Reasons UT basketball will be even better this year

UTodd01 · 06-18-2008, 01:08 PM

Here's my take on the whole thing:

1.) They will be longer and more athletic. Yes, we all love JaJuan and Chris but let's face it, they were not very good athletes. JaJuan had quick hands and was tough, but his length hurt him on the defensive side of the ball alot of the time. Chris has become a sort of "peyton-esque" type figure in the hearts and minds of Tennessee fans and deservedly so, but he was very slow on defense and when shooting the the ball he had a very slow, long release. With Tatum, Hopson, and Maze you get good size at their respective positions and great athleticism. Not to mention very quick releases on their jump shot.

2.) The loss of both Jordan Howell and Ramar Smith. Like it or not, both of these players became utterly useless late last year. Even if Bobby Maze and Daniel West have just "okay" years it will be a huge upgrade from what we had at the point guard position last year. Point guard play is what hurt us in both post season tournaments last year. It will also be what gets us over the hump this year and into the Final Four. Bobby Maze looks like a star and Daniel West seems to be a guy who can come in off the bench and run the offense in an effective manner. (I.E. hit an open jump shot when called upon, not turn the ball over, etc.)

3.) The continued development of Wayne Chism and Brian Williams. Wayne Chism looks like he can get over the hump and become a first team all sec performer if the following things occur in his development. 1.) He stays out of early foul trouble and 2.) He gets tougher inside. Brian Williams seems to have lost a few pounds and has increased his strength. This will pay huge dividends in post season play.

4.) One clear cut leader. We had too many go to guys (not sure if that's a bad thing) last year. Tyler Smith is the man this year, and we all know it, from the coaches and players, all the way down to the fans. Seems to me there was an issue with leadership last year due to having too many leaders. That one was hard to explain, bear with me.

5.) A shorter rotation. We all love Bruce ball, but he tends to play way too many people some times. Players that don't deserve the kind of playing time they were getting. (Jordan Howell, Chill, and Boy Pearl in the NCAA and SEC tournament come to mind.) It looks like this year he intends to have a strong 9 man rotation that could get trimmed down to 8 during the tournament. This is a good thing when post season play starts, IMO. You trim the fat and let your best players go out there and play. This could change depending on the freshman class and how they develop. Negedu and Woolridge are the wildcards in this whole thing. Jurick is a non factor, he should and will redshirt.

6.) More talented role players. In Pearl's previous 3 seasons we've had role players that were average to not very good all the way from Stanley Asumnu, and Jordan Howell, to Ryan Childress. This years crop of role players (Tabb, West, Negedu, and Woolridge) are all much more talented than anything Bruce has had since '05. Childress will be very lucky to see the floor at all this year. Jurick will probably redshirt. I know they are lacking in the exp. department (save Tabb) but they make up for it in talent. I guess you could throw Williams in there as a role player too. *shrug*

These are just some of my reasons UT will be better this year than last year. I expect nothing less than an SEC Championship (tourney and regular) and a Final Four run. What's your opinion?

Volsfan895 · 06-18-2008, 01:13 PM

Well hatvol said if Tyler stayed and Hopson was signed we would make the Final Four.....and now we got Maze, and Negedu to replace Remar and Duke

UTodd01 · 06-18-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volsfan895

Well hatvol said if Tyler stayed and Hopson was signed we would make the Final Four.....and now we got Maze, and Negedu to replace Remar and Duke

I see us in the final four as well.

Fine Vol · 06-18-2008, 01:34 PM

Guys dont you think it may take a while for the team to play well together?

UTodd01 · 06-18-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fine Vol

Guys dont you think it may take a while for the team to play well together?

Early, yes. But by tourny time they should be clicking.

Volsfan895 · 06-18-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fine Vol

Guys dont you think it may take a while for the team to play well together?

I don't think we will make the Final Four....but hat is right more often than not

UTodd01 · 06-18-2008, 01:43 PM

I'm the one who's always right! Just look at my myspace friends list. *wink*

tnvolsfan85 · 06-18-2008, 01:46 PM

I am very ready for Basketball!

**orange+white=heaven** · 06-18-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UTodd01

I'm the one who's always right!

A newbie who is always right.

Imagine that.

UTodd01 · 06-18-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orange+white=heaven

A newbie who is always right.

Imagine that.

I've been lurking for 3 years, but yeah.

UTLCA · 06-18-2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UTodd01

Here's my take on the whole thing:

1.) They will be longer and more athletic. Yes, we all love JaJuan and Chris but let's face it, they were not very good athletes. JaJuan had quick hands and was tough, but his length hurt him on the defensive side of the ball alot of the time. Chris has become a sort of "peyton-esque" type figure in the hearts and minds of Tennessee fans and deservedly so, but he was very slow on defense and when shooting the the ball he had a very slow, long release. With Tatum, Hopson, and Maze you get good size at their respective positions and great athleticism. Not to mention very quick releases on their jump shot.

2.) The loss of both Jordan Howell and Ramar Smith. Like it or not, both of these players became utterly useless late last year. Even if Bobby Maze and Daniel West have just "okay" years it will be a huge upgrade from what we had at the point guard position last year. Point guard play is what hurt us in both post season tournaments last year. It will also be what gets us over the hump this year and into the Final Four. Bobby Maze looks like a star and Daniel West seems to be a guy who can come in off the bench and run the offense in an effective manner. (I.E. hit an open jump shot when called upon, not turn the ball over, etc.)

3.) The continued development of Wayne Chism and Brian Williams. Wayne Chism looks like he can get over the hump and become a first team all sec performer if the following things occur in his development. 1.) He stays out of early foul trouble and 2.) He gets tougher inside. Brian Williams seems to have lost a few pounds and has increased his strength. This will pay huge dividends in post season play.

4.) One clear cut leader. We had too many go to guys (not sure if that's a bad thing) last year. Tyler Smith is the man this year, and we all know it, from the coaches and players, all the way down to the fans. Seems to me there was an issue with leadership last year due to having too many leaders. That one was hard to explain, bear with me.

5.) A shorter rotation. We all love Bruce ball, but he tends to play way too many people some times. Players that don't deserve the kind of playing time they were getting. (Jordan Howell, Chill, and Boy Pearl in the NCAA and SEC tournament come to mind.) It looks like this year he intends to have a strong 9 man rotation that could get trimmed down to 8 during the tournament. This is a good thing when post season play starts, IMO. You trim the fat and let your best players go out there and play. This could change depending on the freshman class and how they develop. Negedu and Woolridge are the wildcards in this whole thing. Jurick is a non factor, he should and will redshirt.

6.) More talented role players. In Pearl's previous 3 seasons we've had role players that were average to not very good all the way from Stanley Asumnu, and Jordan Howell, to Ryan Childress. This years crop of role players (Tabb, West, Negedu, and Woolridge) are all much more talented than anything Bruce has had since '05. Childress will be very lucky to see the floor at all this year. Jurick will probably redshirt. I know they are lacking in the exp. department (save Tabb) but they make up for it in talent. I guess you could throw Williams in there as a role player too. *shrug*

These are just some of my reasons UT will be better this year than last year. I expect nothing less than an SEC Championship (tourney and regular) and a Final Four run. What's your opinion?

1. JaJuan should have been 1st Team All-SEC on defense. He was one of the most, if not the most athletic player on the roster last year.

2. JaJuan was also the clear cut leader of the team, not Lofton, not Tyler, not anyone else. This was affirmed by the Head Coach himself: "As JaJuan goes, Tennessee goes."

3. First of all, Childress and Pearl played because of the fact that our frontcourt couldn't figure out how to stay out of foul trouble. And yes, Tyler was guilty of that in several games as well. But to get to the point, our rotation will likely balloon this year when you have:

1. Maze
2. Hopson
3. Tatum
4. Tyler
5. Chism
6. Prince
7. Williams
8. Tabb
9. Negedu
10. West
11. Woolridge

That seems like a bigger rotation than 8.

It'll be tough to top 31-5 plus a #1 ranking.

9296potsguy · 06-18-2008, 02:49 PM

Chris Lofton may have been a defensive liability, but don't diss his offensive prowess. For someone with a slow release, he did well enough to be second all-time in made 3 pointers. I don't see one person replacing his abilities right off the bat.

volsfan0156 · 06-18-2008, 02:59 PM

i read in an article somwhere that Bobby Maze and Scotty Hopson had an instant chemistry playing in the rocky top league and that West and Hopson are already very good friends.