bleedingTNorange
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1. Workman like performance from the Vols, lead wire to wire and just gradually continued to expand the lead and hold total control all game long. The offense was a bit cold from 3 or it would’ve gotten uglier quicker, but the defense was elite and set a new record for fewest points allowed in TBA at 35, impressive stuff.
2. Lanier & Milicic continue to show they are offensive forces, Lanier is not hesitant about letting it fly and that’s a good thing, he’s efficient enough that that’s what you want, he was a little cold tonight but still gets you 18pts on 16 shots, Igor has a near double double with 9pts and 13rbds, he continues to impress me.
3. Speaking of double doubles, Okpara reached that mark with 10pts 11rbds and threw in 4 blocks in just 21 minutes, thought that was arguably his best showing to date which is a nice trajectory to see. Zeigler almost had himself one also as he finished with 11pt and 9 assists and just 2 turnovers, continuing to put that possible anomaly in the rearview mirror as he takes great care of the ball while still continuing to learn his new teammates.
4. With their performance mixed in with other results around CBB the Vols moved up to #2 nationally on KenPom which is obviously a great feat. They have a Top 10 offense (#9 currently), while not sacrificing on the defensive end as they overtake the top spot and are now the #1 defensive team in the country per KenPom. The balance this team has shown on both ends of the court has really been impressive, the only time Tennessee has had a Top 25 offense under Barnes was the last year of Admiral/Williams/Bone, their offense ranked #3 but their defense that year ranked 42nd, last year with Knecht our offense ranked 28th to end the year and we had the elite defense at #3. All that to say that this team up to this point is showing a balance on both ends that I’m not sure we’ve ever seen from a Barnes team at Tennessee, I’m sure at various times it has been there, I think last year it might’ve sneaked in for a few days, but never have they finished Top 25 on both ends of the court, never mind Top 20, or Top 10 like they currently are. Truly impressive stuff we are seeing as well as unprecedented up to this point.
7. Game deservedly didn’t have much concern, but you move to 7-0 on the year and in convincing fashion, and avoid any potential horrible resume lost, always a good thing. Vols should move up to probably 3 or 4 in the next update to the AP poll and as already addressed currently sit at #2 nationally on KenPom, as good of a start to the year as anyone could’ve hoped for. Your 3 toughest remaining OOC games are all up ahead in order, starting with Syracuse here in Knoxville, they haven’t appeared to be very good and we should be a heavy favorite, but gotta come ready to play, still a P5 team with talent. After that is a neutral site game against Illinois and then the toughest test as we travel to play Illinois, then followed by 3 buy games. Going 2-1 in this 3 game stretch would absolutely be acceptable and still a W to go 12-1 OOC, but definitely feels like if this team continues to play at this level they’ll have a very real shot to go undefeated in OOC and enter SEC play as potentially the #1 team in the country, at worst Top 3.
GBO!!!
2. Lanier & Milicic continue to show they are offensive forces, Lanier is not hesitant about letting it fly and that’s a good thing, he’s efficient enough that that’s what you want, he was a little cold tonight but still gets you 18pts on 16 shots, Igor has a near double double with 9pts and 13rbds, he continues to impress me.
3. Speaking of double doubles, Okpara reached that mark with 10pts 11rbds and threw in 4 blocks in just 21 minutes, thought that was arguably his best showing to date which is a nice trajectory to see. Zeigler almost had himself one also as he finished with 11pt and 9 assists and just 2 turnovers, continuing to put that possible anomaly in the rearview mirror as he takes great care of the ball while still continuing to learn his new teammates.
4. With their performance mixed in with other results around CBB the Vols moved up to #2 nationally on KenPom which is obviously a great feat. They have a Top 10 offense (#9 currently), while not sacrificing on the defensive end as they overtake the top spot and are now the #1 defensive team in the country per KenPom. The balance this team has shown on both ends of the court has really been impressive, the only time Tennessee has had a Top 25 offense under Barnes was the last year of Admiral/Williams/Bone, their offense ranked #3 but their defense that year ranked 42nd, last year with Knecht our offense ranked 28th to end the year and we had the elite defense at #3. All that to say that this team up to this point is showing a balance on both ends that I’m not sure we’ve ever seen from a Barnes team at Tennessee, I’m sure at various times it has been there, I think last year it might’ve sneaked in for a few days, but never have they finished Top 25 on both ends of the court, never mind Top 20, or Top 10 like they currently are. Truly impressive stuff we are seeing as well as unprecedented up to this point.
7. Game deservedly didn’t have much concern, but you move to 7-0 on the year and in convincing fashion, and avoid any potential horrible resume lost, always a good thing. Vols should move up to probably 3 or 4 in the next update to the AP poll and as already addressed currently sit at #2 nationally on KenPom, as good of a start to the year as anyone could’ve hoped for. Your 3 toughest remaining OOC games are all up ahead in order, starting with Syracuse here in Knoxville, they haven’t appeared to be very good and we should be a heavy favorite, but gotta come ready to play, still a P5 team with talent. After that is a neutral site game against Illinois and then the toughest test as we travel to play Illinois, then followed by 3 buy games. Going 2-1 in this 3 game stretch would absolutely be acceptable and still a W to go 12-1 OOC, but definitely feels like if this team continues to play at this level they’ll have a very real shot to go undefeated in OOC and enter SEC play as potentially the #1 team in the country, at worst Top 3.
GBO!!!