Tightrope

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Just want to share a couple of things without breaking through any privacy barriers. Here are some observations that hopefully provide insight without stepping across.

ZZ has had an unstable and swollen knee for a few games. For better or worse, he’s not the kind of person who is going to opt out over pain. I love everything about that kid, and his fire, but he’s probably someone who could’ve used now til tournament for recovering. No way to know for sure, but it’s heart-wrenching knowing his ferocity put him in the danger zone.

Initial observations are that he heard/felt it pop, and then the knee rotated/tore further before he fell. MRI today. Surgery this week if as expected.

Prior to the game, ZZ told Dykes/or another ESPN reporter that they were going to make it to Monday night in the NCAA for Barnes. I’m sure that will get endless coverage going forward. That’s hard to hear. I hope it carries forward in a good way.

It was a somber locker room. Hard to overstate how close they all are, and how much they all love ZZ.

I know there is lots of doubt around the mercurial nature of this team. I also know emotional hits like the loss of ZZ can create unsustainable pressure. That said, I continue to believe in this team very much. Teams that haven’t faced our defense regularly, can’t truly be ready for it. Outside of certain oddball teams with a combination of long guards and athletic posts (KY), I like our odds against a lot of matchups.

I hope everything I’ve heard about pops and tears is wrong. I also hope we make to Monday for ZZ.

That’s all I’m going to share until official medical results are out.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Thanks, SF. Your info is appreciated as always. I am just gutted for ZZ. Hearing him speak about making it to Monday night “for Barnes” just makes my stomach wrench even more. I can only imagine how he feels right now knowing he can’t do that.

Hopefully this team rally’s around this injury and we now make it to Monday for ZZ.

 

[aaronvol]

The question becomes this...Does this fortify the team or discourage it?

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

The question becomes this...Does this fortify the team or discourage it?

Based off what I saw last night after he went down: the former.

 

[Hoosier_Vol]

This could be a rallying point for the team. You just never know how a team is going to react with these situations.

 

[VOLtaism]

This team plays hard the entire game. I don't see any slackers. They have a lot of very good players, just no great player. I was impressed with how they played the 2nd half without ZZ. They have a lot of options. They need to start getting ready for the NCAA instead of focusing on the SEC tournament. Best thing that could happen would be to lose the first round. The committee proved last season the SEC tournament championship means nothing in the seeding. They have their brackets finished before the SEC tournament is over.

 

[JMSqb11]

The question becomes this...Does this fortify the team or discourage it?

With Barnes being experienced and old as dirt, I expect nothing more than this team to come together and compete. At the end of the day, the core of the team includes these guys:

 

[Zues1]

Just want to share a couple of things without breaking through any privacy barriers. Here are some observations that hopefully provide insight without stepping across.

ZZ has had an unstable and swollen knee for a few games. For better or worse, he’s not the kind of person who is going to opt out over pain. I love everything about that kid, and his fire, but he’s probably someone who could’ve used now til tournament for recovering. No way to know for sure, but it’s heart-wrenching knowing his ferocity put him in the danger zone.

Initial observations are that he heard/felt it pop, and then the knee rotated/tore further before he fell. MRI today. Surgery this week if as expected.

Prior to the game, ZZ told Dykes/or another ESPN reporter that they were going to make it to Monday night in the NCAA for Barnes. I’m sure that will get endless coverage going forward. That’s hard to hear. I hope it carries forward in a good way.

It was a somber locker room. Hard to overstate how close they all are, and how much they all love ZZ.

I know there is lots of doubt around the mercurial nature of this team. I also know emotional hits like the loss of ZZ can create unsustainable pressure. That said, I continue to believe in this team very much. Teams that haven’t faced our defense regularly, can’t truly be ready for it. Outside of certain oddball teams with a combination of long guards and athletic posts (KY), I like our odds against a lot of matchups.

I hope everything I’ve heard about pops and tears is wrong. I also hope we make to Monday for ZZ.

That’s all I’m going to share until official medical results are out.

Elite eight I assume ?

 

[berryvol]

Elite eight I assume ?

Only one game played on Monday in the tournament bud.

 

[Zues1]

Only one game played on Monday in the tournament bud.

Guess my Google skills are lacking.
Thanks Bud.

 

[OffTackleVol]

Based off what I saw last night after he went down: the former.

Yep, I remember when T-Rob got hurt vs. Bama; team rallied around him. Don't think there's any doubt this close knit team will do so with ZZ.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Yep, I remember when T-Rob got hurt vs. Bama; team rallied around him. Don't think there's any doubt this close knit team will do so with ZZ.

And Dickey’s very first pass afterwards could have easily been a Bama pick 6. DD hit the Bama defender square in the numbers. Possibly the luckiest QB in the history of TN football.

 

[OffTackleVol]

And Dickey’s very first pass afterwards could have easily been a Bama pick 6. DD hit the Bama defender square in the numbers. Possibly the luckiest QB in the history of TN football.

LOL, yea, I'd forgotten that.........

 

[BruisedOrange]

As someone who keeps a hand in the psychological research game, I have wondered for awhile if this team is SO tight, SO close, that when they have their shooting woes, it is shared and duplicated by every team member. It's observable in their defending, in their timeout discussions, that they are a unit whose brains as well as commitment are seemingly indivisible--for good or bad.

If we can string together some wins we have a good chance to become the media's Cinderella team.

 

[CornbreadVol]

As someone who keeps a hand in the psychological research game, I have wondered for awhile if this team is SO tight, SO close, that when they have their shooting woes, it is shared and duplicated by every team member. In their defense, in their timeout discussions, they are a unit whose brains as well as commitment are seemingly indivisible--for good or bad.

If we can string together some wins we have a good chance to become the media's Cinderella team.

Likely wouldn’t get that opportunity due to the seed number beside our name.

 

[vol94]

Only one game played on Monday in the tournament bud.

Go Vols!

 

[BruisedOrange]

Likely wouldn’t get that opportunity due to the seed number beside our name.

I should have been more precise: I meant, string together some wins between now and March Madness, whether that's playing point guard-by-committee, or an individual rising to the occasion with a level of play unseen heretofore.

Downside is, there are also enough games between now and the NCAAs to provide a decent book for opposing teams on our new lineup combinations. (It won't be like LSU bringing in a backup QB in the 2nd half of an SEC championship game. UGH! )

 

[omghulkhands]

ZZ has had an unstable and swollen knee for a few games. For better or worse, he’s not the kind of person who is going to opt out over pain.

This is precisely why you see JJJ sit out if he doesn’t feel right. Minor injuries can turn into major ones.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

This is precisely why you see JJJ sit out if he doesn’t feel right. Minor injuries can turn into major ones.

And yet many posters have been saying how players are milking it and need to get on the floor, SMH.

 

[DonDiego]

I'd love to see Key step up as PG for the rest of the year.

 

[brockytop]

Good info, but what “unsustainable pressure“ are you talking about? Good or bad—that’s just hyperbolic BS that does not match up with what players face here.

I’m sure there’s been other TN teams that’ve talked about getting to “Monday night” for Barnes. This one will fall short just like the others because offense is way too inconsistent to go on a deep run (plus Barnes own tourney track record).

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

I'd love to see Key step up as PG for the rest of the year.

This should ignite his competitive flame. No time to play timid, your college career is almost over big fella. Let it fly with confidence!

 

[EZE]

The question becomes this...Does this fortify the team or discourage it?

Effort wasn’t going to be a problem before, and it won’t be a problem after.

But he is an important piece and he will be missed.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Good info, but what “unsustainable pressure“ are you talking about? Good or bad—that’s just hyperbolic BS that does not match up with what players face here.

I’m sure there’s been other TN teams that’ve talked about getting to “Monday night” for Barnes. This one will fall short just like the others because offense is way too inconsistent to go on a deep run (plus Barnes own tourney track record).[/QUOTE

When you don’t know what you’re saying, I don’t either.

 

[brockytop]

Then you tell me what “unsustainable pressure” you’re talking about.