The Official #5 Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt Game Thread, 1:00 PM ET, SEC Network

[Chaz-Vol]

For as bad as first half was yesterday really impressed with moxy in second half. These slow first half starts need to stop where they're digging big holes.

 

[vols 30]

For as bad as first half was yesterday really impressed with moxy in second half. These slow first half starts need to stop where they're digging big holes.

True seems like the opposing team has been getting an 8 or 10 point lead before the first TV timeout the last several games. Can't let that happen Saturday against A&M.

I think having the week off will lead to a better start Saturday. Should be well rested and fired up. Maybe similar to Oklahoma

 

[GBO18]

Posters calling out other posters for frustrations during a game AFTER the game is over during a huge comeback win ….

is way more annoying than critical posters during the game imo. It shows insecurity and desperation to add to their own “resume” instead of simply discussing the game. A lot of personal vendettas

Nothing wrong with calling out posters who say stuff like man we got so lucky in other games. This team is not good no clue how we won any games. Those posters deserved to be highlighted and called out for the stupidity. It is funny. It’s the same group of posters every game thread.

 

[VOLtaism]

For as bad as first half was yesterday really impressed with moxy in second half. These slow first half starts need to stop where they're digging big holes.

The second-half difference was that ZZ started looking to score first and assist second, the opposite of half-one. Might be a better game plan moving forward.

 

[walkenvol]

Nothing wrong with calling out posters who say stuff like man we got so lucky in other games. This team is not good no clue how we won any games. Those posters deserved to be highlighted and called out for the stupidity. It is funny. It’s the same group of posters every game thread.

Thought that was what the “ignore” feature was for?

 

[omghulkhands]

Nothing wrong with calling out posters who say stuff like man we got so lucky in other games. This team is not good no clue how we won any games. Those posters deserved to be highlighted and called out for the stupidity. It is funny. It’s the same group of posters every game thread.

Yeah. The substance of the post matters.

People venting frustration with that particular game or performance is fine. Who cares.

It’s the people that say genuinely irrational, illogical or stupid things that relate to the coach, players, team with such confidence that suck.

 

[GBO18]

Thought that was what the “ignore” feature was for?

Not for me. Like I said it is funny to me to read all the foolish comments so no need for the ignore feature to be used.

 

[GBO18]

Yeah. The substance of the post matters.

People venting frustration with that particular game or performance is fine. Who cares.

It’s the people that say genuinely irrational, illogical or stupid things that relate to the coach, players, team with such confidence that suck.

100%.

 

[cardvolfan]

The second-half difference was that ZZ started looking to score first and assist second, the opposite of half-one. Might be a better game plan moving forward.

I think what he was looking for was more of the opportunity to dissect the defense through penetration to create good open looks. As soon as the first best opportunity came, he was willing to take the shot if the opportunity was there. He had 8 assists, so he hit some other guys with open looks as well. He’s got to be as aggressive in the 1st half as he was in the 2nd as this team moves forward.

 

[cardvolfan]

On another note, officials called 7 total fouls the 1st half and 26 the 2nd half. Four times more fouls the 2nd half.

 

[hUTch2002]

The game of basketball is all about runs. Today we played flat the first half and they took advantage, but it was an entirely different second half, it was under 8 minutes to go before Vandy even reached 20 points that half...and if not for Edwards getting hot they wouldn't have scored 70.

My biggest frustration with the 2 games against Vandy, they have 3 "bigs" and they're all 6'7 or 6'8 and twice now they've out rebounded us.

But claiming being down in the first half suddenly meant this team was "done" and would finish the SEC 500 or worse is just a kneejerk reaction. Most of us regular "sunshine" pumpers just don't see the point in posting that nonsense.

Sitting here watching the game I was absolutely having kneejerk reactions and bitching that first half....but the desire to run to the forum to post it like it's a good take or adds any value to a game thread is weird.

Agreed, as frustrating as it was, this team has proven several times now that they will fight back. The only question is would it be enough to win and it was.

 

[hUTch2002]

Wonder if it’s one of those times Barnes should consider giving the team a few days off to for a mental and physical recovery. The SEC is a grind like never before and a team with a short bench needs some consideration. JMO

No question the rest is needed. Another practice or two at this juncture isn’t more valuable than the rest in my opinion. I trust our HOF coach knows better than I do though so I guess I’ll live with whatever he decides, as long as he knows I’ll be watching!

 

[hUTch2002]

Care to show me how many times a top 5 team was down 16 in the first half at home this season? I’d say less than 5 times? That’s fairly uncommon.

Home court advantage is probably more pronounced in CBB than most any other sport.

Pretty sure UF was to Mizzou but of course it’s likely less than 5 times. It’s rare it happens to us too but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t ever happen.

 

[hUTch2002]

Im just gonna enjoy every dub and not worry about what may happen. There have been many years I’ve been very confident going into the tournament and it didn’t work out well then either. It’s a crapshoot and about matchups. So many years we see teams nobody expects to do much, get a good draw and make the most of it. We will see, but for now, Im going to enjoy wins when they come.

I do relish in the fact that absolutely no one will want to see us in their bracket. I know some snarky remarks about UK will roll around in minds but even they wouldn’t want to see us in the Dance. Different game there.

 

[hUTch2002]

The guy thinks he is Nostradamus all of a sudden. That's real easy to do when the game is over and you know the score. Gun to anyone's head after wer were down 16 and they had to choose and I guarantee you not one person picks TN to win that game

Not sure about that but it certainly looked grim. We have shown the ability to come back so a small percentage would’ve predicted a comeback. If I’m
being honest, I probably wouldn’t have. I knew they COULD but they sure didn’t look like they WOULD. And Vandy seemed to have luck on their side.

 

[walkenvol]

Anybody at halftime didn’t consider how disappointing it would be if we fell to a 3-4 seed is an eternal optimist.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

So just seeing if it's happened 5 times...harder to find "down by and won" stats without going to individual box scores (and I'm not doing that)

These are AP rankings at the time of the game too, not current

1/14/25 - (21) Ole Miss at (4) Alabama by 10 (never got up by 15 or more though)
1/14/25 - Missouri at (5) Florida by 1 (were up by 16 at half)
2/1/25 - Kansas State wins at (3) Iowa State by 19
2/1/25 - (25) UConn at (9) Marquette by 8 (they were up by as many as 22 in the 1st half with 2:27 left)
2/8/25 - (6) Florida wins at (1) Auburn by 9 (they were up by as many 21 in the 2nd half with 14:21 left)

All top 10 home teams that were down by at least 15 (except Bama) and lost. It happens that's why the tournament is called March Madness.

 

[therealitytheory]

Posters calling out other posters for frustrations during a game AFTER the game is over during a huge comeback win ….

is way more annoying than critical posters during the game imo. It shows insecurity and desperation to add to their own “resume” instead of simply discussing the game. A lot of personal

After the game is a perfect time to call out that spew. Or the next day. Or now.
Don't like it? Tough.
GBO!!

 

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

After the game is a perfect time to call out that spew. Or the next day. Or now.
Don't like it? Tough.
GBO!!

GBO

But they pretend they weren’t frustrated and knew the Vols were gonna pull it out the whole time. Hypocritical. Guarantee they felt the same way as those they are criticizing during the moment. Hindsight is 20/20 for anyone.

It is important to distinguish between the trolls/baiters and passionate fans, though. Some just fishing for a reaction, others genuinely venting.

 

[vols 30]

After the game is a perfect time to call out that spew. Or the next day. Or now.
Don't like it? Tough.
GBO!!

Why not during the game?

 

[therealitytheory]

Why not during the game?

I was at the game.

 

[Redheads]

On another note, officials called 7 total fouls the 1st half and 26 the 2nd half. Four times more fouls the 2nd half.

I bet if you look at every basketball game in the country this would be true. I think a big part of it is that in the second half, each team is playing offense in front of its own bench. Therefore, you’ve got a coach screaming at an official who has to stand over on that sideline. In our second half, we reached a point where they had called 8 fouls on Vandy and 2 on us (mainly because we were driving the ball and they were chucking up 3s). You could see it coming. Their coach is going crazy and, all of a sudden, they call us for 3 straight ticky-tack hand check. Got to even up those fouls! I don’t understand why officials put up with someone like Pearl screaming in their ear the whole game. They used to call techs, now nobody has the guts.

 

[cardvolfan]

I bet if you look at every basketball game in the country this would be true. I think a big part of it is that in the second half, each team is playing offense in front of its own bench. Therefore, you’ve got a coach screaming at an official who has to stand over on that sideline. In our second half, we reached a point where they had called 8 fouls on Vandy and 2 on us (mainly because we were driving the ball and they were chucking up 3s). You could see it coming. Their coach is going crazy and, all of a sudden, they call us for 3 straight ticky-tack hand check. Got to even up those fouls! I don’t understand why officials put up with someone like Pearl screaming in their ear the whole game. They used to call techs, now nobody has the guts.

Agree with all of this. I noticed at the 8/2 point and knew it was changing. The officials allowing Vandy’s “mug and assault” offense the first 12-15 minutes was egregious. On the flip side, if officials are allowing that then don’t adjust until you have to. I will say that Jaylen Carey is one of the outright dirtiest players I’ve ever seen.

 

[TennEddie]

If I was guessing they won't have a "formal" practice until Tuesday. Of course many of them will be in there shooting tomorrow and Monday

I hope they are practicing free throws.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I hope they are practicing free throws.

They do all the time. Our team FT% is pretty damn good. Mid 70s