Vols 1 seed

[Bigorangefan 98]

Know it’s only november .but good see Vols get some early love …. Lunardi has us a 1 seed in east playing at Lexington .

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Right now I just want us to pile up enough wins to guarantee an invitation. Tough SEC competition. Plus a short bench getting shorter.

I’d guess that as of today we’re about a 2 or 3 seed. Lots of basketball still to be played though.

 

[hUTch2002]

Know it’s only november .but good see Vols get some early love …. Lunardi has us a 1 seed in east playing at Lexington .

It’s way too early of course but one thing that is certainly put to bed is the argument over being the best 2 seed vs the worst 1 seed. You always take the 1. Last season showed that as I have no doubt we’re in the F4 if we had been in UNC’s spot.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

Right now I just want us to pile up enough wins to guarantee an invitation. Tough SEC competition. Plus a short bench getting shorter.

I’d guess that as of today we’re about a 2 or 3 seed. Lots of basketball still to be played though.

After yesterday, I think lots of folks have Tennessee as a 1 seed. The metrics and rankings really don't support anything but a 1 or 2.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

After yesterday, I think lots of folks have Tennessee as a 1 seed. The metrics and rankings really don't support anything but a 1 or 2.

That makes sense with the records so far. But we’re lucky that the IU game doesn’t count.

I think we’re about the 10th-15th best team right now. Matchups are going to really be important since we’re not real deep at the post. It’s good to have several consistent, perimeter scoring options for once. Gainey, Chaz, Carr, and Igor all seem be to upgrades. With Santi, JJJ, Bailey, Bowden, Key, etc they could go ice cold and shoot us out of ball games now and then. You need consistency to get somewhere in the NCAAT. No Estrella in March might be hard to overcome though.

 

[lawgator1]

Right now I just want us to pile up enough wins to guarantee an invitation. Tough SEC competition. Plus a short bench getting shorter.

I’d guess that as of today we’re about a 2 or 3 seed. Lots of basketball still to be played though.

There has been a slow but steady transfer of power between the ACC, big picture, and the SEC. SEC has a whopping 8 teams in the AP Top 25. ACC has 2.

 

[cncchris33]

That makes sense with the records so far. But we’re lucky that the IU game doesn’t count.

I think we’re about the 10th-15th best team right now. Matchups are going to really be important since we’re not real deep at the post. It’s good to have several consistent, perimeter scoring options for once. Gainey, Chaz, Carr, and Igor all seem be to upgrades. With Santi, JJJ, Bailey, Bowden, Key, etc they could go ice cold and shoot us out of ball games now and then. You need consistency to get somewhere in the NCAAT. No Estrella in March might be hard to overcome though.

You may be right on Estrella come March, but it's hard to imagine he'd have given more in terms of actual production that what Cade Phillips has given us, so far.

Cade's per game numbers are adversely affected an anomaly in the Bahamas where he only played 7 minutes vs UVA and didn't do much, but even he still he boasts 6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg on 74% shooting. Take that game out and he's 8.2 and 5.2. I'm not sure I imagined JPE giving us significantly more production than that, so perhaps Cade will continue to absorb the majority of what we potentially lost in Estrella.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

You may be right on Estrella come March, but it's hard to imagine he'd have given more in terms of actual production that what Cade Phillips has given us, so far.

Cade's per game numbers are adversely affected an anomaly in the Bahamas where he only played 7 minutes vs UVA and didn't do much, but even he still he boasts 6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg on 74% shooting. Take that game out and he's 8.2 and 5.2. I'm not sure I imagined JPE giving us significantly more production than that, so perhaps Cade will continue to absorb the majority of what we potentially lost in Estrella.

Estrella is the biggest player on the roster. He’s got 30 pounds on Phillips. I don’t want to see many skilled, 250+ pound, 6’10” or more 5s with just Felix, Igor, and Cade available to defend them.

 

[VolArmy74]

That makes sense with the records so far. But we’re lucky that the IU game doesn’t count.

I think we’re about the 10th-15th best team right now. Matchups are going to really be important since we’re not real deep at the post. It’s good to have several consistent, perimeter scoring options for once. Gainey, Chaz, Carr, and Igor all seem be to upgrades. With Santi, JJJ, Bailey, Bowden, Key, etc they could go ice cold and shoot us out of ball games now and then. You need consistency to get somewhere in the NCAAT. No Estrella in March might be hard to overcome though.

Way too early to even suggest a seed line, but the Indiana scrimmage was absolutely meaningless, as was the result. Chaz didn't even play the last 5 or 6 minutes, when Indiana went ahead. It was a complete practice exercise that Barnes wasn't even trying to win. Same with the scrimmage vs Michigan State last year.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

That makes sense with the records so far. But we’re lucky that the IU game doesn’t count.

I think we’re about the 10th-15th best team right now. Matchups are going to really be important since we’re not real deep at the post. It’s good to have several consistent, perimeter scoring options for once. Gainey, Chaz, Carr, and Igor all seem be to upgrades. With Santi, JJJ, Bailey, Bowden, Key, etc they could go ice cold and shoot us out of ball games now and then. You need consistency to get somewhere in the NCAAT. No Estrella in March might be hard to overcome though.

I understand generally what you're getting at here (and I was also sad to see the Estrella news), but the Vols are one of only three teams in the entire country (the others being Houston and Auburn) that land in the top ten of KenPom's offensive AND defensive efficiency metrics. That says a lot, because even last year, our team struggled to break the top 30 in offensive efficiency.

Whether you're using the eye test, the resume, or the more advanced metrics, the Vols should be in everybody's top 5-7 right now. I don't think anticipated future risks or a loss in an exhibition game (to a good team) should skew your thinking much.

 

[BallsVolls1]

I think some of you overthinking it. And maybe because of “past expectations” but I think as the season grow, this team will also grow! These guys on this year team are way more versatile than the past. Missing JP is just a “sting” in my opinion. Cade will continue to grow and realize how efficient he can really be will sustain a lot of production from JP… I think this team will be different than past years expectations!

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Way too early to even suggest a seed line, but the Indiana scrimmage was absolutely meaningless, as was the result. Chaz didn't even play the last 5 or 6 minutes, when Indiana went ahead. It was a complete practice exercise that Barnes wasn't even trying to win. Same with the scrimmage vs Michigan State last year.

I wouldn’t say it’s absolutely meaningless. TN was at home and wasn’t trying to lose. They experimented, but with capable players that didn’t lay down.

IU plays UL tomorrow so that will provide some degree of clarification.

I wouldn’t necessarily move TN ahead of Iowa State and UConn just because they both lost. Or Houston, Bama, Purdue, UNC, Duke. In the rankings, yes. As far as TN is now the better team, not with certainty.

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

I think some of you overthinking it. And maybe because of “past expectations” but I think as the season grow, this team will also grow! These guys on this year team are way more versatile than the past. Missing JP is just a “sting” in my opinion. Cade will continue to grow and realize how efficient he can really be will sustain a lot of production from JP… I think this team will be different than past years expectations!

This team will be a better perimeter shooting team than past, as they displayed some already …. When Dubar gets into more a rhythm with team chemistry , he is going provide another big time shooter from outside Except he can drive to the basket also. He should provide much help on the boards also

 

[JRVOL11]

would be huge if we make it out of non conference schedule with no losses or 1.

 

[StickMan]

I wouldn’t say it’s absolutely meaningless. TN was at home and wasn’t trying to lose. They experimented, but with capable players that didn’t lay down.

IU plays UL tomorrow so that will provide some degree of clarification.

I wouldn’t necessarily move TN ahead of Iowa State and UConn just because they both lost. Or Houston, Bama, Purdue, UNC, Duke. In the rankings, yes. As far as TN is now the better team, not with certainty.

I sorta get what you're saying in that, if they're keeping score, it isn't absolutely meaningless. However, I think it's clear that Barnes wasn't overly concerned about the W. Indiana has a good team, but I believe we'd beat them 4 out of 5 in real games. I realize that's just my opinion, but I stand by it. I also understand your concern about our lack of size/depth at the 5, but I believe we can overcome it with advantages elsewhere. In any event, I believe this is going to be a very fun team to pull for.

 

[VolArmy74]

I wouldn’t say it’s absolutely meaningless. TN was at home and wasn’t trying to lose. They experimented, but with capable players that didn’t lay down.

IU plays UL tomorrow so that will provide some degree of clarification.

I wouldn’t necessarily move TN ahead of Iowa State and UConn just because they both lost. Or Houston, Bama, Purdue, UNC, Duke. In the rankings, yes. As far as TN is now the better team, not with certainty.

Barnes himself said he played combinations on the floor he would never attempt in a regular game and that he loved the exhibitions because they had no meaning and he could do things like that.

 

[hUTch2002]

There has been a slow but steady transfer of power between the ACC, big picture, and the SEC. SEC has a whopping 8 teams in the AP Top 25. ACC has 2.

SEC passed the ACC sometime in the last 2-3 years. I never thought I’d see it but it’s clear now. I’d say SEC is tops right now.

 

[Volfan1000]

That makes sense with the records so far. But we’re lucky that the IU game doesn’t count.

I think we’re about the 10th-15th best team right now. Matchups are going to really be important since we’re not real deep at the post. It’s good to have several consistent, perimeter scoring options for once. Gainey, Chaz, Carr, and Igor all seem be to upgrades. With Santi, JJJ, Bailey, Bowden, Key, etc they could go ice cold and shoot us out of ball games now and then. You need consistency to get somewhere in the NCAAT. No Estrella in March might be hard to overcome though.

We may be giving a walk on some of Estrella's minutes if we get in deep foul trouble in the post.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Know it’s only november .but good see Vols get some early love …. Lunardi has us a 1 seed in east playing at Lexington .

Agree. Would be nice, but it is way early in the season to start talking about seedings

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

We may be giving a walk on some of Estrella's minutes if we get in deep foul trouble in the post.

Good points. Firmly believe we are a true too 10 team for now .

 

[BallerVolFan]

would be huge if we make it out of non conference schedule with no losses or 1.

I know who that 1 potential non-conference loss will come from. That would be Illinois on the road. Don’t see anyone else beating us in the non-con.

 

[ENGRVOL]

Know it’s only november .but good see Vols get some early love …. Lunardi has us a 1 seed in east playing at Lexington .

A #1 seed and playing in Lexington would be so awesome .

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

That makes sense with the records so far. But we’re lucky that the IU game doesn’t count.

I think we’re about the 10th-15th best team right now. Matchups are going to really be important since we’re not real deep at the post. It’s good to have several consistent, perimeter scoring options for once. Gainey, Chaz, Carr, and Igor all seem be to upgrades. With Santi, JJJ, Bailey, Bowden, Key, etc they could go ice cold and shoot us out of ball games now and then. You need consistency to get somewhere in the NCAAT. No Estrella in March might be hard to overcome though.

No, we're not lucky it doesn't count. It was a freaking exhibition game. Coaching and substitution patterns weren't the same as for a regularly scheduled game. Geez. I'm almost surprised you typed that

 

[BallsVolls1]

This team will be a better perimeter shooting team than past, as they displayed some already …. When Dubar gets into more a rhythm with team chemistry , he is going provide another big time shooter from outside Except he can drive to the basket also. He should provide much help on the boards also

I agree!!!

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Barnes himself said he played combinations on the floor he would never attempt in a regular game and that he loved the exhibitions because they had no meaning and he could do things like that.

It’s meaningless in rankings and post season tournament seeding. It isn’t meaningless that TN failed to beat IU. IU was in the same boat. It was just as meaningless to them.