The Official #12 Tennessee vs. North Carolina State Game Thread, 10:00 PM ET, ESPN2

[kckempf]

People talking about Ole Miss, and I just realized they are 90th at KenPom with a 10-0 record. So much for them being “better.”

If you get a chance to watch them, they look like a challenging team to face. Between Sharp at 7’5” and Cisse at 7’0” they can always have the tallest player on the floor.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

There is some nasty stuff going around right now. Glad we got two games that shouldn't be as hard and hopefully this viral crud will pass before conference play.

Dealing with it now myself and it’s the worst I’ve felt in a long, long time. Can’t imagine trying to play a game with it, I’m struggling just making it down the hallway off the couch and I’m in pretty good shape.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

People talking about Ole Miss, and I just realized they are 90th at KenPom with a 10-0 record. So much for them being “better.”

Look at their schedule. They’ve played 2 real teams, and they scraped by some truly awful teams. They may end up being good, but there is no way you could look at that schedule and claim they are better than us. Only way you could do that is if the only thing you looked at was the undefeated record.

 

[OrangeInKy]

It’s just a real shame that Burns didn’t stay here and buy into the S&C program like Grant and Admiral. Dude has some serious touch around the basket and could have been really good.

He never would have lasted with Barnes. Doesn’t have the Aristide guys like that had, or guys like JJJ, ZZ, Santi have, where they take tough coaching and buy in long term. Barnes ain’t for everyone. I’m fine with it. You are right that’s it’s a shame and he will never know what could’ve been with the talent he has. That’s why I make the Zion references.

 

[Vols All Day]

They were forcing him to start his drives too far out and helping when he got inside. He needs to find the open guy when that going on. NC State's guards were good at pressuring. I think's that's the strength of their team. Decent team.

He also needs to step up his effort on defense.

 

[ColinS]

People talking about Ole Miss, and I just realized they are 90th at KenPom with a 10-0 record. So much for them being “better.”

Not that I think they are better than us but I think it's a jurys still out on them kind of thing. They haven't seen enough competition to get exposed but they are 10-0 and employ the best coach they have ever had down there. I could see them getting to the tournament but I could also see them hitting a wall when they get in SEC play.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Great win, a few dumb turnovers but overall felt like a well played game.

Missing time impacting DK, but a lotta time to get back up to speed.

Really appreciated that Barnes was working the lineup to find the best players to have on the court to counter the lineups from NC State. Great coaching.

FINALLY ZZ had himself a game, so happy for him!

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

It’s just a real shame that Burns didn’t stay here and buy into the S&C program like Grant and Admiral. Dude has some serious touch around the basket and could have been really good.

Oh, he’s in a S&C program, all right…
Sonic & Carl’s Jr.

 

[walkenvol]

Nc state crowded the paint when he drove and he wasn’t strong with the ball.

I think State sagged off the perimeter to attack Knecht on his dribble drives. Instead of passing to the open man he attacked the double team and lost. This should be really helpful experience for DK as other teams will attempt to emulate and he will have learned how to better respond.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

The “gauntlet” schedule that 10-0 Ole Miss has had to face.

 

[ColinS]

Vols overcame:
Late night road game against a good opponent
The Spalding basketball
Foul trouble on key players
Sickness on key players
Fat Albert

This type of win and the one at Michigan State are gonna help big time come March

They overcame starting the game at the same time as their opponent. How do yall come up with this stuff? We did overcome foul trouble and Fat Albert. I will give you that.

 

[BruisedOrange]

There is some nasty stuff going around right now. Glad we got two games that shouldn't be as hard and hopefully this viral crud will pass before conference play.

Hamer just gave an initial scouting evaluation of Tarleton State. Said they are going to press us and challenge us for every foot of court. Afraid we're going to have to be dialed in totally to avoid the upset.

 

[Christian Lowe]

They overcame starting the game at the same time as their opponent. How do yall come up with this stuff? We did overcome foul trouble and Fat Albert. I will give you that.

Fat Albert was like a brick wall though lol. I lost count of the amount of times guys, Knecht in particular, just ran right into him and fell down and lost the ball while burns didn’t move at all

 

[The Dog]

Have you all seen our schedule ? if we win our toughest games, which are at home, we could be 17-3, 7-0 in the SEC, going into the UK game at Rupp. Just saying

 

[tennrich1]

IMO it’s a good win. DK is struggling on defense and adapting to all the attention. JJJ calmly played a great game. Not being negative just observant…I counted 8 missed at the rim basically uncontested. I know Rick has addressed it in the past. Hopefully we’ll get that worked out soon.

 

[walkenvol]

Great win, a few dumb turnovers but overall felt like a well played game.

Missing time impacting DK, but a lotta time to get back up to speed.

Really appreciated that Barnes was working the lineup to find the best players to have on the court to counter the lineups from NC State. Great coaching.

FINALLY ZZ had himself a game, so happy for him!

Great point as the game ball probably should go to CRB. Turned the roster upside down to find the most effective group tonight.

Very pleased to see Mashack and Aidoo getting more PT, especially Mashack. If Vescovi keeps passing on good looks and struggling from 3, then Mashack should get a few of his minutes also. Love how he attacks the paint , plays maybe our best D, rebounds, and is making his free throws.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

Hamer just gave an initial scouting evaluation of Tarleton State. Said they are going to press us and challenge us for every foot of court. Afraid we're going to have to be dialed in totally to avoid the upset.

I’ve watched a couple of their games on ESPN+ and they are a scrappy, aggressive team that could give us some fits if we aren’t ready and prepared.

UVA is the closest good team on their schedule to us and the Hoos curb stomped them, so the blueprint is there. But against the lesser competition, they have held their own or played things close. They have one player that is impressive, plays the 3 spot really well and has a nice stoke - Jakorie Smith. Beyond that, not a lot but they have some limited talent.

 

[ColinS]

Hamer just gave an initial scouting evaluation of Tarleton State. Said they are going to press us and challenge us for every foot of court. Afraid we're going to have to be dialed in totally to avoid the upset.

I used to play softball at Tarleton Valley on the the Grundy/Warren county line but the only college I saw down their was Irvin College which was really just a grammer school. I wonder if they changed the name and we are gonna be playing grammer school kids.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

If JJJ continues to play like this for a full season, he might even be able to change the hearts and minds of the coldest and harshest Vol fans out there.

 

[BowlBrother85]

People talking about Ole Miss, and I just realized they are 90th at KenPom with a 10-0 record. So much for them being “better.”

Probably just comparing scores. Ole Miss beat NC State by 20 at home .... Tennessee only beat them by 9 on a neutral court. In the minds of some casual observers of basketball, that must mean that Ole Miss is better. Our schedules are not comparable, however. Ole Miss has a large number of close wins over some small schools.

 

[JCP201]

The “gauntlet” schedule that 10-0 Ole Miss has had to face.

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Memphis beat number 13 Clemson and they did well against NCSU. They have a good coach. But... That is a pretty lame schedule so far.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I’ve watched a couple of their games on ESPN+ and they are a scrappy, aggressive team that could give us some fits if we aren’t ready and prepared.

UVA is the closest good team on their schedule to us and the Hoos curb stomped them, so the blueprint is there. But against the lesser competition, they have held their own or played things close. They have one player that is impressive, plays the 3 spot really well and has a nice stoke - Jakorie Smith. Beyond that, not a lot but they have some limited talent.

Small team, only 2 players listed at 6’8” or taller. NC State going 4 Gs & 1 Big in the second half and pressing should have us ready.

 

[BradstarVols]

Tennessee missed at least 7 bunnies at the rim. Might need to start doing more layup drills. Good win though.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

Small team, only 2 players listed at 6’8” or taller. NC State going 4 Gs & 1 Big in the second half and pressing should have us ready.

Yeah, I think we will be in good shape for a tune up and get some bench guys some minutes game. As long as the viral stuff doesn’t run through the team and we don’t sleep walk like we did against GSU. I think Tarleton would make it a lot closer if we did do that, they just are much faster and have a better offense than GSU tried to run.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Memphis beat number 13 Clemson and they did well against NCSU. They have a good coach. But... That is a pretty lame schedule so far.

Memphis is a good win. Definitely giving credit where it is due. But they have beaten some truly putrid teams by 1-3 points and some want to praise them as one of the best teams in the SEC. Winning that many one possession games is luck.