Vols drop from this week's college basketball polls.

#1
V

volhoopsfan001

Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
Messages
544
Likes
0
#1
With two early losses, the Vols drop from both the AP and the Coaches' Top-25 College Basketball Polls.

AP Top 5:
1. UCLA
2. Pittsburgh
3. Ohio St.
4. Florida
5. Kansas
(37. Tennessee)

Coaches' Poll Top 5:
1. Ohio St.
2. UCLA
3. Pittsburgh
4. Florida
5. Kansas
(36. Tennessee)

See the complete polls here: FOX Sports - COLLEGE BASKETBALL - Polls
 
#2
#2
they'll be back. losing to Butler probably hurt worse than their loss to UNC.
 
#4
#4
I hope you're right [that they'll be back]. I guess it's o.k. even if they're not in the Top 25, if they can get enough wins to get into the NCAA tourney. That might be tough with this inconsistent and young team.

Their upcoming schedule is actually pretty tough, and will determine if they get back in the Top 25 anytime soon or not. If they struggle in the games before the SEC schedule starts, they may be out of the Top-25 for the rest of the year, or a good portion of it.

Here are the next few games:
Nov. 27 - @ Louisiana-Lafayette
Dec. 1 - Murray State
Dec. 6 - Memphis (currently #17 in Coaches' Poll)
Dec. 16 - Western Kentucky
Dec. 18 - (in Nashville) Oklahoma St. (currently 7-0)
Dec. 23 - Texas (currently #25 in Coaches' Poll)
Dec. 28 - Tennessee Tech
Dec. 30 - East Tennessee State

Also, Jan. 13th, they are at Ohio St (#1 in the latest Coaches' Poll).

As far as Butler goes, maybe they can keep winning and win the Horizon League, so it won't look like a bad loss at tourney time.

I would say that starting next season, if we're not back in there this year, that we will become a mainstay in the Top 25.
 
#5
#5
The team I saw play last night and against Butler was NOT a top 25 team.

You guys are setting yourself up to be disappointed.

Out of the games that hoopsfan listed, I see us winning 6 of 8 including last night's win.
 
#6
#6
It isn't time to start bailing the water out yet. Butler isn't a really bad team, and Tennessee played an awful game that night. I have never seen so many missed shots. This Vols team is going to take time to function as a "TEAM" and it is going to take leadership from guys like Lofton, JaJuan Smith, and Bradshaw to help these young guys along. I personally see this team gaining momentum as they gain experience.
 
#7
#7
#18Butler 7-0 232

Pretty big jump for them. The night after they won the NIT they flew back and played Kent State. They won it double ot. I bet they were exhausted!!!
 
#8
#8
thirdsaturday said:
It isn't time to start bailing the water out yet. Butler isn't a really bad team, and Tennessee played an awful game that night. I have never seen so many missed shots. This Vols team is going to take time to function as a "TEAM" and it is going to take leadership from guys like Lofton, JaJuan Smith, and Bradshaw to help these young guys along. I personally see this team gaining momentum as they gain experience.
Click to expand...

I am really worried about our guard play. CJ Watson could not only control our offense he could also score. I don't see Howell penetrating and scoring when we need him to. I see Ramar penetrating and scoring but I don't see him controlling the offense. I think Howell is a better ball handler than he right now.
 
#9
#9
Larkin said:
The team I saw play last night and against Butler was NOT a top 25 team.

You guys are setting yourself up to be disappointed.

Out of the games that hoopsfan listed, I see us winning 6 of 8 including last night's win.
Click to expand...

Larkin do you think we get in the tourney with 17 wins? I think with our sos we would. I don't see us beating Ohio State or Memphis but I think we can get Texas.

I think it all depends on our guard play.
 
#10
#10
With UT's style of play, they have the potential to beat anyone on their schedule... even Ohio State and Memphis. Don't underestimate Bruce Almighty. Tennessee will win 20 games this season.
 
#12
#12
Its such a different mindset in basketball since you have playoffs and don't have to sit around trying to predict where some biased computer, pollster, or other pundit tries to put you.

I say we've got enough talent to go futher this year than last, and it will be exciting to watch them mature as the season goes on. I actually heard a Tennessee fan at the KY game taunting a Blue fan with "... be happy with only getting beaten by 5 points. Its almost basketball season, you know"!

Oh, the irony.
 
#14
#14
With our lack or rebounding, turnover rate, and inability to hit free throws, I see use winning about 16 games this season. They need to improve on the basics to get up to 20 wins. I actually see us playing in the NIT again at the end of the season. We really miss CJ.
 
#15
#15
bigdaddy said:
With our lack or rebounding, turnover rate, and inability to hit free throws, I see use winning about 16 games this season. They need to improve on the basics to get up to 20 wins. I actually see us playing in the NIT again at the end of the season. We really miss CJ.
Click to expand...

You don't expect the youngsters to mature at all this season? This team is going to get better by the game.
 
#16
#16
They need to get better at free throws and fast. I dont see anybody stepping up to point guard anytime soon. We will see what they are made of in Dec. They stuggled against a poor ULL team last night. A team that they should have beat by 20. Things dont look bright for sec play unless they get better quick.
 
#18
#18
Rheaber said:
Larkin do you think we get in the tourney with 17 wins? I think with our sos we would. I don't see us beating Ohio State or Memphis but I think we can get Texas.

I think it all depends on our guard play.
Click to expand...

I know that this question wasn't directed to me, but I had a thought on it. I would be surprised if 17 wins gets us in the tourney. We have a regular season schedule of 31 games, plus at least 1 game in the SEC tournament. Winning only 17 would make us 17-15. Even with our tough schedule and expected high RPI, I don't know if 17 gets us in.
 
#19
#19
bigdaddy said:
They need to get better at free throws and fast. I dont see anybody stepping up to point guard anytime soon. We will see what they are made of in Dec. They stuggled against a poor ULL team last night. A team that they should have beat by 20. Things dont look bright for sec play unless they get better quick.
Click to expand...

Some good points here. We have some big games coming up, and the team will need to improve in a hurry.

Free throws are a biggie. I don't see us blowing out many opponents, and (I hope not, but...) poor throw shooting will eventually cost us one of these close games.

Starting Jordan against ULL did help to keep the turnovers down, but I don't see Jordan as a scoring threat, and he isn't that good at penetrating either to draw the defense and then pass off to an open team-mate. Ramar can penetrate, but is sometimes out of control and seems like a turnover waiting to happen. The point guard position is so important, and we have to improve at that spot to even have a shot at the NCAA tourney.
 
#20
#20
Many SEC teams made the tourney last year including Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas. We have to win against Texas and Oklahoma State and Memphis to get insurance for SEC play. SEC is going to be tough this year, again.
 
#21
#21
mtt2d said:
Many SEC teams made the tourney last year including Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas. We have to win against Texas and Oklahoma State and Memphis to get insurance for SEC play. SEC is going to be tough this year, again.
Click to expand...
Tough is right!:rock:
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top