This Year and Next Year

#1
cbrown

cbrown

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#1
First, I don't know that there is much to complain about with the accomplishments of this year's basketball Vols. Having said that, this team has a ceiling. When your best player and first offensive option is a 6'5" post player, that will be frequently taken away. Our second option is often tossing up the first available 3, which it was for a stretch of yesterday's game. We need a guy at least 6'4" that can attack the basket and have a realistic chance of finishing when things stall. Unless we can find that, I think it's likely that the accomplishments of next year's team won't measure up to this year. We'll still be good, but TN's not going to surprise anyone, and we'll still have that deficiency. If we can add that aspect offensively, I think we could realistically be in the Final Four conversation.

Second, a Sweet Sixteen would have been awesome, but I don't think we value the regular season in college basketball nearly enough. It's become such a "make it deep in the tournament or bust" game that we don't appreciate the journey and the great things teams do during the regular season. This team was thoroughly enjoyable to watch and will continue to be next year.

GBO!
 
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#2
#2
cbrown said:
First, I don't know that there is much to complain about with the accomplishments of this year's basketball Vols. Having said that, this team has a ceiling. When your best player and first offensive option is a 6'5" post player, that will be frequently taken away. Our second option is often tossing up the first available 3, which it was for a stretch of yesterday's game. We need a guy at least 6'4" that can attack the basket and have a realistic chance of finishing when things stall. Unless we can find that, I think it's likely that the accomplishments of next year's team won't measure up to this year. We'll still be good, but TN's not going to surprise anyone, and we'll still have that deficiency. If we can add that aspect offensively, I think we could realistically be in the Final Four conversation.

Second, a Sweet Sixteen would have been awesome, but I don't think we value the regular season in college basketball nearly enough. It's become such a "make it deep in the tournament or bust" game that we don't appreciate the journey and the great things teams do during the regular season. This team was thoroughly enjoyable to watch and will continue to be next year.

GBO!
Click to expand...

Definitely a fun season but hated to see it end the way it did vs. an 11 seed that we obviously had more talent than. You're right, we don't have that " go to" player than can get us a basket when we have to have one. Barnes must get better on the recruiting trail. We're not going to win SECT and make deep runs in March without better players, especially at guard. . Just isn't going to happen.
 
#3
#3
Admiral is pretty good at getting us buckets and going 1 on 1. Unfortunately the fouls trouble hurt him yesterday
 
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#4
#4
Lizzard28 said:
Admiral is pretty good at getting us buckets and going 1 on 1. Unfortunately the fouls trouble hurt him yesterday
Click to expand...

The missed layup by Bone was arguably the second most important play of the game because Schofield picked up his second foul trying to rebound a shot that should have been made. We were never the same after that and Schofield went to the bench.
 
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#5
#5
No guarantees for next year. Tennesssee will be one of the hunted, not the Hunter next year in the SEC. The team has to embrace that and accept the challenge they’ll get everyone’s best game. Not everyone can.

Several players need to raise their game like AS, GW has this yr. Alexander, Walker and Fulkerson have to get stronger and develop their off hands for offense. Bowden has to develop his shot like AS has. Bone also. Johnson has to step up and earn more time. He has the ability it appears. Dunking isn’t the only shot thou. Same for Pons.

Development of these role guys and their acceptance to play in the team concept will be key.
 
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#6
#6
Lizzard28 said:
Admiral is pretty good at getting us buckets and going 1 on 1. Unfortunately the fouls trouble hurt him yesterday
Click to expand...

The missed layup by Bone was arguably the second most important play of the game because Schofield picked up his second foul trying to rebound a shot that should have been made. We were never the same after that and Schofield went to the bench.
 
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#7
#7
wmcovol said:
No guarantees for next year. Tennesssee will be one of the hunted, not the Hunter next year in the SEC. The team has to embrace that and accept the challenge they’ll get everyone’s best game. Not everyone can.

Several players need to raise their game like AS, GW has this yr. Alexander, Walker and Fulkerson have to get stronger and develop their off hands for offense. Bowden has to develop his shot like AS has. Bone also. Johnson has to step up and earn more time. He has the ability it appears. Dunking isn’t the only shot thou. Same for Pons.

Development of these role guys and their acceptance to play in the team concept will be key.
Click to expand...

If most of our players continue to develop their game, we will be fine. If Fulkerson, Walker, Pons, Johnson and Kent make significant progress by next year, we will be able to overcome things like Alexander's injury and Admiral's foul trouble.
 
#8
#8
Hopefully this gives the team the experience and knowledge for what it takes, this team was a year ahead, learn from it.
 
#10
#10
i2amavol said:
If most of our players continue to develop their game, we will be fine. If Fulkerson, Walker, Pons, Johnson and Kent make significant progress by next year, we will be able to overcome things like Alexander's injury and Admiral's foul trouble.
Click to expand...

Fulkerson has no position... Not a player for the future
 
#14
#14
Coming off a Football Season that was the pits.

Add to it the attempted Shiano hire.

An AD that was not effective.

The deterioration of a Lady's program that has a coach that does not get it.

A preseason ranking of 13th in SEC.

A Coach that most wrote off as a retirement stop.

There is more, but we most of us get it. We will be back next year because we are fixing what is broke or issues have been addressed.

Got to love CRB because he is the foundation.....or what can be a slow but upward back to the old status of year's past.....

Hopefully our programs will rise because of what this team accomplished this year due to great coaching and a solid staff...
 
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