The Official “Regular Posters of the Basketball Forum” Thread

[walkenvol]

I said the same thing when Jimmy said that. KY wasn't special on defense, but Jimmy just doesn't know how to speak in anything but superlative language. Everything is the best or the worst when he talks about it. They weren't awful, but they were just adequate. Tennessee missed dozens of open looks. Kentucky made those shots. That's the difference in the game.

Do you feel like we played with the same defensive intensity as normal? We got out rebounded again. Yea if we made more open 3’s maybe we win, but I didn’t see the same intensity and smart play we’re accustomed to seeing from such an experienced team. The confusion in the last two minutes down by 4 with the ball. Plenty of time to make a 2 and play solid D. Instead we jack up 3’s? They love to throw accolades towards ZZZ, but his play and leadership wasn’t very good tonight on both ends. This lack of intensity is happening way too often lately. You know my posting history and I’m losing faith in this group - hope they prove me overreactive.

 

[VolGee4]

No way in hell this team could make a deep run. You cant regularly play offense this poorly and make a deep run.

Barnes ball has shown that it isnt conducive for deep runs.

There are plenty of examples where teams have gotten hot in the NCAAT and shot better. Can this team do it? Don’t know.

We went to the EE last year and lost a two score game to the two time POY. It can be done.

 

[berryvol]

I hate when I’m mad at the team and at Barnes and then someone pops in and says something really broad and dumb and I half feel like arguing about it but also half don’t feel like sticking up for Barnes atm

You really can’t win for losing on this forum, if you’re level headed and/or of the slightest understanding of basketball. You’re either overcompensating in positivity bc of the football idiots or you give a normal take and the over optimistic (volfreakjosh, etc) types come after you and say you’re attacking Barnes and the sanctity of UT sports. It’s exhausting after awhile lol

 

[cncchris33]

Do you feel like we played with the same defensive intensity as normal? We got out rebounded again. Yea if we made more open 3’s maybe we win, but I didn’t see the same intensity and smart play we’re accustomed to seeing from such an experienced team. The confusion in the last two minutes down by 4 with the ball. Plenty of time to make a 2 and play solid D. Instead we jack up 3’s? They love to throw accolades towards ZZZ, but his play and leadership wasn’t very good tonight on both ends. This lack of intensity is happening way too often lately. You know my posting history and I’m losing faith in this group - hope they prove me overreactive.

Overall? No. We saw it in spurts. Kentucky scored made 2 shots in the final 4 minutes of the 1st half. Then they 2 shots in the final 7 minutes of the 2nd half.

However, they killed us to open both halves because we didn't defend worth crap. They were 4/6 before the under-16 TO in the 1st half (all uncontested 3s), and 6/9 before the under-16 TO in the 2nd half. They outscored us by 17 points in those two runs.

We did outrebound them, fwiw (41-38), but like you, my faith in this team is wavering. If I'm being honest, it has been since conference play started, but I've tried to keep a brave face about them. I, too, hope I'm overreacting, but 3-4 in your last 7 games isn't great evidence of anything elite team, nor is it a sign of a mini-slump.

 

[DowntownVol]

is there any particular reason why we've basically abandoned trying to work the ball inside to Okpara or Phillips or even Dubar or Igor? playing a little inside out game? Okpara seemed to be developing offensively beyond just the alley oop/lob dunk and we never seem to look his way, just work it around the perimeter until someone jacks up a 3

 

[Chaz-Vol]

Overall? No. We saw it in spurts. Kentucky scored made 2 shots in the final 4 minutes of the 1st half. Then they 2 shots in the final 7 minutes of the 2nd half.

However, they killed us to open both halves because we didn't defend worth crap. They were 4/6 before the under-16 TO in the 1st half (all uncontested 3s), and 6/9 before the under-16 TO in the 2nd half. They outscored us by 17 points in those two runs.

We did outrebound them, fwiw (41-38), but like you, my faith in this team is wavering. If I'm being honest, it has been since conference play started, but I've tried to keep a brave face about them. I, too, hope I'm overreacting, but 3-4 in your last 7 games isn't great evidence of anything elite team, nor is it a sign of a mini-slump.

I think this team is middle of the pack SEC squad. They don't have the offense to compensate for lack of focus on defense during certain games (Florida/UK).

Even though Vescovi and JJJ would play hot potato on offense and sometimes scared they always brought it on defense. Guys like Chaz, Gainey, Igor just get beat a lot. Mashack who's a great defender is such a liability on offense it's hard to have him out there with certain lineups.

 

[VolGee4]

I think this team is middle of the pack SEC squad. They don't have the offense to compensate for lack of focus on defense during certain games (Florida/UK).

Even though Vescovi and JJJ would play hot potato on offense and sometimes scared they always brought it on defense. Guys like Chaz, Gainey, Igor just get beat a lot. Mashack who's a great defender is such a liability on offense it's hard to have him out there with certain lineups.

UF had nothing to do with defense. 13% from 3 and 21% FG will do it. UF only shot 40%. UF, UK, and Bama can be beat if you hold them to 73 points.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

UF had nothing to do with defense. 13% from 3 and 21% FG will do it. UF only shot 40%. UF, UK, and Bama can be beat if you hold them to 73 points.

Defense also has to do with defensive rebounding and boxing out. Vols were outrebounded 56-37 that game. Yes very poor shooting on offense contributed a lot but so did Florida's offensive rebounds.

 

[VolGee4]

Defense also has to do with defensive rebounding and boxing out. Vols were outrebounded 56-37 that game. Yes very poor shooting on offense contributed a lot but so did Florida's offensive rebounds.

Fair enough, they had 16 offensive rebounds. But as you say, when you miss so many shots, rebounds have to be made.

 

[knoxvol52]

Think UNC basketball boards are jumping off the cliff yet ? Just lost to Pitt and are now 13-9 on the season. Fahr Hubert Davis...

 

[berryvol]

All you can do is just laugh. This team is just truly pathetic on offense. They may well end up worse than 2021-2023 at their current downhill pace. Just really inexcusable with the pieces we have.

 

[TrippieRedd]

We need a guy that can drive to the basket like dude from the Rockets.

Side note: I think Okpara is getting better and better each game. I’m sure some will say he’s played like ass, but he’s impressed me.

He had one move in the first half that made my jaw drop a little bit.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Overall? No. We saw it in spurts. Kentucky scored made 2 shots in the final 4 minutes of the 1st half. Then they 2 shots in the final 7 minutes of the 2nd half.

However, they killed us to open both halves because we didn't defend worth crap. They were 4/6 before the under-16 TO in the 1st half (all uncontested 3s), and 6/9 before the under-16 TO in the 2nd half. They outscored us by 17 points in those two runs.

We did outrebound them, fwiw (41-38), but like you, my faith in this team is wavering. If I'm being honest, it has been since conference play started, but I've tried to keep a brave face about them. I, too, hope I'm overreacting, but 3-4 in your last 7 games isn't great evidence of anything elite team, nor is it a sign of a mini-slump.

Honestly at the moment I’m getting 2000-2001 vibes. That team started 16-1 and then fell off a cliff. Much different situation but I hope I’m wrong.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Overall? No. We saw it in spurts. Kentucky scored made 2 shots in the final 4 minutes of the 1st half. Then they 2 shots in the final 7 minutes of the 2nd half.

However, they killed us to open both halves because we didn't defend worth crap. They were 4/6 before the under-16 TO in the 1st half (all uncontested 3s), and 6/9 before the under-16 TO in the 2nd half. They outscored us by 17 points in those two runs.

We did outrebound them, fwiw (41-38), but like you, my faith in this team is wavering. If I'm being honest, it has been since conference play started, but I've tried to keep a brave face about them. I, too, hope I'm overreacting, but 3-4 in your last 7 games isn't great evidence of anything elite team, nor is it a sign of a mini-slump.

Weird thing is we do have streaky shooters. If Chaz, Gainey, ZZ or Igor all get hot you could see us win 5+ games in a row.

But it’s a “if” I just wish someone other than ZZ would drive to the rim with purpose.

 

[Orange.]

We need a guy that can drive to the basket like dude from the Rockets.

Side note: I think Okpara is getting better and better each game. I’m sure some will say he’s played like ass, but he’s impressed me.

He had one move in the first half that made my jaw drop a little bit.

Free Okpara! I'm down with it.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Just happy ZZ was okay.

Hopefully we play better Saturday & don’t lose 2 to the Gators.

 

[cncchris33]

Honestly at the moment I’m getting 2000-2001 vibes. That team started 16-1 and then fell off a cliff. Much different situation but I hope I’m wrong.

Yikes...that team was brutal

 

[Sin City Vol]

All you can do is just laugh. This team is just truly pathetic on offense. They may well end up worse than 2021-2023 at their current downhill pace. Just really inexcusable with the pieces we have.

I was just about to post this. I kept screaming at the TV to stop shooting 3’s. We look lost on offense and have a limited inside game. We’ll be 1 and done come ncaa tourney time

 

[MoCo_Vol]

So looking at the HS recruits we have signed and the others we're still trying to land...

Both Evans and Brown have great length... wingspan for each is above average for their heights it seems. Evans sounds a lot like a DK in his approach to basketball, not as good of a pure shooter but the way he puts in work to get better sounds like a great fit.

Brown reads like a Grant Williams...listed at 6'8" or 6'9" but apparently he's 6'6.5" without shoes...still a teenager so maybe he grows another inch or two, but he has a 7' + wingspan and a near 9' standing reach...so much like Grant I don't think the lack of height will hurt him too much. Sounds like he'll need a full year in Barnes' "fat camp" though. But if he fully buys in to putting in the work like Grant I think he'll be a quick fan favorite. He could also be another DJ Burns it sounds like... I'm staying optimistic though.

Ament is a top 10 player, great size shoots the lights out at every level... obviously he's a want/win period and our S&C program would be a huge benefit to him specifically.

Burries I think is another one we'd love to add. Seems to be the sort of ball handler with driving ability we lack this year as well.

 

[cardvolfan]

I’m usually on the very positive end of the spectrum about basketball, but I’m vastly lowering my expectations for this team. They’re just flat out bad on offense and settle for bad shots far too often. They also seem completely uninterested in defending half the time. This is basically what everyone who whined about the 2022 team’s offense asked for: a little better offense for inconsistent defense. Disappointing, but it is what it is. Hopefully they can figure something out by March, but they’ve been regressing since December. Not hopeful.

I like your takes but “completely uninterested in defending half the time” tells me that maybe you were gassed when posting this.

 

[cardvolfan]

I said the same thing when Jimmy said that. KY wasn't special on defense, but Jimmy just doesn't know how to speak in anything but superlative language. Everything is the best or the worst when he talks about it. They weren't awful, but they were just adequate. Tennessee missed dozens of open looks. Kentucky made those shots. That's the difference in the game.

Really interesting how simple basketball can be. Who would have imagined that this game would come down to who makes shots and who misses? Also, Kentucky wasn’t special defensively, but their game plan was terrific.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

So looking at the HS recruits we have signed and the others we're still trying to land...

Both Evans and Brown have great length... wingspan for each is above average for their heights it seems. Evans sounds a lot like a DK in his approach to basketball, not as good of a pure shooter but the way he puts in work to get better sounds like a great fit.

Brown reads like a Grant Williams...listed at 6'8" or 6'9" but apparently he's 6'6.5" without shoes...still a teenager so maybe he grows another inch or two, but he has a 7' + wingspan and a near 9' standing reach...so much like Grant I don't think the lack of height will hurt him too much. Sounds like he'll need a full year in Barnes' "fat camp" though. But if he fully buys in to putting in the work like Grant I think he'll be a quick fan favorite. He could also be another DJ Burns it sounds like... I'm staying optimistic though.

Ament is a top 10 player, great size shoots the lights out at every level... obviously he's a want/win period and our S&C program would be a huge benefit to him specifically.

Burries I think is another one we'd love to add. Seems to be the sort of ball handler with driving ability we lack this year as well.

I think next year need offense offense offense. Ament could certainly be a dude but I'd like at least one >37% 3 point shooter from portal if Mashack, ZZ, and Gainey return

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I think next year need offense offense offense. Ament could certainly be a dude but I'd like at least one >37% 3 point shooter from portal if Mashack, ZZ, and Gainey return

Yep agreed, and I'm sure that'll be exactly what we target in the portal.

3 of the 4 we brought in were all >37% 3 point shooters... unfortunately (thus far) Chaz has been the only one still shooting it that well

 

[berryvol]

I like your takes but “completely uninterested in defending half the time” tells me that maybe you were gassed when posting this.

Maybe so, but we have some good athletes. Getting consistently beat to the basket is an effort thing. Giving up open looks on the perimeter can be effort, scheme, or a mix of both. We’ve given up both 2 of our last 4. Yes, we did cause turnovers in the 1H last night, but all defense went out the window coming out of half. Maybe it’s not effort or “interest”, but this team’s Jekyll and Hyde qualities certainly extend to the defensive end.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Maybe so, but we have some good athletes. Getting consistently beat to the basket is an effort thing. Giving up open looks on the perimeter can be effort, scheme, or a mix of both. We’ve given up both 2 of our last 4. Yes, we did cause turnovers in the 1H last night, but all defense went out the window coming out of half. Maybe it’s not effort or “interest”, but this team’s Jekyll and Hyde qualities certainly extend to the defensive end.

We definitely had some stretches last night where the defensive effort was subpar, which let UK build up a lead that ended up being too big to overcome.

Also not sure it ended up mattering but in these losses (other than UF) little things stand out. Mashack had that breakaway before the half and missed the layup (granted was defended but still) and that would have been a 5 point lead instead of 3. Would it have ended up mattering? Not sure but wish we could have found out.