The LSU Postgame Report

#54
#54
zansdad said:
I thought Richardson had Thomas during the Memphis game.
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Probably did but Thomas was not good leading up to that game. Jackson is too quick for Trae, and Richardson's length could have bothered Jackson. That was just my thinking.
 
#56
#56
Anyone notice the play where Josh forced a jump ball on a guy that was running with a two on one break away? I have literally never seen that before. I swear the ceiling on Josh Richardson is some along the lines of Andre Iguodala. AI only averaged something like 13 points in his last year of college ball believe it or not.
 
#57
#57
VolGee4 said:
Probably did but Thomas was not good leading up to that game. Jackson is too quick for Trae, and Richardson's length could have bothered Jackson. That was just my thinking.
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Despite what many like to believe and their performance at times, Memphis is a match-up nightmare for all but the most elite teams. They have 4 and 5 star guys up and down their roster. Put Richardson on Jackson and then Jordy is asked to guard a guy that can just push him around in the post. Sometimes the matchups just aren't in your favor.
 
#59
#59
zjcvols said:
2. It's incredible how much better this basketball team when they RUN (not jog) the offense. Their cuts are crisper and they are making movements with purpose (something they had not been doing).
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This is a very underrated point. It seems like this team is finally beginning to understand the importance of spacing and rhythm in the motion offense. I remember seeing games earlier in the season where the guys without the ball were just standing around, and when they finally tried to do something they would all just congregate in the same cluster in the paint. Not the case as of late. These guys were busy without the ball all night, and maintained 10-15 feet between each other at all times for the most part. Good recipe for success when you've got talented scorers like Golden, McRae, and Stokes.
 
#60
#60
zansdad said:
Despite what many like to believe and their performance at times, Memphis is a match-up nightmare for all but the most elite teams. They have 4 and 5 star guys up and down their roster. Put Richardson on Jackson and then Jordy is asked to guard a guy that can just push him around in the post. Sometimes the matchups just aren't in your favor.
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No doubt. I grew up and live in Memphis. They are a difficult matchup. But you have to at least strategize a bit and give it a chance. They hit more shots (even contested) that game than almost any other all year, so it probably didn't matter. But going into the game, Jackson was hot and Thomas was not. The big matchup problem is really Gerron Johnson, and I cringed when I saw McBee on him. There were matchup problems, but I just didn't like Trae on Jackson.
 
#64
#64
MoreheadVol said:
agree will be the best basketball players on the team next year
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There's more to basketball than scoring (not suggesting you don't know that)...Richardson gets overlooked because he doesn't put up 15 a night. However, when including the points he takes away with his D he's probably over that 15 a game.

If josh continues to improve like he has so far, he will be a VERY good player next year. I still prefer the idea of golden McRae Richardson Maymon stokes starting with Hubbs coming off the bench.
 
#65
#65
zjcvols said:
1. If not for the abomination by the officials, that game would have been 15+ tonight. Either way, the Vols got a nice win against a team that has been on a hot streak and now are officially on a roll with four straight wins. Good night.

2. It's incredible how much better this basketball team when they RUN (not jog) the offense. Their cuts are crisper and they are making movements with purpose (something they had not been doing).

3. However, I'm disappointed in the turnovers. It was a fast pace game, so 13 isn't too bad, but when LSU pressed, it took UT out of its rhythm. UT has got to stop picking up it's dribble. I also don't understand why Coach Martin doesn't put Jarnell in the middle and let him facilitate on the full court press. We know he can.

4. Bernard King Player of the Game: Jordan McRae. What a performance! The best scoring performance by a UT player since Chris Lofton was roaming the sidelines as a student. Not once did I think "that's not a good shot" by Jordan tonight. Every shot was in rhythm. Ever since Trae took back the starting job, McRae has gone back to what he's done best: scoring the ball. He did in all ways. Off the dribble, left handed layups, fastbreak buckets, three points shots off screens.......just a wonderful performance tonight. Enjoy it.

5. Richardson deserves some immense praise tonight for his defense on Anthony Hickey tonight. Hickey went 5-15 and Hickey just didn't get in the paint. Cuonzo Martin's decision to put Richardson on opposing point guards (especially ones that thrive at getting in the lane) has been a big reason why UT has won four straight.

6. I thought the refs not calling over the back was the reason for LSU's 13 offensive rebounds. However, the Tennessee guards got a little too excited to get out and run. I didn't see the same crashing of the boards that I usually do from the guards. UT has to make sure that in order to run, they have to get the ball back first.

7. We needed another point for Jordan McRae, but too show he's becoming a complete basketball player, he had three steals and six rebounds, including three offensive, and I thought played a good defensive game. That's the evolution of a player. He's not a one-dimensional player.

8. What I love most about the recent explosion from three? They keep taking the right three pointers. Too many times, a team that is feeling it from deep ruins its offensive flow by shooting too many three's. UT was 10-15 tonight. They almost all were good shots. I can only think of one or two that weren't within the offense. It also helps when Jordan McRae goes NBA Jam, but the point remains.

9. UT finally capitalized on turnovers. Earlier in the year, I harped that UT doesn't create turnovers and doesn't score off them, creating a mismatch, especially because UT turns it over at a bad rate. UT had 13 turnovers tonight, but LSU had 13 also. UT got 18 points off turnovers. When you do that, great things happen.

10. A very nice win tonight. UT seems to have created a good offensive gameplan. Had UT been able to pull down rebounds, UT would have won easily. UT shot 18-21 from the line to close it out, Golden is playing well, McRae has found his game again, and another double-double from Stokes. This postgame report could have been 15 points. I thought UT played extremely well. UT has a big game on Saturday. You get five days to better your press beater, get your rebounding down, and continue the offensive flow. I was happy with the performance (especially the strong first half) after the Kentucky massacre. They didn't show any let up. They looked like a team on a mission. Maybe that mission holds bigger and better things.

Go Vols!!! :hi:
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On #9, turn over don't help vry much when you walk the ball up the court. In the last 2-3 games, they have been able to get to ball up the court and get easy shots. Big improvement.
 
#66
#66
omghulkhands said:
Anyone notice the play where Josh forced a jump ball on a guy that was running with a two on one break away? I have literally never seen that before. I swear the ceiling on Josh Richardson is some along the lines of Andre Iguodala. AI only averaged something like 13 points in his last year of college ball believe it or not.
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You know... that's not a terrible comparison now that I've thought about it. He's not quite as athletic as AI is, but plays a similar style of game.
 
#67
#67
This is all wonderful info .....if your loving the NIT invite.

Big Dance or bust....
 
#68
#68
FRO said:
This is all wonderful info .....if your loving the NIT invite.

Big Dance or bust....
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The past is history. Can't change it now. Just get on board and enjoy winning in the present.

Misery loves the past.
 
#69
#69
Good win for the Vols and great post game summary. McRae and Golden were almost unstoppable against some very good guards from the tip off. Stokes went into battle with O'Bryant and ended the night with another double double. The Vols have turned the corner since the Georgia loss and are playing some very good basketball. Go Vols.
 
#70
#70
Also, i'll add that I probably said "get back and play defense" at least 20 times last night while watching the game. LSU was really giving the Vols all they could handle and if it hadn't been for UT's hot shooting, the game would have been much closer.
 
#71
#71
Thanks for the write up. Got it on the DVR to watch tonight since I was at the hockey game last night.

It appears that Stokes still has trouble defending his guy in O'Bryant. He's been tough for anyone, but if Stokes wants to take the next step he has to shore up his D.

Last night's game concerned me somewhat after the big win over Ky. I thought they might still be celebrating. I felt a little uneasy before the game like I did against UGA, but we were without Golden in that one. LSU had won 5 of their last 6 and was playing well. Golden has been really good these last 4 games. It's not a coincidence that UT has looked good while he has played so well.
 
#73
#73
Bert at the 3:50 mark is hilarious.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ylBS5UpmqQ[/youtube]
 
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