Alexander the key to long March run.

#1
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Vfl2407

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#1
From all of Barnes comments the last few weeks, he think that Alexander has to give us a lot more.
I think Barnes experience tells him that there are teams we will face that Alexander is the key because we just don’t have a better option at his position.
Let’s hope that Kyle can up his game. There have been stretches where he has done us. Go Vols! Beat LSU!
 
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#2
#2
Vfl2407 said:
From all of Barnes comments the last few weeks, he think that Alexander has to give us a lot more.
I think Barnes experience tells him that there are teams we will face that Alexander is the key because we just don’t have a better option at his position.
Let’s hope that Kyle can up his game. There have been stretches where he has done us. Go Vols! Beat LSU!
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The loss to Loyola last year is proof of this.
 
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#3
#3
You make a valid point, but I'm going to disagree. I think this argument could be made for 5-6 guys on this team. So, in my opinion, if we hope to make a long run in March, we need Kyle to do his thing, Grant to do his, Bowden to do his, Bone to do his, Admiral to do his, and Lamonte to do his. We are the best team in the country when all parts of our team click. But, if any of those parts are off, I doubt our ability to make it past the sweet 16.
 
#5
#5
Vfl2407 said:
From all of Barnes comments the last few weeks, he think that Alexander has to give us a lot more.
I think Barnes experience tells him that there are teams we will face that Alexander is the key because we just don’t have a better option at his position.
Let’s hope that Kyle can up his game. There have been stretches where he has done us. Go Vols! Beat LSU!
Click to expand...
My question is, does Alexander have the physical capacity to even match up down low with the likes of Reed, Washington, Dontae Hall, etc? He seems overmatched from a physical perspective and gets pushed around, negating any chance of playing a big role down low. I kept telling myself if he kicked it into another gear, he could come back and make a difference. Now, I've told myself that he just can't match up with other bigs in the SEC that are strong and physical. Am I wrong?
 
#9
#9
Big time vol said:
I'm afraid that ship has done sailed as far as his college career. The time to have done that was in the off season the last three summers.
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Yup, he best get started if he has NBA aspirations. 6'11, no perimeter shot, no chance to play in the paint. Yes I realize he's projected to be in the first round but realistically what position would he play? Looks like Europe to me.
Seems like a nice guy but we know what happens to nice guys.
 
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#10
#10
Without Alexanders production on both ends . This team is above average. His injury was probably 80% of the reason for a 2nd round knockout last year
 
#11
#11
livefaith said:
If KA plays well it changes game strategies for the opponent. He's our only post player with elite length. Foul trouble is his kryptonite.
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But, elite length is pointless without strength. Can you really use length if you can't keep the opponent from backing you into the paint? I'm talking about a good team's elite 4/5 guy?
 
#12
#12
jeff1vol said:
Without Alexanders production on both ends . This team is above average. His injury was probably 80% of the reason for a 2nd round knockout last year
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Has this team simply been above average this year ? I’m not sure what production you’re referring to
 
#13
#13
We reached #1 in the country with Kyle only being involved in less than 15% of offensive possessions. If he was such a key player it’s incredible we are top 5 and currently projected as 1 seed despite his lack of production.

I think people are confusing being ‘key’ to being a ‘bonus’ - he has the most room for improvement. Grant and Admiral are key.
 
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#14
#14
cardvolfan said:
But, elite length is pointless without strength. Can you really use length if you can't keep the opponent from backing you into the paint? I'm talking about a good team's elite 4/5 guy?
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Well, strength (and balance) is not the man's best quality. So he struggles w stronger bigs like at KU, Arky, MO, & UK. But, he changes the game for dribble drives and 3s and 4s in the post. Can run very well, and keeps tons of offensive boards alive too. Rodman style. What was he, a 1 or 2* recruit? Glad to have him.

Without him at all, I'd give us little shot at more than a S16. We prob roll into the FF last season on the back of the easiest route ever, had KA not missed the LC game w injury.
 
#15
#15
golfballs said:
We reached #1 in the country with Kyle only being involved in less than 15% of offensive possessions. If he was such a key player it’s incredible we are top 5 and currently projected as 1 seed despite his lack of production.

I think people are confusing being ‘key’ to being a ‘bonus’ - he has the most room for improvement. Grant and Admiral are key.
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They are. And Id add Bone in there as well given his consistent play through most of the season. They are the 3 most consistent "knowns" on the team. So yes, they are key.

Having said that, there are different ways to produce. Alexander has never been a guy you just throw it to and let him go to work like Williams. But he is capable of finding a few trash buckets a game, defending the opposing 5 and rebounding the ball. (Most of which he has struggle with as of late) They don't need double/double production but he's gonna need better overall performances. Would add Turner and Bowden to the list as well. Both of them have the ability to add 25 points between them on those nights when your top 3 may not have their best stuff. So while it may be a play on words those 3 are key as well. Oddly enough we got very little from those 3 in Rupp Saturday and struggled pretty bad.
 
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#16
#16
BeecherVol said:
They are. And Id add Bone in there as well given his consistent play through most of the season. They are the 3 most consistent "knows" on the team. So yes, they are key.

Having said that, there are different ways to produce. Alexander has never been a guy you just throw it to and let him go to work like Williams. But he is capable of finding a few trash buckets a game, defending the opposing 5 and rebounding the ball. (Most of which he has struggle with as of late) They don't need double/double production but he's gonna need better overall performances. Would add Turner and Bowden to the list as well. Both of them have the ability to add 25 points between them on those nights when your top 3 may not have their best stuff. So while it may be a play on words those 3 are key as well. Oddly enough we got very little from those 3 in Rupp Saturday and struggled pretty bad.
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And got nothing from Schofield which was bigger. In a close game, any one player could make a difference. But unless you don’t think we’ve been a F4 team up to this point then it’s hard to say that Kyle is key when we’ve clearly been that capable despite his lack of production
 
#18
#18
golfballs said:
And got nothing from Schofield which was bigger. In a close game, any one player could make a difference. But unless you don’t think we’ve been a F4 team up to this point then it’s hard to say that Kyle is key when we’ve clearly been that capable despite his lack of production
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Its not all that hard really. Saturday was a perfect example.
Bone had 19, Williams had 16, and Schofield had 17 for a total of 52 points (on 51% shooting), 15 rebs, and 8 assists. Not great stats (specifically Schofields shooting percentage) but against a talented and athletic group they re pretty solid.

The other 3 (Alexander, Turner and Bowden) gave you 11 points on 4-21 shooting, 7 rebs, 3 assists.

Your not a F4 team (or a S16 team for that matter) with that production from those 3. And that's not to confuse all "production" with just offensive stats. Alexander got abused on defense which will be of greater important in the tournament. If we 're leaning on Grant and Admiral to guard 4's and 5's we're gonna find a matchup we can't get by. And it we won't have to wait til the F4 to find that team.

There's no way around needing those 3 (including Alexander) to get where everyone thinks this team can.
 
#19
#19
RollerVol said:
it's the guard play, not Alexander, that makes the difference...

GO VOLS!
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Guard play is extremely important, especially in the tournament. A good friend of mine who was a former starting 5 in this league would cringe when he said that, but even he knew it.

But sooner or later you're gonna play equal guards in the tournament. You'll need that big to hold his own to advance. Diminishing Alexander's importance going forward is not wise.
 
#20
#20
BeecherVol said:
Its not all that hard really. Saturday was a perfect example.
Bone had 19, Williams had 16, and Schofield had 17 for a total of 52 points (on 51% shooting), 15 rebs, and 8 assists. Not great stats (specifically Schofields shooting percentage) but against a talented and athletic group they re pretty solid.

The other 3 (Alexander, Turner and Bowden) gave you 11 points on 4-21 shooting, 7 rebs, 3 assists.

Your not a F4 team (or a S16 team for that matter) with that production from those 3. And that's not to confuse all "production" with just offensive stats. Alexander got abused on defense which will be of greater important in the tournament. If we 're leaning on Grant and Admiral to guard 4's and 5's we're gonna find a matchup we can't get by. And it we won't have to wait til the F4 to find that team.

There's no way around needing those 3 (including Alexander) to get where everyone thinks this team can.
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We beat Gonzaga and Kyle only had 2 points. 2!

Not a key player.
 
#21
#21
Fulky, is what, an inch shorter...

I really think he needs more minutes. No, he’s not prototypical, but he plays hard and won’t get pushed around as easily. Needs to at least half the minutes or until he fouls out. He’s as much an offensive threat as KA, if not more, jmo...

Dunno...but, with the lack of time and production from Walker...I see no other option..
 
#22
#22
I think the biggest determinant of success in the tournament will be what kind of contribution we get from Bowden/Turner.
This might be an unpopular take, but I think Admiral needs to be a little less involved and Bowden and Turner a little moreso. The more Admiral forces it, the less effective he is. When we were slaying teams at the beginning of SEC play Bowden and Turner were more involved in the offense.
 
#23
#23
golfballs said:
We beat Gonzaga and Kyle only had 2 points. 2!

Not a key player.
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And we lost to UK by 17 with the big 3 getting 52 which is 3 points over their average, while shooting essentially the same combined fg %.

Not claiming hes the best player (nor Turner or Bowden) or that he even needs to be, but this team isnt going anywhere with the production the next 3 gave them at UK.
Saturday was the proof those 3 have to be productive for us to beat good teams. You re not getting 30 from Admiral every nite you need it against a good team.

And all of that is just from a scoring standpoint which is not the whole picture.
 
#24
#24
golfballs said:
I think the biggest determinant of success in the tournament will be what kind of contribution we get from Bowden/Turner.
This might be an unpopular take, but I think Admiral needs to be a little less involved and Bowden and Turner a little moreso. The more Admiral forces it, the less effective he is. When we were slaying teams at the beginning of SEC play Bowden and Turner were more involved in the offense.
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They are a combined 8 -36 (22%) over the last 2 games. I'm not sure involvement is as much the issue as efficiency.
The guy that needs to be a little less involved is 11 - 30 (37%) over the last 2.

They need to be more efficient for this team to reach its peak without a doubt. Until that happens it's hard to argue why they need more attempts and Schofield needs to lose em.
 
#25
#25
Something is wrong with Alexander. Injury? Illness? Does anybody know? He just hasn't seemed the same the past couple of weeks. We need at least 8-10 boards from him every game. Any points he scores is just a bonus.
 
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