1. Maze seems to be a different player lately. Playing the 2 some appears to have given him more confidence in his three point shot and he has figured out that it is very difficult to defend a strong, quick PG that drives tot he bucket. Led the team in scoring and assists (though only 3 and 3 turnovers), but his aggressiveness was huge today.
2. It makes me tired just looking at Chism. He has put so much sweat into a UT uniform, I almost ache when I seem him banging around. Will go down as one of my all-time favorite Vols. And he has had to do it all on his own -- unlike Patterson at KY, Chism doesn't get his hand held by the refs in every game; in fact, they are constantly allowing him to get pounded and they call an enormous number of BS calls on him.
3. JP Prince actually played intelligently today and was key with his rebounding and play-making for others. But most importantly, his aggressiveness led to fouls and he shot 80% from the FT line. It wouldn't be exageratting to say that his FT shooting was THE difference in the game. He creates enough charges on his own without incompetent SEC refs giving him BS charges, which happened with his 3rd foul today. Having a 6'7 guy who can handle the ball like a PG and has the wingspan of a 6'11 guy can be an amazing weapon when his game above the shoulders matches his game below the shoulders.
4. Brian Williams is a very good passer for his size, but he lacks an aggressive streak -- in the great tradition of wimpy UT big men, he would pump fake a 5'11 guy. And he can't shoot FTs. Thus, the only time he should touch the ball is when he is going to pass it or after a rebound. Otherwise, it's almost a turnover.
5. Kenny Hall is going to be really, really good. Kid has all the tools and will get stronger and more experienced as a ball handler. I can't wait to watch him develop.
6. This team would be so much better if we had a reliable three point shooter. Hopson continues to drive his percentage into the ground. McBee hit one, but only took one and he doesn't have the athleticism to create a three point shot. He has to be open. Maze did well today. Goins is a "Nooooo" three point shooter. Chism may be the most reliable, but our wing players too infrequently look for him trailing.
7. I still view Stephen Pearl as a neutral body -- he giveth some on offense and taketh away at least as much on defense and on the glass. Two aggressive plays on offense for layups, but unable to box out a larger player on a FT. And 2 rebounds in 15 minutes. Same number as McBee.
8. Devon Downey is sick. How good would this team be if he had picked UT instead of USC when he was transferring from Cinncy? If not for the SEC's love and bias toward KY, Downey would be easily SEC POY.
9. Hopson has a lot of growing to do. He played more minutes than anyone and besides grabbing 6 rebounds, had a fairly poor overall game. I hope that Tatum's return and taking some of Hopson's minutes will improve our outside shooting and help take some pressure off of Hopson.
10. There are only two ways to avoid the SEC's favorite lover (KY) in the tournament. Either win out and hope Vandy loses to KY, FL, and Arkansas, or lose at FL and otherwise win and hope the Gators win out. I actually wouldn't mind beating KY, Arkansas and MSU but losing at FL and finishing 4th in the SEC East. That would put us playing Alabama, Auburn, or Ole Miss in the first round of the tourney and then playing Arkansas or MSU in the quarters and probably Vandy, Ole Miss or Bama in the semis before facing the Conference --er, I mean, KY -- in the Championship game. The only hope of winning the SEC tourney for any team other than KY this year is that the SEC is embarassed to play 8 on 5 on National TV in the Championship Game.
11. A word on the refs. For the most part, they did okay, but it only takes one and the one imbecile called a block a charge on JP, called goal tending on JP when he didn't come close to touching the ball, and gave USC the ball when Wayne Chism knocked it out of bounds onto Downey, who was laying out of bounds. It is extremely frustrating to have either corrupt refs who want to make sure KY or Vandy win or incompetent buffoons who don't have the wherewithal to distinguish between a goal tend and a missed FG.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO EXPLAIN TO A MODERATOR THAT SOUTH CAROLINA IS KNOWN AS "THE COCKS" -- KINDA LIKE UT IS KNOWN AS "THE VOLS"
2. It makes me tired just looking at Chism. He has put so much sweat into a UT uniform, I almost ache when I seem him banging around. Will go down as one of my all-time favorite Vols. And he has had to do it all on his own -- unlike Patterson at KY, Chism doesn't get his hand held by the refs in every game; in fact, they are constantly allowing him to get pounded and they call an enormous number of BS calls on him.
3. JP Prince actually played intelligently today and was key with his rebounding and play-making for others. But most importantly, his aggressiveness led to fouls and he shot 80% from the FT line. It wouldn't be exageratting to say that his FT shooting was THE difference in the game. He creates enough charges on his own without incompetent SEC refs giving him BS charges, which happened with his 3rd foul today. Having a 6'7 guy who can handle the ball like a PG and has the wingspan of a 6'11 guy can be an amazing weapon when his game above the shoulders matches his game below the shoulders.
4. Brian Williams is a very good passer for his size, but he lacks an aggressive streak -- in the great tradition of wimpy UT big men, he would pump fake a 5'11 guy. And he can't shoot FTs. Thus, the only time he should touch the ball is when he is going to pass it or after a rebound. Otherwise, it's almost a turnover.
5. Kenny Hall is going to be really, really good. Kid has all the tools and will get stronger and more experienced as a ball handler. I can't wait to watch him develop.
6. This team would be so much better if we had a reliable three point shooter. Hopson continues to drive his percentage into the ground. McBee hit one, but only took one and he doesn't have the athleticism to create a three point shot. He has to be open. Maze did well today. Goins is a "Nooooo" three point shooter. Chism may be the most reliable, but our wing players too infrequently look for him trailing.
7. I still view Stephen Pearl as a neutral body -- he giveth some on offense and taketh away at least as much on defense and on the glass. Two aggressive plays on offense for layups, but unable to box out a larger player on a FT. And 2 rebounds in 15 minutes. Same number as McBee.
8. Devon Downey is sick. How good would this team be if he had picked UT instead of USC when he was transferring from Cinncy? If not for the SEC's love and bias toward KY, Downey would be easily SEC POY.
9. Hopson has a lot of growing to do. He played more minutes than anyone and besides grabbing 6 rebounds, had a fairly poor overall game. I hope that Tatum's return and taking some of Hopson's minutes will improve our outside shooting and help take some pressure off of Hopson.
10. There are only two ways to avoid the SEC's favorite lover (KY) in the tournament. Either win out and hope Vandy loses to KY, FL, and Arkansas, or lose at FL and otherwise win and hope the Gators win out. I actually wouldn't mind beating KY, Arkansas and MSU but losing at FL and finishing 4th in the SEC East. That would put us playing Alabama, Auburn, or Ole Miss in the first round of the tourney and then playing Arkansas or MSU in the quarters and probably Vandy, Ole Miss or Bama in the semis before facing the Conference --er, I mean, KY -- in the Championship game. The only hope of winning the SEC tourney for any team other than KY this year is that the SEC is embarassed to play 8 on 5 on National TV in the Championship Game.
11. A word on the refs. For the most part, they did okay, but it only takes one and the one imbecile called a block a charge on JP, called goal tending on JP when he didn't come close to touching the ball, and gave USC the ball when Wayne Chism knocked it out of bounds onto Downey, who was laying out of bounds. It is extremely frustrating to have either corrupt refs who want to make sure KY or Vandy win or incompetent buffoons who don't have the wherewithal to distinguish between a goal tend and a missed FG.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO EXPLAIN TO A MODERATOR THAT SOUTH CAROLINA IS KNOWN AS "THE COCKS" -- KINDA LIKE UT IS KNOWN AS "THE VOLS"
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