The Official #5 Tennessee @ #10 Kentucky Game Thread, 8:30 PM ET, ESPN

[PKT_VOL]

Kentucky coming off of a home loss and playing us on their home floor right after is never good news. But it doesn’t really mean a thing. That’s all mental gymnastics and motivation. It can go both ways. IMO, the objective is to slow Kentucky down in transition and force them to operate in the front court. If we force them to grind out possessions and force them to score late in the shot clock, we should be fine. Their defense won’t improve overnight. The one thing that will help their defense is turnovers, that’s the only defense they have. Limit turnovers, limit them from the 3-point line and I think we win.

Yeah, transition defense will be key. Part of that is limiting your own turnovers and part of that is offensive rebounding to limit cheap breakaway possessions.

On offense, we have to be able to take advantage of their poor perimeter defense. That means ZZ, Vescovi, and Gainey can't keep being ice cold from deep.

It is also scary that Knecht is on a heater. Being on a heater creates anxiety waiting for the shoe to drop on a regression to the mean. Just hope of all games it isn't at Rupp.

 

[CornbreadVol]

I think we’re due for a game where everything clicks

 

[BallerVolFan]

Yeah, transition defense will be key. Part of that is limiting your own turnovers and part of that is offensive rebounding to limit cheap breakaway possessions.

On offense, we have to be able to take advantage of their poor perimeter defense. That means ZZ, Vescovi, and Gainey can't keep being ice cold from deep.

It is also scary that Knecht is on a heater. Being on a heater creates anxiety waiting for the shoe to drop on a regression to the mean. Just hope of all games it isn't at Rupp.

I agree. Regarding the “regression to the mean”… I see a lot of people using this term when talking about teams and players. Regression to the mean is, in a lot of cases, a fallacy when talking sports. If Knecht was going to regress, it would’ve been last game. Nobody shot great, but he still got his in the end. I think Knecht will be fine, this game will depend on who else decides to show up.

I don’t think Kentucky’s defense is good enough to try to double Knecht on a routine basis. That puts pressure on the other three guys and tests Kentucky’s rotation. If they think they can try to double him, our guys will have their chance. They just have to knock them down.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Great for us, as this allows us to unleash hell via Estrella and let him officially cement himself in Vol lore.

Hopefully he can finish his two handed dunks this time.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Just please be in the game late with a chance to win

That's been the case in all of our losses

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Yeah, transition defense will be key. Part of that is limiting your own turnovers and part of that is offensive rebounding to limit cheap breakaway possessions.

On offense, we have to be able to take advantage of their poor perimeter defense. That means ZZ, Vescovi, and Gainey can't keep being ice cold from deep.

It is also scary that Knecht is on a heater. Being on a heater creates anxiety waiting for the shoe to drop on a regression to the mean. Just hope of all games it isn't at Rupp.

His first exposure to Rupp

 

[fear]

pat adams doing the mizzou vandy game. any others we don’t want not real familiar with them all.

 

[Berry4Heisman14]

I think we lose tonight but win at home

 

[87&91ALUM]

I hope we see a surprise tonight with Tennessee playing like #5 and Kentucky playing like #10 leading to a 4-5 point win for the Vols. That USCe loss was inexcusable.

 

[walkenvol]

Losing Wagner hurts them but more interested to see how effective Thiero is with his injury he’s nursing. Guessing he will be in charge of trying to shut down Knecht. Big strong athlete and their best defender.

Being Kentucky’s best defender is similar to be the tallest midget or the slimmest girl at weight watchers!

 

[kiddiedoc]

pat adams doing the mizzou vandy game. any others we don’t want not real familiar with them all.

It's at Rupp. They will all be against us.

 

[TennTom]

I think we’re due for a game where everything clicks

The Rupperees will counter any good game we might have.

 

[joevols89]

Being Kentucky’s best defender is similar to be the tallest midget or the slimmest girl at weight watchers!

Eh - I agree but Thiero is legit. He's a matchup problem on that end.

 

[KTrain]

Eh - I agree but Thiero is legit. He's a matchup problem on that end.

Thiero said DK wasn't that good and he said he hasn't played UK yet.

 

[Go47]

The Rupperees will counter any good game we might have.

This.

 

[Hoggervol]

This.

Thank God we won't have Pat Adams and his crew tonight!

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

If we play defense like we are capable of playing, Knecht does Knecht things, and ZZ/Vescovi/Aidoo provide sufficient offence to keep the Cats defense honest, we will win rather easily. The problem is we haven't been doing all three of those consistently.

They don't play defense on the perimeter. We have to knock down our open looks behind the arc.

I wouldn't count on it. 13-47 from 3 in last 2 games. DK accounts for 6 of those makes. I don't see us suddenly catching fire at Rupp with a pissed off drunk crowd. Would be glorious though.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

That's been the case in all of our losses

But not the last visit to Rupp

 

[BigBabyWilliams]

Here we go boys! Few more hours, booze is flowing, and feeling good about this one
(I feel good about every game ).

Serious note, really want to see Mashack get some of JJJ’s minutes. He’s smaller but he’s got the athleticism, defensive ability, and much more of a weapon on offense compared to JJJ. Only thing he’s behind JJJ with is rebounding. Feel like if he’s given that assignment he could handle it.

 

[Butch s]

In the words of the great Ron Slay “ we went into they house, sat on they couch,and ate they samiches. Love that guy

 

[FeelVol]

It’s only happened 6x. Tonight will be the 7th.

TN’s wins at Rupp Arena:
1977 (Mears)
1979 (Devoe)
1999 (Green)
2006 (Pearl)
2018 (Barnes)
2020 (Barnes)

Love your confidence.

 

[turbovol]

It's crazy how big college basketball staffs have gotten---we're talking 12/13 people. Got a head coach, associate,
two assistants, then a support staff of 8! You notice it when you see the group--all in the same shirts for every college--sitting
on and behind the bench. A small army....

Clemson, behind by one and getting the last shot, opts to take a three. Dumb. Virginia, bad early in the season, has really been coming on,
which isn't terribly surprising given how well they are coached.

You see a lot of guards carrying the ball nowadays--hand under the ball. Makes it easier to beat your defender when you carry the ball....

 

[2EastTnVols]

It's at Rupp. They will all be against us.

Maybe Shows? I know the cat fans think he has it out for them

 

[Switch 625]

I’m pretty jealous of how energized the fans are at places like Kansas, UNC, Duke, etc. TBA always has the atmosphere of a wake.

 

[Vol4gzus]

A win tonight in my mind erases Tuesday night in a number of ways, it shows Tuesday was just a terrible performance, an off night, etc. But it gets us back into a good spot for seeing and the SEC race as well.



That said, I think we are all gonna be frustrated again tonight. There is no way I take us if bettimg on the game. UK hasn't been great lately. But they will absolutely get up for this game. They will certainly have the stripes on their side. Gonna be interesting to see how we respond. Gotta have some other guys step up tonight if we want to stay within striking distance. The key will be weathering the storm early.

I recall you joining the Downers earlier in the week on a post. I'm seeing a trend...possibly. Watch out as the "sky is falling" may not be far away in your future thoughts. Just sayin'