Vols Hoops Report (Dec 11th)

[Shaun1985]

Vol Hoops Report: Dec. 11 - UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics

While visiting with local media prior to Tuesday's practice at Pratt Pavilion, Tennessee head coach Cuonzo Martin was asked if he planned to employ a strategy geared toward speeding up the tempo of the game and increasing possessions.

"You have to get good looks," Martin said. "You can shoot a lot of balls, but if they aren't falling, you're still in the same situation (struggling to produce points). We don't have a situation where we're saying that we have to make five or six passes (before anyone shoots it). If you make one or two passes and now you've got a good shot, you've got to shoot the ball. We just talk about getting the best looks."

"When we came back from the Virginia game, we saw that we had to do a better job of cutting and screening," Martin said. "We have to get better at the screening, cutting and moving. We also have to do a better job of offensive rebounding."

 

[Shaun1985]

Not sure I like the "Well. The ball just isn't going in" approach but at least he mentions that we need to do a better job of moving and stop being a one man show. I really don't want to see any of the Bruce Pearl ball movement and forced shot at the end. Guys NEED to get free and take good shots.

 

[Chris4Vols22]

I saw an improvement in overall motion from the GU to UVA game, but it's still not going to be enough to cut it. I do think Martin is right in that our screening and cuts are going to make a big difference if we can get them down.

I'm just really hoping that this 6-game stretch will fix allow us to fix our problems. We have 3 tough games, and 3 games that should be gimmes. I don't want to say what our record should be, but we have a chance to really improve.

GO VOLS!!

 

[SlyStone]

Hope the boys are ready cause Witchtah State will sure enough bring it.

 

[Chris4Vols22]

Hope the boys are ready cause Witchtah State will sure enough bring it.

Yeah, we have every reason to believe this will be a TOUGH game. Hoping for the best!

 

[Spartacavolus]

Would've preferred to hear:
"yes, we need to stop walking it up the court. We need to push the pace and get it on the block if we have our man pinned early. We need to stop letting the D dictate our pace by allowing them to set up as we then call a play late into the shot clock, or take a contested pull up 3 from 25."

 

[UT IE 95]

After the Virginia game he saw they needed a better job of cutting and screening?

Newsflash coach: everyone else has seen that for going on two years.

 

[Volfan2012]

When you have players that can't shoot open looks don't mean much. I am hoping that three players can really pick up their shooting percentages. They would be Golden, McRae, and McBee. All are shooting in the 30's for the season.

 

[calban]

When you have players that can't shoot open looks don't mean much. I am hoping that three players can really pick up their shooting percentages. They would be Golden, McRae, and McBee. All are shooting in the 30's for the season.

McBee could raise his game tremendously if he'd add a 2pt shot to his arsenal.
Deadly from the FT line. Never understood this about him.
4 years in and still shooting 90%+ 3s.

 

[UT IE 95]

McBee could raise his game tremendously if he'd add a 2pt shot to his arsenal.
Deadly from the FT line. Never understood this about him.
4 years in and still shooting 90%+ 3s.

I don't think McBee's missed a FT 7 games in. If he would get inside the arc and draw some fouls that could only help the team.

 

[cncchris33]

McBee can't create his own shot. Thus, he shoots from 20'+ with regularity. If I'm an opponent, I want him driving to the middle where he is obviously not comfortable playing. Assuming most opponents will zone us, that puts our best outside shooter in the teeth of the defense where he is ineffective, and away from the place he is comfortable shooting.

 

[calban]

McBee can't create his own shot. Thus, he shoots from 20'+ with regularity. If I'm an opponent, I want him driving to the middle where he is obviously not comfortable playing. Assuming most opponents will zone us, that puts our best outside shooter in the teeth of the defense where he is ineffective, and away from the place he is comfortable shooting.

Then why is he in the game?
If Martin's complaint is players aren't making plays and he's playing a guy 26 minutes that can't create his own shot, what's that say?

 

[Stoked]

Did anyone see that play when Mcbee drove in and hit that 2pt jumper on the side at Georgetown? I wish he would do that a lot more! That's what this team needs.

 

[calban]

Did anyone see that play when Mcbee drove in and hit that 2pt jumper on the side at Georgetown? I wish he would do that a lot more! That's what this team needs.

Why doesn't he?
He shot 19 2pters all last season.
5 so far this season.
Shooting 40% from 2 this season as opposed to in the 20s last.
Take to the glass young stud.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Apparently Zo has been telling the guys this week he wants them to push the pace. Told guys when they get a rebound don't just look for trae, look ahead for a longer outlet pass first.

Glad to hear that, now I want to see it.

 

[calban]

Apparently Zo has been telling the guys this week he wants them to push the pace. Told guys when they get a rebound don't just look for trae, look ahead for a longer outlet pass first.

Glad to hear that, now I want to see it.

Tellin and doin - two different things with this team so far.
Hope like hell we see the doin tonight.
Don't want to see Trae walkin after a turnover either.

 

[cncchris33]

Then why is he in the game?
If Martin's complaint is players aren't making plays and he's playing a guy 26 minutes that can't create his own shot, what's that say?

He's in the game because he gives effort on defense first and foremost, which Martin puts a high value on; perhaps too much value you could argue. Perception says he's our only real consistent threat from outside. He needs help getting his shot though, which is why you haven't, and won't see him taking many 2's. He can't create off the dribble and he's not quick enough to take many guys to the hole. If his teammates aren't driving to the hole and kicking it back out to an open McBee, or if its not going inside for a kick-out back to him open on the perimeter, he is virtually useless offensively.