Pearls of Honesty

#1
orange+white=heaven

orange+white=heaven

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Feb 16, 2005
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#1
Bruce said last night...

"We are going to be a very good basketball team, but we aren’t quite,” UT coach Bruce Pearl said. “Things like this really expose some of our challenges.”


“To get out-rebounded the way we did should be a surprise,” Vols coach Bruce Pearl said. “Rebounding hasn’t been our strength, but they dominated the boards athletically, physically. That’s a concern.
“We obviously got exposed.”

“Chattanooga’s 4s and 5s are bigger than Tyler and Duke, and stronger than Wayne,” Pearl said. “It’s definitely a concern.”

“Our lack of a post presence is a factor,” Pearl said.

“What are we going to do? What adjustments are we going to make?” Pearl said. “Man up.”

“We’re still undersized,” Pearl said. “That’s definitely a concern.”



.... There are just four games between this moment and the start of the SEC schedule. Is it time to start really worrying about whether this Volunteer team is ready to compete for the SEC title?...
 
#2
#2
I'm still hoping for a great year but it seems something is missing with this team ( and no, it's not Dane!).
 
#4
#4
in the first half, i couldn't help but think that we are far too willing to take our first shot, usually a three, and that, from what i saw, didn't even allow time for someone to get in to position on offense to have a reasonable shot at getting an off. rebound.

the def. rebounding in the 1st half was abysmal as stated. the def. was ok thru out, the pressure caused them problems and we got a lot of charges, but offensively, there's a lot that needs to be done physically.

we will struggle against teams with good guards and a presence in the middle.

turnover margin, it apperas, will once again have to cover up our inefficiency at the boards. and if J. Smith and/or Lofton are cold outside, it kills our whole offense.

i think the thing that is frustrating is that even with guys that do shoot it well outside, it should open up some stuff underneath. Until we prove we have a game in the paint of any kind (chism, Crews, or R. SMith, Lofton, T. SMith etc....driving to the basket) people are going to take the paint away and live and die with the three on defense.

this is still a good basketball team and the frantic style we play will pay dividends like it did last year, but i fear that the same things that were our down fall last season will again be the same this season.
 
#5
#5
Before last night we were averaging 28 3's a game and we took 37 last night. We have to get that average down to 20 a game and get to shooting FT's better or we won't make it to the Semi's of the SEC tourney.
 
#6
#6
as i've already said, i don't see much tournament success in the card this year for this squad. not team, but "squad". the team has not gelled and has no consistency, and doesn't look like it's moving towards that anytime soon.
 
#7
#7
this team will be good if and when it focuses on its half court D. It was only decent in spurts last night, and the remainder it was atrocious. Weak man to man D with little focus also leads to very poor defensive rebounding and we witnessed that in spades.

Finally, if we can get Chism / Crews to play like a power forward on a consistent basis, we will be deadly on the offensive end.
 
#8
#8
I'm glad Pearl's being candid about this, but I also think it's more than just "manning up." I watched several players just watch shots go off the rim and then jump for the rebound, completely out of position.

Rebounding fundamentals are pretty simple: Put your butt between the opponent and the basket, push him back, keep your hands in the air, and go get the ball.
 
#9
#9
Yeah, I was definitely glad to hear Coach admit it. "We're not a good basketball team... not yet." Bert did this "oh c'mon" sort of thing. Bruce said "No seriously, we aren't. But we will be."
 
#13
#13
I kinda wonder how much of a factor not having JP Prince is. I wonder if maybe they have been practicing with him, knowing he will be a starter once he is available, and focussing more on having him as they do in practice. Im really interested to see how this team comes together once he is in the lineup now.
 
#14
#14
WillFollowPearl said:
I kinda wonder how much of a factor not having JP Prince is. I wonder if maybe they have been practicing with him, knowing he will be a starter once he is available, and focussing more on having him as they do in practice. Im really interested to see how this team comes together once he is in the lineup now.
Click to expand...

I don't think that the practice to play transition with and without JP is what is hurting them...but that doesn't mean he won't help when he gets in.
 
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