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1. Take the win, and get the hell out of the Plains. You survive and advance. It doesn't matter how you win, you win, get the hell out of wherever you are on the road, and take the win. Good job Vols.
2. It was gutsy. I was initially surprised by it and thought it was a bad decision. But Cuonzo Martin's decision to bench Jarnell Stokes and go with Kenny Hall worked. Boy, I wasn't sure about it, but it worked. UT went on a run, and Auburn didn't try hack-a-Stokes. I don't know what happened to him tonight. It's NEVER been this bad. It's got to get fix though. Hopefully it's just an aberration.
3. Armani Moore gave UT big minutes in the first half when nobody was doing anything. That was a big time job by the freshman. I felt that it gave UT a little bit of a lift.
4. The one issue UT has defensively when playing two big men is that switching screens has become a problem. Multiple times the guards called for a switch and Kenny was screwed. UT has to get that fix if they are going to go to two big men for 10 minutes a night.
5. The key for UT tonight? They did what smart teams do (and what you guys are tired of me saying). The outside wasn't falling so they went at the rim. Take out Jarnell's free throw performance, and UT went...(wait for it)...26-28 from the line! Holy mackerel. They got 38 free throw attempts. That's why they shot 43%, gave up 50% shooting, and won by seven comfortably.
6. The Bernard King Player of the Game: Trae Golden. McRae and Golden are equally deserving, but we will go with Trae Golden tonight. He had 21 points on 50% shooting, had six assists to only one turnover, hit every free throw, and gave UT a desperate spark in the second half when the game was getting dangerous. He had complete control of the game. You guys might not think so, but I thought this was a big step for Trae. He usually goes into a multiple game funk. He didn't. He sucked on Saturday, got back on it, and played great tonight.
7. Jordan McRae's ability to play in transition gives UT an advantage that needs to be used more. He made four or five great plays in transition. His passing is underrated (three assists tonight) and got after it. He provided an emotional lift. He made impact plays. His shooting sucked tonight. The old Jordan would have done nothing else. He did everything UT needed him to do today. Great job.
8. Say what you want about Tennessee, but they have become a dominant rebounding team, especially with the improvement from Stokes. 13 offensive rebounds tonight. When you create extra possessions, you win games.
9. The defense has been porous the last two games. I can't exactly pinpoint the reason, but I noticed UT just isn't playing the same off-ball defense. I think on-ball they are doing well. However, I haven't noticed the same urgency. It seems like teams are taking advantage of the big showing on an off ball screen. I noticed multiple layups on cuts tonight against our big men when they showed to help a shooter off the screen, and the big man slips to the basket. That has to tighten. Cuonzo needs to let the guards go over off ball screens and give it a different look.
10. Tonight was a good win. Why? You are one step closer to the tournament. Saturday can be a statement game. If you win, your tourney chances are looking very good. I was happy after the porous first half that UT put up 50 second half points. I was happy with the rebounding. This team looks better poised than last year. I think UT has a great shot Saturday.
Go Vols!!!! :hi:
2. It was gutsy. I was initially surprised by it and thought it was a bad decision. But Cuonzo Martin's decision to bench Jarnell Stokes and go with Kenny Hall worked. Boy, I wasn't sure about it, but it worked. UT went on a run, and Auburn didn't try hack-a-Stokes. I don't know what happened to him tonight. It's NEVER been this bad. It's got to get fix though. Hopefully it's just an aberration.
3. Armani Moore gave UT big minutes in the first half when nobody was doing anything. That was a big time job by the freshman. I felt that it gave UT a little bit of a lift.
4. The one issue UT has defensively when playing two big men is that switching screens has become a problem. Multiple times the guards called for a switch and Kenny was screwed. UT has to get that fix if they are going to go to two big men for 10 minutes a night.
5. The key for UT tonight? They did what smart teams do (and what you guys are tired of me saying). The outside wasn't falling so they went at the rim. Take out Jarnell's free throw performance, and UT went...(wait for it)...26-28 from the line! Holy mackerel. They got 38 free throw attempts. That's why they shot 43%, gave up 50% shooting, and won by seven comfortably.
6. The Bernard King Player of the Game: Trae Golden. McRae and Golden are equally deserving, but we will go with Trae Golden tonight. He had 21 points on 50% shooting, had six assists to only one turnover, hit every free throw, and gave UT a desperate spark in the second half when the game was getting dangerous. He had complete control of the game. You guys might not think so, but I thought this was a big step for Trae. He usually goes into a multiple game funk. He didn't. He sucked on Saturday, got back on it, and played great tonight.
7. Jordan McRae's ability to play in transition gives UT an advantage that needs to be used more. He made four or five great plays in transition. His passing is underrated (three assists tonight) and got after it. He provided an emotional lift. He made impact plays. His shooting sucked tonight. The old Jordan would have done nothing else. He did everything UT needed him to do today. Great job.
8. Say what you want about Tennessee, but they have become a dominant rebounding team, especially with the improvement from Stokes. 13 offensive rebounds tonight. When you create extra possessions, you win games.
9. The defense has been porous the last two games. I can't exactly pinpoint the reason, but I noticed UT just isn't playing the same off-ball defense. I think on-ball they are doing well. However, I haven't noticed the same urgency. It seems like teams are taking advantage of the big showing on an off ball screen. I noticed multiple layups on cuts tonight against our big men when they showed to help a shooter off the screen, and the big man slips to the basket. That has to tighten. Cuonzo needs to let the guards go over off ball screens and give it a different look.
10. Tonight was a good win. Why? You are one step closer to the tournament. Saturday can be a statement game. If you win, your tourney chances are looking very good. I was happy after the porous first half that UT put up 50 second half points. I was happy with the rebounding. This team looks better poised than last year. I think UT has a great shot Saturday.
Go Vols!!!! :hi:
