Tennessee Transfer Portal Targets

[mr.checkerboards]

I'm done just disappointed. I'll head out befor disappointed clog this thread too much.

 

[cncchris33]

There’s a part of me that feels like TN would prefer Phillips to go to NBA. I think Mashack excels as the 3 spot and so does Phillips. We beat Alabama without JJJ and Philips. Adding a true 4 player like Ledlum/Knecht is ideal. People here say that Phillips would play the 4... but when did he actually play the 4 last season? Like maybe 10 minutes? Phillips and Mashack rotated out majority of times. If I was Barnes you still try to get Mashack as much minutes as you can.
Alabama starting 5:
1 ZZ
2. Santi
3. Mashack
4. ON
5. Aidoo

Knecht is definitely not a true 4. He's a SF, both in size and style. Ledlum plays more like a 4, but has a Grant Williams-lite frame, which isn't really a true 4, either.

 

[VolArmy74]

What was he against HM his freshman year?

10-23 in three games vs HM as a freshman.

 

[Weezer]

How do you figure? The OP said these mid majors guys don’t translate, yet UCONN (the national champions) had mid major transfers, that’s all I was saying. If you want to debate that then go ahead, but that’s all I was saying.

But Barnes previous results are more indicative of his choices and how they do than what UConn has achieved. I'm sure it's about choosing the right mid majors, which Barnes apparently hasn't done. It's either that or coaching. And I like to think Barnes is good at coaching, so I'm gonna go with poor choices.

 

[SN-A-C Orange]

Visiting Ledlum kind of sounds like they favor him over Knecht

OR ... they want them both and they are attempting to make their best case in person. Not necessarily desperate, but definitely determined, persuasive approach.

 

[TrippieRedd]

OR ... they want them both and they are attempting to make their best case in person. Not necessarily desperate, but definitely determined, persuasive approach.

Need both

 

[VolArmy74]

You also have to factor that he will have better players around him here to practice against and play with. Plus he won't have to be the guy here and won't have the pressure to force up shots to keep his team in the game.

I just see Drew Pember here for two years with better players around him, vs dominating the same league Gainey played in. Walk on, fine. Scholarship for a SG when we appear so thin at PG, questionable at best.

 

[JohnnyD1024]

I just see Drew Pember here for two years with better players around him, vs dominating the same league Gainey played in. Walk on, fine. Scholarship for a SG when we appear so thin at PG, questionable at best.

Maybe Drew was able to dominate that league because he played two years of SEC basketball before transferring.

 

[Sugaray13]

He was 18-57 vs high majors last year, 31 percent from the field. 4-`17 from 3 vs high majors, 23 percent from there. Competition matters a great deal.

Valid point. On the flip side, he will be surrounded by better players at Tennessee. He probably wont be first option offensively so he will probably draw the 3rd worst defender. Hopefully he will benefit from having ZZ, Vescovi, etc. on the floor with him.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

10-23 in three games vs HM as a freshman.

Did competition matter then?

 

[TheMookieMonster]

So with Gainey taking a scholarship that means, in all likelihood, JP is for sure gone and we are not getting both Ledlum and Knect? I hope Dillone is the second coming at PG next season and/or they find a way to match this season’s success or it’s gonna be a very tough look for this staff with how they’ve handled the portal.

Jury is obviously still out on how Gainey performs, but if he is the only transfer it’s a disappointing haul. I will get clowned by certain posters on this board for saying it, but my personal opinion is going two straight off-seasons where PG is a question mark on your roster and NOT taking a PG is a major disappointment for me. Typical disclaimers apply, obviously, that maybe staff “feels good” about where we’re at but that doesn’t assuage my concerns. I have said from the beginning I thought PG had to be addressed in the portal and it doesn’t seem like it will be.

I’m hopeful that maybe we can get in with Demary, but it’s not sounding like there is much traction there either.

 

[Sadie0051]

So Gainey is a SG. Well we have Vescovi, Mashack, Dillione, Cameron Carr, DJ Jefferson, BJ Edwards. All 6-3 to 6-5. 7 players players on our 13 man roster. But no other point guard. Just a broken 5-9 ZZ.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

But Barnes previous results are more indicative of his choices and how they do than what UConn has achieved. I'm sure it's about choosing the right mid majors, which Barnes apparently hasn't done. It's either that or coaching. And I like to think Barnes is good at coaching, so I'm gonna go with poor choices.

For sure, but to make a blanket statement that mind major guys don’t translate is flat out false, thats all I was saying.

 

[VolArmy74]

Maybe Drew was able to dominate that league because he played two years of SEC basketball before transferring.

It's more likely Drew was able to dominate that league because you don't have to be remotely as athletic/skilled/strong to produce in the Big South vs the SEC.

 

[cncchris33]

Honestly, besides both are from a smaller conference, what about Gainey’s game reminds you of Key’s??

Tons of things. Both African-American, both with two functioning legs, both human beings, both breathe oxygen.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I’ll say this, if you miss on both you might as well take JJJ back and tell him he can rehab here and see what he can do

 

[VolArmy74]

Did competition matter then?

10-23 from the field isn't exactly setting the world on fire. I'd also more heavily weigh the more recent performance.

 

[cncchris33]

I'm not talking about game. My point was Key was a solid shooter at the mid major level, then he got here and couldn't play. Same thing with EJ Anosike.
K State was carried by a P5 transfer.
Texas was as well.
These mid major bums don't translate to this level.

"Not talking about game", and then proceeds to...checks notes...talk about game.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

10-23 from the field isn't exactly setting the world on fire. I'd also more heavily weigh the more recent performance.

Thought those were his 3pt numbers, apologies…if you followed along USC-Upstate lose 3/4 of their best scorers which moved Gainey into the focal point role of opposing teams, I would say that probably just as relevant, no? I doubt he’ll be offensive option 1 here at Tennessee.

 

[berryvol]

Jury is obviously still out on how Gainey performs, but if he is the only transfer it’s a disappointing haul. I will get clowned by certain posters on this board for saying it, but my personal opinion is going two straight off-seasons where PG is a question mark on your roster and NOT taking a PG is a major disappointment for me. Typical disclaimers apply, obviously, that maybe staff “feels good” about where we’re at but that doesn’t assuage my concerns. I have said from the beginning I thought PG had to be addressed in the portal and it doesn’t seem like it will be.

I’m hopeful that maybe we can get in with Demary, but it’s not sounding like there is much traction there either.

I’ve backed this staff constantly on this board and will continue to do so, I know you’re the same way. That doesn’t mean they’re perfect and excused when they screw up. Not taking a true PG the last two off seasons is malpractice. You would think they’d be dying on the hill of signing a PG a mere month after they blew a GREAT shot at a F4, mostly due to not having someone who can create off the bounce at the lead guard spot. I’m just stunned it seems we are going into a second straight season with this situation.

On Gainey, I kinda feel bad for him. There’s gonna be a lot of disappointment around him because of this whole situation and, in a vacuum, I think he’s a solid role player to be adding this offseason. But the fact that it seems like we’re adding a coaches son on scholarship just bc we aren’t bringing back or bringing in the majority of our high priority targets is just very very disappointing.

 

[Sadie0051]

I’ll say this, if you miss on both you might as well take JJJ back and tell him he can rehab here and see what he can do

That's why I think he is coming back. Because we are not getting any of those 2 transfers. Muss at Arkansas inquired about 85 transfers. How many did Barnes go after? Very few.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Numbers as of now:

11 returning/incoming
7 - Guards: ZZ, Santi, Mashack, Freddie, Carr, BJ, DJ
4 - Forwards: Aidoo, Awaka, JP Estrella, Cade

2 - Undecided: JJJ, Julian
1 - Portal: Gainey

So with Gainey and no JJJ or Julian we'll have 1 spot left.

 

[Vols410]

That's why I think he is coming back. Because we are not getting any of those 2 transfers. Muss at Arkansas inquired about 85 transfers. How many did Barnes go after? Very few.

And Barnes develops HS players better than Muss. Different coaches, different strengths.

 

[kckempf]

He was 18-57 vs high majors last year, 31 percent from the field. 4-`17 from 3 vs high majors, 23 percent from there. Competition matters a great deal.

If teams are changing their defense to cover him, that will accomplish what we need, as it should get us single coverage elsewhere. Keep in mind a 2-19 performance against Florida State is contributing to those numbers. We probably won't be asking him to take 19 shots.

 

[VolArmy74]

Thought those were his 3pt numbers, what were those? And if you followed along USC-Upstate lose 2/3 best scorers which moved Gainey into the focal point role of opposing teams, I would say that probably just as relevant, no? I doubt he’ll be offensive option 1 here at Tennessee.

No, those were his total numbers. He only shot 6 total threes in the three games his freshman year vs HM and was 3-6. 1-1 vs SC, 2-3 vs WF, 0-2 vs Tennessee. Didn't you post yesterday that he was likely a net negative if he was on scholarship?