The Official #17 Tennessee vs. #5 Villanova Game Thread, 1:00 PM ET, ESPN News

[1985Vols]

JJJ = the new Robert Hubbs - talented, has shown flashes, but the light just hasn't ever really come on.

Lol, I wish JJJ was half the player Robert Hubbs was.

 

[RyanWalkerPGH]

JJJ = the new Robert Hubbs - talented, has shown flashes, but the light just hasn't ever really come on.

Robert Hubbs was alot better

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I was fine with this logic until we got serious and decide to commit serious money (and White is also going to commit resources now as well) a couple years ago. This whole never win in the postseason, 20-22 wins a year type seasons aren’t acceptable when you’re a top 5 paid coach.

Isn't that more a market problem and not a Barnes problem?

And I don't know how the basketball market is, but what good is throwing the money out if no big time name bites? What do you do then, throwing big money at Barnes or go cheaper with an up and comer? If we let Barnes walk and replace him with a no name, what then?

 

[Christian Lowe]

Many Barnes haters are also Pearl worshippers. They forget his teams had days like this too

Absolutely. I haven't forgotten the 31-5 team losing in the S16 by 20 to Louisville. It's just what you sign up for when you're a 3 ball team. We have to accept that going forward. I knew this day would come after the first game jacking up 40 3's. I just hope we're hot more than we're not.

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

I’d rather play and lose against this level competition at this stage in the season than blow out some nobody. I didn’t, and still don’t, expect the Vols to win a game in this tournament because of what they lost last year and the unknowns going into this season, but this will be a teaching point for later. I still expect a solid year and a run in the NCAAT.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Agree, this should give the coaches plenty of ammunition to show the players how far they have to improve to be good team. Now they can stay on them in practice and maybe they listen.

Any of the players who were under the illusion that the team as of now is a contender for anything has been disabused of that notion. I bet they really pay attention in practice from now on. And I bet they put in more time individually from now on. If they care enough. We'll find out what they're made of soon enough given the tough schedule we have.

 

[VolunteerCeltic]

Against #5 Villanova too. I guess some thought we were going undefeated.

Lets just shut down the athletics programs, they do not bring joy to anyone

 

[youcancallmeAl]

We also got completely out coached by an elite coach. Too bad we settle for mediocre with our basketball program.

LOL

 

[vols 30]

Lol, I wish JJJ was half the player Robert Hubbs was.

Most overrated player in recent memory

 

[mr.checkerboards]

We got schooled today by a better, quicker, and more experienced team. We just need to learn from it, and keep moving forward. It is VERY early in the season. Our point guard is a FRESHMAN. Give it time.

If this TN team isnt experienced then I dont know what to tell you. Experience isnt an issue with this team.

 

[zjcvols]

Isn't that more a market problem and not a Barnes problem?

And I don't know how the basketball market is, but what good is throwing the money out if no big time name bites? What do you do then, throwing big money at Barnes or go cheaper with an up and comer? If we let Barnes walk and replace him with a no name, what then?

I mean fair point. UCLA did screw us with the offer. And IDK if we could find something better than Barnes. And it’s game 3. Outside of missing the tourney this year I’m fine with another year (though Danny White’s hiring track record is phenomenal).
But when we decided to match all I heard was how this was great. Shows we are serious about basketball, recruiting will improvise, we are the taking the right steps to becoming an elite program. And since the Purdue game in 2019 it’s been constant disappointment.

 

[zaqhhh]

If we struggle like this against Purdue or UNC, I'd say then hit the panic button. 1 game against a quality opponent is not reason for alarm with a young team, though it certainly was disappointing.

 

[1985Vols]

Most overrated player in recent memory

JJJ is for sure. Has all the physical skills but something missing mentally. No killer instinct

 

[SGMVols]

Can’t wait for all the fire Vitello threads in the baseball forum when we struggle to get back to the NCAAT in a rebuilding year after making him the highest paid coach in the country.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

If this TN team isnt experienced then I dont know what to tell you. Experience isnt an issue with this team.

Yeah, our starters are a true freshmen, junior, junior, junior, 6th year senior.

 

[Jack Burton]

I think if we played them again, we'd do much better. Bad start-- getting a charging foul on Chandler, and it just wasn't our day.

Bad start but we missed a lot of easy shots early including layups. Gotta get some to keep from falling behind so quickly.

 

[1985Vols]

LOL

It’s really not funny. It’s pretty sad

 

[Vol49er]

For those who say leaving Chandler in wouldn’t have made a difference, it is noteworthy that Chandler had the best +\- (-6 in 25 minutes) of any of our seven players who played at least 15 minutes. It’s not just a Barnes thing, insisting on taking a player out anytime they have two fouls has never been logical

 

[mr.checkerboards]

I also want to see more from Aidoo. He could be a rim protector.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Can’t wait for all the fire Vitello threads in the baseball forum when we struggle to get back to the NCAAT in a rebuilding year after making him the highest paid coach in the country.

Uhm, rebuilding? That roster is loaded. We might have one of the Top 3-5 starting rotations in the SEC this year with Dollander, Blade, and Burns. I don’t expect a CWS appearance but this team is not going to struggle to make the NCAAT.

 

[Volprofch05]

Who had Zeigler as our 2nd leading scorer?

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Yeah, our starters are a true freshmen, junior, junior, junior, 6th year senior.

And Upperclassmen coming off the bench in Uros, Powell, Bailey.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Absolutely. I haven't forgotten the 31-5 team losing in the S16 by 20 to Louisville. It's just what you sign up for when you're a 3 ball team. We have to accept that going forward. I knew this day would come after the first game jacking up 40 3's. I just hope we're hot more than we're not.

A lot of it is orange colored nostalgia. Basketball was fun under Pearl but here he had a lot of the same problems Barnes had, his teams didn't show up in the postseason. His Elite 8 team was actually a surprise considering that SECT we got curb stomped by Kentucky. People don't seem to remember there was a TON of complaining about Pearl not winning in the postseason and wondering if he had peaked before he had the unexpected E8 run.

The funny thing about that 31-5 team that was maybe the best team ever at UT was people rememer that Memphis game but not how badly the season ended, and by people that don't seem to realize that a regular season game does't mean more than a Sweet 16 game.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

JJJ = the new Robert Hubbs - talented, has shown flashes, but the light just hasn't ever really come on.

Not true. He just can't shoot. He does everything else well. Teams need guys like him. If our shooters were shooting the ball better today, he wouldn't have needed to be shooting 3 pt shots.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

And Upperclassmen coming off the bench in Uros, Powell, Bailey.

Powell isn’t an upperclassmen.