The Official #22 Tennessee vs. Southern Cal Game Thread, 1:30 PM ET, ESPN2

[Orangeblooded615]

Phillips won us that game. Nil money well spent.

 

[Vols8086]

Phillips has to be the best player if this team is going to reach its potential. Good win today. You’re going to have to grind games out in March and this was a nice preview of that.

 

[VolArmy74]

Hopefully JJJ plays tomorrow. Winning without him and Vescovi playing almost no role on offense all game speaks volumes about the potential we have as everyone gets used to each other.

 

[vavolfan6]

Shot terribly, but won. I guess that says something. Just gotta find our identity offense. A heavy dose of Phillips has to be part of it.

 

[RAVOL]

Hopefully these ugly games will make this team grow up quick and develop an identity

I believe they do help you grow. Winning when your offense was not very good and they made really tough outside shots. Great gutty victory. In CHRIST Alone

 

[Plecoptera]

Took a little extra time but the Vols prevail.

 

[CornbreadVol]

Aidoo has trouble catching entry passes. Needs to work on that. Great win though!

 

[Volfan2012]

Nice win I wanted to win this one badly USC. Offense was rough today, but the defense was superior and Phillips was the best player on the floor.

 

[vols 30]

Way too many minutes for ORN today

He had a pretty game looking at the box score. 12 points on 5/8 FG. 6 rebounds and only 1 turnover. I'll take that

 

[DowntownVol]

A lineup of JJJ, Phillips, ZZ, Vescovi, and Aidoo could be pretty damned stout.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Phillips looked the part today 25 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals & 2 assists

ZZ defensively taking Boogie to task was big in 2nd half.

 

[VolunteerCeltic]

I believe they do help you grow. Winning when your offense was not very good and they made really tough outside shots. Great gutty victory. In CHRIST Alone

That USC was pretty good, needed to get ball in lane and draw fouls

 

[The Dog]

Good, hard fought win. Should build some confidence that we can turn up the defense and execute enough on offense to win an OT game against a bubble Tournament, P5 team. Now, let's get that big resume win against Kansas, tomorrow

 

[Namorto1]

Good win. Santiago, ZZ, and Key go 6 for 26 and we still won. We need James back. Mashack was valuable. We are slowly becoming an inside/out team. Our perimeter shooting really has to improve to make any noise in the SEC.

 

[vols 30]

Get ready to Hear ESPN slobber over Gradey Dick tomorrow

 

[Vols All Day]

A lineup of JJJ, Phillips, ZZ, Vescovi, and Aidoo could be pretty damned stout.

Take out ZZ or SV and insert JM and you are totally correct.

 

[Willy14]

I’m just glad this team is starting to figure it out offensively without only relying on the 3. We couldn’t hit the 3 today and still found a way to win. Should be good for us

 

[cwbytruckers]

Phillips paired with JJJ is going to be a nice duo

 

[Volfan2012]

We see when Vescovi and the other guards struggle with their shooting we'll see games a lot like this one. If Vescovi is on expect more like a double digit win. He only made one three, but it was a big one.

 

[Vols till I fall]

Aidoo and Uros need to DUNK the ball. They are way too big to be playing this soft, especially Uros.

I just do not understand Uros. When he gets in the lane and dunks, he looks unstoppable

 

[JRVOL11]

will be tough to stop both phillips & josiah

 

[VolFreakJosh]

We really need JJJ back

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I was a bit confused why we ran so many minutes with 2 bigs & Phillips.

Barnes must have really been worried about rebounding.

 

[Voljayton]

Aidoo has trouble catching entry passes. Needs to work on that. Great win though!

Yeah he lacks strength. Has length but noodle arms.

 

[Atzar]

Way to gut it out.

As far as I’m concerned, the next few months are all about getting Phillips ready to take over in SEC play and the tournament. You live with the growing pains. We got good looks when we worked through him and we really struggled otherwise, and that says it all. He has to be the guy for this team to be good, and the good news is that this game suggests he can get there.