The Official #5 Tennessee vs. Norfolk State Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, SEC Network

#351
#351
Orangeslide said:
I agree. Mashack will be the X factor Saturday night for Vols success. Gainey must improve his shot to keep getting minutes. Saturday night will be interesting. Great opening conference test for the Vols. We shall see.
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Need to have Mashack living in Murrell’s hip pocket all game Saturday. Murrell is a big guard and a tough matchup for Vescovi or Gainey.
 
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#353
#353
walkenvol said:
Got to consider giving Mashack some of Gainey’s minutes as Mashack’s scoring efficiency seems the be improving and his defense along with his rebounding are far superior to Gainey. I don’t see how Mashack could be getting less than 25 minutes. JMO

Anybody know if Mashack can get a Covid year or is he done after next season?
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Aidoo, Gainey, ZZ, and Mashack are juniors and don’t get an optional COVID year. Seniors this year are the last that can get a COVID year. Our 3 seniors are 5th year seniors (JJJ, SV, DK) so they don’t get the option.
 
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#355
#355
Namorto1 said:
We pushed tempo tonight and our ball movement in the half court was pretty impressive. But we need to shoot a better percentage as league play starts. Way too many wide open shots and bunnies were missed.
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For the first 10-12 minutes of the game, I was really concerned about the rest of the season.
Barnes finally went to Aidoo and Awaka together. I'd been waiting for that one all year given our rebounding struggles. It looked terrible on offense obviously.
Knecht got an early pull.
Santi still not the old Santi.
It just felt like we didn't have an identity as a basketball team.

Then, ZZ started being an absolute menace on the ball and hitting bombs. Things started to come together. The ball was moving. Mashack was attacking. It felt like the first time we have played good basketball in weeks. Hoping it carries over to Saturday.
 
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#356
#356
The Dog said:
Vols win, but I don't know about 15+. Hope so, tho. I still say the Vols are 17-3, 7-0 in the SEC when they go to Rupp to play the 'Cats
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We come into that game having played one cream puff opponent in a 16 day stretch. That concerns me. I think we pull it out because we are home but wouldn't be suprised to see us with a little more rust to shake off.
 
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#357
#357
DK was much better creating shots for others. In turn, he had some opportunities come his way. I believe that is a huge key moving forward, and Barnes is emphasizing that.

As far as scoring droughts or not making shots, the reality is that shooting is going to come and go within the flow of a game and within the course of a season. It happens to Tennessee and it happens to other programs with regularity. The difference this year could be an elite defense, which we have, plus a much more effective offense as things fall in place.
 
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#359
#359
Thunder Good-Oil said:
Aidoo, Gainey, ZZ, and Mashack are juniors and don’t get an optional COVID year. Seniors this year are the last that can get a COVID year. Our 3 seniors are 5th year seniors (JJJ, SV, DK) so they don’t get the option.
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One technicality to add…which doesn’t affect any of our players. You can be a RS Jr and still have a Covid year so there are two more years to deal with this…
 
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#361
#361
The amazing thing about Mashack is that his physical defense usually causes his man to give up. They keep going through the motions, but they get worn down quickly. Given his offensive improvement and his aggressive drives of late, it’s hard to justify him sitting much at all.
 
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#362
#362
Stoerner Fumbles said:
The amazing thing about Mashack is that his physical defense usually causes his man to give up. They keep going through the motions, but they get worn down quickly. Given his offensive improvement and his aggressive drives of late, it’s hard to justify him sitting much at all.
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Yeah, he’s been special. He has so much potential. Could be an NBA player if he can find a consistent jump shot, which has been much better this year in general.
 
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#363
#363
Quick comment on Jefferson— He does not have a discipline problem or a chemistry problem. I would not count him as an automatic portal entry. He’s having a hard time grasping some key concepts on both ends. Barnes has given him some metrics to hit in practice that unfortunately he isn’t hitting. His team likes him. He likes being here. If he transfers out it will be because he can’t develop enough to fit the system. No one has given up on him yet. There are moments in practice where he really shines at both ends. He still makes big mental errors, and that needs to change.
 
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#365
#365
Stoerner Fumbles said:
Quick comment on Jefferson— He does not have a discipline problem or a chemistry problem. I would not count him as an automatic portal entry. He’s having a hard time grasping some key concepts on both ends. Barnes has given him some metrics to hit in practice that unfortunately he isn’t hitting. His team likes him. He likes being here. If he transfers out it will be because he can’t develop enough to fit the system. No one has given up on him yet. There are moments in practice where he really shines at both ends. He still makes big mental errors, and that needs to change.
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…sounds like inside perspective. Thank you!😊
 
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#366
#366
Stoerner Fumbles said:
Quick comment on Jefferson— He does not have a discipline problem or a chemistry problem. I would not count him as an automatic portal entry. He’s having a hard time grasping some key concepts on both ends. Barnes has given him some metrics to hit in practice that unfortunately he isn’t hitting. His team likes him. He likes being here. If he transfers out it will be because he can’t develop enough to fit the system. No one has given up on him yet. There are moments in practice where he really shines at both ends. He still makes big mental errors, and that needs to change.
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Good to know. I’m glad we haven’t given up on him and he hasn’t given up on us. Seems like a good kid. Someone you want to root for and see be part of this team. Hopefully he can figure it out and be a big part of our team next year. Lots of minutes up for grabs.
 
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#367
#367
Stoerner Fumbles said:
Quick comment on Jefferson— He does not have a discipline problem or a chemistry problem. I would not count him as an automatic portal entry. He’s having a hard time grasping some key concepts on both ends. Barnes has given him some metrics to hit in practice that unfortunately he isn’t hitting. His team likes him. He likes being here. If he transfers out it will be because he can’t develop enough to fit the system. No one has given up on him yet. There are moments in practice where he really shines at both ends. He still makes big mental errors, and that needs to change.
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What’s hard to grasp as a non-insider fan is Jefferson has been training in the program 1.5 years. Last night Barnes played 4 freshmen & 2 walk ons yet zero minutes for Jefferson? How can he be so far behind mentally that he can’t earn a single minute of playing time? Also, he was suspended for something. Something just doesn’t add up.
 
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#368
#368
walkenvol said:
What’s hard to grasp as a non-insider fan is Jefferson has been training in the program 1.5 years. Last night Barnes played 4 freshmen & 2 walk ons yet zero minutes for Jefferson? How can he be so far behind mentally that he can’t earn a single minute of playing time? Also, he was suspended for something. Something just doesn’t add up.
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I commented on his suspension in October, but would rather not revisit it. He didn’t do anything that egregious. He paid his penance and returned. He missed some additional practice when the flu hit the team and gotten back into the flow of things since. Until he practices to the standard and gets some things corrected, he’ll sit. He may very well transfer next year, but we aren’t there yet.
 
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#369
#369
Really amazing in this day and age that the young man is patient and humble enough to sit while trying to get better. Also speaks to the relationships CRB builds with these guys too.

Believe it was after the GS game but my buddy was able to take his two kids in the lockeroom after the game to let them meet the players and coaches. He sent me a video and the most engaging player with his kids was DJ. It was chillbump awesome to watch
 
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#370
#370
Stoerner Fumbles said:
Quick comment on Jefferson— He does not have a discipline problem or a chemistry problem. I would not count him as an automatic portal entry. He’s having a hard time grasping some key concepts on both ends. Barnes has given him some metrics to hit in practice that unfortunately he isn’t hitting. His team likes him. He likes being here. If he transfers out it will be because he can’t develop enough to fit the system. No one has given up on him yet. There are moments in practice where he really shines at both ends. He still makes big mental errors, and that needs to change.
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Thanks for the Update Stoerner

DJ is my son's favorite player (due to the friendship the developed at a summer camp). When we watch the games we always look for him and notice that he is always one of the first to be up cheering his team on, he always has a smile on his face and is running out to greet his teammates during time outs. Seems to be a good teammate. I really hope he can get things figured out.
 
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#371
#371
DJ can play above the rim, drives hard downhill, a gifted athlete that can score.
He will be a huge part of the team next year.
It sounds like Barnes will make sure the young man will get his degree .
 
#373
#373
haven't kept up with Rebels.

Is this 7'5" center gonna give us fits? Does he play major minutes? Anyone
 
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