The "4 Your Eyez Only" Postgame Report

#1
zjcvols

zjcvols

"On a Tennessee Saturday night."
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#1
1. An absolute heart breaker that should have been a win. Tennessee outplayed North Carolina for 35 minutes and as a young team it shows they need to learn to close these games out. North Carolina is lucky to escape.

2. Rick Barnes had an excellent game plan and UT followed it perfectly. Loved the defensive intensity, the game plan on offense to drive/kick and isolation for Hubbs when someone not named Jackson was on him. They did a great job mixing their post coverage and I especially liked the focus on Hubbs but wish I saw more. Maybe the cramps got to him.

3. Part of the problem with playing so many guys is not knowing who your top 5 is and that showed. Barnes wasn't sure after Hubbs and Phillips who the other guys should have been. It showed late.

4. I have to criticize here though. I get playing Fulkerson/Williamson so much this game but after Hicks fouled out and Roy went with the four guard lineup Tennessee got killed because of sticking with that combination. Williams can't guard a guy like Jackson or switch on guards like UNC and they attacked him for buckets. That can't happened. I know the rebounding was a huge factor but you got to get stops first there and that should have been Admiral or Turner in there.

5. Please Rick, it's not a shot at Lew Evans...but we have to start going with Kyle Alexander instead. Alexander would have been helpful today and he should have played more.

6. Jordan Bowden came in and outplayed every North Carolina guard today. 12/5/2/2 from him as a freshman in this case is impressive. He reminds of Cameron Tatum with a motor. Just really like his game.

7. Bernard King Player of the Game: Robert Hubbs played the best game of his career and I think he puts 25 if he doesn't cramp up. He needs more offense run through him because that is when he thrives but him and Tony Bradley were the two best players on the floor tonight and that is beyond impressive. He's starting to turn a corner I think (and hope and pray).

8. Tennessee really needs a 6'10/240 post player that will rebound. Too bad there's not one. However, you just aren't going to stop Tony Bradley when your tallest player getting minutes is 6'8 and he can go do whatever the hell he pleases since the refs looked the other way the entire game. Barnes won't use that as an excuse though and he will be pissed.

9. Barnes has to let Shembari Phillips know he has a full green light. You need more than five shots from him in a game like this. The defense is there. The point guard ability is there. The shooting is there. It's time to take control and get buckets in big moments.

10. An incredible effort by a Tennessee team that had no business being in this game. They played their asses off and it should have been a victory. North Carolina hung around long enough with their offensive rebounding and help from the officials and the veterans of UNC took over and finished the game. Lamonte Turner and Shembari Phillips didn't play well enough to finish this game out and the team couldn't find consistent scoring late. It's a testament to this team how much better they get every game and I think this game shows they can make noise in a weak SEC. But damn this one still hurts. Should have been a victory.
 
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#2
#2
Solid write up, as usual. We as fans now need to do our part. We've gotten better every game. Our attendance needs to do the same. They do absolutely deserve the support. We may drop a game or 2 we shouldn't going forward because of youth, but we need to show up at TBA for them. It could help a young team in must win games.
 
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#3
#3
Phillips, Williams, Fulk, and Bowden make the future look extremely bright.

These freshmen are getting valuable experience and playing like they've been there before. Best part is they are all 4 year guys.
 
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#4
#4
shoulda, coulda, woulda....but still lost. :(

still, they played a great game, keep playing that way and they'll make some noise in the BIG DANCE !!!

I think Rick Barnes could turn out to be the best BB coach UT has had since mears
 
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#5
#5
We played an excellent game and agree that we outplayed them outside the final minutes. However, I have a feeling had Berry been a go this game it would have been a much different story. Although if that game is played anywhere but the Dome then we take a victory.
 
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#6
#6
Watched the game. Tennessee should have no complaints after today Barnes has things going in the right direction. If they keep playing this way they'll be a dangerous club going forward.
 
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#7
#7
OrngeJuiceJones said:
Solid write up, as usual. We as fans now need to do our part. We've gotten better every game. Our attendance needs to do the same. They do absolutely deserve the support. We may drop a game or 2 we shouldn't going forward because of youth, but we need to show up at TBA for them. It could help a young team in must win games.
Click to expand...

(Can only give one like.)
 
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#8
#8
ShowSomePride said:
We played an excellent game and agree that we outplayed them outside the final minutes. However, I have a feeling had Berry been a go this game it would have been a much different story. Although if that game is played anywhere but the Dome then we take a victory.
Click to expand...

Bone also didn't play for UT. We'll be even better with him.
 
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#11
#11
OrngeJuiceJones said:
Solid write up, as usual. We as fans now need to do our part. We've gotten better every game. Our attendance needs to do the same. They do absolutely deserve the support. We may drop a game or 2 we shouldn't going forward because of youth, but we need to show up at TBA for them. It could help a young team in must win games.
Click to expand...

If you live Vol BB you can't disagree with this moving forward.
 
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#12
#12
Rockytoprowdy said:
It's good to hear Barnes in the post game say, "We came here to win and I don't want the guys to feel good about being close."
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He doesent want them to feel good about being close?
Tennessee played thier asses off and came up a hair short. Barnes should be dancing in the streets.
 
#14
#14
Dudleys87 said:
He doesent want them to feel good about being close?
Tennessee played thier asses off and came up a hair short. Barnes should be dancing in the streets.
Click to expand...

Obviously he knows they played their asses off. But you play to win... every single game. He's setting the tone for the rest of the year and years to come. We don't play to keep games close. We play to win.
 
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#15
#15
Rockytoprowdy said:
Obviously he knows they played their asses off. But you play to win... every single game. He's setting the tone for the rest of the year and years to come. We don't play to keep games close. We play to win.
Click to expand...

They pretty well set the tone going on the road and taking Carolina down to the wire with a young team.
They'll win a lot of games this season if they bring the same intensity they had tonight every time they take the court.

Obviously you play to win but you have to take the positives even if they aren't. The fact they didn't get overwhelmed and run off the court is enough to be excited about the rest of the season if I'm Tennessee
 
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#16
#16
Dudleys87 said:
They pretty well set the tone going on the road and taking Carolina down to the wire with a young team.
They'll win a lot of games this season if they bring the same intensity they had tonight every time they take the court.
Click to expand...

I absolutely agree. I'm not upset that they lost. They played a hell of a game. Other than one short period late in the first half and the unbelivable amount of offensive rebounds, it's hard to really complain. Hubbs asserted himself when we needed him to. Fulkerson will be a beast. Bowden reminds me of a young, less lanky McCrae. A lot of these guys can shoot. And multiple guys pretty much shut down Jackson, whose been their best scorer over the last few games. A lot of positives coming out of this one. Just gotta get these you g guys to close these out.
 
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#17
#17
#Vols coach Rick Barnes after 73-71 loss at No. 7 UNC: “Being close is not good enough. We want to be an elite program here."
 
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#18
#18
What we need now are strong performances in the two games coming up so we can go into Gonzaga with some confidence.

They've been learning to be workman-like, if they can continue at this high-level regardless of the opponent they can easily exceed the expectations for the season.
 
#19
#19
Your correct that this team could use a big bruiser at center. I hope we can find a big man next year that fits that mold.
 
#23
#23
Rockytoprowdy said:
I absolutely agree. I'm not upset that they lost. They played a hell of a game. Other than one short period late in the first half and the unbelivable amount of offensive rebounds, it's hard to really complain. Hubbs asserted himself when we needed him to. Fulkerson will be a beast. Bowden reminds me of a young, less lanky McCrae. A lot of these guys can shoot. And multiple guys pretty much shut down Jackson, whose been their best scorer over the last few games. A lot of positives coming out of this one. Just gotta get these you g guys to close these out.
Click to expand...

If I heard it right Hubbs III as a senior had a solid game. He put this team on his back and played great.
Tennessee can rain threes which makes them even more dangerous.

I posted in a previous thread that Barnes might not be here in 2 yrs given the changes. This game def proved me wrong and I'll happily eat crow.
 
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