3pt % on the entire team. I get he's hurting. But regardless he's not playing well at all.

No one said Turner and Bowden would be great, but we all expected better than what they're giving.
 
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#17
#17
Catbone said:
It's mainly Turner and Bowden. Statistically Turner has the worst FG%, most TOs, and least 3pt % on the entire team. I get he's hurting. But regardless he's not playing well at all.

No one said Turner and Bowden would be great, but we all expected better than what they're giving.
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I think most expected Turner and Bowden to be who they are and each score 10-15 points a game. I dont think most thought they were going to be Admiral and Grant. They are pathetic. If Turner is hurt then he should sit until he is healed , a hurt Turner offers nothing. Gaines should be getting more minutes and we see Pember in the 1st half of games but hardly in the 2nd half.
 
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#18
#18
worry about a basketball team? really? join a gym or find a safe place. UT just lost a bunch of great players and folks expect them to return to the success of last year....worry about nothing...GO VOLS
 
#19
#19
tnvols72 said:
I think most expected Turner and Bowden to be who they are and each score 10-15 points a game. I dont think most thought they were going to be Admiral and Grant. They are pathetic. If Turner is hurt then he should sit until he is healed , a hurt Turner offers nothing. Gaines should be getting more minutes and we see Pember in the 1st half of games but hardly in the 2nd half.
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Who, exactly, is pathetic?
 
#20
#20
Special Ed said:
Sans Vescovi and Plavsic, I don't have much hope for this team to do any damage.
Adding one of the two might engender a bit of optimism, but it's going to be a long season.
Click to expand...
SEC is really down this year.
 
#22
#22
cncchris33 said:
We all SHOULD have known, but did you see the preseason predictions from many (most?) of our fans that post here? Without checking, I wouldn’t be shocked if a good portion of the ones standing at the ledge aren’t the same ones who blindly predicted we’d win 22+ games.
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Well Barnes was courted and almost hired away by UCLA! Deductive reason says that there had to be Final Four talent on the roster...follow the money!

(Exceptions include Cuonzo...cuz racism.)
 
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#23
#23
butchna said:
Well Barnes was courted and almost hired away by UCLA! Deductive reason says that there had to be Final Four talent on the roster...follow the money!

(Exceptions include Cuonzo...cuz racism.)
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And this was the most frustrating line of "thinking" that evolved from the whole UCLA courtship and subsequent raise Barnes received. That people automatically equate compensation with a predetermined level of success. The idea that now that Barnes is being paid like a top 5 coach means he has to instantly produce a FF.

The guy is an excellent coach, a great ambassador for Tennessee, and our program is on the most solid footing it has been on in 10 years.
 
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#25
#25
SlyStone said:
I was concerned when Derrick Walker and DJ Burns left the team. Barnes wasn't able to replace them. Plavsic would have been ideal, but not available right now. This team is missing that bruiser underneath. It was thought Burns or Walker would be that guy. We just don't have that guy right now nor anyone coming so far next year unless Plavsic is eligible.
Click to expand...
I don’t feel like our posts have really been the problem; our guards/forwards are having a lot of trouble making shots or driving.
 
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