BTO’s South Carolina Postgame Report

#51
#51
This team just makes every offensive possession look hard, like they are unsure who should shoot it this time down. Anyone know if Barnes has reined in Chandler since he is not doing those penetrating drives to basket he was so good at early in the season? That seems to be his best offense.
 
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#52
#52
This team just makes every offensive possession look hard, like they are unsure who should shoot it this time down. Anyone know if Barnes has reined in Chandler since he is not doing those penetrating drives to basket he was so good at early in the season? That seems to be his best offense.
I think he’s constantly probing, but too many big guys to contend against. The one I remember where he shot the ball, it was rejected.
 
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#54
#54
This team just makes every offensive possession look hard, like they are unsure who should shoot it this time down. Anyone know if Barnes has reined in Chandler since he is not doing those penetrating drives to basket he was so good at early in the season? That seems to be his best offense.

Otheer teams have adjusted. They're not letting him do that any more.
 
#55
#55
Pretty fair assessment, but Powell can't be playing 20 minutes and getting 0 shot attempts up like he did last night.

I mean Bailey played 2 minutes and had 6 points. You essentially got zero offense from Powell and Mashack and they played a combined 42 minutes. It limited ZZ's minutes to just 9, but in those 9 minutes he had 1 rebound, 4 assists, 4 steals, 11 points. If the rest of this team will just match that sort of energy with what minutes they get we'd be pretty unstoppable.

I like JJJ at the 4, it worked great for Pons while he was here and I think it works great for JJJ too. Not many teams really have back you down post players in this league anymore and those that do don't really put two on the court at the same time. Not real sure what to do with Uros or BHH at this point, both have had games where they look they need to be on the court and both have had games where you had to double check to even know they played.
 
#56
#56
Pretty fair assessment, but Powell can't be playing 20 minutes and getting 0 shot attempts up like he did last night.

I mean Bailey played 2 minutes and had 6 points. You essentially got zero offense from Powell and Mashack and they played a combined 42 minutes. It limited ZZ's minutes to just 9, but in those 9 minutes he had 1 rebound, 4 assists, 4 steals, 11 points. If the rest of this team will just match that sort of energy with what minutes they get we'd be pretty unstoppable.

I like JJJ at the 4, it worked great for Pons while he was here and I think it works great for JJJ too. Not many teams really have back you down post players in this league anymore and those that do don't really put two on the court at the same time. Not real sure what to do with Uros or BHH at this point, both have had games where they look they need to be on the court and both have had games where you had to double check to even know they played.
Uhh...Ziegler played 23 minutes
 
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#59
#59
Coming into this season, I figured our men's team would have a much better record than our women's team at this point.
Boy, was I wrong!!!

I watched the Lady Vols (for the first time this year) on Sunday, and they are for real. I am not an expert on women's sports, but they have the look of a contender, to me.

Our men can get there, but some players are going to have to get their offensive game together for us to have a chance.
 
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#60
#60
Watching Auburn Alabama.... We are not even close to the level of Auburn... Love their attacking aggressive style... They run and gun but even when they are slowed down they are looking to attack... Its saddening cause we have had the better recruiting but yet the style and coaching is much more player friendly... Barnes is a great man im sure but the game has blown him by

Not sure I would say we have had better recruiting than Auburn. Kessler is one of the best transfer big men in the country and Smith is on his way to # 1 draft pick in the NBA with an NBA ready game already.
 
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#61
#61
In particular Bailey. If as a team we have consecutive games shooting sub 30% from 3, I don’t see anything wrong giving him a handful of minutes just to see if maybe a light goes off for him.
He played well last night, and I almost mentioned it but figured it would be met with harshness lol…he earned a chance at a few minutes next game, his defense has gotten better and as said before him and Powell are similar in that regard. If Powell just isn’t even going to move or look for his shot, well you know Bailey will. He did a good job of not shooting every time he touched it last night and made a nice pass or 2, if they could find a way to get him going a bit it would be a bonus for sure, he finds himself open from 3 quite a bit.
 
#62
#62
Not sure I would say we have had better recruiting than Auburn. Kessler is one of the best transfer big men in the country and Smith is on his way to # 1 draft pick in the NBA with an NBA ready game already.

We have not had a player near Smith's caliber since Barnes has been here. We have had 5 stars sure but Smith is at a different level. Also wish we could have gotten Kessler.
 
#63
#63
He played well last night, and I almost mentioned it but figured it would be met with harshness lol…he earned a chance at a few minutes next game, his defense has gotten better and as said before him and Powell are similar in that regard. If Powell just isn’t even going to move or look for his shot, well you know Bailey will. He did a good job of not shooting every time he touched it last night and made a nice pass or 2, if they could find a way to get him going a bit it would be a bonus for sure, he finds himself open from 3 quite a bit.

The issue with Bailey's performance was not all statbook related. His shooting percentages were bad. But even worse was the fact that the offense can't function with him on the court because he facilitates zero ball movement and takes terrible shots. Last night was the first time this season he didn't show that issue. As you said, he made a few good passes. He moved the ball to allow the offense to continue to flow. He even turned down a couple shots that earlier this season he would have 100% taken. I will be honest though, that is one game and I still am not sure I trust him to do that consistently. If Powell is struggling, gives his minutes to Mashcack IMO.
 
#65
#65
I still think Mashack deserves more minutes, 35 seems like a lot for Josiah, I wouldn’t mind giving JM 10 a game. Otherwise I agree on everything

Good win so hate to be negative but man even as someone who had relatively muted expectations, Powell just does not seem to have clicked with this team. Someone mentioned after last game it seemed like players don’t pass to him as much and so I looked for that this game and while I may have seen that a little I think mainly he just looks disengaged most of the time. I know he played some PG at auburn so that would be one way to get him going maybe, though we have so many options at point already. I hope he figures stuff out this year, and if not that he sticks around next year when there may be more opportunity
I still do not understand why he will not shoot the ball when he is open.
 
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#66
#66
Our defensive will give auburn issues. They, like all Pearl teams, play fast and loose and are very streaky. Games like that are like we saw with Arizona - if our offense shows up, we can beat anyone in the nation.

The offense is a problem and that's not going to change. We're not a good outside shooting team and. except for Fulky, who can be neutralized, our inside offensive game is weak. That's a bad combo. At the start of the second half we had Plavsic, Chandler, Ziegler, Vescovi and JJJ in the game. The defense was stout--but is that a lineup that's going to scare a physical, athletic top-20 opponent? Not on the offensive end.
 
#67
#67
Watching Auburn Alabama.... We are not even close to the level of Auburn... Love their attacking aggressive style... They run and gun but even when they are slowed down they are looking to attack... Its saddening cause we have had the better recruiting but yet the style and coaching is much more player friendly... Barnes is a great man im sure but the game has blown him by
They will destroy us
 
#68
#68
1. A 20 point win over a conference opponent is not something you take for granted, so while there are plenty of things to work on still you feel good about the result. The defense played at an elite level and the offense struggled yet again, although it looked a little bit better, is that a good sign or just an outlier? Only time will tell.

2. On the defense, they were elite, that’s South Carolina’s worst offensive showing in 2 years and 4th worst in last 20 years…they did some self inflicted damage but majority of that credit goes to the defense. We do a really good job of turning teams over, and that’s a direct correlation to the on ball defense of Chandler, Zeigler and Vescovi and James ability to switch and guard multiple positions. The defense is likely to be this teams calling card, a defense like this can take you a long ways and will have you in games most nights, but still need to improve offensively.

3. On the offensive end, I thought after the first 10 minutes we played much better on that end, definitely started slow again though. The shooting was a bit bitter and given we shot 33% from deep with Vescovi going 2/9 I will take that, he’s typically going to shoot better than that, and maybe it helps get the others on track. We only took 21 3’s tonight which was nice to see we found other ways to get looks, we got to the rim a lot and Fulkerson looked more assertive tonight as well and brought some post scoring to the offense. Now the obvious issue was we got to the free throw line and proceeded to shoot 44% from there on 11/25 overall, that’s horrible and can’t happen. For an offense that struggles anyways we aren’t doing ourselves any favors by doing that, whether it’s a lack of focus/practice or whatever, that has to change.

4. If you could clone a game for JJJ and say I don’t need you to be a star, this is all I need, today is that…33m 11p 12r 2a 1blk 1stl 3-6fg 2-4 from deep. His defense is so good, his passing as well, and the vocal leadership as an extension of the coach out there is valuable, he just has to be a threat offensively and bring something like he did tonight and we are SOOO much better that way.

5. Similarly, I would probably take that from John Fulkerson on a nightly basis as well, 28m 10p 7r 2b on 5-8 shooting, he gave us an inside presence, did a pretty good job of making quicker moves rather than ball sticking on him and leading to a 20 second post up and back down. He did a better job playing with some space/separation rather than trying to out muscle a guy bigger than he is, and according to Rick Barnes he went hard and pulled himself out when he felt tired, if he can continue to give us that it would be nice. Nkahmoua played well in his 10mins but couldn’t stay out there, if those post guys can bring that each night and that aggression and we go small ball and just rotate those guys we will be better offensively than we have been imo.

6. I get that Barnes likes his depth, but we are now half way through the year and getting to the point we need to be settling on something and working towards developing that for March. Playing 11 guys is too many, maybe it was just trying to steal some minutes in the 1st half, but BHH/Mashack/Bailey all played 2-8 minutes, outside of foul trouble I am rolling with the other 8 guys. This team is at its best playing small ball anyways, which we did a fair amount tonight, with JJJ at the 4 there’s just not many minutes for BHH available. Zeigler has been tremendous and at times has looked better than Chandler, he’s warranting big minutes which limits anything for Bailey obviously…Mashack would be my 9th guy if someone in that group is needed. Going forward I would like to see…

Zeigler 25/Chandler 15
Chandler 15/Vescovi 25
Vescovi 10/Powell 20/James 10
James 25/ON 15
Fulk 25/Plav 10/ON 5

7. This was a game Tennessee needed to win and they got it, I said weeks ago this could be a 2-3 start to SEC state and that all things considered that wouldn’t be a bad start if that’s how it played out, well we are guaranteed at least that and with a chance Saturday to kind of “steal one” or turn the direction a bit…right now we are trending right along the expected line of the season and probably 5-6 seed territory, a win at Rupp would go a long way towards a potentially better seed come selection Sunday.


GBO!!!
Thanks for this. I remember you calling 2/3. Probably going to be right unless we take better care of the ball, hit free throws, improve our shootint percentage and do everything else we did last night.
 
#69
#69
He played well last night, and I almost mentioned it but figured it would be met with harshness lol…he earned a chance at a few minutes next game, his defense has gotten better and as said before him and Powell are similar in that regard. If Powell just isn’t even going to move or look for his shot, well you know Bailey will. He did a good job of not shooting every time he touched it last night and made a nice pass or 2, if they could find a way to get him going a bit it would be a bonus for sure, he finds himself open from 3 quite a bit.
I thought Bailey played well last night. He and Powell are so similar and if I know the scouting report then you can bet the best defensive coaches in their league (which just happen to be Ole Miss, LSU, SC) do. Both are spot up 3 point shooters and they are being defended that way, with no space. Bailey shot faked and drove last night which I was happy to see. Until Powell shows that he’s willing to do that, no one will give him any room. I thought he did the right thing not shooting with a guy right on him even if half of Vol nation screams shoot every time he touches it. He’s bought in to the defense first mentality which will get him more time. I think the offense will come for both of them. They’re too good to shoot that poorly for long.
 
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#71
#71
Yes - he was over and back.

Funny that Frank didn’t lose his **** over that one. His view might have been blocked.

Mashack touched it last in the front court and knocked it into the backcourt. Then he went and got it across mid court. Refs must have thought that USC hit the ball last before it went across the line.
 
#72
#72
I thought Bailey played well last night. He and Powell are so similar and if I know the scouting report then you can bet the best defensive coaches in their league (which just happen to be Ole Miss, LSU, SC) do. Both are spot up 3 point shooters and they are being defended that way, with no space. Bailey shot faked and drove last night which I was happy to see. Until Powell shows that he’s willing to do that, no one will give him any room. I thought he did the right thing not shooting with a guy right on him even if half of Vol nation screams shoot every time he touches it. He’s bought in to the defense first mentality which will get him more time. I think the offense will come for both of them. They’re too good to shoot that poorly for long.
Exactly. I think you and I are the only two who share these same observations regarding Powell. Zero room only allows a poor shot. I will say another reason Powell’s getting no room at all is because during the first 6 plus games or so, almost everyone else was taking and making a pretty decent number of 3’s and Powell had room to shoot. Now with no one hitting well, they shade Powell so closely he just has no space. Until others start hitting, I just don’t see teams allowing someone they know can bomb the 3’s to have many openings.
 
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#73
#73
I have a new theory on the season strategy. A lot of times coaches work their rotations down to a cohesive group of 7 or 8 players with another role player or two. Then they each go for stretches of at least 5 plus minutes without any subs. TN seems to regularly go about 10 or 11 deep this year with every combination imaginable (instead of getting a group used to always playing with the same guys). Other than a couple of veterans (and I guess a PG or two), the time on the court is usually in short, intense bursts of less than 4 minutes. They can be effective on defense. Offense will be a struggle.

The short minutes and any possible combination works on the defensive end as long as there are no weak links. Everybody does their job, knows their job, knows what their teammates are doing, and the defense is stifling.

Now on the other end, it is very difficult to get guys working cohesively with the constant changes and short duration of court time. Plus a lot of shooters need lots of minutes to settle in. BUT… by sticking with the concept, the offense can come around by late in the season. ANY combination might be able to be effective on the offensive end by March.

By late in the game, the hot hands stay on the floor. Bailey was in the game instead of KC at the end tonight… amazing personnel decision (reliability at the free throw line had a lot to do with that odd grouping). Even by putting Bailey or Uros or Mashack in for only 2-3 minutes, they are being conditioned to be able to be productive in those brief minutes.

Most likely the staff had no plan whatsoever to use ZZZ as he’s been used. But now EVERY one of his teammates is getting court time with him and they’re learning to play beside him. The timing and anticipation was going to be difficult to overcome in the first half of the season. But by the last quarter and the post season opponents won’t know what combination they’ll be facing and ALL of the combinations will be gelling.

Another benefit of going 11 or so deep of players that are of similar skill, it’s not as big of a problem when refs put somebody on the bench with fouls or players are sick or injured. TN was in deep trouble when Grant or Admiral picked up quick fouls. TN was in deep trouble when Kyle Alexander had an injured hip. TN was in deep trouble when Fulk was walking wounded. Or when Springer had to miss games with an injury. BUT… right now when TN needs a basket they don’t have that specific great player to go to. It’s a missing role. But there are several that can develop into a reliable must have basket maker. TN is guard oriented, so ZZZ and KC should develop into that late possession go to player. Or Powell. Or Vescovi will be effective when one of those three draw attention.

Or maybe Barnes will shorten his bench after reading all of the whiny VN BBF posts about his crazy substitution groupings and the calls to permanently bench Uros, JJJ, and VBj. No doubt he’s probably reading the USC in-game thread right now looking for advice as he prepares for Rupp.
You got it right. He wants to develop and play a lot of combinations and .... we will take some time to gel. He has the kind of roster to do exactly what he wants.
Goals: 1) Go deep in the NCAA tournament (win it), 2) Win the SEC tournament and if possible 3) Win the SEC league play.

He thinks to do that ... he has to have a versatile and deep team ... I do not look for set rotations and do expect to see lots of substitutions.
While we do bump heads occasionally on our thoughts ... this time ... you are writing my post. :^)
 
#74
#74
Exactly. I think you and I are the only two who share these same observations regarding Powell. Zero room only allows a poor shot. I will say another reason Powell’s getting no room at all is because during the first 6 plus games or so, almost everyone else was taking and making a pretty decent number of 3’s and Powell had room to shoot. Now with no one hitting well, they shade Powell so closely he just has no space. Until others start hitting, I just don’t see teams allowing someone they know can bomb the 3’s to have many openings.
Additionally, Powell can't really create his own shot, but I'm amazed that we don't run offensive sets soecifically designed to get him open looks, especially early on in games.
 

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