BTO’s South Carolina Postgame Report

[TMvol10]

SC got the refs to call it the way they wanted which is you could body the shooter as long as you didn't have contact up high or to his arms. I was at the game and most likely on TV the contact away from the ball wasn't as evident. I was very impressed with how Dalton took the "licking and kept on ticking." He and Stute were in what looked like a football "Oklahoma" drill all night and he never backed down and gave as good as he got. I didn't think my respect for DK's game could be any greater but it went up after that performance.

I agree on DK. In this game, and the Bama game, he was held, smacked, checked, bodied and every other way you can “illegally” defend someone but he played through it. He never threw up his hands in frustration. He didn’t run to the refs and complain every chance like Auburns players do. He just kept playing and impacted the game whether he was scoring or not. It’s easy in games like that, where you getting defended in that way, to hang your head and get frustrated, but he didn’t. He just kept playing. Much respect for DK

 

[VOLtaism]

I did not see anyone mention the missed thunder-dunk by Awaka. Even though he missed it the crowd got quiet for a moment. I wish he could have hit it, they would still be playing that video!

 

[TheMookieMonster]

It was a great team win. I wasn’t crazy about the fact that we seemed to defer to Knecht again for much of the 2nd half, especially once his efficiency started to dip, but I understand it. I just think this team is at our best when we are sharing the basketball and not looking to DK to carry us. I was hoping for Santi and JJJ to hunt their shot more, and I remember 1-2 opportunities where Mashack had a fairy open 3 and he chose not to take it. He just came off a game where he was 2-2 from 3.

We need him to feel confident in taking his shot when it is there because often times I have seen us pass up a good shot for a great shot and we either turn it over or we never get the great shot. It definitely felt like at times we were over-dribbling which caused some of our issues in getting in rhythm on offense.

All that being said, the defense was the best I have seen all season and I love how this team has shown it can win any style of game. Hope we finish out the season strong with a win over UK. That 1-seed is in sight. Just one final hurdle to clear. Let’s do it.

 

[BruisedOrange]

I don't mind refs allowing physicality. Consistency is consistency, and that's the best we can ask for.
But moving, leaning, spread-legged screens are not physicality. They're simply a violation.

Glad we got out of there without injuries.

 

[1Big_Orange_Fan]

This team has really hit their stride and Knecht is obviously that scorer we've been missing. It feels like we've totally gelled since that loss to A&M a few weeks back (my fault BTW for going to that one!). Anyway, there's a special feeling about this group and last time I had that feeling about a UT team was mid-year 1998 after our football team took care of Georgia and Auburn in back to back weeks. This team may very well do what no other Vol squad has done before.

 

[ndubvols]

We’ve obviously been really good this last stretch of games, but one thing that’s a bit concerning is rebounding late on games. Offensive rebounds late in the second half really kept bama and South Carolina alive late when we could’ve put the game away

 

[gainesvol82]

I wasn’t saying he doesn’t get enough rest. Moreso I think going to him exclusively the last 4 minutes is asking a lot unless he’s really feeling it like the auburn game. He’s definitely our best option the majority of the time don’t get me wrong, but think mixing in a little more zz creating towards the end of games as well could help knecht.

I agree with that statement but pretty sure that's what we are usually doing unless we need Knecht to be the focal point late.

 

[gainesvol82]

We’ve obviously been really good this last stretch of games, but one thing that’s a bit concerning is rebounding late on games. Offensive rebounds late in the second half really kept bama and South Carolina alive late when we could’ve put the game away

Doesn't worry me much because they are usually long rebounds on jumpers. You're going to have some of those get tipped back out to the offense. We aren't getting beat up down low for rebounds and our guards are playing defense further out than usual in those circumstances.