The Official “Regular Posters of the Basketball Forum” Thread

[MinisterofDef#92]

Sure did, and only dropped to #7 in the coaches poll. Just as the rational ones on this board predicted.

I just read a post from another guy declaring this a rebuilding year based on the UF and Vandy losses...lmao.

We definitely have come a long way under CRB when going 14-0, winning a tournament, and setting the all-time record at UT for consecutive weeks ranked #1 is considered a rebuilding year.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

“Inexcusable,” whatever that means.

Agree losing at Vandy is not a bad loss. At the same time, it's ok imo to say how we lost was inexcusable and out of character for this team. We could play Vandy 10 times scoring 70+ points and I would expect to win 9/10 if not 10/10.

Having said that, the absolute absurdity of some posters on the implications of losing at Vandy is quite breathtaking especially when most of them are also the ones who gaslight about how the regular season doesn't matter and it's a tournament sport.

Bottom line, this squad is still learning what it takes to win and what they need to work on individually and collectively to peak at the right time. GBO

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I mean, had we added portal players and kept a few players that left I wouldn’t consider it a “rebuild”

But returning less than 35% of minutes & production from last season definitely had me less optimistic coming into this year. The 2 losses and a few other bad halves in wins have highlighted that despite being 16-2 there is still a higher ceiling this team can reach. I’m hoping they find it in the 2nd weekend of March Madness.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Sure would help for Chaz to get his scoring touch back. According a Barnes statement I saw he apparently has not adjusted well to other teams doubling and trying to deny him the ball.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I mean, had we added portal players and kept a few players that left I wouldn’t consider it a “rebuild”

But returning less than 35% of minutes & production from last season definitely had me less optimistic coming into this year. The 2 losses and a few other bad halves in wins have highlighted that despite being 16-2 there is still a higher ceiling this team can reach. I’m hoping they find it in the 2nd weekend of March Madness.

Barnes has UT in the reloading universe rather than rebuilding. I’m glad that we have a successful, experienced coach that’s decided to take on the challenges of NIL and unrestricted transfers instead of giving up like several of his contemporaries have. Maybe he sees opportunities he’s never had before with an equal playing field instead of the NCAA playing favorites with the traditional blue bloods and favored conferences. Most of his career he’s been the small fish in the big ponds and little brother to KU, UK, UNC, Duke, and the Big Dogs of the otihinal Big East.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Barnes has UT in the reloading universe rather than rebuilding. I’m glad that we have a successful, experienced coach that’s decided to take on the challenges of NIL and unrestricted transfers instead of giving up like several of his contemporaries have. Maybe he sees opportunities he’s never had before with an equal playing field instead of the NCAA playing favorites with the traditional blue bloods and favored conferences. Most of his career he’s been the small fish in the big ponds and little brother to KU, UK, UNC, Duke, and the Big Dogs of the otihinal Big East.

Overall I agree, but disagree that Barnes has us in "reloading" universe.

His style of development requires returning players.

2015-16 - Barnes' first year the team returned 70% of minutes played and 67.5% of scoring
2019-20 - Barnes' first "rebuild" year, this was the season after Grant, Admiral, Kyle, Bone left only 38.3% of minutes played and 30.3% of scoring returned we went 17-14
2024-25 - Barnes' second "rebuild" year, only 37.6% of minutes played and 32% of scoring returned

Every other season except 1 Barnes' teams had returned over 50% in both categories. To me a "reload universe" is more like Duke... where they seem to return less than 50% almost every season

I'm not sure if this will be the new norm and Barnes' is transitioning his philosophy to "reload" instead of "rebuild" but it could be how things continue with NIL and the portal. Either way the good news is that he's showing an ability to adapt. Cause we're 1 win away from reaching that first "rebuild" team in total wins...and it's still January.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Overall I agree, but disagree that Barnes has us in "reloading" universe.

His style of development requires returning players.

2015-16 - Barnes' first year the team returned 70% of minutes played and 67.5% of scoring
2019-20 - Barnes' first "rebuild" year, this was the season after Grant, Admiral, Kyle, Bone left only 38.3% of minutes played and 30.3% of scoring returned we went 17-14
2024-25 - Barnes' second "rebuild" year, only 37.6% of minutes played and 32% of scoring returned

Every other season except 1 Barnes' teams had returned over 50% in both categories. To me a "reload universe" is more like Duke... where they seem to return less than 50% almost every season

I'm not sure if this will be the new norm and Barnes' is transitioning his philosophy to "reload" instead of "rebuild" but it could be how things continue with NIL and the portal. Either way the good news is that he's showing an ability to adapt. Cause we're 1 win away from reaching that first "rebuild" team in total wins...and it's still January.

Everything is different now. JJJ, Aidoo, and Knecht were replaced through the portal. I’d call those spots reloaded. Awaka’s and Vescovi’s not so much but Dubar and Carr have come up a little short replacing SV. Had JP not gotten injured I’d say that Estrella and Phillips reloaded at the Awaka spot.

I’d call it a rebuild if the team was struggling to stay above being a bubble team. It’s clearly not in that territory.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Everything is different now. JJJ, Aidoo, and Knecht were replaced through the portal. I’d call those spots reloaded. Awaka’s and Vescovi’s not so much but Dubar and Carr have come up a little short replacing SV. Had JP not gotten injured I’d say that Estrella and Phillips reloaded at the Awaka spot.

I’d call it a rebuild if the team was struggling to stay above being a bubble team. It’s clearly not in that territory.

Yeah but this is the first time he's really done it this way. So not sure yet if it's where we are or just a 1 of thing that happened.

Either way, not returning many young players that have been developed for a year or 2 so next season by default will also have to be basically a reload year UNLESS the NCAA gives players a 5th year...and I could see most the guys willing to return since I don't think anyone outside Igor or Chaz has a legit shot at being drafted in the NBA. And honestly another year with NIL is worth what they'd get playing outside the US so why not stay for another run?

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Yeah but this is the first time he's really done it this way. So not sure yet if it's where we are or just a 1 of thing that happened.

Either way, not returning many young players that have been developed for a year or 2 so next season by default will also have to be basically a reload year UNLESS the NCAA gives players a 5th year...and I could see most the guys willing to return since I don't think anyone outside Igor or Chaz has a legit shot at being drafted in the NBA. And honestly another year with NIL is worth what they'd get playing outside the US so why not stay for another run?

Which is why I said CRB now has UT in the reloading universe. Knecht, Gainey, Estrella, and Phillips (with Dilione and Carr failing to work out) was a pretty good reload when Tyreke Key, Nkamhoua, and Uros didn’t return. Replacing Julian Phillips should have been a rebuilt spot, but he underachieved so it really didn’t play out as the rebuild category for him.

Minus massive regression after attrition, I’m not calling it rebuilding. We’re about to go to the 7th consecutive NCAAT ever in program history. The long term trend has been mostly upward over CRB’s entire 10 years. There was a drop off for a year replacing Grant, Admiral, Bone, and Alexander in 2019 but it was hidden with the shortened COVID year in 2019-20. And then 2x one-and-done NBAers were added in 2020-21 to keep the trend moving upward.

 

[walkenvol]

Yeah but this is the first time he's really done it this way. So not sure yet if it's where we are or just a 1 of thing that happened.

Either way, not returning many young players that have been developed for a year or 2 so next season by default will also have to be basically a reload year UNLESS the NCAA gives players a 5th year...and I could see most the guys willing to return since I don't think anyone outside Igor or Chaz has a legit shot at being drafted in the NBA. And honestly another year with NIL is worth what they'd get playing outside the US so why not stay for another run?

Don’t know what Igor has shown to date that would entice an NBA team to draft him? Chaz is rapidly headed towards the same if he can’t recover his early season form.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Don’t know what Igor has shown to date that would entice an NBA team to draft him? Chaz is rapidly headed towards the same if he can’t recover his early season form.

Listen, what we as fans see and what the NBA cares about in drafting talent is totally different. NBA doesn't give a damn what players do in college.

Chaz they'll look at his shot and shooting % for his career.
Igor they'll see his size/length and how well he moves/handles the ball.

Edit: Also, not saying either will be drafted. Just looking at this year's team those would be the 2 most likely is all.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Don’t know what Igor has shown to date that would entice an NBA team to draft him? Chaz is rapidly headed towards the same if he can’t recover his early season form.

I’ll be surprised if he’s drafted but won’t be surprised that he signs a contract. Most likely though, he’ll be yet another former UT player with a long professional career playing internationally.

 

[VolGee4]

Overall I agree, but disagree that Barnes has us in "reloading" universe.

His style of development requires returning players.

2015-16 - Barnes' first year the team returned 70% of minutes played and 67.5% of scoring
2019-20 - Barnes' first "rebuild" year, this was the season after Grant, Admiral, Kyle, Bone left only 38.3% of minutes played and 30.3% of scoring returned we went 17-14
2024-25 - Barnes' second "rebuild" year, only 37.6% of minutes played and 32% of scoring returned

Every other season except 1 Barnes' teams had returned over 50% in both categories. To me a "reload universe" is more like Duke... where they seem to return less than 50% almost every season

I'm not sure if this will be the new norm and Barnes' is transitioning his philosophy to "reload" instead of "rebuild" but it could be how things continue with NIL and the portal. Either way the good news is that he's showing an ability to adapt. Cause we're 1 win away from reaching that first "rebuild" team in total wins...and it's still January.

I agree that Barnes excels in developing players over years, but the 2019-20 team lost a significant player in Lamonte Turner very early in the year. He does seem to be adapting to the portal. With the "development" of DK and now CL, there should be a ton of interest in players coming to UT.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I agree that Barnes excels in developing players over years, but the 2019-20 team lost a significant player in Lamonte Turner very early in the year. He does seem to be adapting to the portal. With the "development" of DK and now CL, there should be a ton of interest in players coming to UT.

I think so too

 

[05_never_again]

Barnes has UT in the reloading universe rather than rebuilding. I’m glad that we have a successful, experienced coach that’s decided to take on the challenges of NIL and unrestricted transfers instead of giving up like several of his contemporaries have. Maybe he sees opportunities he’s never had before with an equal playing field instead of the NCAA playing favorites with the traditional blue bloods and favored conferences. Most of his career he’s been the small fish in the big ponds and little brother to KU, UK, UNC, Duke, and the Big Dogs of the otihinal Big East.

I don't think he gets enough credit for this. Rick isn't a spring chicken, to put it mildly, yet he's played the Portal really well.

He's been a HC since 1987; that's my entire life. It'd be so easy (and understandable) to just throw his hands up at where the game has gone and ride off into the sunset.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Some general thoughts…

-nice couple game bounce back from Lanier to snap out of the cold spell, hopefully that’ll calm some folks down. No shooter is gonna be on every night, but that should ease some folks mind about his ability to get it done in league play. 17 & 23 points the last 2 games, 9-18 from 3 which is a blistering 50%. Again, can’t expect him to always shoot 50%, but benching him or cutting minutes also isn’t the move, you’re talking about a guy tracking as finishing the year with the best single season 3pt shooting display Tennessee fans have ever seen, he’s a weapon and you need him. Thought his defense and overall attention was better tonight, 0 turnovers in 31 minutes, and again, thought the defense was very good.

-Okpara continues to look better and better, he’s playing more physical and showed a better rebounding effort tonight which has been a point of emphasis, no reason he can’t be a double double guy if he’s going to get 30+ minutes like he did tonight, he’s also got a really solid FT stroke which is nice for a big man.

-the defense from the tip was light years better than Saturday at Vandy, was quite clear that the players realized how poorly they were on that end. Much better job of communicating screens, they don’t run as good of stuff as Vandy but still a good job, and a much better job keeping the ball in front of you and not getting beat which causes us to help and then get into a rotation which Vandy seemingly did all night, need that effort and focus defensively going forward.

-complete the 2nd of 6 three game schedules, said the goal was to go 2-1 each time out and that gets you to the 12-6 goal, that’s where things stand as we’re 4-2 a still have a great resume. This next 3 game stretch could quite possibly be the toughest of the year when we look back, @ Auburn then home to Kentucky and Florida, 2-1 definitely feels like it would be a win with that slate. I’ve said it 100x but protecting home court is so important this year, Kentucky has an elite offense and will really test our defense, and we definitely didn’t appear to match up very well with Florida’s size, but hopefully we want revenge in that one.

-as for Auburn, I know this is going to fall on deaf ears, but can we please not do the freak out thing? Going on the road to #1 in what is arguably one of the toughest places to play, with college gameday there, Pearl always extra amped up to play Tennessee, like this has Florida beat down written all over it, I will be quite surprised if this is a very close game late. Again, doesn’t mean we suck or need to fire someone or that the season is over, no protections have us winning that one, it’s a house money game that doesn’t hurt us losing and can just be a giant boost with a win. Again, I’m sure come Saturday it’ll be doom and gloom in here, but I tried.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I know this is going to fall on deaf ears, but can we please not do the freak out thing?

 

[berryvol]

I fear for how this place will be Saturday night. Doubt that’s a party I will be attending.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Some general thoughts…

-nice couple game bounce back from Lanier to snap out of the cold spell, hopefully that’ll calm some folks down. No shooter is gonna be on every night, but that should ease some folks mind about his ability to get it done in league play. 17 & 23 points the last 2 games, 9-18 from 3 which is a blistering 50%. Again, can’t expect him to always shoot 50%, but benching him or cutting minutes also isn’t the move, you’re talking about a guy tracking as finishing the year with the best single season 3pt shooting display Tennessee fans have ever seen, he’s a weapon and you need him. Thought his defense and overall attention was better tonight, 0 turnovers in 31 minutes, and again, thought the defense was very good.

-Okpara continues to look better and better, he’s playing more physical and showed a better rebounding effort tonight which has been a point of emphasis, no reason he can’t be a double double guy if he’s going to get 30+ minutes like he did tonight, he’s also got a really solid FT stroke which is nice for a big man.

-the defense from the tip was light years better than Saturday at Vandy, was quite clear that the players realized how poorly they were on that end. Much better job of communicating screens, they don’t run as good of stuff as Vandy but still a good job, and a much better job keeping the ball in front of you and not getting beat which causes us to help and then get into a rotation which Vandy seemingly did all night, need that effort and focus defensively going forward.

-complete the 2nd of 6 three game schedules, said the goal was to go 2-1 each time out and that gets you to the 12-6 goal, that’s where things stand as we’re 4-2 a still have a great resume. This next 3 game stretch could quite possibly be the toughest of the year when we look back, @ Auburn then home to Kentucky and Florida, 2-1 definitely feels like it would be a win with that slate. I’ve said it 100x but protecting home court is so important this year, Kentucky has an elite offense and will really test our defense, and we definitely didn’t appear to match up very well with Florida’s size, but hopefully we want revenge in that one.

-as for Auburn, I know this is going to fall on deaf ears, but can we please not do the freak out thing? Going on the road to #1 in what is arguably one of the toughest places to play, with college gameday there, Pearl always extra amped up to play Tennessee, like this has Florida beat down written all over it, I will be quite surprised if this is a very close game late. Again, doesn’t mean we suck or need to fire someone or that the season is over, no protections have us winning that one, it’s a house money game that doesn’t hurt us losing and can just be a giant boost with a win. Again, I’m sure come Saturday it’ll be doom and gloom in here, but I tried.

Agree with everything but especially how we played D last night vs. at Vandy.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Man...it's so interesting how a favorable whistle changes things.

Mark Sears leads the SEC in scoring with 19.0 PPG, he's shooting 40.4% FG, 35.3% 3PT
Chaz Lanier is second in the SEC in scoring with 18.4 PPG, he's shooting 41.6%, 42.6% 3PT

But Sears averages 7.6 FTAs per game at 82.8%, Chaz is only getting 2.6 FTAs a game... so 5 more attempts at the line. Now the craziest bit...Chanz averages almost 3 more field goal attempts and over 1 more 2 point attempt per game... he's simply not getting calls at the same rate as Sears does.


I really enjoy the balance of this year's team. Loved DK, and will likely be one of the single greatest individual seasons I've ever seen for a Vol.

But man...

We have 3 players on the team in the top 45 in ppg in the SEC (Chaz, ZZ, Gainey)
We have 2 players on the team in the top 15 in rpg in the SEC (Igor & Felix)
We have 2 players on the team in the top 10 in spg in the SEC (ZZ & Mashack)
We have 2 players on the team in the top 45 in apg in the SEC (ZZ & Igor)
We have 5 players on the team in the top 50 in bpg in the SEC (Felix, Cade, Gainey, Mashack, Igor)

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Man...it's so interesting how a favorable whistle changes things.

Mark Sears leads the SEC in scoring with 19.0 PPG, he's shooting 40.4% FG, 35.3% 3PT
Chaz Lanier is second in the SEC in scoring with 18.4 PPG, he's shooting 41.6%, 42.6% 3PT

But Sears averages 7.6 FTAs per game at 82.8%, Chaz is only getting 2.6 FTAs a game... so 5 more attempts at the line. Now the craziest bit...Chanz averages almost 3 more field goal attempts and over 1 more 2 point attempt per game... he's simply not getting calls at the same rate as Sears does.


I really enjoy the balance of this year's team. Loved DK, and will likely be one of the single greatest individual seasons I've ever seen for a Vol.

But man...

We have 3 players on the team in the top 45 in ppg in the SEC (Chaz, ZZ, Gainey)
We have 2 players on the team in the top 15 in rpg in the SEC (Igor & Felix)
We have 2 players on the team in the top 10 in spg in the SEC (ZZ & Mashack)
We have 2 players on the team in the top 45 in apg in the SEC (ZZ & Igor)
We have 5 players on the team in the top 50 in bpg in the SEC (Felix, Cade, Gainey, Mashack, Igor)

Chaz mostly pulls up. Sears likes to try and barrel into his defender hoping that the refs bail him out instead. They do, to a depressing degree, but he plays in a way that forces them to call either a block or a charge a lot. Lanier almost never does that.

 

[walkenvol]

Chaz mostly pulls up. Sears likes to try and barrel into his defender hoping that the refs bail him out instead. They do, to a depressing degree, but he plays in a way that forces them to call either a block or a charge a lot. Lanier almost never does that.

How bout the 3rd option of no whistle - play on? We got that numerous times last night from contact at the rim. For some reason, Sears gets a different whistle from our guys.

 

[Delmar]

I fear for how this place will be Saturday night. Doubt that’s a party I will be attending.

Cardinal rule. Never come on here after a loss. The ignorance is staggering. Odds are stacked against the Vols Saturday and I doubt we win but I’ll bet they give better effort than in the other two road losses.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Chaz mostly pulls up. Sears likes to try and barrel into his defender hoping that the refs bail him out instead. They do, to a depressing degree, but he plays in a way that forces them to call either a block or a charge a lot. Lanier almost never does that.

Yeah, seems certain SEC guards get away with a lot of charges then we've got guys that can't even get obvious calls when tackled going to the rim. Even DK had that problem last year, 2nd in SEC in FGAs per game with 16. Wade Taylor IV was first with 16.3.

But guys like Battle, Sears, even Pullin all had more FTAs than DK despite far less attempts.

 

[omghulkhands]

Chaz mostly pulls up. Sears likes to try and barrel into his defender hoping that the refs bail him out instead. They do, to a depressing degree, but he plays in a way that forces them to call either a block or a charge a lot. Lanier almost never does that.

Sears is Dollar Tree Jalen Brunson.