The Official #17 Tennessee vs. #3 Auburn Game Thread, 4:00 PM ET, ESPN

#29
#29
TNBV said:
So who guards Smith? I though maybe Fulky if he plays, JJJ? Aidoo? I know he will be guarded by different people but in general who do you think? JJJ probably is the best athletic match up but is still giving up 4 inches. Smith is like Durant in that no one can elevate enough to bother his jumper as his release is way above the rim.
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I think JJJ will be his primary D in both size lineups. Barnes D has typically been terribly vulnerable to high ball screens due to our switching. This Auburn team is interesting because they rely more on traditional high/low post sets in addition to freeing up guards for threes. They may be weaker at drive and kick than past Auburn teams, but much stronger in the middle. Our young bigs could really be taken advantage of if they aren’t disciplined. It will be really interesting to see how Barnes handles this game. We look very different than a typical Barnes team, and they are not the usual Pearl team.
 
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#30
#30
TNBV said:
So who guards Smith? I though maybe Fulky if he plays, JJJ? Aidoo? I know he will be guarded by different people but in general who do you think? JJJ probably is the best athletic match up but is still giving up 4 inches. Smith is like Durant in that no one can elevate enough to bother his jumper as his release is way above the rim.
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If Fulky plays and he is the one guarding Smith, I’m calling for Barnes to be fired effective immediately. The only person that should be on him is JJJ. He’s the only one that has some size that can keep up with him. Smith operates all over the floor. It would be too much to ask for Fulky or Aidoo to guard him.
 
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#31
#31
If JJJ gets back to his hot shooting. Then I like our chances a lot.
 
#32
#32
BallerVolFan said:
If Fulky plays and he is the one guarding Smith, I’m calling for Barnes to be fired effective immediately. The only person that should be on him is JJJ. He’s the only one that has some size that can keep up with him. Smith operates all over the floor. It would be too much to ask for Fulky or Aidoo to guard him.
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Unless there’s a lineup change gotta think BHH starts out guarding him, which has train wreck written all over it lol. Auburn doesn’t shoot well from 3 (other than Smith & Jasper), I wonder if we don’t see some doubles/traps on Smith off of their guards quick on Smith to try and get the ball out of his hands. Also will be curious to see if we throw Mashack out there at all, JJJ & Mashack are both giving up 4-5” but can get underneath him, should be able to keep him from driving, just gotta hope he’s missing pull ups.
 
#33
#33
BallerVolFan said:
If Fulky plays and he is the one guarding Smith, I’m calling for Barnes to be fired effective immediately. The only person that should be on him is JJJ. He’s the only one that has some size that can keep up with him. Smith operates all over the floor. It would be too much to ask for Fulky or Aidoo to guard him.
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What makes you think Aidoo can’t guard Smith?

He held is own against the potential National Player of the Year in Oscar Tshiebwe.
 
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#34
#34
VolFreakJosh said:
What makes you think Aidoo can’t guard Smith?

He held is own against the potential National Player of the Year in Oscar Tshiebwe.
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Tshiebwe and Smith are two completely different players. Smith can knock shots down from anywhere on the court and can drive to create his own shot. Tshiebwe is a typical center who works in and around the paint. Smith is what you call a unicorn. He can handle the ball and shoot like a 2-3 guard and can post you up and finish around the rim. If Aidoo has to guard him, BP will spread the floor and Smith will drive it right past him from the perimeter. Not hating at all but Aidoo just wouldn’t be able to guard him on the perimeter like JJJ could. With JJJ on him, we can collapse to a double when he drives.
 
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#37
#37
bleedingTNorange said:
Unless there’s a lineup change gotta think BHH starts out guarding him, which has train wreck written all over it lol. Auburn doesn’t shoot well from 3 (other than Smith & Jasper), I wonder if we don’t see some doubles/traps on Smith off of their guards quick on Smith to try and get the ball out of his hands. Also will be curious to see if we throw Mashack out there at all, JJJ & Mashack are both giving up 4-5” but can get underneath him, should be able to keep him from driving, just gotta hope he’s missing pull ups.
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If it were me (assuming we stuck with the same lineup), I’d have BHH guarding Flanigan and JJJ on Smith. Flanigan has really struggled this year offensively only averaging 6 points per game. I feel like that’s a lot better matchup than Smith who can score 30 on any given night. BHH would have a big size advantage but it’s a whole lot better than him guarding Smith. That would be a disaster. Also, if Auburn isn’t hitting from 3.. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some zone mixed in throughout the game.
 
#39
#39
I’m feeling really good about Chandler’s matchup today. I think he can get by their guards and with the way they play, he could get them in foul trouble. They’re gonna be in Vescovi’s grill all day long so if Chandler can get going early, maybe it’ll open up some space for the rest. He’s gonna have to utilize his floater a little more today because there will be no such thing as an open layup. But I still say take it right at Kessler early with our guards and see if we can get some calls.
 
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#40
#40
YankeeVol said:
LAYUP LINES - TEAM

• Tennessee ranks fifth nationally in average home attendance (17,706) and is riding a 15-game win streak at Thompson-Boling Arena dating to last season.
• Tennessee stands at No. 9 in the NCAA's latest NET ratings. Each of UT's seven losses are Quad 1.
• The Vols have faced nine AP Top 25 opponents so far this season.
• Tennessee joins Kentucky and Auburn as the only three SEC teams that have no losses outside Quadrant 1 this season.
• According to KenPom, the Vols rank fourth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing only 87.8 points per 100 possessions.
• Tennessee's scoring defense of 66.1 ppg in SEC play is the second-best in the league. The Vols have held their last six SEC opponents to fewer than 65 points.
• Tennessee allows a stingy 62.0 ppg during SEC home games this season, with a scoring margin of +11.3 ppg and an unbeaten record.
• The Vols rank eighth among all Division I teams in steals per game (9.6 spg) and ninth nationally in turnover margin (+4.4).
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All this means nothing come this afternoon. Only the two halves to be played have any meaning going forward. Go VOLS!!
 
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#42
#42
TNBV said:
So who guards Smith? I though maybe Fulky if he plays, JJJ? Aidoo? I know he will be guarded by different people but in general who do you think? JJJ probably is the best athletic match up but is still giving up 4 inches. Smith is like Durant in that no one can elevate enough to bother his jumper as his release is way above the rim.
Click to expand...

Who can be impactive guarding Smith will depend on how well we disrupt their flow by being in the passing lanes. We better have somebody giving him problems during the transitions. JJJ seems to make the most sense in half court, but he is unstoppable in getting a lot of those mid-range shots off, but that does not mean they are great shots when he does. If he is really on, not a lot one can do. Switchng can be a real problem, don't see KC or ZZ having much success stopping the shot, but can create real problems for him creating his own shots, but he does not do that much anyway.

Coach is historically not much on gimmick defenses, but wonder if we might mix in some box and one type stuff hoping our mix of bigs can also deal with their big guy. Two really strong guys in their roles.
 
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#43
#43
Jabari Smith will see a crowd today the likes of which he’s never come close to seeing in Auburn. He will see the full effects of 21,500 fans.
 
#44
#44
We need our frontcourt and JJJ to show up in a big way today. Minimize turnovers and stupid fouls at the guard position.

Here's hoping Wendell Green tries to play hero ball and that Aidoo really balls out today.

Go Vols!

LZf.gif
 
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#45
#45
Probably going to take 3 or 4 players hounding Smith all over the court all day and being aggressive on him to keep him under control. He will get his share of points anyway, he is very good, you just don't want him to go off on you. Also got to get Kessler in foul trouble. Let BHH pound on him.
 
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#47
#47
BallerVolFan said:
If it were me (assuming we stuck with the same lineup), I’d have BHH guarding Flanigan and JJJ on Smith. Flanigan has really struggled this year offensively only averaging 6 points per game. I feel like that’s a lot better matchup than Smith who can score 30 on any given night. BHH would have a big size advantage but it’s a whole lot better than him guarding Smith. That would be a disaster. Also, if Auburn isn’t hitting from 3.. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some zone mixed in throughout the game.
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They’d clear out and let Flanagan dunk while BHH was still standing 25’ away, that would also be a disaster.
 
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#48
#48
BallerVolFan said:
If it were me (assuming we stuck with the same lineup), I’d have BHH guarding Flanigan and JJJ on Smith. Flanigan has really struggled this year offensively only averaging 6 points per game. I feel like that’s a lot better matchup than Smith who can score 30 on any given night. BHH would have a big size advantage but it’s a whole lot better than him guarding Smith. That would be a disaster. Also, if Auburn isn’t hitting from 3.. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some zone mixed in throughout the game.
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Jabari would quickly convince Barnes, zone is not a good idea.
 
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#49
#49
cardvolfan said:
Jabari Smith will see a crowd today the likes of which he’s never come close to seeing in Auburn. He will see the full effects of 21,500 fans.
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Put up 20&9 on 16 shots at Arkansas in front of that crowd, I would probably take that from him as a Vol fan…was 6/16 fg but 5/5 FT.
 
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