The Official #6 Tennessee vs. Alabama Game Thread, 2:00 PM ET, ESPN2

#27
#27
Whatever gets the W, but I'd like to see the scoring spread out more. SV & JJJ need to make teams pay for all the focus that DK will get. ZZ and Aidoo continue to be solid. Defense and rebounding have to be stellar and the crowd must BRING IT!
 
#29
#29
Potential? Sure. Not trying to rain on the Knecht parade, but it's still a bit early to annoint him. Is he the type that will carry a program to and through March or just a really good player on a hot streak? Lights will be awfully bright today. I'll be curious to see how he plays in this one especially since bama isn't exactly known for their defense.
If it was a hot streak wouldn’t it be the outlier of a couple games? Beginning the year and back end of this stretch he’s averaging 23ppg over 12 games, he had a 5 game stretch in the middle he averaged 7ppg. Wouldn’t that be more accurate to call that a cold streak and the 23ppg the more “normal” or “average” and not a hot streak?
 
#34
#34
If it was a hot streak wouldn’t it be the outlier of a couple games? Beginning the year and back end of this stretch he’s averaging 23ppg over 12 games, he had a 5 game stretch in the middle he averaged 7ppg. Wouldn’t that be more accurate to call that a cold streak and the 23ppg the more “normal” or “average” and not a hot streak?
He also had an ankle sprain during that span. Guessing that had something to do with his lower production.
 
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#36
#36
Yeah, I’m wondering if Sears is hobbled and Vegas knows, it? Only thing that really makes sense to me.
Could be Sears, more than anything I just take it to mean Vegas likes Tennessee to win this by 5+…they felt like if they put the number at 4.5 that ll money would heavily favor Tennessee and they’d stand to lost a good bit of Tennessee indeed won by that 5+. They set it at 5.5 hoping for a 50/50 money split (always the goal), but money still has favored Tennessee so they’ve shifted it more.
 
#37
#37
If they shoot a reasonable percentage from 3 early they win easily, if not it could be a nail biter. They have so many options when they hit 3's its almost unstoppable. 30% would do it, just enough to stretch the defense.
I like our chances a lot if they only shoot 30% from 3
 
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#38
#38
I get that.. but you can trust that I'm literally just a student whose roommate is with the team every single day of their life ;) you can trust me
No I get that, and not doubting you, just saying you’d think that you would’ve had a nugget or two to share prior to today lol.
 
#40
#40
If it was a hot streak wouldn’t it be the outlier of a couple games? Beginning the year and back end of this stretch he’s averaging 23ppg over 12 games, he had a 5 game stretch in the middle he averaged 7ppg. Wouldn’t that be more accurate to call that a cold streak and the 23ppg the more “normal” or “average” and not a hot streak?
You could make that argument certainly. As you pointed out though, he does have a single digit stretch that goes along with these 30pt outings of late. The "average" is encouraging, but there's still a lot of ball to be played. One could also argue that he's run hot and cold so far this year. Again, the "potential" is undeniable, but I'm of a mind to watch it play out over the course of a long season. There's a reason they don't slap AA or POY awards on players in Jan. Hey, if fans want to crown him, that's fine by me, but I've seen guys have streaks here before only to frustrate the heck outta folks as the season wore on. I think the biggest thing is to not lay so much expectation on the one guy making us a one man team. We've got guys like Vescovi, JJJ....guys who are vets in this league who need to produce and do it consistently for Knecht and this team to reach their potential. So far it's been hit and miss with those guys offensively.
 
#41
#41
You could make that argument certainly. As you pointed out though, he does have a single digit stretch that goes along with these 30pt outings of late. The "average" is encouraging, but there's still a lot of ball to be played. One could also argue that he's run hot and cold so far this year. Again, the "potential" is undeniable, but I'm of a mind to watch it play out over the course of a long season. There's a reason they don't slap AA or POY awards on players in Jan. Hey, if fans want to crown him, that's fine by me, but I've seen guys have streaks here before only to frustrate the heck outta folks as the season wore on. I think the biggest thing is to not lay so much expectation on the one guy making us a one man team. We've got guys like Vescovi, JJJ....guys who are vets in this league who need to produce and do it consistently for Knecht and this team to reach their potential. So far it's been hit and miss with those guys offensively.
Be curious of the list of guys to average 18.5ppg+ through 17 games at Tennessee and then see what that dropped to?

I’m not saying we should crown him today, or go ahead and get the jersey ready for the rafters, but the average is the average…you look at other guys around the country and they also have some low scoring games as well, it happens, and as already mentioned Knecht had an injury during that timeframe.

It just seems to me much more likely that Knecht is a 18+PPG guy than he’s not, you seem to think otherwise.
 
#42
#42
Gonna be a tough game today. Bama averaging 90 a game. Gonna be interesting to see if we can play really well 2 games In row, it's gonna take a similar performance to the UF game to win today. Bama is good.
 
#43
#43
Whatever gets the W, but I'd like to see the scoring spread out more. SV & JJJ need to make teams pay for all the focus that DK will get. ZZ and Aidoo continue to be solid. Defense and rebounding have to be stellar and the crowd must BRING IT!

I agree with your first sentence, but if DK wants to score 40 again I’m fine if the scoring isn’t spread out more lol. Just win.
 
#44
#44
I get that.. but you can trust that I'm literally just a student whose roommate is with the team every single day of their life ;) you can trust me
Some of us welcome insiders with open arms! How bout some nuggets concerning our freshmen - anybody already have one foot out the door? What’s going on with Gainey’s collapse? Where’s Vescovi’s outside shot?
 
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#45
#45
Bama plays like bullies on steroids. Defensively they will mug you and hope the officials swallow their whistle and offensively they play like their hair is on fire by jacking 3’s or attacking the rim and getting to the free throw line. They average 90 a game and hold opponents to 73 a game. They shoot almost 50% from the field and 40% from three. They have taken 501 attempts with the 3 and average almost 12 makes a game,while opponents have taken 387. They shoot 78% from the foul line and taken 398 attempts to their opponents 363. They body up on drives and constantly reaching in for steals as they average almost 8 per game. We must value every possession and limit turnovers and most importantly win the rebound game. We gotta rely on our defense to slow these guys down. Barnes needs to work the officials from the get go. Don’t let oats beat him to the punch with the refs. Both teams are pretty deep. It would be nice to see JJJ, SV, or Gainey score double figures. If we can hold them to 30% shooting from 3 ( we can’t let them go off on us with 15 made 3’s) and limit their free throws I think we win by at least 8. Aidoo can’t disappear today from their physical play. Go Vols! Beat Bammer!
 
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#46
#46
I mean I'll tak3 30 a game from DK any time we can get it, but I think longer athletic teams are gonna plan well for it down the road. Gonna be difficult to keep it up all year. Really need some contribution from from JJJ and Vescovi if we want to make a long run. Really was hoping Gainey would be able to be more of a consistent scoring threat for us.
 
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#49
#49
Be curious of the list of guys to average 18.5ppg+ through 17 games at Tennessee and then see what that dropped to?

I’m not saying we should crown him today, or go ahead and get the jersey ready for the rafters, but the average is the average…you look at other guys around the country and they also have some low scoring games as well, it happens, and as already mentioned Knecht had an injury during that timeframe.

It just seems to me much more likely that Knecht is a 18+PPG guy than he’s not, you seem to think otherwise.
Nope. We don't disagree at all. I'm the kind that takes the season as a whole. Hope he's all that folks say and we have that break through season I've been waiting on for over 6 decades. I'll gladly eat crow. I've gathered a ton of recipes over the years.

Edit...gotta say tho...today's game is huge in terms of the league. Those special players will shine when the lights are their brightest. Pulling for him to finally get that 40 pt game.
 
#50
#50
I mean I'll tak3 30 a game from DK any time we can get it, but I think longer athletic teams are gonna plan well for it down the road. Gonna be difficult to keep it up all year. Really need some contribution from from JJJ and Vescovi if we want to make a long run. Really was hoping Gainey would be able to be more of a consistent scoring threat for us.
DK will be mugged today on drives and cuts. Gotta hope the refs blow the whistle. Earlier he struggled with physical play on his drives. I hope he collapses the defense and kicks to open shooters. ( but can SV, JJJ, or JG not pee on themselves today and knock down some open looks). We shall see. As always, Go Vols!
 
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