cncchris33
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Welcome to the board BrewHawk. Great first post and excellent breakdown and analysis.
I thought I would do you the favor of doing the same so you may know what to expect from the Vols.
Starters:
Jordan McRae, Senior SG: McRae has improved every year, and is one of the best offensive players in the SEC. He is 6'-6", but has an 84" wingspan which allows him to elevate and has resulted in some #SCtop10 dunks. He can drive really well to the basket, and he is a streaky shooter, but can hit from anywhere, so if he gets hot, watch out. Struggles some defensively, but is capable.
Jarnell Stokes, Junior C: Stokes is really another PF. He lacks the height and above the rim ability of a true C. He does eat nearly every rebound within reach below the rim though and averages a double-double. He has really improved his footwork and can finish around the basket with either hand. Has a jumper out to 15 feet that is rarely used. Really improved defensive player as well. If Iowa doesn't fair well in a physical game in the paint, they will hate Stokes.
Jeronne Maymon, Senior PF: Maymon is a 5th-year senior and the vocal leader of the team. The rebounds that Stokes doesn't get, Maymon does, and he nearly averages a double-double himself. He has really been slowed by his knee injury from last season and is not the same player he was two years ago from a quickness and athletic standpoint, but he seems to have found ways to compensate and do so without trying to do too much late in the season. That was an issue early on. He is another good defender who takes a lot of charges and doesn't give up his ground in the paint.
Josh Richardson, Junior SF: JRich is kind of the glue guy for the team. He is a jack of all trades, and is one of the best defenders in the SEC. Probably the guy who draws Marble IMO. He also has an excellent mid-range and pull-up jumpshot. He's really long and athletic and can get to the rim as well, but generally pulls up around 7-8 feet and shoots. Really improved his outside shot and currently leads the team in 3-point %.
Antonio Barton, Senior PG: Barton is the brother of Will Barton (Memphis), and transferred as a senior to Tennessee from Memphis. He is really a SG in a PGs body, but has a really good outside shot, and has been money as of late (shooting 50% from 3 in his last six games I believe). Pesky on-ball defender and underrated, though unspectacular passer.
Bench: (You won't see much off the bench IMO, so I'll keep this short)...
Darius Thompson, Freshman PG: He is improving as a PG, but his future may be at SG. He is a tall kid (6-4 I believe) and has great vision. Really good passer and decision maker, but has struggled with lazy passes at times lately. Has a long way to go defensively and as a ball-handler against pressure. If you all are going to press, I would imagine it will be when he is in at PG.
Armani Moore, Sophomore SF/SG: Moore was actually recruited as a PG, but it became apparent he couldn't cut it as an SEC PG. He is similar to Richardson as an athletic jack of all trades, but is less polished at this point. He is an freak of a jumper, and I would imagine has the highest vertical on the team. Has shown an increased outside shooting ability lately and is an excellent driver and finisher in traffic. Probably the best hustler on the team as well. Always around the ball defensively and an excellent shot-blocker at his size (6'-5"ish).
Derek Reese, Sophomore SF/PF: Reese will spell Maymon and Stokes and is a much different player. He likes to float around the perimeter offensively and fancies himself a 3-point shooter, but is streaky. Has decent form but an extremely slow release, so unless he's wide-open, he won't get it off. Pretty good rebounder and improved as a defender, which has allowed him to take playing time from freshman AJ Davis over the second half of the season.
Overall, this is a game of contrasting styles. Iowa being the uptempo bunch, and Tennessee being the halfcourt bunch. Tennessee has actually succeeded in an uptempo game when they have gotten out and run this season, but this is a game where making Iowa uncomfortable in the halfcourt game may be the best option. I don't think we want to get out in a transition game with a team that thrives on it.
If we can dictate tempo, be physical in the paint on both ends, and hit open shots (especially Barton), then I like our chances. If we try to run, get down early, and McRae starts to take too many deep, ill-advised shots in an effort to get us back in it, you could run away with it. How physical the officials allow it to be will be key too. They can take Stokes and Maymon out of the equation with a tight whistle.
Should be a good game and good luck to you all!
I thought I would do you the favor of doing the same so you may know what to expect from the Vols.
Starters:
Jordan McRae, Senior SG: McRae has improved every year, and is one of the best offensive players in the SEC. He is 6'-6", but has an 84" wingspan which allows him to elevate and has resulted in some #SCtop10 dunks. He can drive really well to the basket, and he is a streaky shooter, but can hit from anywhere, so if he gets hot, watch out. Struggles some defensively, but is capable.
Jarnell Stokes, Junior C: Stokes is really another PF. He lacks the height and above the rim ability of a true C. He does eat nearly every rebound within reach below the rim though and averages a double-double. He has really improved his footwork and can finish around the basket with either hand. Has a jumper out to 15 feet that is rarely used. Really improved defensive player as well. If Iowa doesn't fair well in a physical game in the paint, they will hate Stokes.
Jeronne Maymon, Senior PF: Maymon is a 5th-year senior and the vocal leader of the team. The rebounds that Stokes doesn't get, Maymon does, and he nearly averages a double-double himself. He has really been slowed by his knee injury from last season and is not the same player he was two years ago from a quickness and athletic standpoint, but he seems to have found ways to compensate and do so without trying to do too much late in the season. That was an issue early on. He is another good defender who takes a lot of charges and doesn't give up his ground in the paint.
Josh Richardson, Junior SF: JRich is kind of the glue guy for the team. He is a jack of all trades, and is one of the best defenders in the SEC. Probably the guy who draws Marble IMO. He also has an excellent mid-range and pull-up jumpshot. He's really long and athletic and can get to the rim as well, but generally pulls up around 7-8 feet and shoots. Really improved his outside shot and currently leads the team in 3-point %.
Antonio Barton, Senior PG: Barton is the brother of Will Barton (Memphis), and transferred as a senior to Tennessee from Memphis. He is really a SG in a PGs body, but has a really good outside shot, and has been money as of late (shooting 50% from 3 in his last six games I believe). Pesky on-ball defender and underrated, though unspectacular passer.
Bench: (You won't see much off the bench IMO, so I'll keep this short)...
Darius Thompson, Freshman PG: He is improving as a PG, but his future may be at SG. He is a tall kid (6-4 I believe) and has great vision. Really good passer and decision maker, but has struggled with lazy passes at times lately. Has a long way to go defensively and as a ball-handler against pressure. If you all are going to press, I would imagine it will be when he is in at PG.
Armani Moore, Sophomore SF/SG: Moore was actually recruited as a PG, but it became apparent he couldn't cut it as an SEC PG. He is similar to Richardson as an athletic jack of all trades, but is less polished at this point. He is an freak of a jumper, and I would imagine has the highest vertical on the team. Has shown an increased outside shooting ability lately and is an excellent driver and finisher in traffic. Probably the best hustler on the team as well. Always around the ball defensively and an excellent shot-blocker at his size (6'-5"ish).
Derek Reese, Sophomore SF/PF: Reese will spell Maymon and Stokes and is a much different player. He likes to float around the perimeter offensively and fancies himself a 3-point shooter, but is streaky. Has decent form but an extremely slow release, so unless he's wide-open, he won't get it off. Pretty good rebounder and improved as a defender, which has allowed him to take playing time from freshman AJ Davis over the second half of the season.
Overall, this is a game of contrasting styles. Iowa being the uptempo bunch, and Tennessee being the halfcourt bunch. Tennessee has actually succeeded in an uptempo game when they have gotten out and run this season, but this is a game where making Iowa uncomfortable in the halfcourt game may be the best option. I don't think we want to get out in a transition game with a team that thrives on it.
If we can dictate tempo, be physical in the paint on both ends, and hit open shots (especially Barton), then I like our chances. If we try to run, get down early, and McRae starts to take too many deep, ill-advised shots in an effort to get us back in it, you could run away with it. How physical the officials allow it to be will be key too. They can take Stokes and Maymon out of the equation with a tight whistle.
Should be a good game and good luck to you all!
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