The Official #10 Tennessee vs. #1 Alabama Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN2

[johnfnkelly]

Let me start off by saying good win.

Santi looks to have his swagger back.

Aidoo was an absolute force out there in every facet of the game.

Zakai put on arguably the most impressive ball-handing clinic I’ve ever seen in a UT uniform.

Mashack is god-awful on offense right now but damn he’s a freak of nature athletically. Guard version of Pons. Can absolutely be a force in this league if he continues to develop his O.

But oddly enough— I didn’t walk away from this game feeling necessarily much better about this team, but hopefully this is a start. A lot of the same offensive issues were still prevalent. We were overwhelmingly the more physical team tonight. Bama didn’t match it, but will they allow us to play like that come March?

I didn’t come away feeling super impressed with Bama either. They’re soft inside. JQ is a magician with the ball but couldn’t create separation for anything tonight. Our 2 best wing defenders were out tonight and Brandon miller was still held in check.

Thought Olivier silently had a solid game. Didn’t try to do too much and played within the game.

 

[RavinDave]

This is our last hurrah before getting bounced in the first round of the NIT, so be sure to temper your celebration with a healthy dose of pessimism.

There you go again Lol

 

[vol94]

from your lips to god’s ears. Let’s end their season.

Hear, hear!

 

[aWhiteLoftonChism]

Santi with 15 PT’s, 8 RBs, 3 steals, 0 turnovers, and great defense.
Also hit 3 big 3s while being absolutely hounded defensively. While he was on the bench we immediately had 3 horrible offensive possessions. He deserves more credit than he gets.

 

[smokey90]

Over on Tidefans.com they are blaming the refs! Just like football. Take the L and shut the He!! up!

In fairness to Bama fans, you expect to get what you paid for...I mean come on refs a deal is a deal

 

[DuckInAPen]

There you go again Lol

Someone's got to represent our absent brethren.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Unfortunately, we have a lot of posters who only show up after losses.

Easy explination, THEY ARE LOSERS.

 

[RavinDave]

Someone's got to represent our absent brethren.

Yeah that element of the fan base must of had a bad night

 

[ptcarter]

That BORAT sign in the back cracks me up. Do y'all see the humor in that?

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Yeah that element of the fan base must of had a bad night

For sure . They can’t fahr Rick tonight.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

In fairness to Bama fans, you expect to get what you paid for...I mean come on refs a deal is a deal

Just proves they have not seen the refs in our last two games

 

[Volstylexx]

Let me start off by saying good win.

Santi looks to have his swagger back.

Aidoo was an absolute force out there in every facet of the game.

Zakai put on arguably the most impressive ball-handing clinic I’ve ever seen in a UT uniform.

Mashack is god-awful on offense right now but damn he’s a freak of nature athletically. Guard version of Pons. Can absolutely be a force in this league if he continues to develop his O.

But oddly enough— I didn’t walk away from this game feeling necessarily much better about this team, but hopefully this is a start. A lot of the same offensive issues were still prevalent. We were overwhelmingly the more physical team tonight. Bama didn’t match it, but will they allow us to play like that come March?

I didn’t come away feeling super impressed with Bama either. They’re soft inside. JQ is a magician with the ball but couldn’t create separation for anything tonight. Our 2 best wing defenders were out tonight and Brandon miller was still held in check.

Thought Olivier silently had a solid game. Didn’t try to do too much and played within the game.

We just beat the number one team in America without two key players. What’s it going to take for you feel better ? Lol

 

[kiddiedoc]

We just beat the number one team in America without two key players. What’s it going to take for you feel better ? Lol

How about a cigar and a glass of red wine?

 

[vol94]

This is our last hurrah before getting bounced in the first round of the NIT, so be sure to temper your celebration with a healthy dose of pessimism.

Let’s try to live in the present and be happy with the win.

 

[HighWaterVol]

Go Vols!

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Bang! GBO!!!! Down goes the tide!!!! I felt good about this one all day. Time to go on a tear!!!! Way to Go Vols!!!!

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Let me start off by saying good win.

Santi looks to have his swagger back.

Aidoo was an absolute force out there in every facet of the game.

Zakai put on arguably the most impressive ball-handing clinic I’ve ever seen in a UT uniform.

Mashack is god-awful on offense right now but damn he’s a freak of nature athletically. Guard version of Pons. Can absolutely be a force in this league if he continues to develop his O.

But oddly enough— I didn’t walk away from this game feeling necessarily much better about this team, but hopefully this is a start. A lot of the same offensive issues were still prevalent. We were overwhelmingly the more physical team tonight. Bama didn’t match it, but will they allow us to play like that come March?

I didn’t come away feeling super impressed with Bama either. They’re soft inside. JQ is a magician with the ball but couldn’t create separation for anything tonight. Our 2 best wing defenders were out tonight and Brandon miller was still held in check.

Thought Olivier silently had a solid game. Didn’t try to do too much and played within the game.

Strange take to not feel better about things after taking down the number one ranked team, especially when we were down two starters.

With that being said, I do think Alabama looks like a prime candidate to be a highly seeded team that bows out early. They aren’t a particularly physical team which is likely to come back to bite them.

 

[johnfnkelly]

We just beat the number one team in America without two key players. What’s it going to take for you feel better ? Lol

By being consistent.

 

[Volstylexx]

By being consistent.

Three wins over top 10 teams this year... 6 Quad 1 wins. That's pretty consistent . It's ok to feel better! Let's see where this takes us.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Someone's got to represent our absent brethren.

If you can’t enjoy the win maybe you should see your way out!!!! GBO!!!! Down goes Bama! The tide got drained!!!!!

 

[DuckInAPen]

Let’s try to live in the present and be happy with the win.

I'm just a voice for the voiceless. A tribunus legionariorum, if you will.

 

[patrick]

Very, very good win!

Go Vols!

 

[vol94]

TN plays better when the refs let them play. We are a physical team and struggle when they call touch fouls. As Barnes and other coaches say, it’s the players’ responsibility to adjust to the officiating.

ZZ needs to be smart as tonight showed we need him on the floor for 36-38 min per game. He was def the floor general tonight.

 

[DuckInAPen]

If you can’t enjoy the win maybe you should see your way out!!!! GBO!!!! Down goes Bama! The tide got drained!!!!!

I think they mostly all did before the game even started. They'll be back, though, to bemoan our next loss.

 

[Volstylexx]

TN plays better when the refs let them play. We are a physical team and struggle when they call touch fouls. As Barnes and other coaches say, it’s the players’ responsibility to adjust to the officiating.

ZZ needs to be smart as tonight showed we need him on the floor for 36-38 min per game. He was def the floor general tonight.

Agree. I give Barnes and ZZ credit tonight. He picked up his third foul with about 14 mins to go and Barnes left him in.. and he played smart. We're a different team when he's not on the court.