Our BasketVols Expectations

#1
BACKDOC

BACKDOC

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2006
Messages
5,006
Likes
3,151
#1
A few weeks ago I was afraid it was going to be a long season, but the team has really improved lately. I was wondering what all the hype was regarding R. Smith, but he looked pretty good yesterday. He's still turning the ball over too much, but he's improving in the that dept. and will only get better. Jordan Howell handles the ball well, but he's not a scorer. Childress has improved immensely since last year. I still haven't seen the Duke Crews to Ron Slay comparsions; maybe next year. He couldn't hold Slay's jock at this point. Slay had a nice touch, great competitor; just wish he were about five inches taller.
 
#2
#2
R Smith has improved, I'll give him that. But he has a long way to go to fit into a team. His play is evidence that he was the focal point on his team in HS.

Howell looks good doing what he is supposed to do.

Crews has displayed the absolute worst touch around the rim of anyone considered a basketball player. He just about reaches the stands when he throws the ball off the backboard on a layup. Hopefully he is still a giddy frosh and will settle down.

Is there a status on Dane's shoulder?
 
#4
#4
hatvol96 said:
Unless his job is to let opposing point guards get past him with ease, he doesn't look good doing anything.
Click to expand...

He has better than a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. There is only one other person on the team with a positive ratio - and he's a power forward. Jordan is doing exactly what the coaches expect for him to do. Nothing more, nothing less. To say he doesn't look good doing anything is a bit harsh and incorrect.
 
#5
#5
hatvol96 said:
Unless his job is to let opposing point guards get past him with ease, he doesn't look good doing anything.
Click to expand...

he defends better than Johnson, hence the reason he is starting. I think Jordan has done well with the ability he has.
 
#6
#6
The team is showing steady improvement. The frosh are starting to mature. Wait until Feb and March!!!!!!!!
 
#7
#7
I certainly do not think Jordan Howell is a "lock down" defender by any stretch of the imagintion. But, I think his defense is not nearly as bad as hatvol makes it out to be. We know hatvol likes to take causes and run with them. Jordan Howell is the cause he has decided to take and he will defend it to the death. We played Memphis which is one of the best "guard penetrating" teams in the country. Jordan Howell did not get destroyed in that game. He doesnt do anything great on defense, but he holds his own. Now, Ramar Smith has the "capability" to do great things on defense. He has good size, long arms, and great speed (those are things Howell does not have). But he has to make the choice that he wants to do great things on defense. So far he has not made that choice yet.
 
#8
#8
I am not piling on howell but I thought his minutes went down in that game.

The one thing about howell is that he is the kind of player that will not get you beat. he may not be a force but he performs his role.
 
#9
#9
patrick said:
I am not piling on howell but I thought his minutes went down in that game.

The one thing about howell is that he is the kind of player that will not get you beat. he may not be a force but he performs his role.
Click to expand...

Exactly, he is not going to win games for you. What he will do is not get you beat and therefore allow Chris Lofton to win the game for you. He, on the other hand, is capable. When Ramar is playing well then Jordan's minutes will go down. I think that is what happened in the last game. Ramar played well and got more minutes. If he gets to the point that he is consistent in playing that well then Jordan will lose most all of his minutes.
 
#10
#10
The bottom line is Howell is starting now so Pearl can show Romar the positive. Romar was having to many negative plays. He is quick as a cat but would be going to fast. Now he is getting it and playing with speed but under control. By mid Jan and the rest of the season, the Vols will have 2 quality pg's and one that may be a future all sec player
 
#11
#11
BACKDOC said:
A few weeks ago I was afraid it was going to be a long season, but the team has really improved lately.
Click to expand...

I had originally viewed this team as a NCAA bubble team. You can see that they are improving, especially Ramar Smith & Duke Crews. I know it's still early, but with the wins over Memphis and Oklahoma State, they look like a sure-fire NCAA tourney team. Another good coaching job by Coach Pearl!

Even if they were to lose to both Texas and TOSU, but win the games against Tenn. Tech and ETSU, they would have 11 non-conference wins. Then you would think that any conference record of 8-8 or better would get you into the Big Dance.
 
#12
#12
UT IE 95 said:
He has better than a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. There is only one other person on the team with a positive ratio - and he's a power forward. Jordan is doing exactly what the coaches expect for him to do. Nothing more, nothing less. To say he doesn't look good doing anything is a bit harsh and incorrect.
Click to expand...
If he were averaging 7 or 8 assists a game that would mean something to me. As it is, he doesn't turn the ball over because he doesn't attempt to do anything with it. He makes no bad plays because he makes no plays, period.
 
#13
#13
What exactly do you want him to do, exactly, Hat? Jordan's making the most of limited size, speed and athletic ability - not to the same extent as Dane, granted, but still.... Jordan was recruited to UT by good ol' Buzz to be a 3-point gunner off the bench, and, well, admittedly that hasn't really worked out for him, but he runs the point competently, rarely turns it over, and plays above-average defense. Sooner or later he's going to find his shot, and then we'll have three legit perimeter threats on the floor when he's out there (along with JaJuan and Lofton), which should free up Lofton for more open looks.

Ramar has shown flashes of great potential, but he's still very raw. And even though Jordan is "officially" the starter, they've been splitting the point guard minutes roughly 50/50. Jordan, much like Ryan Childress, is never going to be an All-Conference level player, but he can be a key role player and a solid contributor, which is exactly why he's here.
 
#14
#14
I'm with BackDoc in that I was a bit nervous after the first few games. However, BIG BIG wins over Tiger High and Okie State have me pumped for the SEC to kick into gear. If we could pull out another win against Texas, this thing gets serious.

A few player notes:

We've got to find a way to get Lofton more involved when he faces a tough defender. What a stroke when he has a look, and nice addition this year of the drive to the hoop.

JuJuan is as streaky as a drunk soccer fan with an axe to grind. When he gets hot: you better not let him settle at the baseline stripe.

If other athletes had as much heart as Dane, it would be commonplace to see a 60-point basketball performance, 300-yard rushing games, double-hat tricks, and an occasional 70-yard field goal.

Ramar just needs to settle the freak down.

Crews had a great outing but needs to soften up those touches around the rim. Don't piss him off.

I'd love to see us get to the level where Crews and Chism could play at the same time. These cats will be national news by next year.

Jordan does just what he's supposed to do: nothing. By that I mean: get the ball to who needs it and don't turn it over.

OK, it's cute that Childress can shoot the 3. . . .but that's not how we're going to win. Stop it.

That's all I've got. Let's hook 'em.
 
#15
#15
hatvol96 said:
If he were averaging 7 or 8 assists a game that would mean something to me. As it is, he doesn't turn the ball over because he doesn't attempt to do anything with it. He makes no bad plays because he makes no plays, period.
Click to expand...

News Flash - he's a player hater.

Also, no one in the SEC averages 8, 7, or even 6 assists per game - no one. Again, what I said was he does exactly what he is supposed to do on the floor. And you must have been a little tipsy at the OkSt game, cause I saw Jordan play a pretty dang solid game - even hit a clutch 15 footer down the stretch if I'm not mistaken.
 
#16
#16
Yeah, I think Hat's a little unrealistic in his expectations. I've been pleasantly surprised with Howell. He's playing within himself. Playing his "role". When you have to depend on role players to make plays, you're in trouble to begin with.

I have a feeling we're all going to learn just how important Howell is (and his role) to the team the next 6 to 8 weeks.

Ramar had begun to play well in relief but I hope he doesn't return to his out of control ways now that the expectations of him have been raised again.
 
#17
#17
I believe Jordan has played very solid for us so far. Like some of the other posters have said, he knows his role and gets it done each night. His role is not to pile up stats. It's to distribute the basketball and not commit turnovers. I hope Marques is ready to step up and fill in at the backup PG position.
 
#18
#18
So, at the beginning of the year, I had low expectations since they were young.

Now with Duke, Wayne and Ramar playing at an elevated level, along with Mr. Money winning these big early games, I find myself wondering....

What are we expecting our Vols to do this year?

Stink it up because they are a young team and get better?

Keep on keepin on and storm the SEC like last year.

Please discuss......
 
#19
#19
Well, I still expect us to have a couple games where we fall on our faces because of youth, but we will still win 20+ and make the NCAAT. We will go to the 2nd round and maybe the sweet 16.
 
#21
#21
Sweet 16 hopefully. Probably a 4-5 seed. But who knows? If they keep improving like they have from the Butler game to now, the sky's the limit.
 
#23
#23
Gonna stick with my expectation before the season... just keep getting better and maybe make it into the tourney with 18-20 wins or so.

Certainly looks attainable at this point, plus you've gotta think they'll keep improving.
 
#24
#24
18 wins? We should be 12-2 going into conference play. Are you saying we will go 6-6 in conference and lose to OSU as well?
 
#25
#25
I expected 18 to 20 wins before the season started. I still do. I won't complain if they win 21-23.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top