Appalachian State Postgame Report

[cncchris33]

1. WOW...that may have been the most complete game from start to finish that I have seen a Barnes-coached Tennessee team play. We got up early, we kept our foot on the gas, and we extended the lead throughout the game, never letting up or falling asleep. Dominating blowout win at 79-38.

2. Defense was incredible. Hold them to 28% shooting, force 18 TOs, and have 13 steals and 5 blocks.

3. We owned the boards. 45-27 advantage, and it wasn't as simple as rebounding a bunch of missed ASU shots. We had as many offensive rebounds (18) as ASU did defensive rebounds.

4. 4 guys in double figure scoring and 7 guys with at least 6 points. Pretty balanced for a point total of 79.

5. Fulk and Pons seem to be getting their feet underneath them, and their shots are falling more consistently as a result. We still missed a lot of gimmes (not just Fulk and Pons), but their midrange turnarounds were much more consistent, tonight.

6. Jaden Springer is really starting to come around, offensively. 6-8 shooting and had 12 points, scoring in a variety of ways.

7. Keon Johnson is athletic as all get out. He had two drives to the basket that were NBA plays. One where he took off from the 3 point line and got to the bucket with one dribble to score, and another where he went coast to coast for a monster dunk, dribbling thru traffic. Filled up the box score, too, with 6 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assts, 4 stls, and 0 TOs. He still is prone to force his offense a bit and only finished 2-7 shooting, but the defense is absolutely elite.

8. EJ Anosike had his best game as a Vol. He finished with 6 pts, 6 rebs, and 1 asst, and his defense tonight was really, really good.

9. Nkamhoua had two nice buckets and played some nice defense, which was great to see. Maybe bumps his confidence, a bit. Still a goose egg on the boards. I'd imagine that has to change for him to continue playing. Good overall step in the right direction, tonight.

10. This team is so good on defense. They don't need to be elite, offensively, but if they could manage to be just really good in that area, this team has potential to go really far. Cincinnati coach compared Tennessee defense to the 2018-19 Texas Tech team, and called those two as the best defensive teams he's ever encountered as a coach. That is high praise from a defensive coach like Brannen.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

They’re a very exciting team to watch.

The defense has been extremely good. We leave the 3 ball open at times but solid all around.

Barnes has this team playing with toughness, which comes with great coaching.

I’m hoping for a Final Four this year. This will be our best chance to do it in a long time.

 

[PandamoniumReigns]

I know it was garbage time, but Uros is an offensive liability. Good for a board, but he should not be looking to score .

 

[Namorto1]

Our defense is legit. Our offense will flow even better if we push tempo more often. If we don’t get a good look, settle it down, find Fulkerson in post or at the elbow, give Springer some space or find Bailey off a curl. We can rotate the ball quicker in the half court, which will open up more gaps in the defense that Springer, Johnson, James, Bailey (who showed it today) and even Vescovi can attack. We have to knock down more 3 pt shots to excel offensively. Vescovi and Bailey have good strokes clearly. James knocked them down tonight. Pons‘ outside shot looks like he is pushing it...his technique is off.

 

[cncchris33]

Our defense is legit. Our offense will flow even better if we push tempo more often. If we don’t get a good look, settle it down, find Fulkerson in post or at the elbow, give Springer some space or find Bailey off a curl. We can rotate the ball quicker in the half court, which will open up more gaps in the defense that Springer, Johnson, James, Bailey (who showed it today) and even Vescovi can attack. We have to knock down more 3 pt shots to excel offensively. Vescovi and Bailey have good strokes clearly. James knocked them down tonight. Pons‘ outside shot looks like he is pushing it...his technique is off.

Agree, particularly about Pons' shot. He finally hit his last attempt, which I hope gets him going, but his shot has been flat each game, although his midrange shot is beginning to have more air under it, recently. Now he just needs to expand that to his long-range jumper.

 

[vols1071]

Hard to complain but JJJ needs to be more physical offensively taking it to the basket... 6"7 225.... Just see so many times he can get to the basket and dominate or at least draw fouls... Has to take advantage of his physical stature more

 

[turnuptheVOLtage]

A little worried by our lack of life in the paint play. We don’t seem to have a guy that can just square up and dominate. Will hurt us in gutsy tournament games, but still time to improve. Great team so far

 

[goldvol]

depth, talent, and coaching spell success this year. nice mix of veteran leaders and exciting young athletes

 

[omghulkhands]

Vescovi is massively improved on defense. It was talked about before this game, but we saw even more of it today.

Keon is a ball hawk. Uncanny how he gets steals without gambling.

Springer looked like the most improved player to me from the first two games. Starting to see the court better and he will be an elite finisher. Wouldn’t shock me if second half of the year he was averaging 14+ on mostly shots from within 5 feet

Gaines was solid when he played. Just goes to show how deep this team is.

 

[griffdog14]

A little worried by our lack of life in the paint play. We don’t seem to have a guy that can just square up and dominate. Will hurt us in gutsy tournament games, but still time to improve. Great team so far

I agree. I forsee us playing a tough defensive team which leads our offense to pass the ball around with little movement leading to a bad shot

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Vescovi is massively improved on defense. It was talked about before this game, but we saw even more of it today.

Keon is a ball hawk. Uncanny how he gets steals without gambling.

Springer looked like the most improved player to me from the first two games. Starting to see the court better and he will be an elite finisher. Wouldn’t shock me if second half of the year he was averaging 14+ on mostly shots from within 5 feet

Gaines was solid when he played. Just goes to show how deep this team is.

Gaines definitely made the most of his minutes. This team is DEEP

 

[golfballs]

My thougts so far:
-Never thought I’d enjoy watching defense so much
-Vescovi needs fo shoot more

 

[VolArmy74]

My only two worries for the team at this point is that we need get a true go to scorer that can create his own shot. You need that come tournament time. We may have it already but so far with things so balanced we've not needed to see it. I suspect by the end of the year it will be Keon or Springer, maybe Bailey.

I'd love to have a little better 3 point shooting team too. Hopefully we can get guy to develop who can confidently stroke it from there and knock down 38-41% from range.

As good as the defense is, it seems like there's always that tournament game where a defensive juggernaut has to outscore someone. Virginia from 2019 was potent on defense but had to beat the Purdue team that beat us 80-75 after Purdue had a hot night from 3.

 

[ArdentVol]

1. WOW...that may have been the most complete game from start to finish that I have seen a Barnes-coached Tennessee team play. We got up early, we kept our foot on the gas, and we extended the lead throughout the game, never letting up or falling asleep. Dominating blowout win at 79-38.

2. Defense was incredible. Hold them to 28% shooting, force 18 TOs, and have 13 steals and 5 blocks.
nen.

Thanks. Defense like this is a joy to watch.=

 

[Vol49er]

My only two worries for the team at this point is that we need get a true go to scorer that can create his own shot. You need that come tournament time. We may have it already but so far with things so balanced we've not needed to see it. I suspect by the end of the year it will be Keon or Springer, maybe Bailey.

I'd love to have a little better 3 point shooting team too. Hopefully we can get guy to develop who can confidently stroke it from there and knock down 38-41% from range.

As good as the defense is, it seems like there's always that tournament game where a defensive juggernaut has to outscore someone. Virginia from 2019 was potent on defense but had to beat the Purdue team that beat us 80-75 after Purdue had a hot night from 3.

The first part I think Jaden is going to become that guy for us, but I worry as well for when we meet a team who gets really hot and we need to outscore them

 

[1985Vols]

Smothering, relentless defense and 10 deep with little or no drop off. This team is poised for an SEC Championship and possible final Four run . Just wish we could fill up TBA and support them in person.

 

[cardvolfan]

Hard to complain but JJJ needs to be more physical offensively taking it to the basket... 6"7 225.... Just see so many times he can get to the basket and dominate or at least draw fouls... Has to take advantage of his physical stature more

6'6" 207 pounds. I agree with the idea, though.

 

[Special Ed]

Considering that we're holding opponents to an average of 47 points, is it too soon to dub Rick Barnes the new Minister of Defense?

 

[Butch s]

Just goes to show with the right coaching, there is no reason we can't have a football team this good

 

[njvols]

Hard to complain but JJJ needs to be more physical offensively taking it to the basket... 6"7 225.... Just see so many times he can get to the basket and dominate or at least draw fouls... Has to take advantage of his physical stature more

I agree he needs to be more aggressive, but thru 3 games, he's been the most consistently impressive on his stat line across the board at the end of the game w/ rebounds, steals, assists, points. Last night, he was quietly 8 rebounds, 11 points, 2 assists, 1 block

 

[VOLED]

6'6" 207 pounds. I agree with the idea, though.

He may be listed at that, but my son stood beside him after a game and said he was bigger than listed in both weight and height. He guessed him to be closer to 6'8" than 6'6".

 

[walkenvol]

Does your son work at a carnival?

 

[VOLED]

Does your son work at a carnival?

Yes, he has been barking for the yak women, but is hoping to guess height and weight this year.

 

[LeannaVol]

He may be listed at that, but my son stood beside him after a game and said he was bigger than listed in both weight and height. He guessed him to be closer to 6'8" than 6'6".

He did look taller then Pons when they were walking out of the huddle after one of the tv breaks.

 

[VOLED]

1. WOW...that may have been the most complete game from start to finish that I have seen a Barnes-coached Tennessee team play. We got up early, we kept our foot on the gas, and we extended the lead throughout the game, never letting up or falling asleep. Dominating blowout win at 79-38.

2. Defense was incredible. Hold them to 28% shooting, force 18 TOs, and have 13 steals and 5 blocks.

3. We owned the boards. 45-27 advantage, and it wasn't as simple as rebounding a bunch of missed ASU shots. We had as many offensive rebounds (18) as ASU did defensive rebounds.

4. 4 guys in double figure scoring and 7 guys with at least 6 points. Pretty balanced for a point total of 79.

5. Fulk and Pons seem to be getting their feet underneath them, and their shots are falling more consistently as a result. We still missed a lot of gimmes (not just Fulk and Pons), but their midrange turnarounds were much more consistent, tonight.

6. Jaden Springer is really starting to come around, offensively. 6-8 shooting and had 12 points, scoring in a variety of ways.

7. Keon Johnson is athletic as all get out. He had two drives to the basket that were NBA plays. One where he took off from the 3 point line and got to the bucket with one dribble to score, and another where he went coast to coast for a monster dunk, dribbling thru traffic. Filled up the box score, too, with 6 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assts, 4 stls, and 0 TOs. He still is prone to force his offense a bit and only finished 2-7 shooting, but the defense is absolutely elite.

8. EJ Anosike had his best game as a Vol. He finished with 6 pts, 6 rebs, and 1 asst, and his defense tonight was really, really good.

9. Nkamhoua had two nice buckets and played some nice defense, which was great to see. Maybe bumps his confidence, a bit. Still a goose egg on the boards. I'd imagine that has to change for him to continue playing. Good overall step in the right direction, tonight.

10. This team is so good on defense. They don't need to be elite, offensively, but if they could manage to be just really good in that area, this team has potential to go really far. Cincinnati coach compared Tennessee defense to the 2018-19 Texas Tech team, and called those two as the best defensive teams he's ever encountered as a coach. That is high praise from a defensive coach like Brannen.

As always, nice write up.