Why doesn’t Awaka play more?

#26
#26
mtvols said:
Awaka is 45 of 75 shooting for 60% but everyone thinks he can’t score just because he misses free throws.
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Because he is a big and is constantly getting fouled because teams know he can't make FTs. His offensive game for a freshman isn't terrible but we can't have a 40% FT shooter in the game in close games.
 
#27
#27
OrngeJuiceJones said:
Total liability on offense and especially free throws
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If I was Barnes, I'd have him shooting free throws during this off time. His rebounding is amazing -- but right now, he can't really be used at the end of close games because of the free throw misses.
 
#28
#28
Kobe Brown is a nightmare match-up... Nobody could truly guard him bit Awaka was our best body to take his quickness and strength down low. Awaka got beat a few times from him in the first half... Barnes gave up on him the second half🤷‍♂️
 
#29
#29
K-town Vol Fan said:
Because he is a big and is constantly getting fouled because teams know he can't make FTs. His offensive game for a freshman isn't terrible but we can't have a 40% FT shooter in the game in close games.
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But Uros and Mashack played most of the 2nd half and they can’t hit FTs either. My argument is Awaka should have been in the game instead of Uros.
 
#30
#30
vol94 said:
It seems to me we just aren’t athletic and nit as talented as we thought. We were struggling before ZZ went down.

Imissed the game but read some of the threads. JJJ had a bad game. Uros is soft and Awaka must have played poorly in the first half. ON played well today but rode the pine in the second half since he couldn’t guard, missed shots, turnovers, etx. Key has been disappointing. Aidoo? He has been inconsistent. I assume Santi played well today. Phillips had 14 but inconsistent all yr and didn’t do much Vs Ole Miss.

I’ve said most of the yr they we lack athleticism and a “go to guy” but we’ve dropped 7 of last 12. So did this roster simply over achieve until Feb?
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Key played well in the second half today.
 
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#32
#32
He couldn’t guard Brown. Hell nobody could. ON should be disappointed in himself. That was his opportunity to show up and he didn’t.
 
#33
#33
BreatheUT said:
Kyle Alexander was good. Fulkerson was better than we knew after seeing what is going on this year with the results.
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None were all conference type except Fulky that 10 game stretch where he went crazy in 2020.
 
#34
#34
Clad in Big Orange said:
And that’s exactly the history under Barnes. Guy shows promise as a freshman. We fans begin to expect big things because none of the older posts are great. Hopefully Awaka breaks the cycle. I’m kinda over getting post players that have potential but marginally improve over their career.
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Disagree with that statement. Are you saying Kyle Alexander and Grant Williams did not improve over their careers?
 
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#35
#35
Col_Cathcart said:
Key played well in the second half today.
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I’m glad he played well today as I hope he and all the players play well. But he has been inconsistent and gets beats defensively very often. Plus, his offense has been very inconsistent.
 
#36
#36
mr.checkerboards said:
Because that's all he does and there's a lot more to the game. He's offensively challenged, gets lost on D and is a turnover machine. Also he's Uros level bad at free throws. The talent is there but he's nowhere close to ready.
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Is the /talent/ there? That's really the question. Talent tends to show itself, even as a freshman. I thought by now that one of our three centers would have grabbed the reins--but they're all still falling off the horse.
 
#38
#38
turbovol said:
Is the /talent/ there? That's really the question. Talent tends to show itself, even as a freshman. I thought by now that one of our three centers would have grabbed the reins--but they're all still falling off the horse.
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Aidoo is the one im starting to question.
This is a bit of a hot take, but it wouldnt surprise me if hes not on the roster next season.
 
#40
#40
mtvols said:
But Uros and Mashack played most of the 2nd half and they can’t hit FTs either. My argument is Awaka should have been in the game instead of Uros.
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And it's just shameful for Uros to be shooting 34% on FTs. How the hell is that possible? At least Mashack makes more than he misses but 60% is still embarrassing at this level.
 
#41
#41
mr.checkerboards said:
Aidoo is the one im starting to question.
This is a bit of a hot take, but it wouldnt surprise me if hes not on the roster next season.
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Sophomore slump.

Look for the bigs to be much improved next season.

Awaka was/is a project. Needs improved footwork but he is a beast.

Not many in the NCAA measure up to Kobe Brown as a 6'8", 250lb small forward with point guard range. That smallish Missouri team made incredible 3's to ice the game in the final minutes.

Basketvols D didn't expect them to hit 3's outside NBA 3 line in the end and took the L.

Oh, well...
 
#42
#42
mr.checkerboards said:
Aidoo is the one im starting to question.
This is a bit of a hot take, but it wouldnt surprise me if hes not on the roster next season.
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He's actually made a very nice jump over his freshman year in every category except FT's. These next 2 years should be when he really comes into his own. I think he'll be solid next year if he stays heathy.
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#43
#43
I'd be surprised if Aidoo if wants to transfer. Not that I have any insider info, but his struggles look more like growing pains to me than just not clicking with the team/scheme. I wouldn't want to lose him in any case.
 
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#44
#44
Chris4Vols22 said:
I'd be surprised if Aidoo if wants to transfer. Not that I have any insider info, but his struggles look more like growing pains to me than just not clicking with the team/scheme. I wouldn't want to lose him in any case.
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This is what you get with projects, and Barnes loves a project. TN needs a bona fide stud in the paint. Right now, there isn't one. Just a lot of hope that Aidoo and Awaka become the players that Uros and ON never did.
 
#45
#45
Clad in Big Orange said:
This is what you get with projects, and Barnes loves a project. TN needs a bona fide stud in the paint. Right now, there isn't one. Just a lot of hope that Aidoo and Awaka become the players that Uros and ON never did.
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Problem is two fold. First, bona fide studs in the paint are usually snapped up by blue bloods. Making obtaining one even more difficult is that bigs today want to be outside shooting the 3 ball. Projects are likely where we're gonna be shopping for post players.
 
#46
#46
Clad in Big Orange said:
This is what you get with projects, and Barnes loves a project. TN needs a bona fide stud in the paint. Right now, there isn't one. Just a lot of hope that Aidoo and Awaka become the players that Uros and ON never did.
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Aidoo was a top 50 recruit in the high 4/low 5 star range across the services. Unfortunately his development or lack of it hasn't been uncommon for our posts.
 
#50
#50
bleedingTNorange said:
Grant, Fulk, Pons, Alexander all say hello.
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So do Walker, Olivier, Pember, Hatfield, Aidoo, and Uros among the big guy crowd didn't really or haven't yet made any great strides here.

I wouldn't even use Fulkerson either. He regressed as a senior and was at best another example of maddening inconsistenty. He had one part season stretch of high level basketball and the rest of his career was a roll of the dice on a given night. Alexander didn't exactly blossom into anything spectacular either. He pretty much progressed in average fashion for a 6'11 post who stayed four years in a program.
 
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