The Official #8 Tennessee vs. Austin Peay Game Thread, 6:00 PM ET, SEC Network+

[TooLegit2Quit]

Man, I love watching Awaka rebound. 9 rebounds in 11 minutes(4 offensive boards).

 

[Vol49er]

I wonder if Max Gilbert, the kicker we signed today, is Kent’s younger brother

 

[Vol49er]

I wonder if Max Gilbert, the kicker we signed today, is Kent’s younger brother

Kent appears to be from North Carolina and Max from Memphis so probably not

 

[OrngeJuiceJones]

Disappointed I wanted 100 and them score under 40. Bad performance. We should be up 60.

 

[Willy14]

Man, I love watching Awaka rebound. 9 rebounds in 11 minutes(4 offensive boards).

Make that 11 rebounds

 

[Hurley Mooncalf]

Awaka has the chance to be really special.

 

[Vols All Day]

JA missed the double-double by one rebound.

 

[SGMVols]

Awaka has the chance to be really special.

Bit of a bull in a china shop right now but he gets every rebound within a 10 foot radius of him. When he learns the offensive and defensive nuances a little better, look out.

 

[vol94]

Hes not good.

You apparently don’t watch much basketball.

 

[vol94]

Vescovi at 28 minutes played now. I get tightening the rotation going into conference play but get guys some run at this point. Phillips needs to be on the floor.

I heard somewhere that Vescovi admitted to Barnes he felt he was gassed and needed to be in better basketball shape to make a SEC run. Maybe he hasn’t been going 100% in practice or cardio due to the shoulder?

 

[Volfan1000]

Aidoo and Awaka certainly have the inside game of the future in capable hands.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Awaka just has a nose for the ball that no other player on this roster has. He is a magnet on the glass. So excited to see him develop. If he can ever develop a jumper….woof. Watch out!

 

[PandamoniumReigns]

May be ugly.

82-48. Who wins?

Pretty solid guess

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Some nice stats to get excited about heading into SEC play.

 

[omghulkhands]

I heard somewhere that Vescovi admitted to Barnes he felt he was gassed and needed to be in better basketball shape to make a SEC run. Maybe he hasn’t been going 100% in practice or cardio due to the shoulder?

He has always been in marathon shape. This is just him being wanting to be in ultra marathon shape

 

[cardvolfan]

Bit of a bull in a china shop right now but he gets every rebound within a 10 foot radius of him. When he learns the offensive and defensive nuances a little better, look out.

I don’t see him as a bull in a china shop at all. 12 games into his career he plays beyond his experience and is pretty intelligent in knowing how to play physically without bowling people over.

 

[Kas232323]

He had 16 against Arizona. Take your admitted trolling elsewhere.

He needs to play better but we’ve seen what he’s capable of at times and we need him.

It’s so nice to have whoever it is you’re arguing with on ignore.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Why can’t all of the guys on our roster have this mentality? Damn I already love Tobe.

 

[OrngeJuiceJones]

We should have won by 60 and scored 100 fire everyone and regular season Rick and fire Danny and Ticketmaster prices are too high and gas is high and my bourbon costs way too much it's too cold outside and I hate winter and Cole slaw

 

[cardvolfan]

Why can’t all of the guys on our roster have this mentality? Damn I already love Tobe.

Certainly it’s effort, but rebounding like Awaka is really an art form. It’s anticipation and vision and intelligence as well. It’s just a special sense guys like him have.

 

[JoAllan]

Is there a replay of this anywhere?

Wasn’t home to watch, and I can’t find now on YouTube or anywhere.

Might have to just watch ESPN highlights later I guess.

 

[OrngeJuiceJones]

Is there a replay of this anywhere?

Wasn’t home to watch, and I can’t find now on YouTube or anywhere.

Might have to just watch ESPN highlights later I guess.

Will be available on YouTube soon

 

[vol94]

He has always been in marathon shape. This is just him being wanting to be in ultra marathon shape

I love his passion and will to improve. That may be the reason Barnes kept him in the game.

 

[JoAllan]

Will be available on YouTube soon

SWEEEEEEET

 

[therickbol]

Certainly it’s effort, but rebounding like Awaka is really an art form. It’s anticipation and vision and intelligence as well. It’s just a special sense guys like him have.

Yes that is too much humility on his part. Or possibly just not grasping what it is that makes his rebounding ability special. The fact that he has that mentality to go along with his other attributes is what takes his rebounding into elite territory. He is elite at all these: vision to find the ball early as the shot goes up, anticipation to figure out what direction the miss will bounce off the rim, quick first step to get to the ball, strong hands to win possession of the ball. His rebounding is very similar to Rodman. Rodman was a little more twitchy and bouncy but at the age Awaka is much stronger than Rodman.

I think his offensive game is not as natural and at this point there is no telling what he will become on that end. Footwork not good yet. Doesn't display good touch. Not explosive at the rim. His "feel" offensively not good yet.

But no matter what happens on that end of the floor he could end up the best rebounder to ever play at UT.