The Official #6 Tennessee vs. Missouri Game Thread, 6:00 PM ET, SEC Network

[vol94]

I think Arkansas and auburn will be nailbiters. We will lose one of A&M, Arkansas, and auburn. Kentucky I think is a 50/50.

I will feel better about March if we go 4-2, worst case 3-3.

 

[RockyTop140]

You have no clue what you’re talking about, I was a college athlete. Were you?

Not hating, but genuinely curious. What sport did you play?

 

[BreatheUT]

What I'm thinking too. This hurts me. I can only imagine how they're feeling.

I can't imagine two more orange kool-aid delusional posts.

 

[vol94]

I think it's a hard one because of the parity of college basketball this year. It is incredibly difficult for a team to win on the road. Remember when Kansas lost 3 straight games and it was the end of the world for them? I'm thinking we have a similar bounce back against AL. KY and Auburn will both be fighting for their NCAA tournament lives when we play them on the road so I'm giving them the edge. We take one on the road from A&M and hold serve at home over USC and Arky.

Bama - W
Ky - L
A&M - W
USCjr - W
Arkansas - W
Auburn - L

23-8

I’d take 4-2 all day long.

 

[RockyTop140]

I will feel better about March if we go 4-2, worst case 3-3.

That’s the hope. In years past we’ve peaked too early. We are at a low right now. Hopefully we can peak at the right time.

 

[Tenacjim]

Actually, I think we beat A&M and lose to Arky.

It's not the end of the world ... even if we fall all the way to a 10 seed (which I don't see happening). A good draw can always happen. You never know.

Well, the knock on Barnes is “wasting high seeds”. It’s also factual.

NOW, wouldn’t it be the most Barnes & TN “thing” ever to go in as a low seed and win the whole thing????

 

[TNVOLFN]

Not hating, but genuinely curious. What sport did you play?

Football 4 years in college; basketball, baseball, and football in HS.

 

[tombowalker]

Lol. Yeah, I’d pick Vescovi over Awaka or Uros, but that’s it. If you’re talking normal in -game free throws, sure, but he’s shown his inability to ice a game not once, but twice... How much larger of a sample size do you need?

How large of a sample would I need? Certainly more than 3 shots total.

At one point, Vescovi's percentage was 90+% in the final 4 minutes. Missing 3 FT's total doesn't erase that.

Again, this is just an emotional, knee-jerk reaction based on a tiny sample.

 

[tombowalker]

Okay, genius. Doing something that would have prevented a loss is dumb, but not doing it and losing is smart? I’ll go out on a limb and venture you’re not a CEO.

He's not wrong.

A half-court launch is low percentage.
Overtime is a tossup.

 

[BradstarVols]

Candy sucks, but Mizzou I’d call good.

I don't think MO is that good. They were 6-5 in the SEC coming into this game. They just happened to hit numerous crazy shots today from 3.

 

[TennVols12]

You have no clue what you’re talking about, I was a college athlete. Were you?

Lol

 

[ColinS]

I don't think MO is that good. They were 6-5 in the SEC coming into this game. They just happened to hit numerous crazy shots today from 3.

That was one of the best displays of shot making I've ever seen.

 

[Hbg]

I don't mean to interrupt your small sample, knee-jerk reaction....

But anyone with sense would want Vescovi at the line in this situation.

Not me, he’s not the best ft shooter on the team % wise

 

[hUTch2002]

Barnes said he didnt want to go to OT because of how many minutes those guys played in the second half. He didnt think they had the legs for OT.

Bizarre answer. Why assume the made 3? Why not simply say we thought fouling was our best path to victory?

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

I can't imagine two more orange kool-aid delusional posts.

How? You think the players don't care? That's delusional.

 

[WaywardVol]

You can’t go 25 min with a guy who avg 3.5 per game. Phillips scores 33% more per minute played than Mashack and there’s very little drop off in defense.

We just did. I watched it. So did you. You think Mashack’s numbers don’t improve with extra minutes? That’s pretty simple math.

 

[WaywardVol]

I feel like with Phillips and his ability, you need to let him play, and grow as he plays. Sitting a talented freshmen usually never ends well, if you know what I mean.

This kid was on the fast track out of here when he arrived. He has a crazy big NIL deal. That’s why he’s starting. And I’m not convinced he doesn’t go pro despite his lackluster year. I’d say Barnes is/was more in danger of losing Awaka by not playing him over Uros and ON. Awaka has shown more potential than any post we have. If we’re honest, he’s shown more potential than Phillips.

 

[VOLnVANDYland]

How? You think the players don't care? That's delusional.

WHAT he was referring to was thinking the team “will limp in, then make a deep run”…. NOW THAT IS DELUSIONAL

 

[KTrain]

I don't think MO is that good. They were 6-5 in the SEC coming into this game. They just happened to hit numerous crazy shots today from 3.

They hit 14 out of 26 for 54% some where highly contested one banked in pure luck. They are 36% on the season from 3, which is good. If they could shoot 54% and put-up 25+ 3s a game, they would be hard to beat by anybody. JMO, even though we are rated as one of the toughest Ds in the nation Vanderbilt & Missouri had their best shooting performance vs us. Was it just luck or is something changing.

 

[Zues1]

This kid was on the fast track out of here when he arrived. He has a crazy big NIL deal. That’s why he’s starting. And I’m not convinced he doesn’t go pro despite his lackluster year. I’d say Barnes is/was more in danger of losing Awaka by not playing him over Uros and ON. Awaka has shown more potential than any post we have. If we’re honest, he’s shown more potential than Phillips.

Awaka is going to be a big old man next season. He has a huge frame to add muscle to.

 

[Vols8086]

This kid was on the fast track out of here when he arrived. He has a crazy big NIL deal. That’s why he’s starting. And I’m not convinced he doesn’t go pro despite his lackluster year. I’d say Barnes is/was more in danger of losing Awaka by not playing him over Uros and ON. Awaka has shown more potential than any post we have. If we’re honest, he’s shown more potential than Phillips.

That’s simply false in regards to Phillips. He and his family have never been hell bent on being a 1 and done and were very open to the idea of being in Knoxville for more than one season. They haven’t shifted in that stance.

Also he is not being talked about as a first rounder at all by anybody right now. If the season ended today I would expect him to be back.

 

[BreatheUT]

How? You think the players don't care? That's delusional.

They care. You said you think the team goes on a deep run into the tournament. That's fandom talking.

 

[GoVols9800]

$100 to a charity?

Sounds great to me!

 

[BradstarVols]

That was one of the best displays of shot making I've ever seen.

Probably won't happen again for them all season. Just a fluke game.

 

[BreatheUT]

Lol. Yeah, I’d pick Vescovi over Awaka or Uros, but that’s it. If you’re talking normal in -game free throws, sure, but he’s shown his inability to ice a game not once, but twice... How much larger of a sample size do you need?

I was sold on Vescovi as a FT finisher but you don't blowtorch two games at the FT line and still be looked at the same. Let's keep in mind he is not shooting 80% this year so it's not like these misses are anomalies.