Team News (current roster)

#751
#751
zjcvols said:
The numbers were solid and I’m all about stats and results but damn that jump shot is ugly lol
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JJJ’s 3s were probably more effective because of his height. His form kind of reminds me of Lebron. Not a pretty stroke... especially if comparing it with former players like Allan Houston and Michael Brooks.
 
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#752
#752
zjcvols said:
I think you could see some Springer/Johnson/JJJ lineups but I’m willing to bear Barnes doesn’t want too many cooks in the kitchen regarding the lead guard spot. Though he did play Bone/Turner/Daniel at PG in 17-18
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That’s the lineup to take advantage of small opposition lineups. But for teams that pack defenses near the basket and/or play zone I think that SV and Bailey will be roaming the perimeter dissecting defenses.
 
#754
#754
The Dog said:
I think Keon and Springer attack the basket on the bounce better than anybody already on the team. So, I think Barnes wants one of them on the floor at all times to break down the defense when we have to have a basket or get to the line
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We’re loaded with wings that can attack the paint.
 
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#757
#757
The Dog said:
Nobody on the team could do it last year
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Bowden had a great first step and could get to the rim with relative ease. The main issue was he couldn't finish consistently and just disappeared from the offense at times. Look at the first half of the Auburn game, he was aggressive and attacked the hoop and we played phenomenal around him. Second half comes, we quit penetrating and settled when Bowden got timid.
 
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#758
#758
berryvol said:
Bowden had a great first step and could get to the rim with relative ease. The main issue was he couldn't finish consistently and just disappeared from the offense at times. Look at the first half of the Auburn game, he was aggressive and attacked the hoop and we played phenomenal around him. Second half comes, we quit penetrating and settled when Bowden got timid.
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Exactly, Bowden had the skills, it seemed more like a mental thing with him
 
#759
#759
The Dog said:
Nobody on the team could do it last year
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Fulkerson could be a threat from INSIDE the paint, but with JJJ injured, LT quitting, SV being smallish, and Bowden kind of limited to sneaking along the baseline to the rim without the ball there really wasn’t a threat to drive from outside the paint into it. I think that JJ was capable but he wasn’t able to develop his offensive skills with other offensive weapons being the priority over his 1st two years. This year the scoring threats can come from all over the half court. Even Fulkerson and Pons will be more effective on the blocks as defenses won’t be able to pack their numbers down low.
 
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#760
#760
Thunder Good-Oil said:
Fulkerson could be a threat from INSIDE the paint, but with JJJ injured, LT quitting, SV being smallish, and Bowden kind of limited to sneaking along the baseline to the rim without the ball there really wasn’t a threat to drive from outside the paint into it. I think that JJ was capable but he wasn’t able to develop his offensive skills with other offensive weapons being the priority over his 1st two years. This year the scoring threats can come from all over the half court. Even Fulkerson and Pons will be more effective in the blocks as defenses won’t be able to pack their numbers down low.
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I agree with all that. I think Fulk and Pons will be better, and JJJ is the most capable of the returning players. Still, it was weakness, last year and Springer and Keon will be better than everyone we had this past season, imo. When UT absolutely has to have a basket this year, I think Keon or Springer will drive to the basket and either draw a defender(s), kick it to somebody at 3 point range, drop it off to Fulk, Pons, JJJ or take it straight to the basket and we will be a better team because of it
 
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#761
#761
The Dog said:
I think Keon and Springer attack the basket on the bounce better than anybody already on the team. So, I think Barnes wants one of them on the floor at all times to break down the defense when we have to have a basket or get to the line
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Along with the fact that they are great on the defensive end as well. If both are as good as advertised the combo of JJJ/Keon/Springer will be the best defensive backcourt in the country.
 
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#762
#762
The Dog said:
I agree with all that. I think Fulk and Pons will be better, and JJJ is the most capable of the returning players. Still, it was weakness, last year and Springer and Keon will be better than everyone we had this past season, imo. When UT absolutely has to have a basket this year, I think Keon or Springer will drive to the basket and either draw a defender(s), kick it to somebody at 3 point range, drop it off to Fulk, Pons, JJJ or take it straight to the basket and we will be a better team because of it
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I think that when there has to be a basket, the ball can go to about any of the 1st eight and they could take it or drop the ball off to another. Surprisingly, Pons would be the last guy of the 8 that I’d want to see with the ball in his hands as the clock winds down in must score situations. We haven’t seen Anosike yet, but if he is reliable on the free throw line I wouldn’t mind seeing it get dumped inside to him either. But Anosike would be better utilized crashing the boards in those situations. I think I’d even sit Pons down unless the situation also called for possibly having to defend after a made basket.
 
#763
#763
IMO Pons will give up minutes as the season progresses unless he can add something to his game. He should be a better rebounder by now. I’ve not been real impressed with his contributions in the half court offense. But his defense (other than rebounding) is wicked. I think that his best offensive contribution will be in transition. He’ll make Sport Center’s Top 10 many times (assuming they even have time for those highlights around their political commentary any more) throwing down monster dunks.
 
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#764
#764
Thunder Good-Oil said:
I think that when there has to be a basket, the ball can go to about any of the 1st eight and they could take it or drop the ball off to another. Surprisingly, Pons would be the last guy of the 8 that I’d want to see with the ball in his hands as the clock winds down in must score situations. We haven’t seen Anosike yet, but if he is reliable on the free throw line I wouldn’t mind seeing it get dumped inside to him either. But Anosike would be better utilized crashing the boards in those situations. I think I’d even sit Pons down unless the situation also called for possibly having to defend after a made basket.
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Yeah, I want Anosike hitting the boards, in fact, I doubt UT ever runs a play for Anosike. Just tell him to get his, by rebounding or lay-up when his defender leaves and someone drops it off to him
 
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#765
#765
The Dog said:
Yeah, I want Anosike hitting the boards, in fact, I doubt UT ever runs a play for Anosike. Just tell him to get his, by rebounding or lay-up when his defender leaves and someone drops it off to him
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If Fulk draws double teams I think they’ll run plays to find Anosike for bunnies.
 
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#766
#766
PulaskiVolFan said:
Along with the fact that they are great on the defensive end as well. If both are as good as advertised the combo of JJJ/Keon/Springer will be the best defensive backcourt in the country.
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Hope it doesn't happen, but if it did, I wouldn't be shocked, all 3 could go in the 1st round, next year. Which, imo, would mean a great season for UT and will help continue this run of signing 5 stars, we are on
 
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#768
#768
The Dog said:
Agree, but that will only be if the double teams comes, so, imo, that's really a play for Fulk, because we trust him, so much to make the right decision
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The cutters could also draw defenses. If Anosike has good hands he can pick up a lot of garbage baskets when defenses break down. As I said earlier, if he is reliable at the free throw line he will be a much more potent component in the offense. That’s one thing that hurts Pons. Fulk really upped his free throws last year.
 
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#770
#770
The Dog said:
Hope it doesn't happen, but if it did, I wouldn't be shocked, all 3 could go in the 1st round, next year. Which, imo, would mean a great season for UT and will help continue this run of signing 5 stars, we are on
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I'm hoping none of them go pro early but if I had to guess I'd put money on Keon being most likely. JJJ needs to show improvement and I've never seen Springer so no idea what he's going to do. I think all 3 do eventually end up in the NBA, not sure about the rest of the team. I personally feel like big Oliver is going to be a pro down the line, I think he'll be All-SEC his Sr season, he's a freak physically.
 
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#771
#771
Thunder Good-Oil said:
IMO Pons will give up minutes as the season progresses unless he can add something to his game. He should be a better rebounder by now. I’ve not been real impressed with his contributions in the half court offense. But his defense (other than rebounding) is wicked. I think that his best offensive contribution will be in transition. He’ll make Sport Center’s Top 10 many times (assuming they even have time for those highlights around their political commentary any more) throwing down monster dunks.
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Pons and Fulkerson are both 30+ minute a game guys, they are our best frontcourt tandem, one is returning SEC Defensive POY while the other is up for SEC POY this season, I doubt that we see the backups all that much. I think Oliver might end up with as many minutes as Anosike as he's much better suited to play both the 4 and 5. I don't think we're going to see Pons and Anosike on the floor together all that much as we'd be giving up too much height. If big Os game develops he could become sub #1 for the post.
 
#772
#772
PulaskiVolFan said:
I'm hoping none of them go pro early but if I had to guess I'd put money on Keon being most likely. JJJ needs to show improvement and I've never seen Springer so no idea what he's going to do. I think all 3 do eventually end up in the NBA, not sure about the rest of the team. I personally feel like big Oliver is going to be a pro down the line, I think he'll be All-SEC his Sr season, he's a freak physically.
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Yeah, I only think one of the 3 will have the kind of season to go pro and I hope it's Springer, but think it will be Keon. Although, JJJ could have the kind of season to go pro, I think he values an education (his parents do) and will probably graduate in 3 years, plus he knows Barnes can get him in the lottery after 3 years, too.
 
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#773
#773
PulaskiVolFan said:
Pons and Fulkerson are both 30+ minute a game guys, they are our best frontcourt tandem, one is returning SEC Defensive POY while the other is up for SEC POY this season, I doubt that we see the backups all that much. I think Oliver might end up with as many minutes as Anosike as he's much better suited to play both the 4 and 5. I don't think we're going to see Pons and Anosike on the floor together all that much as we'd be giving up too much height. If big Os game develops he could become sub #1 for the post.
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The First Eight are going to average 22-24 mpg. I think that Keon and Jayden build up their minutes as the season progresses. Bailey and Vescovi might only end up with 20 each, but minutes are going to have to be found for KJ and JS if they live up to their hype. I think that JJJ could end up with the most minutes per game over the entire season as he could easily play 1-4. If Pons averages much over 30 in the back end of the conference schedule he will need to add another element. His best skill is blocking shots which hurts rebounding and staying in good position if offenses make an extra pass or two. Pons is a liability on offense if he doesn’t become a better rebounder. He’s not nearly as critical of a piece if JJJ, KJ, and JS ball out. If the opposition has balanced scoring and/or is perimeter oriented then Pons won’t be relied on as much. As I said, he really needs to add an element. It might be leadership if JJJ doesn’t make a big stride there. Pons is the guy that we will rely on if the opponent has that mid-sized, first rounder that is able to take over a game on offense. Like Edwards was at GA. Probably can’t sit Pons very many minutes versus a KY or an Auburn-like attack the last few years. But against opponents that are more defensive oriented Pons could be a (relative) liability in our half court sets.
 
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#774
#774
The Dog said:
Yeah, I only think one of the 3 will have the kind of season to go pro and I hope it's Springer, but think it will be Keon. Although, JJJ could have the kind of season to go pro, I think he values an education (his parents do) and will probably graduate in 3 years, plus he knows Barnes can get him in the lottery after 3 years, too.
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Barnes really does recruit some high character kids as Keon and his family is big on academics as well. I only think he might leave early because he might play his way into a lottery pic. He's put on some good weight, gonna remind a bunch of old timers of a guy named Len Bias I think.
 
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