The Official #12 Tennessee vs. Georgia Southern Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, SEC Network

[DooleyOrangePants]

I promise this team will also under achieve. James and Viscovi are pouting because they thought they would be the focal points because they came back. They are not and it is showing in their games. Ziegler is very erratic. One play he is great, the next he can’t make a layup. To when the big games, a point guard has to be able to take over a game. We also have too many 3-5 minute stretches where we can’t score. That has been the problem with Barnes’ teams while he has been with Tennessee. Sorry to break the obvious to all you guys that have your orange colored glasses on.

Ziegler is coming back from a devastating injury that there was a good chance he wasn't going to even be back for much of this season. Maybe we shouldn't use him as much and in some key situations, but I'm amazed he's playing at the level he is (which admittedly is far off from where he should be). I think it's a good thing he's working through the recovery at game speed, and we are seeing him start to get stronger and faster as the season comes along. He has not cost us any games alone, so blaming him for anything at this point is misplaced.

JJJ is JJJ. A couple good games where we see the 5-star talent and then a bunch of pedestrian efforts. It is what it is, expecting anything else is wishful thinking. Why would he pout about being a focal point when most of the time he is not anyway? He's always been a strong defender and a good presence on the court (he can play the Stretch Four and even slot into the 5 spot, which is very valuable) , even a scoring machine on a good night, if you can ride out the tendency to disappear in the flow of the game.

Vescovi is the only one where I agree. Something definitely off and even when missing a couple weeks of practice, it doesn't make up for what we are seeing (exception to this is Illinois). Don't know what that is specifically, we can only speculate, but given what Barnes has been eluding to regarding the effort of his older guys, we can make some reasonable guesses that probably aren't far from the truth.

 

[Smokey7]

Tell me you know nothing about CBB without telling me you know nothing about CBB

Excuse me suppose you explain to me what I'm missing here. So u think they are a top team?

 

[Smokey7]

Won’t make the tournament?

We beat 0-10 Georgia Southern yeah but we struggled in the second half. Maybe we do make it but probably a round exit.

 

[Smokey7]

We beat 0-10 Georgia Southern yeah but we struggled in the second half. Maybe we do make it but probably a round exit. 1 quality win this year so far.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Excuse me suppose you explain to me what I'm missing here. So u think they are a top team?

So only the top teams make the NCAAT? That take only backs my previous statement lol.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

We beat 0-10 Georgia Southern yeah but we struggled in the second half. Maybe we do make it but probably a round exit.

Well every team except 1 has a round exit lmao

 

[bleedingTNorange]

We beat 0-10 Georgia Southern yeah but we struggled in the second half. Maybe we do make it but probably a round exit. 1 quality win this year so far.

So which of our 2 ranked wins doesn’t count? Lmao

 

[Score50]

Lots of insights on the team. Barnes could use your coaching expertise. You must have some great inside sources that even let you know how players are feeling, wow!!

I’m sure he wouldn’t want any of my advice and I’m sure he isn’t reading any of our expertise from this site. He probably doesn’t think your expertise is worth reading or listening to. I just gave some of my thoughts and have watched all of Barnes’ teams over the past few years. I also have just observed JJ and Viscovi’s body language so far this year.

I can’t read players like you. I’m not that smart. I can tell you are really smart by your insight on my comments.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I’m sure he wouldn’t want any of my advice and I’m sure he isn’t reading any of our expertise from this site. He probably doesn’t think your expertise is worth reading or listening to. I just gave some of my thoughts and have watched all of Barnes’ teams over the past few years. I also have just observed JJ and Viscovi’s body language so far this year.

I can’t read players like you. I’m not that smart. I can tell you are really smart by your insight on my comments.

You must have missed the Illinois game

 

[Score50]

You must have missed the Illinois game

One rose does not a summer make. I’m not saying this team couldn’t be special. I’m saying that this team hasn’t been impressive to this point. Right now, they are not a team. JJJ and Viscovi not playing at a level where this team can reach their potential. Heck even Barnes has called them both out for lackadaisical play. And for what reason? I think they’re both sulking over another guy on the team coming in and getting more headlines than they have. They both need to check their attitudes at the door for this team to not be a disappointment.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

One rose does not a summer make. I’m not saying this team couldn’t be special. I’m saying that this team hasn’t been impressive to this point. Right now, they are not a team. JJJ and Viscovi not playing at a level where this team can reach their potential. Heck even Barnes has called them both out for lackadaisical play. And for what reason? I think they’re both sulking over another guy on the team coming in and getting more headlines than they have. They both need to check their attitudes at the door for this team to not be a disappointment.

I’m sorry, but you’re telling on yourself when you claim JJJ is playing poorly and is ”sulking” over Knecht. Is last night the only game you’ve watched this year? All of your posts in this thread certainly reads that way. JJJ has been fantastic this year. One of the most consistent players on this entire team. Arguably the best player on this team if you value defense at all with the leap he has made offensively being healthy.

He had a bad game last night, but who cares. It’s Georgia Southern. He has been fantastic most of the year.

We haven’t been flawless, but we have two Top 25 wins so far which is more than we’ve had in many years to this point. It’s more than we had last year. We only played ONE top 25 team the first 6 weeks of the season last year. We’ve played 5 in the first 5 weeks this year. So I’m not sure how you can claim “this team hasn’t been impressive”. Based on what metric?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

One rose does not a summer make. I’m not saying this team couldn’t be special. I’m saying that this team hasn’t been impressive to this point. Right now, they are not a team. JJJ and Viscovi not playing at a level where this team can reach their potential. Heck even Barnes has called them both out for lackadaisical play. And for what reason? I think they’re both sulking over another guy on the team coming in and getting more headlines than they have. They both need to check their attitudes at the door for this team to not be a disappointment.

JJJ is currently averaging a career high in MPG, FG%, 2pt%, 3pt%, RBPG, SPG & PPG….please tell me more.

 

[StickMan]

I had to work late tonight so just got back and watched the tape. A very lackluster and upsetting performance. That 2nd half was more inexcusable than the performance against North Carolina, IMO.

Aidoo looked like the only player that had any energy or care tonight. I get that it’s hard to stay energized against an 0-9 team, but man we let them WHIP us in the 2nd half. Just pure domination by Georgia Southern.

That type of performance gets you handily beat on Saturday. Georgia Southern just wanted it way more. I’m also just surprised that Barnes kind of let it happen. He never called a timeout the entire 2nd half. Just watched as we slept right through the final 20 minutes.

Whatever. Just don’t let it happen again. That was ugly, ugly, ugly.

I agree. The first half of UNC game is no longer the worst half of the Barnes era. Let's say it's now completely out of their system. They'll be ready Saturday.

 

[hUTch2002]

It wasn’t a good team so we played lots of guys. Relax and enjoy that we are good enough to play 12 players and win by 18. I’m assuming you had money on the game, otherwise why are you so upset.

You said you are done with “this crap”. What does that mean? Are you not going to watch or support the team anymore?

Huh. Never thought about it that way. I assumed he was telling us he was done pooping.

 

[StickMan]

I promise this team will also under achieve. James and Viscovi are pouting because they thought they would be the focal points because they came back. They are not and it is showing in their games. Ziegler is very erratic. One play he is great, the next he can’t make a layup. To when the big games, a point guard has to be able to take over a game. We also have too many 3-5 minute stretches where we can’t score. That has been the problem with Barnes’ teams while he has been with Tennessee. Sorry to break the obvious to all you guys that have your orange colored glasses on.

There is nothing to substantiate that claim whatsoever. In fact, before last night, JJJ is having his best season yet. Vescovi is struggling offensively, but his effort on the defensive end and rebounding has been outstanding. To say they are pouting because of some perceived jealousy is just ridiculous.

 

[walkenvol]

Excuse me suppose you explain to me what I'm missing here. So u think they are a top team?

Yes, they are absolutely one of the top 64 teams

 

[JohnWardForever]

I guess. But I am surprised he didn’t at least call 1 timeout to settle the team down and rip into them. Very uncharacteristic of him to just let poor play go for an entire 20 minutes. He just kind of sat there.

Friends had $$$$ on Ga South.......

 

[Smokey7]

Yes, they are absolutely one of the top 64 teams

I can't deny that. Just hope they pick it more moving forward. Go Vols!