Team News (current roster)

[bleedingTNorange]

Recent history has shown the portal has reduced the number of 4-5 year players who will work and wait on playing time. Maybe these 2 are the exceptions although ZZZ sounds closer to seeing the floor atm.

Eh idk…guys like Pember, Gaines and Walker would’ve been likely transfers regardless of the new waiver rule. You’re always going to have guys looking for greener pastures but I think you’ll still have your fair share of 4 year guys…Vescovi, Bailey, Uros all come to mind as guys who could’ve left but are putting in their time here.

 

[walkenvol]

Eh idk…guys like Pember, Gaines and Walker would’ve been likely transfers regardless of the new waiver rule. You’re always going to have guys looking for greener pastures but I think you’ll still have your fair share of 4 year guys…Vescovi, Bailey, Uros all come to mind as guys who could’ve left but are putting in their time here.

Only Uros fits the example - the other 2 have been a part of the rotation while here

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Only Uros fits the example - the other 2 have been a part of the rotation while here

I get that, but we haven’t seen who will/won’t be in the rotation this year…ORN would be another example.

 

[rdk4121]

So our rotation might be Chandler, Vescovi, JJJ, ORN, Fulky as starters, with Bailey, Powell, BHH, Aidoo as the bench unit. I assume Vescovi or Powell will function as the backup PG. If we go with a 10 man rotation, Zegler or Mashack would probably be in it. We'll have to see how Uros factors in, no idea if he is ahead or Aidoo or not, but I have a tough time seeing Aidoo not playing.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

So our rotation might be Chandler, Vescovi, JJJ, ORN, Fulky as starters, with Bailey, Powell, BHH, Aidoo as the bench unit. I assume Vescovi or Powell will function as the backup PG. If we go with a 10 man rotation, Zegler or Mashack would probably be in it. We'll have to see how Uros factors in, no idea if he is ahead or Aidoo or not, but I have a tough time seeing Aidoo not playing.

That is what I think the starting 5 will be initially and I think that BHH replaces ORN at some point.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

That is what I think the starting 5 will be initially and I think that BHH replaces ORN at some point.

I’ve heard talk of them going small possibly…Chandler, Vescovi, Powell, JJJ, Fulky.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I’ve heard talk of them going small possibly…Chandler, Vescovi, Powell, JJJ, Fulky.

Yes. ORN seems to be unlikely to hold onto a starting job based on what he’s shown so far. We could sure use him if his overall game elevated to what he has occasionally flashed. JJJ could play a lot of 4/PF. He’d be better there than on a wing, especially with the guard depth. No doubt he’d rather work as a 3 to prepare for the NBA, but he seems unselfish and IMO would put his team first.

 

[zjcvols]

I’ve heard talk of them going small possibly…Chandler, Vescovi, Powell, JJJ, Fulky.

That defense would be yikes

 

[TheMookieMonster]

That defense would be yikes

Fulky and JJJ are excellent defenders. I don't see anything wrong with a lineup like that. Chandler is an unknown entity at this point.

 

[zjcvols]

Fulky and JJJ are excellent defenders. I don't see anything wrong with a lineup like that. Chandler is an unknown entity at this point.

JJJ is very good. Fulky is solid but the rebounding would be concerning. Powell and Vescovi are not exactly good defenders

 

[walkenvol]

JJJ is very good. Fulky is solid but the rebounding would be concerning. Powell and Vescovi are not exactly good defenders

CRB has bragged on Vescovi’s defense several times. I think he’s grown into a solid defender

 

[b_gann]

I’ve heard talk of them going small possibly…Chandler, Vescovi, Powell, JJJ, Fulky.

I'll be highly encouraged for the season if this is the case. Shows Barnes is willing to adapt to the new style of play.

 

[zjcvols]

I'll be highly encouraged for the season if this is the case. Shows Barnes is willing to adapt to the new style of play.

Don’t be fooled sir. It’s a trap!

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Don’t be fooled sir. It’s a trap!

 

[TheMookieMonster]

16th in Matt Norlander’s rankings. He highlights that he has heard Kennedy Chandler could be a “revelation” this year and carry the team. To no surprise, he says we’ll need Fulky to be better this year if we want to win the SEC. 16th is about what I expected. Should be a fun season!

 

[BruisedOrange]

Of all the returners, who had the ceiling to have improved the most in the off-season?

My gut says ORN, but maybe I'm just partial to a dramatic Finnish.

 

[The Dog]

Of all the returners, who had the ceiling to have improved the most in the off-season?

My gut says ORN, but maybe I'm just partial to a dramatic Finnish.

That pun was cringe worthy, I agree, 3rd year is the charm with Barnes

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Fulky & Chandler

 

[Vols All Day]

 

[Dallasbowlin]

Random observation, but it is insane how fast a college practice is compared to even high school. You have to be in tip top shape to do that.

 

[allen phillips]

OK, I'm 20 years old, done knocked up my future ex-wife, so I get my first "real" job at a print shop. First day, one of the pressmen yells at me and tells me to get a paper stretcher from another pressman. I look at him like he he is crazy, I'm young and naive, but come on, that doesn't make sense. But, he says hurry and get it, before this run gets ruined, so I do it and everybody in the press room laughs their a$$ off.

I started work at an airport catering companywhen I was sixteen and the first day this wise-ass told me to tell the head chef that The manager wanted him to bake ten dingleberry pies for one of the customers. Also, when I went to work for Delta Airlines one of the guys told me to go to the toolshed and get him a skyhook. I did get wise up to that one.

 

[Volfanatic_20]

The current team is rolling into its third week of full scale preseason practice and based off what we saw on Thursday things look like what we wrote here a couple of weeks ago.

If the season began today the starting five would be John Fulkerson, Kennedy Chandler, Josiah-Jordan James, Santiago Vescovi and Olivier Nkamhoua.

Vescovi and Nkamhoua are the two guys that I might not have guessed back in August. Neither is a shock by any means, both guys are veterans but I thought Vescovi would really be pushed by Justin Powell and that one of the freshman—Jonas Aidoo or Brandon Huntley-Hatfield—would push Nkamhoua.

All three of those newcomers are going to play but at least as of now Vescovi and Nkamhoua seem to be pretty firmly entrenched.

It’s pretty clear that the staff is pushing Huntley-Hatfield. He was singled out repeatedly in Thursday’s practice, more so than any other player on the floor. That’s always a clear sign that this staff feels like you can help but that you need to pick it up.

Huntley-Hatfield responded. I thought he might have been the best guy on the floor.

Zakai Zeigler tweaked an ankle early in practice on Thursday and Powell got a lot of run at point guard.

It’s a small sample size but Quintin Diboundje looks to me like he’s going to end up being a steal.

Nkamhoua looks much improved to me. I don’t want to hype him too much but he looks much more confident, much more in control and just overall more fluid on the offensive end.

Vescovi is very clearly in the best shape of his career and people around the program feel like his international experience with the Uruguayan national team this summer really helped him and his game.

John Fulkerson didn’t practice with the team on Thursday, working with trainers on the side and doing a lot of cardio work. It’s nothing serious, he dinged his shoulder earlier in the week and even when he’s healthy we’re told he’s going routinely to get some time off this year simply because other guys need the work more than the sixth year senior does.

-VQ

 

[TheMookieMonster]

It’s either really great news that ORN is starting or really bad news because that means BHH isn’t where we hoped he might be. I’m hoping this is just a case of ORN making huge strides, but i feel like we heard the same thing last season about how he looked so much better and that didn’t seem to be the case.

 

[JelloPuddinPup]

It’s either really great news that ORN is starting or really bad news because that means BHH isn’t where we hoped he might be. I’m hoping this is just a case of ORN making huge strides, but i feel like we heard the same thing last season about how he looked so much better and that didn’t seem to be the case.

Feel like last season was more hope from the fans that ORN was improving that actually reported by the staff/media but I could be misremembering. I know I wanted ORN to take big steps last year and it just didn't happen.

 

[cncchris33]

Feel like last season was more hope from the fans that ORN was improving that actually reported by the staff/media but I could be misremembering. I know I wanted ORN to take big steps last year and it just didn't happen.

VQ, particularly, just has a bad habit of overhyping individual players from year to year. And most fans don't recognize it. They just assume VQ's word is gospel, and it leads to disappointment.