Opponent for 16

Who’s our preferred opponent?

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    262
#27
#27
Indianapolis offers us a potential opportunity to get revenge on two teams that have been our kryptonite in recent times, Kentucky and possibly Purdue back to back. I personally want all the smoke. Give me Kentucky first because of the familiarity. I don’t think there’s any way our guys go down to that undermanned (due to injuries) team for a third time. Reaching our first Final Four by ending the season of those two teams would be vindicating in some ways and just overall glorious. While I don’t necessarily think Kentucky will beat Illinois and Purdue will beat Houston, that’s the scenario I’m hoping for. Not to mention, both UK and Purdue will have a bazillion fans in Indy who could go home with tears in their eyes at the hands of the Vols. GBO!
 
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#28
#28

Opponent for 16

First answer is Illinois as the lower seed and non-rival. However, I prefer Kentucky in this scenario. Illinois is a slight favorite against the Cats. That Illinois game on the road was one of the toughest of the year. And I feel like Barnes versus Pope would be a big Tennessee advantage...
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#30
#30
Thunder Good-Oil said:

Opponent for 16

First answer is Illinois as the lower seed and non-rival. However, I prefer Kentucky in this scenario. Illinois is a slight favorite against the Cats. That Illinois game on the road was one of the toughest of the year. And I feel like Barnes versus Pope would be a big Tennessee advantage...
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My bad. Sorry for the duplicate. I missed that thread.
 
#31
#31
Thunder Good-Oil said:

Opponent for 16

First answer is Illinois as the lower seed and non-rival. However, I prefer Kentucky in this scenario. Illinois is a slight favorite against the Cats. That Illinois game on the road was one of the toughest of the year. And I feel like Barnes versus Pope would be a big Tennessee advantage...
www.volnation.com www.volnation.com
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My impression of Illinois is that they can beat anyone on a good night and can be beaten by anyone on a bad night. Just dont see them as consistent. They killed my Ducks by 30 in Eugene a couple months ago.
 
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#33
#33
GoDucks349 said:
My impression of Illinois is that they can beat anyone on a good night and can be beaten by anyone on a bad night. Just dont see them as consistent. They killed my Ducks by 30 in Eugene a couple months ago.
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That seems to be the story on them. Ice cold or blazing hot. They do have a first round pick who can go off. They lost to Duke by 40 and beat Michigan State by 20. So yeah it’s a crapshoot with them.
 
#37
#37
Kentucky.

You can’t tell me UT wouldn’t be motivated like hell to get those two losses back. I would fully expect UK to get absolutely whooped. There’s no way UT shoots as bad as they did in the two previous games.
 
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#38
#38
LittleCat said:
Kentucky.

You can’t tell me UT wouldn’t be motivated like hell to get those two losses back. I would fully expect UK to get absolutely whooped. There’s no way UT shoots as bad as they did in the two previous games.
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#40
#40
The Dog said:
For some reason, Kentucky is a bad match-up for the Vols. But, I still think they win, Illinois has peaked, imo. Vols get 'em the third time, anyway.

Edit: I prefer Illinois. But, I screwed it all up
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Ha! You were all over the place coming in for your landing. But, you got the wheels in the ground so all good. Your post reminded me of me so I got a good chuckle out of it.
 
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#41
#41
Shrimp&Grits&Vols said:
Side question…what times are games typically for sweet 16? IIRC it’s typically like 6:30 and 9pm? I feel like if we play KY that would be the early game but if it’s Illinois it could be a coin flip. Or would they just put Hou/Purdue as the early game? Personally I really don’t want the late game…
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More like 7:30 and 10, Eastern.
 
#43
#43
driscokid said:
If you can’t beat UK 1 out of three you ain’t gonna win it anyway. Bring em
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It’s all about matchups in the big tournament. Survive and advance. I have no idea what makes anyone think we match up well with Kentucky. We were not close either game. Tennessee can beat most of teams in the field, but Kentucky might not be one of them. Let someone else take out KY and I will take Illinois all day long
 
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#44
#44
goldvol said:
First answer is Illinois as the lower seed and non-rival. However, I prefer Kentucky in this scenario.

Illinois is a slight favorite against the Cats. That Illinois game on the road was one of the toughest of the year. And I feel like Barnes versus Pope would be a big Tennessee advantage given his experience.

What do you say?
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I would say Pope has won both games against us. I don't think we would have a advantage over them
 
#45
#45
Rocky Top T said:
I would say Pope has won both games against us. I don't think we would have a advantage over them
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It’s close.

They beat us with Robinson at our place, and he was the leading scorer.

They beat us there without him, but it’s still a tough task to beat UK at their place.
 
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#46
#46
johnnybravo said:
It’s all about matchups in the big tournament. Survive and advance. I have no idea what makes anyone think we match up well with Kentucky. We were not close either game. Tennessee can beat most of teams in the field, but Kentucky might not be one of them. Let someone else take out KY and I will take Illinois all day long
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It's a bad match up but you can't say we weren't close either game.

The game in Knoxville we were winning at halftime and they did pull away for most of the second half but we cut it to 74-73 with 30 seconds left and Gainey missed a 3 with 12 seconds left that would have tied it.

At Lexington were up 60-58 with under 4:30 to play. We fell apart yes but that was a game with about 4:00 to go.

Again I agree it's a bad match up but to say we weren't close in either game is incorrect imo
 
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#47
#47
Sarms58 said:
I’d rather beat Kentucky than any other team when we’re playing basketball…it’s not that it’s just so satisfying for us but also knowing the agony it causes the Kentucky fans when they lose to us…
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What if it goes the other way? What if the Vols get Kentucky and lose a third time to them? Will the pitchforks and torches come out for CRB? So, instead of who would you rather beat in the Sweet 16…..who would you rather lose to?
 
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#49
#49
VolsSportsFan said:
It's a bad match up but you can't say we weren't close either game.

The game in Knoxville we were winning at halftime and they did pull away for most of the second half but we cut it to 74-73 with 30 seconds left and Gainey missed a 3 with 12 seconds left that would have tied it.

At Lexington were up 60-58 with under 4:30 to play. We fell apart yes but that was a game with about 4:00 to go.

Again I agree it's a bad match up but to say we weren't close in either game is incorrect imo
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Funny how I do not remember it was that close. Just seemed like a butt whippen in both games.
 
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