This season's inconsistency started before the season began

[Plateauvol]

When we failed to pick up a quality point guard. I'd the Vols would not have missed on the kid from St. Louis and the kid thar went to Texas, ZZ could come off the bench and we would have another scoring option.

 

[Special Ed]

Tyreke was definitely not the Key to running the offense.
Surely there was a better option in the transfer portal.
Our recruiting staff clearly needs to aim higher.

 

[turbovol]

Sure, another scoring guard would have been nice. Another scoring /anybody/ would have been nice.

 

[CAVPUT]

Maybe it's the type of player Barnes covets? Defense first, last, always? If the kid can also score the ball, it's a plus but he won't take a kid or play a kid that doesn't defend at an elite level? Dunno, but we seem to have more than a fair share of offensively challenged players. As others have mentioned, it blows my mind that players at this level struggle with FTs and layups.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Point guard is not the problem. Scoring is the problem.

This offense needs a guy who can score at will to open the floor for others to make easy shots. With no one stepping up to shoot from outside, opposing defenses find it easy To defend. Case in point, no one wanted to shoot in first half against UK. Things went better the second half because at least SantI started trying to score.

 

[volfeeva]

It does seem like they lack confidence to shoot the ball. But I think that could reflect how they practice= running the set play of trying to work the ball inside and when defenses stop that they don't know what to do next. And it could be from nobody hitting any outside shots in practice as well.

 

[bigdaddy]

It does seem like they lack confidence to shoot the ball. But I think that could reflect how they practice= running the set play of trying to work the ball inside and when defenses stop that they don't know what to do next. And it could be from nobody hitting any outside shots in practice as well.

We also have to be the worst at finishing from 2ft and in.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

We also have to be the worst at finishing from 2ft and in.

To me the missing the 2 ft. comes sometimes from trying to avoid contact instead of initiating the contact and drawing a foul. At the rim you have to be definitive and not timid.

 

[fullmetalvol]

To me the missing the 2 ft. comes sometimes from trying to avoid contact instead of initiating the contact and drawing a foul. At the rim you have to be definitive and not timid.

You are right, many of the fouls called against UT's big guys underneath are the offensive players jumping into the defender. Tennessee bigs seem to shoot fades and hooks rather than just attacking the basket and the defender that's in the way.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

You are right, many of the fouls called against UT's big guys underneath are the offensive players jumping into the defender. Tennessee bigs seem to shoot fades and hooks rather than just attacking the basket and the defender that's in the way.

Since you can‘t get a charge in arc, common sense would tell you initiate contact…

 

[tennrich1]

You are right, many of the fouls called against UT's big guys underneath are the offensive players jumping into the defender. Tennessee bigs seem to shoot fades and hooks rather than just attacking the basket and the defender that's in the way.

I agree. I think the only big at this point that has to the strength and feel in his hands to to straight up and into the defender to draw fouls is Uros. I think TA will learn how to use his strength and be really good though. Aidoo does have great touch in the paint but still struggles IMO with “weak” hands. I do like how Uros uses the backboard and think ON could take a lesson from that.

 

[rdk4121]

Maybe it's the type of player Barnes covets? Defense first, last, always? If the kid can also score the ball, it's a plus but he won't take a kid or play a kid that doesn't defend at an elite level? Dunno, but we seem to have more than a fair share of offensively challenged players. As others have mentioned, it blows my mind that players at this level struggle with FTs and layups.

To be fair, Key was a score first guy at Indiana state. He averaged over 15 ppg for 3 consecutive years in fact. He just hasn't shown that he can be consistent at this level. Though, that's kind of what a typical 6th man is.

 

[joevols89]

Tyreke was definitely not the Key to running the offense.
Surely there was a better option in the transfer portal.
Our recruiting staff clearly needs to aim higher.

There was we just missed on them. Brandon Murray or a PG would've been huge upgrades.

 

[Hank Bukowski]

Point guard is not the problem. Scoring is the problem.

This offense needs a guy who can score at will to open the floor for others to make easy shots. With no one stepping up to shoot from outside, opposing defenses find it easy To defend. Case in point, no one wanted to shoot in first half against UK. Things went better the second half because at least SantI started trying to score.

We need more than one guy like that. We need guys whose job in HS was to score and dish out assists. Those are measurable stats. Wonder how many of our recruits in the last five classes or so averaged 20+ points in HS…and/or 7+assists…against quality competition. Wonder how many of those kids then washed out when they got to UT. Wonder why they washed out. Wonder if it was because they couldn’t or wouldn’t play defense the way Barnes demanded.

Just wondering out loud.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Another season, another reason for making Whoopie...

 

[cncchris33]

When we failed to pick up a quality point guard. I'd the Vols would not have missed on the kid from St. Louis and the kid thar went to Texas, ZZ could come off the bench and we would have another scoring option.

I said it 8 months ago, and yes, it's still true.

 

[njvols]

Point guard is not the problem. Scoring is the problem.

This offense needs a guy who can score at will to open the floor for others to make easy shots. With no one stepping up to shoot from outside, opposing defenses find it easy To defend. Case in point, no one wanted to shoot in first half against UK. Things went better the second half because at least SantI started trying to score.

We've got several who "should" be able to give us 15 points most every night. Our experienced leaders, other than ZZ have basically all regressed on the scoring front. Think we were about 15 in preseason. Maybe they nailed it. Sure, we can beat #1 Bama, Kansas, etc, but as much as I hate to say it, our inconsistent scoring will give us another early tourney exit. I like being in top 10, and props to the team for that, but if we ever want to get more respect in CBB, at some point, we've got to be better than a good/solid regular season team. Bill Parcells was right...you are what your record says you are.

 

[sami]

Point guard is not the problem. Scoring is the problem.

This offense needs a guy who can score at will to open the floor for others to make easy shots. With no one stepping up to shoot from outside, opposing defenses find it easy To defend. Case in point, no one wanted to shoot in first half against UK. Things went better the second half because at least SantI started trying to score.

Bingo. One of two players who can get their own shot or break a defense down creates open looks for your shooters like Santi. He would average 20 a game if he didn't have to work and scrape for every open look he gets. Having shot creators makes a defense double, which frees up your shooters.

We have to grind for every open look and next to no easy baskets in transition, and that's a hell of a hard way to beat good teams.

 

[feathersax]

When we failed to pick up a quality point guard. I'd the Vols would not have missed on the kid from St. Louis and the kid thar went to Texas, ZZ could come off the bench and we would have another scoring option.

Point guard....it's been proven over & over by every team this is a crucial position. While others have been adequate fill-ins, past players like Kenny Chandler, C.J. Watson, Jordan Bone, Tony Harris, etc. are the 'quarterbacks' on the court.