Heartbreaking loss, but some real bright spots....

[ClockworkOrange]

- Awaka needs more minutes. We don't make that run without him. Would love to see him start and set the tone.
- Mashack got after it and made some good plays on both ends of the floor
- Key FINALLY showed up, right when I was ready to write him off
- Got Edwards some quality minutes at last, and he held his own while under the gun. Would like to see more of him.
- 50+ points in the second half when we could have folded our tents
- Showed grit and hustle. This team has some fight left in them. Maybe we recover from the shock and make a decent run

 

[Lankykong]

Key has been good/a impact player two games in a row, and we’ve been needing that all year

 

[OldandStillaVol]

Agree. Hate that we lost but I saw some positives that I didn’t see in the Vandy game.

 

[mtvols]

Needs to be an adjustment to who starts and minutes played.

1. Awaka needs to play more and maybe start instead of ON.
2. Uros doesn’t need to play.
3. Since ZZ can’t stay out of foul trouble maybe he needs to start the game from the bench and Key start again.
4. Mashack needs some of Phillips minutes since he at least will take the ball to the whole and Phillips is unwilling to.
5. No more two bigs on the floor at the same time.
6. Santi needs some breaks. Playing too many minutes and maybe a factor in the late FT misses.

 

[OrangeBoro]

Only positive is this team has under 10 games left

 

[Buddr]

They scored 85 points that's a positive would have been better if they could have got 87 but baby steps.
And nobody stormed the court.

 

[screenthis]

Only positive is this team has under 10 games left

I don't know. Sounds like there were positives. Or, is it all negative when you lose regardless?

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

My hope is that Barnes recognizes after this game that Olivier’s role on this team needs to be seriously diminished. He’s a turnover waiting to happen and defends as if his feet are stuck in wet cement. No more than 6-8 minutes a game for him barring significant foul trouble from Awaka and Aidoo.

 

[orangemadam]

I really hope coach has learned that we do not need to go every first half possession through ON. He has hands of bricks and can't pass the ball nor hold on to it.

Stay with the small lineup with Mashack , Key , and Awaka and see how that goes for awhile.

 

[Namorto1]

We didn’t hang our heads and showed some grit tonight. ZZ and Vescovi made some bad decisions again down the stretch. ZZ had several really bad decisions in a row, poor 3 pt shot, going too deep in paint and got his shot blocked, followed up by really bad foul in which he picked up his 5th. Vescovi had 3 poor fouls in a row in a very short span that put them on the line, threw up a bad 3, had an u forced turnover which went right through his legs, and finally missed the FT. Key was our best option tonight but Vescovi tried to play some hero ball a few too many times.

We really could use another PG in transfer portal next year. Edwards did okay, but he isn’t comfortable handling when the pressure is tight.

At least we showed some offensive life in 2nd half. Our press bothered Missouri and got to out of sync and we actually played aggressive offensively. Need a huge effort against Alabama and stop making some dumb plays. Playing dumb has beat us two games in a row more than anything.

 

[TartanTurff]

Brightest spots tonight were Heupel and Vittelo were at the game, baseball team was throwing out T-shirts during a break, good to see shirts landing in the 200 and 300 level for a change

 

[OrangeBoro]

I don't know. Sounds like there were positives. Or, is it all negative when you lose regardless?

There are wins and loses I’m not a moral victory kinda guy

 

[Volfan1000]

- Awaka needs more minutes. We don't make that run without him. Would love to see him start and set the tone.
- Mashack got after it and made some good plays on both ends of the floor
- Key FINALLY showed up, right when I was ready to write him off
- Got Edwards some quality minutes at last, and he held his own while under the gun. Would like to see more of him.
- 50+ points in the second half when we could have folded our tents
- Showed grit and hustle. This team has some fight left in them. Maybe we recover from the shock and make a decent run

Tennessee needs to guard the hell out of the three point line against Alabama Wednesday night and hopefully we get Phillips or James back for that game.

 

[vol94]

Needs to be an adjustment to who starts and minutes played.

1. Awaka needs to play more and maybe start instead of ON.
2. Uros doesn’t need to play.
3. Since ZZ can’t stay out of foul trouble maybe he needs to start the game from the bench and Key start again.
4. Mashack needs some of Phillips minutes since he at least will take the ball to the whole and Phillips is unwilling to.
5. No more two bigs on the floor at the same time.
6. Santi needs some breaks. Playing too many minutes and maybe a factor in the late FT misses.

Good post. I agree ZZ off the bench. He can come in at the 17 min mark If needed. Guard play was better as we attacked the rim. Good things happen when we attack. I haven’t seen the stats and doubt I will, but must make foul shots in 2nd half. Awaka can not go 1-6 as misses are like turnovers. Uros doesn’t give us anything imo.

 

[TennesseeFan07]

I just don't understand the logic behind playing Uros and ON together. That is and will always be a disaster.

 

[UTFanHades]

- Awaka needs more minutes. We don't make that run without him. Would love to see him start and set the tone.
- Mashack got after it and made some good plays on both ends of the floor
- Key FINALLY showed up, right when I was ready to write him off
- Got Edwards some quality minutes at last, and he held his own while under the gun. Would like to see more of him.
- 50+ points in the second half when we could have folded our tents
- Showed grit and hustle. This team has some fight left in them. Maybe we recover from the shock and make a decent run

I too like my moral victories as a top ten team dropping a second consecutive game to an unranked opponent

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I appreciate the attempt at trying to find a silver lining but the team is trending downwards and it gets no easier.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

Awaka is only a bright spot because how totally inept the other 3 bigs are. His missed FTs were very costly. He’s another Barnes project that will be disappointing as a SR just like ON/Plavi.

Mashack gives great effort, defense and rebounding but is a total liability on offense. Another project, common with Barnes recruiting. The roster just isn’t very talented.

 

[OldVolMan]

I posted in another thread that I think MO would have given AL a heck of a game today. MO is physical and confident team that reflects their coach. They can make a good run in the tourney.
Bright spot is it was good physical humbling game to prepare for the tourney.

 

[Davel51]

I posted in another thread that I think MO would have given AL a heck of a game today. MO is physical and confident team that reflects their coach. They can make a good run in the tourney.
Bright spot is it was good physical humbling game to prepare for the tourney.

Well then maybe we should offer Barnes money for their coach. Gates is 10x better of a coach then Barnes.

 

[jaguinn5]

They scored 85 points that's a positive would have been better if they could have got 87 but baby steps.
And nobody stormed the court.

They got 33 foul shots....and lost

 

[Orangeblooded615]

Man what is up woth Phillips? All season long I've been waiting for him to eat. And just hasn't been there at all.

 

[Special Ed]

Methinks Nate Oats is raiding Saban's office for that unused cigar.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Methinks Nate Oats is raiding Saban's office for that unused cigar.

They’ve maybe been Lewinskied.

 

[Butch s]

They scored 85 points that's a positive would have been better if they could have got 87 but baby steps.
And nobody stormed the court.

When you give up 86, scoring 85 is not a positive, it’s a loss