The Official #3 Tennessee vs. #11 Michigan NCAA Tournament Game Thread, 5:50 PM ET, CBS

[TC 83]

Ricks problem has been lack of recruiting quality bigs during the Alexander yrs.

We’ll have them next year. If Tamba has a good offseason then we could have 5 good big men w/ Nkamhoua coming back from injury. Offseason will be huge for BHH and Aidoo to take the next step. We have a great core for next season. Losing KC will hurt but if these guys improve we have a shot at being better than this year IMO.

 

[smokeymon]

Only love can break your heart.

Well I love these VOLS, so therefore my heart is broken.

 

[walkenvol]

I don’t think so. In his senior year, Alexander could have handled him anywhere on the floor. Plus, Kyle developed the 15 foot shot that none of our current bings have. Totally different dynamic with him that type of game.

 

[vol94]

Fulky is a sixth year players, Aidoo is a freshman. Through most of his tenure here, Barnes has not recruited and developed really good big men. That killed us last year and this year.

I agree. Thought we should’ve recruited someone from portal. We tried but missed out on Kessler and the freshman at UNC. Jus think it would be nice to have an experienced, athletic big man added to the roster.

 

[VolGee4]

We aren't mediocre but as a conference we certainly aren't as good as I thought we were. I thought we were possibly the best conference by a fair margin, I don't believe that after two rounds in the tourney.

Doesn’t really matter to me. We took the Big 12 challenge, so that was won on the court. Big Ten is the media darling with 9 teams in. Their hottest team gets bounced by a 12 seed. Two others get beat in the first round. Two others score 54 points and barely beat higher seeds. Whatever.

 

[minorvol]

We’ll have them next year. If Tamba has a good offseason then we could have 5 good big men w/ O.K. coming back from injury. Offseason will be huge for BHH and Aidoo to take the next step. We have a great core for next season. Losing KC will hurt but if these guys improve we have a shot at being better than this year IMO.

Good post. I was thinking the same thing today. We just did not have that post player to get a bucket when we absolutely had to have one. Hopefully next year will be better.

 

[VolGee4]

View attachment 441006

I’m not sure how you can argue that Kyle wouldn’t have played him any worse or just the same as our bigs tonight. A senior Kyle Alexander totally changed this team this year.

 

[KB5252]

Does Vescovi come back next year? That's a good spot 3 guy who can create a little opposite Ziegler. We will still need another gaurd or two that I don't see on this roster.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Does Vescovi come back next year? That's a good spot 3 guy who can create a little opposite Ziegler. We will still need another gaurd or two that I don't see on this roster.

Good question. I don't see how he can really improve his game any more. I think he has hit his ceiling as a collegiate player. He may think it best to go play in Europe now. I hope he comes back, because he adds so much, but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

If he doesn't, it appears we will have Bounge, Bailey, Edwards, Mashak, and Powell to compete for that spot.

Will JJJ come back for another year or go pro?

 

[walkenvol]

I’m not sure how you can argue that Kyle wouldn’t have played him any worse or just the same as our bigs tonight. A senior Kyle Alexander totally changed this team this year.

You’ve forgotten how slinder Alexander was. Williams would match up on the opposing big bodied post players.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Does Vescovi come back next year? That's a good spot 3 guy who can create a little opposite Ziegler. We will still need another gaurd or two that I don't see on this roster.

I don't know if it will factor into his decision but I would think he'd hate this game being his last as a Vol.

 

[VolGee4]

You’ve forgotten how slinder Alexander was. Williams would match up on the opposing big bodied post players.

I know how slender he was, but he was also a different player offensively than what we currently have. I will just disagree with you.

 

[BreatheUT]

We’ll have them next year. If Tamba has a good offseason then we could have 5 good big men w/ O.K. coming back from injury. Offseason will be huge for BHH and Aidoo to take the next step. We have a great core for next season. Losing KC will hurt but if these guys improve we have a shot at being better than this year IMO.

It will be difficult to be better next year unless the bigs take a "big" step. Chandler will be a big loss and Fulky is the best offensive threat down low.

 

[SGMVols]

Fulky is a sixth year players, Aidoo is a freshman. Through most of his tenure here, Barnes has not recruited and developed really good big men. That killed us last year and this year.

Big man recruiting is one of the hardest things to do. There are only so many people in the world who are 7 feet tall, and even fewer who are great at basketball.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

You’ve forgotten how slinder Alexander was. Williams would match up on the opposing big bodied post players.

What Alexander was good at though was being a rim protector. This team didnt really have that. Aidoo has the look that he can become that. Dickinson was going up with no fear of getting his shot blocked.

 

[ArdentVol]

What’s your drink of choice tonight?

fixed original post.
are you saying phil martelli didnt play key role in michigan scheme?
wouldnt mind a drink or two, but iamtaking pain pills for medical procedure on back

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

fixed original post.
are you saying phil martelli didnt play key role in michigan scheme?
wouldnt mind a drink or two, but iamtaking pain pills for medical procedure on back

I’m not saying anything about Phil Martello. I was saying I had no clue what that post said.

 

[ArdentVol]

I’m not saying anything about Phil Martello. I was saying I had no clue what that post said.

i have led league in typos, but that latest effort was unacceptable

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

i have led league in typos, but that latest effort was unacceptable

Gunter glieben glausen globen

 

[ArdentVol]

Gunter glieben glausen globen

nicht schlecht

 

[TheFlash1971]

That game seriously sucked. Period. Barnes needs to recruit some bigs, I’m talking 7+ footers. That Dickinson guy just killed us.

 

[lukeneyland]

Thanks for the memories team. Y’all played your asses off every game. At the end of the day that’s all I ask. I’ll support y’all till the day I die. That’s what makes Tennessee special

 

[volbound1700]

Doesn’t really matter to me. We took the Big 12 challenge, so that was won on the court. Big Ten is the media darling with 9 teams in. Their hottest team gets bounced by a 12 seed. Two others get beat in the first round. Two others score 54 points and barely beat higher seeds. Whatever.

An 11 seed, 14 loss B1G team just beat us. I say they are better
Based on this result, Tennessee would finish .500 in the B1G.

 

[landscapingvol]

A lot more to the game than points

Agreed and he looked overmatched and slow in those as well from the opening tip

 

[vol24/7/365]

That doesn't mean beans

Means alot to me. We haven’t won it since 1979. It means alot to the players. It just means a lot to the rest of us.
Yes getting beat yesterday was disappointing but who do you think is more disappointed than us? Those kids that work their butts off! The coaches and staff too.