cncchris33
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What a terrible thing it must be to be an AU basketball fan. I could actually hear hecklers in the crowd as if they were in my living room with me. Just goes to show us...it could be worse.
1. Championship level defense is being played right now. A perfect blend of man and zone and a strategic mixture of both to keep the opposing team guessing. Where has it been all season? I don't know, but it's coming together at the right time.
2. Offensive tempo and gameplan is finally being set the way our personnel is built to run. Work the ball to the paint first and foremost. Then beat them from outside or on the drive when the defense collapses.
3. Stokes is playing like a man who wants to be drafted right now. I don't know if that happens, but it won't be for lack of effort. He was double-teamed on nearly every possession, so what does he do? He sets a career high with 7 assists to go along with 20 points and 7 rebounds.
4. I think we are seeing the old Maymon again. He looks to have that agility and quickness that eluded him most of the season. I definitely saw it last night. His numbers haven't really suffered from a basketball standpoint, but he has been stiff and rigid looking all season. I saw that fluidity he possessed pre-injury last night.
5. McRae has finally learned to share the basketball, which was something I didn't think would happen. He has learned to rein in the bad shots and get the ball to the big men on occasion. Still took a questionable shot or two, but with a 20+ point lead, I'm okay with that.
6. If Barton had played like this all season long, we are likely talking about a possible 3 seed right now.
7. This team is playing with a sense of urgency unlike any we've seen from them all year. It's a little late, but not too late. They have the talent, and perhaps now, the mindset to make some postseason noice. Maybe the light finally came on.
For the seniors and Stokes, I hope that they can put together an improbable run.
8. The hustle has improved 100%, and we are winning 50-50 balls that we weren't winning a month ago.
9. We are finally getting some positive contributions from the bench (Moore, Reese, and Thompson specifically).
10. I know we should curb stomp Vandy and Auburn anyways, but for whatever reason, this season we have struggled to do that. So, beating them like this now is a sign of improvement. Before Vandy, I predicted we'd kill them and then come to Auburn and lose. Glad to have been wrong. Wehave now beaten Virginia and Vandy at home and Auburn and LSU on the road by am average of 30 points. If that Tennessee team shows up with consistency, we have the talent to threaten in the tournament. Hopefully, it's the NCAA tournament.
On to Senior Night vs Mizzou....Go Vols!
1. Championship level defense is being played right now. A perfect blend of man and zone and a strategic mixture of both to keep the opposing team guessing. Where has it been all season? I don't know, but it's coming together at the right time.
2. Offensive tempo and gameplan is finally being set the way our personnel is built to run. Work the ball to the paint first and foremost. Then beat them from outside or on the drive when the defense collapses.
3. Stokes is playing like a man who wants to be drafted right now. I don't know if that happens, but it won't be for lack of effort. He was double-teamed on nearly every possession, so what does he do? He sets a career high with 7 assists to go along with 20 points and 7 rebounds.
4. I think we are seeing the old Maymon again. He looks to have that agility and quickness that eluded him most of the season. I definitely saw it last night. His numbers haven't really suffered from a basketball standpoint, but he has been stiff and rigid looking all season. I saw that fluidity he possessed pre-injury last night.
5. McRae has finally learned to share the basketball, which was something I didn't think would happen. He has learned to rein in the bad shots and get the ball to the big men on occasion. Still took a questionable shot or two, but with a 20+ point lead, I'm okay with that.
6. If Barton had played like this all season long, we are likely talking about a possible 3 seed right now.
7. This team is playing with a sense of urgency unlike any we've seen from them all year. It's a little late, but not too late. They have the talent, and perhaps now, the mindset to make some postseason noice. Maybe the light finally came on.
For the seniors and Stokes, I hope that they can put together an improbable run.
8. The hustle has improved 100%, and we are winning 50-50 balls that we weren't winning a month ago.
9. We are finally getting some positive contributions from the bench (Moore, Reese, and Thompson specifically).
10. I know we should curb stomp Vandy and Auburn anyways, but for whatever reason, this season we have struggled to do that. So, beating them like this now is a sign of improvement. Before Vandy, I predicted we'd kill them and then come to Auburn and lose. Glad to have been wrong. Wehave now beaten Virginia and Vandy at home and Auburn and LSU on the road by am average of 30 points. If that Tennessee team shows up with consistency, we have the talent to threaten in the tournament. Hopefully, it's the NCAA tournament.
On to Senior Night vs Mizzou....Go Vols!
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