The Official #6 Tennessee @ Vanderbilt Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, SEC Network

[jbr82]

A precursor of March imo

 

[chuckb1448]

And the last foul on Awaka was BS! Vanderbilt fell like they got hit by a Mack Truck, watch the replay and Awaka swatted at a fly.... gosh darn it I hate Refs

 

[Mccage]

One bad lose in one thing now we are on 3 or 4. Several more loses coming, including some that will get ugly. Probably end up being a 5 seed and get ran by a 12 seed

You mind sharing your credentials to us.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Tough night. Two bad games can be shaken off as just a couple of off nights, but after three poor performances in a row, it’s safe to say this team is in a rut.

The season is far from over, and there is still time for this team to play it’s way out of this funk and have a memorable season. Still, hard to have much confidence in this group right now.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

And the last foul on Awaka was BS! Vanderbilt fell like they got hit by a Mack Truck, watch the replay and Awaka swatted at a fly.... gosh darn it I hate Refs

Officiating was questionable at best tonight. Even with a 70/30 advantage in the stands, the Vols definitely got a road whistle. I’m not gonna pin this one on the refs, though. We had numerous opportunities to throw a knockout punch on Vandy and failed to do it.

 

[cgrish]

Dumb thag we didn’t dunk the wide open play to go up by 4. I would have understood if it was only putting us up by 3. I honestly don’t care though. We are in the tournament either way. Being a 2 seed hasn’t helped us in the past. 3-4 seed will probably see the same 32 exit anyway.

I really can't think of a close game situation when you would not take a dunk

 

[vol94]

I don't get how that all happened in 4 seconds..

I was on the side behind the goal. It was a good play executed to the “T.” They reviewed the clock and we simply lost the game.

 

[OrangeBoro]

You mind sharing your credentials to us.

I have eyes and common sense

 

[vol94]

Sure Phillips could've dunked it but I bet he heard Barnes in his head telling him no.

Well he was incorrect as Barnes told him during timeout the the should’ve dunked it.

 

[vol94]

I just checked the video. He got it off in time. Barely.

Yep. They showed it at the arena once as well. It was close but Vandy executed. It’s frustrating and I’m disappointed with the loss, esp watching in person. But we need to find a go to guy as ON isn’t it. Neither is ZZ or Vescovi. Key played well but slower on defense.

 

[JustFunnN'Orange]

I didn't see first few minutes of game. Who was the SEC Network announcer that was trying to sound like Dick V??? What an idiot!

 

[vol94]

Officiating was questionable at best tonight. Even with a 70/30 advantage in the stands, the Vols definitely got a road whistle. I’m not gonna pin this one on the refs, though. We had numerous opportunities to throw a knockout punch on Vandy and failed to do it.

Let the screaming begin but the officiating wasn’t horrible. Vandy went inside all night and we didn’t couldn’t stop their big man. Awaka missing an easy layup and the fouling the three ball shooter was a game changer. We still tied it up but as one poster said, we had our chances.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

I have a lot of takeaways tonight, but here’s one regarding our rotation: Awaka and quite frankly even Uros need to start getting some of Olivier’s minutes.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Let the screaming begin but the officiating wasn’t horrible. Vandy went inside all night and we didn’t couldn’t stop their big man. Awaka missing an easy layup and the fouling the three ball shooter was a game changer. We still tied it up but as one poster said, we had our chances.

Respectfully disagree. I sat on the end we were shooting on in the second half, and there were at least two instances where we got absolutely mugged on inside shots and no whistle was blown.

 

[molsen81]

Well, it was a buzzer beater. Like Tony Soprano says “whatayuh gunnahdoo”

 

[Adam Sandler]

What the actual f. Forget about March, bamas gonna slaughter us a week from now.

 

[chuckb1448]

Officiating was questionable at best tonight. Even with a 70/30 advantage in the stands, the Vols definitely got a road whistle. I’m not gonna pin this one on the refs, though. We had numerous opportunities to throw a knockout punch on Vandy and failed to do it.

Nevertheless... Awaka didn't foul. Yup... is what it is

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Of course he did, after the fact

FFS if Barnes has to EXPLICITLY tell a 5 star NBA prospect that on a play designed to get him the ball as he's driving uncontested to the hoop to dunk it, then Phillips needs to take a long hard look at himself in the mirror and ask himself what the problem is.

My God, tonight is really not helping the "UT has a pretty stupid basketball fanbase" label.

 

[JCP201]

I hate to lose. Rick Barnes didn't make sure-shot free throw Vescovi miss, and as said above-- he didn't intimidate a 5 star "NBA" prospect into not taking a sure basket. He was all alone there -- would have been a four point game and possibly even an "and one".

I have read from critics on here that the poor little kid got all his spirit taken away by Barnes being hard on him. WTF? If he can't handle that, how is he suppose to make it in the NBA? (And if you go to the Lady VOLS board-- Kellie should be more like Pat?-- you think she wasn't hard on them??) Fans have no clue.

Z being in foul trouble never helps. My guess was Phillips was thinking he should run out the clock? I'm not sure what was going on there-- he got fouled before he got to the rim, but he wasn't moving as fast as he should have been, either. Awaka made a bad foul at the end-but he barely touched the guy, OTH, he was manhandled when he went for the basket right before and no whistle. Refs need to be consistent-- either let them play or you don't--both sides.

Personally, I think the team looks tired. Perhaps, having number one defense can get you to number two in the nation-- but it can probably takes it's toll later in season, Last night the best players were the ones who haven't played as much- Awaka and Key. Maybe they could use some rest? Our schedule is not getting any easier.

Rick Barnes recalls what went wrong for Tennessee in Vanderbilt buzzer-beater (on3.com)

 

[Butch s]

I didn't see first few minutes of game. Who was the SEC Network announcer that was trying to sound like Dick V??? What an idiot!

That would be the moron Pat Bradley

 

[feathersax]

I have eyes and common sense

Oooh, we're really impressed.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

I hate to lose. Rick Barnes didn't make sure-shot free throw Vescovi miss, and as said above-- he didn't intimidate a 5 star "NBA" prospect into not taking a sure basket. He was all alone there -- would have been a four point game and possibly even an "and one".

I have read from critics on here that the poor little kid got all his spirit taken away by Barnes being hard on him. WTF? If he can't handle that, how is he suppose to make it in the NBA? (And if you go to the Lady VOLS board-- Kellie should be more like Pat?-- you think she wasn't hard on them??) Fans have no clue.

Z being in foul trouble never helps. My guess was Phillips was thinking he should run out the clock? I'm not sure what was going on there-- he got fouled before he got to the rim, but he wasn't moving as fast as he should have been, either. Awaka made a bad foul at the end-but he barely touched the guy, OTH, he was manhandled when he went for the basket right before and no whistle. Refs need to be consistent-- either let them play or you don't--both sides.

Personally, I think the team looks tired. Perhaps, having number one defense can get you to number two in the nation-- but it can probably takes it's toll later in season, Last night the best players were the ones who haven't played as much- Awaka and Key. Maybe they could use some rest? Our schedule is not getting any easier.

Rick Barnes recalls what went wrong for Tennessee in Vanderbilt buzzer-beater (on3.com)

But that situation shouldve been discussed long before then. Those are the things you talk about in the summer, on film. Phillips shouldve known that he shouldve taken the easy 2 because the coaches shouldve drilled it into their heads long before tonight.

 

[JCP201]

But that situation shouldve been discussed long before then. Those are the things you talk about in the summer, on film. Phillips shouldve known that he shouldve taken the easy 2 because the coaches shouldve drilled it into their heads long before tonight.

You seriously don't think that a five star player doesn't know that if you get the ball with no defenders around, you don't go for the basket? Maybe he thought there was less time, or something... I don't know what he was thinking and Barnes didn't either.

 

[calban]

I still believe in the TN jinx. or curse. I mean, when ranked 1 or 2, 1 win in 7 or 8 tries at Vandy. And I probably jinxed Vescovi too. I uttered Money and my son who I talked into watching the last few seconds of the game yelled Jinxed em. Woe is me.

 

[OrangeBoro]

I am still sick, losing to Kentucky at home stings, losing to a bad Florida team hurts but there is no pain as a UT fan like losing to vandy in anything sport other than baseball. Simply can't happen