A few observations

#1
bnhunt

bnhunt

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#1
1. Thank god the season is over. It was really over last Friday, it just officially ended tonight.
2. The NIT is a joke, especially for the power conference schools. It's just hard to get up for the Mercers and Robert Morrisses of the world.
3. When Jordan McRae is bad, he is really bad. His last 2 games killed us.
4. Martin's refusal to switch defenses or adjust in-game is astonishing sometimes. Mercer burned is back door about 10 times in the first half and NOTHING was done to fix it. It's either stubbornness or stupidity...neither of which is good.
5. This team has to learn how to shoot FTs better if we want to step up to the next level. Shooting 50% the last 2 games is inexcusable.
6. I thought we would be flat tonight, but I am still astounded that Mercer dominated us like that from start to finish. I realize it's a worthless and meaningless tournament, but you still have to take pride EVERY time you put on the orange and white.
7. And did I mention, thank god the season is over.
 
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#2
#2
This game will destroy CM at TENN. 12 months remaining for Martin. Recruits will not look at TENN seriously. Tenn Basketball is a joke
 
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#3
#3
bnhunt said:
1. Thank god the season is over. It was really over last Friday, it just officially ended tonight.
2. The NIT is a joke, especially for the power conference schools. It's just hard to get up for the Mercers and Robert Morrisses of the world.
3. When Jordan McRae is bad, he is really bad. His last 2 games killed us.
4. Martin's refusal to switch defenses or adjust in-game is astonishing sometimes. Mercer burned is back door about 10 times in the first half and NOTHING was done to fix it. It's either stubbornness or stupidity...neither of which is good.
5. This team has to learn how to shoot FTs better if we want to step up to the next level. Shooting 50% the last 2 games is inexcusable.
6. I thought we would be flat tonight, but I am still astounded that Mercer dominated us like that from start to finish. I realize it's a worthless and meaningless tournament, but you still have to take pride EVERY time you put on the orange and white.
7. And did I mention, thank god the season is over.
Click to expand...

I'm glad it's over as well. No enthusiasm after no NCAA tourney. We got screwed and basically played like we didn't care. I'm not surprised at all as this team has been this way all season only really got up for the "big" games. Lack of leadership. Hopefully someone steps up next season, assuming it will be Maymon, and leads this team. Don't think we need to worry about Stokes of McRae going pro.
 
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#4
#4
Golfer said:
This game will destroy CM at TENN. 12 months remaining for Martin. Recruits will not look at TENN seriously. Tenn Basketball is a joke
Click to expand...

This game doesn't even begin to hold a candle to the embarrassing no-show with a tourney bid on the line last Friday. Not caring about an NIT is understandable. Not caring about earning an NCAA bid is simply inexcusable.
 
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#5
#5
Golfer said:
This game will destroy CM at TENN. 12 months remaining for Martin. Recruits will not look at TENN seriously. Tenn Basketball is a joke
Click to expand...

Because they lost an NIT game? I don't think so. In a few weeks nobody outside of TN and Mercer fans will even remember this game.
 
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#6
#6
bnhunt said:
4. Martin's refusal to switch defenses or adjust in-game is astonishing sometimes. Mercer burned is back door about 10 times in the first half and NOTHING was done to fix it. It's either stubbornness or stupidity...neither of which is good.
Click to expand...

Great overall post, but had to pick out this one. I love it. I said largely the same thing over in Z's Postgame Report. This right here is my number 1 concern heading into next year, even more so than the health of Jeronne Maymon. I want to see the man COACH. Make adjustments! How can you continue to get beat by the same thing for that long? Especially when it is leading to easy layups?

It's just frustrating. We were out-hustled tonight, yes, but a lot of that first half was on Coach Martin, because whatever our scheme was, we kept getting burned on defense for layups.
 
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#7
#7
Golfer said:
This game will destroy CM at TENN. 12 months remaining for Martin. Recruits will not look at TENN seriously. Tenn Basketball is a joke
Click to expand...

Enter Kentucky who played with just as much heart as we did.
 
#9
#9
CNCVol88 said:
Enter Kentucky who played with just as much heart as we did.
Click to expand...

At least Kentucky had the dignity to play lousy in a 3000 seat gym on the road. We had to witness it home, the 2nd year in a row. And, we were never in this game. I guess Mercer is just that good.
 
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#10
#10
and now people see why I have said McRae is a poor man's J.R. Smith. When he is on he can win you games single handedly. When he is off.... well. You guys see.
 
#12
#12
OrangeBalls said:
You're as lost as last year's Easter egg.
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You must be looking into a mirror talking to yourself.

Read the prevailing mindset from another site pal, and then get a clue.....

"Dave Hart should be sitting in the middle of Martin's desk when he enters the office in the morning and very candidly let him know that performances such as this from both the players and coaching staff are not acceptable. As I stated in another posting in an article earlier in the week, Martin's whining about a snub by the NCAA created a "could care less" attitude among the team. Well, the NCAA was right and Martin and team were pathetic again. Summit would have this team running wind sprints right now until they dropped. The Vols performance in the last two NIT's are just as bad as Dooley losing to Kentucky one year and Vandy the next. It could be that a lot of people are correct in their assessment that Martin is not the guy for the job but neither is Pearl."
 
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#13
#13
Mercer was a very well coached team that outplayed Tn in every facet of the game. They executed their set plays to perfection while the Vols weren't very effective offensively or defensively.
 
#15
#15
ROFL at this thread and people's comments. Seriously, who cares??? How proud would you be hanging a NIT banner? If this game takes place in November / December, we beat this team by 10 +. People need to take a few steps back from the cliff. If we start out flat and sucky again than worry. Martin is not a dumb man and if he doesn't have his team dancing next year, he know's what will likely happen so let him put his back to the wall to see what he can do.
 
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#16
#16
bnhunt said:
1. Thank god the season is over. It was really over last Friday, it just officially ended tonight.
2. The NIT is a joke, especially for the power conference schools. It's just hard to get up for the Mercers and Robert Morrisses of the world.
3. When Jordan McRae is bad, he is really bad. His last 2 games killed us.
4. Martin's refusal to switch defenses or adjust in-game is astonishing sometimes. Mercer burned is back door about 10 times in the first half and NOTHING was done to fix it. It's either stubbornness or stupidity...neither of which is good.
5. This team has to learn how to shoot FTs better if we want to step up to the next level. Shooting 50% the last 2 games is inexcusable.
6. I thought we would be flat tonight, but I am still astounded that Mercer dominated us like that from start to finish. I realize it's a worthless and meaningless tournament, but you still have to take pride EVERY time you put on the orange and white.
7. And did I mention, thank god the season is over.
Click to expand...

Can't really disagree with any of this.
 
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#18
#18
We could learn from teams like Mercer and Belmont. They run their offense with a purpose and get easy scores against lazy defenses. Out guys just go thru the motions


We should have even better talent on the floor next year. Hopefully Martin and company improve as well or it could be another dissapointing season & NIT loss
 
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#19
#19
SmokeyLives said:
At least Kentucky had the dignity to play lousy in a 3000 seat gym on the road. We had to witness it home, the 2nd year in a row. And, we were never in this game. I guess Mercer is just that good.
Click to expand...

Mercer is a good, well-coached team that doesn't rely on athleticism. They play a smart, disciplined brand of basketball that works if executed properly despite the disadvantages they face athletically. It especially works against undisciplined teams, and teams that struggle to, refuse to, or simply can't adjust. Tennessee didn't adjust offensively or defensively, and were routinely beaten and forced to play outside their comfort level as a result. The fact that they beat Tennessee should come as little surprise given the situation and the fact they have beaten Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia Tech in the last year.
 
#20
#20
bnhunt said:
1. Thank god the season is over. It was really over last Friday, it just officially ended tonight.
2. The NIT is a joke, especially for the power conference schools. It's just hard to get up for the Mercers and Robert Morrisses of the world.
3. When Jordan McRae is bad, he is really bad. His last 2 games killed us.
4. Martin's refusal to switch defenses or adjust in-game is astonishing sometimes. Mercer burned is back door about 10 times in the first half and NOTHING was done to fix it. It's either stubbornness or stupidity...neither of which is good.
5. This team has to learn how to shoot FTs better if we want to step up to the next level. Shooting 50% the last 2 games is inexcusable.
6. I thought we would be flat tonight, but I am still astounded that Mercer dominated us like that from start to finish. I realize it's a worthless and meaningless tournament, but you still have to take pride EVERY time you put on the orange and white.
7. And did I mention, thank god the season is over.
Click to expand...


Not one of those guys (with the possible exception of Stokes) gave ANYTHING for Tennessee last night, much less their ALL!
 
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#21
#21
8. Mercer being seeded at 7 was way too low in my opinion. Although it is the NIT, so the selection committee probably consisted of 2 drunk hobos and Bozo the Clown.
 
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#22
#22
SmokeyLives said:
You must be looking into a mirror talking to yourself.

Read the prevailing mindset from another site pal, and then get a clue.....

"Dave Hart should be sitting in the middle of Martin's desk when he enters the office in the morning and very candidly let him know that performances such as this from both the players and coaching staff are not acceptable. As I stated in another posting in an article earlier in the week, Martin's whining about a snub by the NCAA created a "could care less" attitude among the team. Well, the NCAA was right and Martin and team were pathetic again. Summit would have this team running wind sprints right now until they dropped. The Vols performance in the last two NIT's are just as bad as Dooley losing to Kentucky one year and Vandy the next. It could be that a lot of people are correct in their assessment that Martin is not the guy for the job but neither is Pearl."
Click to expand...

When she did that it was the beginning of the end. They never won again. You can look it up.
 
#24
#24
utfan72408 said:
Great overall post, but had to pick out this one. I love it. I said largely the same thing over in Z's Postgame Report. This right here is my number 1 concern heading into next year, even more so than the health of Jeronne Maymon. I want to see the man COACH. Make adjustments! How can you continue to get beat by the same thing for that long? Especially when it is leading to easy layups?

It's just frustrating. We were out-hustled tonight, yes, but a lot of that first half was on Coach Martin, because whatever our scheme was, we kept getting burned on defense for layups.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more.

I've always wondered why when asked specific basketball questions, CCM comes back with something about the 'toughness' of the team..."...we've just got to be more mentally and physically tough, blah, blah, blah..". I'm beginning to think it's because he doesn't understand anything else about the game. I want to hear him describe in detail how it is that he preaches defense so hard, yet his team can't defend a basic basketball play such as the pick and roll.

Hoping I'm wrong...and I really want him to work out here...but I don't see it happening. If he's gonna continue his current coaching trend, he better find some top 20 recruits to overcome the lack of coaching and just out-talent people.
 
#25
#25
bleedorange0037 said:
This game doesn't even begin to hold a candle to the embarrassing no-show with a tourney bid on the line last Friday. Not caring about an NIT is understandable. Not caring about earning an NCAA bid is simply inexcusable.
Click to expand...

People keep saying that we were flat or lacked interest in the Bama game. So you believe we played with less enthusiasm in that game or didn't prepare as hard? nonsense. This game against Mercer yes...that is what happened, not against Bama.

My opinion is that we were NERVOUS for the Bama game, not flat.
 
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