UT vs UTM: from the third balcony...

#1
DowntownVol

DowntownVol

Stylin' and Profilin'
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#1
My observations:

(1) Brian Williams was an absolute BEAST. Against bigger, more physical teams, it wouldn't surprise me to see this starting lineup: 1. Maze 2. Hopson 3. Tyler 4. Chism 5. Williams. His game has improved IMMENSELY from last year; I wish Chism would take a cue from him - when you get the ball down on the low block, you take it up STRONG. You make the shot, you make it and get fouled, or you miss it and get fouled. All positive outcomes.

(2) The free throw shooting, overall, looks much better. Even the weak links like Chism and Prince at least look like they have a reasonable chance of knocking them down.

(3) The three point shooting, on the other hand, looked terrible. Hopson and Tatum are going to have growing pains, clearly. It's an entirely new paradigm - this is not a team that's going to beat anyone knocking down threes, but we can run with just about anyone.

(4) UT-Martin played very well in the second half. They were clearly rattled in the first eight minutes (which were a beautiful eight minutes of basketball for UT), but they settled down, ran their plays, tightened up on D. They are not a bad team.

(5) That being said, we had numerous defensive breakdowns that left UT-Martin with all kinds of wide-open looks. They mostly failed to knock them down, but that won't be the case against superior competition. The defensive intensity we saw vs. Chattanooga wasn't there tonight, except for the first eight minutes.

(6) Tabb acquitted himself rather nicely as a legit backup PG for Maze (and played more than expected due to Maze picking up two quick fouls), but he needs to let the other guys take the shots, for now.

(7) Objectively speaking, there is no reason for Stephen Pearl to see the floor except in mop-up duty. Sorry, Bruce.

1. Maze/Tabb
2. Hopson/Tatum
3. Prince/Woolridge (I expect Prince to be starting soon)
4. Tyler/Negedu
5. Chism/Williams

That's a solid 10-man rotation. Let's keep Junior out of it, okay?
 
#2
#2
Excellent synopsis. I agree with you 100% on all points. This team does have a scary upside.
 
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#5
#5
volsfan0156 said:
am i the only one who is reminded of sean may by brian williams?
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Oh no, here we go again. I agree but, I waiting for Big Pappa's comment.

That was a popular argument on here last year.:p

He looked great, much improved from last year.
 
#6
#6
That's about how I saw it, too. Before we start heeing and hawing about Final Fours and such, we better get some perimeter shooting and perimeter defense.
 
#7
#7
kiddiedoc said:
That's about how I saw it, too. Before we start heeing and hawing about Final Fours and such, we better get some perimeter shooting and perimeter defense.
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I think that pretty much all of us see that we are not Final Four material....there can't be that much hemming and hawing yet, I hope.
 
#8
#8
I don't see a scenario where we become a Final 4 caliber team, but it's early.
 
#9
#9
TennNC said:
I don't see a scenario where we become a Final 4 caliber team, but it's early.
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It may not be likely at this point but you don't see a scenario? Who above us other than UNC is a sure thing at this point? As long as Maze holds up and we get adequate three point shooting I think we're better than last year. We're definitely going to be a better pressing team, and we should be a better defensive halfcourt team with the longer bodies out there. Offensively you have to think we'll be better inside, and we may have found a legitimate point guard.

Why not us?
 
#10
#10
Titanic said:
It may not be likely at this point but you don't see a scenario? Who above us other than UNC is a sure thing at this point? As long as Maze holds up and we get adequate three point shooting I think we're better than last year. We're definitely going to be a better pressing team, and we should be a better defensive halfcourt team with the longer bodies out there. Offensively you have to think we'll be better inside, and we may have found a legitimate point guard.

Why not us?
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Anything could happen, but Louisville knocked us out last year, and they are likely even better this year. You can also throw out teams like UCLA, UCONN, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. Heck..put Florida out there...I think we're even at best right now.
 
#11
#11
abvol said:
Oh no, here we go again. I agree but, I waiting for Big Pappa's comment.

That was a popular argument on here last year.:p

He looked great, much improved from last year.
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He's obviously not there yet, but Williams, I think, still has a lot of upside. Compare how much he's improved his game in one year to how much (or how little) Chism's improved his game in two years. Chism has the skill set, I think, but he still seems a little too timid for my liking; he's not, and probably will never be, a Ron Slay style banger.
 
#12
#12
If Wayne would keep is butt on the block, there's no telling what he could do. He's just not tough enough.
 
#13
#13
I don't understand why everyone is so down on Stephen Pearl. Its not like he's going out and trying to play above his head. He plays hard, rebounds hard, and doesn't take dumb shots. I'm glad he is eating up some minutes now, early in the season, cause you never know an injury here or there or foul trouble and he might have to see minutes in a big game.
 
#15
#15
abvol said:
Oh no, here we go again. I agree but, I waiting for Big Pappa's comment.

That was a popular argument on here last year.:p

He looked great, much improved from last year.
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why my comment? I was simply saying he's a long way from May and isn't as athletic.
 
#16
#16
BigPapaVol said:
why my comment? I was simply saying he's a long way from May and isn't as athletic.
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You were the only one I could remember in that conversation. There was a whole thread about it and it went on for days.

Not calling you out my man. :good!:

And your right but, he is the most improved.
 
#17
#17
vols50 said:
I don't understand why everyone is so down on Stephen Pearl. Its not like he's going out and trying to play above his head. He plays hard, rebounds hard, and doesn't take dumb shots. I'm glad he is eating up some minutes now, early in the season, cause you never know an injury here or there or foul trouble and he might have to see minutes in a big game.
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I don't mind him playing against Martin and Chatt. I just hope he doesn't see meaningful minutes like he did against Miss. St. last yr. when they were right there at the head of the pack in the SEC. I guess it's one of the perks of being the coaches son. My son played for a coach for four yrs. of youth soccer and the coaches son never saw the bench while every other player, and a couple were better had to sit during many blowout games.
 
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