The Official “Regular Posters of the Basketball Forum” Thread

[omghulkhands]

Knecht first 8 games as a Vol: 19 PPG

Lanier first 8 games as a Vol: 18.8 PPG

 

[orangemadam]

Correct omghulk

Dalton's were much more entertaining in my opinion, especially with the one handed hang on the rim dunks

 

[cardvolfan]

I say we take it now and run the table the rest of the way. Yeah, that’s the way….I like it.

 

[cardvolfan]

Knecht first 8 games as a Vol: 19 PPG

Lanier first 8 games as a Vol: 18.8 PPG

Also outshooting Dalton from 2 and 3.

 

[Lefteye]

Correct omghulk

Dalton's were much more entertaining in my opinion, especially with the one handed hang on the rim dunks

Them W’s stacking up are more entertaining in mine.

 

[rockytop25]

So far the early results…

Igor > Tyson

 

[ColinS]

I weirdly have mixed feelings about being number 1. I like it but I would feel better about it if it came after the Illinois game. I never thought I would see it in my life and have now probably about to see it for the 3rd time in the last 20 years or so. Maybe I'm just getting a little used to it.

 

[omghulkhands]

I weirdly have mixed feelings about being number 1. I like it but I would feel better about it if it came after the Illinois game. I never thought I would see it in my life and have now probably about to see it for the 3rd time in the last 20 years or so. Maybe I'm just getting a little used to it.

If it makes you feel better, we scheduled a lot of traditionally good basketball schools.

They just happened to not be great this year.

Louisville, UVA, Syracuse

 

[cardvolfan]

Here’s an interesting thought, at least to me: is this year’s Tennessee team somewhat “immune” from those horrific shooting games, at least to some extent?

I‘m talking about games where our 3-point shooting was horrendously abysmal. A 3-25 performance keeps popping into my head, plus some other similar games that happen on occasion. With the shooters on this team, I feel like we are not going to see that kind of game this year. Anything is possible, I guess.

 

[cardvolfan]

3-point shooting

2019-2020
Florida A&M 3-16 .188
Memphis 4-26 .154
Cincinnati 3-15 .200

(these previous 3 games were all played consecutively. 10-57 total.

South Carolina 6-31 .194
Alabama 2-18 .111

2020-2021
Alabama 4-21 .190
Florida 3-18 .167
Miss State 3-19 .158
Florida 3-21 .143
Oregon State 5-26 .192

2021-2022
Villanova 5-28 .179
Texas Tech 6-39 .154
Vanderbilt 5-23 .217
Arkansas 4-24 .167
Michigan 2-18 .111

2022-2023
South Carolina 3-18 .167
Kentucky 3-21 .143
Florida 5-25 .200
Auburn 2-21 .095
Kentucky 6-27 .222

2023-2024
Texas 3-25 .120

The Texas game was the only terrible game shooting. Was this the Knecht effect for the year? Is this year’s team even capable of some of these past years?

 

[YankeeVol]

The more UT basketball is ranked #1, the better.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Here’s an interesting thought, at least to me: is this year’s Tennessee team somewhat “immune” from those horrific shooting games, at least to some extent?

I‘m talking about games where our 3-point shooting was horrendously abysmal. A 3-25 performance keeps popping into my head, plus some other similar games that happen on occasion. With the shooters on this team, I feel like we are not going to see that kind of game this year. Anything is possible, I guess.

I think this year's team gets that Barnes really means "shoot the shot"

Last year Knecht was a "next one is going in" type of player, Gainey was too but he also wasn't fully confident that he was doing what Barnes wanted him to do.

This year you add Chaz and Igor and both aren't going to lose confidence if they miss a shot. ZZ, Gainey and Mashack know Barnes well enough to know an open miss isn't as bad as a dumb turnover on a forced pass so they take them when they get good looks. ZZ has been forcing some, but he's now up to 34% from deep on the season.

Edit: I'll also add that ZZ, Chaz, and Gainey are all better at taking shots off the dribble than Santi, Key, or JJJ were in that 22-23 season, and sometimes being able to dribble over the top of a pick and then taking the shot is where your best looks come.

 

[cncchris33]

Here’s an interesting thought, at least to me: is this year’s Tennessee team somewhat “immune” from those horrific shooting games, at least to some extent?

I‘m talking about games where our 3-point shooting was horrendously abysmal. A 3-25 performance keeps popping into my head, plus some other similar games that happen on occasion. With the shooters on this team, I feel like we are not going to see that kind of game this year. Anything is possible, I guess.

Granted, it was an exhibition, so I won't focus on the outcome, but this bunch did shoot 8-35 from 3 (22.9%) and 18-59 overall (30.5%) at home against Indiana.

I won't say they are immune to those kind of games, but the more capable shooters you have, the less likely these kinds of games seem to be. And we have a bunch of capable shooters. And our defense will keep us in most games even when we have a stinker shooting night.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

I think this year's team gets that Barnes really means "shoot the shot"

Last year Knecht was a "next one is going in" type of player, Gainey was too but he also wasn't fully confident that he was doing what Barnes wanted him to do.

This year you add Chaz and Igor and both aren't going to lose confidence if they miss a shot. ZZ, Gainey and Mashack know Barnes well enough to know an open miss isn't as bad as a dumb turnover on a forced pass so they take them when they get good looks. ZZ has been forcing some, but he's now up to 34% from deep on the season.

Edit: I'll also add that ZZ, Chaz, and Gainey are all better at taking shots off the dribble than Santi, Key, or JJJ were in that 22-23 season, and sometimes being able to dribble over the top of a pick and then taking the shot is where your best looks come.

JJJ and Vescovi provided vols some amazing wins including SEC tourney and regular season championship but they played scared on offense a lot. Between hot potato and not taking a good shot trying to get a perfect shot plus missing layups all the time it was really hard to watch especially non Knecht season.

Now maybe Barnes contributed a little bit making them fear him. Seems like he's loosened up a bit and this years team doesn't have that same fear.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

JJJ and Vescovi provided vols some amazing wins including SEC tourney and regular season championship but they played scared on offense a lot. Between hot potato and not taking a good shot trying to get a perfect shot plus missing layups all the time it was really hard to watch especially non Knecht season.

Now maybe Barnes contributed a little bit making them fear him. Seems like he's loosened up a bit and this years team doesn't have that same fear.

I'll just say this, some players have a mentality that makes hard coaching difficult and some thrive.

You put Kobe or MJ with a guy like Barnes and you better believe that team will be hard to beat.

But you give Barnes a Ben Simmons type and it's just not going to yield the same sort of results for the team or the player.

Santi was a bad fit in the system Barnes ran, but both made it work and I think each got better because of it. JJJ I honestly don't think he ever played scared, but I think he was simply too selfless on the court plus I feel like with all the injuries he battled while here he never really got to play more than a stretch of games at full speed.

 

[Delmar]

I'll just say this, some players have a mentality that makes hard coaching difficult and some thrive.

You put Kobe or MJ with a guy like Barnes and you better believe that team will be hard to beat.

But you give Barnes a Ben Simmons type and it's just not going to yield the same sort of results for the team or the player.

Santi was a bad fit in the system Barnes ran, but both made it work and I think each got better because of it. JJJ I honestly don't think he ever played scared, but I think he was simply too selfless on the court plus I feel like with all the injuries he battled while here he never really got to play more than a stretch of games at full speed.

Huntley-Hatfield was a classic example of a guy who didn’t fit with Barnes’ system. Of course he didn’t fit at Louisville either. Maybe the 3rd time in the charm but I doubt it.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Huntley-Hatfield was a classic example of a guy who didn’t fit with Barnes’ system. Of course he didn’t fit at Louisville either. Maybe the 3rd time in the charm but I doubt it.

He trying take the DJ Burns route...

I think he could have put up the same numbers he does now here had he stuck around. But for whatever reason didn't seem interested in doing that.

Was a 13/8 guy for Louisville last year. So far at NC State he's a 10/6 guy but playing 7 less minutes a game.

 

[Lankykong]

Huntley-Hatfield was a classic example of a guy who didn’t fit with Barnes’ system. Of course he didn’t fit at Louisville either. Maybe the 3rd time in the charm but I doubt it.

I think he had to learn you can’t stay out at the 3PT line when you can’t really shoot

 

[cardvolfan]

Thought this was interesting.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

Thought this was interesting.

Lol, very beta energy from a place like Duke. You'd never hear Kansas, UNC, or Kentucky send such a thing.

 

[Delmar]

He trying take the DJ Burns route...

I think he could have put up the same numbers he does now here had he stuck around. But for whatever reason didn't seem interested in doing that.

Was a 13/8 guy for Louisville last year. So far at NC State he's a 10/6 guy but playing 7 less minutes a game.

Just wouldn’t put the work in that Barnes demands nor would he play the defense that he demands.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Well, There’s now zero chance for TN to leap ahead of Georgia. Oregon curb stomping PSU could still get TN a home game. Don’t need SMU impressing tonight either.

 

[walkenvol]

Just wouldn’t put the work in that Barnes demands nor would he play the defense that he demands.

Not how I remember his situation at UT. Started slow but by all accounts he was coming around the last part of the season and CRB expected him back. BHH’s camp got in his ear after the season ended and he went looking for greener pastures which didn’t happen. Shame his family didn’t buy into Barnes’ program cause if BHH had stayed I suspect he would be a much better player now.

 

[cncchris33]

Well, There’s now zero chance for TN to leap ahead of Georgia. Oregon curb stomping PSU could still get TN a home game. Don’t need SMU impressing tonight either.

SMU is in above us with a bye regardless of whether they win by 1 or 100, right? They're getting smacked right now, so it may not make a difference, anyhow.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

SMU is in above us with a bye regardless of whether they win by 1 or 100, right? They're getting smacked right now, so it may not make a difference, anyhow.

The 4 highest ranked conference champs will be seeded above us with the first round byes. If SMU loses they should fall below us. But then Clemson or AZ State will jump over us as the 4th conference champion. I think that Penn Stste getting smoked by Oregon is our only chance of getting one of the 5-8 seeds and a home game.

We’re behind Georgia, Big 10 (Oregon or PSU), and two of ACC, Big 12, and Boise State as the top 4 ranked conference champs. Then of the 4 first round home teams it’s Texas and Notre Dame and 2 of TN, tOSU, and PSU (or Oregon if they lose). I think we’re #8 and at Neyland if Oregon can lay a complete whooping on PSU.