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

[vol94]

Which is exactly what happens when we’re playing against a man defense

We do not have a semblance of offensive scheme except jacking up threes. Barnes even admitted that this is his game plan this yr, perimeter shooting.

 

[VolPack22]

Not based on what Barnes said post game. I couldn’t watch, but Vescovi apparently turned down a shot and turned it over passing to Fulky. Barnes told him to shoot the ball if he has space and joked that Steph Curry wouldn’t turn them down. I guess Vescovi had a fast break late and hit the shot.

I’m glad Vescovi had 10 3pt attempts. I’m sure Barnes would love for him to take even more. I wish he would take 15/game. He’s too good a shooter not to take that many. If he shot that many he would be making 18pt/gm on threes alone.

 

[Lankykong]

We do not have a semblance of offensive scheme except jacking up threes. Barnes even admitted that this is his game plan this yr, perimeter shooting.

That’s modern offense for you. Everyone praises Oates for the same philosophy.

 

[VolGee4]

I’m glad Vescovi had 10 3pt attempts. I’m sure Barnes would love for him to take even more. I wish he would take 15/game. He’s too good a shooter not to take that many. If he shot that many he would be making 18pt/gm on threes alone.

I agree. Powell should get 6+ too.

It’s just the way the game is played these days. I was talking about it tonight with my assistant coach for our boys’ 5th/6th grade team. All they want to do is jack up an outside shot because it’s what they watch.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Reading this thred, one would think we lost the game. Hey, guys, WE WON THE GAME.

 

[VolPack22]

The difference with Barnes though is that he doesn’t do it to be mean. He’s a player’s coach off the court, and there are numerous stories about how generous and funny he is. These guys know that he’s just tough on the court.

I never said he was being mean and most of the coaches out there don’t do it to be mean either. They want their players to play to their potential. That’s what coaching is. I love Rick Barnes and I think Tennessee is lucky to have him.

 

[vol94]

That’s modern offense for you. Everyone praises Oates for the same philosophy.

It’s a great offense when the team is raining threes but a poor one if the team shoots poorly. Vols are very inconsistent behind the arc. Barnes and Vescovi both said that they are not concerned with shots falling. They complemented their efforts on tonight’s defense and said the shots will eventually fall. I just hope it is sooner rather than later as some of those shots didn’t touch rim.

 

[omghulkhands]

I agree. Powell should get 6+ too.

It’s just the way the game is played these days. I was talking about it tonight with my assistant coach for our boys’ 5th/6th grade team. All they want to do is jack up an outside shot because it’s what they watch.

The Curry effect.

In the NBA, it makes analytical sense to shoot a ton of 3 pointers. The data had been screaming that years before the rise of the Warriors.

But it makes a lot less sense for middle schoolers lol

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Well, if that's the case, I have no idea what is wrong with this team. Shoot the ball. If he wants you to shoot it, shoot it. It shouldn't be so hard.

They are still young. They don’t realize the difference between sitting for a bad turnover or decision vs being sat for missing a shot (which he doesn’t typically do)

 

[VolGee4]

I never said he was being mean and most of the coaches out there don’t do it to be mean either. They want their players to play to their potential. That’s what coaching is. I love Rick Barnes and I think Tennessee is lucky to have him.

I didn’t mean to suggest that you did; was just trying to add to your point. There are definitely some coaches who are hard on their players just for personal gain and not always the nicest off the court. I think Barnes truly cares about his guys, and while he coaches hard, basketball does not consume him.

 

[VolArmy74]

Couldn’t same have been said about Tennessee at Bama when we were missing 2 key players? Or that only applies one direction?

The same could be said about it. It could also be said that like tonight, the offense was bad, only scoring 3 baskets in the last 11:29. The consistent thing about that is that the offense struggles with or without Chandler and Fulkerson.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

The same could be said about it. It could also be said that like tonight, the offense was bad, only scoring 3 baskets in the last 11:29. The consistent thing about that is that the offense struggles with or without Chandler and Fulkerson.

And the defense is elite with or without them…gotta find a way to marry the two.

 

[VolArmy74]

Reading this thred, one would think we lost the game. Hey, guys, WE WON THE GAME.

The majority of this thread was during the 95 percent of the game where we trailed a 17 point underdog and looked like a middle school team on offense.

 

[VolPack22]

I didn’t mean to suggest that you did; was just trying to add to your point. There are definitely some coaches who are hard on their players just for personal gain and not always the nicest off the court. I think Barnes truly cares about his guys, and while he coaches hard, basketball does not consume him.

All good

 

[walkenvol]

It’s a great offense when the team is raining threes but a poor one if the team shoots poorly. Vols are very inconsistent behind the arc. Barnes and Vescovi both said that they are not concerned with shots falling. They complemented their efforts on tonight’s defense and said the shots will eventually fall. I just hope it is sooner rather than later as some of those shots didn’t touch rim.

Shooters shoot

 

[mr.checkerboards]

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

I was thinking that during the game. ZZ just has more maturity to his game then Chandler does at the moment.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Any truth to this? Sometimes I feel the same way. We look timid. I have noticed that Powell has turned down quite a few open looks this year. It's like Barnes coached the Alpha mentality right out of him. I'm all for selfless basketball...but we need some dawgs.

Yes, its Barnes and how hard he rides guys. Theyre so scared of getting pulled that guys just quit making plays.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Barnes has recruited several stud post players and they have either transferred or he sits them on the bench. It’s obvious he can’t develop post players , much less recruit ones that he likes

Wasn't Grant Williams a post player? His game developed pretty well under Barnes, as I recall.

 

[1985Vols]

Wasn't Grant Williams a post player? His game developed pretty well under Barnes, as I recall.

He was more of a forward while Alexander played the post

 

[1985Vols]

Another crazy take as Powell got most all of Bailey’s minutes tonight. Powell hasn’t been excelling in his expanded role as of yet

Powell was on the bench most of the second half and took4 shots for the game

 

[Zues1]

Any truth to this? Sometimes I feel the same way. We look timid. I have noticed that Powell has turned down quite a few open looks this year. It's like Barnes coached the Alpha mentality right out of him. I'm all for selfless basketball...but we need some dawgs.

We've seen this time and time again. The players come in with natural talent.
Barnes has to break them before he teaches them " the game"
Three years later if they stick it out you see some upside.
God forbid you just let these kids play their game.
Remember how great Chandler looked early on? What happened?
We saw flashes of him late in this game but honestly I think the young guys are afraid to try and take over a game.

 

[BowlBrother85]

He was more of a forward while Alexander played the post

Williams played in the post as well.

 

[cardvolfan]

I agree. Powell should get 6+ too.

It’s just the way the game is played these days. I was talking about it tonight with my assistant coach for our boys’ 5th/6th grade team. All they want to do is jack up an outside shot because it’s what they watch.

Powell was smothered all night. Just could not get off a truly open 3, certainly what Barnes describes as a good shot. On his radio show, Barnes chided Powell for passing up shots. Other than the few shots he did take, there just were not shots there. I’m sure Powell is confused by the message he‘s receiving.

 

[cardvolfan]

We've seen this time and time again. The players come in with natural talent.
Barnes has to break them before he teaches them " the game"
Three years later if they stick it out you see some upside.
God forbid you just let these kids play their game.
Remember how great Chandler looked early on? What happened?
We saw flashes of him late in this game but honestly I think the young guys are afraid to try and take over a game.

I’ve always been an advocate for Barnes, but you raise some good points. Chandler came in the first 6 games with some really good play. Had some rough edges that needed to be smoothed a bit, but the last 4 games he’s just shown some real hesitancy and seems to have regressed. I think in many ways, the same can be said about Powell. These are two guys who can be absolute weapons, but are just a shell of their potential at this point.

I really believe Fulky is just a shell of what we saw against Arizona. No team is going to defend him the way Arizona did. That doesn’t bode well for SEC play for him.

Defensively, this team is ELITE. Period. If we find some answers offensively, we can do some damage.

 

[Caz]

What I’m seeing is that we play hard, but so tight that it becomes a “grind” on this team.
Some players you can coach hard and get the results, but teams are different and maybe a different approach from Barnes may be warranted, because it looks as though he is in their head. Yes, he’s had success here, but we don’t have Grant, Admiral, Or Bone who could have taken a bit more of the “tough” love than this team can. KC is a freshmen with a world of talent, but he looks timid as does Powell.
For me..I’m not smart enough to be a coach, but I’m just submitting an observation