We continue to lose when…

[Dougie_D]

1. We start slow/cold in the 1st half.
2. We miss tons of layups
3. We don’t have enough players with a chip on their shoulder or/and don’t play aggressively (almost mad)… it only feels like Knecht and ZZ has that.
4. Lack of set plays down stretch. Maybe I’m wrong but it feels like we never have a real play for the last seconds

 

[Rocky Top T]

We have 2 really good players, Knecht and ZZ.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

We have 2 really good players, Knecht and ZZ.

Last night, yes.

 

[pimo1]

We lost last night for one reason... we only have 2 valid post players and AIdoo has been historically foul prone.

Until we find a 3rd guy that can spell out 5-10 mins a game when needed that is gonna be a big problem when we go against teams with dominant big men.. Sadlyt our schedule this year has us facing a lot of the top 10 big men in the country.

If you can spell Awaka/Aidoo for 5 mins in the first half and a few in the second they likely don't foul out. The fact we didn't try says we just dont have anyone. This makes is super scary if either of them ever gets hurt. Our options outside of those 2 and JJJ are Estrella (not sure his problem) Cade Phillips (under 200lbs) and a senior walkon with 9 mins of playing time and one rebound in 2 years. I get not going with Cade and Coyne. But Estrella is at least a body to eat a few fouls and let the other 2 get a rest? JJJ ain't boxing out Tolu Smith or Jimmy Bell.

They beat us at the FT line. Smith alone took 12 FT's and made 9. We were 10-16 as a team. 3 point shooting killed us also as no one not named ZZ or DK made a single one. 0-11 ick

 

[ColinS]

At the end of close games we jack up wild threes while the other teams runs set plays to get the ball to their best player inside. That never ends well.

 

[Raiford62]

Aidoo cannot stop centers that are physical. He is tall but he gets pushed around by the big boys. He never stopped the big man last night. Also, Awaka may be strong but he was way too short. Finally, I hardly ever saw a double team to make the big boy pass the ball back out.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

After having a day to soak in the loss, I think the rational conclusion about this team as it currently stands is this:

1) we have a really good backcourt. Even if one or two guys are having an off night, others can pick up the slack. Hard to name more than just a very few backcourts better than ours.

2) we are limited in the interior. Aidoo doesn’t have enough dog in him to matchup against stronger post players and Tobe is undersized both in height and length. Hard to have much confidence when we play a team with a really good post scorer based on what we’ve seen thus far.

3) we are now 2-4 in Q1 games which shows that we are fully capable of winning tough games but probably not capable of stringing together those kinds of wins, at least not as of 1/11/24.

This is a good team, definitely a top 15 team, and a fun team to watch that can hold its own against just about anyone, but right now, we aren’t an elite team imo. The good news? We’re still a ways away from tournament time. Not at all out of the question that we make the needed improvements to become an elite team. Plus, we are far from the only team with an Achilles heel.

 

[BreatheUT]

1. We start slow/cold in the 1st half.
2. We miss tons of layups
3. We don’t have enough players with a chip on their shoulder or/and don’t play aggressively (almost mad)… it only feels like Knecht and ZZ has that.
4. Lack of set plays down stretch. Maybe I’m wrong but it feels like we never have a real play for the last seconds

We got two guys on the roster with a killer instinct. I don't even need to say the names. The rest are complementary pieces.

 

[hillsborovol]

In some games, you need someone like Nkamhoua that won't allow the opponent's big man to push him around.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

If you can spell Awaka/Aidoo for 5 mins in the first half and a few in the second they likely don't foul out. The fact we didn't try says we just dont have anyone. .

We do. Barnes just refused to give him any minutes. No clue why Estrella didn't play in a game we were desperate for a defensive inside presence on defense. We are eventually going to quit pulling highly ranked freshman if they sit on the bench all year, especially when we could obviously use them. Estrella had offers from Duke and Kansas, think he would be a bench warmer for them? He's probably going to transfer and rightfully so.

 

[Namorto1]

Aidoo has been pushed around all year with physical posts who have offensive skills. Not sure that is correctable. Thankfully not many teams have very strong posts but Barnes is going to have to adjust his defense against such teams and be willing to double or front the post and rely on help defense off weak side. Awaka defends better than Aidoo but still gives up too much height against the best. Estrella needs minutes.

 

[pimo1]

We do. Barnes just refused to give him any minutes. No clue why Estrella didn't play in a game we were desperate for a defensive inside presence on defense. We are eventually going to quit pulling highly ranked freshman if they sit on the bench all year, especially when we could obviously use them. Estrella had offers from Duke and Kansas, think he would be a bench warmer for them? He's probably going to transfer and rightfully so.

I am saying we ain't got him because coaches won't play him, as badly as they need him. Something is going on that causes them to not be comfortable playing him minutes against competition. Estrella has played 0 relevant minutes. He has played more than 5 minutes 4 times. The only game he got 'extended minutes in was 12 mins in the Norfolks State blowout where he recorded as many fouls as points. Barnes is not a guy that wont play guys when he has to for the most part.

I just so badly wish we could have kept ORN (he is up in Michigan doing the damn thing).

 

[Eastknox865]

It's no reason for Jj and Vescovi to combine for 5 points in any game. I'm 45 years old and I promise you I would give a team 2 points playing 20 to 30 minutes. This to me is unacceptable

 

[Dougie_D]

We do. Barnes just refused to give him any minutes. No clue why Estrella didn't play in a game we were desperate for a defensive inside presence on defense. We are eventually going to quit pulling highly ranked freshman if they sit on the bench all year, especially when we could obviously use them. Estrella had offers from Duke and Kansas, think he would be a bench warmer for them? He's probably going to transfer and rightfully so.

We kept rotating vescovi and aidoo with gainey and awaka I think. Estrella might be a better defender/rebounder but his offense might not be there yet. Remember we were down the whole game. Can’t put that type of pressure on a freshman

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

Confucius says - “team with many ways to win, also have many ways to lose”

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

We do. Barnes just refused to give him any minutes. No clue why Estrella didn't play in a game we were desperate for a defensive inside presence on defense. We are eventually going to quit pulling highly ranked freshman if they sit on the bench all year, especially when we could obviously use them. Estrella had offers from Duke and Kansas, think he would be a bench warmer for them? He's probably going to transfer and rightfully so.

You have neither the knowledge nor experience to have the first damn clue as to what Duke or Kansas would do with him. As to your last comment, get a big gulp size cup of STFU.SMDH

 

[orangemadam]

I am continually amazed at the lack of getting Estrella and Philips more experience. We had
an excellent opportunity to get them minutes against Ole Miss but had our starters still in the
game with 3 minutes left and a large lead. And many wonder why Barnes is criticized for his
March floundering. We will flounder again if we don't get our younger post players some experience.

 

[SGMVols]

I am continually amazed at the lack of getting Estrella and Philips more experience. We had
an excellent opportunity to get them minutes against Ole Miss but had our starters still in the
game with 3 minutes left and a large lead. And many wonder why Barnes is criticized for his
March floundering. We will flounder again if we don't get our younger post players some experience.

Margin of victory matters in Kenpom and NET. That’s why he leaves starters in.

 

[turbovol]

It's no reason for Jj and Vescovi to combine for 5 points in any game. I'm 45 years old and I promise you I would give a team 2 points playing 20 to 30 minutes. This to me is unacceptable

We need more leadership and a take-charge attitude from JJJ in tight games. There is no reason why the guy can't get to the rim, or close to it, and score or create foul shots--the guy has NBA body and handles the ball well. He has to known went to be more assertive--and want to be more assertive. Many of the games we lose feature JJJ score 3/5 points and just not contributing enough.

 

[SGMVols]

It's no reason for Jj and Vescovi to combine for 5 points in any game. I'm 45 years old and I promise you I would give a team 2 points playing 20 to 30 minutes. This to me is unacceptable

lol. You could play an entire season of D1 ball and I guarantee you’d never score.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Margin of victory matters in Kenpom and NET. That’s why he leaves starters in.

Have you heard Barnes say that?

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I am continually amazed at the lack of getting Estrella and Philips more experience. We had
an excellent opportunity to get them minutes against Ole Miss but had our starters still in the
game with 3 minutes left and a large lead. And many wonder why Barnes is criticized for his
March floundering. We will flounder again if we don't get our younger post players some experience.

The regulars need work as well. ZZ missed the entire off season and Gainey/Knecht haven’t had many minutes with him. Plus Santi was away for a week or two. If UT has a deep NCAAT run it will be because of the 8 regulars, not the 5x freshmen.

 

[vol94]

After having a day to soak in the loss, I think the rational conclusion about this team as it currently stands is this:

1) we have a really good backcourt. Even if one or two guys are having an off night, others can pick up the slack. Hard to name more than just a very few backcourts better than ours.

2) we are limited in the interior. Aidoo doesn’t have enough dog in him to matchup against stronger post players and Tobe is undersized both in height and length. Hard to have much confidence when we play a team with a really good post scorer based on what we’ve seen thus far.

3) we are now 2-4 in Q1 games which shows that we are fully capable of winning tough games but probably not capable of stringing together those kinds of wins, at least not as of 1/11/24.

This is a good team, definitely a top 15 team, and a fun team to watch that can hold its own against just about anyone, but right now, we aren’t an elite team imo. The good news? We’re still a ways away from tournament time. Not at all out of the question that we make the needed improvements to become an elite team. Plus, we are far from the only team with an Achilles heel.

March is always about matchups. Play a team with post play and TN will struggle unless something changes. We should’ve beat State imo but turnovers hurt us. Plus, we struggled beyond the arc.

 

[vegasvolfan]

1. We start slow/cold in the 1st half.
2. We miss tons of layups
3. We don’t have enough players with a chip on their shoulder or/and don’t play aggressively (almost mad)… it only feels like Knecht and ZZ has that.
4. Lack of set plays down stretch. Maybe I’m wrong but it feels like we never have a real play for the last seconds

When Deboer takes over Alabama lol

 

[sami]

4. Lack of set plays down stretch. Maybe I’m wrong but it feels like we never have a real play for the last seconds

100%. I've been screaming this all season. We have a guy like Knecht, it's a mystery to me why we aren't running a ton of DHO and P&R to get him easy looks and chances to get to the rim. We could and should do the same thing with JJJ, especially in a game like last night to get him going. Aidoo and Awaka are both effective roll men, so it just doesn't make sense not to go to a play like this in a big spot.