The Official #6 Tennessee @ #1Auburn Game Thread, 8:30 PM ET, ESPN

[barney]

I think we will roll a lot of these teams we've lost to at home or in the tournments.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Name one time he has hit a shot like that in a similar situation. You can’t. I don’t think he has ever even taken a shot like that.

 

[first time caller]

I was all for the 3 to win but if you shoot that early go for the two

Right...on the road you go for the win. Just felt it was a little early. Plus I think Lanier was "feeling it" late. Would have liked to have seen the ball in his hands.

 

[OrangeInKy]

I hadn't really watched Auburn all year but honestly they are a pretty pedestrian team.

That’s not the Auburn that normally shows up, because the Deacon out coached Sweat Box. Their performance was pedestrian in large part to our defense.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

Because ZZ isn't a shooter

Yeah okay. He hasn't shot it as well this year from behind the arc, but he's totally capable.

 

[johnboyhunter]

What did I say about the coach? I simply said Tennessee had this game and blew it. Couldn't make a basket down the stretch.

Saying they blew it is pretty disrespectful. They fought hard and just didn’t go our way in a very hostile environment. Last play was set up well. Grab on our player not called. #1 team on their court .

 

[Freak]

I hadn't really watched Auburn all year but honestly they are a pretty pedestrian team.

Didn't I see they've beaten 7 top-25 teams now? Hardly pedestrian, but our defense held them in check.

 

[orchidvol]

I'm proud of the way the team fought tonight. I thought they were going to win. This is tough because it's the 5th heartbreaking loss in the past few weeks (2 for this team, 3 for the Lady Vols). It's especially tough because it happened on a lucky bounce 3-pointer against the #1 team on their home court.

 

[vol_smoothie]

I knew I should have just skipped this one. Now I'm too upset to sleep. lol.

I hear you. Time for some serious pharmaceuticals ............... and a stiff drink.

 

[vol94]

Oh I definitely agree there. ZZ going 6-6 at the line was huge.

Just don't think people can criticize others shooting this game while not acknowledging that ZZ shot even worse than the ones being criticized for

Good point. Chaz shot better than ZZ, as Z was 0-6 from three ball. I guess it seemed he **** better since he kept us in the game driving to the rim.

Igor going 1-6 is abysmal.

 

[DC_Vol]

That's a tough environment. I didn't think we'd win but I started believing when we had the lead late.

Me too. Up 4 with 2 minutes left. At that point I really was expecting to pull it out.

 

[hUTch2002]

I thought ZZ fired it off a hair too fast. Like they only had 3 seconds instead of 9

I was surprised by the quick shot but it was one of the better looks they got all night and was likely better than what they would’ve gotten otherwise.

 

[vavolfan6]

It sucks we lost. But I'm now 100% certain we are a better team than Auburn. We have the defensive tools to stop them and held them to 53 points on their home floor. I thought we looked like the quicker team, just a few 50/50 bounces kept going Auburn's way. ZZ layups rims out the second to last possession and then his three rims out to win the game. Meanwhile Auburn had a few offensive rebounds that were us blocking their shots and then the ball magically coming back to them. Oh, well.

Our biggest problem is we don't shoot well beyond 3 on the road. If Igor ever finds his 3 point shot again we would be the best team in the nation. But his trajectory and entire shooting motion looks lost. Not sure if it will come back. I just want good attempts. It's airball, backboard and nothing else, or high arching rainbow shots. But it's not only him. Lanier has been struggling to get open, particularly on the road against defenses that have the home crowd energizing them. He shoots well when open, but he isn't getting clear looks and not creating much on his own. Mashack had a few opportunities if he wanted to take them, but did not. Gainey shot a few, but was in foul trouble. ZZ can be hot or cold, but I give him some slack since he was the only one getting to the rim. Plus he had a 6-7 guy guarding him.

Anyways, I like the fight. It's a shame we don't get to play Auburn back in Knoxville. So the SEC season race is out of our hands. But on the brightside we are 3 points on the road away from being 19-1. So we are close.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Yes we do. Great comparison, though our program has more integrity than Jake ever dreamed.

True. Those guys took all my Grandma’s money a couple years after her husband died. I have a couple of the papers from it.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

That's a tough environment. I didn't think we'd win but I started believing when we had the lead late.

Yep, losing by 2 was a better outcome than expected. We played all 40 minutes too. Hate that it was taken out of our hands.

Felix was fouled twice and that to be called a walk instead was outrageous.

Got 3 more tough games, all at home 3-0 would be huge. But 2-1 is really a must

 

[zeppelin128]

ZZ couldn't hit the broad side of a barn either. He shot 26%, Gainey 30% and Lanier 36%

Huh, seemed like he had a better night than that. Maybe it was just the second half, but it felt like shots were falling for him better than the rest of the fellas.

 

[lvocd]

At least we won't have to endure Broome in a long NBA career, too. Something about him just rubs me the wrong way.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Didn't I see they've beaten 7 top-25 teams now? Hardly pedestrian, but our defense held them in check.

Yeah, pretty funny statement.

 

[volsarelife1]

Good point. Chaz shot better than ZZ, as Z was 0-6 from three ball. I guess it seemed he **** better since he kept us in the game driving to the rim.

Igor going 1-6 is abysmal.

Biggest problem is our team shooting overall. In the two losses to Florida and Auburn we're a combined 8/51 on 3s as a team. That just won't cut it

 

[NighthawkVol]

I hadn't really watched Auburn all year but honestly they are a pretty pedestrian team.

They have looked like the best team in America all year. The fact that Tennessee made them look pedestrian says a lot about Tennessee. But that’s lost on many.

 

[sami]

Really tough loss, but so proud of the effort, the guys battled all night long. I had no problem with the last call - Barnes went for the win, Z got a great look and it was halfway down, Chaz just mistimed his leap. No problem with it at all, as it figured they were going to blanket Chaz.

The officiating wasn't awful until the last two minutes, but that brutal non-call on Broome was at such a critical point, as Felix would have gone to the line. Broome gets away with absolute murder, he was hammering Felix all game.

That Auburn team is one of the most unlikable teams I've seen in years, a pack of loudmouth crybabies, especially Broome and that Baker-Mazara.

Just a quick drop in to give thoughts, and to no surprise the usual "we'll never win with Barnes" brigade is out in full force.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Didn't I see they've beaten 7 top-25 teams now? Hardly pedestrian, but our defense held them in check.

Right. It couldn’t be that Tennessee had something to do with it.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

You're right. Igor lost us the game with about 13 of his poor plays

lol....funny cause it's true.

 

[vavolfan6]

Right...on the road you go for the win. Just felt it was a little early. Plus I think Lanier was "feeling it" late. Would have liked to have seen the ball in his hands.

I would have liked to see Lanier also. ZZ was 0-5 up to that point from 3 and had a 6-7 guy with length covering him.

 

[rocketskates]

I think we will roll a lot of these teams we've lost to at home or in the tournments.

Silver lining, we found our identity to winning big games tonight. Ugly, physical matchups. Drive with ZZ and kick it out to Lanier if he’s on.