The Official #11 Tennessee @ #25 Texas A&M Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN

[DowntownVol]

Vescovi wouldn’t start for most D1 schools .

In a thread full of bad, bad takes, this has to be the absolute worst.

 

[jaguinn5]

Night after night best player on this team. Name another, seriously

He probably is the best player on this team, and that's a big reason we've looked so bad.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

If we only win vs SC the rest of the way and lose early in the SEC tournament, what will we be seeded in the ncaat?

About tree fiddy

 

[C-south]

While I do agree, I think a lot of the reason for so many 3s is that we didn’t have a good finisher in the lane. Vescovi isn’t going to blow by anyone. Ziegler is only 5’9. Key hasn’t shown the ability to finish around the rim. Mashack doesn’t handle the ball well enough to be a reliable slasher.

Phillips is capable of being that kind of guy, but he obviously was unavailable tonight. Just a lot of offensive shortcomings on this team from a personnel perspective. There are some things we could do schematically that would probably open some more driving lanes, though.

It’s hard to complain about officiating and free throw disparity if what you say is true….and it is. Our offense is just awful most of the time and when we do get to the line we aren’t very good at hitting free throws. We’re asking decent ball players like Vescovi and ZZ to do more than they’re capable of. Good players but not guys that can carry a team or score when you have to have a bucket. To be fair there’s probably not any guys on the team who could fill that roll but you expect to have at least one backcourt guy who can penetrate and score, dish off to someone for an easy bucket, or draw a foul.

 

[kell7517]

And 3 were front ends...

And… percentages say we make the next one. That’s still not a lot of misses. 10-14

 

[VolFreakJosh]

If we only win vs SC the rest of the way and lose early in the SEC tournament, what will we be seeded in the ncaat?

6 seed

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Vescovi wouldn’t start for most D1 schools and his stats barely crack the top 250 players in D1 basketball but he is the second best shooter in UT history? Comical lol he is an average shooter on a terrible shooting team. Tennessee is 282nd in shooting percentage.

Would he have played during buzz ball?

 

[OrngeJuiceJones]

Awaka was 3-3 from field and 4-5 from FT 10 points, 7 rebounds

You’re obviously not watching.

Oh I'm watching

 

[TrumpedUpVol]

If we only win vs SC the rest of the way and lose early in the SEC tournament, what will we be seeded in the ncaat?

5 seed feels like the floor provided the Vols beat South Carolina.

 

[2EastTnVols]

About tree fiddy

I say the lower the better. Maybe we could get hot and upset someone.

 

[OrangeBoro]

Vescovi wouldn’t start for most D1 schools and his stats barely crack the top 250 players in D1 basketball but he is the second best shooter in UT history? Comical lol he is an average shooter on a terrible shooting team. Tennessee is 282nd in shooting percentage.

As I said earlier if he wasn’t the only threat he would be incredible. He’s still damn good being surrounded by scrubs. He knows and the other teams knows he’s the only scorer on this team. Vescovi is the one guy I’m not concerned about. Key wouldn’t be good at the local YMCA. ZZZ and ON never seen a shot they don’t like. The others couldn’t score if they were the only ones in the gym

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

It’s hard to complain about officiating and free throw disparity if what you say is true….and it is. Our offense is just awful most of the time and when we do get to the line we aren’t very good at hitting free throws. We’re asking decent ball players like Vescovi and ZZ to do more than they’re capable of. Good players but not guys that can carry a team or score when you have to have a bucket. To be fair there’s probably not any guys on the team who could fill that roll but you expect to have at least one backcourt guy who can penetrate and score, dish off to someone for an easy bucket, or draw a foul.

Bingo. It will help to have Phillips back, but we still ask Ziegler to be Super Man way, way too often. I think some of his recent struggles are at least somewhat related to fatigue. He went through a stretch where he was playing 37+ minutes a game. Takes a toll.

 

[SGMVols]

You think SV is the second greatest shooter in program history? Wtf

The list of all UT players with 100+ made threes in a season

1. Chris Lofton
2. Santiago Vescovi

 

[vol94]

Not saying it's officiating but when the other team has twice as many points from the free throw line than our team has attempts.... Maybe they could have swallowed the whistle a few times on the ticky tack fouls, but you've got the announcers harping on how much they go to the foul line. That's on Barnes, in my book. He's got to get it across that just because a team has a reputation of going to the line doesn't mean blow the whistle every time they shoot.

Barnes told his team to stay in FRONT of their man. He advised that A&M loves to dribble drive. He’s too we do? We get rt on the man and he dribbles by our defender and then gets fouled. The more a team goes inside, the more fouls. We play around the perimeter.

 

[dillyo51]

I’m not giving up on Aidoo just yet. The talent is there for him. Needs to get stronger. ON was making bone headed plays from the moment he played his first minute here. Whether it be low basketball IQ or just playing tight when the lights come on, the guy has never had the mental side of the game. Uros brings little to the table aside from being big. Not athletic and not a good rebounder or shot blocker for his size.

All that to say, the post talent isn’t great imo. That’s not excusing Barnes by any means. He recruited these guys. He had DJ Burns, who I get had some off the court issues, but that guy would have helped this team immensely on the offensive end.

Bottom line: Barnes can either go get / develop a good offensive post threat or we will keep having to rely way too much on our guards which is a lot of the problem now for us offensively.

Does anyone think our love for the 3 has any effect on our ability to land excellent post players? I’m looking forward to watching JP Estrella.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Vescovi wouldn’t start for most D1 schools and his stats barely crack the top 250 players in D1 basketball but he is the second best shooter in UT history? Comical lol he is an average shooter on a terrible shooting team. Tennessee is 282nd in shooting percentage.

He’s not the second best shooter in program history regardless of what stats say. However, he would absolutely start for most D1 schools. There are a few exceptions of course, but those are far outweighed by the schools he would start for.

As I said earlier tonight, many people will be surprised how much we miss Vescovi.

 

[Sudden Impact]

This is going to be the team that makes the F4 so get all your griping out now.

 

[LivinginthePast]

Hopefully jjj and Philips are back for the sec tourney. They are obviously super imprortant. You know else would be important. Plasvic. But apparently he can’t shut up or stop talking trash and it affects his productivity ? We still need more scorers.

 

[OrangeBoro]

If we only win vs SC the rest of the way and lose early in the SEC tournament, what will we be seeded in the ncaat?

Not really sure it matters much this team at best wins 1 game but not sure I even see that

 

[vol94]

So to those who follow recruiting and please give an honest answer. Based on what you’ve seen, do we have any income freshmen that will make an immediate impact for our offense? I assume ZZ and Phillips return, not 100% sure of Phillips. I won’t comment in for sure about a Phillips and Edwards as I’m not sure of their plans.

 

[Pennheel]

Playing a team like A&M,who is number 1 in the country at free throw attempts per game, you need to take it inside yourself a bit more. Tennessee didn't do that ,and yet again started to settle from outside out of desperation. They're sorely missing James and Phillips,but you have to find a couple of players to step up. This was a very winnable game.

 

[vol94]

Hopefully jjj and Philips are back for the sec tourney. They are obviously super imprortant. You know else would be important. Plasvic. But apparently he can’t shut up or stop talking trash and it affects his productivity ? We still need more scorers.

Uros is a lost cause. Too slow on defense. Doesn’t grab any second chance rebounds and fouls too much. Runs his mouth and only has one inside move that teams are now taking away.

 

[VolGee4]

So to those who follow recruiting and please give an honest answer. Based on what you’ve seen, do we have any income freshmen that will make an immediate impact for our offense? I assume ZZ and Phillips return, not 100% sure of Phillips. I won’t comment in for sure about a Phillips and Edwards as I’m not sure of their plans.

Yes, 3 freshmen should play. Dilione will play the most. Care is a shooter but not sure if that will translate immediately. Estrella is a skilled big man, but Aidoo and Awaka will be in front of him.

 

[vol94]

Yes, 3 freshmen should play. Dilione will play the most. Care is a shooter but not sure if that will translate immediately. Estrella is a skilled big man, but Aidoo and Awaka will be in front of him.

So Freddie is our main scorer next yr? Can he take it to the rim and score? Is he a theee ball shooter, too?

 

[VolGee4]

Uros is a lost cause. Too slow on defense. Doesn’t grab any second chance rebounds and fouls too much. Runs his mouth and only has one inside move that teams are now taking away.

There is a role for him- maybe not in every game. Awaka though is taking more minutes.