The Official “Regular Posters of the Basketball Forum” Thread

[omghulkhands]

Didn’t we beat Michigan State in a closed practice? Or was that last year?

 

[berryvol]

Didn’t we beat Michigan State in a closed practice? Or was that last year?

Yes. But we were missing JJJ and they were missing Akins (I think).

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I’d hate to play Houston, tbh.

I'm just looking at the teams I felt just flat out beat us on the season and it seems like those teams were really good offenses and/or they had great team size. Neither of those is Houston.

Missouri was 27th in PPG
Kentucky beat us with size
Arizona is the 7th rated team in PPG and has great size

Even though we beat them here I think Alabama is the worst matchup of the 1 seeds for us and since they're the only other one left I'd rather see us against Houston.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

They just played them to a 1 point game like 5 days prior, so not sure it was a total anomaly.

I’ve just seen this movie, basketball with fans looking past Loyola just to lose and be pissed, and football this year fans booking their playoff tickets just to have Shane Beamer push our $h!t in

Yep. Tomorrow night’s game is going to be extremely tough. FAU has not shot well yet this tournament, so they are due a hot night. It will take our best defensive effort yet and a focused offensive effort to get a W. People trying to downplay this game on here and on social media are just setting up their excuses so that they can rip into Barnes if he loses.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Even though we beat them here I think Alabama is the worst matchup of the 1 seeds for us and since they're the only other one left I'd rather see us against Houston.

I have some really good news for you then. We won’t have to face Alabama in the Championship game……just the game to get there

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I'm actually more worried about FAU than I am Kansas State or Michigan State, well at least right now. I'm sure if we win I'll start hang ringing about whoever we face next.

FAU has the offensive fire power to beat us and they still play great defense...

Any team in the power 6 conference that entered the tournament 31-3 with the 32nd rated offense in ppg and the 44th defense in points allowed would likely be the overall #1 seed.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Manic nature of fans, I guess.

We can beat anyone on any day, but Houston would be one of the last teams in the field I’d want to see. I still think they’ll play Bama in a rematch for the title, even though I had them (UofH) losing to Kansas in my bracket. Had I known Self was going to miss the tournament, I’d have probably played that differently.

Yup, I had Houston/Bama in title game with Houston winning.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Who said that?

Which part? Various people have said varying parts of that.

 

[berryvol]

I'm actually more worried about FAU than I am Kansas State or Michigan State, well at least right now. I'm sure if we win I'll start hang ringing about whoever we face next.

FAU has the offensive fire power to beat us and they still play great defense...

Any team in the power 6 conference that entered the tournament 31-3 with the 32nd rated offense in ppg and the 44th defense in points allowed would likely be the overall #1 seed.

I agree. I feel much the same about this as I did the first weekend. FAU is way better than UL, but I went into last weekend saying if we got past the lesser team, I know we can get up and play our best against Duke. I’m very nervous about FAU for the sheer unpredictability of the NCAAT. If we get past them, I know we will at least show up and play our best against MSU or KSU

 

[Dallasbowlin]

I have some really good news for you then. We won’t have to face Alabama in the Championship game……just the game to get there

Very possible we won't have to face them at all. SDSU will be a tough out.

 

[omghulkhands]

I'm actually more worried about FAU than I am Kansas State or Michigan State, well at least right now. I'm sure if we win I'll start hang ringing about whoever we face next.

FAU has the offensive fire power to beat us and they still play great defense...

Any team in the power 6 conference that entered the tournament 31-3 with the 32nd rated offense in ppg and the 44th defense in points allowed would likely be the overall #1 seed.

I think K-State is the worst matchup of the 3

They have a very clear weakness, and it's Nowell's defense. Kentucky exploited it by attacking him over and over with Wallace. Wallace absolutely dominated.

And they still lost...

I don't feel we really have a player that can drive on him over and over and get free points like Wallace.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Which part? Various people have said varying parts of that.

I think EVERYONE should be asking for Houston, because we only play them if we make the championship game.

So who said we should sleep walk into the E8?

 

[Sudden Impact]

Yep. Tomorrow night’s game is going to be extremely tough. FAU has not shot well yet this tournament, so they are due a hot night. It will take our best defensive effort yet and a focused offensive effort to get a W. People trying to downplay this game on here and on social media are just setting up their excuses so that they can rip into Barnes if he loses.

Tough game, I agree to a point, however the Sky is falling and OMG FAU is going to beat us is primarily happening here.

I can think of a 100 ways FAU wins this game, but unlike several I choose not to do so.

It's not a gimmie game but "they are due for a hot night" statement is overthinking. Are we due for a hot 3 point shooting night as well?

Have they announced the officials? Seeding and Officials are two important factors in the tournament.

Furthermore, Bilas was so complimentary of our Defense until we beat Duke.

At one point, We were in last place on KENPOM's Luck rating. We are currently at 299. Is that a Factor and/or maybe our luck factor has changed. From -.304 (363) to -.054 (299).

Anything can happen, Anything can happen to them as well as to us. No need creating it. We all have BVS to a degree. We have a team that should win but we let the "what ifs" get in the way of our enjoyment. Our team will die trying to win this game because they know they belong and FAU got here on luck. We didn't.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I think K-State is the worst matchup of the 3

They have a very clear weakness, and it's Nowell's defense. Kentucky exploited it by attacking him over and over with Wallace. Wallace absolutely dominated.

And they still lost...

I don't feel we really have a player that can drive on him over and over and get free points like Wallace.

Yea I’m at a catch 22…simply on paper MSU is a better matchup for us, but when you consider they have Izzo at the helm that throws a bit of a wrench into it considering KSU has a 1st year head coach.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I think EVERYONE should be asking for Houston, because we only play them if we make the championship game.

So who said we should sleep walk into the E8?

Multiple posters have talked about winning this one easily, double digits, just show up, one of worst teams we’ll have played etc etc

 

[berryvol]

Yea I’m at a catch 22…simply on paper MSU is a better matchup for us, but when you consider they have Izzo at the helm that throws a bit of a wrench into it considering KSU has a 1st year head coach.

I have this mindset as well, but I’d love to get revenge on MSU for 2010.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Yea I’m at a catch 22…simply on paper MSU is a better matchup for us, but when you consider they have Izzo at the helm that throws a bit of a wrench into it considering KSU has a 1st year head coach.

My take is well, but CRBs is due and it is worth watching Izzo break a Clipboard or two on the sideline.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Like I've said before, I just want to beat FAU...I think making the Elite Eight and playing either of those schools will be big time motivation. Kansas State is a big name and higher seed, Michigan State is arguably a Blue Blood with how Izzo has done there, 8 final fours and a championship is no joke.

FAU we at least got nearly a week to focus on so I'm hoping with ZZ back with the team and having that extra time to focus on FAU we'll come out with our hair on fire and beat them.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Anyone else feeling extremely nervous about tomorrow night?

Yes but good nervous. I am actually very confident that we win.

 

[Ryno14]

I have this mindset as well, but I’d love to get revenge on MSU for 2010.

Statistically this is one of the worst MSU teams ever. Wide open path for Vols to make the Final 4. Hope we can take advantage.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Josiah does not forget. Hope he has a chance to redeem himself tomorrow night on a transition dunk haha.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Josiah does not forget. Hope he has a chance to redeem himself tomorrow night on a transition dunk haha.

We really need JJJ to go off tomorrow.

He’s very capable of scoring 20+ points

 

[TheMookieMonster]

We really need JJJ to go off tomorrow.

He’s very capable of scoring 20+ points

He won't be as fast as the guard assigned to him, but he'll almost certainly have the size advantage. He needs to use that tomorrow night and get into the paint to take more high percentage shots.

 

[ndubvols]

Biggest key to this game imo is taking care of the basketball. That’s what killed us more than anything once zz went out. Gave up too many easy baskets. If we take care of it like we did against duke then it dictates our style of play and makes them play against our half court defense.

 

[TC 83]

We really need JJJ to go off tomorrow.

He’s very capable of scoring 20+ points

He’s due…he’s had so many shots rattle in and out.