bleedingTNorange
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1. What a way to send the seniors out, that was a game that looked much like the early conference Tennessee we all got accustomed to seeing...we controlled the game, got a big lead and let the walk-on’s play the final couple minutes, very happy those guys got out there and able to enjoy their senior night.
2. Is the Tennessee defense back? After holding Kentucky to a 5 year low of 0.78ppp tonight we hold Mississippi State to 0.78ppp as well which ties their worst offensive output of the season which they had reached against Kentucky...and that was the #16 offense in the country per KenPom entering tonight. The Vols still have to do it consistently, but the last 2 games tell time that when this team is focused and motivated the elite defense we saw last year is in them, that’s a great sign.
3. If you want a negative I will point to the offensive slump, it’s not bad but it’s not where it was, is it as simple as shots just not currently falling? I do think that’s a big part. This is our 6th game in a row that we haven’t surpassed 1.10ppp, yet on the season we average 1.22ppp, so definitely cold of late. Bowden and Turner were a combined 1-8 from deep tonight, which runs their 6 current game total to 7-53 or 13%...the law of averages would say that’s near impossible for both guys to go that cold over 6 games, so I’m fairly confident they will soon snap out of it.
4. A lot of people are gonna scoff a bit at that win, but that win goes down as a Q1 win, and for a team that was lacking some headline wins that was a big one because it looks real good on the resume. Add in the fact that we pretty much led that game by 15+ more almost the entire 2nd half and that win looks really good on the resume with not much time left to add to your resume. I think that win pretty much solidifies Tennessee getting at least a 2 seed in the NCAAT and obviously keeps them in the conversation for a 1 seed with a big opportunity coming Saturday.
5. Hats off to Fulk, Johnson and Walker...those 3 guys have brought some solid minutes to the court the last couple games, if they can continue to do that especially in the 1st half of games that would be huge. Ideally we space those guys out so they aren’t out there together, but the way they’re playing they can be mixed in for spurts and give some guys some key rest heading down the stretch and hopefully will help give them some confidence heading into next year.
6. Maybe I should have led off with this, but if you couldn’t tell I was trying to avoid it for as long as possible, but here goes...Thank You Seniors. These guys came to Tennessee and helped build the foundation of what is looking like will become a Top 15 program, they have brought back fan interest to a level that I think only is they could have. I don’t think bringing in 4 one and done’s would have had the same impact on this fan base, the wins may have come just the same but watching these boys come to Knoxville and grow into men has brought the level of appreciation to another level that simply winning doesn’t accomplish. I don’t know what the future holds, but imo it’s going to be very hard to ever match the joy this group brought to myself, my father and many of the Vol fans I know who are close to me...we got to know these young men in a way that many top programs rarely get to know their star players, they represented the university with absolute class and they are men we can be proud of both on and off the court. Cherish every game that they play from here on out because who knows how many they have left, this season has absolutely flown by and I wish I could’ve slowed it down, I’m not ready to say goodbye to these seniors but here’s to hoping we’ve got at least 34 more days before we have to
GBO!!!
2. Is the Tennessee defense back? After holding Kentucky to a 5 year low of 0.78ppp tonight we hold Mississippi State to 0.78ppp as well which ties their worst offensive output of the season which they had reached against Kentucky...and that was the #16 offense in the country per KenPom entering tonight. The Vols still have to do it consistently, but the last 2 games tell time that when this team is focused and motivated the elite defense we saw last year is in them, that’s a great sign.
3. If you want a negative I will point to the offensive slump, it’s not bad but it’s not where it was, is it as simple as shots just not currently falling? I do think that’s a big part. This is our 6th game in a row that we haven’t surpassed 1.10ppp, yet on the season we average 1.22ppp, so definitely cold of late. Bowden and Turner were a combined 1-8 from deep tonight, which runs their 6 current game total to 7-53 or 13%...the law of averages would say that’s near impossible for both guys to go that cold over 6 games, so I’m fairly confident they will soon snap out of it.
4. A lot of people are gonna scoff a bit at that win, but that win goes down as a Q1 win, and for a team that was lacking some headline wins that was a big one because it looks real good on the resume. Add in the fact that we pretty much led that game by 15+ more almost the entire 2nd half and that win looks really good on the resume with not much time left to add to your resume. I think that win pretty much solidifies Tennessee getting at least a 2 seed in the NCAAT and obviously keeps them in the conversation for a 1 seed with a big opportunity coming Saturday.
5. Hats off to Fulk, Johnson and Walker...those 3 guys have brought some solid minutes to the court the last couple games, if they can continue to do that especially in the 1st half of games that would be huge. Ideally we space those guys out so they aren’t out there together, but the way they’re playing they can be mixed in for spurts and give some guys some key rest heading down the stretch and hopefully will help give them some confidence heading into next year.
6. Maybe I should have led off with this, but if you couldn’t tell I was trying to avoid it for as long as possible, but here goes...Thank You Seniors. These guys came to Tennessee and helped build the foundation of what is looking like will become a Top 15 program, they have brought back fan interest to a level that I think only is they could have. I don’t think bringing in 4 one and done’s would have had the same impact on this fan base, the wins may have come just the same but watching these boys come to Knoxville and grow into men has brought the level of appreciation to another level that simply winning doesn’t accomplish. I don’t know what the future holds, but imo it’s going to be very hard to ever match the joy this group brought to myself, my father and many of the Vol fans I know who are close to me...we got to know these young men in a way that many top programs rarely get to know their star players, they represented the university with absolute class and they are men we can be proud of both on and off the court. Cherish every game that they play from here on out because who knows how many they have left, this season has absolutely flown by and I wish I could’ve slowed it down, I’m not ready to say goodbye to these seniors but here’s to hoping we’ve got at least 34 more days before we have to
GBO!!!
