The Official #18 Tennessee vs. Ole Miss Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, SEC Network

[gainesvol82]

ZZ amazes me with his quickness and defensive intensity without fouling. That pass between the legs to Olivier was amazing. Love that we have him 3 more years. He will end up an all time favorite and his already decent 3pt shooting will only improve.

Also, Vescovi is our undisputed leader. Love that kid. We got a steal when he committed.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

Not sure why you guys continue to be confused about our offensive struggles? We have no go to post scorer and like to play a motion type offense. When a good zone D team plays us it takes away our cutting to the basket but we get plenty of open outside shots. Make a decent percentage of open outside shots and we’re tough to beat. When we can’t buy an outside basket against the zone then we stink. It’s pretty clear what’s going on. If you want to bitch about CRB it could be that he hasn’t landed another stud post player since Grant, not that he doesn’t know how to coach

I don’t disagree with the comments about the post recruiting and development.

I just refuse to accept that when we are having an off shooting night, we just keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. We don’t even try anything different- which means that the better teams on the schedule and the tourney are going to be able to scheme easily against us and put themselves in a better position to win from the tip.

 

[ColinS]

Least satisfying win I can remember.

Reminds me of a game we played against Vandy a couple of years ago. We won but it felt like a loss.

 

[pimo1]

Call me crazy but at this point in the season I think Ziegler has made more of an impact than Chandler

You're crazy. Feel better now? But I really meant it. I would say based on expectations you're right. ZZ has been impressive compared to what was expected of him by most fans. Chandler has not performed as a lot of fans expected but overall I am not giving ZZ a single one of Chandler's minutes. The kid has had a couple not so good games in the obvious parts of the boxscore. That being said, he has contributed on defense on his worst offensive nights. They are Freshmen and both have played like freshmen. It's not his fault people expected the moon from a freshman PG in a system known for being hard on young PG's.

 

[therealitytheory]

I'm not going to piss and moan over a SEC win. Others can - knock yourself out.

 

[VOLnVANDYland]

So what?! We were missing Fulky and KC against Bama. It doesn't matter. You dont get style points. It's SEC play and wins are all that count.

My guess is you’re gonna be shocked when this team gets bounced in round one again…

 

[VolPack22]

How many are they missing. I’m lazy and haven’t followed the latest. Just know they have covid issues

I was just now able to get on here. I’m not sure how many they were missing, I just know it seemed like a significant amount. Doesn’t seem like it mattered though lol

 

[1985Vols]

I don’t disagree with the comments about the post recruiting and development.

I just refuse to accept that when we are having an off shooting night, we just keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. We don’t even try anything different- which means that the better teams on the schedule and the tourney are going to be able to scheme easily against us and put themselves in a better position to win from the tip.

It’s coaching. Barnes has these players so uptight by jerking them in and out of games when they make a mistake or miss a shot. Also, when you’re best 3 point shooter sits on the bench , you’re obviously not going to shoot as well. Powell is the only player we have that shoots over 40% from 3 and gets 4 shots in he game. Go figure. Our coaching has been horrible and Barnes got schooled by a coach that was missing his best player tonight

 

[chuckiepoo]

Hopefully the inexperience is the reason we play like this.

Arizona game we came out looking like we belong. Then we have a game like this.

Looked great agin’ Bama, on the road and undermanned. That’s just college BB.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

We play man & sag into the paint for help/doubles.

It leaves guys open on the perimeter, sadly despite having more depth in the front court we don’t have any rim protectors.

We have a 7’ who plays further below the rim than our 5’9” PG. Fulky & Olivier are both undersized bigs. Really need to see more of BHH and hope he can develop more.

 

[ColinS]

For fun during the second half I Googled "Rick Barnes teams play scared" and got a whole lot of Texas sports articles about his teams playing tighter over the course of this or that season and losing their ability to score in league play. Just ... uh ... yeah. Just gonna put that here and whistle past the graveyard, so to speak. I'm not advocating for a change, just kind of wish Tennessee could break that trend.

I would just like to see these guys come out and look loose and confident one time. I think we have a soft and scared mentality right now. That has to change and it starts at the top.

 

[1985Vols]

You're crazy. Feel better now? But I really meant it. I would say based on expectations you're right. ZZ has been impressive compared to what was expected of him by most fans. Chandler has not performed as a lot of fans expected but overall I am not giving ZZ a single one of Chandler's minutes. The kid has had a couple not so good games in the obvious parts of the boxscore. That being said, he has contributed on defense on his worst offensive nights. They are Freshmen and both have played like freshmen. It's not his fault people expected the moon from a freshman PG in a system known for being hard on young PG's.

I’ll say this, without BOTH Chandler and ZZ, this team would probably be 7-6 right now

 

[gainesvol82]

Everyone stop freaking out. This team is still gelling and we already have some good wins. Offense may look ugly some nights but our defense will keep us in games.

I do want to see Powell rise up and shoot over defenders when they are closing out. He is too passive at times. Chandler will grow throughout league play and his outside shot will eventually start falling again like it did early in the season.

 

[chuckiepoo]

It’s coaching. Barnes has these players so uptight by jerking them in and out of games when they make a mistake or miss a shot. Also, when you’re best 3 point shooter sits on the bench , you’re obviously not going to shoot as well. Powell is the only player we have that shoots over 40% from 3 and gets 4 shots in he game. Go figure. Our coaching has been horrible and Barnes got schooled by a coach that was missing his best player tonight

…short term or selective. Your memory loss.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

It’s coaching. Barnes has these players so uptight by jerking them in and out of games when they make a mistake or miss a shot. Also, when you’re best 3 point shooter sits on the bench , you’re obviously not going to shoot as well. Powell is the only player we have that shoots over 40% from 3 and gets 4 shots in he game. Go figure. Our coaching has been horrible and Barnes got schooled by a coach that was missing his best player tonight

Yep. It’s going to be a short post-season, unless someone steps up and becomes the next Grant type player. He took a lot of chewing for improvising from Barnes.

And we all know Barnes isn’t changing.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I’ll say this, without BOTH Chandler and ZZ, this team would probably be 7-6 right now

That’s why they are on the team, duh.

 

[pimo1]

I don't understand why teams suddenly become the greatest 3 point shooters ever when they play us. I guess our defense is so good, they have no other choice but try threes?

Wow you got it in one try. That is indeed a fact backed up by metrics.

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

It’s coaching. Barnes has these players so uptight by jerking them in and out of games when they make a mistake or miss a shot. Also, when you’re best 3 point shooter sits on the bench , you’re obviously not going to shoot as well. Powell is the only player we have that shoots over 40% from 3 and gets 4 shots in he game. Go figure. Our coaching has been horrible and Barnes got schooled by a coach that was missing his best player tonight

Faaaaahr Reeeeck Barnes!

 

[Chris4Vols22]

This game pretty much mirrors the Alabama game: the underdog blew the game at the end.

 

[southgatevol]

It’s coaching. Barnes has these players so uptight by jerking them in and out of games when they make a mistake or miss a shot. Also, when you’re best 3 point shooter sits on the bench , you’re obviously not going to shoot as well. Powell is the only player we have that shoots over 40% from 3 and gets 4 shots in he game. Go figure. Our coaching has been horrible and Barnes got schooled by a coach that was missing his best player tonight

I like Powell but several times he turned down open shots. If he isn't going to shoot he doesn't provide much otherwise.

 

[gainesvol82]

I would just like to see these guys come out and look loose and confident one time. I think we have a soft and scared mentality right now. That has to change and it starts at the top.

We may be hesitant at times on offense but we do not have a soft mentality. A slashing wing or two would help a lot. JJJ has the frame and handles for that role but lacks the aggressiveness.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I like Powell but several times he turned down open shots. If he isn't going to shoot he doesn't provide much otherwise.

Let. ‘er. Fly!

 

[pimo1]

I’ll say this, without BOTH Chandler and ZZ, this team would probably be 7-6 right now

Or worse

 

[marvin616]

Not sure why you guys continue to be confused about our offensive struggles? We have no go to post scorer and like to play a motion type offense. When a good zone D team plays us it takes away our cutting to the basket but we get plenty of open outside shots. Make a decent percentage of open outside shots and we’re tough to beat. When we can’t buy an outside basket against the zone then we stink. It’s pretty clear what’s going on. If you want to bitch about CRB it could be that he hasn’t landed another stud post player since Grant, not that he doesn’t know how to coach

I'm surprised that ON hasn't perfected that high point turn around jumper by now. I really thought this might be his break out year. Based off of what GW was able to do with it and ON having the same physical capabilities, it's baffling that it isn't a part of his repotuar. ON not being a better shot blocker shows his lack of aggressiveness though. It's probably on ON and not CRB but ON is the difference between this team being good and great IMO.

 

[ColinS]

We may be hesitant at times on offense but we do not have a soft mentality. A slashing wing or two would help a lot. JJJ has the frame and handles for that role but lacks the aggressiveness.

We are soft on offense. We don't have one single guy that is strong with the ball and invites contact.