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

[Volprofch05]

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.

Sounds like they need to let it go

 

[Vol49er]

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.

Ole Miss this year kinda feels like Mizzou in 2020-21. A couple of nice wins in the non conference out of nowhere, were undefeated but there was a lot of noise there, and then they got smacked in their first SEC game (against Tennessee). Finished 16-10 and first round exits. I think ole Miss is on a similar if slightly better trajectory (whatever his scruples Beard is a better coach than Cuonzo Martin)

 

[BowlBrother85]

Ole Miss this year kinda feels like Mizzou in 2020-21. A couple of nice wins in the non conference out of nowhere, were undefeated but there was a lot of noise there, and then they got smacked in their first SEC game (against Tennessee). Finished 16-10 and first round exits. I think ole Miss is on a similar if slightly better trajectory (whatever his scruples Beard is a better coach than Cuonzo Martin)

The Texas Tech run to the Championship Game (lost to Virginia), was some of the best coaching I've ever seen .... but the team he has right now, is not that talented. They will be tough in the future though, if Beard sticks around.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Ole Miss this year kinda feels like Mizzou in 2020-21. A couple of nice wins in the non conference out of nowhere, were undefeated but there was a lot of noise there, and then they got smacked in their first SEC game (against Tennessee). Finished 16-10 and first round exits. I think ole Miss is on a similar if slightly better trajectory (whatever his scruples Beard is a better coach than Cuonzo Martin)

Yeah, but I heard he was a choker

 

[hUTch2002]

It doesn’t really apply in any sport, but people use it all the time in all of them anyways. It’s the best you can compare until you get a h2h

You’re also comparing a neutral site game to a game played at Ole Miss. I promise you Ole Miss has at least 3-4 losses against the schedule we’ve played so far.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Great win!!!! JJJ and Z led the team as they should. Still, not a top 25 team in my opinion. I know that makes folks mad. Things are just too hard for this team when it shouldn’t be.

Not a top 25 team? I guess it's a good thing your opinion doesn't matter. Just start watching last year?

 

[TennesseeFan07]

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

View attachment 602817

Currently on the outside of Lunardi's bracket and zero quad one wins, according to the NET.

 

[Rememberthelate90s]

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.

His problem was he didn't defend. I bet his plus/minus is not good at all.

 

[KTrain]

This is what other coaches will note about this team/game: Neutralize 2 of Tenn's best players, so they adjust and get 21 pts from the bench.

This kind of win removes confidence from teams attempting to prepare for Tenn. There's a lot of value to a win like this.

Yep, I had these thoughts, the NC State coach had to be saying, the guys did everything we talked about crowd the paint and pester Knetch every way you can without getting fouls called and when Gainey comes in lock him down and neutralize Aidoo with a good D presence. and we win. I'm sure he said something like guys we did everything we planned but they just kept coming with players and ZZ hit his stride against us and that JJJ was about unstoppable we got him in foul trouble early, but he still had 23. Man, this team is just hard to prepare for.

 

[ColinS]

I’m rarely negative. But this game had no business being so close down the stretch. We are a lot more talented than this team.

I don't disagree with this. There were several points when I felt like we should been able to take them out and just let them back in the game. It kind of reminded me of the Wisconsin game minus their home crowd.

 

[KTrain]

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

View attachment 602817

and they've just played two Away games. A 1-point win at Central Florida and a 2-point win at Temple. I could see a bunch of road game losses in the SEC for OM.

 

[calban]

Can't believe ZZ played all but one minute of this game. Dude is amazing.

 

[tennrich1]

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

I actually counted 8 but either way CRB has addressed it in the past and did so after the game too. I understand contested shots can easily be missed but hopefully we’ll find a way to get that worked out. Difference between winning and winning comfortably IMO.

 

[tennrich1]

Can't believe ZZ played all but one minute of this game. Dude is amazing.

And looked like he could go another 38+ minutes after the game. Happy for him and Rick trust him as much if not more than anyone else.

 

[Frozevol]

Can't believe ZZ played all but one minute of this game. Dude is amazing.

And we needed every one of those minutes. He definitely looked like the ZZ we saw last year. He was the spark that shook the offense out of its funk with Knecht being neutralized with significant help from JJJ hitting his 3s. So great to have a deep bench for a change! But damn, when Knecht gets out of sorts, he really looks pedestrian. He came here to improve his D, but he obviously has a lot more to learn.

 

[orangejuice]

Anyone know if winning by 9 counts the same as by 20? Asking for a friend because he was confused after reading this thread.

 

[LSG410EC83]

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.

The whole family (2 households) have this junk. Attempted to run a 5k this weekend and although far from the fastest, still slowed down by 10 minutes due to no breath and just plain yucky feeling. Hopefully the players will have this crud run through its course before SEC play.

 

[RavinDave]

It wasn’t the prettiest 40 minutes, but this was an important win. I doubt anyone will remember it come March, but a loss tonight would absolutely have been remembered.

JJJ, ZZ, Awaka, and Mashack all stepped up tonight, JJJ especially. He was assertive and efficient on the offensive end and was solid on the boards as usual. Big time performance from him as he continues to have a career season.

5 of 7 from threepointland

 

[RavinDave]

I remember havin to learn dem metrics in elementary skoo, but now i just use the wrenches and sockets

Yah, you give them a centimeter and they take a kilometer.

 

[RavinDave]

What was Knecht's problem?

He was rejected and dejected and never connected.

 

[SGidds]

Look at the NET rankings. The Ole Miss win against Memphis was a home game, so it currently doesn’t count as a Quad 1 win. Ole Miss is 0-0 in Quad 1 games. They’ve only played three Quad 2 games.

Meanwhile Tennesse is 2-3 In Quad 1 and 3-0 in Quad 2.

That’s why Tennessee is #8 in the NET and Ole Miss is #64.

DI Men's Basketball Rankings - NCAA Men's Basketball NET Rankings | NCAA.com

Get NCAA college basketball rankings from the Associated Press, USA Today Coaches poll and the NCAA NET Rankings.

www.ncaa.com

 

[cardvolfan]

He was rejected and dejected and never connected.

Maybe, too, he was infected.

 

[the_great_pumpkin]

Yeah, but I heard he was a choker

TWSS (sorry I couldn’t resist)

 

[VOLINVONORE]

I'll have to disagree, because our big advantage over NCSt was Aidoo's ability to run the court on Burns. But Aidoo's illness drained him and negated that advantage.

A bad night from Knecht, and now we're forced to invent a way on the court to cobble out a win.

ZZ, JJJ, Mashack, and Awaka upped their games to make it happen.

Awaka had one of his best games and showed out. His is a real asset to this team.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

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.

JJJ is really making some posters look foolish for their absurd posts about not wanting him back...especially the ones who were clutching their pearls over Ledlum leaving (I guess they are seeing what he saw...lol).