The Official #10 @ #17 North Carolina Game Thread, 7:15 PM ET, ESPN

[DuckInAPen]

Wes Rucker with beautiful news on Knecht

“I'm *not* a doctor, but Dalton Knecht is walking back to Tennessee's bus. No walking boot. No crutches. Limping a little, but walking on his own and seems to be in good spirits.

Still gonna get scanned and all that, but seeing him walk like that was good.”

"I'm *not* a doctor" -- that Wes is too modest! In all seriousness, that's very encouraging news.

 

[Vol423]

It’s not that our opponents are shooting more ft’s than us. It’s the crazy number of fouls being called against us. I didn’t see defensive initiated contact from us on a number of those calls, and some with no contact at all. Baycott is a good player, but it’s not a foul when Baycott jumps into Aidoo.

The officials are ruining the sport.

That's crap. There were 18 personal fouls called against UNC tonight. There were 24 fouls called against UT. Most of that difference was due to UT intentionally fouling in the final 2 minutes to force UNC to make free throws. Also, UNC attacked the rim the whole game. UT didn't.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

Basilio? Drama? He still pulling that schtick? The guy will do anything to get attention. I'd wait for a legit source....any source over that hack.

Bbbut bbbut he loves Tennessee!

Completely agree. He’s played that crap for years.Someone was more likely to drop a backpack in the locker room and this guy would run with it as “I’ve heard from sources that they have heard things being thrown around the locker room so there’s drama going down!”

 

[vols 30]

Maybe we are going to do the opposite this year. Have a meh reg season. Win just enough to get in, but proceed to get hot and make F4 run

 

[vavolfan6]

What are the thoughts on CRB taking Carr out after the shot he took?

Its a learning lesson. We didn't need that desperation 3 early in the shotclock. It was like pressing the panic button when we needed some calmness. Carr is a great shooter, but you have to earn the right before taking those type of shots under Barnes. Especially when he puts you in under the circumstances we were in the 1st half.

 

[TooLegit2Quit]

That's crap. There were 18 personal fouls called against UNC tonight. There were 24 fouls called against UT. Most of that difference was due to UT intentionally fouling in the final 2 minutes to force UNC to make free throws. Also, UNC attacked the rim the whole game. UT didn't.

Meanwhile the officiating crew had to review the play to call the foul to give UNC more free throws at 0:00 in the first half with a 20+ pt lead(already 14 of 14 before the 2 made attempts at 0:00).

Same amount of 3FGAs and Tennessee had two more 2FGAs. 38-16 at the line UNC.

 

[vavolfan6]

That's crap. There were 18 personal fouls called against UNC tonight. There were 24 fouls called against UT. Most of that difference was due to UT intentionally fouling in the final 2 minutes to force UNC to make free throws. Also, UNC attacked the rim the whole game. UT didn't.

I would disagree that most of the difference was made in the last two minutes. We had a few free throws in those last few minutes as well. The disparity was there the whole game.

With that said, I think alot of the fouls are valid. Barnes likes his players to suck in and provide help defense when the ball gets in the paint. Alot of swiping, bumping, etc. Its just frustrating when they stack up and the other team is getting free throws for an over the back rebound on the other side of the floor. We probably need to concede a bit more inside for the first few minutes of each half and not get in the bonus so early.

 

[joevols89]

You don't remember Donnie Tyndall?

I don’t remember a half that bad under him. Obviously an underwhelming single season.

 

[EasternVol]

What are the thoughts on CRB taking Carr out after the shot he took?

Good move. It's a way to teach.

 

[Sudden Impact]

I expected more and figured this team would be more battled tested than they are showing.
Reason is because of the European Trip. It seems to have contributed to a better Offense but a more physical type of play. Basically, we are going to see a lot of fouls called due to officiating.
This game was riddled with poor officiating. Two 4 point plays and 1 5 point play if I am correct.
Tie ups that were fouls. They waited to late on calls in those cases.

 

[TC 83]

Tobe and Aidoo will never be on the court together. It was the worst offensive lineup last year when the were.

Have you watched the games? They’ve both improved drastically since last year. Awaka really improved this offseason playing with the USA team and Aidoo is probably our most under-appreciated player. We need some beef—rebounding killed us last night.

 

[cardvolfan]

That's crap. There were 18 personal fouls called against UNC tonight. There were 24 fouls called against UT. Most of that difference was due to UT intentionally fouling in the final 2 minutes to force UNC to make free throws. Also, UNC attacked the rim the whole game. UT didn't.

You really should do a little more research before posting (and criticizing) something so blatantly wrong.

 

[BreatheUT]

I'm not sure what you're smoking but Aidoo hasn't gotten much better. It's a nice way for me to put it. UNC is not a strong force on the inside yet Aidoo is ineffective. I think he's a good character young man but he plays small too often and seems weak. He never grabs any out of zone rebounds and he's not athletic. This is another position that is hurting the Vols. Awaka really needs to play for the Vols to have an offensive and rebounding threat.

 

[BreatheUT]

There is no moral victory in this game. It's a W or L, the the Vols took the L.

 

[arkyvol]

I'm not big on moral victories but a single digit loss is a helluva lot better than a 40 point blow out which this would have been had the Vols not sucked it up in the second half.

 

[D3Athlete]

Have you watched the games? They’ve both improved drastically since last year. Awaka really improved this offseason playing with the USA team and Aidoo is probably our most under-appreciated player. We need some beef—rebounding killed us last night.

Yes I watch the games, and yes they have both improved, but both of them on the court just shrinks Tennessee offensively. It kills the spacing, and open shots would become more difficult. Like I said, Aidoo and Awaka on the court together last year was Tennessee least productive on offense.

 

[calban]

No one's mentioned scheduling. Everyone else scheduled a cupcake in front of the home crowd as a follow up to Maui. Barnes schedules a major opponent on the road in front of a hostile crowd. Head scratcher.

 

[508mikey]

No one's mentioned scheduling. Everyone else scheduled a cupcake in front of the home crowd as a follow up to Maui. Barnes schedules a major opponent on the road in front of a hostile crowd. Head scratcher.

Wasnt this the SEC/ACC series I dont think Barnes set the game up

 

[calban]

Wasnt this the SEC/ACC series I dont think Barnes set the game up

Brain fart. That's correct.

 

[BreatheUT]

Yes I watch the games, and yes they have both improved, but both of them on the court just shrinks Tennessee offensively. It kills the spacing, and open shots would become more difficult. Like I said, Aidoo and Awaka on the court together last year was Tennessee least productive.

Awaka has improved. That's all I can agree with.

 

[Volhoops]

There is no moral victory in this game. It's a W or L, the the Vols took the L.

Wait, no 5-star hearts or anything like that ? So you are saying the tournament committee does not way a loss on if the losing team learned something from the defeat ?

 

[BradstarVols]

Wish there were a way to bookmark a post, but I'll save a screen shot for next season when that day arrives.

That day won't arrive next season.

 

[BreatheUT]

Wait, no 5-star hearts or anything like that ? So you are saying the tournament committee does not way a loss on if the losing team learned something from the defeat ?

They perhaps will get a quad 1 loss.