There's One Thing That Concerns Me About Tomorrow.

#26
#26
hatvol96 said:
He played McBee until it became obvious he couldn't do anything of substance. Bone was the next option. I'd almost always play the better defender when deciding between two players.
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Bone has been giving us some fantastic minutes in this tourney.
 
#27
#27
hmanvolfan said:
Lucas being out should help.
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Unfortunately they're still a pretty good team - at least good enough to beat us - without him. The loss more than anything hurts that I dont think they'd have a chance to hang with a UK/WVU or maybe even a Duke in a championship or final four game anymore
 
#28
#28
This game comes down not to the historic tendencies of the Elite 8, but rather to whether or not UT shows up to play. If they show up, they can beat anybody in the nation. Conversely, if they fail to show up, they can get blown off the court.

I give Izzo lots of credit for what he has done in the tourney before. He is the X factor for sure.

However, I really believe that the second half performance by Chism yesterday against OSU may have been the eureka moment for UT basketball (or at least so for this tournament run). That is, I expect UT to show up from here on out and play smart, competitive ball no matter what. Doesn't mean they will win, but I think the heart, head, and effort will all be there on display.

GO BIG ORANGE!!!!
 
#29
#29
We have the matchup advantages in this game. They have the coaching advantage (no offense to Pearl). They also have the experience. As long as we don't try to beat them with the outside shot, I think we win by 5-8. If we go on a wild 3 point shooting spree, all bets are off.
 
#30
#30
I think the return of Williams completely changed the Bone/Mcbee dynamic. With only one legitimate post we had to have someone to stretch the floor, and McBee was(seemingly) the better three point option of the two. Once Williams came back and we became balanced again our lack of outside shooting became less of a problem so he went back to Bone, who appears to be a better shooter anyway.
 
#31
#31
hvwarrior58 said:
We have the matchup advantages in this game. They have the coaching advantage (no offense to Pearl). They also have the experience. As long as we don't try to beat them with the outside shot, I think we win by 5-8. If we go on a wild 3 point shooting spree, all bets are off.
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I don't really think stating the fact that Bruce isn't on the level of Izzo is an offending remark. Pearl is still working his way into the list of top coaches. Still has to prove his worth by getting to a bunch of second weekends (well on his way to that). The coaching job he has done with this team will really be one of the points that will get him onto that list.
 
#32
#32
I can't imagine that we'll be able to score as easily inside against msu as we did against osu. The buckturds were soft. Still, this is a versatile team, which should help. We need to play big on the boards tomorrow.
 
#33
#33
I know that Pearl isn't on the same level as Izzo, but that doesn't mean that everyone on here does. Or, at least, there are a few posters that may take offense to that statement.
 
#34
#34
This team is smaller than OSU, but they are alot tougher. For the most part, we will likely see 6 main players. Lucious (5-11), Allen (6-3), Summers (6-4), Green (6-6), Morgan (6-8), and Roe (6-8). Allen and Morgan are both banged up and who knows how effective they will be. Lucious is still adjusting to being the leader, but he's getting better. We really need to lock down Summers. Of course, they could have some surprises come off of the bench and have an impact like the two kids from OSU (Madsen and Simmons?). I really think we should be able to stick with our game plan, though I don't think we will be as strained on defense. I could see us holding MSU to less than 65 points if we focus.
 
#35
#35
hvwarrior58 said:
This team is smaller than OSU, but they are alot tougher. For the most part, we will likely see 6 main players. Lucious (5-11), Allen (6-3), Summers (6-4), Green (6-6), Morgan (6-8), and Roe (6-8). Allen and Morgan are both banged up and who knows how effective they will be. Lucious is still adjusting to being the leader, but he's getting better. We really need to lock down Summers. Of course, they could have some surprises come off of the bench and have an impact like the two kids from OSU (Madsen and Simmons?). I really think we should be able to stick with our game plan, though I don't think we will be as strained on defense. I could see us holding MSU to less than 65 points if we focus.
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I think Roe is battling a knee injury too.
 
#36
#36
hvwarrior58 said:
This team is smaller than OSU, but they are alot tougher. For the most part, we will likely see 6 main players. Lucious (5-11), Allen (6-3), Summers (6-4), Green (6-6), Morgan (6-8), and Roe (6-8). Allen and Morgan are both banged up and who knows how effective they will be. Lucious is still adjusting to being the leader, but he's getting better. We really need to lock down Summers. Of course, they could have some surprises come off of the bench and have an impact like the two kids from OSU (Madsen and Simmons?). I really think we should be able to stick with our game plan, though I don't think we will be as strained on defense. I could see us holding MSU to less than 65 points if we focus.
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Granted Mich. State is much tougher than OSU at the post, this still should be a game where we have a decisive advantage on the block and on the glass.
 
#37
#37
Oh yeah, that is where we will win this game if we do win. If we try to get into a shooting contest, we won't hold our own.

Are Roe and Morgan both injured? I know one of them had a torn meniscus, but I thought it was Morgan. Maybe it is Roe. Maybe both are hurt along with Allen. Regardless, Izzo has had a tough run of injuries late in the season.
 
#38
#38
hvwarrior58 said:
Oh yeah, that is where we will win this game if we do win. If we try to get into a shooting contest, we won't hold our own.

Are Roe and Morgan both injured? I know one of them had a torn meniscus, but I thought it was Morgan. Maybe it is Roe. Maybe both are hurt along with Allen. Regardless, Izzo has had a tough run of injuries late in the season.
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IIRC, Morgan had a tooth knocked out in their 2nd round game, but I don't think he has any significant injuries. I think Allen and Roe are the guys who are playing hurt.
 
#39
#39
hvwarrior58 said:
Oh yeah, that is where we will win this game if we do win. If we try to get into a shooting contest, we won't hold our own.

Are Roe and Morgan both injured? I know one of them had a torn meniscus, but I thought it was Morgan. Maybe it is Roe. Maybe both are hurt along with Allen. Regardless, Izzo has had a tough run of injuries late in the season.
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I'm not sure which of their guys are injured. But absolutely, Izzo has had terrible run of injuries and has done a hell of a job to get to the elite eight.
 
#40
#40
I think if Lucas were playing, we lose. But, without him, I think MSU is going to have a hard time scoring. 59 points against Northern Iowa. I don't think MSU gets over 60 on us. If we lose, it may be the first time in a long time we have lost when holding a team under 60 points.
 
#41
#41
hvwarrior58 said:
Are Roe and Morgan both injured? I know one of them had a torn meniscus, but I thought it was Morgan.
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Roe is the knee/torn meniscus. Morgan had the tooth chipped last weekend but there are no issues affecting him tomorrow. Allen injured his foot last weekend and might be a little less mobile.
 
#43
#43
Xiphos said:
Roe is the knee/torn meniscus. Morgan had the tooth chipped last weekend but there are no issues affecting him tomorrow. Allen injured his foot last weekend and might be a little less mobile.
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welcome
post often
 
#44
#44
UTLCA said:
Welcome, Sparty. How confident are you given the state of the team?
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More confident than before the injuries even though they leave big questions. We're simply playing the best basketball of our season. Defensive focus, effort on the boards, and offensive efficiency are all improved during the tournament. This is the toughest I have seen them play and like Izzo loves to say "players play and tough players win."

The Vols look pretty tough too. They certainly have come together after what sounds like an ugly time earlier in the season. Luckily I am not an ESPN talking head and can just enjoy what promises to be a dogfight.
 
#45
#45
given all the upsets,and we're the lowest seeded team left
Hope that works in our favor too
 
#46
#46
hatvol96 said:
A coach who has participated in his fair share of them once told me a regional final is the most pressure packed game you can play in, because of the difference in winning and losing. If you win, you've made it to the sport's grandest stage. If you lose, you've simply had a good season. While I think Tennessee's history may help here, due to the fact there was immense pressure to break through the Sweet 16 barrier, you can't discount that Michigan State does have some advantage from having been at this point before. That said, Tennessee wins a close.
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Both teams will attack the glass, i like the matchup, all except Izzo. He just seems to be there every year, great coach.
 
#48
#48
hvwarrior58 said:
We have the matchup advantages in this game. They have the coaching advantage (no offense to Pearl). They also have the experience. As long as we don't try to beat them with the outside shot, I think we win by 5-8. If we go on a wild 3 point shooting spree, all bets are off.
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Exactly, I fear they will load the paint and force us to shoot outside. If they can? I don't know that they can't.
 
#50
#50
We are finally playing tournament tough basketball as a program. Great defense, good rebounding and mentally tough. A few years ago we lose this game for sure. With this group, we've got a good shot.

Agree with some earlier posts that we have to pound it inside, can't make this a 3 point exhibition. Feed the Chism and have JP take it to the hole early and often.
 
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