Jeff Goodman (Foxsports) responds to e-mail about bball Vols

#1
Jonboy

Jonboy

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#1
There have been some posts here and there about the various pre-season rankings the Vols have received from different sites. Fox Sports' most recent poll FOX Sports on MSN - COLLEGE BASKETBALL - Preseason Top 25: Bruins on top has the Vols at 9th. Mr. Goodman has good things to say about the Vols, but it looks like he didn't take Tyler Smith into account with this poll. In the bit about the Vols, he says that Smith is trying to get a hardship waiver.

Since we now know that Smith is eligible, I decided to e-mail him and ask him what he thought about the Vols with Tyler Smith and if they would move up in the rankings. To my surprise, I received an e-mail from him today with this:

"Jonathan,

As I wrote in the story when Tyler was cleared, I think they become Final Four contenders now. I'm not saying I'd put them in the preseason top 4, but they are fairly close. They still need Brian Williams to give them 10 quality minutes because they need his size.

Thanks,

Jeff Goodman
FOXSports.com Senior College Basketball Writer"

I thought everyone would be interested in reading that! I know it's just one guy's opinion...but man does that sound good.
 
#10
#10
As I wrote in the story when Tyler was cleared, I think they become Final Four contenders now. I'm not saying I'd put them in the preseason top 4, but they are fairly close. They still need Brian Williams to give them 10 quality minutes because they need his size.
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Given everything that will be on the floor for the Vols this year, pegging substitute minutes from Brian Williams as a key to success is ludicrous...
 
#12
#12
orange+white=heaven said:
Given everything that will be on the floor for the Vols this year, pegging substitute minutes from Brian Williams as a key to success is ludicrous...
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How is it ludicrous. We have to find some sort of post presence to generate real consistency. We've shown little ability to guard the post or generate any offense from the 5 spot.

Without a presence at the 5, our D will still lack an anchor (which is OK if you're super quick ball hawkers elsewhere-we're not). The O will still struggle because teams can really spread their D wide because they need not fear us in the paint.

IMO, no post presence means we again rely on turnovers generated and keeping a high shooting % on the offensive end.

Don't take this as bashing the Vols, because I think we're going to be very good, but this guy was talking about final 4 type teams and I think his analysis is on the money. Winning 6 straight against quality competition is difficult when you're relying on the jumper and opposition TOs.
 
#13
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BigPapaVol said:
How is it ludicrous. We have to find some sort of post presence to generate real consistency. We've shown little ability to guard the post or generate any offense from the 5 spot.

Without a presence at the 5, our D will still lack an anchor (which is OK if you're super quick ball hawkers elsewhere-we're not). The O will still struggle because teams can really spread their D wide because they need not fear us in the paint.

IMO, no post presence means we again rely on turnovers generated and keeping a high shooting % on the offensive end.

Don't take this as bashing the Vols, because I think we're going to be very good, but this guy was talking about final 4 type teams and I think his analysis is on the money. Winning 6 straight against quality competition is difficult when you're relying on the jumper and opposition TOs.
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Well from what I've been reading, Williams is more of a project whose future is brighter than his present. I think the rebounding gap is supposed to be enhanced by Smith's presence. Pearl has already proven the Vols can compete without a true center. Perhaps ludicrous is too extreme a word, but I just don't see Mr. Williams as a key cog in a Final 4 run...
 
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I thought Crews/Chism played the 5 and provided good numbers that will only improve this year. The reason it's ludicrous is because Williams doesn't appear to be a guy that would get us over the hump. It seems at this point at best he could give us 5 ppg and eat up some fouls in the post. But at this point it doesn't appear he will be a difference maker. Nobody thinks he is a guy that we will depend on to be an anchor on defense.

Chism and Crews should be better in the paint and T. Smith can score down low. Also Ramar will be even better at getting into the lane and creating shots for himself and others. Offense obviously won't be and hasn't been our problem.

We need and anchor on D, like you said, and much better free throw shooting. Williams at least for this season doesn't appear to be the guy to fix our weaknesses.
 
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Offensive lulls are definitely a problem for our squad and Chism and Crews getting better does not give us a post presence, offensively or defensively.

Williams isn't the solution in the near term, but the guy was talking about final four type squads and our lack in the interior is a glaring weakness, given what we know today. Does that mean we can't address it or find a way to overcome the weakness - not at all. Does it matter in handicapping the field for final four runs next year - absolutely.
 
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I agree lulls are an issue but I would still take an improving Crews/Chism in the post over Williams at this point. Our interior is a glaring weakness but to say at this point that Williams can fill that leak is a stretch and possibly ludicrous. He could surprise everyone but it appears he will be a non factor against FF type competition. That being said he won't likely be a factor in our FF run.
 
#19
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BigPapaVol said:
Offensive lulls are definitely a problem for our squad and Chism and Crews getting better does not give us a post presence, offensively or defensively.
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It doesn't? So when Wayne averages 14 and 8 as a sophmore that won't give us any post presence? How about Duke gaining consistency with his scoring? I know you didn't forget about him putting up 18 against Morris and company. Or how about another 18 point performance against Bogans and Monds. Did you really expect consistency as freshman playing in the SEC with guys like Horford and Morris? Like I said, I'd wait until they play again before saying we have no post presence right now. And tell me this, how many proven big man return to college basketball this year? You think Joey Dorsey is going to learn how to stay out of foul trouble? Is Darrel Arthur going to explode for Kansas? How about Kevin Love down at UCLA? Outside of Hansbrough, there really isn't any proven dominant low post presence returning this year.
 
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StunnA N' Orange said:
It doesn't? And tell me this, how many proven big man return to college basketball this year? You think Joey Dorsey is going to learn how to stay out of foul trouble? Is Darrel Arthur going to explode for Kansas? How about Kevin Love down at UCLA? Outside of Hansbrough, there really isn't any proven dominant low post presence returning this year.
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I was thinking the same thing - Oden, Hansbrough and Big Baby had their way. Dorsey might have as well had he stayed out of foul trouble. But I think big, athletic post players like that are rare, and the addition of Tyler and Prince will help our post presence overall.
 
#23
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StunnA N' Orange said:
It doesn't? So when Wayne averages 14 and 8 as a sophmore that won't give us any post presence? How about Duke gaining consistency with his scoring? I know you didn't forget about him putting up 18 against Morris and company. Or how about another 18 point performance against Bogans and Monds. Did you really expect consistency as freshman playing in the SEC with guys like Horford and Morris? Like I said, I'd wait until they play again before saying we have no post presence right now. And tell me this, how many proven big man return to college basketball this year? You think Joey Dorsey is going to learn how to stay out of foul trouble? Is Darrel Arthur going to explode for Kansas? How about Kevin Love down at UCLA? Outside of Hansbrough, there really isn't any proven dominant low post presence returning this year.
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Chism and/or Crews might morph into a post presence, but, today, neither appears to have the size or that style of game. I'm not trying to denigrate their skills in any way, I just don't think they provide the type of inside presence that tends to make crunch time more predictable, on each end of the floor.

You listed some names of centers and those guys make those teams complete (though you left off Hibbert). I don't think we're as complete. We're talking about final 4 caliber squads and those applying will likely have a center (or reasonable facsimile) to lean on when needed.
 
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#24
But the whole point is that Williams won't help at least in the short term so it is pointless to even mention him as someone we could/should depend on.

And we are going to make those centers run till they collapse. We are still in a great position to make a FF run with all the talent we have. Everyone always says the NCAA Tournament is more about frontcourt play and that is our strength.
 
#25
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BigPapaVol said:
Chism and/or Crews might morph into a post presence, but, today, neither appears to have the size or that style of game. I'm not trying to denigrate their skills in any way, I just don't think they provide the type of inside presence that tends to make crunch time more predictable, on each end of the floor.

You listed some names of centers and those guys make those teams complete (though you left off Hibbert). I don't think we're as complete. We're talking about final 4 caliber squads and those applying will likely have a center (or reasonable facsimile) to lean on when needed.
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I disagree about Chism. He's right under 6'10 now and is has improved rapidly in the low post from what I've heard. And Tyler Smith will blow by any 4 he's matched up against in our offense. Coming off the bench, Crews is more than capable of giving us some nice production in the paint. Besides Hansbrough, Hibbert, and possibly D.J. White, none of the guys I listed are a proven threat yet. Chism and Crews had no trouble with Dorsey in last season's meeting. Plus, they matched up with Oden far better than Joey did in the regional final (Dorsey 0 points). All I'm saying is wait until you see them play this year before saying our inside play is a glaring weakness.
 
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