The Official #12 Tennessee @ Auburn Game Thread, 2:00 PM ET, ESPN

[VolGee4]

Tennessee put up the 4th best offensive efficiency Auburn has allowed ALL season. Today was Auburn second best shooting performance since freakin Christmas. All need to know that Auburn got lucky.

Wow…these games just happen.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Tennessee put up the 4th best offensive efficiency Auburn has allowed ALL season. Today was Auburn second best shooting performance since freakin Christmas. All need to know that Auburn got lucky.

I don’t know that I would call them lucky, but they played one of their best games of the season which is desperate teams often time do. Heck, we did the same when Alabama came to town. Playing a desperate team on its home floor is like stepping into a snake pit.

 

[I4Vols]

Missouri I believe. They’re playing Ole Miss, though, so more than likely, we don’t get the double bye.

Halftime 41-36 Mizzou, game is at Mizzou

 

[sechamp2012]

Why was Key trying to score 2 down 8. I know basically game was over but

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Gave up 49 in the second half, we really didn’t have much defensive answers with JJJ & Mashack on the bench in foul trouble.

 

[firestorm]

I’m less sad Tennessee lost this game mainly because most likely they’ll still be playing in the 2023 March Madness Tournament even though any top 4 seeds most likely ended since the Tigers got their signature win vs the 12th ranked Volunteers because the Tigers defense successfully defended when needed most in the final 5 minutes.

Also because Washington and Tennessee both have a realistic chance of winning at home games vs College Baseball teams that are out of their weight class.

 

[Tenacjim]

Mizzou to Ole Miss

At home.

 

[CAVPUT]

I think we can. We'll see. I'm not gonna a freak out over a loss against Auburn at Auburn with Bruce there they were ready to play

Gotta give Pearl credit. The guy can motivate and get his lads to believe.

 

[ndubvols]

Biggest gripe with this team I’d they’ve been bad in closed games. Clearly looked like the better teen to me but didn’t close well. Probably too mats to imptjvf on that, but need to put teams away when they have the chance

 

[D3Athlete]

SEC tourney means nothing. These guys just don’t have it. Cannot make shots when you need it. May win one more in SEC tourney or NCAA and that is it. Got some new guys coming in. It will be starting over next year. Hopefully Tennessee will get a few winners in the next group.

We made shots today, that wasn’t the issue. The issue was Auburn decided to have their best offensive performance of 2023. Desperate team that had a golden horse up their ass

 

[turdherder11]

Look at the box scores in Tn losses. List the officials. There are a couple of names that show up repeatedly.

Losing and blaming the officials is weak. We don't score in transition, zero fast break pts, no one to drive and draw fouls. Not a good free throw shooting team, and all the scoring droughts. There's plenty to blame other than the officials.

 

[BreatheUT]

I’ll get roasted but so be it. The refs didn’t cause us to lose this game. We lost this game b/c Auburn had way too many open looks and easy layups. We lack speed which hurt us today, along with missed foul shots (less than 50%), stupid fouls and turnovers.

While we shot well, we don’t have a “go to” guy which has been our issue all yr. Our bigs play small, so we can’t count on them consistently when we need a basket. Santi, Phillips, and JJJ try but lose control of the ball, or travel, inside the the paint.

We were up three late in the game and then went scoreless in last four minutes.

I have hope as that is what the dance brings us, but I doubt we will get beyond the first weekend as every team plays their best game against us while we find a way to make mistakes at inopportune times.

Plus, we we just don’t have the guards to go beyond the Sweet 16 and panic in the last four min of a close game.

I love Awaka’s hustle and how he can develop offensively. Mashack has the heart but needs to work on his shot and finishing. Phillips needs to return but his heart is with the NBA so time will tell. Aidoo is hit or miss.

Time is running out for Uros, Santi, JJJ and ON as all four need to move on after the yr.

You don't have to qualify your post.

You mentioned our guards as being the problem. Our guards score most of our points. I know the thought is guards that take over games can lead you deep in the tournament but the problem is bigs you have to get in the perfect spot just to make a single play. Awaka and ON are the only athletic bigs, and Awaka is the only one who rebounds outside his zone.

 

[amaralfan1]

I don't think people realize Auburn is one of the best defensive teams in the country.

 

[D3Athlete]

I don’t know that I would call them lucky, but they played one of their best games of the season which is desperate teams often time do. Heck, we did the same when Alabama came to town. Playing a desperate team on its home floor is like stepping into a snake pit.

When their best performance of 2023 when they have played a lot good opponents and had opportunities to do it before today. It’s luck.

 

[Vol737]

Ugh! End of this season has been frustrating to watch. Shooting, injuries, decision making. Hard to be confident about tournament time.

 

[I4Vols]

Gotta give Pearl credit. The guy can motivate and get his lads to believe.

You talking about his players or the refs in his games?

 

[VolGee4]

Lol ok...I watch the game. Outside of Awaka the bigs struggle to get 3 rebounds a game. JJJ is a 5 star senior and you can't tell he's in the game often times. ON is what he is.

We outrebounded Auburn.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

So, did today just cost us starting one game earlier in the SECT and depending on that a seed or 2?

 

[LibertyVol]

I agree on both counts. Vescovi (slightly) aside, which is hit or miss, Tennessee lacks anyone with killer instinct and I can’t fault Barnes for failing to discern which seventeen-year-old or mid-major transfer will have that innate ability in SEC play.

They have some injuries that have hurt them. I don’t know that it matters. For whatever reason when it comes to nut cutting time these guys don’t get it done. Been that way for awhile.

 

[YankeeVol]

Gotta give Pearl credit. The guy can motivate and get the refs to fix the game.

Fyp

 

[Cartervol]

Team doesn't have enough mean in them.

 

[BreatheUT]

We outrebounded Auburn.

You're right. My point remains. Awaka and the guards.

 

[volsarelife1]

I don't think people realize Auburn is one of the best defensive teams in the country.

And







We're the best.

 

[CAVPUT]

You talking about his players or the refs in his games?

Both actually. I said it yesterday or the day before. Pearl was legitimately upset, but he was also laying the ground work to influence the refs in this game. It's like setting up moves in chess several plays in advance. Pearl knew exactly what he was doing with his behavior.

 

[OrangeInKy]

We've had some losses that had me frustrated with our guys but this isn't one of them. Shot the ball well, rebounded, etc. Silly TO's and bad free throw shooting got them. Stinks that they shoot 45 pct from 3 and lose. I think we all knew this would be an uphill battle in that environment with what AU was playing for. JJJ has been in and out all year, then Julian gets hurt, then both come back and we look to have the team together finally, then ZZ goes down. I think that’s hard to figure out right away what the team looks like without ZZ, and it wasn’t as bad as I feared today. I hate losing, especially to Pearl, but I think there are some encouraging things as we go into postseason play.