BTO’s Florida A&M postgame report

#26
#26
VolsSportsFan said:
You're the first person I've seen say anything like this; to me it's almost the opposite, nobody wants the ball to score. I've seen too many players, especially Bowden and JJJ drive the lane and then pass out when they should go to the hoop.
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My observation also. Most noticeable in the FSU game. Hot potato.
 
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#27
#27
VolsSportsFan said:
You're the first person I've seen say anything like this; to me it's almost the opposite, nobody wants the ball to score. I've seen too many players, especially Bowden and JJJ drive the lane and then pass out when they should go to the hoop.
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I agree, Bowden especially has to take more shots, and JJJ hardly ever drives in the lane and puts a shot up, its usually a pass. Not saying that is a bad thing necessarily in the case of JJJ since he has such a high basketball IQ, but Bowden has to be the man and can't disappear.
 
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#29
#29
PEPPERJAX said:
Did anyone else hear the heckler from the crowd yelling at the big for A&M on the free throw line telling him to eat a salad? My daughter and I couldn’t stop laughing after we heard that. On a more serious note, I am glad LT did not play much in the 2nd half giving JJJ more minutes at PG. Once JJJ gets comfortable on offense, sky is the limit for him.
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I think hecklers like that are waaaaay stupid.
 
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#34
#34
Double-double by ON was good... also Gaines had a good game penetrating to the basket.

Interesting stat on the new 3pt line mentioned during the cast that last year, 10 SEC teams shot over 33%, this year only 5...
 
#36
#36
VolsSportsFan said:
You're the first person I've seen say anything like this; to me it's almost the opposite, nobody wants the ball to score. I've seen too many players, especially Bowden and JJJ drive the lane and then pass out when they should go to the hoop.
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It is basically an ignorant way of saying Lamonte Turner is a ball hog.
 
#37
#37
Last night was one of those games you just have to play and take care of business in, but I think there were some takeaways from the last couple weeks if not so much last night:

1. Olivier is better than Grant was as a freshman. He could easily turn into a GREAT player, and listening to Barnes after the game, he seems to agree. To me he is our best playing freshman.

2. We don’t need to worry about James being a “one and done”. I’m not slamming the kid, I think he can be a great player, but he is a ways from being NBA ready. Comically flat shot, and a weird hesitancy to use his athleticism. I think he will turn into another successful Barnes project in a year or two. He has already shown improvement over the first couple weeks, and we are going to need him later this season.

3. Turner isn’t a PG. I absolutely love him, but he was much better playing off Bone. He’s definitely our best option currently, and I hope he continues to improve in his role this year. Two years ago I would have taken him over any 6th man in the country and last year I would have taken him over any 2. For the third year he is my favorite Vol, but he has to get better as a 1 if we are going to win with the backcourt this year.

4. This team is much better than the rebuilding year that many of us expected. Barnes has done a great job replacing 4 starters (sort of 3.5 with Bowden) They have the ability and desire to go far this year. They don’t have the flow of last years team that had several years together, and are probably a little short on talent comparatively, but they are a good, well coached team. They are actually pretty similar to the Purdue team that took us out last year minus a true big man, though I still have hope for Fulk.

5. Pons....we all knew you had it, it’s great to see you figured it out too!

6. Fulk....seems to have finally figured out how to play with a couple of fouls. That has always been one of his biggest weaknesses. He’s giving us good solid minutes where we need them. He will never be the rim protector Alexander was, but he’s a good player and you have to love his heart. Barnes said he would be the best of his class when he arrived (Bone, Williams, Bowden, Johnson) and while that hasn’t proven to be true so far, there’s still time...show us something big guy!

7. Defense travels. I never expected this team to play defense better than last years. They will keep us in games we have no business being in. We won’t win them all, but I will be shocked to see them get blown out by anyone. Turner is a bulldog, Bowden and Pons can cover ridiculous amounts of space. James is improving in every game, Fulk isn’t taking himself out of the game by halftime anymore. By tournament time this could be a team that gives you absolutely nothing. As small as we are....we need that.

8. Barnes....I was so disappointed with the hire originally. I was also super excited about the Kiffin hire....I guess all this proves is don’t hire me as AD. I have never been so wrong about someone. Thanks to Coach Barnes for bringing a culture of winning, but just as importantly personal responsibility and commitment to your brothers. The guys who go on to play in the NBA will appreciate the basketball lessons, the rest will appreciate what he has given them for everything else in their lives. Coach Barnes, you’re a good man, I’m glad you’re a Vol, and I can’t wait to celebrate that 700th victory with a win over Memphis State. TBA is going to be rocking, and I hope you know that a large part of that is for you.
 
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#38
#38
scottchatt said:
Last night was one of those games you just have to play and take care of business in, but I think there were some takeaways from the last couple weeks if not so much last night:

1. Olivier is better than Grant was as a freshman. He could easily turn into a GREAT player, and listening to Barnes after the game, he seems to agree. To me he is our best playing freshman.
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Strongly disagree. He’s nowhere close to as good as Grant was at a freshman
 
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#40
#40
VolsSportsFan said:
You're the first person I've seen say anything like this; to me it's almost the opposite, nobody wants the ball to score. I've seen too many players, especially Bowden and JJJ drive the lane and then pass out when they should go to the hoop.
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this is exactly what I've seen also no idea how anyone can look at this team and find them selfish.. first off selfish teams don't play defense like we've been playing. We turn the ball over because exactly what you're saying guys are thinking too much trying to do too much on the offensive side. I think once they get more chemistry the turnovers slow down.

I sometimes forget how many freshmen we are playing and honestly, that explains a lot of the turnovers not so much the guys are young there is just not a lot of team chemistry on the offensive end. Just because player x has y turnovers does not mean all of them are on him perse sometimes its because he was trying to get the ball to someone else or the offense stalled because people were not where they should have been. Individual defense is the easiest thing to teach because honestly its mostly effort. Offense is dependent a lot more on learning plays, practice reps, and chemistry.
 
#41
#41
Watching that F a and m team I actually felt sorry for them. 0-8? ...and it showed on their faces. That's gotta be a bummer.
 
#43
#43
Volle said:
Double-double by ON was good... also Gaines had a good game penetrating to the basket.

Interesting stat on the new 3pt line mentioned during the cast that last year, 10 SEC teams shot over 33%, this year only 5...
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It could be the difference in where the 3 pt line is or it could be that the SEC isn't as good this year. I'd rather see stats on this that go beyond the SEC
 
#44
#44
Sea Ray said:
It could be the difference in where the 3 pt line is or it could be that the SEC isn't as good this year. I'd rather see stats on this that go beyond the SEC
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It goes down at first every time they move it back. then players adjust and percentages rise. The smarter coaches will take advantage until it stabilizes. The process has a history.
 
#45
#45
bleedingTNorange said:
GW gave us 12.5ppg 6rpg 2bpg as a frosh, ORN is currently giving us 6ppg 5rpg 1bpg.
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He was also playing 25 mins per game. ON is playing 16 mins currently. Also through 8 games Williams was averaging under 7.5 points per game with nearly double the playing time, including starting half those games.

Maybe ON turns out to be as good as or better than Williams maybe he doesn’t, it’s pretty hard to tell with Freshmen.

But as a Freshman 8 games into his college career, I think he has showed us a ton. It’s not just stats at this point. He is making the right moves, he’s in position most of the time, and he doesn’t make a lot of dumb mistakes. He also isn’t afraid to go score, which can be an issue with some freshmen on well coached teams.

I hope he turns out better than Williams, that would be amazing. If he gets close, we still benefit. I don’t see how anyone doesn’t see the obvious comparisons, other than we have a lot of fans who weren’t watching the Vols when Grant was a freshman.
 
#46
#46
BruinVol said:
Strongly disagree. He’s nowhere close to as good as Grant was at a freshman
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Through 8 games he’s played half the minutes and given about 80% of the production. ON is playing on a team that is currently better than that 2016 team, so he isn’t needed the way Williams was.

I can understand not thinking he will be as good as one of the best players to ever wear Orange, but the comparison seems pretty obvious, and it is WAY too early to say the potential isn’t there.

I hope ON has the kind of 2nd half of the season GW did. I remember watching Grant in his first eight games. He felt the same to me, a talented, smart player...but certainly not what he turned into. By the second half of that season you KNEW Grant was a baller. I hope Barnes has the same effect on Olivier.
 
#47
#47
scottchatt said:
He was also playing 25 mins per game. ON is playing 16 mins currently. Also through 8 games Williams was averaging under 7.5 points per game with nearly double the playing time, including starting half those games.

Maybe ON turns out to be as good as or better than Williams maybe he doesn’t, it’s pretty hard to tell with Freshmen.

But as a Freshman 8 games into his college career, I think he has showed us a ton. It’s not just stats at this point. He is making the right moves, he’s in position most of the time, and he doesn’t make a lot of dumb mistakes. He also isn’t afraid to go score, which can be an issue with some freshmen on well coached teams.

I hope he turns out better than Williams, that would be amazing. If he gets close, we still benefit. I don’t see how anyone doesn’t see the obvious comparisons, other than we have a lot of fans who weren’t watching the Vols when Grant was a freshman.
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I’m not saying there is no comparison, just that I’m not sure people remember how good GW was his freshman year. He had a couple of 30pt outings as a freshman, I don’t see that coming from ORN but would love to be wrong.
 
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#48
#48
bleedingTNorange said:
I’m not saying there is no comparison, just that I’m not sure people remember how good GW was his freshman year. He had a couple of 30pt outings as a freshman, I don’t see that coming from ORN but would love to be wrong.
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GW broke the freshman record for most blocks IIRC, and also placed pretty high for overall regular season blocks.
 
#49
#49
Grant was light years better than Olivier as a Freshman. I don't even know how anyone coluld possibly come to that conclusion. That being said I think Olivier is a nice prospect.
 
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