A real 3 team round robin will be completed on 1/6
TN-MZ 73-53 We accomplished this by shooting over 50% from the floor. That is scary good. I will argue that if we can shoot 50% from the floor ... there are very few teams that can compete with that.
MZ-Ark 1/2 Prediction: Missouri in a close one.
TN-Ark 1/6 Prediction: TN 15+
NCAA Stats:
Offensive Ranking
Ark #11 (note: they have played nobody, except Auburn)
TN #71
MZ #192
Defensive Ranking
TN #1
Ark #58
MZ #98 (note: they have played the most difficult schedule to date)
Factors Worth considering
MZ strength of schedule 35 KenPom
TN strength of schedule 209 KenPom
Ark strength of schedule 284 KenPom
I thought MZ was one of the top 4 teams in the SEC. And I still think MZ is one of the top 4 teams in the league!
MZ wins by playing really good defense (steals, turnovers) and taking advantage when they can offensively. They are not built to be a offensive juggernant.
What makes TN special? They practice against excellent defense every day in practice!
I think ARK is one of the top 4 teams OFFENSIVELY in the SEC ... their performance against Auburn would tend to validate that perspective.
They are a race horse team that tires you out after running your legs off.
I am projecting the following records following the mini round robin:
TN 2-0
MZ 1-1
Ark 0-2
Furthermore,
Martin OPENED the press conference with this, "Give Tennessee credit they played well, on both sides of the basketball. ... (later) We didn't play well. And you have to give them [Tennessee] a lot of credit for that."
In addition to that, he praised Pons as the most valuable player on Tennessee's team because of everything he brings to the game.
Frankly, we need to remember that we play them again in 4 weeks.
The wisest course, according to me, is to not demoralize the team, you try to leave them with hope that they need to improve.
On to TN,
... did you see Fulkerson and Santi huddled with the coach ... explaining why the open 3 (later part of the game) was Fulkerson's responsibility? We were up by 20+ and the coaches were discussing with players how to play that situation better defensively.
.... was it not fun to see us spring a 1-2-2 3/4 court trap!
... we put our finish up players into the game with over 3 minutes to go in the game.
... our freshmen... don't they look both phenomenal and occasionally foolhardy. They show some of the same mistakes that I saw in Santi last year. But they are learning and because of more practice time ... they are also further ahead and fitting in nicely. And their defense is really good.
... good to see Gaines settle in... after a little bit of tightness.