Tennessee's depth

#1
Anti-shunshinepumper

Anti-shunshinepumper

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#1
How concerned are you?
If I'm being honest, I'm a just a little worried in terms of winning it all.
I think we're still ok losing Carr, but I really wish we hadn't lost JP. Be really nice to have him when we play teams like Auburn.
Having depth really helps out come March, too.
Hopefully we'll get lucky and find another Vescovi situation, but I really doubt it. I think he was already a UT commit iirc.
 
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#2
#2
Anti-shunshinepumper said:
How concerned are you?
If I'm being honest, I'm a just a little worried in terms of winning it all.
I think we're still ok losing Carr, but I really wish we hadn't lost JP.
Having depth really helps out come March.
Hopefully we'll get lucky and find another Vescovi, but I really doubt it. I think he was already a UT commit iirc.
Click to expand...
We’re fine unless another injury occurs. Barnes wasn’t going to play a 10 man rotation anyway. He never has. In fact, he’s never played more than an 8 man rotation in meaningful minutes.

If another player gets injured, especially in the post, we’re screwed, though. The JP injury is the meaningful loss here. Losing Carr doesn’t mean much.

Just need this to be it, as far as injuries go, and we’re fine.
 
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#3
#3
NighthawkVol said:
We’re fine unless another injury occurs. Barnes wasn’t going to play a 10 man rotation anyway. He never has. In fact, he’s never played more than an 8 man rotation in meaningful minutes.

If another player gets injured, especially in the post, we’re screwed, though. The JP injury is the meaningful loss here. Losing Carr doesn’t mean much.

Just need this to be it, as far as injuries go, and we’re fine.
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Yeah, I think if by miracle we could add someone from overseas it should probably be a big man.
 
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#8
#8
VolsNetClippers2025 said:
Not concerned, 8 men can all play a minimum of 15 productive minutes and Boswell looked fine in a pinch against Illinois. But no more drama with injuries or transfers, please!
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Wouldn’t it make it difficult to practice with only 8-9 scholarship players, especially if any of they are banged up?
 
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#10
#10
walkenvol said:
Wouldn’t it make it difficult to practice with only 8-9 scholarship players, especially if any of they are banged up?
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I think there is a practice squad of sorts made up of non-roster players. Not to take away from your point; I don't understand the downplaying of our depth problems by some...
 
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#11
#11
Anti-shunshinepumper said:
How concerned are you?
If I'm being honest, I'm a just a little worried in terms of winning it all.
I think we're still ok losing Carr, but I really wish we hadn't lost JP. Be really nice to have him when we play teams like Auburn.
Having depth really helps out come March, too.
Hopefully we'll get lucky and find another Vescovi situation, but I really doubt it. I think he was already a UT commit iirc.
Click to expand...

I think we miss JP's depth but I would prefer Philips healthy if I had to choose. JP seem like our most talented post player but seemed a little slower of foot, less athletic and less aggressive than Philips. Cade is getting great production in his minutes and is playing very loose and confident. He also defends well without fouling often.

Cade might not be the rim defender that Okpara is but is plenty capable, actually moreso in transition, and is a relentless rebounder. I also think he is more aggressive than Felix and takes no plays off which gives him a higher ceiling. Maybe it's the foot injury but I don't see Estrella being as much of an above the rim player but I think he's better with his back to the basket. Front court next year will be nasty if we retain everyone who can come back and add a transfer.
 
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#12
#12
Lukusw said:
34.8% over here.
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69% unconcerned for having healthy and talented depth.

31% concerned we get a lousy officiating crew in the tournament and have foul trouble against the biggest team we draw..... meaning a team with multiple bigs on roster and a large TV market or blueblod program. Michigan would come to mind with their twi 7 footers but I think we could handle them inside...... if fairly officiated.
 
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#13
#13
Dubar gaining confidence is key. If he has the opportunity in the next few games to step up like Gainey did against Ill, and I'm not saying he has to be the hero but just deliver, it'll cement the post rotation. Phillips is already playing his role. Just need another dog we can count on down low and Dubar is primed to be that dude. It's on him to seize it.
 
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#14
#14
NighthawkVol said:
We’re fine unless another injury occurs. Barnes wasn’t going to play a 10 man rotation anyway. He never has. In fact, he’s never played more than an 8 man rotation in meaningful minutes.

If another player gets injured, especially in the post, we’re screwed, though. The JP injury is the meaningful loss here. Losing Carr doesn’t mean much.

Just need this to be it, as far as injuries go, and we’re fine.
Click to expand...
This is precisely why it’s a worry. Carr was good enough to give a solid 10 minutes or more. Now we don’t have that. If we get worn down, foul trouble or heaven forbid another injury, we are in deep doo doo.
 
#15
#15
gainesvol82 said:
I think we miss JP's depth but I would prefer Philips healthy if I had to choose. JP seem like our most talented post player but seemed a little slower of foot, less athletic and less aggressive than Philips. Cade is getting great production in his minutes and is playing very loose and confident. He also defends well without fouling often.

Cade might not be the rim defender that Okpara is but is plenty capable, actually moreso in transition, and is a relentless rebounder. I also think he is more aggressive than Felix and takes no plays off which gives him a higher ceiling. Maybe it's the foot injury but I don't see Estrella being as much of an above the rim player but I think he's better with his back to the basket. Front court next year will be nasty if we retain everyone who can come back and add a transfer.
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I agree with a lot of this but we need a back to the basket guy. We have ZERO paint presence other than lobs and open layoffs for dunks. It’s hard to win from the perimeter every game. You’ve gotta have a big that can be a threat to make a post move and we have none. I’m not saying it’s doom and gloom or anything but man it makes the margin against the better teams more thin when you have to rely solely on perimeter game. We have the players to do it though so I’m not overly concerned. JP was going to be an important part of this team. We’ve already had 3 games where Okpara was completely ineffective and rode the pine. Would be nice to have JP in those situations.
 
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#22
#22
Boswell should be back for our next game it sounds like, if that’s the case we’re back to 9. Not sure how much he’ll play in competitive games during league play, but will be a nice emergency option to have available. With that said, as I’ve said repeatedly, most of your best teams are playing 7-8 guys max, and when it’s really crunch time many are playing just 6 or 7 max. Not saying you want to do that through an entire league slate, but 8 is more than enough and 9 is gravy, if you have to trim it to 7…

Zeigler 35/Gainey 5
Lanier 35/Gainey 5
Mashack 20/Gainey 20
Milicic 30/Mashack 10
Okpara 25/Phillips 15
 
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#25
#25
bleedingTNorange said:
Boswell should be back for our next game it sounds like, if that’s the case we’re back to 9. Not sure how much he’ll play in competitive games during league play, but will be a nice emergency option to have available. With that said, as I’ve said repeatedly, most of your best teams are playing 7-8 guys max, and when it’s really crunch time many are playing just 6 or 7 max. Not saying you want to do that through an entire league slate, but 8 is more than enough and 9 is gravy, if you have to trim it to 7…

Zeigler 35/Gainey 5
Lanier 35/Gainey 5
Mashack 20/Gainey 20
Milicic 30/Mashack 10
Okpara 25/Phillips 15
Click to expand...
I think it's worth taking RB at his word when he says he wants to use all 8, but agree with seven in crunch time it's still a strong rotation.
 
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