The Official #1 Tennessee @ Texas Game Thread, 6:00 PM ET, ESPN

[TheMookieMonster]

Didn't DK struggle early in sec play?

Not really. He had 8 points in the home opener against Ole Miss but then scored 28 in a road loss to MSU, 36 in a road win against Georgia, and 39 in a home win over Florida.

 

[VolZen]

But Milc plays defense.

And rebounds!

 

[Legion of Doom]

Vols will be fine. 1-1 this week was a good week with 2 quad 1 road games. This next week is not quite as hard.

 

[BeAllEndAll]

He handles the ball the entire game. He's gonna have some turnovers. He also makes high risk high reward plays like the lob for example. It leads to a few turnovers but leads to enough scores that it's a plus play.

Limited offensive team when Milicic and Mashack not even looking to score, and Okpara pretty much limited to a lob threat...Puts too much pressure on Zeigler to create, so more turnovers.

 

[sami]

Gritty effort to get a road win with Chaz being taken out of the game by their defense and never being able to get in a rhythm, Zeigler showed why he's an All-American down the stretch, Felix was huge tonight, Gainey had some big hoops, and Dubar was the turning point with the putback jam followed by the 3. Great team win on the road in a game where we weren't our best.

 

[minorvol]

Btw, in case you all didn't know Tre Johnson is considered a 1st round , in the NBA draft, next year. Potentially, a lottery pick

He looks like one. He was unstoppable.

 

[RockyTop140]

Missed this one unfortunately. Will watch the replay after church tomorrow. Good road win

 

[kiddiedoc]

Going 1-1 with these two games on the road is fine. Take the rib punch at Gainesville in stride and move on.

 

[TJVol95]

Any win on the road is big. I wished Tennessee had a couple of those Texas players.

#20 for sure

 

[JohnWardForever]

I love the ___ + ___ = ___ equations that fans constantly use despite endless examples that because a team plays Team A a certain way on a certain night, it follows that they will play Team B the same way on a different night.

Each game is its own entity, the same way as the UT we saw against Arky was day/night from the team in Florida. Thank God that the team doesn't endlessly dwell on any loss the way the fan base does.

"Texas is hungry for a win, especially at home. Another tenuous situation for the Vols." Tenuous does not mean impossible. But tenuous it was. I don't dwell on a loss, I analyze and look at things realistically. Texas WAS desperate for a win, and Tennessee got some redemption by winning that game. And if we don't base our opinions on a teams' performance vs their schedule, how do you suggest we do it?

 

[Adam Sandler]

Highlights?

 

[Volfan2012]

We played ugly and won to many unforced turnovers. Some big threes by Dubar and some really solid play from Ziegler down the stretch. Okpara played some super defense and rebounded the ball. Surprising move by the Texas coach to bench their hot shooter for over three minutes. I think it was a key part of the game.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

We played ugly and won to many unforced turnovers. Some big threes by Dubar and some really solid play from Ziegler down the stretch. Okpara played some super defense and rebounded the ball. Surprising move by the Texas coach to bench their hot shooter for over three minutes. I think it was a key part of the game.

He looked pretty gassed when he went to the bench

 

[ColinS]

We played ugly and won to many unforced turnovers. Some big threes by Dubar and some really solid play from Ziegler down the stretch. Okpara played some super defense and rebounded the ball. Surprising move by the Texas coach to bench their hot shooter for over three minutes. I think it was a key part of the game.

Nice guy, can't coach. He single handedly cooled his hottest shooter off for crunch time. If I'm the Texas AD I cut my loses and start looking for a coach right now. Your just gonna keep digging a hole by staying with this guy.

 

[TechnoVol]

Wasn't able to watch the game last night. Saw that we won, good road win in the SEC. Woo boy, just finished reading the entire game thread, what an emotional roller coaster!

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Have not read through this game thread, but wanted to ask if I was the only one who could not see a bunch of the foul calls? Off the ball? I would see the arm go up but did not see why, nor were they supported by replays.

Real question, some both ways, were the calls consistent with general play this year? Especially what I guess were reach in calls. I was just perplexed.

 

[omghulkhands]

Have not read through this game thread, but wanted to ask if I was the only one who could not see a bunch of the foul calls? Off the ball? I would see the arm go up but did not see why, nor were they supported by replays.

Real question, some both ways, were the calls consistent with general play this year? Especially what I guess were reach in calls. I was just perplexed.

I agree there were lots of questionable shooting foul calls on Both sides

 

[sami]

"Texas is hungry for a win, especially at home. Another tenuous situation for the Vols." Tenuous does not mean impossible. But tenuous it was. I don't dwell on a loss, I analyze and look at things realistically. Texas WAS desperate for a win, and Tennessee got some redemption by winning that game. And if we don't base our opinions on a teams' performance vs their schedule, how do you suggest we do it?

I probably unfairly targeted your post to respond to, but my main point was the endless dwelling on any loss by the fan base when losses will happen and you move on.

But each game is a new deal - different matchups, different environment, often a different scheme and emphasis. Hot one game, ice cold the next. You couldn't find a more stark example than us with the Florida game right on the heels of the dominant performance against Arkansas. Who in the world would have predicted a blowout loss, yet there it was.

I fully expected a bounce back last night, and this group is clearly working through some issues with the injuries, lack of depth, the offensive scheme with new players, and working Dubar into the rotation. There are going to be some rough patches in a league like this, but I have faith in this coaching staff to get it figured out.

 

[sami]

Have not read through this game thread, but wanted to ask if I was the only one who could not see a bunch of the foul calls? Off the ball? I would see the arm go up but did not see why, nor were they supported by replays.

Real question, some both ways, were the calls consistent with general play this year? Especially what I guess were reach in calls. I was just perplexed.

Refs definitely too involved, but that seems to be the trend in college football and basketball in general these days.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I actually thought that was one of Pat Adam’s less egregious performances. I didn’t really have a problem with how the game was officiated. I feel like they let both teams play.

 

[SugarVols]

Great win tough road game!

 

[VOLtaism]

This was a game they could have easily lost, gritty, experienced performance. Good close out by Z.
Too many turnovers and too much time being spent on offensive possessions because Lanier can't get open. He doesn't need to get an open look on every play but he can't be totally snuffed. When the team is not getting many fast breaks going this becomes an issue. Defense was solid they were making circus shots.

 

[adam.vol]

Refs definitely too involved, but that seems to be the trend in college football and basketball in general these days.

I would like to say tv ratings is what both sports have in common, but I can’t see the connection between referees and tv producers.

SEC officiating needs new leadership. There’s no denying that connection.

 

[sami]

This was a game they could have easily lost, gritty, experienced performance. Good close out by Z.
Too many turnovers and too much time being spent on offensive possessions because Lanier can't get open. He doesn't need to get an open look on every play but he can't be totally snuffed. When the team is not getting many fast breaks going this becomes an issue. Defense was solid they were making circus shots.

Yeah, I was thinking during the game that as a coach I would be thrilled to giving up nothing but tough 2's, regardless how Dane was spinning it on the broadcast, because that's going to catch up with you more often than not. If Terry's plan is seriously to play iso ball and count on making those kinds of shots, he's not going to have too much success in this league.

Offensively, Rick & Co. have to figure out ways of getting Lanier open looks, as teams are taking away him running around screens. Lanier isn't Knecht, who didn't need as much space and could shoot over people, but there have to be other ways to get him clean looks.

I also believe that Dubar can be a huge piece moving forward, and Igor needs to get some plays called for him as well. The more scoring we can get from Dubar, Igor, and Gainey, the more space Lanier will have to do his damage.

 

[Lukusw]

I actually thought that was one of Pat Adam’s less egregious performances. I didn’t really have a problem with how the game was officiated. I feel like they let both teams play.

Yeah, I realized at the end of the game that I didn't think about the refs much. The way I like it.