cncchris33
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Always love it when the seniors win on their special day. Great group of seniors who have represented their university with class. Not one off court incident (sans McRae's freshman outburst on the team bus), not one brush with authorities, and loyalty despite an ugly divorce with between their former coach and the school they represent. That had to be hard for them. To the game...
1. Defense, defense, defense. It comes as no surprise to me that the past three victories have started with elite level defense. We aren't beating teams. We are annihilating teams.
2. It has started with defense, but the offensive tempo and fluidity are so much more improved than a month ago. The team (and coaches) seemingly 'get it' now. A special season was a real possibility had they bought in earlier, but they are peaking at the right time, and that is huge. They just need to keep it up into the SECT.
3. Seniors carried the load today. Love seeing that. This team is experienced, and it's great to see that becoming an advantage when it seemed like it was a wasted advantage earlier this season.
4. This team goes as Antonio Barton goes. He has been so much more involved recently than he was earlier this year. He really makes this team go when he's allowed to, and that shot is sooo sweet.
5. Stokes=manchild.
6. CCM has really earned his stripes in the last four games. He has decided to change things up when what he had planned didn't work. He finally decided that a strict, predictable man-to-man defense wasn't effective, and mixed in the zone. He let his team push the tempo. He took the reins off his PG. For a much maligned coach, he has pushed all the right buttons recently.
7. The focus and effort must continue. We can't assume the work is done and roll into Atlanta and coast. Keep the foot on the gas.
8. We have a killer instinct that we have lacked the past couple seasons where we tended to play down to our competition. When we would get up early in the past, we seemed to allow teams to creep back into games. Now we are putting our foot on their throat. That comes with experience and leadership.
9. JRich needs some recognition. His defense is almost always good, but in the past three games, it has been next level. No one should want to face him right now.
10. Competition aside, we have beaten three straight conference teams by an average of 30 points. We averaged 76 points, and gave up an average of 46. Let that sink in.
On to Atlanta...Go Vols!
1. Defense, defense, defense. It comes as no surprise to me that the past three victories have started with elite level defense. We aren't beating teams. We are annihilating teams.
2. It has started with defense, but the offensive tempo and fluidity are so much more improved than a month ago. The team (and coaches) seemingly 'get it' now. A special season was a real possibility had they bought in earlier, but they are peaking at the right time, and that is huge. They just need to keep it up into the SECT.
3. Seniors carried the load today. Love seeing that. This team is experienced, and it's great to see that becoming an advantage when it seemed like it was a wasted advantage earlier this season.
4. This team goes as Antonio Barton goes. He has been so much more involved recently than he was earlier this year. He really makes this team go when he's allowed to, and that shot is sooo sweet.
5. Stokes=manchild.
6. CCM has really earned his stripes in the last four games. He has decided to change things up when what he had planned didn't work. He finally decided that a strict, predictable man-to-man defense wasn't effective, and mixed in the zone. He let his team push the tempo. He took the reins off his PG. For a much maligned coach, he has pushed all the right buttons recently.
7. The focus and effort must continue. We can't assume the work is done and roll into Atlanta and coast. Keep the foot on the gas.
8. We have a killer instinct that we have lacked the past couple seasons where we tended to play down to our competition. When we would get up early in the past, we seemed to allow teams to creep back into games. Now we are putting our foot on their throat. That comes with experience and leadership.
9. JRich needs some recognition. His defense is almost always good, but in the past three games, it has been next level. No one should want to face him right now.
10. Competition aside, we have beaten three straight conference teams by an average of 30 points. We averaged 76 points, and gave up an average of 46. Let that sink in.
On to Atlanta...Go Vols!
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